There aren’t many contemporary YA novels that I respond to, heart and soul.
The two that come to mind almost instinctively are Holly Schindler’s A BLUE SO DARK (Flux, 2010) and Jandy Nelson’s THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE (Dial, 2010)—if you haven’t read them, do so, as they are brilliant, complex and smart observations of what it means to be a teen. (You'll see yourself reflected in the characters, I promise.)
I’m happy to say that I recently read (and reread—it’s impulsive!) another 2010 book I’d add to that list—A.S. King’s PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ (Knopf, 2010), the second novel from this incredibly talented and poignant novelist. (King’s first novel, THE DUST OF 100 DOGS, was published by Flux in 2009—also an awesome read.)
Though not perfect, VERA DIETZ is a novel that I shall cherish for its voice and its honest portrayal of a cast of characters, all so real it physically hurts.
0 comments:
Post a Comment