Review: Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire

Released: 1^st January 2021 (in the US)

ISBN: 9781492682691

Read: 25-26 December 2020

This second novel by Ryan La Sala is different from his first, Reverie, in many ways, but of course, in so many others, it’s familiar. The queerness is alive and well, and it’s great to see a range of orientations represented so positively. Luca’s bisexuality is a major part of the narrative, and it’s welcome in YA.

But as our narrator, Raffy controls what we see, and when we see it. Flashing back has become a real trope, and I have grown weary of it. However, in this story, it serves as a release valve. The events in Raffy’s present timeline start badly and continue to disastrous, so to return to the past where he and Luca lean into their attraction is a glimpse into a happier time. Not that La Sala explains every event and misadventure. No, he leaves spaces for us to ponder: what exactly does Luca see in Raffy? Sometimes it seems as if he’s mostly spending time because of Raffy’s hobbies and flair. Also, the situation that develops with Inaya lacks detail. There is a lot of room for readers to come to their own conclusions, which is the type of book I love to advocate. Too many of them spell everything out and leave teens with little chance to explore ideas and motivations for themselves.

There are many twists and turns in this world of cosplay and costume design. We are treated to absent AND overprotective parenting. Friendships seem constantly on the cusp of breaking down, and Raffy’s own mental state is a thing of concern. But the immersion into this increasingly more mainstream space is fully realized. I have little awareness of manga worlds, devotion to fictional characters through crafting, and the influence of Youtubers and Instagrammers, yet I experienced Raffy’s stress and triumph completely and satisfactorily. This is the power of the author’s writing and his own knowledge and acceptance of the people who inhabit and commit to these fantastical communities. They own their weird and quirky ways, and we are better for such celebrations and joy.

I received this uncorrected proof thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire. Highly recommended to teens who enjoy being part of a tolerant and inclusive community. To those who appreciate that breaking up can sometimes be a good thing, and who cheer on the underestimated and underappreciated. Be Dazzled has a wonderfully appropriate cover and comes out (in the US) on New Year’s Day, 2021.

Review: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Published by: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781471161063
Released on: June 1 2018

Read: April 2 2018

This is only Jenn Bennett’s third contemporary young adult novel, and it’s clear she is on board with the current trends. Starry Eyes includes diversity of ethnicities and offers sex-positive representation in an organic and unpreaching way. MC, Zorie, is a serious astronomer and photographer, and it’s terrific to see the blend of science and art drive the plot and characterisation.

The romantic storyline is based on miscommunication, but fits in perfectly with the personalities of the two love interests. Zorie is a planner – anxious and tightly strung. Her comfort zone relies on safe, predictable and routine. When Lennon stands her up at Homecoming, then disappears and doesn’t talk to her when he returns, Zorie hides her heart-break and embarrassment behind silence and denial. Lennon is presented as a mysterious goth, a boy with wild parents, and his loner reputation allows him to walk away from Zorie with apparent ease.

But we don’t know the truth of Lennon, because everything is through Zorie’s narrative voice, which is funny and self-aware. She is constrained by her inability to be spontaneous, and she is constantly second guessing her thoughts and her actions, especially around other people. But she is also generous, smart and loyal. A flawed, sympathetic girl, and readers will love her from start to end.

Going ‘glamping’ with the popular crowd is certainly well outside her comfort zone, but Zorie finds herself talked into it by her step-mum, Joy, who reminds her to be careful not cautious with her life. Her decision is also spurred on by discovering her father is cheating on Joy, and by the sudden re-appearance of Lennon, who is still treating her with disdain. Zorie desperately wants her life to go back a year in time, and can only obsess about where everything went wrong. Imagine her surprise that Lennon is invited too, and suddenly the trip takes on an extra dimension of stress and torture (of course Lennon is gorgeously fit, and the only one who knows what he’s doing–such a turn on!)

Fortunately this summary only covers the first part of the book. The rest is the hiking trip (which goes gloriously wrong), and its aftermath, and Bennett doesn’t skip any details. We are given the highs and lows, and laugh and cry along with Zorie, as she re-connects with Lennon, and explores her own boundaries and feelings. It’s a terrific journey of self discovery and a little bit survival, when the rest of the crew abandon Zorie and Lennon to find their own way through the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. I can’t wait to see the full sized maps, attributed to Lennon in the book—my kindle didn’t do them justice at all.

Thankfully Zorie and Lennon spill their secrets long before the end, and we are witness to their very healthy and joyful intimate encounters (all off-page, I assure you), and what’s really good is how Zorei expresses herself sexually. She’s funny and clumsy and honest. It’s adorable, really. Lennon proves to be a person she can trust, and their love is clear.

One aspect of the novel that takes us out of the bubble of Zorie and Lennon is the sub-plot involving Zorie’s dad, ‘Diamond Dan’. His cheating had  repercussions for the whole family, but notably his relationship with Zorie. I am interested that in the father in her previous book, Approximately, Alex, was one of the best I have read, and here is Dan, an unapologetic womaniser, who refuses to own any his bad behaviour, and is prepared to risk his relationship with his daughter. I wonder if Bennett has been shocked and upset by some of the #metoo revelations and has found a way to present a part of that in this book.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the advanced copy of Starry Eyes. I loved it so much, and recommend it highly to young adult readers who love realistic contemporaries that allow the romance to build slowly. Lennon and Zorie have known each other forever, so their relationship is founded on friendship. The hiking and bushwalking means we think about nature, about getting away from our devices, and of course, offers a bit of danger that challenges Zorie’s instinct to shut herself away. There are lessons here for all of us. Already released in the US, Starry Eyes is out in Australia and the UK on June 1.

Review: Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough

Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough

Published by: Hardie Grant Egmont
ISBN: 9781760127152
Released: 2 April, 2018

Read: 12 January, 2018

Both Will and Harriet attend posh Rosemead Grammar, but their experiences couldn’t be further apart. While Harriet has embraced the opportunities—prefect, tennis champ, debater, and all round suck-up, Will is insouciant, subversive, anti-social and all out revolutionary. Their narratives voices are day and night, light and dark, enthusiastic conformist versus crusading rebel. Gough sublimely moves from Will’s angry, cynical tirades to Harriet’s entitled privilege, giving readers insight into an elite school environment where the reality of day-to-day learning butts up against the façade that is presented to the world.

The posh school is a familiar trope to readers of YA. While some books show staff who are caring and hard working, at Rosemead, we are confronted with sexism and casual discrimination. Of course, Will fights against it, while Harriet finds ways to excuse and to defend. We just know that this pair will clash, and it actually happens early on, their battle of wits snarky and flirty (even though they don’t know the other is gay) and the subsequent journey is deliciously fun as well as thought-provoking.

Not only are we privy to the ins and outs of the school, we are also given glimpses into the family lives of our two protagonists. Will’s parents have separated, and she and mum have downsized to an unit in the centre of Sydney, multicultural, loud and vibrant. Her father has moved to Perth, and we learn that Will’s fear of flying is a road block to seeing him. Flight is a constant metaphor weaving though Will’s storyline, and of course, it ties into Harriet’s plot as well.

Harriet’s parents are mouth surgeons, hardly ever home but exerting an unrealistic amount of pressure on Harriet’s academic, sporting, and social life. The number of balls she is juggling is evident in her near panic attacks at the mere suggestion she might drop even one. She’s a hot mess, basically, but incredibly focused and task-oriented.

Whereas Will represents the ‘woke’ young person, engaging in social justice issues and politics, Harriet stands for the sheltered innocent teenage Australian who has been encouraged to believe hard work and aligning herself with the ‘right’ people will bring rewards and happiness. Her many protestations of I didn’t know sound genuine, but we want to see action from her, and real change, and of course, we do and she does. It’s a terrific transformation, and part of the reason why Will falls for her, and hard.

Look, I have barely talked about the plot points at all, but just know Amelia Westlake’s attempts to highlight injustice and discrimination are inspiring and bring unexpected results. The girls discover their true friends, and by the end, there’s a sense that they have made a difference, and have not just stood by and let bad things happen. This is a positive message for young people–that they can help to make the world a better place. They also find each other, and there’s everything lovely about the acceptance of girls loving other girls.

Yes, some of the situations are over-the-top and maybe a little too contrived, but readers of contemporary teen novels will be happy to be swept along by the clever plot, the engaging characters and the joyous love story. Another quality #LoveOzYA novel. Out now in Australia.

 

2018 Anticipated Reads

I have been lucky enough to read some 2018 novels already, and have enjoyed many of them, most especially P is for Pearl by Eliza Henry-Jones (March), White Night by Ellie Marney (March) and Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny McLachlan (April).

The National Book Award Winner Far From the Tree by Robin Benway was another one I really wanted to read, and it does not disappoint. It’s now available as paperback here in Australia.

Here are three other books for which I am also mad keen. Blurbs courtesy of Goodreads.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (January) Little Brown Books

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

 

Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough (April) Hardie Grant Egmont

Harriet Price is the perfect Rosemead Grammar student – wealthy, smart, overachieving – while Will Everhart is a social-justice warrior with a chip on her shoulder. But when a worrying incident with their swimming coach goes unnoticed by the authorities, the unlikely pair creates an elaborate hoax to bring him down.

As tensions burn throughout their elite private school – and between the two girls – how long can they keep their hoax a secret? And how far would they go to really make a difference? Australian.

 

 

Sam & Ilsa’s Last Hurrah by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (April) Knopf Books

Siblings Sam and Ilsa Kehlmann have spent most of their high school years throwing parties for their friends–and now they’ve prepared their final blowout, just before graduation.

The rules are simple: each twin gets to invite three guests, and the other twin doesn’t know who’s coming until the partiers show up at the door. With Sam and Ilsa, the sibling revelry is always tempered with a large dose of sibling rivalry, and tonight is no exception.

One night. One apartment. Eight people. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, we all know the answer is plenty. But plenty also goes right, as well…in rather surprising ways.

 

Whatever you are doing this New Year’s Eve 2017, be happy and safe. My family and I are hoping to see Coco, then dine somewhere with fabulous food. See you in 2018.