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Faith in fiction, and other books
Aug. 7th, 2011 11:21 pm I always like to check out other libraries and see what kind of collections they have. Usually they weight towards authors from that region, so here at my relatives' library, I'm seeing plenty of southern California authors. In Idaho there are a ton of books from small local presses, with some weight towards LDS fiction/authors (the area I live in is a sort of Mormon Hogsmeade). In Michigan, we had plenty of Michigan historicals and an awful lot of Canadian books. Charleston had a lot of black history and southern stuff. Etc. So there's always the fun factor of seeing what goes into your local culture as reflected on your library's shelves. Also, I find it interesting to see how libraries draw the line between MG and YA. My Idaho library YA shelves are full of things I think are solidly MG. If the kids are 12-13 and there is not a trace of romance, plus quirky characters and more than one main character, it's MG, people! At this California library, I was seeing books I'd definitely call YA down in the MG section. It's not that the content is objectionable; it's that the books have a YA point of view. And there are some series that in every library, start in MG and end up in YA. I really should read those sometime; with that much unanimity on the strange age split, something's up, right?
Anyway. I also pick up books that aren't my usual kind of read, just because that's what there is. I'm not big into "issues" books, but I read one today that I thought was interesting. A Door Near Here, by Heather Quarles. It's a) an MFA dissertation, and b) a Delacorte contest winner. (Delacorte runs a contest for unpublished YA manuscripts every year, but often they don't even award a prize. I've never actually read one of their winners, I don't think.) Anyway, yes, it was an issues book, but nicely done. And I thought it had things to note if you're writing about faith. The story: four kids are basically on their own as their mother sinks into alcoholism and depression. They won't tell their dad because the youngest child isn't his, and they don't believe they'll take her in. They don't tell anyone else because they don't want DSS to split them up. So they try to survive on their own and keep their passed-out mother a secret. Except. The youngest, Alisa, believes fervently in Aslan. She writes a letter to CS Lewis, asking him where she can find a door to Narnia, because she believes Aslan can help her mother. They live in DC, though, so she needs "a door near here." Katherine, the 15YO main character, doesn't believe in God, and has never read Narnia. But Alisa keeps looking, to the point that her school is worried because she thinks she's found the door, and keeps trying to leave school property to get there. The book goes on with the kids walking the delicate balance of desperately needing help, yet trying not to let anyone find out.
SPOILERS******** The main plot resolves (not in a tidy 30-minute after school special way, though)--but on the side, Alisa reports that she did indeed find the door. And Aslan. And that he wouldn't let her come, but sent her back, because her family needed her. The book ends with Katherine still not convinced of the existence of God (because of all the bad things she sees around her), but at the same time, you as the reader know that Alisa really did see Aslan (who is really Jesus). ******** END SPOILERS I admired the way Alisa's faith felt real, but the author didn't cram the idea down the reader's throat. I've read so many books where the faith aspect just falls flat--either the book is bumper-sticker style preachy, or faith is treated like a bizarre character quirk, or the characters of faith are treated like mindless sheep or fanatics. All of those things I find fairly repulsive, so it's refreshing to read a book where the faith is viewed as something real and growing and valuable.
Other books I've read while here:
No Passengers Beyond This Point, by Gennifer Choldenko. This was pretty different from her Al Capone books, but good. Three kids on their way to their uncle's are...strangely waylaid mid-flight to a bizarre place where they can stay...except they don't want to. But it's not easy getting out. The ending was unexpected, yet satisfying.
The One Where the Kid Nearly Jumps to His Death and Lands in California, Mary Hershey. Maybe because I'm here, but I found this book really funny. And sad, too, of course. The story: kid gets shipped off to live with his dad and dad's wife for the summer in southern California, and the kid has some big-time resentment for his dad. He also finds himself having to learn swimming really fast, as his bragging sort of gets him entered in a triathlon for charity, and he wants to impress this girl involved in it.
The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle, Deva Fagan. This is a perfect light, humorous fantasy for especially girls. (MG) Prunella wants to be a mean witch so her family will accept and respect her--only, she's actually quite nice at heart. So she ends up sort of exiled, with a thief for company, and they have to work together to get what they want--or need.
Small Persons with Wings, Ellen Booraem. Another funny MG. A great example of a middle grade where the quirkiness doesn't overwhelm the characters, but adds to their charm. The parents were quite funny, and the MC stayed true to herself while managing to change. The story: a girl who was persecuted as a child for believing in fairies (ahem, Small Persons with Wings--please don't call them fairies!) discovers that her family really does have an ancient pact with some of these creatures. Mayhem follows.
Ruby Red, Kerstin Gier. Translated from German. I'm fairly sure I saw this book in Germany, but never read it. I really enjoyed this, even though the story only just gets going in this first book. It's a nice mix of time travel, humor, British-ness, etc. This family knows they carry a time travel gene, but Gwen has always assumed her cousin would get it, not her. When Gwen finds herself flipping back in time, they all have a huge problem. Gwen hasn't been prepared AT ALL, and her mother is very much not on board with the rest of the time traveling society's plans.
What about you? Read anything good or interesting lately?
Anyway. I also pick up books that aren't my usual kind of read, just because that's what there is. I'm not big into "issues" books, but I read one today that I thought was interesting. A Door Near Here, by Heather Quarles. It's a) an MFA dissertation, and b) a Delacorte contest winner. (Delacorte runs a contest for unpublished YA manuscripts every year, but often they don't even award a prize. I've never actually read one of their winners, I don't think.) Anyway, yes, it was an issues book, but nicely done. And I thought it had things to note if you're writing about faith. The story: four kids are basically on their own as their mother sinks into alcoholism and depression. They won't tell their dad because the youngest child isn't his, and they don't believe they'll take her in. They don't tell anyone else because they don't want DSS to split them up. So they try to survive on their own and keep their passed-out mother a secret. Except. The youngest, Alisa, believes fervently in Aslan. She writes a letter to CS Lewis, asking him where she can find a door to Narnia, because she believes Aslan can help her mother. They live in DC, though, so she needs "a door near here." Katherine, the 15YO main character, doesn't believe in God, and has never read Narnia. But Alisa keeps looking, to the point that her school is worried because she thinks she's found the door, and keeps trying to leave school property to get there. The book goes on with the kids walking the delicate balance of desperately needing help, yet trying not to let anyone find out.
SPOILERS******** The main plot resolves (not in a tidy 30-minute after school special way, though)--but on the side, Alisa reports that she did indeed find the door. And Aslan. And that he wouldn't let her come, but sent her back, because her family needed her. The book ends with Katherine still not convinced of the existence of God (because of all the bad things she sees around her), but at the same time, you as the reader know that Alisa really did see Aslan (who is really Jesus). ******** END SPOILERS I admired the way Alisa's faith felt real, but the author didn't cram the idea down the reader's throat. I've read so many books where the faith aspect just falls flat--either the book is bumper-sticker style preachy, or faith is treated like a bizarre character quirk, or the characters of faith are treated like mindless sheep or fanatics. All of those things I find fairly repulsive, so it's refreshing to read a book where the faith is viewed as something real and growing and valuable.
Other books I've read while here:
No Passengers Beyond This Point, by Gennifer Choldenko. This was pretty different from her Al Capone books, but good. Three kids on their way to their uncle's are...strangely waylaid mid-flight to a bizarre place where they can stay...except they don't want to. But it's not easy getting out. The ending was unexpected, yet satisfying.
The One Where the Kid Nearly Jumps to His Death and Lands in California, Mary Hershey. Maybe because I'm here, but I found this book really funny. And sad, too, of course. The story: kid gets shipped off to live with his dad and dad's wife for the summer in southern California, and the kid has some big-time resentment for his dad. He also finds himself having to learn swimming really fast, as his bragging sort of gets him entered in a triathlon for charity, and he wants to impress this girl involved in it.
The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle, Deva Fagan. This is a perfect light, humorous fantasy for especially girls. (MG) Prunella wants to be a mean witch so her family will accept and respect her--only, she's actually quite nice at heart. So she ends up sort of exiled, with a thief for company, and they have to work together to get what they want--or need.
Small Persons with Wings, Ellen Booraem. Another funny MG. A great example of a middle grade where the quirkiness doesn't overwhelm the characters, but adds to their charm. The parents were quite funny, and the MC stayed true to herself while managing to change. The story: a girl who was persecuted as a child for believing in fairies (ahem, Small Persons with Wings--please don't call them fairies!) discovers that her family really does have an ancient pact with some of these creatures. Mayhem follows.
Ruby Red, Kerstin Gier. Translated from German. I'm fairly sure I saw this book in Germany, but never read it. I really enjoyed this, even though the story only just gets going in this first book. It's a nice mix of time travel, humor, British-ness, etc. This family knows they carry a time travel gene, but Gwen has always assumed her cousin would get it, not her. When Gwen finds herself flipping back in time, they all have a huge problem. Gwen hasn't been prepared AT ALL, and her mother is very much not on board with the rest of the time traveling society's plans.
What about you? Read anything good or interesting lately?
