Review: Dragon Pearl

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this one. I like science fiction. I like tween/YA. I like cultural allusions. Why didn't I like this? Too much suspension of belief, I guess. Action after implausible action. I made it about 1/3 of the way through and I am abandoning it. Sorry.

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Review: Real Friends

Real Friends by Shannon Hale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I sort of wish I had liked this better. It tackles an important topic for girls' growing up friendships, but I am a bit uncomfortable with the on-again, off-again, on-again, 0ff-again relationships. I know that is the way it happens IRL, but, while I felt the sadness and the rejection, I didn't feel the commitment and the understanding of true friendships. Maybe there isn't really such a thing. That would make me sad, but it would be realistic. I guess I like my delusions that there is such a thing.

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Review: Merci Suárez Changes Gears

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book and I like the portrayal of family issues. It is a comfortable, homey book. I am not sure I would have picked it for the Newbery, but it is a worthy book.

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Review: The First Third

The First Third by Will Kostakis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this one on my iPhone en route to Australia. I really dislike reading on the phone, but in spite of that, I nearly read the book straight through - loooong flights tend to allow things like that.

Kostakis has the ability to write his way into both your heart and your mind. A very thoughtful and emotional read.

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Review: Pay Attention, Carter Jones

Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was surprisingly touching. I have read others of Schmidt's books, which have all been good, but this one seemed to really go to my heart. The premise (a butler showing up on the family doorstep) isn't as unlikely as it seemed at first, and, while there are a few other things that also seem unlikely in real life, the story more than makes up for them in nuances that add so much. I am not a cricket aficionado, so those parts were a bit beyond me, but I did recently get back from Australia, where we descended into the Blue Mountains valley, so I could really feel the atmosphere of the references to the Australian rain forest. But what really makes the difference is the attempts on Carter's part to learn how to be a gentleman, especially in relation to his mother and siblings. It isn't an especially happy book, but it is a hopeful one. It would be lovely if more boys had a butler like this.

This should probably be a 4 and a half star rating. I seldom give 5 star ratings. The half point is a deduction for some of the cricket scenes, which went on just a bit too long for me.

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Review: Ostakis

Ostakis by Angelica Primm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As with much of science fiction, the power of the story is actually the indirect addressing of current societal concerns. What happens to a society where there are intersex men who can and do get pregnant? What happens to a society where an extreme religious faction uses sexuality and gender roles as a basis for power and economic struggles? What happens when household power and societal power overlap?

I enjoyed the nuanced descriptions of various relationships in the book: father-intersex son, intersex son-intersex son's friend, man-intersex employee, etc. I am not so keen on the explicit sex, but that is just me being a prude. Most of the book is more concerned with the struggle to make sense of relationships that are political, but just as strongly personal.

If I have any question about the book, it would be what happens to the women? As might be expected in a book that focuses on intersex relationships, with a bisexual-male MC, women are there, but they are largely in the background. Again. Their looks, especially including their clothing, are mentioned and brief allusions to some business roles and power, but they are mostly incidental. I am glad for the focus on intersex males, but it makes me, as a female, feel that part of the necessary change in society is still not included in the discussion.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Review: Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice

Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice by Stacy King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am not especially enamored of manga art work. The young girls are a bit TOO pretty and elaborately styled and the older people are a bit too excessively drawn for me. But this book, although it has all of the problems that manga has IME, still managed to appeal to me. In particular, I thought the artist did an exceptional job with the enigmatic Mr. Darcy. Less appealing - and purposely so, I suppose, were Mrs. Bennett and Mr. Collins, the latter being almost too clownish for the otherwise well-drawn characters. And, to credit the author, she does tell the original story, without digressions. Some details are obviously missing, but the story follows Austen's very well and, in a few instances, even manages to convey some of the emotions of the original story spot on. Elizabeth's indecision and change of heart was especially appealing. If you like manga, try this one. Interesting.

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