The Trouble With Teen Fiction....

There has been a lot of discussion about adults reading teen fiction. I admit that I'm not impressed by adults who only read teen fiction, especially if they only read one sub-genre in teen fiction. Sure, it's fun and easy to set aside in our busy lives but I would argue that this trend is negatively impacting teen books.

My daughter recently authored a candid letter to teen lit authors and it made me think about the direction the genre has taken. I can't help but agree with my kid.

Have you ever read adult reviews of teen books? I have. Many of them. It saddens me that adults have had such an impact on the teen lit world because of these reviews that fail to consider the teen perspective on life, the very people the books are meant for.

Complaints about boring love stories have led to the advent of hypersexualized relationships and unrealistic love triangles to say nothing for themes of the "change to snag your man" variety. Are these really constructs we want to normalize?

Stalking Jack the Ripper, a favorite of my daughter's but it was slammed by adults for being too feminist. Is that really a bad thing when it comes to teens, in today's world? And, that's your complaint? Really? As a mother of a tween daughter, I'd rather have that point driven home. We need to empower our young women and as authors we are in unique positions to do that. Settling for nuances may fly in adult literature, but, it's a little different in the teen world.

The message I'm seeing on these teen book reviews is more sex, less feminism. Go now, take a look at these reviews and who is doing the reviewing.

No wonder my daughter is so frustrated, no wonder kids have these ridiculous ideas about love and adulthood. It's what they read and then what is translated to tv and film for them. It's what they are told life is like, ideals based on the dreamworlds of adults who are driving the changes in teen lit.

Incidentally, I let my daughter join Goodreads so she could balance out the adult reviews on teen lit. We are working with her friends and their families to grow our initiative. Hopefully, it takes off and teens can reclaim their genre.

So what can you do? How can we change this? Next time you read a book meant for teens and decide to review it, think before you write. Consider who the story is meant for and if it hits the mark for that demographic. Think about your children, your nieces and nephews, or any other teen you know and consider what affect the book would have on them. Would it teach them something? Are the characters cardboard cutouts or realistic in the modern world?

If you're looking for more, more sex or depth or development, maybe consider some adult books instead and leave the teen books to the teens.

Book Review: The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim by Shane Peacock

I stumbled upon The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim as a recommendation because of some other books I've read with my daughter. We both thought it sounded awesome so we gave it a go. Autumn finished first and you can find her review her awesome review here.



The book starts out strong, with an excellent premise about a kid who can literally immerse himself in a story and consequently is plagued by terrible nightmares of monsters he's heard about or read about. It's a rather brilliant concept and the execution was passible. There could have been a little more character development and it felt choppy at times. Still, it only took me a few hours to finish it and I wasn't disappointed.

The Verdict on The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim

We will definitely be seeking out the sequel. This book paid homage to classic horror tales and despite a fair lack of character development, offers stunning descriptions and a unique take on teen horror/fantasy.

Book Review: Almost Missed You by Jessica Strawser

Another of my anticipated releases, Almost Missed You almost missed the mark.



A novel about love and loss and missed connections, Almost Missed You follows the lives of Violet, Finn through their eyes and the eyes of a close friend, Caitlyn, whose own marriage is rife with secrets. Though they seem to be happily married, Violet is floored when Finn disappears with their young son.

I almost didn't read past the first chapter. The writing style did not appeal to me at all. I actually found it quite boring and ended up skimming large portions because I couldn't stand the narration. Honestly, if the book had been longer, I probably would not have finished it.

The story was decent. Some parts struck chords with my own failed marriage but not enough to make any of the characters relatable. I think I liked the kids the most - Bear, Leo, and Gus - because they reminded me of my own kids and their absolute cuteness sprang off the page like a jack in the box.

The Verdict

I don't know. It was alright. I mean, I read it and it left me feeling nothing special other than perhaps a touch annoyed. Then again, as much as I try, I simply cannot get into these types of books. I'm sure fans of these romance-centric, broken-heart novels will love it.

**This post contains affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through these links, you will not be charged any extra but I may receive a small commission for the referral.

Book Review: Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

Of Fire and Stars is a sweet LGBT teen fantasy.

The story centers around a princess who is promised to a prince but ends up falling for his sister while they are all trying to sort out who is picking off royal family members. There's magic and deception, friendship and family secrets. 

I now understand why my daughter loved it so much - the romance is sweet and develops slowly but it's also not the main theme of the story. Autumn loved the wild, carefree Mare and appreciated the depiction of unconventional princesses. She warned me that it gets a little cheesy - it did - but also that it's fun and light - it was. 

A lot of the reviews we've seen seem to complain about the lack of world building and character development but that was not our experience at all. We loved how subtle the world building and character development were and honestly, I found very few awkward passages as opposed to the majority of what we've been reading. 

The Verdict on Of Fire and Stars

Honestly, I really enjoyed this book. It was cute and sweet and fairly well written. It's not meant to be an epic fantasy so I question the negative reviews that seemed to expect that. We got this book through Owlcrate (one of our new guilty pleasures!) and I'm glad because my kid loved it.

**This post contains affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase the book from Amazon you will not be charged extra but we may receive a small commission for the referral.

Book Review: Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies by Lindsay Ribar

Meh.



Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies fell a little flat and I've advised my daughter to skip it. Here's why:

1. Main Character proves that a cool name is not enough to make you cool. Aspen is an impulsive, self-centered, angsty kid who has this miraculous turnaround in the last fifty pages or so. Not believable or relatable.

2. Plot is crucial to every story. 75 pages into this book and I had no reason to care about what was happening. Sheer will to finish for this review is all that kept me going.

The Verdict on Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies

The writing was okay, nothing remarkable and there are more extraneous, unnecessary scenes than I could count on both hands. This might have done better as a short story. I'm sure this book has an audience, we just aren't it.

Book Review: Everland by Wendy Spinale

Everland is a very cute, very fun teen read.

As far as teen lit goes, this is not the best I've read but it was fun and the nod to Steampunk culture hit that sweet spot for me. I wish the editing had been a little tighter because there were some really awkward spots that jarred me from the story for a moment or two. Still, it's a sweet little read with mild romantic themes and decent characters.

Obviously based on the stories of Peter Pan and Neverland, there are plenty of nods to the original story including crocodiles, marbles, umbrellas, and teddy bears. Set against the backdrop of a London decimated by war and a virulent disease that threatens everyone within the city, Everland follows Gwen Darling (see what she did there?) and the Lost Boys as they fight against Hook whose story is told in alternating chapters. As a pleasant surprise, Hook is given more depth than you'd expect.

The Verdict on Everland

Very cute teen read. I would say it is clear for a YA read given how clean it is - no gruesome descriptions or battles, no romance beyond hand holding an a very chaste kiss (not telling who or when!). We're going to have to buy this series because my kiddo is going to love it.

** This post contains affiliate links, should you choose to purchase through this link you will not be charged extra but we will receive a small commission for the referral.

Book Review: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Crooked Kingdom is a solid follow-up to Six of Crows.




Kaz Brekker and his team are on the hunt for The Wraith (Inej) as Crooked Kingdom takes up where Six of Crows left off. Nina is recovering, Matthias broods, Jesper and Wylan continue dancing around their feelings for each other...and the plot thickens, of course.

Though I felt that some parts dragged a bit - to the point I skimmed some pages - there were a few brilliant scenes that made me laugh and one in particular that left me pissed. Isn't that what we're looking for, though? Books that make you feel something?

The Verdict on Crooked Kingdom

As I noted above, it's a solid follow up to Six of Crows and I would read anything about these characters because I thoroughly enjoy them. If you haven't tested the waters of Ketterdam yet, dive in and enjoy the ride!

**This post contains affiliate links. Should you purchase through these links you will not be charged extra but we receive a small commission for the referral.

Book Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows is even better than I hoped.



Autumn and I have circled around this book at the bookstore for months and never purchased it because we're stingy and couldn't bring ourselves to buy one hardcover book when we could get two or three paperbacks on our list for the same price. Big mistake on our part and one that will be rectified in time for my daughter to read Six of Crows. We'll also be investing in the sequel. That's how much I loved this book.

The characters and world building are top notch as far as teen fiction goes. There are a smattering of gory scenes, mild romance themes (all G rated), and a lot of action. I would save this book for the maturer tween/teen and the adult crowds because of the gore and the allusions to darker deeds (slave trading, sex trades, etc) but there's nothing over the top or out of line as I've seen in other books that have attempted those subjects.

Basically, this book revolves around six teens with a variety of talents - some magical, some physical, and some purely intellectual - who are given an impossible task. Should they succeed, each of the six will find the redemption and freedom they crave. The plot thickens at every turn and the action is fantastic as the most improbable heist of their world unravels.

The Verdict on Six of Crows

In truth, Six of Crows should have been my follow up to Strange the Dreamer because they were both stunning examples of teen fiction. Well written with few cringe-worthy moments, Crows and Strange are a cut above the rest of the drudge out there. Forget Divergent, Hunger Games, and Twilight - read Six of Crows!

Book Review: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

My daughter read This Savage Song first and thoroughly enjoyed it so I took a chance.



It's not that I was disappointed, far from it. The characters were interesting, the world unique, and the writing solid, but I just finished Strange the Dreamer where everything was amazing. I feel bad, maybe I didn't give Savage Song enough of a chance by choosing it as my follow up to Strange.

The story revolves around Kate (a teenager who grew up too fast and has Daddy issues that put all other Daddy issues to shame) and August (a monster with a conscience living among humans and not sure how or where to fit in). Their world is similar to ours - if all of a sudden all of the bad that we do to each other and our world manifested as monsters who turned on us. That's right. Monster's are real in this hell on Earth and the lines in the sand of been drawn - literally.

I liked it. I even finished it in a few hours. The author's style is what I would consider clean - no frills, no excess, no drawn out nonsense. I respect that. Of course, it's not Ms. Scwab's first rodeo, either. There are no rookie mistakes, no random expositions, and no "how in the hell did that character miraculously pluck that knowledge out of thin air" moments. Thankfully.

The Verdict

It's a worthy read for a rainy afternoon. I look forward to the sequel.

Book Review: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

If you are a fan of epic fantasy you'll love Strange the Dreamer.



An Unseen City that essentially exists in legends and fairytales, an orphan boy (Lazlo Strange), a golden boy, and an impossible problem are at the core of Laini Taylor's newest novel.  In some ways, this teen fantasy strikes me as a PG version of A Crown for Cold Silver (The Crimson Empire) by Alex Marshall - not as gutsy or graphic by any means but epic in its own right. The transition and flow of the characters is reminiscent of those in Crown, one of my favorite reads in recent years, so Strange left me longing for the next installment.

Lazlo Strange is one of those characters you can't help but root for. Though I would argue that he brushes dangerously close to the realm of Mary Sue characters, Strange's backstory and awkwardness make it forgivable. Besides, the other characters are flawed enough to bridge the gap.

The writing is clean, smooth and refreshing, especially when compared to the crap teen books I've been reading with my daughter lately. She's almost twelve and knows enough to be frustrated with the garbage being peddled to her and her peers these days. Strange the Dreamer stands apart.

The Verdict

A refreshing, entertaining, and at times invigorating fantasy that thankfully does not center on idealized notions of romance but instead on a true quest and mystery.

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Anticipated April 2017 Releases

Do you ever get the feeling that every new release is a copy of something you've already read - several times over? It's starting to feel like there are a handful of stories that are being bastardized and resold as new releases. I never really noticed it before but maybe that's why I tended to avoid new releases?

So, in case you haven't guessed it, April's new releases left me wanting. Here's my meager list:

After You Left

Release Date: 4/1/17

I'm not even real sold on this one, to be honest, but maybe it will be good. Husband inexplicably leaves wife on their honeymoon. Wife is haunted by the reason behind his departure, meets another woman whose sad story mirrors her own. Can wife solve the question that plagues her?

Spindle Fire

Release Date: 4/11/17

This one had me at fantasy. Sisters and fairies and tithing your senses to the fae....sounds like a recipe for awesomeness. We'll see though, I've been disappointed MANY times in recent months.



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April's Book Reviews

Incidentally, this month is School Library Month and the celebration of Teen Literature Day so I'll only be reviewing "teen" books during April AND, I may have a guest reviewer for a few posts!