I am Princess X by Cherie Priest illustrated by Kali Ciesemier

I cannot explain how much that I genuinely enjoyed and loved I am Princess X by Cherie Priest and illustrated by Kali Ciesemier!!!!!

This book, while much more lighthearted than others I have read (We Were Liars, I am looking at you), it does not mean that this story is not as valuable as the others. Within this book, which is a hybrid traditional book and graphic novel/manga lies a sparse yet suspenseful story.

Image Credit: Hirai, R. (2015, January 11). The Ryurouni Kenshin pose. Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://goo.gl/IFtJXU. Maybe not Princess X, but a young Libby?

In this story, we meet May Harper and her best friend Libby Deaton, who met up in fifth grade when they were both sidelined from participating in PE. May and Libby pooled their collective talents of storytelling (May) and drawing (Libby) to create Princess X. Unfortunately, right around the beginning of this story, Libby passed away (or DID she?). After Libby's death, May also experienced the traumatic breakup of her parent's marriage was unfortunately shuffled back and forth between Atlanta and Seattle. Three years later May is coping with these traumatic events as much as possible when she sees a sticker for Princess X. May is shocked to say the very least. She enlists the help of her neighbor, "Trick" to locate Libby. What follows is an incredibly suspenseful ride. 

What I liked: 

This book flowed so very easily. I read it in essentially one sitting. 

I believe that reluctant readers would engage with this work very quickly and very easily. 

The hybrid format I think it was a breath of fresh air. I visited some of the websites within this text, enjoyed the graphics, and also enjoyed the story. I think it takes a delicate balance to make this type of novel well-written and enjoyable, and I could see how it could become bogged down in the details. 

Memorable Quotes or Passages

May's laptop conks out and she finds a flyer about "Trick's" computer abilities. This struck me because my hubby always asks me this question:

"....You go home and keep reading. 

I can't, remember? My laptop crapped out. 

Did you try turning it off and on again? 

She scowled, because she hadn't even tried and it was the most obvious thing ever--next to plugging it in and letting it charge. "I barely know you and, and I already hate you" (Priest, 2015 p. 65). 

Patrick explained technology thusly when speaking about the Needle Man "Maybe he was useful IT, maybe he was just there to answer the phones. Not everybody in a headset knows anything" (Priest, 2015 p. 149). 

Patrick explained a mausoleum by saying "I know there's a building back on the far right side of the hill, so maybe that's it--kind of like a library for dead people" (Priest, 2015 p. 156). 

Final Thoughts

This book was so exciting that even the most difficult to engage reluctant reader would probably love it to pieces. I eagerly look forward to Ms. Priest's additions to the YA genre and will contemplate reading her Sci-Fi (not my favorite genre AT ALL). 

We Were Liars by e. lockhart

After I attended the Georgia Library Media Association's 2016 Summer Institute, I was invigorated to read more YA Literature. Specifically, after I attended a Presentation about the Georgia Peach Book Awards by the wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Shanna Miles (seriously, I want to be her when I grow up, simply because of the passion she has for serving her students at the South Atlanta High Media Center, she had a life skills conference at the Media Center that sounded simply amazing). Anyway, I digress. After attending this session, I realized just how much that I did not know about current YA literature, and I sought to remedy this fact by reading from the Peach Award backlist.

Image Credit: Sinay, N. (2010, April 9). Pulau Ubin in black and white. Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://goo.gl/Vdq42z. This is how I viewed the staff dock at Beechwood Island

This weekend, I read We Were Liars by e. lockhart. In this story, we meet Cadence Sinclair Eastman, her cousins Mirren Sinclair Sheffield, Jonathan Sinclair Dennis, and their friend Gatwick Matthew Patil, also known as the Liars. This group (well at least the cousins) has a very wealthy and privileged background where they summer at Beechwood Island, a private island owned by their family in the Cape Cod region close to Martha's Vineyard. This novel follows Cadence and the Liars through her fifteenth summer to her seventeenth summer. I won't give too much away, but Cadence, the Liars, and her family suffer through one of the worst tragedies I have ever read about. In the throes of reading this novel, Cadence almost came off as an unreliable narrator and I almost put this novel down. However, in the end, there was explanation and closure. Cadence, who honestly comes across as a member of the 1% and this might be annoying for some readers, does experience a tremendous amount of growth as she struggles to remember the details of her accident.

Image Credit: Pustovit, V. (2014, June 28). Fire. Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://goo.gl/LrryWj

Memorable passages include:

Cadence about her relationship with Gat "...I saw Gat and I saw that rose in his hand, and in one moment, with the sunlight from the window shining in on him, the apples on the kitchen counter, the smell of wood and ocean in the air, I did call it love. It was love, and it hit me so hard I leaned against the screen door that still stood between us, just to stay vertical" (lockhart, 2014 p. 15).

Cady's mom speaking with her about why they are not discussing her grandmother Tipper's passing: "It was important, she said; it was kind; it was best. Don't cause distress, she said. Don't remind people of a loss. "Do you understand, Cady? Silence is a protective coating over pain" (lockhart, 2014 p. 29).

Cadence did not return to Beechwood island during her sixteenth summer. She went away with her father. After this summer, Cadence said "The fall after the European trip, I started a project. I gave away something of mine every day" (lockhart, 2014 p. 45).

Cadence realizing that her family places great importance over material wealth. "The jolt of a new purchase makes Mummy feel powerful, if only for a moment. I think there is a status to having a house full of pretty things...she's got power--because she's got money" (lockhart, 2014 p. 46).

Cadence's recognition after her injury "If I Google traumatic brain injury, most websites tell me selective amnesia is a consequence. When there's damage to the brain, it's not uncommon for a patient to forget stuff. She will be unable to piece together a coherent story of the trauma" (lockhart, 2014 p. 48).

Final Thoughts:

For all of Cadence's unreliability as a narrator and the fact that this story is about the 1%, Cadence's story is very worthwhile. I believe that it will appeal to a wide variety of people. Once the reader learns Cadence's truth, it will stick with them for a good long while.

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

I've just finished reading None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio  and am kind of still processing this book.

Image Credit: Pinera, H. (2013, February 13). Run. Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://goo.gl/NxFmiD

In this novel, we meet Krissy, an 18-year-old high school student who discovers that she is intersex  only after visiting the ob-gyn after having excruciatingly painful intercourse with her boyfriend for the first time. Krissy is one of the shining stars of her high school, having been recently named Homecoming Queen and being a track superstar (she has a scholarship to a Division One school). In other words, the intersex diagnosis throws Krissy for a loop making her question her very existence and place in the world. Is she a man? Is she gay? Is she a transsexual? Krissy wrangles and wrestles with these questions and more during the course of this novel. Not to mention that everyone at school hears through the grapevine about Krissy's intersex status. Navigating high school is difficult even for the most stereotypical "NORMAL" person ever. Krissy's struggle to accept herself leads to a great story. Including a totally crush-worthy book boyfriend.  Eventually, the reader understands that love and forgiveness heal, and that self-acceptance is key to a "good life." Yes, it is a rough and rocky journey, but once you are at peace with yourself, you can live your best life.

On a side note: I read this book on one of the saddest days in recent American history. I woke up this morning to learn that the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, had been the scene of the worst mass shooting in American history. I have always resolved to treat everyone I meet how I want to be treated. Period. However, it is easy to let my snarkiness, pride, and even disdain of other personalities get the better of me and I end up treating others in a less than stellar manner. After reading this book, and reflecting on the events of the day, I vow to treat everyone (even those who might pogo jump on my last nerves) with dignity and respect seeking nothing in return.

I currently work as a Juvenile Probation Officer and have for the last almost 10 years (June 16 is my 10 year anniversary). To my knowledge, I have not ever worked with an intersex youth. However, I have worked with a gracious plenty amount of youth who identify on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, and my life has been enriched by working with them all (and really all the youth I have ever worked with). I will wholeheartedly recommend this book to some of my probationers who might be struggling.

Reading Gregorio's blog, I just learned that None of the Above has been optioned for TV by Lifetime. This would be an amazing story to adapt, and if it is ever adapted, I will totally watch every episode!

Gregorio, a surgeon, was inspired to write this story after meeting a real life intersex patient. It was fascinating to read about Gregorio's patient. The patient had to navigate their intersex discovery all alone. I cannot imagine having to navigate this very complex (really this can chip away at the very essence of a person) process all alone.

I hope after reading my thoughts, you are inspired to read None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio.

Here were some amazing quotes that stood out to me during my read:

"While I waited, I studied Dr. Johnson's Howard and NYU diplomas and her posters of the female reproductive system. Somehow, the pictures made girl parts look like an alien, with the uterus being the body, the cervix a bad hairdo, and the tubes and ovaries a pair of demented eyes" (Gregorio, 2015 p. 32).

"I couldn't stand the word female. It gave me PTSD or something. When I heard the word, a jolt of electricity went down the back of my neck and turned into a ball of stress in my stomach. It was like, when Mr. Morris used the word, he wasn't just saying "female." He was saying "not Kristin Lattimore" (Gregorio, 2015 p. 140).

"I passed huddles of giggling girls, a trio of guys smoking and telling jokes outside a club. Everyone seemed to understand that strength came in numbers and identity came as a part of a group.

I wouldn't make the same mistake again" (Gregorio, 2015 p. 186).

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo

I just finished reading Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo. Yes, this novel is a short one geared for younger grades, and therefore, not technically in the YA spectrum. However, it was a wonderful, quick read that I wholeheartedly recommend. Having never read anything by Kate Dicamillo , I was intrigued when I attended a presentation by Mr. John Schu (seriously, he is fabulous, if he is ever anywhere near you, I urge and implore you to attend), where he spread the gospel of Kate Dicamillo.

Image Credit: Kalasnik, M. (2012, August 31). Winn Dixie Milledgeville, GA. Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://goo.gl/nZbdm0). Winn-Dixie is a grocery store based in the Southeastern United States. 

I went into Because of Winn-Dixie with no preconceived notions about the story. I have never watched the movie, or even heard/discussed this book with anyone whatsoever. To be honest, I was a bit worried, because reading about animals can be incredibly sad, and even traumatic at times.

India Opal, the 10-year-old heroine, has experienced some amount of upheaval in her life, in that her mother has left the family, and her father, the unnamed pastor, moved to join a new congregation in Naomi, Florida. Opal, one of the spunkiest heroines I have read about recently opens this story by stating "My name is India Opal Buloni, and las summer, my daddy, the preacher, sent me to the store for a box of macaroni-and-cheese, some white rice, and two tomatoes and I came back with a dog" (Dicamillo, 2000 p. 8). Magic. This is simply magical.

Image Credit: 2010 AKC Meet the Breeds. (2010, October 27). Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://goo.gl/WyGzE9. This is a Berger Pichard, the dog breed used in the Becuase of Winn-Dixie movie

Through this magical journey, we find out about Opal's mother, we meet various members of Preacher Buloni's congregation, and most importantly, we can make inferences about the title. I don't want to spoil it, but I think that Opal had an easier time settling into Naomi, Florida Because of Winn-Dixie.

Some other magical quotes are:

Opal and Gloria Dump speaking with each other after discussing Amanda's situation. "Do you think everybody misses somebody? Like I miss my mama?" "Mmmm-hmmm," said Gloria. She closed her eyes, "I believe, sometimes, that the whole world has an aching heart" (Dicamillo, 2000 p. 134).

Preacher Buloni's prayer at the neighborhood party "Dear God, thank you for warm summer nights and candlelight and good food. But thank you most of all for friends. We appreciate the complicated and wonderful gifts you give us in each other. And we appreciate the task you put down before us, of loving each other the best we can, even as you love us. We pray in Christ's name. Amen" (Dicamillo, 2000 p. 153).

Gloria Dump, speaking to Opal "There ain't no way you can hold on to something that wants to go, you understand? You can only love what you got while you got it" (Dicamillo, 2000 p. 159).

I checked this book out from the Oglethorpe County Branch of the Athens Regional Library System. This was my first visit (but it won't be my last) as a patron to this branch. The copy had a beautifully charming inscription that makes me wonder about Riley and Memaw. As I am a book hoarder (Hello, my name is Michelle and I am a book hoarder), I wonder how and why this book was liberated from Riley.

Mr. Schu, this book smelled excellent, I would give it 5/5 noses on the sniff test!! Yes, this was my first Kate Dicamillo, but it will not be my last!!

Hi, Riley--this is an award winning book & the movie will be coming out soon.
Please keep this book as it is a special one from Memaw to you. Love you 1/21/05

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