Kill the Balloons: Williamsburg in the Singles

Morrone, A.J. (2014). Kill the Balloons: Williamsburg in the Singles. Self-Published

Adult / Fiction / Realistic

I gave this book 4 out of 5 Stars.

In Kill the Balloons, the 2000s are under way, and it's a typical Saturday for a group of twenty-somethings, living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. These hipster friends share a common set of ambitions: getting high, getting drunk, and hooking-up, and while each has an occasional thought of a better life, none can be bothered to do anything about it, opting instead for the comfort of here and now. With a playlist of musical references and photos of places around Brooklyn, author Anthony Joseph Morrone paints an often dreary, aching picture of a generation with a markedly bleary identity.

Morrone provides a cast of eight or so primary characters, introducing the unique traits of each in order to create a distinct impression on readers. Morrone's strength is in his use of figurative language -- often extensive -- to provide vivid snapshots of his characters and their surroundings. For example, in describing the setting of a dismal Brooklyn neighborhood, Morrone writes:

A plastic garbage can rolled around in the wind, banging itself back and forth on the curb like a confused inmate, arms strapped behind her back in the corner of a padded room, rocking herself against the wall in an attempt to make sense of her surroundings.

Where the book suffers is in the lack of editing -- which bothered this reader but may not be an issue for others -- but more so in the narrow audience. A reader unfamiliar with Brooklyn will not appreciate the insider references; a reader unfamiliar with the music of "the singles," will not understand the soundtrack to these characters' lives; and a reader who was not a twenty-something during that decade will not understand the lack of ambition and choices made by the characters.  Quite honestly, I found very little to like in any of the characters and found the book terribly depressing.

Kill the Balloons is not a book where I could ever find a connection to or understand the characters; however, their dialogues are realistic and memorable. Anthony Joseph Morrone shows promise as a skilled writer, and I will not soon forget being along for this Saturday in Brooklyn where the cry of  “kill the balloons” hides many different stories. 

This book was reviewed for Readers' Favorite, which provided me an eBook copy in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give.  

PERSONAL NOTE: Yes, the book needs editing, and yes, the book is full of sex and profanity and excessive drinking and drug use and aimless young adults who need to grow the hell up and do something productive -- all things I don't enjoy reading about. This book was not for me, and I didn't like it, but that doesn't mean it's a bad book. If you read it, I'd love to know your thoughts.

Kill the Balloons is on FACEBOOK (lots more Brooklyn pics) and you can follow the author on TWITTER.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone

Griffin, A. (2014). The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone. Soho Teen.

YA / Mystery / Realistic Fiction

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Realistic fiction non-fiction. Can a book be categorized that way? With this book, yes. I had to keep reminding myself that Addison Stone was not a real person, despite the interviews and photo documentary of her short, colorful, brilliant, tragic life. This was such a unique approach that I am sure will be mimicked across YA. As the author defines The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone, "It is a novel posing as a memoir," and in it are photographs and selfies of Addison and even some of Addison's sketches and art work, all which make Addison a very real person.

Griffin manages to weave an intricate story with a cast of thousands, it seems, that absolutely works. The answer everyone wants to know is how Addison died. (That she dies is not a spoiler). It is clear Addison is the real deal, talent-wise, and it is also clear that she suffered from mental illness. As such, the presence of the spirit of a long dead artist must be part of Addison's psychosis -- or is it?

Readers will have to decide for themselves how Addison died, and it is worth the time spent information gathering. I recommend it for ages 16 and up. There are lots of situations of minors in adult situations, sex (not detailed), drug use, underage drinking, and profanity. All of it was fitting, as Addison was leading a life she was too young to live.

Thank you to Soho Press and Edelweiss for providing me a free ARC in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give. 

Watch the book trailer:

THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF ADDISON STONE by Adele Griffin Book Trailer from Victoria Bata on Vimeo.

or click here
 

Click here to go to Addison's Tumblr

(remember, she's NOT A REAL PERSON!)

Click here to read "The Story Behind Adele Griffin’s Hybrid Novel, ‘The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone’," an article by Elizabeth Burns

 

I was super excited to meet Adele Griffin (who is nice as can be) at the Texas Library Association Conference 2015, and she signed a copy of the book for me. Sweet!

 

Divided We Fall

Reedy, T. (2014). Divided We Fall: Divided We Fall Trilogy #1. NY: Scholastic Audio.

YA / Audiobook / Speculative Realistic Fiction

I gave this audiobook 4 of 5 stars.

The downside of getting free audiobooks and just hitting play is that you don’t know when the book’s going to end. Or if the book is the first of a series. I spent hours listening and waiting for an ending that never happened because I thought this was a stand alone book, when in fact, it’s the first in a trilogy. ARRGH! Fortunately, my time was well spent and though the ending left me hanging, I am looking forward to the next installment.

The setting of this action packed story is the United States in the just barely around the corner future. The premise is completely believable, and listening to the story, I found myself tensing up and feeling anxious as if what I was listening to was real and happening right now -- that is thanks to the news flashes and social media updates in the book for which the audio version used a variety of actors to voice. (side note: had to laugh at the Texas Senator accent – do the Texans of the future sound like they are from Maine?) There is a strong message about the power and misuse of the power of the media.

The book manages to give to readers a pretty good civics lesson on state versus federal rights and the line between which side is good and what it means to be a patriot is blurry. (not to be overlooked, readers are given a not-so-gentle reminder that if enlisting in any branch of the military, be prepared to be called into service for your country. ) Main character Danny is likeable, faults and all, and more importantly, he’s familiar: he’s a kid we’ve all known before. . . minus the whole war-starting business. Yes, the cheesiness is plentiful, and sometimes it is so clearly teenage boy fantasy material (football, guns, powerful engines, outrunning the cops, beautiful stand-by-her-man girlfriend who puts-out) that I had to laugh when another response was surely what the author intended. Nonetheless, the story was fascinating and engaging enough that I even increased the delivery speed so that it played faster.

I hope that the snapshot of what’s normal and acceptable in small town teenager life is wrong – as even the smart, level-headed kids seem to spend every spare moment drinking excessively and looking for (and getting) hook-ups, while parents, teachers, and law look the other way. And the loyal Sweeney, Danny’s best friend . . . his blatant sexism that everyone just laughs off was troubling, as it really shouldn’t have been considered funny. By the same token, in the real world, there are kids just like Sweeney, and they are tolerated and even revered, so Reedy nailed his portrayal.

There is significant violence and gore, a fairly high body count, strong language, implied sexual interactions between minors, and considerable underage drinking. I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.

Thank you to SYNC Audiobooks for providing this free download, and in exchange, I have provided an honest review -- the only kind I give.

Witchcraft Couture

BEAUTIFUL NEW COVER 7/15!

West, K. (2014). Witchcraft Couture. Self-published.

Adult / Fiction / Supernatural? / Magic?

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

SCROLL DOWN and ENTER TO WIN A PRINT COPY OF THIS BOOK, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR!

Witchcraft Couture spins the tale of artist "Oscar" Federico Pellegrini, who has lost his confidence and creativity. When he faces his former love, who has now become a major player in the fashion world, the stress to succeed becomes too much for Federico, who goes into a panic of self-doubt, fleeing the country and drinking himself into oblivion. As he vacillates between reality and hallucinations, Federico gains possession of a machine - either divine or devilish -- which converts plain clothing into designs which have otherworldly qualities. In the process, Federico becomes obsessed with the machine as the public becomes obsessed with his pieces. Rather than feeling better about himself as he becomes a fashion world sensation, Federico suffers debilitating depression, paranoia, and guilt, as the voices in his head call him an imposter and the few people who love him are forced to distance themselves from his erratic and destructive behaviors.  Does something supernatural power the machine, or is it Federico's mind that creates via the crutch of the machine?

Katarina West has created a truly unique premise that will have readers drawing their own conclusions as to what is real and what is imagined, and no conclusion will be final. I found myself feeling strongly that Federico was simply a delusional, brilliant artist suffering from mental illness, but then West would provide some evidence that would taint my theories with doubt.  West built her characters so richly that we could feel they were going through the same struggles as the readers with what to believe. Conflicted friend Ben and designer Dante seem to be the only people who are clearly sane, but even they get swept away with the magic and success of Federico's designs. Federico's mother seems intentionally blurry for the reader, adding to the mystery of what is truly unfolding. Readers know only what Federico tells them through his journal, which is the format for most of the book, and we can't know for sure if its truth or only Federico's version of it.  When Dante asks, "Why can't you do ordinary things in an extraordinary way," Federico, in striving to do something extraordinary, can't grasp the possibility of escape from his self-imposed chains.  An epilogue written by Ben clears-up some issues, but muddles others so that the reader is left with MUCH to ponder. 

Clearly, author Katarina West has been deliberate in her word choices, creating beautifully descriptive scenes and characters, for a well-edited, cohesive, and captivating story. Witchcraft Couture explores the power of the mind and how experiences and expectations can drive people to extreme behaviors. 

Thank you to the author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give. 

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE EBOOK THROUGH AMAZON 


Learn more about the delightful author KATARINA WEST on her website, and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Goodreads.

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The Forgotten Girl

Bell, D. (2014). The Forgotten Girl. NY: Penguin Group.

Adult / Adult for YA / Mystery

I gave this book 3.5 of 5 Stars on Goodreads

High school mystery gets solved twenty-seven years later.  The Forgotten Girl is mostly told through dialogue, which isn't a problem for me but made it feel less like a suspense novel and more voyeuristic -- like I was listening around the corner to private conversations.  Author Bell does a great job setting-up the story with the prologue and readers will take note of the last line there, an ominous foreshadowing of things to be revealed.

We have a bunch of important characters, none of whom we get to know well, but all of whom we definitely get impressions that stick. Jason, the main character, and his wife, Nora, are really kind of boring. I kept thinking there would be some spark or action there, but nada. I will say that given the couple's history we're given, I found Nora's tolerance for Jason's shenanigans ridiculous. Also ridiculous to me were secondary character Hayden's shenanigans -- no twelve-step program endorses endangering your life and the lives of your loved ones in the name of making amends. Sierra, Hayden's daughter, is a bit cliche as the girl who managed to turn-out good despite her mother's lack of parenting skills. Also cliche was the repetition of how Jason and Nora didn't-have-kids-so-couldn't-possibly-understand thing.  The most interesting character to me was Logan, the boy who disappeared on graduation night, twenty-seven years earlier.

What kept me reading was the slow unraveling of what happened to Logan.  Layer after layer is peeled away to reveal an ever-expanding circle of people who's lives were impacted by his disappearance. The gossip in me just had to know the truth. By the same token, that slow unraveling, with the lack of any real climax to the story, made the book end in a bit of a whimper.

There is mild profanity and violence, references to alcohol and drug use, and one sexual situation that isn't overly graphic. Though it's classified as an adult novel, it's way more tame than many young adult novels on the market and fine for that audience. And it moved from a 3 Star rating to a 3.5 Star rating simply because I liked it enough that I found myself reading for hours at a time when I should have been doing other things.

Thank you to Shelf Awareness for providing me a free ARC in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give.

Althea & Oliver

Moracho, C. (2014). Althea & Oliver. NY: Viking.

YA /Realistic Fiction

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

Cristina Moracho is a great writer whose story sent me flipping pages to find out what would happen next. Kudos to her for having the gift! Did I like the story? Yes. The complexity of the relationship between lifetime best friends Althea and Oliver was fascinating and realistic, dripping with teenage angst. BUT. . . (and as Pee Wee Herman would say, there are some big buts here) there were a number of puzzling distractions that didn't seem necessary to move the story forward, and what was supposed to be realistic was often unrealistic.

The 90s setting gives the author some leeway in depicting what is the norm, BUT it was the frequency and intensity of the underage drinking that seemed out of place in its normalcy as part of the main characters' lives. There was a bit of a disconnect to me between what was happening and that these were sixteen and seventeen year olds doing it. Advance them two or three years, then yeah, it is more believable and realistic, but still not really necessary.

Along the same lines, I understand that the two main parent-child relationships are unique, BUT it was a stretch for me to believe the behaviors of (or lack of) the parents in these particular situations. For example, I can't imagine any parent would put a homebody seventeen-year-old daughter in a car alone to drive herself 1800 miles across the country, and further, not to check-in on her or coordinate anything with the parent on the other end. Even accepting that could happen - despite the fact that the parent is well-to-do and could easily afford a plane ticket - to put her in the car with no cash, no gas card, no inquiries about where she might sleep along the route -- this just didn't work for me. And this must work for the story to progress.

It is hard to be specific without giving spoilers, BUT there are numerous other situations that don't hold up including school expulsion, serving the homeless, the cost of living (even living badly) in Brooklyn, and even the protocol with hospitalized minors.
Readers have to suspend their disbelief a lot (or simply not grasp how these things work/worked in the real world of the 90s) in order for the plot to unfold as it does. BUT, a plot does unfold, and it's a good one, and I don't regret a minute I spent with this book. 
 
The language is rough with lots of F-Bombs dropped from page one. There is considerable underage drinking and binge drinking, self-abusive behaviors, and sex between minors, which was somewhat graphic (and what was described was perplexing to this reader), and kids clearly crying for help and no one to answer the call. As such, this book is probably more suited to mature young adults, who would likely need to be older than the characters in the book to grasp the deeper meaning in the story.



Thank you to Penguin First to Read for providing me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review -- the only kind I give.

The Secret Diamond Sisters

Madow, M. (2014). The secret Diamond sisters. NY: Harlequin Teen.
Young Adult for mature young adults
Romance?

I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars.

This is a hard review to write given how impressed I have been by the author.  Oh how I wanted to like this book, but I can't even figure out who an appropriate audience would be. If the book is going to be aimed at young adults, there needs to be some value to it: a lesson, a role model, outstanding writing, enlightenment?

I enjoyed the three books in Madow's Transcend Time Saga  and promoted, recommended, and shared them with many high school students. I expected The Secret Diamond Sisters to be similarly written with great storytelling, likeable characters (with a role model or two thrown into the mix), clean romance, and some twists and turns to keep readers engaged.  The Secret Diamond Sisters had none of these qualities, and despite its main characters being highschoolers, it's not really a high school book.  To match their actions, the characters should have all been four years older and you would have the makings of a great new adult book.

What disappointed me, beyond the writing itself, is that the precedent set in Madow's prior books was thrown aside. In this book, we have heavy drinking (truly, alcoholism), casual and careless sexual encounters, eating disorders, extreme vanity and materialism as the norm for kids ages 15-17.  I know it's Vegas, but I also know this isn't the norm, even there. And I would pray that even in Vegas, being a millionaire's child doesn't mean all laws are "overlooked." Seriously, a fifteen-year-old is going to be allowed in 21+ bars in Vegas? In reality, there would be adult bar patrons complaining about that. This is a stretch I can't accept. I also just didn't like or care about any of the characters. Courtney is most promising, but she also doesn't have anything that makes her interesting or exceptional: a willowy model body and a brain aren't enough.

Okay -- I will acknowledge that extreme vanity and materialism may be a norm for this set, but for the rest of it, there weren't even any "lessons" for a young reader to learn. We start off with one character who is exercising and on an 800 calorie/day diet. She is adored by all, and is considered the hottest girl at school. And she sacrifices food calories to have alcohol to calm her nerves, deal with stress, escape reality, be brave. . . Never do we see a downside. And there are plenty more examples of horrible behavior and decisions made, but no ill consequences. (literally - hangovers without vomiting? For the amount consumed, these girls should have had alcohol poisoning.)

I have heard comparisons to Gossip Girl, but not enough happens to merit the comparison. I loved Gossip Girl, but this book has no real plot and barely a hint of a secret or two which might unfold in the next book. This first book is just a day by day, four person viewpoint of who gives each girl chills, what designer shoes will be worn, and what amount of alcohol will be consumed. This will probably appeal to some because it seems voyeuristic, but I never found that hook to keep me interested.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for providing me this free ARC in exchange for an honest review -- painful as it is to give.

Brooklyn Burning

Brezenoff, S. (2011). Brooklyn Burning. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Lab.

YA Realistic Fiction / Contemporary Fiction / Urban

QuickNEasy, 195 pages, ages 14+

I gave this 4 out of  5 stars on Goodreads.

I started reading this book for two reasons: 1) I am on a trek to find books appealing to kids who don't think they like to read, and 2) this book was under 200 pages and available at the library!

Going into a book cold-turkey is always interesting.  I hadn't read the book jacket or any reviews of Brooklyn Burning and assumed by the cover that the book was about a pyromaniac. (By the way, I like the cover and am so glad that it's not a back view of a teenaged girl wearing a formal gown and her hair blowing ever so subtly in the wind.  Thank you Steve Brezenoff. Never mind that the girl cover wouldn't fit in any way, shape, or form with the contents of the book.) So, not knowing what I was in for, I was initially frustrated because I couldn't tell if the main character, Kid, was male or female.  Enter character Scout, who also is not identified as male or female, and I started to get it. Ding! The author was being INTENTIONALLY VAGUE in stamping a gender label on these characters. Brilliant! People are just people with talents and skills and beliefs and feelings.

The book's main character is Kid, who writes some chapters directly to Scout, so that the readers almost feel like they are getting a peek into a journal or love letter.  Other chapters are written as general narratives, mostly filling in what the readers don't know about Kid's year prior to meeting Scout. Those back chapters made my heart ache for all the injustices poor Kid experienced, and they made me angry. Had Kid's parents been accepting and loving and acted like parents, Kid's life wouldn't have been so hard.  On the other hand, as a result of being rejected by Kid's father, Kid found love not once but twice and acceptance in places and ways that never would have been possible if Kid's parents had just loved Kid.  

The characters that showed love and acceptance towards Kid were really what made this story push forward.  With the presence of Fish, Jonny, and Konny, the readers didn't have to waste energy worrying about things that didn't matter -- Kid was going to be okay.  Imperfect as they are, these characters feel so real and familiar -- like you'd find them in any inner city neighborhood, looking out for their own. 

There are questions that aren't answered (namely, the genders of two major characters), but it's okay to be left wondering about some things.  And again, that intentional vagueness reminds us that sometimes there aren't clear answers for the questions in life. 

On the Clean-O-Meter rating. . . this is tough. There's an Fbomb fairly early on, but then I don't recall there being so much as a damn after that. There is significant underage drinking (mostly without any consequences, effects beyond the characters being identified as drunk), and drug references of shooting-up and junkies.  There is also a character who is a bisexual prostitute, but we are spared any details, and another character who is a minor and very sexually active with multiple partners, though we are also spared details.  Several of the characters are lesbian or gay or bisexual or questioning or not caring. Again, no details other than putting two and two together that character A - who is either male or female - is attracted to both males and females. There are several homeless teenagers, but they all seem to have food, money, shelter, safety.  There isn't any violence and nothing in the story is graphic.  I'm going to say a 7 out of 10.

Burnout

Vrettos, A.M. (2011.) Burnout. NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
YA / Mystery

QuickNEasy, 193 pages, ages 12-17

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

Told in alternating viewpoints "Today" and "Remembering," we get the picture of our main character, Nan, who's been through rehab and sworn off drinking, only to find herself in a place she doesn't remember, in clothes she doesn't remember wearing, having blackouts and nausea as the realization that she's fallen off the wagon washes over her.

Nan is a very well-written, realistic character. She struggles with her body image and yearns for friendship and acceptance.  In steps Seemy, who initially is the answer to Nan's prayers but eventually becomes a negative influence through her self-centered and destructive behavior.  Nan is smart enough to be able to recognize the emptiness of the friendship, but she has nothing else.

I was not satisfied with the lack of information about Seemy -- there were a lot of unanswered questions by the end, and how things played out seemed a little unrealistic.  Nan's actions didn't make sense given the circumstances, but I did like that Nan found her inner strength -- that needed to happen.

The writer did a very good job of conveying blackouts, which was a pretty powerful reminder that whatever Nan had done was still in her system and could cause permanent damage. It made it scarier that even though she seemed to be distanced from the danger, it was really right inside her still.

On the Clean-O-Meter rating, it's probably an 8 out of 10.  The subject matter of alcohol, drug use, and addiction is handled without a lot of details.  There is some minor swearing, and though it's clear Seemy is sexually active, there aren't details. Really, that sums up everything that could be controversial -- it's in there, but it's just mentioned and not spelled-out in any way, making this pretty safe reading.

Desert Angel

What makes the hunted turn hunter?

Price, C. (2011). Desert angel. NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.
YA Lit / Thriller / Realistic Fiction

QuickNEasy, 233 pages, ages 12-17

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

An interesting but improbable storyline kept me reading, but the climax was disappointing and everything resolved a bit to quickly and tidily. 

 The main character, Angel, is fourteen and alone but stalked, and she gets help from all kinds of unlikely sources, but she doesn't seem destined to get the real help she needs, which is psychological since she clearly has regular suicidal thoughts and mood extremes. I found it hard to believe the people who were helping her continued to do so when the cost was so high to their own families and lives.

The narration bothered me, jumping from Angel narrating in first-person to an omniscient point-of-view, one paragraph to the next; however, that was an efficient way for the reader to see all the things going on around the corner, that Angel didn't know about and that moved the story along.  Those omniscient narrations gave us information that then seemed to dissolve -- like parts of the story were missing and those extra pieces of information went unexplained. 

Having said all that, it is an easy book to read and is compelling enough that I wanted to find out more.  Seems like a couple more rounds of revision (I did find some type-os as well) could have taken this book a peg or two higher.

On the Clean-O-Meter, I'd give this a 7 out of 10.  It's violent, and the violence includes references to domestic violence and sexual violence. There is reference to multiple incidents of sexual abuse of a minor, but no actual sex scenes or discussions. The book is NOT sexy. I was surprised when late in the book, the first swear word showed-up (g*damn); it actually seemed weird.  Additionally, there are references to drug use and drug selling, and fairly clear descriptions of how to load a gun and use it.

Thirteen Reasons Why

Asher, J. (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why. NY: Penguin Group.
YA Lit / Realistic Fiction

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads

The premise of this story is that a teenager, Hannah, creates thirteen recordings, each made for someone who had something to do with why she commits suicide, and sends the tapes to each of the subjects after Hannah's death.

  

This story will stay with me a long time and definitely made me think about many different things, but primarily, it reminds us that no action goes without a reaction.  It reminds us that what is inconsequential to some can be insurmountable to others.  It reminds us that cruelty is common in the life of a teenager.  It reminds us that there is pain and suffering everywhere if we'll just open our eyes to it. 

Once we open our eyes to the suffering of others, then there is a moral obligation to do something about it.  Most of the subjects of Hannah's recordings had no idea their actions were affecting Hannah or didn't care. Most didn't take the time to open their eyes or ignored what they saw.

The one who did pay attention is the co-narrator of the story, Clay, and part of why I like the book is the format in which the story is told.   We start with Clay, who is the 9th recipient and  subject of the  recordings.  We "hear" Hannah's voice,  but it is interrupted by Clay's reactions to Hannah's words, and Clay's recollection of the events Hannah brings to light.   The distinction in voices is made by a change in font, and it's unbelievable how much emotion I felt via this technique.

Before I read this book, I read a few reviews that didn't give the story a high rating.  They said they couldn't "buy" that the reasons Hannah committed suicide would be enough for her to do it.   THAT, my friends, is part of the problem with bullying and all the misconceptions about kids who take their own lives.  No one can truly understand the depression and depths of despair someone else is experiencing.

What I would hope for is that anyone who reads the book would become more sympathetic, empathetic, and kind towards others and that when there are signs that someone is hurting, they are not ignored.  And finally, Clay is a reminder that we should follow our hearts and question what's not known first hand, even when these are scary propositions.  

My Clean-O-Meter rating on this one is a 3 out of 5 (5 is squeaky clean).  There is mild language, some sexual situations and references, and underage drinking.  There is not any explicit violence, and the suicide itself isn't really discussed or even the focus of the story.

You can listen to the tapes on Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why website, but here is the first tape.

 

I Am J

Beam, C. (2011). I am J. NY: Little, Brown,
        and Company.
YA / Realistic Fiction

My rating on Goodreads: 3 out of 4 Stars

I read this book specifically because it is currently  being challenged at a local high school and this week is Banned Book Week.  The subject matter alone -- a high school student's struggle with his/her transgender identity -- makes it ripe for picking-on.  Unfortunately, when book subject matter makes some people uncomfortable, their knee-jerk reaction is that it is inappropriate for all.

I will say that the language is rough.  On my clean-o-meter reading, it's way in the red, mostly for the ubiquitous use of the F-bomb.  But hey, it's Brooklyn, and a public school setting, so this seems pretty realistic. There is one graphic sex term used, but there isn't any sex.  There is underage drinking, and the consequences of overindulging right along with it.  There is a character who is a cutter, but it is not glorified but instead identified as a cry for help. There are references to drug use, but again, it's all pretty realistic for a high school setting.  (Anyone who thinks it isn't needs to spend a day in a high school, as a fly on the wall.) Many of the things that would cause someone to challenge the book are all in one early chapter, that is really not overly germane to the rest of the story. The whole chapter is really to illustrate J's attempt to be accepted and his commitment to his best friend.

The main character, J,  is really a pretty good kid.  He's trying to figure out how what he knows -- that he is a boy born anatomically as a girl -- can be reconciled with societal beliefs. His struggles are real, and in many ways, his struggles are universal to teens: his parents don't understand him (and vice versa), he makes assumptions about how others feel about him, he doesn't think things through and acts/reacts irrationally, he worries about getting into college, pleasing others, displeasing others, and obsesses over his looks (and how others see him), he is teased and bullied, he is adored and hated. . . he doesn't know who he is or where he's going. Sounds pretty typically teen to me, just has the added element of transgender.  In context, it's one more source of angst for a kid whose plate is already overflowing.

Was this the best written book I've ever read? Absolutely not. The story drags in places and sometimes is disjointed.  It definitely turns out rosier than I think would for most in J's shoes, but the ending is hopeful, which is exactly the message any high school kid needs to hear.