… is to apparently talk about Book Club. Apologies to Chuck Palahniuk.
I belong to the same extracurricular book club that Ginny discussed in her last post. As you’ll recall, our goals are simple: read good YA books and charm waiters across the city. We’re doing okay on both accounts.
Here’s what we’ve read recently…
Everything Leads to You, Nina La Cour (book, ebook) – Emi, a recent high school graduate, is getting her start in the film industry as a set designer. During a visit to an estate sale with her boss, she finds a letter that leads to Ava – a bit of a manic pixie dream girl. Pros: LGBTQ characters, movie-making fun. Cons: Unrealistic expectations of post-high school job prospects
The Darkest Part of the Forest, Holly Black (book, ebook, audio) – Twins Hazel and Ben live in a small town where humans and faeries mostly co-exist without any issues. Deep in the forest, a boy has been sleeping in a glass coffin for as long as anyone can remember – until one day, he finally wakes up. Pros: Sword-wielding girls, LGBTQ characters. Cons: Static characters (we all agreed that the story would have worked better as a graphic novel)
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Benjamin Alire Saenz (book, ebook, audio) – Ari’s older brother is in prison and no one will talk about it. Dante lives in a house where they talk about everything. After meeting at a community pool, they begin an uneasy friendship that turns into the most important relationship in their lives. Pros: Beautiful writing, LGBTQ characters. Cons: Not many (this book has won ALL of the awards – Lambda Literary Award and Stonewall Book Award for LGBT fiction, an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award honor, Pura Belpré Narrative Medal for Latino fiction, and Michael L. Printz Award honor for Young Adult fiction.)
And we went with Gabi, a Girl in Pieces for next time.
If you’re looking to get some book club action for yourself, check out our Events page to find one that works for you!
– Jess
Eleventh Stack 