Reading with ABC: 1 Window 2 Views

Showing posts with label 1 Window 2 Views. Show all posts

Friday, March 14, 2014

One Window, Two Views {2014 Trends in YA}

One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view. Please join the discussion!

Arianne: Sci-fi is going to be huge this year. Huge. And it’s not just any old sci-fi, either. There are two big trends to watch out for in young adult science fiction for 2014: aliens, particularly aliens really wanting to inhabit the Earth, and technology, particularly scary technology from the not-too-distant future. Some of the alien adventures, like Alienated by Melissa Landers and Avalon by Mindee Arnett, involve romance. Some of the technology-based titles, like Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam, involve romance, too. Others, like Dissonance by Erica O’Rourke and Starbreak by Phoebe North, involve entirely different worlds. But there’s also an emerging focus on adventure over insta-love, and this is where novels like Scan by Sarah Fine and Vitro by Jessica Khoury come in. Because sci-fi’s always been a place where relationship conflicts and ass-kicking adventure can co-exist, and that’s one thing that I hope doesn’t change this year.

As dystopian and paranormal lose their publishing appeal, contemporary is making a comeback. For a genre that’s always been pretty strong, it’s outdone itself in 2014. First, there are books like #Scandal by Sarah Ockler and #16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler that take the emphasis on social media last seen in books like Adorkable by Sarra Manning and bring it to a whole new level. I for one did not foresee the arrival of hashtags in book titles! Male narrators are coming into their own this year – who said there weren’t enough guy characters in YA?! The Prince of Venice Beach by Blake Nelson, High and Dry by Sarah Skilton, More Than Good Enough by Crissa-Jean Chappell and Road Rash by Mark Parsons set out to prove that contemporary is just as much a guy’s terrain as a girl’s. There’s also been an increase in books that take advantage of teenagers’ desire to get out and see the world. Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae, Royally Lost by Angie Stanton, Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins and The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith are just some of the books in this trend that I can’t wait to get my hands on. In fact, I think contemporary is going to be my favourite genre of all in 2014! What about you, Liza?

Liza: Arianne, I think some of the new trends also include Thriller / Mystery / Horror (I’m grouping them together to make it easier on myself!) These are genres that I’m usually very selective about, especially with horror, because I’m a wimp when it comes to that. It seems that publishers are looking for the next “Gone Girl” equivalent in YA. Nevertheless, I’ve spotted some books that fall in these categories and that I would love to read (and I even own some of them already). Let’s start with Jennifer Armentrout’s Don’t Look Back which sounds like an amazing mystery, the same as The Body in the Woods by April Henry. I’m currently reading a unique combination of horror, mystery and graphic novel, In the Shadows by Kierten White and Jim Di Bartolo. Other books in this category are The Vanishing Season by Lynn Anderson, The Fall by Bethany Griffin, Say Her Name by James Dawson, and Feral by Holly Schinder. Now that I think about it, I’ve had more of these as my WOW in the past several weeks!

Also big this year is Fantasy. After the sound successes of series like the Throne of Glass by Sara Maas, Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson and The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo, publishers are looking for more of the good stuff; after all it’s been proven that the YA reader loves fantasy. This year brings some pretty amazing reads that aim to transport us to new worlds. Let’s start with The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski and Death Sworn by Leah Cypess, two of my recent reads and already favorites. The first about the conquest, conquerors and love against all odds, and the second about a world where the Empire, Magic and Assassins rule the world. Another awaited title is The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Peason, Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raash, and Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White. You might notice that most of these books might also include some type of paranormal element, such as magic, as well. Oh, and it seems that it’s a requisite to have a gorgeous cover too.

I don’t believe that we’ve seen the last of dystopian and paranormal, but rather that the market it’s been saturated in the last few years and YA readers are being more selective of what they read. Another trend seems to be the emergence of the stand-alone books, probably brought by the resounding success of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. Books such as Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg (loved it!), This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready and On the Fence by Kasie West seem to be pretty popular.

Let’s talk: What do you think is the next big trend in YA? Which one of these is your favorite genre? Do you agree with us? Do you disagree? Have you read any of these? Are you eagerly waiting for some of these books?

Friday, March 7, 2014

One Window, Two Views {Love Triangles in YA}

Arianne and I are so excited to bring you this new feature! One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view. Please join the discussion!

Arianne: People say that love triangles in YA are a love/hate issue, but I don’t think it’s as clear cut as that. It’s not a case of love or hate – it’s a case of good writing versus bad writing. While I usually prefer singular or monogamous YA romances, love triangles are like any other plot device and they can be fantastically well-written. They can be engaging and genuinely heart-wrenching. But, like any other plot device, they can also be written badly – in books where one love interest is highly favoured over the other, where the end choice is obvious from the start, or where the love triangle defines the main character entirely, as if they don’t have lives outside the romantic choice they’re faced with. If a book has any of these features, it almost always detracts from my enjoyment of the novel.

Liza: I don’t really mind love triangles as long as they are well done. What I mean by that is that I really don’t like to read about infidelity – if you really don’t know your own feelings, the wait until you do before you act – and I don’t like when a female character leads two men/boys on for no apparent reason. I do hope that people in general (and specially teens) know better than that. Also, in real life, this doesn’t happen as often as it seems to happen in books. As you said, some books revolve solely on the love triangle, there’s no plot, no story, just the angst of making ‘the choice’.

Arianne: Of course, it’s unfair to dismiss all books which have a triangle-based romance, especially as some of my favourite books of all time feature them. When I think of these books – from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi to The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han – I don’t automatically think about the love triangle. I think about the story, the writing and the characters as people, not just placeholders. That’s the key difference between a great young adult love story and a lesser imitation – they can’t be easily defined. There’s not just once choice to make, but many; it’s not just a question of choosing the hot bad boy over the shy nice guy. There’s more to it than that. They don’t feel as if the writer as set out thinking “Well, people who read young adult books like love triangles, so I’ll just put one in here without developing it and see how it goes”. They’re complex and funny and tragic and well-realized, not thrown in because it fits a stereotypical description of what YA fans like to read about. That’s why I’d never issue a ban on love triangles in YA, because when they’re done right, they’re not just love triangles anymore. They’re part of something bigger.

Liza: I think we all have favorites that involve love triangles. I’ve read the first two books of Cassadra Clare’s Infernal Devices and there is clearly a love triangle here, but it is not what defines the story. The plot is go intricate and the writing and characterization so good, that the reader also cannot help but fall in love with Will and Jem. That, dear readers, is the way a good love triangle is done. Another prime example of this is the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Even though both boys were in love with Meghan, she clearly only had eyes for one of them. I think the triangle was in the mind of Puck and Ash, but not hers. Her choice was always clear, even to the other two corners of the triangle. There is also the case when there is the suggestion of a love triangle that it really isn’t one. For instance, in The Hunger Games (team Peeta or Team Dale, anyone?) I never felt like Dale had any change with Katniss, in fact, he didn’t even act like he was in love with her (not like Peeta), but I think the readers wanted to create a triangle, so they did. I am, in fact, ignoring the big elephant in the room, a.k.a. Twilight – we might require a post just to get through with that one!

Arianne: When it comes to YA love triangles, I just want to see things that are different. I want to see a guy trying to choose between two girls instead of a girl trying to choose between two boys. I want to see a guy trying to choose between two other guys, or a girl trying to choose between two other girls. I want to see unusual takes on the classic triangle, and less of the ‘guy with paranormal power swoops in to take ordinary girl away from the ordinary guy she would have ended up with otherwise’. I want authors who understand the difference between teenage love and teenage attraction, and give us credit for being able to choose between the two rationally and carefully. Maybe I’d like to see a book where the main character chooses neither of the love interest in the triangle at all! The point is, if there absolutely has to be a love triangle in your story, the more intricate and the more disguised you can make it, the more chance you’ll have of me enjoying it.

What are your thoughts about love triangles? Do your love them? Hate them? Do you think they can be done better? What are your favorites? What are some of your not so favorites?

Friday, February 28, 2014

One Window, Two Views {Diversity in YA}

Arianne and I are so excited to bring you this new feature! One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view. Please join the discussion!

Arianne: When it comes to diversity - whether it's to do with creed, culture, race or sexuality - YA is not where it should be. Yes, there are some fantastic examples of books where diversity is key - but we still need more of it.

Liza: I agree. Since I’m originally from Puerto Rico, I enjoy books about other cultures and I can really identify with Hispanic (Spanish speaking) characters.

Arianne: I know that when I read YA, I just want to read about characters who feel real to me. When I look at my favourite books, there's a pretty even split between what I would consider to be 'diverse books' and 'not so diverse books'. (And of course, there are the 'OMG why did I read this it's so badly written' books, or the 'there are plot holes everywhere HELP ME!' books that fit into both categories, because let's face it, whether you've created a diverse book or not, there's still the chance that it's just a terrible read.) The main characteristic of all these books, however, is that they are good stories - stories that are fantastically written, totally unique and refreshing to read.

Liza: You couldn’t be more right, it doesn’t matter what the topic of the book is, as long as it’s a good story. However, there is nothing wrong with writing a great story that includes diversity. I also have to confess that I don’t read as many divers books as I could, or rather that I don’t seek them out, it seems to be a happy coincidence when I read one.

Arianne: One great example - and this is a story I've always wanted to tell - of my personal experience of diversity in YA is the story of the first time I read Ash by Malinda Lo. (For those who don't know, Ash is a Cinderella retelling where Cinderella doesn't fall for the Prince, but for a Huntress named Kaisa.) I was reading young adult way before I was an actual young adult, and by the time I read Ash, the fact that the central romance was between two girls didn't even cross my mind as unusual. I saw it as something different and challenging and memorable. I was actually disappointed that there weren't more books like Ash on the shelf when I returned it to the library. I was hungry for books that showed me different worlds, different sides to life. I didn't know it then, but I was hungry for diversity.

Liza: Following your suit, let me give you two really good examples of cultural diversity that I love – Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles and The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler. The first is about a Mexican-American teen and what he has to go through to get ahead in life as a minority. Of course, it’s also a love story, but what I liked most about it is the sense of family that is always present among Hispanics. The Book of Broken hearts is a book that I read (listen to, really) due to your suggestion when I posted my rambling about authors using foreign languages in their books (see it here.) I’m SO glad that I listen to you Arianne, because I loved it (I still have to review it, but I promise to do it soon!) Again, the sense of family is such an intricate part of the story. I also loved that Ockler didn’t feel compelled to make the Hispanic community one of gangs or criminals, as it is often a stereotype that I dread in literature and movies/TV.

Arianne: For me, lack of diversity in YA just isn't acceptable. I actually get really heat up about it! The teen imagination is as vast as an ocean, filled with the potential for racing currents, thrilling danger and incredible creatures. YA books have the capacity to tell stories you would never see on the adult shelf, because we're open to new ideas and new ways of thinking. We're open to what others see as impossible - vampires, witches, ghosts, gods, monsters, parallel worlds and bizarre dystopian futures. But why, if YA authors are so willing to write about these fantastical impossibilities, are they unwilling to make their characters more diverse in real ways? Why are the shelves filled with book covers featuring pretty blonde rich girls and their super-hot boyfriends? Where are the ethnic minorities, the characters questioning their sexuality, the books where we aren't told the hero is straight and white on the first page and we should all just move on and assume that's how it's supposed to be?

Liza: I’m not sure I know the reasons either. Maybe it is because authors and publishers might be afraid, not only that it will not sell their book, but that their work (their babies, really) will be shunned, criticized and even banned. Another reason might be that since the young adult books are really designed for an age group that starts at around ages 10-12, parents get involved as well. It is my humble opinion as a mother that banning a book for its content is never the answer. Just as I supervise what my kids watch on TV or at the movies, I also supervise their reading. It is up to me, as a parent, to shape their minds and make sure that the content is age appropriate.

Arianne: I get that certain types of young adult books sell, I do. Publishing is a business, not a fairytale. Authors, editors, agents, designers, PR departments and all the people in the between - they have to make a living. I don't want my favourite authors to have to work three jobs and sleep in their car because their books were 'difficult to market' or 'didn't acquire a large audience'. But without change, the YA sections are going to get smaller and smaller, because, eventually, teenagers will get tired of reading the same stories over and over again. Our expectations of the books we read are getting higher, and I know this makes us a demanding bunch, but you know what? I think YA can meet that demand, because YA does good books better than any other category I know.

Liza: I think that what ‘sells’ varies from year to year. Once a book or series becomes a ‘hit’ bestseller, which was the case with The Hunger Games and the Twilight Saga for example, it seems like everyone wants to jump in the same wagon. This is understandable and not isolated to the publishing industry, the same happens with movies, fashion and even food. However, I think that YA readers also appreciate the unique and the different. Every reader wants to discover that one story that makes them feel, that story that they can identify with, even if it’s not wrapped with a pink bow. Not writing about important topics such as creed, sexuality or cultural diversity doesn’t in any way change the reality that surrounds us, on the contrary it feels like we are trying to bury our heads in the sand or look the other way.

Arianne: Personally, I think 2014 is definitely going to be a big year for diversity in YA. 2015 and 2016, too, have already been slated as the years for a landslide change in the shape and look of the YA bookshelf. People are starting to realize that diversity shouldn't be regarded as an obstacle, but as an asset - and the norm. I'm really hopeful that as the year goes on we'll see more books from diverse perspectives. This year, and beyond, I want to read more about characters whose experiences have thus far been pushed aside by the industry. Publishers are getting braver, and I love that, because YA fiction is supposed to be a place where anything can happen, and we can never afford to forget it.

Liza: Like with everything else in life, as years go by, we (as in ‘people’) get more open minded. Things that we see and hear now would have appalled and scandalized my grandmother, but they are common occurrences now, and thus it will get better for each generation. I think you’re right as we will soon see an increase in these topic for YA in years to come.

Arianne: For anyone who's interested in finding out more about the kind of LCBTQ diversity I've spoken about today, I highly recommend checking out Malinda Lo and Cindy Pon's diversity project - aptly named Diversity in YA! From there, you'll find a whole new world full of stats, trends, blog posts and interactive discussion on this topic and more.

What are your thoughts about diversity in YA? Are you open to read more of these books? Do you care either way as long is it is a good story? Any book recommendations for us?

Friday, February 21, 2014

One Window, Two Views {Harry and Hermione or Hermione and Ron}

Arianne and I are so excited to bring you this new feature! One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view. Please join the discussion!

Arianne: When the article where JK Rowling admitted she regretted letting Ron and Hermione end up together first appeared, I thought it was going to break the internet! I believe her comments were: “For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron. I can hear the rage and fury it might cause some fans, but if I’m absolutely honest, distance has given me perspective”.

It's not outright saying the relationship didn't work, but an author even admitting she had doubts about 'big romance' of her most famous series is kind of a big deal! The Romione relationship is really important to a lot of fans - but (please don't maim me for what I'm about to say next!) I've always been a Harry/Hermione supporter, and when I read the article I was secretly thrilled. It was like being told "You were right, there was something there between them all along!" What about you, Liza?

Liza: That is so funny! I’m not at all surprised by Rowling’s statement. I’m not an author, but if I may insert a comparison here, when I bake a recipe for the first time I make notes: more sugar the next time, more vanilla, maybe adding more chocolate chips or replacing the pecans for almonds. Similarly, any artist often judges and criticizes her/his own work; it must be difficult indeed. Like you, I could easily imagine Harry and Hermione together, but I have to admit that by ‘The Goblet of Fire’ when Hermione started showing interest in Ron, the idea kind of grew on me.

Arianne: That's a good point, actually - when you read what Rowling said, you have to step back and think, "Hold on, was anyone really surprised by this?" I can totally understand why as a writer she felt she needed more control over her work. Remember, by the time the third and fourth books were published, the movies were already a huge success. Imagine how hard it must have been to see the books stripped back and streamlined so that only the bare bones were left intact. Of course the central story was still there, but it must have been like looking up a big, old tree and wondering which branch would be chopped off next! By going ahead with the Ron/Hermione romance no matter what was happening on the screen, JK Rowling made the relationship part of the tree's trunk, the very heart of the series, so no one could possibly dream of taking it away. I think a lot of people can empathize with her decision, no matter which relationship you support at the end of the day.

Liza: Maybe part of the problem for me, was that throughout the series we get to know and love this magical trio of friends. Since the ‘idea’ of Ron/Hermione is introduced early on, we, as readers got used to it and didn’t question it further. Sadly, that is not the case with Ginny Wesley. It may be, not that we can’t imagine Ron and Hermione together, but that I never saw any chemistry between Ginny and Harry. Furthermore, Harry and Hermione always behaved like siblings, and the bond of love between them was palpable, I can easily imagine that bond growing into something more.

Arianne: I'm in total agreement with you there. I may not have wanted them to end up together romantically, but Ron and Hermione have a very funny, tense, dynamic relationship - it's interesting. The same can't really be said for Harry and Ginny. I think that's why I started thinking about Harry and Hermione possibly falling for each other - because even if their romance wasn't happening on the page, the excitement of what could have been was way more believable and intriguing than Harry and Ginny were!

The one scene that really made me believe it though was when Harry and Hermione dance together while Ron's gone in Deathly Hallows. It's so different in the movie than in the book - tender and sweet and, like you said, really indicative of the bond they share, and maybe indicative of that bond changing, too. I was totally floored by it.

Liza: You’re right! That was a splendid scene, an indication that even though they were in the middle of nowhere, missing their loved ones, at a loss of what path to follow next; they could find solace in each other. I also always felt that Hermione was such an indispensable part of helping Harry defeat Voldemort. I can’t even imagine where they would have been without her unwavering faith in Harry, her extraordinary intelligence, her quick wit and quicker thinking. I think, more than the rest, Harry knew this, he accepted it and appreciated Hermione above everyone else.

Arianne: Harry wouldn't have made it past the first book without Hermione! We're talking as if Hermione needs a man beside her to survive, but she's a fantastic character all by herself - my favourite by far! I think she and Harry could have had a wonderful relationship, full of respect, reassurance and the bond we so love to see between them - but her relationship with Ron shows that no matter how many differences there are between you, love is love and who are we to say it wouldn't have worked out?

When it comes down to it, I'd like to be able to say a supporter of Harry/Hermione in the movies and Ron/Hermione in the books - but I support the friendship between the three of them most of all.

What do you think? Did it ever crossed your mind that Harry and Hermione might have been a couple? How do you feel about J.K. Rowling's comments? Were you surprised at all?

Credit for window