Module 8: Bones of Faerie

Module 8 provided an introduction to fantasy and science fiction books for children and young adults.  One of the novels I read for this module was Bones of Faerie, written by Janni Lee Simner.  This book fits firmly in the "fantasy" category, and could also be considered dystopian in nature.

Image credit: http://www.simner.com/bonesoffaerie/

Bones of Faerie is the first in a series of novels about Liza, a girl living in a seemingly post-apocalyptic town somewhere in North America.  Before Liza was born, there was a war between humans and the faeries, and ever since any person with a hint of magic about them has been killed, in order to "save" the rest of the people living there.  Liza ultimately discovers that she has magical abilities and runs away, knowing that her father will have her killed.  When she escapes, she learns that not every town is like her own, which raises a lot of questions for her.  She goes on a journey to find her mother, who ran away from home after Liza's younger sister was killed at birth for appearing magical.

This book was very interesting, and I really liked the tone and writing style employed by Simner.  I think this book would be very popular with young adult readers, since post-apocalyptic, dystopian, and supernatural elements are very hot among teens right now.  I enjoyed the fantasy elements and relationships that were included in the story because they seemed more "realistic" than other books written for this age group in recent years.

Ian Chipman of Booklist wrote the following review of the novel:
"Simner’s first novel for YAs is an attention-catching twist of two piping-hot speculative scenarios—a postapocalyptic-wasteland journey layered upon a faerie-world-intruding-upon-our-own setup... Simner’s world-building leans heavily on atmospherics in lieu of specifics, and the foggy descriptions of magic are even tougher to get a handle on. But the mood is strikingly dark, and questions regarding humankind’s tendency toward suspicion and xenophobia will loom large in readers’ minds. Much information is frustratingly withheld from both Liza and the reader, and many questions are left unanswered, but this will still garner a share of fans for its unusual and unsettling vision of a magically dystopian future.

I feel like this book is best suited for individual reading, but it could also be used in a fantasy book club setting.  I will be discussing this and the first of several other fantasy series in a book talk later this week, so I'm very interested to see what the seventh grade set will think about the story line.

References:
Chipman, I.  (2008).  Bones of Faerie.  Booklist, 105(7), 41.

Simner, J.L.  (2009).  Bones of Faerie.  NY: Random House.

Module 7: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Realistic fiction is one of the most popular genres of books for all ages.  One great realistic fiction novel for teens is The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares.

Image credit: http://www.kdl.org/categories/696/books/4328

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is the story of four teenaged girls who have been best friends since they were born.  This summer, however, they will all go on their own separate adventures.  On the eve of their separation, they find "the pants" - which seem to have the magical ability to fit and flatter each girl, although they all have very different body types.  A pact is made - the pants will travel to each girl, where she will have great adventures, and at the end of the summer they will document what has happened in the pants when they reunite.  Along the way, each of the girls experiences some relationship struggles (as all teen girls are apt to do!) and learn something about themselves.

One review of The Sisterhood reads:
"In this feel-good novel with substance, four teenage girls, friends since they were all born just weeks apart, are about to embark on their first summer as separate young women... The pants become a metaphor for the young women finding their own strength in the face of new love, unexpected friendships and death, a father's remarriage, and a reckless relationship-and without their best friends. Debut novelist Brashares renders each girl individual and lovable in her own right, emphasizing growing up without growing apart. Move over, Ya Ya Sisters."

I first read this book many years ago, when the movie first came out.  I was closer in age to the main characters of the novel then, but after re-reading it for this module, I realized that this books is very relatable to women of all ages.  I think most women have experienced close female relationships, as well as the struggles of finding oneself, navigating romantic relationships and changing family dynamics.  I think that is what makes this book so valuable - it is realistic and the descriptions of the character's emotions are spot-on.

This book would make an excellent summer book club read for a public library setting.  Getting together over the course of several weeks to discuss the novel, teenage girls can learn more about themselves, possibly find some new friends, and at the end - enjoy a "night at the movies", watching the film adaptation and some refreshments.

References:

Brashares, A.  (2001).  The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.  New York: 17^th Street Productions.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.  (2001).  Kirkus Reviews, 69(15), 1117.  From Literature Resource Center.  http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA77756727&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w