Judging the Cover: Cinderella Ate My Daughter

Judging the Cover: 
Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the front lines of the new girlie-girl culture
Author: Peggy Orenstein

Normally I see bright pink frilly covers and immediately run the opposite direction. Yep, I'm an unabashed cover-judger, and it's kept me away from some pretty decent books over the years. I gave this one a second glance, however, because the title seemed to be mocking what the cover was portraying; also, it was in the social sciences area of the dewey decimal section, so I figured there might be an interesting twist at play. It's actually a serious look at the sexualization of young girls through the media, Disney, beauty pageants, and more - a frightening world. How can we help our daughters grow out of the princess phase and love themselves for who they are? Though subject matter is far more intense than the bubblegum pink, lighthearted cover would have us believe. Is it good to have such a stark contrast between cover and content? I don't know, but it caught my eye.

Master Post: Reviews, Lists, & Trailers

I don't post reviews of every book I read, but I try to post as often as I'm able. Here is the master list of all my reviews:

TEEN FICTION:
Across the Universe by Beth Revis (review)
Ash by Malinda Lo
The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier (trailer & read-alikes)
Hero by Perry Moore (review)
I Am J by Cris Beam (review)
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth (review)
Nation by Terry Pratchett (review)
Pink by Lili Wilkinson (review)
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher (review)

GENERAL FICTION:
The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (review)
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (review)

GRAPHIC NOVELS:
Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi (review)
T-Minus: The Race to the Moon (review) (listed)
Runaways by Brian K. Vaughan (review)
The work of Ariel Schrag (video)(paper)
Channel Zero by Brian Wood (review)
Local by Brian Wood (review)
Demo by Brian Wood (review)

AUDIO BOOKS:
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (review)
Sabriel by Garth Nix (review)
Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi (review)
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (review)

NONFICTION:
Veggie Burgers Every Which Way by Lukas Volger


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Review: The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (2009)

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Warm. Rich. Satisfying. This book was like a cup of hot cocoa on a chilly fall evening. Erica Bauermeister’s dreamy, succulent prose draws the reader into a place where time stands still and food can heal any soul.

Once every month, Lillian opens her restaurant’s kitchen to the students enrolled in her eight-week cooking class. You won’t find any recipes in this kitchen; in their place is a collection of ingredients of uncompromising quality and the woman who knows how to spin them into magic. Each chapter focuses on one of the students in the class and the dish that Lillian chooses to teach them that evening. Somehow, Lillian always knows what each student needs: a wedding cake for the couple that never had one, a spicy pasta sauce to shake up relationships, or a luscious crab dish to awaken lost parts of the self. Though bittersweet moments abound, each vignette brings a satisfactory conclusion and a healing of old wounds.

If you dislike similes, flowery description, and happy endings for everyone, then stay far, far away from this book. If you want lush prose you can sink into and characters you grow to love, pick up The School of Essential Ingredients.

Review: Nation by Terry Pratchett (2008)

Nation by Terry Pratchett

Nation (2008) is not your typical Terry Pratchett offering. Readers who aren’t familiar with Pratchett’s massive back catalog of works need not worry; this young adult novel is a standalone piece unrelated to his previous series work. The Times Online said of Nation, “Thought-provoking as well as fun, this is Terry Pratchett at his most philosophical, with characters and situations sprung from ideas and games with language. And it celebrates the joy of the moment.”

Nation is an alternate history set in the 1860s, though elements of fantasy are present throughout the book. The primary characters are Daphne, a high-born daughter of British nobility with too many thoughts in her head for society’s taste; and Mau, a young Island man set to complete his right-of-passage to adulthood. When a tidal wave destroys life as they know it, Daphne and Mau are forced to reconsider long-held beliefs and cobble together a community of refugees. They learn from each other, respect each other, achieve great things together — and make the greatest scientific discovery of the century.

The real value of Nation is in its handling of the most difficult issues in life: death, grief, faith, and community. While it may sound exceedingly sad, make no mistake, Pratchett’s dry humor and sense of the joy in life make Nation an inspiring and fulfilling read. No matter what your age, if you love character-driven stories then pick up Nation by Terry Pratchett in the YA Fiction collection.

A Printz Award Honor book.

Review: The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (2011)

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

Books have the wondrous power to free our minds and save us, but life for us is never quite as fanciful and free of consequences as it is for the characters in our books. The Borrower follows Lucy, an accidental children’s librarian with revolution in her blood; and Ian, a 10-year old book lover whose parents heavily censor his reading and force him to attend an anti-gay camp. The two inadvertently kidnap each other and set out on a completely unintended road trip, much to Lucy’s dismay.

Though the premise sounds far-fetched and funny, and there are indeed quite a few funny moments, The Borrower is in fact a challenging read for the ethical dilemmas Lucy faces, her questionable choices, and our view into her slowly crumbling identity. Ian’s sparkling characterization and bright personality shine a bright light into the dark places this novel explores, and the need to see the consequence and resolution for both characters keeps the pages turning. Fans of juvenile and young adult literature will be pleased by the frequent parodies and references to familiar works, though librarians may be offended by gross misrepresentations of library ethics and the profession itself.

You won’t find a rollicking beach read or a neat and concrete ending here, but the character interactions and the exploration of freedom and identity are worth the journey.

New Year's Resolutions @ Your Library

The new year is upon us – the time when we think back on the last 365 days and consider what we did right, what we did wrong, and what our hopes are for the future. Why not include the library in your New Year’s resolution plans? Take a look at some of the resources available at your local library that can help get your 2012 off to a great start!

(Numbers in parentheses are Dewey Decimal call numbers.)

Money: Economically-speaking, times are rough for many of us. The library has a variety of resources to help you stretch your dollars, budget effectively, plan for retirement, spend wisely, and get out of debt.

Personal Finance (332.024), Retirement (332.024 & 646.79), Consumer Report (reference desk)

Health: Whether you’re looking to learn to cook, start cooking more meals at home, drop a few pounds, or manage a troublesome health issue, libraries have you covered!

Diet & Fitness (613.25-613.79), Cooking & Cookbooks (641), Psychology & Self Help (150-158), Medical Sciences (610-619)

Hobbies: Do you have a passion you never pursued, or a craft you’ve always wanted to learn? Maybe you’re just looking for something new and interesting to learn, or something fun to pass the time. We have everything from goat farming and beekeeping to quilting and knitting.

Gardening & Hobby Farming (630-635), Pets & Other Animals (636-639), Crafting (738-746), Music (780-788)

Education: Is your 2012 goal to go back to school, improve your knowledge of a subject area, or make the most of the education you have? Maybe you want to catch up with current technology or learn new software. We can feed your brain and give you the leg up you need.

Standardized Test Guides (378), College Majors (331.7023, 378), Computer & Software Classes @ the library

Career: Is 2012 the year you’ll start a new career? Launch your own small business? Improve your management skills or leadership? We have all the tools you need to set yourself up for success.

Resumes & Cover Letters (650.14), Business, Leadership, & Management (658), Small Business (658.022)

Family: Will you be starting a family in 2012, or perhaps expanding? Are you interested in researching your family history and lineage? See what the library has in store for your family, and don't forget to check out the library's programs for families, children, and teens.

Pregnancy & Fertility (618.2), Parenting (305-306, 649), Genealogy (LGH section), Adoption (362.734)

Reading: Last but never least, the library exists to support reading and literacy. We have books and audiobooks galore in both hard copies and electronic versions available for download. Fiction, non-fiction, books for teens, books for children, practical, fun, informative, frivolous, whatever strikes your fancy. And don’t forget, if we don’t have a book or topic that you’d like to see on our shelves, feel free to fill out a purchase request at the circulation desk!

Fiction (adults, teenagers, children), Books about Books (011, 028, 809-810, 813), Books about Reading (372, 649.58)

Let us help you with your plans for the new year! We hope to see you soon.

Happy New Year from your Library!

(This is an edited version of a post I wrote for the library I work for. All Dewey decimal numbers refer to books as they are classified in our library. Your mileage may very, but they should definitely get you in the right area.)

Review: Ash, by Malinda Lo (2009)

Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash is the first book by new author Malinda Lo, a retelling of the Cinderella story with the dark influence of Celtic faerie mythology and several new twists.

Aisling, called Ash for short, is the Cinderella analogue of the story, and the book begins traditionally with Ash beside her mother's grave. The first few chapters establish a world locked in an ideological battle between reason and the old ways of magic and fairies. Despite the lessons of every fairy story she's heard, Ash goes to her mother's grave in the middle of the night and meets Sidhean, a dark and seductive prince of the fairies.

As the rest of the Cinderella elements fall into place, complete with evil stepmother and stepsisters, Ash clings more and more tightly to memories of Sidhean and the fairy world. She begs the prince to take her away to the fairy kingdom where she can live the life of songs and dancing and escape the clutches of her stepmother. His response is always the same: "It is not the right time." Enter Kaisa, the King's Huntress and a strong young woman who begins to heal Ash's wounded heart. They become friends slowly over several chance encounters, and Ash soon finds herself torn between the woman who pulled her out of her downward spiral and the fairy prince she is beholden to.

Lo's first novel is dark and atmospheric, with lush prose that fully draws the reader into a world of dangerous magic. Though the writing is lovely, the storytelling is hollow; the book lacks momentum, the characters are largely undeveloped archetypes, and the dialogue is stiff and awkward. Ash does not seem to mature at all over the course of the book, despite aging by several years. By the end, she still has the mental maturity of the twelve-year-old we met at the beginning, which dims the believability of the love triangle. Despite the novel being highly anticipated for its treatment of same-sex relationships, the romance between Kaisa and Ash falls flat. The moments of chemistry between the two women were few and far between, and by the story's resolution they still feel like nothing more than acquaintances. By comparison, Sidhean has a dark magnetism that keeps Ash coming back. The language used to describe their encounters is smooth and seductive, and the reader feels drawn into their dance.

Ultimately, the book's largest failing was Ash herself. In addition to her lack of maturity, she was weak-willed and dominated by the other people in her life. While this is a natural part of the Cinderella story, it made it impossible to relate to her or feel anything but pity. As identification with the protagonist is especially critical in young adult fiction, this flaw is crippling. By the time Ash finally decides to take matters into her own hands, she seems incapable of carrying out a decision on her own, thus diluting an already weak ending that broke the established rules of the world.

Despite its flaws, Ash is a worthwhile read. The messages of redemptive love and the danger of taking the easy way out are valuable tokens for young adult readers and adults alike. Malinda Lo shows promise, and her future books will be worth picking up to watch her talent develop.

(Originally written for Associated Content in June 2010.)