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- Category: Helen
As a teenager, I can remember imagining who I’d thank if I won an Academy Award. To be clear, I had no ambition then or ever, to be an actor. Still, one daydreams…
Imagine a teenager daydreaming about being in charge… say President of the United States. Then imagine the light bulb moment – why wait? Why not a 17-year-old president?
That is what Soman Chainani imagined. The already extremely accomplished author of The School for Good and Evil series, among others, imagined Benton Young. In a near future, where climate change is worse, and politicians are about the same, Benton decides to try.
A Revolting Youth movement - fantastic name - starts with Benton in the United States and spreads across the G7. Suddenly, the leaders of the free world are all teenagers. They sweep into office on their promises to be different. They promise to think about the planet and future generations, instead of accumulating short-term wealth and power for themselves.
In their first week as leaders, these teenagers gather for a G7 meeting. Huge issues are on the agenda, and President Benton Young is still working out the names of each of the other leaders, and trying to wrest power away from American politicians.
That premise had me reading late into the night, as it was. Then – THEN! – one of the teenage leaders is murdered. The suspects? The other teenage leaders!
As Benton and his team (his two best friends, his poli-sci teacher and one or two trustworthy U.S. government officials) navigate the other G7 leaders, murder charges, impeachment in the U.S., unhelpful parents, and the inevitable international conspiracy – they gradually figure out what’s going on, and what to do. This book is the definition of action packed. It is an ode to the vitality, optimism, authenticity and creativity of young people. And who knows? If they had control, maybe they would rule the world better than grown-up politicians. They probably wouldn’t make it any worse.
Young Adult Fiction pr8246495
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- Category: Helen
Our Little Secret by Edward Kay & Mikhael Klassen-Kay
This book grabs the reader by the throat. It opens with a textbook case example of "in medias res". Truly, the opening sentences are among the best I’ve ever read, for any age level, ever.
Our Little Secret reveals said secret in the final words of the book – BANG! I honestly, did not see it coming. I believe it’s the reason the book was written, in the first place.
Mind you, please don’t just read the last page. Please treat yourself to the whole thing. Why? We have a fantastic beginning and a extraordinary close. In between, there is a mystery which, full disclosure, I did unravel, but I am very proud of myself about that. The story is relentless in expanding mystery conventions. Like the rule for improv theatre, the plot constantly says, “Yes, and…” More than a whodunnit – although it is that – it is also an intriguing “whydunnit”.
So, to review we have… a great opener, great final curtain, great plot. The protagonists are also remarkable, not the least because there are three of them - well developed, flawed, presented in first person. The interactions of Chloe, Jordan and Nick deepen the mysteries, suspense, and characterization building in the other two. Books told from several points of view sometimes require the reader to page back, “who is this again? Who’s talking?” Not here. Their voices are distinct. Also, I grew to really care about each of them, and was terrified for most of the book, for all their sakes.
Other boxes this book checks, besides what we’ve explored so far; there is a neurodivergent protagonist, a trans protagonist, and a BIPOC protagonist. The timing of the transition of the protagonist is critical to plot development, in several ways. Intricate framing of the plot and characters build beautifully. I’m running out of adjectives! In short, one of the best books I’ve read, for any age, ever. In many ways it is a peerless book. Oh, and, one more plus… it is Canadian.
Young Adult Fiction pr8324219
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- Category: Helen
The Lion's Run by Sara Pennypacker
If you're like me and think, “surely there isn’t anything else to say or learn about World War II?!,” someone like Sara Pennypacker finds something new. In The Lion's Run, I learned more about the Nazi’s, what was taken from people in France, about the Resistance, than I could have imagined.
In any book about WWII, characters are inevitably in grave danger. In grown-up books, 90% of the characters you love die. Despite taking place in occupied France (spoiler alert), even though it might appear that characters are going to get caught and killed... no one is. Only one kitten dies out of a whole litter (so bad luck for said kitten), but that’s a pretty sunny outcome considering. An orphaned, under-estimated boy; his resistance organizer and adoptive mother; a rich, enlightened courageous girl; her hidden horse, all the hidden kittens (except that one); the pregnant single mother; her stolen baby... everyone lives and/or escapes.
And our protagonist is critical to each of those plot points. It’s nice when an author empowers a child in such a convincing way. Young patrons learn that kids can change the world.
Middle Grade Fiction pr8095781