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Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

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Samantha — Sam in the summer, when she’s away from her year-round school responsibilities and is instead focusing on her swimming — is part of a tight-knit group of girls called the Crazy 8s. For the most part, the girls are hard to tease apart and delineate as individuals. They’ve been tight for a long time, and they’ve done what seems like everything together.

But this year, after a refreshing, invigorating summer, Samantha is feeling anxious about beginning another year of high school with her best girls. In many ways, they’re not really friends. They’re together because it’s part of their reputation and because it’s been part of the routine since kindergarten. Samantha, though, isn’t all in.

It’s not just that she’s feeling distanced from them. It’s that her mental illness — Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, of the Pure-O variety —  has gotten bad. Really, really bad. She’s unable to remove the distressing thoughts from her mind in a healthy way, even though she’s taking medication for it and seeking regularly weekly therapy with a therapist who she trusts and who cares about her deeply.

Fortunately, on that first day of school, things seem different. Samantha meets Caroline, a girl she’d never noticed before at school. It’s Caroline who introduces Samantha to an underground poetry club at school called Poet’s Corner, which meets in a hidden space at the school. It’s Caroline who helps Samantha to more embrace her “Sam” — the girl she is when she’s swimming in the summer and the girl who is most like who she is. It’s Caroline who helps Sam discover a passion for writing, for performing, and who ultimately introduces her to AJ, a boy who Sam had tormented years earlier with her fellow Crazy 8s. When Sam apologizes and begins to see AJ for more than the guy he used to be, they begin a really powerful, well-developed, and satisfyingly dynamic relationship with one another.

I went into Tamara Ireland Stone’s Every Last Word with some hesitance. I’ve read more than one OCD book in the last few years, and while they’ve all explored the illness in some unique way, I always worry that it’ll be manifested in a way that feels more like a television representation than authentic to the illness. But it was pleasing to see Stone didn’t do this in the least. Sam’s OCD in this book is rendered incredibly, authentically, and might be one of the best mental illness books I’ve ever read.

YA loves mental illness, and this isn’t a bad thing. The problem I’ve found, though, is so many of these books read like check lists in some capacity. You can see the research the author put into the book because the character and his/her behaviors feel like the research itself. She/he does this, then this, then this, and then there’s the diagnosis of the illness.

But Ireland Stone subverts this trap through the research.

Samantha has a type of OCD that is less about the compulsions and more about the obsessive and distressing thoughts. That doesn’t mean, though, she completely lacks any compulsions. She has to do things in threes. She can’t, for example, park her car if the mileage isn’t ending on a multiple of three. But this isn’t about those things; the real misery for Sam is how she cannot stop thinking horrific things. Not only do we see those horrific things, but we experience them along with her. She’s fearful of what will happen in every single act she undertakes, and she tells readers how miserable it is to have these thoughts. She’s anxious all of the time, and while many readers may not understand that anxiety as it creeps in — so many of the things that shouldn’t cause it are — I couldn’t help but completely, utterly relate to Sam in many of these manners. I have anxiety issues, and though it is not to this extreme, I felt those feelings and fears with Sam because I completely empathized and sympathized with her. It’s difficult reading, but it’s a window into a mental illness that’s well-done.

That’s not where it stops though. From here on, you have spoilers, so jump down to the last two paragraphs if you don’t want them (that starts with “The romance”).

One of the things Ireland Stone does is offer a piece of Sam’s illness that isn’t “on the books.” Caroline, the girl she meets and who introduces her to Poet’s Corner and AJ, isn’t real. She’s a figment of Sam’s overactive, illed brain. Sam talks about Caroline at numerous therapy sessions, and through those sessions, we learn what Caroline is to her: she’s a force that pushes Sam outside of her comfort zone. Caroline is the way Sam allows herself to push boundaries, as well as the way Sam is able to overcome her anxiety about doing new and different things, including reading and writing poetry, apologizing to AJ and pursuing a relationship with him, and pushing outside the security and comfort of the Crazy 8s, even though they’ve been her long-time friends.

Caroline’s not being real doesn’t particularly trip up Sam’s therapist. Rather, her therapist talks about how everyone’s brains are really special and unique, and those who struggle with mental illnesses don’t all struggle in the same way. Rather, brains are so interesting that even diagnosable illnesses can take on different forms, different coping mechanisms, and create these rich stories that don’t make sense to anyone. Caroline is part of Sam’s coping, her brain’s means of pushing her forward and through her day-to-day. Ireland Stone’s subversion here — the assurance she offers Sam through the narrative, through Sue and more, the assurance she offers any readers struggling with mental illness — is noteworthy and commendable. We are “off the book” here in terms of what we understand about diseases like OCD and yet, it’s not treated as if it’s a boogeyman or a malfunction. It’s part of a brain that’s firing strangely on a chemical level and…that’s all.

That is a radical, powerful moment.

Therapy and medication in this book are not big deals. Rather, they’re tools in combatting mental illness and becoming a functional, healthy human being. The medication discussion here is about how it can sometimes take work and how sometimes, there is an adjustment period and adjustments necessary to make them work the best way that they can. Ireland renders Sue, Sam’s therapist, as a full and functional human beyond the “role” she plays as a therapist. In fact, the book does a great job depicting all of the major adults in this book; they’re all there, and even if they can’t all be helpful, it’s nice to see them as fully-realized characters, rather than secondary and less important.

The romance in this story is really rewarding, and for many readers, this will be the highlight of the story, not the treatment of mental illness. AJ and Sam do not have an easy romance at all. AJ is really not all-in with Sam, and he doesn’t welcome her immediately. Even after she apologizes for how she used to treat him, AJ is tentative. He doesn’t want to give her all of his trust immediately, and there’s pushing and pulling that’s authentic, challenging, and true to how romantic relationships in teenagers work but that we don’t get to see in fiction quite enough. There are no fireworks here, no quick resolutions. This relationship takes work. It’s earned, not expected.

Every Last Word comes out June 16, so the review is a little early, but it’s a book worth putting on your radar now. Ireland Stone’s writing is fluid and absorbing, and her treatment of such an terrible, painful, and frequently mischaracterized illness is outstanding. Sam’s story is engaging. Readers who like the writing and story telling of Sara Zarr or Siobhan Vivian will find much to enjoy here, and readers who like the romantic arcs of Jenny Han a la her “Summer” series will find that here with AJ and Sam. Highly recommended, with great appeal to those who are curious about mental health, as well as those who may not know they are.

Review copy received from the publisher. We’ll be doing a giveaway later this week of this book, too, courtesy of the publisher. 

Circuses Redux (plus giveaway!)

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Around this time last year, I posted about a mini-trend of circuses in YA and middle grade. This trend appears to be going strong. There were at least two circus books nominated for the Cybils last year, and one of the most hyped middle grade titles I’ve seen recently, Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley, also revolves around a circus. Most of the circuses featured in the novels are magical in some way, or surrounded by magical people. I wasn’t ever much of a circus kid (I’m not an animal person and clowns are creepy), but I expect that circuses are magical for a lot of children, so it makes sense that they would hold real magic on the page.

Penguin was kind enough to invite me to meet Cassie Beasley, debut author of Circus Mirandus, at a dinner several weeks ago. She has a charming Southern accent and talked about her writing and path to publication with a group of librarians and booksellers. Her book is a middle grade story about a boy, Micah, whose grandfather is dying. He had always told Micah fantastic stories about a magical circus he had visited as a boy, and now Micah intends to find that circus and claim the miracle that his grandfather said was owed to him by a man called the Lightbender. Beasley incorporates not only Micah’s quest (as he teams up with a girl his age, Jenny, who very firmly does not believe in magic), but also flashbacks to his grandfather’s visit to the circus and the people he met there. It makes the story seem bigger, and kids should enjoy putting the pieces together and seeing how Micah’s grandfather’s adventures mirror his own.

Circus Mirandus is perfectly suited for a middle grade audience, encouraging kids to believe in magic while also not shying away from the hard realities of life (adult readers will know that no matter what Micah does, he will not be able to stop his grandfather from dying). There’s great friendship between Micah and Jenny, who each have their own strengths. A few of the ancillary characters are underdeveloped or flat, particularly the more villainous ones. I wanted to know more about the bird woman, Victoria, who caused such destruction; Beasley did hint at the dinner that there might be more on her in a future book.

I’m giving away a signed review copy of Circus Mirandus, which will be published on June 2. I think it will be a real winner with middle grade readers who dig light fantasy. Enter to win in the form at the end of the post; I’ll choose a winner May 20. I’ve also rounded up a few other circus books that have been published since I last wrote about them. I don’t think this is a trend that’s going away (a lot of them feature high-wire walkers, which I think is interesting). Descriptions are from Worldcat unless otherwise indicated.

Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond
Sixteen-year-old Jules Maroni’s dream is to follow in her father’s
footsteps as a high-wire walker. When her family is offered a
prestigious role in the new Cirque American, it seems that Jules and the
Amazing Maronis will finally get the spotlight they deserve. But the
presence of the Flying Garcias may derail her plans. For decades, the
two rival families have avoided each other as sworn enemies.

Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling
By day Rémy Brunel is a daring circus acrobat, by night she is an
equally talented jewel thief currently assigned to steal a famous
diamond in Victorian London–but when the theft goes wrong she finds
herself allied with a young policeman as they try to find the elusive
gem.

Shadowplay by Laura Lam
The circus lies behind Micah Grey in dust and ashes. He and the white
clown, Drystan, take refuge with the once-great magician, Jasper Maske.
When Maske agrees to teach them his trade, his embittered rival
challenges them to a duel which could decide all of their fates. People
also hunt both Micah and the person he was before the circus the runaway
daughter of a noble family. And Micah discovers there is magic and
power in the world, far beyond the card tricks and illusions he is
perfecting. A tale of phantom wings, a clockwork hand, and the delicate
unfurling of new love, Shadowplay continues Micah Grey’s extraordinary
journey.

Carnival of Secrets by Melissa Marr
A centuries-long war between daimons and witches sets the stage for
three teens caught up in a deadly struggle for power and autonomy in the
exotic and otherworldly Carnival of Souls, the mercantile center of the
daimon dimension.

Weight of Feathers by Anna–Marie McLemore (forthcoming September 15)
For twenty years, the
Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an
escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living
as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in
mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing
in the tallest trees they can find. Lace Paloma may be new to
her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are
pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching
one could mean death, and she’s been taught from birth to keep away. But
when disaster strikes the small town where both families are
performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his
touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him
could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as
dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees. [description from Goodreads]

The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble
Clara discovers that her sister is becoming a mermaid, and realizes that
no mermaid can survive on land. Desperate to save her, she and her
friend load the girl in a gypsy wagon and begin a journey to the sea.
But no road is straight, and the trio encounters trouble around every
bend. And always, Clara wonders if she herself will become a mermaid.

A Memoir, a Novel, and a Graphic Novel

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Triumph by Carolyn Jessop
My interest in religious cults continues, apparently. This is Carolyn Jessop’s continuation of the story she began in Escape. It focuses largely on her involvement with the raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas in 2008. While the children taken in the raid were eventually all returned to their families (which Jessop believes was the wrong move to make), the raid did result in several prosecutions and convictions of FLDS men for allowing underage marriages to occur. Jessop testified at some of these trials/hearings and talks a lot about how trying it was for her and her family, but that she also found courage and power in it. The second part of the book goes into how she found the strength to succeed as a single mother with eight children in a world that didn’t understand her (and vice versa). She writes about what she learned from her grandmothers and how she leaned on the welfare system as well as how she drew from her own well of strength and believes others can learn from her example. She prefaces this by stating that at her speaking engagements, many people asked her about these things and she thought it was worth exploring. I agree, but the number of Goodreads reviewers who lambast her for being full of herself or “inserting too many of her own opinions” are alarming. She believes she is strong and extraordinary, and she is. It reminds me a lot of that social experiment that went around the internet a few weeks ago where women accept compliments and then get hate for it. People tell Carolyn Jessop she is extraordinary but then expect her to declaim it. I’m glad she doesn’t.

Audiobook borrowed from my library.

Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen
I read Hellisen’s YA book, When the Sea is Rising Red, a few years ago and was impressed by the lovely writing but let down by the story. The blurb for her middle grade, Beastkeeper, was intriguing and the book was short enough that I felt like I wouldn’t be wasting too much of my time if I ended up not enjoying it. It’s about a girl, Sarah, whose mother leaves her one day, and whose father slowly starts turning into a beast. He leaves her at her grandmother’s house and she learns of a curse going back two generations in her family that causes a person to turn into a beast when they fall in love – or something like that. The mythology is interesting but it just never really came together. I’m still a little puzzled by it. Moreover, the characters always felt like they existed at a remove from the reader, something that may just be characteristic of Hellisen’s writing, as I felt this way about her other book as well. Promising, but ultimately just OK.

Review copy received from the publisher. Beastkeeper is available now.

Dragons Beware by Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado
The first book in this graphic novel series for kids, Giants Beware, was a favorite of mine in 2012, and I was part of the judging panel that chose it as a Cybils winner that year. Dragons Beware brings back all of the delightful characters – fierce fighter Claudette, her little brother Gaston who has a fondness for baking (but has resolved to give it up until he too can learn to fight), and her friend princess Marie. This time, they take on the dragon that maimed her father in order to reclaim his sword. This book chronicles yet another funny, exciting adventure with full-color, expressive artwork. The characters genuinely care about each other, they’re all brave in their own way, and Aguirre and Rosado clearly respect their individual strengths. While Claudette is a tomboy, the book handily dismisses the notion that a girl who want to be a princess and loves frilly dresses (Marie) can’t also fight and be brave and save her friends. And Gaston is precious as ever as he learns to accept his own uniqueness rather than trying to emulate others. Another home run.

Finished copy received from the publisher. Dragons Beware is available today!

A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin

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It’s 1814 in England, and young Georgie is being sent to a reform school after accidentally setting her family’s stables aflame. The fact that she didn’t do it on purpose and that it was all in the pursuit of science doesn’t seem to make a difference. She’s shipped off to Stranje House to be “fixed,” which means ridding her of any thoughts of being a scientist. Little do Georgie or her parents know that Stranje House is not a reform school at all, and the unusual girls sent there are groomed for very unusual activities indeed. Espionage, for example.

While it takes Georgie a ridiculously long time to realize that the school is not what it seems (past believability), this is a really fun story. The main plot involves Georgie trying to develop an invisible ink that can be used by England to defeat Napoleon once and for all, and she’s got a dreamy young man assisting her. They butt heads a lot, which means there’s lots of lovely romantic banter (Baldwin also writes adult romance, and it’s evident). It’s clear that Georgie is the brains behind this endeavor, though. This is an historical novel that turns into alternate history near the end, which may surprise some readers already familiar with the end of Napoleon’s story. I know I sat back and thought “Wait…” for a few moments before I remembered that this was fiction and the author is free to change history if she likes. And she does. It actually makes me even more excited to read the next book.

This one can be added to my list of secret historical societies of teenage girls along with The Agency, Grave Mercy, and Maid of Secrets, and readers who enjoy the subversive nature of those stories should like this one as well.

Georgie and the supporting cast members are predominantly white, but one student who becomes part of Georgie’s circle of friends is of Indian descent. There are a couple missteps with the treatment of her character – she’s referred to as “exotic” and described using food adjectives. This could be partially explained as it being Georgie’s perspective, but it’s still lazy and could have been done better. Aside from being a really fun romance and adventure story, this is also a great story about friendship, and all of Georgie’s friends have distinctive personalities and an important role to play. Subsequent books in the series will each focus on a different girl, which again reminds me of Grave Mercy. If you liked Grave Mercy but are interested in something a little lighter, A School for Unusual Girls is a natural pick.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Graphic Novel Roundup

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Saturday was Free Comic Book Day, which is also known as “the only day out of the year Kimberly actually spends money on comics.” It would seem to fly in the face of a day that celebrates free comics, but actually, buying from a comics shop is good practice for FCBD.

Courtney Crumrin vol. 1: The Night Things by Ted Naifeh
I kind of want to hug this book. I wavered between liking it and loving it after I first finished, but the more I think about it, the more I come down on the side of love. It’s a book for kids that’s also quite dark, but in a wry, wink-wink way that I adore. Courtney is a middle-schooler whose parents drag her to a new town to live with her creepy old uncle Aloysius in his creepy old house so they don’t have to pay rent. Uncle A is more than he seems, of course, and he bonds with Courtney in a distant sort of way. This volume is a collection of short stories where Courtney gets up to things – things involving goblins and changelings and other nefarious magical beings. Courtney feels like a really authentic middle-schooler. She’s surly and unpleasant, pouts a lot, and has trouble making friends. She’s also independent and curious and smart. Naifeh pokes a lot of fun at Courtney’s parents and others of their ilk, social climbers who love to spend other people’s money, including Uncle A’s. He also has no problem making children casualties of the night things, but it’s never done to tug on your heartstrings – you’ll likely laugh instead (and then feel a little bad about it, but not that bad).

Fairest vol. 4: Of Men and Mice by Chris Roberson and Shawn McManus
This installment of Fairest, the Fables spin-off that focuses on the female characters, takes place right after the end of the 20th Fables trade. This is important to know, since there’s no preamble or recap and you’re just thrust right into the thick of things, spoilers and all. That’s fine for me – I had read the latest Fables fairly recently so it was fresh in my mind. What I was disappointed about, though, is that this was a Cinderella story. Cinderella has her own Fables spinoff where she goes on secret agent 007-style adventures, so I’m confused as to why this installment also focused on her. It also seemed like a bit of a rehash of the first Cinderella trade since it involved Cindy’s maniacal fairy godmother (who is now more like a dotty old aunt you never liked, which is ok I guess, but also undoes a lot of the character development from previous volumes – more on this later). It also involves huge rats and Cindy’s vengeful stepsister. So, lots of Cinderella backstory. It’s not bad. I didn’t love it. I keep trying to recapture the magic I felt when I first read Fables, and unfortunately this didn’t do it. I would recommend it only for completists, probably, which I suppose is what I am. Despite the fact that at the beginning, Cindy is tied to a chair Black-Window-Avengers-movie-style, except for some reason she’s only in her bra and panties. Sigh.

Fables vol. 21: Happily Ever After by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham
This is the penultimate trade of Fables and I really wanted to love it, but it traffics in a lot of what another reviewer called “assassination of character development.” It undoes the growth between Snow White and Rose Red (throwing in what would otherwise be an interesting back-story, were it not completely out of the blue and contrary to their respective personalities) and retcons Bigby’s character as well. It sets up a final showdown between the sisters for the last volume, which I can’t say I’m excited about. I’ll certainly still read it, but Fables was best for me in the beginning, apparently. Willingham does begin wrapping up some of the more minor characters’ arcs with short-short stories (some only a single page) between issues. These are interesting but of varying quality. It’s a disappointing last story arc, but it has extraordinary art (as always) and it’s worth the read just to see how it all shakes out.