Must-read YAs: 'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda' and more
It's a double scoop of Young Adult fiction. Today's feature is part two of a few gems in the robust landscape of YA and the wonderful impact on the world of fiction. Happy reading! (Check out part one.)
MEET YA AUTHOR BECKY ALBERTALLI
Michelle: Why write YA vs. adult novels about surviving the YA period?
Becky: I think the thing I'm drawn to about YA is its immediacy. When I write about teenagers, I want to get into their heads completely, and let my characters live their experiences without the filter of hindsight and adult reflection. I actually don't even know if it was a choice for me to write YA. I think my voice, when I'm writing, is unquestionably Young Adult, and I'm very drawn to teenage experiences and conflicts.
Michelle: What message do you have for your high school self?
Becky: That's a really interesting question for me, since, in many ways, life inside my head feels pretty similar to how it felt then. I don't feel confident or adult or anywhere close to having it together. My high school self would probably be really surprised to hear that. I think the difference is I'm actually OK now with being imperfect and weird and a little bit of a mess. More than anything, I think I'd want her to know that.
*Also, I'd let her know that she WILL get to have a first kiss (erm, eventually).
Michelle: What YA movie(s) make you happy, ugly cry or have you cheering?
Becky: Full disclosure: I've seen approximately three movies in the last two years (which I blame on the combination of two babies and a book deal). That being said, I think I have to go with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (both parts). I don't generally cry much in movies, but Harry Potter is so real to me and such an important part of my life. I actually get emotional every time I think about those movies — which, by the way, is a fraction of how emotional I get thinking about the books. I don't even know if it's happy crying or ugly crying or both. (Please refer to previous answer in which I reveal that I'm a mess — but I'm a mess for YOU, Harry!)
Michelle: What/who is the inspiration for Simon? Who would be your actor of choice for the role, if made into a movie?
Becky: It's hard to say who or what inspired Simon, because it truly feels like his voice popped into my head, demanding Oreos. I do think I was generally inspired by my work with gender non-conforming and LGBTQIA kids and teenagers, though Simon isn't based on any particular person I worked with. My own experiences in high school theater also played a big role (pun intended) — but mostly, Simon is Simon!
As for my choice of actor, no question: Miles Heizer (he played Drew in the TV show Parenthood).
Michelle: Are you a Chucks/Converse wearer? If not, what's your fave comfortable footwear?
Becky: I do own Chucks, though I wasn't cool enough to own them when I was a teenager. That being said, I'm more likely to wear flats than any other kind of footwear. Honestly, I'm most likely to be walking around barefoot, wearing pajamas.
Michelle: Spring is on the cusp ... what's a rousing, inspirational message or quote for your readers to mark the "rebirth" of spring?
Becky: From To Kill a Mockingbird: "Things are always better in the morning."
Michelle: What three books are on your TBR pile?
Becky: I think I have closer to 3 million books in my TBR pile, but here are a few I'm especially excited about:
• Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz.
• Anything Could Happen by Will Walton.
• Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee.
Michelle: Thank you, Becky.
For more information, please visit www.beckyalbertalli.com.
YA RECS
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Becky Albertalli's Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a love story with the fine threads of mystery and suspense behind the plot about secret identities. Simon was a regular guy, with a regular family, with regular friends. And yet, through one forgetful detail, the planets aligned to throw his world into chaos. He pushes onward, the off-kilter hero to fight his own battles the only way he knows how, making him that more believable and realistic.
Albertalli allows this drama to unfold naturally and without inhibition. This cast of characters is in tune with each other like true friends, real friendships. Even if they don't know the source of a friend's pain, they recognize that someone is hurt, happy or in love. That sense of realism throughout the story makes Simon's journey more poignant. I truly liked him and wished him well, because that's how real he feels. Thanks, Becky, for an awesome lesson on Young Adult life.
Prom Night at Finley High by Keith Thomas Walker
Keith Thomas Walker's Prom Night at Finley High is a fast-paced read. That's part of Walker's brand with his fiction writing, to keep the action and drama coming at you so you don't dare set down the book. I found myself having a good ol' conversation with Serena, even ready to be her new BFF, if necessary.
There are lessons to be learned in this piece of fiction, but they're artfully layered under a good, meaty story of actions and consequences. This is the first in the Finley High series, and I can't wait for the series to continue.
About the book (courtesy of KeithWalkerBooks):
Serena is no stranger to hardship. With a father in prison and a mother who acts like she barely cares, she made it to her senior year at Finley High knowing she can only depend on herself. As prom season approaches, she expects to be left out in the cold, but an unexpected date offer changes everything. Jamar, founder of the school's bible club, is Serena's opposite in so many ways. She can't believe he's willing to take a chance on her. She knows he'll run for the hills when he finds out she's pregnant.
Truth and Other Lies by Foxglove Lee
Foxglove Lee's Truth and Other Lies is definitely unforgettable. The title is spot-on for the unfolding events that come rushing at you. I love the moral dilemma that spirals out catching everyone in its current. From one oh-oh moment, to another and another, the story has drama with a capital D that makes it a perfect book to read with your friends. There's just too much to talk about and debate, not to have a group discussion, thanks to Lee's bold writing.
About the book (courtesy of Evernight Teen):
Have you ever wanted to get noticed? Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you worked or how hard you tried, nobody in the entire world cared what you did? Well, what if someone famous—and we're talking Oprah-famous, here—noticed you for the one thing you wish you could hide? For your one big secret…
That's exactly what happens to 18-year-old Kenneth McIntyre when television guru Prahna Mehta hails his self-published novel as the next bestseller. Little do his new fans know Truth and Other Lies wasn't written by Kenny at all… and it isn't fiction. Kenny's been keeping secrets for years. Sometimes he feels like he's lying to everybody he loves.
When Kenny gets swept into stardom, how will he hide the secrets he's kept for years? And, if his lies are exposed, will anyone stay by his side?
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Nimona is a graphic novel adapted from a Web comic by Noelle Stevenson. I loved it from the first chapter with the introduction of Nimona, the spunky, not afraid to kill the bad guys shapeshifter. Tiny though she may be, Nimona is funny and irreverent and loyal. With the efficiency of words, Stevenson tells the story with all the action and excitement I would expect and want in this epic adventure. Her relationship with Lord Blackheart is also humorous, as they both learn to navigate the "rules of a sidekick." An engaging story of heroism and friendship, for which the roles and rules can and should bend for the occasion.
About the book (courtesy of HarperTeen):
Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.
But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.
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Michelle Monkou writes for Harlequin Kimani, Evernight Publishing and Boroughs Publishing. Her website is michellemonkou.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.