As writers, we know we need to make our readers to “pay no attention to the man behind the screen.” This is especially true of those who write science fiction and/or fantasy. Some writers pull this off quite well. Read Beth Revis’ books or John Claude Bemis’ books to see how thoroughly we can be sucked in. Of course, there are many other writers out there who write quite well in these genres, but I wanted mention writers who live in the Carolinas.
So today, we are looking at books I’ve reviewed that would have us suspend our disbelief.
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The first book makes you believe that there is a being called Love who manipulates us to fall in love with the right person.
Definitely suspending our disbelief, wouldn’t you say?
Love Charms and Other Catastrophes
Kimberly Karalius
Hijiri Kitamura goes to a special high school for charm makers and is looking forward to seeing the friends she made the year before. Last year had been a challenge because of Zita, the reigning Love-Charm maker, who ruled the town. But Hijiri and her friends, with help from Love himself, had gotten rid of Zita. This year, Love wants to show Hijiri her heart isn’t small and that she can love other people. He sends her Kentaro Oshiro, a special boy, but Hijiri thinks the boy isn’t real and refuses to be attracted to him. Hijiri and her friends, now including Ken, enter the town’s Love-Charm contest with Hijiri as the charm maker. Things get more and more complicated with all of her friends eventually mad at each other and Ken eventually being hurt so badly by Hijiri he stops trying to win her over. Of course, in the end, Hijiri makes the perfect love charm and the group wins the prize. Hijiri learns Ken is a real boy who remembers her from a childhood encounter when he was dying of heart failure. Love gave him a new heart and, in exchange, he wants Ken to teach Hijiri that she does have a big heart and is capable of love. The story teaches the reader how to believe in herself and follow her dreams. It is quite nicely written.
BIBLIO: 2016, Swoon Reads/Feiwel and Friends, Ages 14 +, $10.99.
REVIEWER: Sarah Maury Swan
FORMAT: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1-250-08404-0
ISBN: 978-1-250-08401-9
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I had a hard time believing character traits in this book. How much can a blind person see of the world around him?
Nowhere Near You
Leah Thomas
Oliver, a.k.a. Ollie, and Moritz are long distance pen pals with unique problems. They met in the first book, “Because You’ll Never Meet Me.” Ollie has lived in northern Michigan woods all his life because he’s allergic to electricity which causes seizures and shorts out any electrical circuits that come within reach of his problem. But his mother is dead and his doctor takes him on a road trip, ostensibly to meet other problem kids. Moritz, who lives in Germany, was born without eyes and gets around by listening to the world and by using echolocation like a bat to see what’s around him. Somehow their letters get to each other. They are both trying to be regular teenagers, but that’s not an easy task for them. They do begin to learn about themselves and Ollies learns he can control his allergies. The story itself is sweet, but it’s hard to suspend one’s disbelief about some of their problems, in particular Moritz’s ability to “see” things a blind person couldn’t see. Perhaps a blind person could hear someone’s eyebrows rising, but could a blind person “see” that another person had a “unibrow?” Doesn’t seem likely. Another of the characters takes her heart out of her chest and gives it to other people, because she doesn’t want to feel emotions. She’s a star track runner in her school even without her heart. If the reader can continue to suspend disbelief, the story is nice read and could lead to classroom discussions.
BIBLIO: 2017, Bloomsbury Publishing, Ages 14 +, $17.99.
REVIEWER: Sarah Maury Swan
FORMAT: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1-68119-178-2
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The disbelief is not on the part of the reader in this last book, but rather the main character. All done in a charming fashion.
This Book Is NOT About Dragons
Shelley Moore Thomas
Illustrated by Fred Koehler
The rat who narrates this story is convinced there are not dragons in this book. He walks into the forest and sees not a single dragon. So, he tells the reader there are no dragons. Of course, the reader sees shadows of dragons lurking behind the trees and breathing smoke out of caves. Rat sees a rabbit, but no dragon. He sees a red truck by a cabin, but no dragon. Even when the dragon catches the truck on fire, the rat doesn’t see the dragon. Nor does he see the dragons in the sky, only clouds. The moose sees the dragons and runs to the city, followed by the dragons and the oblivious rat. Rat sees only pizza, but the chick sees the dragons and tells the naysayer to look more closely. Oh yes, there are dragons, much to Rat’s dismay. In the end, he has to change the name of the book and take out the word NOT. This cute book encourages children to be observant and look for the whole picture.
BIBLIO: 2016, Boyds Mills Press/Highlights, Ages 4 to 7, $16.95.
REVIEWER: Sarah Maury Swan
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-1-62979-168-5
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Hope you enjoy the reviews and please tell me about books you couldn’t believe.
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