Literary Scene: Three Books for the Young at Heart

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Don’t Read the Comments
by Eric Smith
www.EricSmithRocks.com

At the heart of the latest novel by Eric Smith—a YA author and literary agent—is an online game called Reclaim the Sun. For Divya—a.k.a. D1V—it’s far more than just a game. Her skill in the game is earning her sponsorship opportunities, which she needs to help out her single mom. That genuine love for her mom is a nice touch that makes her likable in a way that internet celebrities often aren’t.

And there’s Aaron Jericho, who is far more interested in playing games—and creating new ones for a local game developer—than in continuing the family legacy by becoming a doctor. But here’s a truth that Smith deals with directly. Even in an environment like the beautiful world of Reclaim the Sun, fear, insecurity, and hatred can spring to life, as they do in the form of trolls who make Divya feel unsafe. But Divya isn’t about to stand aside or quit, even when the threat moves from a virtual environment to the real one. 

Smith’s choice to let this story unfold from two perspectives is effective and helps us see the challenges and strengths of each character. He also does a fine job of being geeky and fun while still handling the heavy topics of racism, sexism, and inappropriate online behavior. 

For those who worry this might be a book purely for video game enthusiasts, worry no more. Smith moves this story along in a compelling way that any reader can appreciate and enjoy. So, if you like Brittney Morri’s Slay (reviewed here a few months back) or Ready Player One, you’ll likely find this book to be a treat. And those who simply want an exciting, well-told story will be similarly glad they gave this book a chance.

Ryan’s Rating: 4.25 out of 5

What Kind of Girl
by Alyssa Sheinmel
www.AlyssaSheinmel.com

One of the things I’m told to do in the classroom is to give trigger warnings, and while I’ve never done that with reviews, I’ll do so here. Alyssa Sheinmel’s new YA novel, What Kind of Girl, touches on a lot of heavy topics, such as bulimia, abuse, self-harm, and the challenging landscape of LGBTQ relationships and identities. But I wouldn’t let that dissuade you from giving it a shot because this is the type of story that’s in our lives, in our news, and in our culture.

In What Kind of Girl, things get heated at a California school called North Bay Academy when it becomes clear that a popular male student, Mike Parker, is abusing his girlfriend, Maya. The school quickly gets divided, with some believing Maya’s claims and some believing that it HAD to be an accident. Sheinmel wisely chooses to focus on the teen girls by using multiple points of view from characters who have monikers such as The Abused Girlfriend and The Pothead versus actual names. 

What Kind of Girl aims to be more than another domestic violence story by showing Maya’s ongoing sympathy for Mike, even in the face of what most readers will see as abuse. This is a difficult topic to deal with no matter what creative choices an author makes. The second half of the novel moved noticeably slower than the first half, and some readers might find the many points of view a bit distracting. 

Still, I feel certain that many teens will see versions of themselves and their peers in this story that dives deep into that strange pond that is the American high school experience. It also champions the power of friendship, which is a fine message to deliver to any reader of any age.

Ryan’s Rating: 3.75 out of 5

The Diseased Ones 
(The Hollis Timewire Series #1)
by Danielle Harrington
www.DJHarringtonBooks.com

After the onslaught of dystopian YA stories of the past decade, I’ve been reluctant to take a chance on more since far too many fell short of the real gems in this arena—The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner. But Danielle Harrington’s debut novel, The Diseased Ones, first grabbed me, I think, because of the lovely cover. The story, though, doesn’t disappoint.

Things start fast, with Hollis Timewire finding out—on her 16th birthday, no less!—that she has the dreadful biomarker that makes her as a Diseased One but also gives her dangerous powers, as well. Semi-spoiler—to be a Diseased One means you’re able to feel emotions, which means the bulk of society is an emotionless sad bunch of folks.

What this means for Hollis is that now she can’t be a citizen (is that a maybe a good thing?), and that she has to hide underground as an outcast with other Diseased Ones. She soon discovers that it’s quite possible that the government committed a genocide against previous outcasts and tried to cover it up. Can Hollis uncover answers in a world that seems more content with lies than truth? What type of sacrifices and risks will it take for her to find her way back home and to the life she dreamed of having?

There’s a romance subplot between Hollis and a character named Keith that doesn’t overtake the main narrative—which I appreciated. In short, Harrington’s debut is an intriguing addition to the dystopian YA shelves.

Ryan’s Rating: 4 out of 5