Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Information

Goodreads: Legendborn
Series: Legendborn #1
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2020

Summary

After the death of her mother, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews accepts a place in an early college program at UNC-Chapel Hill, the same school her mother attended. She does not expect to see a flying demon feeding on human energy, right on campus! Bree’s desire to learn more leads her to infiltrate a secret society with roots stretching back centuries. The students involved call themselves “Legendborn,” and say that they are descendants of the original Round Table. Their mission is to fight demons and protect humans. But Bree suspects that the society may have been involved in the death of her mother, and she is determined to learn the truth.

Review

I have conflicted feelings about Legendborn. While the idea of a contemporary retelling of King Arthur intrigued me, and while I was impressed by the extensive worldbuilding done by Tracy Deonn, at times I could not help but think that Legendborn does feel rather like a debut. The ingredients are all there for a wonderfully immersive story, but it veers quite often into overdone YA tropes and occasionally feels bloated. I could see Deonn’s craft improving, however. While I found the start of the story somewhat painful, by the end I could almost visualize myself picking up the sequel.

Of course, I will be the first to admit that a story filled with YA tropes is not a deal breaker for every reader–some readers will no doubt even love and welcome these tropes! Readers who enjoy a good Chosen One story where the protagonist uncovers hidden powers (multiple ones never seen before, way more powerful than everyone else’s, etc, etc) or love triangles or instalove or lovers to enemies will find a lot to like here. Personally, I tend to enjoy Chosen One stories, though not love triangles or instalove. What really bothered me in this instance was just how many tropes there were, and not necessarily what the tropes were.

I also found it difficult to engage initially with the basic premise of the story because it hinges on the protagonist Bree having zero plan, and, personally, I tend to prefer characters who know what they are doing. Essentially, Bree sees something supernatural, and wants to know more. Then she starts to consider the possibility that the supernatural event is connected to her mother, and she is determined to find out the truth. To do so, she pressures her love interest Nick into rejoining the secret Order he left years ago, even though he cautions her that she knows nothing about the Order and will be endangering her life. (Also his, for that matter.) Bree doesn’t care. She has no idea what the Order is, what it does, how it works, or what will be expected of her, but she decides that joining and engaging in a three-part trial involving things like combat with demons is something she, a normal teenager who has no experience with fighting, will figure out as she goes along. It does not make a lot of sense.

Bree not only does not have a plan. She’s also behaves in a morally dubious manner, that I personally found difficult to sympathize with. She lies and takes an Oath to protect and serve humanity that she does not mean to fulfill. And she positions herself as a loyal fighter who will always be there for her fellow pages, even though she plans to drop them as soon as she is done using them. The Order as an institution is undoubtedly flawed, but many of the individuals in it truly believe in the mission to protect humans from demons, and they are prepared to give their lives to do it. For Bree to lie to everyone about her purpose, and essentially plan to stab them in the back at the end does not make her particularly sympathetic to me, no matter how sorry I am that she’s hurting over her mom. But, because Bree narrates the story, she presents herself as the hero and the Order as the villain–even as she is perfectly willing to use the Order’s resources, influence, and power for herself. I would like to say that the first person narration is supposed to read as unreliable, but it seems that readers are meant to take all Bree’s words at face value.

Indeed, I really wanted a more extended treatment of Bree’s thoughts and feelings as she learns more about the Order and its past. For much of the book, the Order is presented as a despicable institution, an Old Boys Club, that many readers would no doubt love to see burned to the ground. Other characters whisper its name in fear, say that the Order wields wicked powers gained through cursed means, and call them “colonizers” who have brought more harm to the world than good. Bree, interestingly, however, goes from wanting to infiltrate the Order to maybe actually wanting to join it. The story seems to present the idea as Bree one-upping the Order. They don’t want her, but she’s going to become one of them, wield their power, and watch them squirm as she does it. I rather wanted something more visionary, though. If the Order is truly so despicable, I would want Bree to reject their power gained through evil and find a way to either destroy them or renew them through some other means. Seeing Bree become one of the Order does not feel like a victory if the Order is so sickeningly corrupt.

In the end, Legendborn is a book that I would describe as really “YA-y,” if that makes sense. It has many of the typical YA tropes and it just feels like a standard YA book in everything from the way it is narrated in the first-person present tense to the way that it raises serious ethical and philosophical questions, only to let them fall by the wayside in favor of upping the action and the drama. I give credit to the extensive worldbuilding, the raising of important issues like racism and sexism, and the exploration of grief after the death of a loved one. I just hope to see Bree grapple more seriously with the implications of joining a corrupt institution in the sequel.

Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms by Rey Terciero & Megan Kearney

Information

Goodreads: Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms
Series: None
Age Category: Middle Grade
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Summary

Odette and Dillie are the princesses of two kingdoms that have been on the brink of war for years.  Then, the two have a chance encounter, and realize that the other nation and their people might not be so bad, after all.  Soon, Odette and Dillie are off on an adventure to lift the curse that has Odette turning into a talking swan during the day.  They will encounter many perils on their journey, but the greatest test will come at the end.  Because both princesses have a wish–but only one can come true.

Review

Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms reimagines the ballet of Swan Lake with two feuding princesses who bridge their differences and come to value each other for who they are.  Odette is the princess of Bloom, but her parents keep her alone and trapped in her tower, so no one can learn that she is cursed to be a swan during the day.  Dillie is the princess of Rotbart, upset that her mother wants her to sit in a throne room all day instead of having adventures.  Though tensions right high between their countries, the princesses bond over their parents who just do not seem to understand them.  And this is the start of a fun retold tale sure to charm audiences not only with its fast paced action and colorful illustrations, but also with its determination to overturn stereotypical gender roles.

The beauty of Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms is the way in which it presents differences not as something to be tolerated, but as something to be celebrated.  The kingdom of Bloom is full of cute butterflies and plenty of color, and Princess Odette is a more feminine character who wears pink dresses and wishes she could be a ballerina.  The kingdom of Rotbart, meanwhile, is a grey and dismal place where the people dislike and even fear cute things like butterflies and kittens.  Dillie is a princess who prefers swordfights to sitting on a throne.  But the book makes it clear that no way is better than the other way.  It is okay to like cute things and to like ballet.  It is also okay not to like cute things and to like adventures and quests. Additionally, they meet a prince who eschews the toxic masculinity that says only a killer of beasts is worthy to rule the throne, and who proves that bravery goes beyond hunting wildlife. The entire book shouts the message that individuals do not need to adhere to stereotypical gender roles to be valued.

Readers will fall in love with more than the characters, however. The action is fast paced with a hint of old-fashioned fairy tale magic, as the three protagonists must pass three tests in order to complete their quest. And the images are fun and vibrant– just the thing to appeal to tween audiences. The worldbuilding relies mostly on contrasting the colors of Bloom with the greys of Rotbart, but readers still glimpse enough magic to make the world seem wonderful. Altogether, this is a book that begs for a sequel!

With so many middle grade comics flooding the market, sometimes it feels harder to find that sparkling gem among the rest. Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms, however, captures that magic I love, from its colorful illustrations to its action-packed quest.

Anne of West Philly by Ivy Noelle Weir, Illustrated by Myisha Haynes

Information

Goodreads: Anne of West Philly
Series: None
Age Category: Middle Grade
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Summary

Siblings Matthew and Marilla decide to foster a teenage girl for the first time–and upbeat Anne Shirley immediately makes a place for herself in their West Philadelphia home. She makes friends with Diana, joins the robotics club, and soon is enrolled in STEM competition with her rival Gilbert. But can West Philly be Anne’s home forever?

Review

Anne of West Philly reimagines L. M. Montgomery’s beloved children’s book for a contemporary audience.  Set in the present day, the book follows teenage orphan Anne as siblings Marilla and Matthew decide to foster her in their West Philadelphia home.  Anne falls in love with her new life at once, finding beauty all around her, and quickly making friends with Diana and the members of the school’s robotics club.  However, while it is interesting to see what changes were considered necessary for a modern adaptation, Anne of West Philly falls just a little bit flat.  It feels, indeed, like an experiment in adaptation and not quite like a fully fleshed-out story of its own.

Most of the book’s fun admittedly comes from seeing how the authors decided to update the tale for the children of today.  To make Anne relatable, the creators transplant Anne into an American setting where she engages in trendy STEAM activities like building robot obstacle courses and coding wearable technology.  Diana is also now Anne’s crush, for all the readers who have longed for the two to be more than just best friends.  (Sorry, Gilbert.)  Other aspects of the book are softened, so readers never have to feel suspense or worry.  Marilla, for instance, is nervous about fostering a teen, but kindhearted and not overly strict.  Matthew has health problems, but is obviously going to be okay.  Even Rachel Lynde’s claws are covered.  All this seems to be on trend for modern children’s adaptations, where the authors seem hesitant to lean into the darker elements of the original source material.

All of this is interesting, but the book does not exactly possess that special something that has made Anne of Green Gables a beloved book, handed down from mothers to daughters through the generations.  No doubt some of this stems from the book’s reluctance to acknowledge the original’s darker side; it is  harder for a story to have an emotional impact when everyone is kind or just misunderstood, and nothing truly bad ever happens to anyone for long.  But, also, Anne of West Philly does not have that love of place that Anne of Green Gables does.  One never feels that Anne is a part of her home, and that it is a part of her.  Honestly, the book could have been set in just about any city in America–there is not anything that feels uniquely like Philadelphia in this story, nor is there much indication that Anne loves Philadelphia more than anywhere else in the world.

Adapting classics for contemporary audiences is always a fun endeavor.  Often, such adaptations reveal a lot about a certain time period’s concerns, their priorities, and their viewpoints on what is “good” for children to consume.  Anne of West Philly certainly feels like a product of its time, with lessons on kindness, inclusion, and the importance of women in STEM.  This is interesting, but it was not enough for me to fall in love with the characters, the setting, or the story.

A Rush of Wings by Laura E. Weymouth

Information

Goodreads: A Rush of Wings
Series: None
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2021

Summary

Rowenna Winthrop has magic in her veins, but her mother, believing Rowenna too headstrong and fiery, refuses to teach her how to use it. Then Rowenna’s mother dies and, in her place, comes a monster wearing her face. Only Rowenna can see the truth, so the monster transforms her brothers into swans, and curses Rowenna to be unable to talk during the day. If Rowenna wants to break the curse, she will have to learn how to use her magic before it is too late, and her brothers remain swans forever.

Review

I have conflicted feelings about A Rush of Wings. The opening begins slowly, and the prose tries just a little too hard to sound lyrical. I set the book aside for awhile while I focused on reading other books that did not take as much effort for me to pretend I was enjoying myself. Eventually, however, a library due date convinced me to finish the book so I could return it. I found that the ending brings a lot more action than the start, and that kept me reading, even as I found the characterization to be wavery and the romance to be lackluster. Fans of fairy tale retellings will likely enjoy this one, but readers looking generally for YA fantasy might be rewarded with a more solid story if they look elsewhere.

Before I begin to piece together my thoughts on this book, we should give credit where credit is due. I think A Rush of Wings is an improvement over Weymouth’s last book, The Light Between Worlds, which certainly possesses more cringe-worthy prose as well as too many purposeful (and thus distracting) parallels to C. S. Lewis’s Narnia. Even though the story is a retelling, it feels bold, as if the author really wanted to make her own mark on the story. The Scottish setting helps with that, as does the character of Rowenna, who is apparently hot-tempered and untameable–but who loves her family with a fierce passion (that they often do not deserve). After the slow slog at the start of the book, I eventually did find myself really wanting to know what would happen.

Still, the book feels uneven at times, which is, I think, part of why I feel uncertain in trying to pin down what I really thought of the story. Rowenna’s character seems more fierce and proud at the start than she does at the end, when it would seem that an evil king maybe really did beat her down, at least a little. Readers are, I assume, supposed to feel as if Rowenna has found herself, because she refuses to keep doing harm, and thus controls herself and her magic. That does require strength! But Rowenna’s distinctive voice, and her fierce love for her (kind of mean) brothers fades away as the book starts speaking hand-wavy magical things like “being the light.” Rowenna supposedly finds herself at the end, but I the reader was not as certain I knew who she was.

Additionally, the romance is spectacularly weak in this book and, I have to admit, just a little uncomfortable. The love interest is a boy just as fierce and proud as Rowenna, and sparks fly when the two clash. Even so, they somehow fall in love (it is not really described how or when) and this is shown by Rowenna giving the boy orders and the boy, instead of arguing, meekly following. Um… true love is being ordered about by your lover without complaint? I cannot help but think how much more uncomfortable this would look to readers if the genders were reversed, and the protagonist were a male telling the girl to do things and her meekly obeying because she has been tamed by her love, or whatever. Sorry, but ew.

Finally, the magic system is not fully explained here. This will bother some readers, but not others. Just be aware that, aside from some vague explanations about certain people being connected to certain elements, the rest seems made up on the fly. Wards, blood sacrifices, and curses also appear, with no real reason why or how they work. Rowenna also seems tied to more than one element? She can hear the wind, but her name throughout the book is “saltwater girl,” so apparently she also has some affinity to the sea, which is why she feels darkness inside. Or something. Maybe I was not reading closely enough, but it seemed confusing.

The real strength of A Rush of Wings is Rowenna, and her desire to overcome all obstacles to protect her family. She willingly sacrifices herself in order to save them, even when they turn against her, even when they give her no thanks. There are good parts in this book, but also plenty of room for improvements in the next.

The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of The Secret Garden by Ivy Noelle Weir & Amber Padilla

Information

Goodreads: The Secret Garden on 81st Street
Series: None
Age Category: Middle Grade
Source: Library
Published: 2021

Summary

After her parents’ deaths, Mary Lennox moves to New York City to live with her uncle. Unused to living in a tech free home, she discovers an abandoned rooftop garden and, with the help of her new friend, her babysitter’s brother Dickon, she begins to bring it back to life. Her cousin Colin, who stays in his room all day, also slowly discovers the magic of the garden. But will Mary’s uncle approve?

Review

The Secret Garden on 81st Street updates Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved classic for a modern audience not only by diversifying the characters and changing the setting to New York City, but also by addressing topics such as loss, grief, and anxiety. The story is charming, but fervent fans of the original may find that some of the magic is lost in the book’s attempts to teach a lesson.

The original Secret Garden also has a moral at its heart, of course, but, somehow, Frances Hodgson Burnett never lets that detract from the story. Discussions of the work seldom mention the quasi-spiritual nature of the book, with its references and pleas to the Magic that makes things grow and, in turn, transforms Mary into a loving, vibrant little girl and makes her cousin Colin physically healthy again. Generations of readers instead seem attracted to the vision of nature presented by Burnett, and thee wonder it evokes. In contrast, The Secret Garden on 81st Street does not tap into that same source of wonder, instead preferring to focus on characters giving speeches about things the characters–and, in turn, readers–should know about mental health.

This modern retelling takes the events of the original and casts them in a new light, one reliant on updated understandings of mental health. Colin, for instance, now experiences anxiety and panic attacks that convince him it is safest for him to stay in his room. Characters like Martha and Mrs. Medlock spend a bit of time explaining the situation to Mary, letting her know that what Colin experiences is real, though she cannot see it. However, the realization of Colin’s experiences only really starts to make sense to Mary after the infamous episode in which she screams at Colin. In the original story, Mary’s tantrum shocks Colin into realizing he cannot always get his own way, and Burnett suggests that this is beneficial to him. In the updated version, Colin’s therapist takes Mary aside to explain that Mary’s screaming is not appropriate, and that she needs to let Colin decide for himself when he is ready to leave his room.

Mary herself gets a modern remake, transforming from a sullen, selfish little girl who has to learn kindness into one who is simply lonely and having difficulty admitting and expressing her grief. In this, she mirrors Colin and his father Archie, who are also dealing with the grief over Archie’s husband’s death in a way that is not altogether healthy. The story, then, moves away from a focus on the healing power of nature instead to a focus on recognizing that everyone deals with grief differently–but that it can help to talk about it and to confront it.

Though Mary does plant a garden in The Secret Garden on 81st Street, the garden really seems somewhat extraneous to the plot. Mary could have engaged in any activity that got the family interested in participating together and thus bonding with each other. The sheer love of nature Burnett seems to have is, frankly, not really captured by a few apparent blog posts Mary makes about what flower or herb she planted recently. And the bulk of the story is really focused more on adults teaching Mary about mental health and grief. There is powerful stuff in here–it is just not about nature.

The Secret Garden on 81st Street is a charming enough tale. However, readers should not expect it to be quite the same thing as The Secret Garden. The story is really all its own–with a new setting, new takes on the characters, and a new focus meant to draw out the inner experiences of the characters in a more direct way. It is an interpretation worth reading–and I think the target audience especially will enjoy it.

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

Information

Goodreads: Lost in the Never Woods
Series: None
Source: Library
Published: 2021

Official Summary

It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don’t do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods.

Review

Lost in the Never Woods is a quiet fantasy that reflects on grief, loss, and moving forward. Wendy Darling and her brothers went missing five years ago, but only Wendy returned. Now, more children in her town are going missing, and the townspeople look to her to have the answers. Wendy, however, cannot remember anything–not even when the boy from her dreams, Peter Pan, appears, asking for her help. Lost in the Never Woods chooses to focus on the aftermath of travelling to fantastic worlds, rather than on the adventure itself. Readers looking for high fantasy will be disappointed, but readers looking for a coming-of-age novel with just a hint of magic will be delighted.

To be clear, Lost in the Never Woods is not a straightforward retelling of Peter Pan. The story occurs after Wendy’s return from Neverland, and what happened during her stay there receives only brief references. The book is concerned more with Wendy’s current situation– just having turned 18, longing to go to college to escape her small town and the guilt she feels over her brothers’ disappearance. Even when Peter Pan appears, he brings very little magic with him. Readers will not receive an introduction to mermaids, to pirates, or to fairies. The main characters are merely Wendy and Peter, and they are involved in a missing persons case, not in swashbuckling escapades.

The depiction of grief and the way it can tear apart a family is very real and raw here. Wendy and her parents seem unable to move on from the tragedy in their past. Her parents are withdrawn, and her father has taken to drinking. Wendy herself seems stuck, not fully willing to accept that soon she will be in college and will need to forge her own future. Wendy’s feelings are the focal point of the novel, the reason the story exists.

Regrettably, however, the story is a little too repetitious, and could have easily been cut to half the length. Although Wendy ostensibly is looking for the missing children, the bulk of the narrative returns again and again to her guilt. She has the same thought processes over and over, to the point where story gets bogged down in Wendy feeling sorry for herself all the time. In one respect, this could be considered a genius artistic choice–the readers get to experience the same sensation of being stuck as Wendy. In another respect, it just makes for a redundant read.

The begging and the ending of the book are probably its greatest strengths. The beginning gets to build up the mystery and suspense, while the ending gets to present readers with the climax and then closure. The middle however? A good edit with generous use of the backspace would have helped. This makes for some uneven pacing that not all readers will appreciate.

Ultimately, Lost in the Never Woods will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven stories that are slow and quiet. Going in with the proper expectations–that this is a story about a young woman coming to terms with loss, and not an adventure set in Neverland–will likely make a world of difference to readers.

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

Information

Goodreads: Pride and Premeditation
Series: Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1
Source: Library
Published: 2021

Official Summary

When a scandalous murder shocks London high society, seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seizes the opportunity to prove herself, despite the interference of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious firm Pemberley Associates.

Convinced the authorities have imprisoned the wrong person, Lizzie vows to solve the murder on her own. But as the case—and her feelings for Darcy—become more complicated, Lizzie discovers that her dream job could make her happy, but it might also get her killed.

Review

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a brilliant idea, conceived and executed by a clever young woman, must be claimed by a man.”

Pride and Premeditation is a lighthearted retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that centers the action not around romance, but rather around mystery. Lizzie Bennet is an enterprising young woman determined to uncover the true killer of Mr. Bingley’s brother-in-law, lest Mr. Bingley be found guilty instead. Getting in her way, however, is the ambitious (and handsome) Mr. Darcy, who, like Lizzie, wishes to prove himself in order to advance in his father’s law firm. While character names are consistent with the original novel, most of the plot points are not. Pride and Premeditation will likely appeal most to Jane Austen fans who do not find the original text sacred, and who are willing to accept a number of historical inaccuracies along with numerous deviations from Austen’s work.

Like many books written by contemporary authors, but set in the past, Pride and Premeditation imagines an alternative Georgian era, where young ladies have far more agency and social leeway than they really did. Lizzie not only believes that she can one day become a solicitor in her father’s law firm, but also routinely roams about the town all by herself–but also sometimes arm-in-arm with a dashing young man. Unchaperoned, too! Readers looking for a historically accurate depiction of Jane Austen’s time period will not find it here, because, in all truth, being historically accurate would make the plotline impossible. Pride and Premeditation is thus a book best enjoyed by those willing to suspend their disbelief and simply go along with the premise of an assertive Lizzie breaking barriers far before those barriers were broken in real life.

Pride and Premeditation is also best enjoyed by those willing to accept that this story is not a strict retelling. Very little of the original plot remains; even most of the romance has been cut to create more room for mystery. Additionally, most of the secondary characters are relegated to mere background noise. Jane appears only to offer Lizzie her unconditional support. The other three girls periodically show up to say something annoying. Charlotte is a legal secretary and a woman of color, but is underutilized and seems present mainly as an attempt at diversity. While it is fascinating to watch Lizzie try to solve a mystery, it is a real shame that the author does not seem interested in weaving together the threads of multiple tales, as Austen did. This takes away much of the pleasure of the original story.

If one can get past these issues, however, Pride and Premeditation is a fun romp. Yes, the author tries a bit too hard to adopt a writing style reminiscent of Austen’s. And, yes, much of the plot feels like wish fulfillment for contemporary audiences, who seem to like protagonists of historical fiction to be far ahead of their times. And, yet, Pride and Premeditation is an enjoyable read. Because this Lizzie is witty and clever, just like the original. And this Darcy is caring and noble, again like the original And the plot is absolutely a riot. What Austen fan would not find the thought of Mr. Bingley being accused of murder equally hilarious and intriguing? Pride and Premeditation is not like the original, but perhaps that is its charm. It takes an old tale and gives it a clever little twist that many a fan will not be able to resist.

Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Information

Goodreads: Sisters of the Neversea
Series: None
Source: Library
Published: 2021

Official Summary

In this modern take of the popular classic Peter Pan, award-winning author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Creek) brilliantly shifts the focus from the boy who won’t grow up to Native American Lily and English Wendy—stepsisters who must face both dangers and wonders to find their way back to the family they love.

Stepsisters Lily and Wendy embark on a high-flying journey of magic, adventure, and courage—to a fairy-tale island known as Neverland.

Lily and Wendy have been best friends since they became stepsisters. But with their feuding parents planning to spend the summer apart, what will become of their family—and their friendship?

Little do they know that a mysterious boy has been watching them from the oak tree outside their window. A boy who intends to take them away from home for good, to an island of wild animals, Merfolk, Fairies, and kidnapped children.

A boy who calls himself Peter Pan.

Review

A Peter Pan retelling from the perspectives of (Tiger) Lily and Wendy promised a magical adventure. Unfortunately, however, a lack of characterization, a turn away from the darkness of the original tale, and a heaping does of heavy-handed moralizing made Sisters of the Neversea a lackluster read for me. The reading experience was so disappointing that, in fact, I almost chose not to finish the book at all. I wish I had better things to say about a book with such an exciting premise, but Sisters of the Neversea is not the retelling for me.

The main draw of the book for readers seems to be that Sisters of the Neversea is a reimagining of J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan that emphasizes the female characters and points out many of the flaws the original has in its depictions of Native Americans and women. This is a laudable goal. However, the characterization of the female characters leaves much to be desired. Lily and Wendy are said by the narrator to be very different, one practical and one fanciful, but, in practice, their characters read about the same way. Additionally, the narrator spends a lot of time telling readers that the characters are a particular way, but these supposed traits are never demonstrated by the characters in the story.

Tinker Bell, the other main female character, receives the same treatment; the narrator spends a lot of time telling readers what Tinker Bell thinks and why she is doing things, but does not really let Tinker Bell simply act. The narrator’s input further has the unfortunate effect of making it seem rather as if the readers are assumed not to be intelligent enough to figure out the fairy’s motives, were they not explicitly told. The spelling out of ideas, themes, and lessons is, however, a trademark of the book.

The author’s input is most clearly seen in the explicit moral lessons integrated throughout the story. For example, when Peter Pan calls Lily and her brother a name not used by their tribe, the narrator is sure to tell readers that Peter is rude and presumptuous. When Peter suggests that Wendy engages in traditional feminine roles, Wendy and the narrator make sure that readers know Peter is being a sexist jerk, and that Wendy’s stepmother is an accountant. When Peter assumes some of the Lost Boys are boys, the narrator again interjects to let readers know that Peter is wrong and presumptuous. Readers may rejoice to see that the Peter Pan of Barrie’s original work is being called out. Yet the fact remains that having a narrator spell out moral lessons in the middle of a story is not always great storytelling. The story would flow more effectively if the readers could see the lessons played out by the characters, instead of having an authorial voice interjecting all the time.

My final issue with the work is that, though one might think that calling out the original book’s flaws would result in a story just as dark as the original, Sisters of the Neversea is actually a comparatively tame work, almost as if the story wishes to protect its young readers from anything too scary. Neverland is said to be a dangerous place, yet the only dangerous person on the island is Peter Pan himself–everyone else is trying to stop him, and thus are good allies for the protagonists. Oh, there are hints about the wicked deeds Pan has done, such as making some animals go extinct or feeding people to crocodiles, but one never really feels that Lily and Wendy are in any imminent peril. But the sense of peril is what keeps a fantasy adventure story alive. Without it, the plot just slogs on.

The premise for Sisters of the Neversea is absolutely wonderful. And certainly Native children deserve more accurate representation in literature–something better than what J. M. Barrie gave readers. Yet the premise is not enough to carry this story. The poor characterization, authorial interjections, and lack of peril combine to create an unremarkable tale.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Information

Goodreads: Pride
Series: None
Source: Library
Published: 2018

Summary

Zuri Benitez is proud of her Bushwick neighborhood and proud of her heritage. She is not thrilled when a wealthy Black family moves in across the street. They must be so stuck up! But she has other things to worry about, like her college applications and the gentrification of her neighborhood. But that Darius Darcy boy sure looks attractive…

Review

Pride is a fresh retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that pays homage to the original story while making the tale fully its own. Zuri Benitez is one of five daughters growing up in Brookly, and she is planning out a future full of dreams–one where she goes to Howard and then comes back to help transform the neighborhood she loves. When two handsome, rich brothers move in across the street, however, Zuri will be confronted with some of her own prejudices. She does not think the boys belong in her neighborhood, but they may not be as stuck up as she believes. Readers looking for a contemporary story lead by a fiercely independent heroine and told in brilliantly strong prose will be enthralled by Ibi Zoboi’s Pride.

Zuri’s voice carries Pride, making readers fall in love with her, her neighborhood, and her family. Her life, as she tells us, is one full of love, and that comes across on every page as Zuri defends the place she calls home and describes the camaraderie and the care she finds there. She knows some people think her neighborhood is not safe. She knows that people are judging her for where she lives. But she wants them to know that everyone on her street knows the code and they all look out for each other. Her story is a celebration–a celebration of all the good she finds in the people around her, and the ways that goodness uplifts her.

Of course, this is a Pride and Prejudice retelling, so Zuri’s pride ultimately is her undoing when it moves from an understandable love of her home to prejudice against anyone she sees as an outsider, or not like her. She is immediately suspicious of the handsome and rich Darius Darcy and his family because she believes they must look down upon her and her family. Almost as a defense mechanism, she begins to accuse Darius of any manner of things–essentially not being “Black enough” because of the music he likes, the school he attends, the way he behaves with his friends.

This part of Zuri makes for a compelling story and, indeed, makes her a compelling character. But I do think it lessens the realism of the story a bit. While readers may understand some of Zuri’s feeling, since they get to hear the story from her, it is difficult to understand why Darius falls in love with her. Zuri basically attacks him for not being good enough from day one, and she never lets up, eventually telling him that she needs a “boy from the hood” like Warren–not some rich boy like Darius who has a big house and does not understand the street code. Darius never does anything to deserve the attributes Zuri ascribes to him and he never does anything that seems like it should provoke her into insulting him. Indeed, he reads like the perfect YA boyfriend–handsome, strong, smart, and sensitive, always saying just the right thing. Why he wants to date someone who has never said a kind thing to him is kind of confusing. Maybe readers are supposed to assume that he somehow sees past everything she says to some inner part of her she never actually reveals to him in the book?

This is a minor critique, however, and one not likely to bother the average reader. After all, this is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, so readers probably expect the characters to be, well, proud and prejudiced. The appeal of the story is watching the characters work past that to something more. And Zoboi delivers that story in powerfully vivid prose, one that makes Zuri’s voice come alive. It’s a voice that comes across with great emotion through the wonderful audiobook read by another talented YA author, Elizabeth Acevedo.

Pride is a book that will, of course, appeal to fans of Jane Austen, but it is truly its own story that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Anyone who loves contemporary YA romance, fierce heroines, and strong prose will likely enjoy Ibi Zoboi’s powerful and original novel.

15 YA Books Based on Myth & Legend

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, murders a new bride each night. When Shahrzad’s best friend is killed by the caliph, Shahrzad vows to destroy him. As she weaves the caliph a new tale each night, however, she finds herself falling in love.

A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond

Claire is Ella Grey’s best friend. And she feels a little left out when Ella falls in love with Orpheus. But she is still going to tell a story of a love that goes beyond death. A modern retelling of the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice.

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

Fatima lives in Noor, a city along the Silk Road now protected by Ifrit after another group of djinn slaughtered most of the population. When one of the Ifrit dies, however, Fatima finds herself drawn into the political intrigue surrounding the city.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Bardugo’s Wonder Woman is a seventeen-year-old girl still longing to prove herself. Molded from clay and brought to life by the gods, she knows she has not earned her spot on Themyscira like the other Amazons, who died in battle and thus gained immortality. When she rescues a girl from a shipwreck and learns that the two must travel to Greece in order to stop a world war, Princess Diana therefore jumps at the chance. What follows is an exhilarating adventure.

Lovely War by Julie Berry

Caught with Ares in a net, Aphrodite begins spinning a tale for her husband, a tale of two romances during WWI. Hazel is a shy pianist. James is an aspiring architect heading off to the front. A chance encounter brings them together, but war may drive them apart. Meanwhile. Aubrey is a ragtime musician heading off to fight in France. And he has fallen for Colette, a Belgian girl with a tragic past. Both couples long to be reunited when the war ends, but all of them know that hope fades fast in the trenches. A beautiful, evocative romance.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Written in compellingly beautiful prose, The Star-Touched Queen brings readers to a world where fates are written in the stars and hints of magic drift throughout the human world. Protagonist Maya has never liked what the stars say about her, however, until a mysterious suitor teaches her to reinterpret their prophecy, rather than attempt to rebel against it.  Together the two have to trust it is their fate to belong to each other.  The Star-Touched Queen is fantasy romance nearly at its finest.

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

Whoever holds the scroll of a Thousand Prayers has the power to begin a new age. Yumeko is half kitsune, half human. And, when she flees the slaughter of her home, she carries with her a part of the scroll. Now the fate of the world is in her hands.

Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer

Rob was at the top of the social hierarchy, until his father was convicted of embezzling funds, and attempted suicide. Now everyone believes Rob knew, and no one will talk to him. Maegan was an overachiever with a stellar record–until she was caught cheating. Now her reputation follows her everywhere. When the two are assigned to be calculus partners, neither expects the project to go well. But soon they are opening up to each other, and maybe even falling for each other. Then Maegan learns of Rob’s plans to help the people his father hurt. And she can’t help but think that being a modern-day Robin Hood can hardly end well.

Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

When Odilia and her sisters find a dead body in the swimming hole, they decide to return it to Mexico. Getting back to their own home in Texas, however, turns into the journey of lifetime. They’ll meet La Llorana and have to defeat a witch. A Mexican American retelling of Homer’s Odyssey.

Sherwood by Meagan Spooner

Robin of Locksley is dead. Now, Guy of Gisborne wants to marry Maid Marian and become lord of Locksley. There is no one left to save her. So Marian becomes her own hero and takes on the mantle of Robin Hood.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Sargent comes from a family of psychics, though she is not a psychic herself. Even so, she sees the spirit of a boy who will die within the year. His name is Gansey, and he is a student at Aglionby. Inexplicably, Blue finds herself drawn to Gansey and his quest to find the final resting place of a legendary Welsch king. But she must absolutely not fall in love. Now with a boy she knows is going to die. The first book in the Raven Cycle.

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala

Esha is a rebel assassin known as the Viper. Kunal is a solider protecting the kingdom. When their paths cross, both will have to make unthinkable choices to protect what they love. Inspired by Hindu mythology.

The Chaos of Stars by Kierstan White

As the human daughter of Isis and Osiris, Isadora has a pretty strange life. And she’s tired of feeling like her parents don’t really care about her. So when she has the opportunity to move to California with her brother, she grabs at it. There she meets a wonderful guy. But is there any point to falling in love when you’re just a mortal?

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White

Princess Guienevere has arrived in Camelot to wed King Arthur. Her magic will protect the kingdom. But no one knows that Guinevere is a changeling, one who gave up everything to save Camelot.

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee

Sixteen-year-old Genie Lo is mainly concerned with getting into college, until her city is attacked by monsters from Chinese folklore. Quetin Sun, a new transfer student, assures Genie she has the power to defeat the creatures. Things are about to get weird.