YA or STFU

Friedman, Aimee (2008). The Year My Sister Got Lucky. NY: Point. 370 pages.

Aimee Friedman's reputation precedes her: South Beach (2005), French Kiss (2006), A Novel Idea (2005), and scores of other paperback romance novels with her name on the cover made me think that this hardback original would just be another one of those. Don't get me wrong: Friedman's popular romance is good; but, with a title like The Year My Sister Got Lucky, a cover image featuring a girl plucking petals from a daisy, and the aforementioned history of popular romance, I wasn't expecting the Sarah Dessen-esque novel lurking between the covers.

Katie and Michaela are New York city girls and ballerinas to boot; however, it's always been Michaela--the older sister--who has been the star of stage and home. Younger, fourteen-year-old Katie is happy to live in Michaela's wake and imagines the sisters' friendship will continue even after Michaela graduates high school and begins attending Julliard. When their parents tell the sisters that the family will be moving to upstate New York, Katie is crushed but Michaela is actually excited. Katie can't figure it out: why would Michaela want to move to rural Fir Lake, New York, where there is no reputable dance school, no good ethnic takeout, and few--if any--cool clothing stores? Once the family arrives in Fir Lake, Michaela is immediately drawn into her grade's popular crowd: she snags the school's most eligible bachelor and is even voted Homecoming Queen. Katie, for the first time, is left on the sidelines and, with only a crappy little dance "school" to attend, soon finds herself at odds.

Friedman's novel is, as I mentioned, very reminiscent of Sarah Dessen. What could have been a boring fish-out-of-water tale is richer for Friedman's description of both the setting and the sisters' relationship. While singleton readers may find it hard to understand the girls' close relationship, I found Friedman's description of Katie and Michaela's changing sisterhood to be the most compelling part of the story. There's a hint of romance for Katie (fans of the genre will tag the darkhorse candidate for Katie's affections almost as soon as he is introduced), this is left open in a realistic way. Very nice and very surprising.

Posted by Amy P. at 05:27 PM | Permalink

Asher, Jay (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why. NY: Razorbill (Puffin). 304 pages.

I just don't get it: this is one of those books that I've been hearing about for a long time and, now that I've read it, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Yes, it has a intriguing premise (high school student Clay Jenkins receives a mysterious package of cassette tapes which turn out to contain the last words of a fellow student who committed suicide); yes, it deals with a high interest topic (suicide); and, yes, it makes some bold accusations (we are all connected in ways we may never begin to realize). However, it makes these points in a somewhat manipulative way and draws such clear lines between "victim," "hero" and "villain(s)," and embeds it all in an excruciating back-and-forth narrative that, while compelling, ultimately falls flat.

Here's the story: Clay Jenkins receives a package of cassette tapes that feature the accusing voice of a former classmate, Hannah Baker, who names thirteen people responsible for her decision to commit suicide. Her tapes catalog a litany of wrongs, from high school slights of friendship to sexual harassment and unconsensual sex. Each tape names one person who has wronged not only Heather, but, in many cases, has been recognized as one who makes a habit of cruel behavior. The alternating first person narrative's conceit: what could Clay have done that makes him as worthy of blame as the other assholes mentioned in Hannah's collection of tapes? Turns out, Clay is a good guy, and the only person mentioned who is not a jerk. As the novel races on, Clay blames himself for not being more attentive to Hannah, the girl he kissed at a party but otherwise only knew slightly. If only he had reached out! If only he had asked her out! Yaag. Sorry, but a well-timed date invitation does not count as salvation in my book.

Posted by Amy P. at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)