Happy 2020! One resolution here at Brooksie Loves Her Library is to be much more faithful in updating with new content; we are hoping to add at least one new post every other week for the remainder of this school year. To get things started, I thought I would offer a look at three newly-published YA titles that you may be considering for purchase in your library. Read on to find out about Sara Ella's exploration of mental illness in Coral, Kimberly Gabriel's heart-pounding thrill ride in Every Stolen Breath, and Naomi Kritzer's jump into the future in Catfishing on CatNet.
The best part of this book is the frank, real way in which Sara Ella approaches mental illness. She first acknowledges its presence, as when Brooke looks at those around her and wonders, “Maybe that young woman with her designer bad and eyes glued to her phone suffers from...mental illness. It has many faces. And most of them look pretty normal. You’d never know the person is slowly dying inside.” Ella is also careful to point out that depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental illnesses are true illnesses, not things that can be overcome by sheer willpower. In one of my favorite lines from the book, Merrick’s father remarks that “No one would ever tell a cancer patient to ‘just get over it.’ Why people think they can tell those with a mental illness as much is baffling.” In a world where those who suffer from depression are likely to be told that it’s just a “passing phase,” words that legitimize their pain and remind them that they are not alone could be a lifeline to readers.
Despite these misgivings, though, I feel like Gabriel’s Every Stolen Breath would be a welcome addition to any school library where demand for mysteries and thrillers is high. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Coral by Sara Ella
Netgalley kindly provided me with an ARC of Coral by Sara Ella, a story that starts out fantasy but ends up delving into the very real issues of teen depression and suicide. In intersecting chapters, Coral follows the story of three teens: Brooke, who has recently been checked in to a mental rehabilitation home called Fathoms Ranch; Merrick, who is struggling to find his mother after his sister Amaya attempts suicide; and Coral, a mermaid princess who must deal with the repercussions of losing her sister to the mysterious underwater disease called Red Tide. When these three plotlines collide, readers are left to wonder whether hope can win out against the darkness.
The best part of this book is the frank, real way in which Sara Ella approaches mental illness. She first acknowledges its presence, as when Brooke looks at those around her and wonders, “Maybe that young woman with her designer bad and eyes glued to her phone suffers from...mental illness. It has many faces. And most of them look pretty normal. You’d never know the person is slowly dying inside.” Ella is also careful to point out that depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental illnesses are true illnesses, not things that can be overcome by sheer willpower. In one of my favorite lines from the book, Merrick’s father remarks that “No one would ever tell a cancer patient to ‘just get over it.’ Why people think they can tell those with a mental illness as much is baffling.” In a world where those who suffer from depression are likely to be told that it’s just a “passing phase,” words that legitimize their pain and remind them that they are not alone could be a lifeline to readers.
For these reasons, I really wanted to love this book, particularly since I know there are a number of frequent patrons in my library who could benefit from seeing a protagonist struggle with issues similar to their own; however, I just couldn’t get there. I didn’t find Coral’s plot line particularly compelling, especially due to its constant references to seemingly childish things--such as standing “three shark fins” away from her sister--as well as its complete departure from the mermaid realm about midway through the novel. I also found myself confused by the intersecting plot lines, picking apart what was real and what was fantasy. I worry that readers who need the core message of this book, that depression is a real disease and must be treated as such, would get lost in these points and lose interest before letting the more poignant scenes speak to them.
Consider for purchase in libraries with active book clubs who could go beyond some surface issues to delve into the intricacies of this very worthy message.
Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel
In Every Stolen Breath, author Kimberly Gabriel leads readers on a heart-pounding thrill ride through a murderous Chicago where no one can be trusted. Lia Finch is a high school Chicagoan who is still dealing with the grief of her father’s brutal murder at the hands of the Swarm, a faceless group of teenagers who target seemingly random victims for death by beating. However, after witnessing a Swarm attack, Lia develops a theory: the Swarm’s vicious attacks are not random acts of violence, and they are not the gang-affiliated hits that the media portrays; instead, Lia believes that the Swarm is a carefully orchestrated weapon wielded by someone who wants to hold on to power. As Lia fights off feelings of paranoia to search for evidence to corroborate her theory, a chain of events is put into motion that threatens the lives of everyone she knows and cares about.
Every Stolen Breath was intensely readable, and it kept me guessing who was behind the conspiracy from start to finish. However, I didn’t devour this book as quickly as I thought I would, mainly because I struggled to fully invest in the plot. Pieces of Lia’s backstory, such as her twin sister’s death in infancy, seemed like they would grow to matter, yet they end up not adding up to much. Additionally, the references to Lia’s past mental health difficulties detracted from my enjoyment; was I to question Lia’s worries as paranoia or invest in her sleuthing abilities? Could I trust Lia as a reliable narrator, or was the Swarm a figment of her imagination, a way for her to deal with her father’s murder? I also didn’t understand why Gabriel insisted on calling Lia’s psychiatrist “Dr. What’s His Name,” which seemed to demean the mental health profession as well as marginalize the real need that many teens have for professional mental health help. While Lia’s struggle with asthma seemed realistic and offered valuable characterization and plot development, I feel like Every Stolen Breath would have been stronger without the other references to Lia’s past; having a character investigate the nameless mob that murdered her father while trying not to end up facing the same fate was enough to drive the plot without the tragic past and mental health references.
Despite these misgivings, though, I feel like Gabriel’s Every Stolen Breath would be a welcome addition to any school library where demand for mysteries and thrillers is high. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer
Naomi Kritzer’s near-future thriller, Catfishing on Catnet, follows Steph Taylor as she and her mother spend a few months in one small town before hitting the road for another tiny dot on the map, all to keep out of reach of Steph’s evil and violent father. Because of the constant moves, Steph turns to a social media site called CatNet where her chatroom, or Clowder, is filled with her friends from all across the country who exchange animal pictures and talk about their lives under screennames, such as Steph’s “LittleBrownBat.” Despite the upheaval of their lives, Steph has fallen into something of a routine, until they come to a new town where her mother falls ill and Steph meets Rachel, a potential friend worth putting down roots "IRL." Soon, Steph’s father is hot on their tracks, and Steph is turning to her Clowder friends for help to survive, quickly learning that some screennames may represent someone more artificial than human.
The premise of Kritzer’s novel is intriguing: how much does the internet know about us, and how can we determine how much we can trust artificial intelligence? Ultimately, however, this novel felt unsatisfying. Characters seemed undeveloped, and relationships, particularly between Steph and her mother, don’t make a lot of sense. The ending featured characters who seemed thrown together in a haphazard fashion, and the final showdown with Steph’s father felt completely far-fetched. Finally, there was little resolution regarding the question of AI; whether this was a calculated decision to set up for a sequel or a choice meant to reflect the uncertainty of human/AI ethics, it just felt frustrating to this reader.
Due to its thriller/realistic fiction/sci-fi blend, as well as its representation of a wide array of characters, this book will likely find a readership in many libraries despite its weaknesses. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While not every one of these titles was my exact cup of tea, I truly enjoyed previewing them for Netgalley and can't wait to continue that professional growth opportunity next year. In fact, I'm going for 50 books in 2020; what's your reading goal? Until next time!
Love,
Your Library
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