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I actually had two unrelated people rec me Maureen Johnson's Suite Scarlett in the same day, which seemed to me a pretty strong indication that I should read it. (Of course, it is always possible that ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
emmlet and obopolsk secretly know each other and are embroiled in some kind of conspiracy that uses YA novels as secret code. SORRY FOR BLOWING YOUR COVER, GUYS.) Anyway, conspiracy or not, they are both pretty good at judging my taste; Suite Scarlett is a book that centers on a.) zany hijinks, b.) Hamlet, and c.) sibling relationships! And you guys know if there is one thing I really love in YA lit, it is awesome non-romantic family relationships.
(You wouldn't think I would have to put 'non-romantic' in there, would you. Unless you've been in fandom. Then you would, in fact, realize why. Scarlett/Spencer 'shippers, you can sing out, it's okay! I won't judge! Well, okay, maybe I will a little.)
I have said before that I think four is an awesome number of siblings to have in books, because it provides for such a cool variety of dynamics. Coincidentally, Suite Scarlett has just this number of siblings! There is Scarlett, our protagonist, fifteen and pragmatic; her older brother Spencer, the wacky actor who specializes in pratfalls; her poised and beautiful older sister Lola; and youngest sister Maureen, an angry spoiled brat. Spencer and Scarlett are semi-codependent BFFs, Scarlett and Lola are different but get along very well, Spencer and Lola love each other but don't understand or respect each other's choices, Maureen adores Lola (and her rich boyfriend) and lashes out at everyone else. Most of the conflict springs out of this set of relationships as they play out among the financial difficulties of their family's hotel, the DRAMATIC!!! hotel guest who has decided to monopolize Scarlett's life, and the low-rent production of Hamlet that may possibly potentially launch Spencer's career. I completely loved all the sibling-fighting-and-bonding stuff (and I especially love how Scarlett and Lola's main point of conflict is not jealousy, but rather the weirdness of their mutual relationships with Maureen.) On the other hand, I was completely bored by Scarlett's romantic plotline and I resented it for taking time away from Hamlet dorkery. Also, weirdly, I kept wishing the book was written in first person.
Speaking of non-romantic family relationships, I just read the third book in another series that is near and dear to my heart because it is fantasy adventure that stars cousins! I hear a lot of talk about Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, which is a book that I definitely do plan to read one of these days, but as far as wacky-adventures-with-Greek-gods go, I am really fond of Anne Ursu's Cronus Chronicles. It's nothing spectacular or deep as far as literature goes, but there are a few things that make this series stand out a bit from many of the other teenagers-fight-the-gods series for me -
- as I said: in conclusion, no really, they're cousins! Zee (short for Zachary) and Charlotte are a fabulous team, and, while I am certainly not anti-romance, it's kind of nice to see a boy-girl pair who are really close and completely devoted to each other without romance being an issue.
- also, their family is multiracial; Charlotte is white, but Zee's mom is black British and his grandmother is Malawi, and all of these things affect his life while not being the whole sum of his character. And again, just in terms of bucking the trend, it is cool to have neither of our protagonists be a white dude for once. (Which is even reflected on the cover! It is sad that I have to award Atheneum Books points for this, given that it should be standard, but go Atheneum anyway.)
- Ursu does a really good job of balancing the teamwork - I was keeping track throughout the three books of the series, because sometimes I'm a freak that way, and the rescues and world-saving hijinks are exactly evenly divided! It's awesome!
- also, Anne Ursu is just a funny writer. Her style would probably not be for everyone, and sometimes I find myself rolling my eyes when it slides a shade into the cutesy, but much of the time I am giggling my way through the books, which makes for a fun time.
(- the entrance to the Underworld is through the Mall of America, there is a jovial elderly British kraken, and the destined one of the prophecy is a Canadian Quiz Bowl champ named Steve. I can't help it, okay, I just like Anne Ursu's brain!)
Having just finished the series, I can say there are a few things I am disappointed in, but overall the books are excellent brain candy. If you're burnt out on Greek gods, I cannot in the least blame you, but if you are in the mood for YA mythological hijinks, maybe give these a go!
emmlet and obopolsk secretly know each other and are embroiled in some kind of conspiracy that uses YA novels as secret code. SORRY FOR BLOWING YOUR COVER, GUYS.) Anyway, conspiracy or not, they are both pretty good at judging my taste; Suite Scarlett is a book that centers on a.) zany hijinks, b.) Hamlet, and c.) sibling relationships! And you guys know if there is one thing I really love in YA lit, it is awesome non-romantic family relationships. (You wouldn't think I would have to put 'non-romantic' in there, would you. Unless you've been in fandom. Then you would, in fact, realize why. Scarlett/Spencer 'shippers, you can sing out, it's okay! I won't judge! Well, okay, maybe I will a little.)
I have said before that I think four is an awesome number of siblings to have in books, because it provides for such a cool variety of dynamics. Coincidentally, Suite Scarlett has just this number of siblings! There is Scarlett, our protagonist, fifteen and pragmatic; her older brother Spencer, the wacky actor who specializes in pratfalls; her poised and beautiful older sister Lola; and youngest sister Maureen, an angry spoiled brat. Spencer and Scarlett are semi-codependent BFFs, Scarlett and Lola are different but get along very well, Spencer and Lola love each other but don't understand or respect each other's choices, Maureen adores Lola (and her rich boyfriend) and lashes out at everyone else. Most of the conflict springs out of this set of relationships as they play out among the financial difficulties of their family's hotel, the DRAMATIC!!! hotel guest who has decided to monopolize Scarlett's life, and the low-rent production of Hamlet that may possibly potentially launch Spencer's career. I completely loved all the sibling-fighting-and-bonding stuff (and I especially love how Scarlett and Lola's main point of conflict is not jealousy, but rather the weirdness of their mutual relationships with Maureen.) On the other hand, I was completely bored by Scarlett's romantic plotline and I resented it for taking time away from Hamlet dorkery. Also, weirdly, I kept wishing the book was written in first person.
Speaking of non-romantic family relationships, I just read the third book in another series that is near and dear to my heart because it is fantasy adventure that stars cousins! I hear a lot of talk about Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, which is a book that I definitely do plan to read one of these days, but as far as wacky-adventures-with-Greek-gods go, I am really fond of Anne Ursu's Cronus Chronicles. It's nothing spectacular or deep as far as literature goes, but there are a few things that make this series stand out a bit from many of the other teenagers-fight-the-gods series for me -
- as I said: in conclusion, no really, they're cousins! Zee (short for Zachary) and Charlotte are a fabulous team, and, while I am certainly not anti-romance, it's kind of nice to see a boy-girl pair who are really close and completely devoted to each other without romance being an issue.
- also, their family is multiracial; Charlotte is white, but Zee's mom is black British and his grandmother is Malawi, and all of these things affect his life while not being the whole sum of his character. And again, just in terms of bucking the trend, it is cool to have neither of our protagonists be a white dude for once. (Which is even reflected on the cover! It is sad that I have to award Atheneum Books points for this, given that it should be standard, but go Atheneum anyway.)
- Ursu does a really good job of balancing the teamwork - I was keeping track throughout the three books of the series, because sometimes I'm a freak that way, and the rescues and world-saving hijinks are exactly evenly divided! It's awesome!
- also, Anne Ursu is just a funny writer. Her style would probably not be for everyone, and sometimes I find myself rolling my eyes when it slides a shade into the cutesy, but much of the time I am giggling my way through the books, which makes for a fun time.
(- the entrance to the Underworld is through the Mall of America, there is a jovial elderly British kraken, and the destined one of the prophecy is a Canadian Quiz Bowl champ named Steve. I can't help it, okay, I just like Anne Ursu's brain!)
Having just finished the series, I can say there are a few things I am disappointed in, but overall the books are excellent brain candy. If you're burnt out on Greek gods, I cannot in the least blame you, but if you are in the mood for YA mythological hijinks, maybe give these a go!
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18 or 19 makes sense too! But that is still, like, my little brother's age/not too far from my age, and a little flaily TOO YOUNG TO SPAWN in my head, even though I know it is absolutely not too young in fantasy lit.
(Well, if you go a-wrangling, count me in! Group rereads are awesome. :D)
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And historical lit! I always have trouble describing TQT because it's like.......historical........except not.......and it's fantasy.......but not how you'd normally think of fantasy..........THERE'S LOTS OF POLITICS OKAY.
(Will do!)
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Yeah, I know! It kind of falls into that weird space where it is fantasy because it is not our world, but . . . not really all that fantastical . . . but POLITICAL COMPLICATED HISTORICAL FICTION/FANTASY IS BEST OKAY.
(:D!)
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*tragic*
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