Moons, Ghosts, and Mood Ring Hair
Review: Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee
In Machineries of Empire, the Hexarchate’s technology is controlled by rituals. Change the rituals, change the laws of physics.
Lee returns to this concept in Moonstorm, but at a much simpler level, as befits a YA series. In this series the prayers and rituals control and stabilize one thing: Gravity.
Also, space is full of aether, which you can breathe for a while, but too long and you go crazy.
And it has mecha.
If this sounds like it should be an anime…I could 100% see this being adapted as an anime. Our protagonist, Hwa Young, is rescued by the Empire and put into school…and is determined to become a lancer (mecha) pilot.
She’s determined to overcome her barbarian roots, especially as she’s convinced her entire family, including her clonemother, is dead.
The world is incredibly conformist yet also queernorm…we practically open with all the girls changing their hair to the newly fashionable style, whether they want to or not, but we also have non-binary characters and possibly the hints of a burgeoning lesbian romance…of the enemies to lovers variety.
It’s fun and enjoyable, both for the intended age range and adults.
Recommended for anyone who likes mecha.
I received a free copy of this book for award consideration purposes.
Review: Benny Ramirez and the Nearly Departed by José Pablo Iriarte
This is really well done. Personally, I’m not a fan of the “find your own talent” trope, and I also sometimes have an issue with kids learning music stories. I had one of those parents who wanted me to have all the opportunities they wanted…not the ones I wanted. Mom, I love you, but you never did understand.
Still, it’s a cute story about fame and the impact it can have on family, as well as about the Miami Cuban community. And if it’s a little predictable to me as an adult, it’s likely less so to the target audience, who haven’t read as many of this type of book.
Iriarte always puts together good prose and while it doesn’t excite me as much as some books, it is beautifully put together.
Also, it made me hungry for Cuban food…
Get this one for your kids.
I received a free copy of this book for award consideration purposes.
Review: Braided by Leah Cypess
What happens after Rapunzel is rescued from the tower by the knight? Cypess answers that in her latest fairy tale-based YA story in the Sisters Ever After series.
Our protagonist is Rapunzel’s younger sister, Cinna, part of a family who all have magical hair (all the women do, anyway), who is very glad to have her sister back from Faerie.
Except the Rapunzel who comes back isn’t anywhere close to Cinna’s image of her. And also, Cinna doesn’t want to be queen…but neither does Rapunzel!
The magical mood ring hair is cool. (So is the fact that Rapunzel does not fall head over heels for her rescuer, even though he was hoping she would).
But this is ultimately a story about how a long lost relative might not be what you expect.
And, as it turns out, about bodily autonomy and a woman’s right to control her own power. It’s pretty.
Recommended to fairy tale lovers.
I received a free copy of this book for award consideration purposes.