Paper Valentine

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff. Razorbill, New York City, 2013. ISBN: 978-1595145994

Summary

Hannah is being haunted. Her best friend, Lillian, died six months ago, and her spirit is still in Hannah’s bedroom, talking and bothering her every day.  All Hannah wants to do is have a normal summer, take her younger sister to music camp, and help her cousin, Kelly, process photos in her photo shop.

But being haunted is the least of Hannah’s problems. It’s one of the hottest July’s her town has ever had, birds are dropping dead from a virus, and teen girls are being killed. While the people of Ludlow are terrified and Hannah’s mother wants to keep an eye on her daughters, Lillian is trying to convince Hannah to figure out what’s going on.  The crime scene photos are being processed at Kelly’s shop and Lillian thinks she can talk to the other spirits of the girls.

As Hannah tries to figure out what’s going on with Lillian and the other ghosts, she also finds herself falling for juvenile delinquent Finny Boone, who seems to know something about the murders.  But Hannah has to be careful:  her small town isn’t as safe as she thinks, and even Lilian’s ghost can't protect her from the Valentine Killer.

Critical Evaluation

The tone of Paper Valentine is both creepy and sweet. The murky descriptions of a seemingly  safe town and the bizarre crime scene photos contribute to the darkness of the murder mystery.  Lillian’s haunting and the paranormal activity that Hannah experiences adds a ‘ghost story’ feel to the plot, but never comes across as unbelievable. Despite the creepiness of the story, there are also a few sweet moments: Hannah’s relationship with her younger sister and her crush on Finny Boone is a nice break from the murder mystery plot.

The majority of the plot is trying to discover the identity of the Valentine killer, but Paper Valentine is much more than a murder mystery. It’s also a friendship story between Lillian and Hannah and how that relationship continues even after Lillian’s death. In flashbacks, Hannah tells the audience how her popularity and school life changed when she became friends with Lillian and her crew—and how the group all fell apart when Lillian died.   The importance of Lillian’s spirit moving on also speaks to the relationship between the girls: while they both need each other, their past is also holding them back from moving on with their lives.

While Paper Valentine may be a little too graphic for younger readers, this haunting tale of ghosts and friendship will satisfy young mystery fans.

Reader’s Annotation

With the help of her best friend’s ghost, Hannah must figure out who is killing teen girls in her town.

About the Author

“Hi, I’m Brenna Yovanoff. I write young adult and speculative fiction.

My young adult fantasy novels The Replacement, The Space Between,Paper Valentine, and Fiendish are available from Razorbill/Penguin Group.

Here are some things about me (not book-related):

I’m good at soccer, violent video games, and making very flaky pie pastry.

I’m bad at dancing, making decisions, and inspiring confidence as an authority figure. I suspect this is because I am short, and also terrible at sounding as though I have any idea what I’m talking about.”

 (Brenna Yovanoff.    Retrieved November  6^th, 2014 from http://brennayovanoff.com/)

Genres

Paranormal

Mysteries

Ghost Stories

Curriculum Ties

English—ghost stories.

Booktalking Ideas

1: How would the book have been different set in the winter?

2:  How does Lillian’s spirit help the plot move forward?

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 15+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

Violence/Murder Scenes

Language

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

Why included?

I included Paper Valentine because the plot was both creepy and sweet and for the ghost story/murder mystery elements. 

A Great and Terrible Beauty

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, Random House, New York, 2005. ISBN 978-0385732314

Plot Summary

In 1895,  Gemma Doyle is a young woman enjoying her unconventional

life in India.  But when her mother is mysteriously killed on Gemma’s sixteenth birthday, she is forced to leave India for the posh Spence Academy boarding school in London. Fitting in with ‘proper’ ladies of society is hard enough for Gemma and so is  learning how to be a proper lady herself.

Gemma is also struggling with something the other girls aren’t: supernatural visions like the one that foretold her mother’s death. A mysterious young man is following  Gemma’s every move and seems to know something about her mother’s death.  After becoming friends with popular Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and her roommate, Ann, Gemma discovers a journal on the outskirts of the school grounds. The journal details a secret order of girls that practiced magic at Spence twenty-five years ago.

Suddenly realizing there is more to life than just being a proper lady, Gemma and her friends decide to start their own Order and begin practicing magic. But the girls soon realize that even their safe little world has dark secrets, secrets that could destroy them if they aren’t careful.

Critical Evaluation

Bray manages to combine historical fiction, fantasy, and paranormal themes together seamlessly in this novel.   The Victorian England setting and society’s desire for the characters to act like ladies provide a nice contrast to the girl’s true desires.   The historical detail doesn’t derail from the main focus of the characters trying to find their own identity. While the plot does take place over a hundred years ago, readers today can still relate to the emotions and desires of Gemma and her friends. The fantasy world and magic doesn’t overshadow the rest of the plot and doesn’t come across as far-fetched.   

Another strong focus throughout the novel is Gemma’s personal journey. Gemma starts her narrative confused about where her life will lead her. Her safe, secure life is suddenly taken away from her after the death of her mother. While Gemma knows she can’t follow the rules and expectations of society, she also has to try to fit in the best she can. Trying to find her identity and her place in the world is something many teens (and even adults) can relate to.

Reader’s Annotation

After the mysterious death of her mother, Gemma must find her own inner strength and power, in order to survive her new life.

            About the Author

“What is it about writing an author bio that gives me that deer-in-headlights feeling? It's not exactly like I'm going to say "I was born in Alabama..." and somebody's going to jump up and snarl, "Oh yeah? Prove it!" At least I hope not.

I think what gets me feeling itchy is all that emphasis on the facts of a life, while all the juicy, relevant, human oddity stuff gets left on the cutting room floor. I could tell you the facts-I lived in Texas for most of my life; I live in New York City with my husband and five-year-old son now; I have freckles and a lopsided smile; I'm allergic to penicillin.

But that doesn't really give you much insight into me. That doesn't tell you that I stuck a bead up my nose while watching TV when I was four and thought I'd have to go to the ER and have it cut out. Or that I once sang a punk version of "Que Sera Sera" onstage in New York City. Or that I made everyone call me "Bert" in ninth grade for no reason that I can think of. See what I mean?”

(Libba Bray. Retrieved September 25^th, 2014 from http://www.amazon.com/Libba-Bray/e/B001IGQHL6)

Genres

Historical Fiction

Fantasy/paranormal

Curriculum Ties

Victorian History

Booktalking Ideas

1:  Which of the girls do you most identify with? Why?

2: If you could create your own Realms, what would they look like?

Reading  Level/Interest Age

12+

Grades 7+

Challenge Issues

Violence/Murder

Sexual situations

Themes of magic and psychics

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

Why included?

 I included this book, because it is a favorite of mine. It also has a good cross selection of genres and the characters are strong, relatable young women that other teenagers would identify with. 

The Raven Boys

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, Scholastic Press, New York, 2012. ISBN 978-0545424929

Summary

Blue Sargent is the only person in her family who is not psychic. But she makes the psychic gifts of her family stronger and helps her mother see the souls of those who will die in the next year. As she and her mom wait by an abandoned church, Blue is shocked when she sees one of the souls. She has never been able to see or hear them before, but this night she sees a boy her age, who  only gives his name as Gansey. While Blue knows Gansey will soon die, she can't help but to feel a connection to him, and longs to find out more about him.

While Blue tries to figure out who the boy is, the still-living Gansey is on a quest of his own. Along with his three friends, Ronan, Adam, and Noah, Gansey is searching for the

burial place of King Glendower, located somewhere in the small town of Henrietta, Virginia.

 Legend foretells the Welsh king granting any wish to those who find him, and each of the “Raven Boys” has a personal desire to find the king.

After Blue discovers the identity of Gansey, she unwillingly finds herself part of the Raven Boys quest. As the group navigates the secret history and magic in Henrietta, Blue tries to fight the attraction she feels toward Gansey:  because all of her family members have predicted if she kisses her true love, he will die.

Critical Evaluation

The plot of “The Raven Boys” contains a mix between supernatural, adventure, and romance.   Maggie Steifvater manages to combine all of these elements fluidly, without one genre overtaking the others. Blue’s attraction to Gansey doesn’t overshadow the real point of the plot: finding Glendower and preventing Gansey’s death.  The quest to find Glendower is enriching enough to not bore the reader and not too complicated to confuse the readers. And while psychics, wishes, and supernatural town lines are all elements in the plot, they never come across as unbelievable or too strange.  

The novel is told in several points of views, (POV) and helps develop the character growth of Blue and the Raven Boys. The different POV chapters also help readers develop more insight into each character’s thoughts while also revealing plot points. Steifvater never spoils the ending outright but there are little clues and bits of dialogue that create an “aha” moment for the reader.

Blue’s relationship with the Raven Boys never comes across as forced, and also doesn’t evolve too quickly in her journey, making her realistic.  There are moments of conflict and inside jokes within the group, which makes the characters feel less fictional and more alive. 

There are no flat or clichéd characters to be found in this book. Each character has their own quirks, emotions, and back story that defines how they evolve throughout the novel. The characters, from Blue, to the Raven Boys, to Blue’s family, come alive in a way that makes them stay in the reader’s mind, even after the book is finished.

Reader’s Annotation

Blue finds herself on an unlikely quest with four Raven Boys, while avoiding her feelings for one of them—because if she kisses her true love, she’ll cause his death.

About the Author

“Maggie Stiefvater is an author of YA contemporary fantasies, including the internationally bestselling SHIVER series. Most of her life decisions have revolved around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring off into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly-prized traits in authors, musicians, and artists (she's made her living as at least one or another of these since she was 22).

Maggie now lives in the middle of nowhere, Virginia, with her charmingly straight-laced husband, her two small children, two dogs who fart recreationally, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki. She's an avid reader, an award-winning colored pencil artist, and can play several jigs on the bagpipes. She's also fair-to-middling at cocktail party conversation.” (Maggie Stiefvater. Retrieved September 23^rd from http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/maggiestiefvater/)

Genres

Paranormal/Supernatural

Adventure

 Romance

Curriculum Ties   N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1: If you found King Glendower, what would you ask of him?

2: Talk about the difference in relationships between Blue’s family and Adam’s father.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 12+

7^th grade +

Challenge Issues

Violence and murder

Themes of magic and psychics

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

Literary Awards: Bram Stoker Award Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel (2012), Carnegie  Medal in Literature   Nominee (2014), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2015,) YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten) 2013. (Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17675462-the-raven-boys)

Why included?

I included “The Raven Boys” because it was unlike any YA novel I’ve read before. The book had strong characters, an interesting plot, and a beautiful writing style. I think fans of other fantasy novels, such as the “Harry Potter” series would enjoy this book.