[Review] The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson

Title: The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley

Author: Shaun David Hutchinson [Blog | Twitter | Website]

Publisher: Simon Pulse, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

Genre: Young Adult Fiction - Contemporary, Romance, Loss/Grief, Realistic Fiction

Release Date: January 20, 2015

Source: eARC provided by the publisher, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.

Andy, Andrew, Drew, whatever

Drew is 17-years-old and squats in a hospital after his family's death. He spends all of his time wandering the hospital, visiting friends (patients and employees), and avoiding Death. Drew hates Death and can draw. There are a few other spoilery characteristics but it doesn't go much deeper. I really struggled to connect with Drew beyond his grief. I could make a few assumptions about his character to justify his actions but that'd just be guessing.

As he runs aimlessly through the halls...
There's a lot going on! Drew's friends Trevor and Lexi are hanging on in pediatric oncology. The slew of nurse friends and enemies. The cafeteria workers. And Rusty. Rusty is probably my favorite secondary character. It's when Rusty is bought into the ICU burn unit that Drew begins to break his routine, makes promises he can't keep, and realizes time is running out. Much like Drew's aimless days so goes the plot. The character building is reserved for the second string but fails to balance the story.

The shining star!
By far one of the coolest things is when we get to see pages from Drew's 'Patient F' comic. The images are dark bringing clarity to his state of mind, the grief and even the break in his reality. They are the character, humanity and depth that the narrative is missing. I really think a full length graphic novel depicting the duel worlds would've been AH-MAZING!

In the end, I just wasn't invested.

As I reached the last quarter or so I found myself skimming through the words seeking dialogue towards a resolution. In the end the climax was underwhelming, rushed and left me with a major question about Drew... 

2 Stars – Just a few stages short of a full read.

[Review] Our Broken Sky by Sarah Harian

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Title: Our Broken Sky
Series: Chaos Theory #1.5

Author: Sarah Harian [ Facebook | Twitter | Website]

Publisher: Penguin/InterMix

Genre: New Adult Fiction - Science Fiction, Dystopia, Romance [violence and sexual content]

Release Date: August 19, 2014

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.

Valerie has always been different from her identical twin Veda. Tattooed, fiery, and foul-mouthed, Valerie acts on instinct, getting even with anyone who wrongs her passive and sensitive sister.

At twenty-two, Veda doesn’t want to seek revenge against the three young men who raped her. As for Val…

Val never could manage her anger well.

As far as Val sees it, the Compass Room is simply a quicker way for her to die—payment for the crime she feels no guilt over. There isn’t a reason to fight, not until a girl as broken as she is reminds Val of what it’s like to hope… - via Goodreads

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Continuing with Harian's gritty prose Our Broken Sky dives into the backstory of Val exposing her family, her loves, her crime and the aftermath in the process. As a series novella the storyline is quick and fast paced, avoiding content that is present in book one, The Wicked We Have Done, to deliver fresh storytelling. Val is an amazingly strong character whose voice is as raw and gritty as her personality. The moments where she really shines are connected to her extreme emotions of lust, anger, guilt and hope. Similar with TWWHD the scenes are intense, emotional and without filler. Celebrating the romantic side of the New Adult genre, Harian leaves the reader with super steamy scenes while incorporating much appreciated diversity. 

Why I'm desperately waiting for the next book...

I tend to be skeptical about novellas and the value of their content. However, this really hit the mark by adding new and relevant content that parallels the original story. The downside is that it would be really hard to pick this up without having read book one to fill in holes and provide context. The upside is you get 90 pages of action and information which add more depth to TWWHD. Random shout out for looking at lesbian and interracial relationships! 

I don't read my NA for various reasons but mostly because I feel like it's branded itself as an extension of the romance genre. I find the Chaos Theory series refreshing because there's a balance between exciting storylines/plot points, (super steamy) romance and character development. 

 A Vault of Sins comes out September 16!

Check out my review of The Wicked We Have Done!

3.5 Stars

YA Entertainment #2: Geography Club, Trailers & Other News

Hey hey... I think I'm going to make this YA Entertainment thing a thing if you will.

Geography Club (2013)

This week I watched Geography Club on Netflix! I have a bad habit of not reading the synopsis before hitting play, but I was so glad I did. Based on the book of the same name, which I have not read, Geography Club becomes a safe haven for lesbian and gay high school students. Following the main character, Russell as he begins an online chat with another classmate to find out he's the star football player. There are funny moments along with cringy-worthy painful moments and the minutes flew by. I loved the ethnic diversity and the light hearted nature of some deep topics. Like I said I wanted MORE! More time with the characters and more depth. I'm toying around with reading the series.

Have you read the books? Are they better than the movie? Probably... right?

Upcoming YA-ish Movie Trailers

God Help The Girl

featuring Emily Browning

Emily Browning (Suckerpunch) plays a mental patient who begins writing songs as recovery. On her path to healing she meets others and an awesome musical. This has done well on the Festival circuit including Sundance, no release date for the U.S. yet. 

I like indie flicks so I'm placing this on my "To Watch" list, also the producer, Barry Mendel, has had a string of off-beat hits like Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore and Bridesmaids. Also, director and writer is Stuart Murdoch of indie band Belle & Sebastian with several movie soundtrack credits so I'm really excited about the music.

Very Good Girls 

featuring Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen

Two NYC girls make a pact to lose their virginity the summer after high school graduation. 

Yeah, we've heard this storyline before but I'm putting it on the "To Watch" list for a couple reasons. There is a A LOT of good talent in this indie, the trailer is pretty intense, and I'm overdue for a coming-of-age story where friendship rules. It will see a limited release beginning July 25, it's available for rent and purchase via Amazon now.

YA Headlines

Tia and Tamera Mowery of Sister, Sister fame are releasing their own YA series called Twintuition with the first book releasing in April 2015. Check out the full story on EW. 

MTV has put together a show to showcase 15 young adult virgins as they wait it out or try to lose it. The series premier was last week(?) but you can watch episode one online and catch the rest on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m.

Okay, let me know what you think!
Do you plan to watch any of these, have you already? What about celebrities turned writers? 

[Review] One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva

Buy on Amazon or the Book Depository

Title: One Man Guy

Author: Michael Barakiva [ Website ]

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux an imprint of Macmillan 

Genre: YA Fiction - Contemporary, LGBT, Romance

Release Date: May 27, 2014

Source: ARC provided by the publisher, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and criticizing the menu, Alek’s parents announce that he’ll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades. Alek is sure this experience will be the perfect hellish end to his hellish freshman year of high school. He never could’ve predicted that he’d meet someone like Ethan.

Ethan is everything Alek wishes he were: confident, free-spirited, and irreverent. He can’t believe a guy this cool wants to be his friend. And before long, it seems like Ethan wants to be more than friends. Alek has never thought about having a boyfriend—he’s barely ever had a girlfriend—but maybe it’s time to think again.

I really, really enjoyed this read! What could've been a typical "coming out" book is a dynamic story about being honest with oneself, discovering ethnic identity and building relationships. This goes for character's beyond the protagonist which makes this a rich "must read" for the summer.  

"... At a certain point in your life, you're gonna learn there's a difference between what you have to do and what you want to do. And the sooner you start choosing want over have, the happier you'll be." 

What I liked: 

• Alek – He is snarky, intelligent, and loyal. His character depth goes beyond his sexuality and focuses more on his identity as a whole. 
• Ethan –  While I was weary of Ethan at first, his appreciation for Alek's character and ability to be mature through certain scenes made me heart him. Bonus, he's swoony! 
• Alek's Family – While they are not always my favorite people, I get them. This family's love is where it counts, coupled with their desire to hold steadfast onto Armenian culture. 
• Authenticity – I related to this story from an ethnic perspective and not because I'm Armenian but because I'm a minority. So when Alek's parents use phrasing like these Americans I cannot help but giggle because there's someone in my family that says something similar. It's a struggle I feel every immigrant family deals with, the balance between honoring your heritage and assimilating into American culture. 
• The food! I could eat all the foods. I love ethnic food and this story made me want to eat everything! There's also a bonus recipe for stuffed grape leaves, sarma, in the back of the book. 
• Rufus Wainwright references – I love music and these references kept me up all night on YouTube re-watching Rufus videos. 
• Identity Development/ Character Growth – Everyone grows so much! Life isn't peachy and Barakiva makes that clear as his character's face facts, and figure out who they are and what they want. 
• More than a "coming out" tale –  I don't want to be spoilery but it's just more. Yes, the coming out is there but it's not as big of a focal point as one might think.

What made me go "meh..."

There are a few transition/continuity issues while reading that may be ironed out in the finished copy. I lost track of present day and past events being unveiled in the same chapter that I had to re-read to make sure I wasn't lost. 

Some of the language used... It was necessary for authenticity but I still didn't care for it.

4.5 Stars – Read this in one sitting. Get it! I'll be donating a copy to my work's LGBTA center. Recommended for those who are looking for an LGBT read that isn't an "issue" story, those who enjoy laughing, and those who enjoy diverse reads.

[Audio Review] Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

LGBT Month is hosted by Cayce a Fighting Dreamer and Laura at Laura Plus Books. It runs throughout April and it’s here to celebrate LGBT readers, LGBT authors and of course LGBT books!

Buy on Amazon or Book Depository

Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz [Twitter | Website] 

Audiobook Performer: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult- Contemporary Fiction, LGBT

Release Date: February 1, 2012 print version - April 9, 2013 audiobook version

Source: audiobook via public library/OverDrive – review policy here.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship; the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Oh this story was so different than anything I've read in a long time. The narrator perfectly embraced the Mexican-American accents of Ari and Dante as we discovered diversity within an ethnicity. Growing up in El Paso, Ari and Dante become best friends as they navigate their way through all the ways love can appear its then that the secrets to the universe begin to unravel. Ari and Dante grow up in different homes and often refer to each other as different kinds of "Mexican" or not a real "Mexican". This is my favorite element and not because it's possible to be real or unreal in an ethnicity but because it shows that we're not all the same regardless of ethnicity. Their are different ways to be Mexican-American just as there are different ways to be Irish-American, African-American, etc. 

“But love was always something heavy for me. Something I had to carry.” 

Every character has their own layers peeled back like a sweet onion chapter after chapter. The burdens each family member carries adds to the boys growth and gives life to the story. The pains and secrets are real. The idea that parents are people with pasts, the secrets we put in place to hide hurt and disappointment, and the truth that is revealed gives the story so much room to breath. And it's just the breath that Young Adult literature needs with a splash of diversity in so many different ways. While Ari and Dante are great protagonists it's each set of parents that really stood out as stars of their own. 

“Maybe we just lived between hurting and healing.” 

While there are a few 1980's pop culture references this story could easily take place today. Coupled with the pacing and innocent prose the story became a must listen for every minute I had free. It was only the ending left me with discontent. It was in the end that I yearned for the simple ending we were to expect, but alas, life is complicated.  

How this book became me...

I was born in 1984 at that time my Mexican-American parents had fallen in love in college in west Texas. This book became personal after a while, I wondered if my dad was in the prose. I wondered if he ever felt like Ari or Dante. 

My entire life I have always been described as not really Mexican. This is true, I'm not directly from Mexico. But the blood runs within me and this book let me know that I was not alone, Dante was with me. There's no wrong or right way to be an ethnicity. I cannot change being Mexican-American anymore than I can change being 29 years old, or having brown eyes.

and so I leave you with this quote from Selena the movie:

4.5 Stars

[Audio Review] Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

LGBT Month is hosted by Cayce a Fighting Dreamer and Laura at Laura Plus Books. It runs throughout April and it’s here to celebrate LGBT readers, LGBT authors and of course LGBT books!

Buy on Amazon or the Book Depository

Title: Two Boys Kissing

Author: David Levithan (Twitter, Facebook, Website) 

Audiobook Performer: David Levithan

Publisher: Knofp Books for Young Readers/Random House 

Genre: Young Adult- Contemporary Fiction, LGBT, Romance

Release Date: August 27, 2013

Source: audiobook via public library/OverDrive – review policy here.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

New York Times  bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS. 

While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.

This book evoked so many emotions in me while giving voices to gay men of the past (hence the Greek Chorus of "we") and giving fire to the 21st century gay voice. Levithan's prose is presented in way that it reads like poetry. The feelings are drawn from the pacing and sentence structure which left the impact of song lyrics and I wanted to play on repeat all day. Without the disruption of chapters we follow the Greek Chorus and cheer each boy on as they live one day at a time. 

"Things are not magical because they've been conjured for us by some outside force. They are magical because we create them."

There are a lot of characters! All of them unique, with an equally heart-warming story of their own, but I got easily confused when the story switched to a new character and would have to rewind and get it straight in my head. While Harry and Craig are a focal point in the story, my favorite couple was easily Avery and Ryan who meet at an alternative LGBT prom and spend their next 48 hours sharing their stories and exploring town. The growth of the characters is graceful and reinforced by Levithan's narration reminding you that these boys are just like any other teenage couple exploring the possibility of a relationship. The most heartbreaking story for me is Cooper's. Cooper's journey is so real that it hurts. It hurts because we know it to be true, thanks to mainstream media, and it hurts because we've all experienced rejection regardless of sexual orientation. Cooper's story is able to demonstrate how this rejection influences youth in America, an increased sense of hopelessness, and a solid cry for help as a human. The Greek Chorus watches each character from above commenting on their own experiences during the AIDS crisis of the 80's, providing a voice of encouragement to each young man so we know they are not alone, and highlighting a progressive gay history for the future.

"We wish we could show you the world as it sleeps. Then you'd never have any doubt about how similar, how trusting, how astounding and vulnerable we all are."

More than anything, Two Boys Kissing is able to deliver an important message. We are all people first. The underlying themes are not unique (rejection, betrayal, hate, love, family) but are present to remind us that sexual orientation or gender identity does not make one less human. We are people first and we all feel. The level of humanity in each storyline churned out smiles, tears and laughter with each passing minute. When the tape stopped I found myself rewinding a few minutes to make sure that was the end because I was not ready to let go.

5 Stars: I cannot stress how much I loved this. I loved it so much that it hurts. Read it and share it. This is a great discussion book for a family, a group of friends, teenagers and adults who work with teens.

It goes without saying that this is a must read for gay youth

because in the end we always want to know we're not alone.

Random Question for the masses:
Does anyone have a discussion guide for Two Boys Kissing?