I didn't read very many young adult books in 2021, and several that I did read proved to be disappointing. With some, I know I was probably being unfair because I have high expectations of authors I've read and loved. I left a number of books unfinished; when there are so many books out there waiting to be read, why plough through books I have to push myself to read? Five YA books stood out to me, though, and I can't help seeing both how similar they are and how very different. Postbox Kashmir This is probably the first time a work of nonfiction features on a list of my top reads! Postbox Kashmir was not a quick read, no. However, for all readers, I think some books are just worth reading, however slowly you need to read them. With Postbox Kashmir, there was so much for me to process that I wanted to take my time over it. A balanced, objective story … [Read more...]
Loki Takes Guard
What draws me into a story? What makes me long to know more? What keeps me reading?Character. Always, character. That's probably why I don't typically enjoy detective stories very much. Suspense isn't what drives me as a reader, and all too often, good detectives remain elusive. Their enigma is part of why people are drawn to them - and I'm not.I'm drawn to characters that show themselves at their ugliest, most vulnerable moments, as well as their silliest ones. I'm drawn to characters like Loki.Loki Takes Guard is the story of an 11-year-old who tells you straight off that her name is not as cool and fancy as it seems. It's not Loki, but Lokanayaki. Ugh. Who has a name like that?Just three chapters in, I got sucked into the story. It's beautiful and warm, full of moments of angst, embarrassment, love and humour. I chuckled at the serials the family watches; I loved the … [Read more...]