Being a young adult is to inhabit a complex and confusing world. When books address this phase of life beautifully, they can be breathtaking. Here are my top ten YA books of 2019.StargirlWriter: Jerry SpinelliPublisher: Laurel LeafThinking about Stargirl makes me smile, for the character of Stargirl is impossibly sweet, impossibly wonderful. Leo loves her, but unlike her, he is bound by this world. He seeks the approval and acceptance of people around him and he wants Stargirl to be normal, even though he assures her that he loves how not-normal she is.For a while, Stargirl tries, for she loves Leo too. But that is not who she is. How can Stargirl be normal? In a different context, I could ask, how do you keep a wave upon the sand?Read my review of StargirlBuy StargirlWolf CryWriter: Julia GoldingPublisher: Frost WolfFrom an author I love comes … [Read more...]
Stargirl
Sweetness is such a wonderful ingredient, and so rare in a YA novel.When Stargirl joins regular school after having been homeschooled most of her life, she is something of a phenomenon. She dresses strangely and does odd things. She seems to know everybody's name and everyone's birthday. She strums her ukulele and sings 'Happy birthday' to each one. She is the weird girl at school, but diverting enough to become popular.The problem, though, is that Stargirl does not seem to see a difference between 'us' and 'them'. At basketball matches, she cheers equally for both teams - for don't you feel elated when a team scores? Apparently, the answer is 'no'. Cheering for the enemy is unheard of, unthinkable.Yet, Stargirl does not care - or even seem to notice - when classmates begin to shun her. She continues to burst with spontaneity and love.So, Leo, who loves her but seeks … [Read more...]