Book Review: Stateless, by Elizabeth Wein

As in some previous Wein books I have read, I found Stateless to be good, not great. As a matter of fact, I finished it weeks ago and just now realized I didn't review it. What better time than the day of the book's official release. 

As the Nazis are gaining power, an air race for European young people has been arranged in the hope that it will bring everyone together. Stella North is the only female participant, representing Great Britain. She feels a lot of pressure to represent well since no one believes in her abilities as a pilot.

She loves nothing more than flying, but it loses some of the fun when she witnesses what appears to be one plane driving another plane into a crash. Who can she trust? Tension mounts as other things start happening, and all the pilots are in danger even if they don't know it. 

The relationships among the pilots are interesting and the story is well told. I just thought it all a bit far-fetched. But true to young adult fiction, it is exciting and kept my interest.

If you enjoyed Wein's other stories, Code Name Verity, Rose Under Fire, etc., you will most likely like Stateless.

Published by Little, Brown BFYR (March 14, 2023)
eArc obtained from Edelweiss+
400 pages

Rating: 4/5

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2023 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved

Book Review: We Deserve Monuments, by Jas Hammonds

I don't read as much Young Adult Literature these days, but I'm glad I chose We Deserve Monuments. 

In the interest of time and clarity I'll copy the description here because I think it does a better job than I can at describing the main plot ideas:

Seventeen-year-old Avery Anderson is convinced her senior year is ruined when she's uprooted from her life in DC and forced into the hostile home of her terminally ill grandmother, Mama Letty. The tension between Avery’s mom and Mama Letty makes for a frosty arrival and unearths past drama they refuse to talk about. Every time Avery tries to look deeper, she’s turned away, leaving her desperate to learn the secrets that split her family in two.

While tempers flare in her avoidant family, Avery finds friendship in unexpected places: in Simone Cole, her captivating next-door neighbor, and Jade Oliver, daughter of the town’s most prominent family―whose mother’s murder remains unsolved.

As the three girls grow closer―Avery and Simone’s friendship blossoming into romance―the sharp-edged opinions of their small southern town begin to hint at something insidious underneath. The racist history of Bardell, Georgia is rooted in Avery’s family in ways she can’t even imagine. With Mama Letty's health dwindling every day, Avery must decide if digging for the truth is worth toppling the delicate relationships she's built in Bardell―or if some things are better left buried.

We Deserve Monuments gave me a lot of "feels." The teen romance was sweet, although the realities of a lesbian relationship are also apparent. Mama Letty was a great character, and I must admit I shed a tear for her (which is unusual for me.) The mystery aspect didn't intrigue me as much, but still added to the story. 

YA reads are usually quick, and We Deserve Monuments is no exception. So if you are in the market for a brand-new YA story, you should pick this one up. But you don't need to take my word. It is a current bestseller.

Published by Roaring Book Press, November 29, 2022
eARC obtained from Edelweiss+ and NetGalley
384 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2022 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved

Audio Book Review: The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

 The Downstairs Girl is an enjoyable story and it enlightened me about some historical issues I had not encountered previously. 

It is 1890 in Atlanta, and Jo Kuan feels fortunate to have a job as a milliner's assistant. She is very talented and has taken the new girl under her wing. She is stunned when the milliner fires her and decides to keep the new girl. Given Jo's heritage, she is used to being treated unfairly.

She and her adoptive father, Old Gin, live secretly in the basement underneath the building where an Atlanta newspaper is printed. She feels like she knows the publishing family very well since she can listen in on their conversations, but they have no idea people are living in their basement.

Jo is forced to become a ladies' maid for the daughter of one of the most wealthy Atlanta families, where she has worked previously. She hates the job but tries to get along with the spoiled brat.

Jo is so frustrated that she becomes "Miss Sweetie," an anonymous lady who writes controversial columns for the newspaper about the inequalities of society. She can't believe how popular her opinions become and is fearful as her identity comes very close to being revealed.

There are secrets and surprises all throughout The Downstairs Girl, and I'm glad I didn't read the Amazon blurb because it gives away a big one! The plight of the seemingly invisible Asian population is unique. They weren't treated quite as badly as the black population, but yet they were not entitled to any of the privileges of the white. 

The narrator, Emily Woo Zeller, does a great job narrating. I really thought her male voices were exceptional, given she is female. I would definitely recommend the audio version.

I found The Downstairs Girl compelling, even if the ending is a bit too good to be true. The book is written for young adults, and totally appropriate and informative for that audience. I would recommend The Downstairs Girl to teens and adults alike.

Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR, 2019
Audiobook purchased from Libro.fm
384 pages

Rating: 4/5

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2021 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved

Book Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas @SJMaas

Suffice it to say, If you've read the other books in the Throne of Glass series, Queen of Shadows is not to be missed.

The tale is long and complex and I'm not going to do much of a summary. There are parts, especially at the beginning, that are somewhat slow moving, but Mass is a great storyteller, so it isn't difficult to get through.

Then the action picks up and is nonstop until the end. All the characters are back, but some have big surprises in store. Queen of Shadows wraps up this episode nicely (I love that) so no big cliffhanger. But rest assured, there is more to come!

This is a wonderful epic tale, for even those who shy away from high fantasy (like me.) The characters are human-like and it isn't all about the magical elements. If you haven't started Throne of Glass yet, you should give it a try.

A short review for a long book.  This series is highly recommended. I had this book laying on my desk at school for a couple of days and I can't tell you how many students came in and wanted it! I told them, "Sorry. I'm reading it. You can put a request in for when I'm done." At least one of them is going to be very happy tomorrow when this book is available!

Published by Bloomsbury, September 1, 2015
Copy obtained from the library
648 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2015 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved

Book Review: Mortal Heart, by Robin LaFevers

Mortal Heart tells Annith's story, one of His Fair Assassins. While a bit more mythological than Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph, it delivers on all fronts -- the world, the characters, and the plot.

Annith can't understand why the abbess doesn't send her out on a mission. She's been faithful to St. Mortain, and she's proven herself the most skilled assassin at the convent. She's horrified to find out the abbess has chosen her as the next Seeress, which means she will never leave the convent again. Annith thinks there's more to the abbess' decision. That it isn't really Mortain's wish that Annith become a seer.

The abbess has left the convent to travel to the Duchess of Breton, since Breton is on the brink of war. Annith decides to sneak away from the convent and confront the abbess. Her journey is assisted by some unusual beings, and the tension only gets worse after she arrives at the castle.

Sybella and Ismae are both serving the Duchess, so the three assassins are reunited to save the kingdom. It's dangerous and adventurous. And Annith gets her own romantic story line too. Mortal Heart contains some startling revelations for Annith--more so that the other two books, but it only serves to enhance her strength.

Mortal Hearts delves into the mythology of the 9 gods that exist in this world. I think this was probably necessary to understand the motivations of the different peoples, but it wasn't my favorite part.

I felt the build up was a bit slow, but I think I felt this way because I couldn't wait to get to the adventure. I mean, that's what His Fair Assassins  is about, right? It took a while for Annith to really get into a dangerous situation. But really, this is just impatience on my part.

If you like bad ass female assassins, you will love this series. I suppose it isn't necessary to start at the beginning because each story stands on its own. But I think you will get much more out of these stories if you know the background. So start at the beginning with Grave Mercy, if you haven't already.

Can't wait to get this one in the library for my teens.

Published by HMH BFYR, November 4, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
450 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2014 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved

Book Review: Wild Ink: Success Secrets to Writing and Publishing in the Young Adult Market

I have no intention of ever writing a book. And Wild Ink: Success Secrets to Writing and Publishing in the Young Adult Market hasn't changed my mind. But, for someone who is interested in exploring the possibility of writing, Wild Ink has a lot of helpful and inspirational information.

Victoria Hanley spends time on all the parts of the novel (and also a chapter on non-fiction writing.) Each discussion contains example quotes from popular, current YA fiction. Hunger Games and Pride and Prejudice are used often and many times in comparison. I think these are good choices, since surely every YA author is familiar with these works. But, in addition, many other popular authors' works are quoted.

After discussing the writing, Hanley goes on to talk about editing, publishing, and marketing. Pretty much every aspect of writing and publishing a book is explored. She includes interviews with several editors and publishers. She never makes this sound easy. I believe writing is really hard work (hence the reason I will never attempt it), and Hanley reinforces this belief. The last 85 pages consists of interviews with popular YA authors. I found this part to be inspirational (but must admit I didn't read EVERY word of this section.)

Wild Ink isn't a textbook for writers. It's an informational text that's easy to read, gives a lot of information, but not really deep information on writing. There are some exercises to perform, but I wouldn't call this a syllabus for "how to write."

I would recommend Wild Ink to authors who are just getting started and perhaps need some direction. Or, for those who maybe have come to a dead end and don't know where to turn. A useful book. Also, a bibliography is included for additional information.

Published by Prufrock Press, May 1, 2012
Copy obtained from LibraryThing Early Reviewers
285 pages

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2012 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved