Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Under Rose-Tainted Skies
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://bookishblurb.com/
CITY: England
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY: British
https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/authors/louise-gornall/ * http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/shelftalker/?p=19940
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 2016030323
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n2016030323
HEADING: Gornall, Louise
000 00322cz a2200121n 450
001 10176690
005 20160604213051.0
008 160604n| azannaabn |n aaa
010 __ |a n 2016030323
040 __ |a DLC |b eng |c DLC |e rda
100 1_ |a Gornall, Louise
670 __ |a Under rose-tainted skies, 2017: |b ECIP t.p. (Louise Gornall)
953 __ |a xk09
PERSONAL
Female.
EDUCATION:Attended college.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
MEMBER:Watching films, collecting books.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Louise Gornall is a British writer. She specializes in novels for young adults.
Under Rose-Tainted Skies is Gornall’s first novel. The book features a protagonist named Norah, who suffers from agoraphobia and obsessive compulsive disorder. Gornall, who has also dealt with the conditions, drew details from her personal life when creating Norah’s character. Norah has not left her house, which she shares with her single mother, in years, but her relationship with a cute new next door neighbor named Luke inspires her to approach her phobias in a different way and to change her life.
In an interview with a contributor to the Ensconced in Lit website, Gornall stated: “Getting [Under Rose-Tainted Skies] out was really hard. Almost everything Norah goes through I’ve been through myself, and a lot of those things were a guarded secret. I was embarrassed by my ‘behaviours’. So many of them seemed absurd or far-fetched, but they were, and still are, very real to me. The idea of having people see inside my mind was horrifying, and I would have quit after the first three chapters if I hadn’t been surrounded by a support system, telling me it was okay to talk about my illnesses, telling me that it was brave, that this story was important.” In the same interview, Gornall discussed her intentions for the book, remarking: “I hope if [Under Rose-Tainted Skies] teaches readers anything, it’s that mental health is a long and lengthy battle, but you don’t have to fight it by yourself. You’re not alone. There is always going to be someone who understands what you’re going through, or someone who wants to understand, and, more importantly, wants to support you.” Gornall told Kenny Brechner, writer on the Publishers Weekly website: “I didn’t even realize there was a world to be built around Norah. Her life, my life, was so… repetitive. … There was … no real conflict to inspire world building. This book shaped an understanding in me, one that had gotten lost beneath embarrassment and exhaustion. I knew OCD, agoraphobia, and a myriad of other problems had impacted me, how could I not? But it wasn’t until I started writing [Under Rose-Tainted Skies] that I really observed the magnitude and scope of the world that mental illness had built around me.”
A Kirkus Reviews contributor offered a mixed assessment of Under Rose-Tainted Skies, stating: “Excellent prose is undercut by a highly implausible ending.” Other reviews were more favorable. “Gornall … provides an intimate glimpse into the mind of a young woman battling some very real demons,” noted a critic in Publishers Weekly. Booklist writer, Diane Colson, remarked: “Gornall, who based Norah’s illness on her own experiences, allows readers open access to Norah’s tormented mind.” A contributor to the Children’s Book Review website commented: “Under Rose-Tainted Skies is touching, poignant, and funny. Told from the perspective of the sufferer, it vividly illustrates the human capacity for overcoming challenges and finding the joy in life, offering inspiration and hope to anyone who finds they struggle with living.” Radeeyah Ebrahim, reviewer on the Abu Dhabi National website, asserted: “Louise Gornall has written her novel in such a way that many teenagers can relate to.” Ebrahim added: “This is a perfect read for anyone who would like a little bit more insight into the life of a teenager with mental health issues and her day to day struggles.” Writing on the New York Journal of Books website, Nancy Carty Lepri suggested: “Gornall’s moving account of this complicated ailment, from which she herself struggles, writes this fictionalized tale describing it in all its frightening detail. To those who never grappled with emotional illnesses, this story offers insight into the disorders. Those who do face this will understand they are not alone.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 15, 2016, Diane Colson, “Spotlight on First Novels,” review of Under Rose-Tainted Skies, p. 54.
Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2016, review of Under Rose-Tainted Skies.
Publishers Weekly, October 24, 2016, review of Under Rose-Tainted Skies, p. 78.
ONLINE
Chicken House Books Website, https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/ (August 22, 2017), author profile.
Children’s Book Review, https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/ (January 18, 2017), review of Under Rose-Tainted Skies.
Ensconced in Lit, http://cahreviews.blogspot.com/ (December 28, 2016), author interview.
Louise Gornall Website, https://bookishblurb.com/ (August 22, 2017).
National Online (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), https://www.thenational.ae/ (July 17, 2016), Radeeyah Ebrahim, review of Under Rose-Tainted Skies.
New York Journal of Books, http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/ (January 2, 2017), Nancy Carry Lepri, review of Under Rose-Tainted Skies.
Publishers Weekly Online, http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/ (January 3, 2017), Kenny Brechner, author interview.*
My name is Louise, and I write YA books. Sometimes contemp, sometimes horror, sometimes thriller. My debut YA contemp, Under Rose-Tainted Skies, will be published by HMH/Clarion (US), and Chicken House/Scholastic (UK) in the fall 2016/17.
Under Rose-Tainted Skies is about this chick, Norah, who suffers from agoraphobia, OCD and depression. Her life is one long blur of cheese sandwiches and trash tv, until she meets the new boy next door, Luke, and he starts to challenge her way of thinking.
I’m represented by the amazing Mandy Hubbard of Emerald City Literary.
QUOTED: "I didn’t even realize there was a world to be built around Norah. Her life, my life, was so… repetitive. ... There was ... no real conflict to inspire world building. This book shaped an understanding in me, one that had gotten lost beneath embarrassment and exhaustion. I knew OCD, agoraphobia, and a myriad of other problems had impacted me, how could I not? But it wasn’t until I started writing Rose that I really observed the magnitude and scope of the world that mental illness had built around me."
‘Under Rose Tainted Skies’: An Interview with Louise Gornall
Kenny Brechner -- January 3rd, 2017Leave a reply
A New Year promises change, and nowhere is change more dynamically an issue than in the static interior landscape of an OCD sufferer’s mind. It is hard to imagine that the unique potential of an OCD first-person narrator to expand on the concept of interior world building will ever be more powerfully realized than it is in Louise Gornall’s Under Rose Tainted Skies. Gornall channeled her own struggles with OCD into the book’s narrator Norah, and the breathtaking intensity of the reading experience is a tribute both to its authenticity and to Gornall’s skill as a writer. Norah’s derailed quest for normalcy, and the insertion of change into her regulated world, has dramatic consequences which both mirror and explore more traditional notions of thriller-like action and the interplay of fantasy realms with the real world.
Louise was kind enough to answer a few questions for us to help explore the dimensions of her fabulous debut novel, which is out today!
Kenny: It was highly engaging to have simple plot elements, such as Norah’s mother’s hospital stay, or getting a package into the house, transmuted into a thriller – like scenario due to her OCD. Do you think of the book as a thriller in any sense?
Louise: Funnily enough, this isn’t the first, second, or even third time I’ve heard this, though it still comes as a surprise. I never considered Rose to be a thriller, but then I was heavily focused on the embarrassment that came with spilling all my real-life secrets. See, most of what Norah goes through, I’ve been through myself, and my quirks/rituals were something I’d kept guarded, under lock and key. For a long time, it never occurred to me that my behaviors were anything more than embarrassingly absurd.
Kenny: There were times I felt a desire for a second first-person voice, for hearing Luke’s voice for example, in part to provide a breather from Norah’s claustrophobic intensity. But I came to realize that staying locked within Norah’s voice was putting me squarely within her experience, and perhaps that was very much the point. Did you ever consider a second voice?
Louise: I didn’t. In fact, Luke was unintentionally underdeveloped when I handed Rose to my editor for the first time. I was so locked in to Norah. Her thoughts poured out of me and on to the page like water. As I wrote, I had this growing need to explain all the facets of mental illness as I understood them. That didn’t stop; in fact it grew more determined, and suddenly I was using Rose to a draw a map of a mentally ill mind. Luke undoubtedly plays an important part in Norah’s life, but she needed the space of this book to show people how painful and frightening it is to have a mind like hers.
Kenny: Norah’s OCD is depicted as placing her very much inside a distinct world, which is also true of being immersed in a book. Are they related at all?
Louise: It’s entirely coincidental. I mean, I didn’t even realize there was a world to be built around Norah. Her life, my life, was so… repetitive. So dull and depressing. Nothing ever happened. There was no foundation, no big events, no people, no real conflict to inspire world building. This book shaped an understanding in me, one that had gotten lost beneath embarrassment and exhaustion. I knew OCD, agoraphobia, and a myriad of other problems had impacted me, how could I not? But it wasn’t until I started writing Rose that I really observed the magnitude and scope of the world that mental illness had built around me.
Kenny: What are your favorite book worlds to spend time in?
Louise: I’m a huge fan of contemporary settings. I know that might seem a little boring – there are, after all, some fantastical worlds floating around in YA fiction, full of magic and whimsy – but as someone who lost out on a lot of her youth due to sickness, who missed things like dances, school trips, and competitions, contemporary settings give me the chance to reinvent my teen years, vicariously, through some seriously cool characters.
Kenny: I often felt that Norah would have liked to give Plato a piece of her mind regarding his Chariot allegory, the one with Reason being the Charioteer. That allegory is bedrock in our culture. Does it put too much pressure on teenagers in general?
Louise: Yes. These days, balance is hard to find, let alone define. And reason is wide open to interpretation. Teens are pulled in so many different directions. I think Norah would argue that Plato needs at least a dozen more horses in his allegory. When I sent Rose to my editor, one of the things she kept commenting on was the beauty of Norah’s self awareness, and how, despite that, despite logic and reason pulling Norah in the right direction, she still cannot overcome the gauntlet that is morbid thinking – and to her credit, those morbid thoughts aren’t always so farfetched. To Norah, “but what if…?” isn’t just a question, it’s a way of life, and I think it’s fair to say that a lot of today’s teens are in the exact same position.
Kenny: Thanks so much, Louise!
Louise: It’s been a pleasure. Thank you so much.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on January 3, 2017 by Kenny Brechner.
About Kenny Brechner
Kenny Brechner is the owner of DDG Booksellers in Farmington, Maine. Though a member of the ABA Board the opinions expressed here are strictly personal.
Share this:
About Louise Gornall
Louise is a graduate of Garstang Community Academy, and she is currently studying for a BA (Hons) in English language and literature with special emphasis on creative writing. A YA aficionado, film nerd, identical twin, and junk food enthusiast, she's also an avid collector of book boyfriends. Her debut novel, Under Rose-Tainted Skies, will be published in July 2016.
QUOTED: "Getting Rose out was really hard. Almost everything Norah goes through I've been through myself, and a lot of those things were a guarded secret. I was embarrassed by my "behaviours". So many of them seemed absurd or far-fetched, but they were, and still are, very real to me. The idea of having people see inside my mind was horrifying, and I would have quit after the first three chapters if I hadn't been surrounded by a support system, telling me it was okay to talk about my illnesses, telling me that it was brave, that this story was important."
"I hope if Rose teaches readers anything, it's that mental health is a long and lengthy battle, but you don't have to fight it by yourself. You're not alone. There is always going to be someone who understands what you're going through, or someone who wants to understand, and, more importantly, wants to support you."
Ensconced in Lit
Home Giveaways Interviews Rants Writer's Corner Tips Contacts Testimonials
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Interview with Louise Gornall, author of Under Rose-Tainted Skies and US giveaway of her book
Dear Readers:
I am so excited to put up this special holiday interview post and giveaway of an amazing book that I have recently read, Under Rose-Tainted Skies by the terrific Louise Gornall! What better way to ring in the new year than with a slam dunk of a YA contemporary?
28101540
Goodreads Description: Norah has agoraphobia and OCD. When groceries are left on the porch, she can’t step out to get them. Struggling to snag the bags with a stick, she meets Luke. He’s sweet and funny, and he just caught her fishing for groceries. Because of course he did.
Norah can’t leave the house, but can she let someone in? As their friendship grows deeper, Norah realizes Luke deserves a normal girl. One who can lie on the front lawn and look up at the stars. One who isn’t so screwed up.
My Rating: 5 couches
My Review: Holy cow. Where do I even start. I can count on one hand the number of YA contemporaries that I've given 5 full stars, and this is one of them. YA contemporaries are not really my thing. I don't really love teen romances, it's a period of my life I'd honestly rather forget. But this book... even as a physician, I didn't have a lot of experience with agoraphobia, although I learned about it in medical school. To see a young person who was relatively normal, and then one day, suddenly had to deal with such a dramatic and debilitating condition (which is typical of this disorder), it was eye-opening and heartbreaking for me.
Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall is based on the author's true experience with grappling with this disorder. The book stars Norah, a teen who is now homeschooled because of her OCD and agoraphobia and overwhelming anxiety, and she lives an isolated life with her mother, who is one of the nicest, most perfect people I've ever read about. I kind of hope she isn't true to life because I feel completely inadequate as a mom compared to her. A new guy, Luke, moves in next door, and what happens next is a gift. A gift for Norah, a gift for the author I'm sure, and a gift for me, one of the lucky readers of this book.
This is a special book. Norah is a special character, who I will carry in my heart long after the book goes on the bookshelf. I wept, reading this book. Norah is such a wonderful character, so three dimensional and brave even though her agoraphobia would make most people give up. Everything we take for granted is so hard for her. She can't even open the door to go outside. Taking a step or getting in a car is beyond agony. She can't have normal friendships. How can she even imagine a relationship? And yet, there is Luke. Oh Luke, I haven't had a book crush in a long time. He's so tender with her, so sweet. He almost makes me believe that teen boys can think of more than just sex. All Norah needed was a window. And she gets that in Luke. Although this book is moving and heartbreaking and all that, there are wonderful, funny moments. Great lines by Norah both in her head and out loud. And you can't help but love her, and hope your darnedest she is going to make it.
I loved this book to pieces and tore through it in a day. It was a joy and privilege to read it and I can't wait for everyone else to get the chance to pour through its pages as well. Not only was it a wonderful read, it really educated me (and will educate others) about this tough condition, and hopefully be a ray of light for those who suffer from it. A phenomenal book and I'll be picking up all of her future ones.
Author Blurb: A junk food enthusiast, film nerd, and rumored pink Power Ranger, Louise Gornall writes about her own experiences to help encourage and facilitate conversations with other people also facing challenges with mental illness. She lives in England. Visit her website at www.bookishblurb.com, and follow her on Twitter at @Rock_andor_Roll.
Author Interview:
1. You are so brave to write a story about your personal experiences and share a bit of yourself to inspire others. Can you tell us a little about this journey-- what was easy and what was hard? What ultimate message would you like your readers to get from the book?
Thank you so much. That's really nice of you to say. Real talk? Getting Rose out was really hard. Almost everything Norah goes through I've been through myself, and a lot of those things were a guarded secret. I was embarrassed by my "behaviours". So many of them seemed absurd or far-fetched, but they were, and still are, very real to me. The idea of having people see inside my mind was horrifying, and I would have quit after the first three chapters if I hadn't been surrounded by a support system, telling me it was okay to talk about my illnesses, telling me that it was brave, that this story was important. I hope if Rose teaches readers anything, it's that mental health is a long and lengthy battle, but you don't have to fight it by yourself. You're not alone. There is always going to be someone who understands what you're going through, or someone who wants to understand, and, more importantly, wants to support you.
2. I absolutely love both Norah and Luke. If they were to be sorted by the Sorting Hat in Hogwarts, which houses would they belong to (I have my guesses) and why? How about you?
Ooh! This is such a cool question. So, Luke would be Hufflepuff. That's an easy pick. He's patient and kind and very loyal. He's humble, too. The kind of guy that would look at you like you've lost your mind if you suggested he was in some way saintly for befriending Norah. He sees Norah, not her illness.
Now, Norah is a little trickier. At first I was like, Gryffindor, because I feel like she's brave and exhibits an extraordinary amount of courage just by getting out of bed in the morning. But then I was thinking that the ability to fight her demons comes from a place of self awareness, which is a byproduct of her wit and wisdom. So now I'm leaning toward Ravenclaw. Can we have a hybrid house just for her? We can call it Gryffinclaw!
3. I know parts of Norah come from you, but some do not. What is similar to you and which parts are different?
Norah is me at the peak of my illness. She talks like I did, acts like I did, dreams like I did. As of 2016, I'm a lot better than I was, but back then I was terrified of everything. I had a therapist just like Doctor Reeves, a sci-fi nut mum who changed jobs to work around me, a Luke who helped me see things a different way. Norah and I are twinsies. I think the only big difference in our lives is that ending -- you know the one. But even then, I went through something just as traumatic, but that didn't fit with YA so I had to improvise.
4. I love both the mother and Dr. Reeves in this novel, and it is so refreshing to see adults in YA that are so supportive and good role models for us parents out here. Can you tell us a bit more of how we can be supportive of someone like Norah with agoraphobia or general anxiety and what support services there are out there?
This is always a tough one to answer because I believe it depends very much on the individual. I've yet to see two cases of OCD/anxiety/agoraphobia that are the same. I think the best you can do for a person who is suffering is just be there, with open ears and an open mind. Convincing someone to get help from a medical professional is important, but it can be hard work. It's not easy to spew your worst fears to a stranger, you know? It takes time, but it is possible with some gentle encouragement, and a ton of patience.
5. Luke is my new book crush. Can you tell us a bit about your journey to creating him, and who your book crush is?
Luke is based on my very own, real life Luke. I guess I can't really take credit for creating him. He was already written for me. In-real-life-Luke is a wonder. He blew into my world unexpectedly, and he was so kind and careful with my mind. I'm very lucky to have him, and I couldn't wait to share him with readers. He is my ultimate book crush.
6. Can you tell us a bit about In Shadow Selfie, what you hope to accomplish and how can we be a part of the movement?
Yes! Thank you for asking. So, In Shadow Selfie is a hashtag I started on Twitter a couple of years ago. It's an awareness campaign, geared toward anyone who is battling mental health issues. I was looking for a way to increase visibility and expose this great community, to people who were feeling alone. With the help of my Twitter friends, we started taking pictures of our shadows and posting them to the #InShadowSelfie hashtag. It's been bittersweet to see everyone get involved, sharing photos, sharing stories. I get some of the most beautiful and heartbreaking messages off folks who needed to feel support, then saw one of our selfies and decided to get in touch.
7. What is your writing process? Do you have a particular place? Time of day? Snacks? Laptop/desktop? Outlines? Freewrites? Beta readers?
My process is a little bizarre. I don't use a computer... I write on my phone. I warned you ;) See, I like to get in bed, when it's all quiet and dark, with a cup of tea, and just tap away. I only really use my computer to format a manuscript before I send it to my agent (and to watch Netflix).
8. What are you working on next?
My next book is about a girl who is trying to come to terms with some scoliosis surgery, after it's changed her body, considerably. She's trying to get comfortable in her own skin again... enter: a bully, a boy, and the pressure to have sex in senior year.
9. Anything else you'd like to tell my readers?
Happy Holidays! I hope you're all having a nice, peaceful, break. Sending lots of love and luck for 2017.
***
Thanks so much to Louise for this great interview! Now enter the giveaway sponsored by HMH Kids!
Happy Holidays and here's to an amazing 2017!
post signature
Posted by Christina at 6:00 AM
Email This
BlogThis!
Share to Twitter
Share to Facebook
Share to Pinterest
Labels: author interview, giveaway, review
4 comments:
QUOTED: "Excellent prose is undercut by a highly implausible ending."
8/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1501608938301 1/9
Print Marked Items
Gornall, Louise: UNDER ROSE-TAINTED
SKIES
Kirkus Reviews.
(Nov. 1, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Gornall, Louise UNDER ROSE-TAINTED SKIES Clarion (Children's Fiction) $17.99 1, 3 ISBN: 978-0-544-73651-1
Housebound with severe mental illness, a white teen fights her demons and attempts a romance with a
neighbor.Seventeen-year-old Norah's high school career ended four years ago. Her illness arrived suddenly; now
agoraphobia and OCD prevent her from leaving her house and direct every minute of her day and night. Her
unflaggingly supportive and adoring mom home-schools her. Norah narrates her obsessive thoughts, terror, anxiety,
tics, coping mechanisms, panic attacks, and losses of consciousness in a first-person voice that's vivid, tormented, sad,
and funny: " 'I'm fine. I swear.' I twirl, because nothing says I'm mentally stable quite like an impromptu pirouette"; "I
wonder if I can buy a lobotomy on eBay." Her self-awareness is believably inconsistent: she knows cutting is selfinjury
but won't accept that skin-scratching--which she does constantly, until she bleeds--also counts. She tries to date
the respectful, devoted, almost-impossibly-perfect boy next door without leaving her house or touching him. She's a
"tall skinny blonde with baby-blue doe eyes," but her insecurities meld into her illness. Although Norah's voice is droll,
desperate, and compelling, her illness rules her plot arc as it rules her life. Disturbingly, Gornall uses a home invasion
as a catalyst for Norah's out-of-the-blue progress at the end, rendering this traumatic event as not only benign--leaving
no emotional scars--but productive. Excellent prose is undercut by a highly implausible ending. (author's note) (Fiction.
14-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Gornall, Louise: UNDER ROSE-TAINTED SKIES." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2016. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA468388955&it=r&asid=393bf65d6c1b45f246003b7e1ae6bc51.
Accessed 1 Aug. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A468388955
QUOTED: "Gornall ... provides an intimate glimpse into the mind of a young woman battling some very real demons."
8/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1501608938301 2/9
Under Rose-Tainted Skies
Publishers Weekly.
263.43 (Oct. 24, 2016): p78.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Under Rose-Tainted Skies
Louise Gornall. Clarion, $17.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-544-73651-1
Seventeen-year-old Norah has incapacitating OCD and agoraphobia: she hasn't been outside of her home, except to see
her therapist, in nearly four years. After a cute boy named Luke moves in next door and takes an interest in her, Norah
manages to fight her urges to hide away, slowly befriending him and showing him who she really is, phobias and all.
Norah's unease permeates the pages ("Musings, meanderings, conversations that haven't' even happened run in one
continuous loop around my head"), leaving readers with a deep understanding of the limitations of her conditions.
While Luke's almost-too-good-to-be-true patience and persistence help spur Norah to push herself in new ways,
Gornall doesn't minimize the role of therapy in the progress she makes nor the difficult work that still lies ahead for the
teenager. Through Norah's poetic internal monologue, Gornall, whose own experience with mental illness helped
inform Norah's story, provides an intimate glimpse into the mind of a young woman battling some very real demons.
Ages 12-up. Agent: Mandy Hubbard, Emerald City Literary. (Jan.)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Under Rose-Tainted Skies." Publishers Weekly, 24 Oct. 2016, p. 78. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA468771883&it=r&asid=b1684bbcd444724bf509e1a11e5d98a8.
Accessed 1 Aug. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A468771883
QUOTED: "Gornall, who based Norah's illness on her own experiences, allows readers
open access to Norah's tormented mind."
8/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1501608938301 3/9
Spotlight on first novels
Booklist.
113.4 (Oct. 15, 2016): p54.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Older Readers
The Baby. By Lisa Drakeford. Oct. 2016.256p. Scholastic/Chicken House, 517.99 (97805459402761; e book, 517.99
(9780545942843). Gr. 9-12.
Olivia's seventeenth birthday party is everything she wanted it to be; her best friends Nicola and Ben dancing around
her; her weird younger sister, Alice, quietly confined to her bedroom; her boyfriend, Jonty, looming lovingly (if
somewhat possessively) by her side. But when Olivia discovers Nicola in the bathroom giving birth to a baby she didn't
even know she was having--Jonty's baby--the celebration comes to a crashing halt. Over the next few months, Olivia,
Nicola, Jonty, Alice, and Ben adjust to life with Nicola's baby, Eliza. Olivia struggles to forgive her friend, while Alice
attempts to make a new one; Nicola takes to motherhood with relative ease, leaning on Ben for his support and constant
companionship; and Jonty initially resists his responsibilities as a father. While relevant issues like domestic violence
and autism are woven gracefully across the narratives, the resulting conflicts are too neatly wrapped up. Written in
alternating third-person voices, Drakeford's debut transforms the stark and grim realities of teen pregnancy into much
fluffier fare, complete with a surprising, rom-com-worthy eleventh-hour twist.--Rebecca Kuss
Everyone We've Been. By Sarah Everett. Oct. 2016.400p. Knopf, 517.99 (9780553538441); lib. ed" 520.99
(9780553538458); e-book, 517.99 (9780553538465). Gr. 9-12.
Before: Addison Sullivan is falling in love with Zach. After: Addison is in a bus accident and keeps seeing a
mysterious guy from the crash wherever she goes. Before: Addison's viola music fills the lonely place inside of her,
making her feel whole again. After: her parents' divorce has ruined the family, and home feels underwater. To finally
solve all of her problems, Addison heads to the Overton Clinic for a memory treatment. This delightfully confusing
narrative will have readers thinking they understand it, before it yanks the rug from underneath them. (They'll enjoy the
tumble.) Everett gives readers sweet romance and solid friendships and then sprinkles on a pinch of sci-fi: a procedure
that can erase painful memories. The implications of this procedure will leave readers pondering the way the way their
hearts break and how they remember the ones they lost. Everett's story is an effective look at the kind of love you
dream about and the kind you should never forget. --Karen Ginman
Flashfall. By Jenny Moyer. Nov. 2016.352p. Holt, 517.99 (9781627794817). Gr. 9-12.
Orion, 16, has a special ability to locate cirian, a valuable element that prevents radiation sickness--and in their
postradioactive, flash-curtain world, cirian is essential. Subpars (mine workers) like Orion and her fellow Outpost Five
residents will spend--and likely lose--their lives mining it. But if they can gather a total of 400 grams, subpars can
escape to the protected city of Alara, though no one has ever lived long enough to do so. Orion and her mining partner,
Dram, however, are close to achieving this goal when Orion discovers the corrupt politics behind cirian and realizes
revolution is what's needed. Moyer has constructed a cinematic page-turner: there's gore, romance, daring rescues,
political commentary, and a strong message of social justice. Multiple small details of the rituals that sustain subpars in
their grim life lend verisimilitude to the world Moyer has created. Although character development takes a backseat to
the nonstop action, the empowering element of a teen-led rebellion creates its own energy and sweeps the reader along.
--Debbie Carton
Frostblood. By Elly Blake. Jan. 2017.384p. Little, Brown, 517.99 (9780316273251); e-book, 59.99 (9780316273268).
Gr. 9-12.
Seventeen-year-old Ruby Ottera is orphaned after watching her mother be murdered by the people she had been
protecting Ruby from all along, called frostbloods. Ruby is thereby thrust into a life where friend and foe want to use
her fire-wielding powers as a weapon--a fireblood in a kingdom ruled by frost. Driven by a prophecy, rebel frostbloods
save Ruby from certain death, hoping that she will help them break the curse on their kingdom. Ruby is continuously
8/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1501608938301 4/9
torn between red-hot anger and a spark of fondness for her instructor, Arcus, a frostblood with a tragic past, as he trains
her to fight for her life and his kingdom. Ruby's thirst for revenge is seemingly thwarted when she's captured again and
forced to fight in an arena where a fireblood has never triumphed, while becoming an object of fascination for the king.
This enchanting and fast-paced debut lights up the page with magic, romance, and action, all of which is expertly
interwoven throughout the text. Readers will be eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. --Meghan Oppelt
Girls in the Moon. By Janet McNally. Nov. 2016.352p. HarperTeen, 517.99 (9780062436245). Gr. 9-12.
Meg and Kieran Ferris were young and famous in the heady music scene of the 1990s. But after an "accident"
produced their daughter Luna, and a "mistake" brought a second daughter, Phoebe, Meg abandoned her music career.
Luna and Phoebe grew up far away from the limelight, fiercely protected by their mother. Now 19 years old, Luna has
moved to New York City and started a band. Phoebe decides to visit her sister during the last bit of summer before
senior year. She is curious about the untold story of her parents' fame, resorting to information gleaned from an old
Spin magazine. As Luna seems destined to follow in her mother's talented footsteps, Phoebe finds a soul mate who
shares her love of song lyrics. This is mostly Phoebe's story, with flashbacks from Meg's reluctant stardom. McNally's
first novel shows an appreciation of poetic phrasing, as well as plenty of musical references. Recommend this
introspective novel to readers who enjoy stories about music and musicians.--Diane Colson
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett. By Chelsea Sedoti. Jan. 2017.400p. Sourcebooks/Fire, 517.99 (9781492636083).
Gr. 9-12.
When Lizzie Lovett goes missing, Hawthorn becomes obsessed--how could something bad happen to beautiful,
popular Lizzie, who always seemed immune to pain? Hawthorn, who's always coveted Lizzie's seemingly easy
existence, goes to desperate, nearly crazy lengths to explain her disappearance, and in the process of her investigation,
she befriends Lizzie's 25-year-old boyfriend, Enzo, who indulges her bizarre quest (more than he should) and makes
Hawthorn feel like less of an outsider. But she becomes so caught up in her search that she finds herself even more
alienated, and when the truth finally comes out, Hawthorn is forced to examine her own choices. Sedoti's debut offers
an enlightening look at the dangers of relying on outward appearances to judge someone's character, and Hawthorn's
first-person narrative, filled with obsessive thoughts and, eventually, meaningful reflection, is a lively, engaging vehicle
for the story. A rich cast of secondary characters, including Hawthorn's family and a caravan of hippies camping in her
backyard, adds depth. Fans of character-driven novels will appreciate this.--Sarah Hunter
Kingdom of Ash and Briars. By Hannah West. 2016.368p. Holiday, $17.95 (97808234365141. Gr. 7-10.
Orphaned and raised as a serving girl, 16-year-old Bristal is stunned to learn that she is one of three elicromancers--
immortal, magical beings--in her kingdom. Bristal is quickly found by the other two elicromancers and trained in their
ways. One, Tamarice, is hungry for power and soon betrays them all, cursing the royal family and casting the kingdom
into darkness. Over the course of the next 16 years, it falls to Bristal to stop Tamarice's machinations. She uses her
shape-shifting skills to secretly raise the cursed youngest princess of the kingdom while helping the hidden oldest
princess attend a ball and discover her heritage. At the same time, she disguises herself as a man to join a group of the
king's soldiers and prepares herself for the coming fight. The inclusion of multiple familiar stories--Cinderella,
Sleeping Beauty, Mulan--gives this plenty of heft, and the scope of Bristal's adventures, the atmospheric magical
elements, and the light touch of romance will enchant fairy-tale fans.--Maggie Reagan
* Last Seen Leaving. By Caleb Roehrig. Oct. 2016.336p. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99 (9781250085634). Gr. 9-12.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
This truly hair-raising, standout mystery thriller from debut author Roehrig will keep readers guessing until the end.
When sophomore Flynn Doherty comes home to find police vehicles parked outside his house, he finds himself facing
plenty of questions about his missing girlfriend, January. The last time Flynn saw January, she was emotional and
desperate to be intimate. When Flynn refused, the two parted on unsteady terms and January all but accused Flynn of
being gay, a truth he has been avoiding for years. With the police hesitant to trust Flynn, he takes matters into his hands
and launches his own investigation with January's coworker, friendly and sexy Kaz. More than just fully realized,
Roehrig's characters feel real. And if Flynn's circumstances are a bit sensational, his struggles with identity and
relationships certainly aren't. Though this is not a typical problem novel, Roehrig gives equal deference to the mystery
of January's disappearance and Flynn's coming out and subsequent burgeoning romance with Kaz. Deftly weaving fastpaced
mystery with vivid, affecting flashbacks, Roehrig coaxes readers along at just the right pace and pulls the rug out
from under them in the best way possible with a knockout ending.--Caitlin Kling
8/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1501608938301 5/9
* A List of Cages. By Robin Roe. Jan. 2017.320p. Hyperion, $17.99 (9781484763803). Gr. 9-12.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Fourteen-year-old Julian is a damaged boy, taciturn and withdrawn, painfully shy and still bereft from the death of his
parents when he was a child. A poor student with illegible handwriting, he is often the subject of teachers' scorn and
classmates' teasing. As a result, he regularly skips classes to hide in a secret room he has found. His home life is even
worse: he is the ward of his uncle by marriage, a cold, distant, dangerous man who often punishes Julian cruelly,
whipping him with a switch and lacerating the skin on his torso. Things begin to gradually change when he encounters
Adam, a teenager who had once been Julian's foster brother before the uncle took custody. Adam, who had ADHD as a
child, is still a restless but exuberant, happy presence, beloved by fellow students and teachers alike. When he
unofficially adopts Julian, he brings light into the boy's hitherto dark existence, though danger still lurks. The two boys
tell their respective, affecting stories in first-person voices that perfectly reflect their characters and rive the story's
compelling action. Roe's debut may lack subdety, but it makes up for it with memorable characters and high drama. A
page-turner with a lot of compassion. --Michael Cart
Of Fire and Stars. By Audrey Coulthurst. Nov. 2016.400p. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray, $17.99 (9780062433251). Gr.
8-11.
Princess Dennaleia has always been destined to marry the prince of nearby Mynaria. She knows that it will mean
hiding some parts of herself: Denna has a magical Affinity for fire, and in Mynaria, magic is feared and forbidden. But
she doesn't count on being taught to ride the formidable Mynarian warhorses by Princess Amaranthine (aka Mare), the
barbed, very unprincesslike sister of Denna's betrothed. Mare wants nothing to do with Denna, preferring to train
horses instead of princesses, but when a sudden assassination throws the kingdom into chaos and fingers are pointed at
a rebel group of the magically gifted, the two are thrown together as they search for the truth, and their antipathy turns
to friendship and then something more. High-fantasy novels with TGBT love stories at their center are few and far
between, and this is done in a lovely fashion; Mare and Denna's relationship blossoms naturally against a high-stakes
backdrop and a fully realized world. A worthy debut that succeeds as both an adventure and a romance. --Maggie
Reagan
Saving Hamlet. By Molly Booth. Nov. 2016.352p. Hyperion, $17.99 (9781484752746). Gr. 8-11.
Sophomore Emma, recently introduced to theater, is excited to learn more as the drama club's assistant stage manager
for a production of Hamlet. Her theater-maven best friend Lulu is gunning for the role of Hamlet--so what if she's a
girl?--and Emma has a serious crush on student director Brandon. But then Emma suddenly finds herself running the
whole show, she and Lulu have a massive fight, and Brandon actually starts to seem like a piece of work. Worse, the
show is a disaster: brevity may be the soul of wit, but Brandon's version is five hours long. Then Emma falls through a
trapdoor into seventeenth-century London, behind the scenes of the original Hamlet. As she travels back and forth in
time between the two productions, she learns more than she ever thought possible about theater and being herself.
Emma is an easy-to-root-for heroine whose struggles will resonate with teens, drama geeks or otherwise, and her forays
into Shakespeare's London add insight into gender identity in the theater. A fun, imaginative debut. --Maggie Reagan
Snow Summer. By Kit Peel. Oct. 2016. 200p. Groundwood, $16.95 (9781554983575). Gr. 6-9.
Orphan Wyn currently lives with a kindly pastor and his family in a small English village, but she's acutely aware of
not fitting in. Climate change has created a winter without end, which means that Wyn needs to hide the fact that she is
never cold, as well as try to ignore her untested telekinetic powers and strange memories of things that should be
impossible, like flying. When otherworldly creatures appear, sparking Wyn's hidden memories, she realizes her true
identity and her responsibility to end winter and save the world. Peel blends current realities like climate change with a
mystical natural world, in which nature's forces are strong enough to fight human destruction. Readers' initial confusion
over the various magical creatures should settle fairly quickly, while Peel's richly detailed descriptions of the
landscapes and the creatures that rise from them create a magic of their own. Though clearly British in origin, the
8/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1501608938301 6/9
concerns are global. It may not be subtle, but Peel's debut has the satisfyingly predictable appeal of a fairy tale. --
Debbie Carton
Timekeeper. By Tara Sim. Nov. 2016. 368p. Skyhorse/Sky Pony, $17.99 (9781510706187). Gr. 9-12.
Danny, a 17-year-old clock mechanic living in an alternate 1875 London, narrowly escapes death when a clock tower
in which he's working is bombed. It takes some time to regain his nerve, and he is distracted by an impossible romance,
his mechanic father's entrapment behind an impenetrable time-wall, and ongoing attacks on clock towers all over the
English countryside. First-time author Sim has constructed a mild combination mystery, LGBTQ romance, and
supernatural tale of clock spirits and sabotage that explores how far people might go for those they love. Its strongest
elements are the time-related mythology and the supernatural gay romance; the mystery is inconsistently developed,
and its resolution seems rushed. There is a hint-dropped and quickly gone--that this is the first of more books to do with
young Danny and his friends. An author's note indicates changes to real historical London of 1875 and addresses
technology and inventions, the role of women, and homosexuality. Try this with A. J. Hartley's Steeplejack (2016) for
the unusual occupation angle.--Cindy Welch
Under Rose-Tainted Skies. By Louise Gornall. Jan. 2017.336p. Clarion, $17.99 (9780544736511). Gr. 8-11.
Imagine this: your groceries have been delivered to your home, because you don't go shopping. Inconveniently, they
have been left just outside against the house, where they sit in the sun. If you are Norah, this is a catastrophe, since
venturing out of the house alone is terrifying. Luckily, however, she gets unexpected help from Luke, the new guy next
door. Normally, she wouldn't be welcoming, but Luke is interesting. When her mother ends up in the hospital, leaving
her temporarily in charge of battling her demons on her own, Norah and Luke, who has his own issues, take realistic
baby steps toward each other. Debut author Gornall, who based Norah's illness on her own experiences, allows readers
open access to Norah's tormented mind. Describing anxiety, Norah observes, "It's the brassy bitch at school that I don't
like, but being her BFF makes me popular. ... I don't know how to be safe without it." Pair this with John Corey
Whaley's Highly Illogical Behavior (2016) for a complementary story about a teen boy experiencing agoraphobia.--
Diane Colson
Middle Readers
The Crystal Ribbon. By Celeste Lim. Jan. 2017. 352p. Scholastic, $17.99 (9780545767033): e-book, $ 17.99
(9780545767057). Gr. 4-7.
Eleven-year-old Li Jing adores her baba, but she doesn't understand why he sacrifices precious crops to the Great
Golden Huli Jing, the village's tutelary fox spirit, or why he doesn't prevent her from being sold to the Guo family as a
tongyang xi (nursemaid-wife) for their three-year-old son. Although Jing attempts to be a dutiful daughter-in-law, the
Guos and their bratty daughters treat her as a servant. One evening, a spider jing asks for help rescuing her egg sac
from Jing's sister-in-law's bedroom. As a token of gratitude, the spider weaves a crystal-like ribbon that can be burned
as a call for help. And Jing desperately needs help after the Guos sell her to a chinglou, or courtesan house. Jing is a
compassionate character who shows spirit in resisting unjust treatment. As often happens with child narrators, she
seems a bit too articulate for her age. This minor criticism aside, this is a delightful debut featuring lovely prose and a
refreshingly unique setting of China during the Song dynasty.--Michelle Young
The Friendship Experiment. By Erin Teagan. Nov. 2016. 256p. HMH, $16.99 (9780544636224). Gr. 4-7.
Ever since Maddie's scientist grandfather died, she's been carrying on his traditional approach to problem-solving:
there's a standard operating procedure (SOP) for everything. Maddie writes down her step-by-step solutions in her
trusty science notebook, and they're for everything from "How to Survive a Needle" (she and her sister, Brooke, have a
hereditary blood disease that requires plenty of trips to the doctor) to "How to Be Friendly" (Maddie's best friend
switched schools, leaving Maddie alone at lunch). But these days, the SOPs aren't doing their job. Brooke isn't taking
their illness seriously, and Maddie doesn't know how to convince her. Then there's Riley, the new science-obsessed girl
who just moved to town and is trying to be Maddie's friend--if only she weren't so annoying. Practical Maddie has a lot
8/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1501608938301 7/9
to learn about other people, and her journey will be an eye-opening one for many. Science-minded readers will cheer to
meet their match in Maddie as she conquers her demons and learns what exactly it means to have--and be--a friend.--
Maggie Reagan
* The Infinity Year of Avalon James. By Dana Middleton. Oct. 2016. 224p. Feiwel and Friends, $16.99
(9781250085696). Gr. 4-6.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Now that they're 10 years old, hot-tempered Avalon and even-keeled Atticus believe that, as longtime best friends
entering their "Infinity Year," each will be granted a special power for a time. Avalon, whose father was incarcerated
last year, is hoping for a skill that will help her deal with Elena, a dagger-tongued bully at school. Fifth grade doesn't
start well, but for every negative (enduring a messy, upsetting Halloween prank), there's a positive (earning a place at
the regional spelling bee), and Avalon can always count on Atticus, who helps maintain a delicate emotional balance.
When she inadvertently hurts him and he withdraws, though, Avalon feels wretched and knows that she can't count on
magic to put things right. Revealing her negative traits as well as more admirable qualities, Avalon's first-person
narrative is forthright and engaging. Easy for readers to forget but always a background factor, her thoughts about her
father and their relationship resurface to the fore from time to time. This offers a number of realistically drawn
characters, both kids and adults, portrayed as complex people who interact and cope with their troubles in individual
ways. A well-knit first novel with an involving, affecting story.--Carolyn Phelan
Kyle Finds Her Way. By Susie Salem. Oct. 2016. 256p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $16.99 (9780545852661); ebook,
$16.99 (9780545852685). Gr. 5-8.
Navigating middle school on day one is daunting for any incoming sixth-grader, but Kyle Constantini is off to a
particularly terrible start. She is in a different section than her two best friends; gets lost and is almost late for her first
class; punches a class bully for nearly stepping on her new friend Marcy's hearing aids; is assigned by the principal to
participate in the school's NAVS (Negotiating Actions and Values for Solutions) team; and rides Marcy's bus rather
than her own. Of course, she gets in trouble with her parents for these faux pas, and as new dilemmas crop up, she can't
seem to explain her way out of them--no matter how honorable or naive her intentions have been. Resolutions are
reached, and with each, Kyle matures. Sixth-grade female angst rings true in this debut novel. Salom has Kyle tell the
story and uses fantastic dialogue to let this coming-of-age tale shine. Middle-grade readers will relate to Kyle's
missteps and the frequently overwhelming environment of middle school.--J. B. Petty
Like Magic. By Elaine Vickers. Oct. 2016. 272p. Harper, $16.99 (9780062414311). Gr. 3-5.
Right from the start of this endearing debut, readers will feel the heartache and the exhilaration of what it means to be
10. Shy poet Grace is dreading starting fifth grade without her best friend. Outspoken painter Jada, meanwhile,
uprooted from New York City, is trying her best to make a new home in Utah with her dad, while secretly searching for
the mother who abandoned her. And sensitive musician Malia anxiously awaits the arrival of her new sister, worried
that the baby will take her place in her mother's heart. When the girls discover a treasure box at the local library and
anonymously begin to share treasures of their own, they also begin to find comfort and friendship. Told in alternating
chapters, Vickers gives each girl a unique and engaging voice, allowing each character's artistic passions to play a key
role in overcoming her personal struggles. The Salt Lake City setting and gracefully embedded ethnic differences add
freshness to a story with a message that will stand the test of time: friendship is like magic. --Rebecca Kuss
Midnight without a Moon. By Linda Williams Jackson. Jan. 2017.320p. HMH, $16.99 (9780544785106). Gr. 5-8.
It's 1955 in Mississippi, and 13-year-old Rose has a dream: to leave the cotton fields, follow her mama to Chicago, go
to an integrated school, and then head to college to become a teacher or doctor--thereby having the means to take care
of her family. But then her harridan of a grandmother decrees that Rose won't be going back to school, even though
she's only finished seventh grade. So much, it would seem, for her dream. Meanwhile, the larger world intrudes when a
young neighbor is murdered for registering to vote and then a 14-year-old boy visiting from Chicago, named Emmett
8/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1501608938301 8/9
Till, is also murdered. Will the deaths be meaningless or will they presage change, both for Mississippi and for Rose?
Jackson's debut does an excellent job dramatizing the injustice that was epidemic in the pre-civil rights South and
capturing the sounds and sensibilities of that time and place. Her sympathetic characters and their stories will make this
thoughtful book especially good for classroom use. --Michael Cart
Rebel Genius. By Michael Dante DiMartino. Oct. 2016.384p. illus. Roaring Brook, $16.99 (9781626723368). Gr. 5-8.
Giacomo is a 12-year-old orphan who lives in the sewers of Renaissance-inspired Virenzia. His prized possession is a
sketchbook, though drawing is risky as the Supreme Creator, or dictator, has outlawed art. When his personal Genius--a
birdlike creature that enhances artistic abilities--finds him, he is dangerously marked as an artist. Shortly thereafter, a
trio of other artistic children find him and take him to a safe house where they are allowed to flourish. There they are
taught sacred geometry and how to use their creative energies as weapons. When an evil artist begins hunting for the
three Sacred Tools of the Creator, with the intent of destroying the empire, Giacomo is called upon to lead his new
compatriots on a quest to stop him. This debut novel, by the cocreator of the animated series Avatar: The Last
Airbender, is the first in a planned fantasy series. While some of the combined magic and geometry falls flat, there is
action and adventure galore, including narrow escapes, surprising twists, and stunning turns.--Jeanne Fredriksen
Ryan Quinn and the Rebel's Escape. By Ron McGee. Oct. 2016.368p. Harper, $16.99 (9780062421647). Gr. 5-8.
Ryan Quinn's life in New York is interrupted when his father is reported missing and his mother is kidnapped. Left with
one message--his father must deliver Myat Kaw or else his mother dies--Ryan is left to trust Tasha, an associate of his
parents, and his friends Danny and Kasey to rescue them. Turns out Ryan's parents have been working for an
emergency rescue organization, and they have secretly been training Ryan his whole life. McGee s debut has many
hallmarks of the middle-grade espionage thriller genre--a fake international location, a young boy who suddenly can do
extraordinary things, the friend who can hack into anything, and so on--and it is a solid volume for readers looking for
a fast-paced, nonstop adventure of derring-do. Ryan is a likable character, Danny is hilarious, Kasey is more than the
dumb blonde everyone assumes she is, and his bully turns out to be a pretty decent guy with a soft spot. While many
loose ends are neatly tied up, this bound-to-be-popular volume leaves plenty of room for a sequel.--Lindsey Tomsu
The Secrets of Hexbridge Castle. By Gabrielle Kent. Oct. 2016.336p. Scholastic, $16.99 (9780545869294); e-book,
$16.99 (9780545881807). Gr. 4-7.
Alfie Bloom is more than a little puzzled to learn that he's inherited a castle. For one thing, he's never heard of Orin
Hopcraft, the druid who left him Hexbridge Casde. The biggest surprise, however, is the castle itself, full of hidden
rooms and other wondrous magic. Alfie and his twin cousins have great fun exploring, but danger comes with a twoheaded
dragon terrorizing the village and a pair of horrendous headmistresses at Alfie's new school. Kent's debut has
undeniable shades of that other magical boy who finds himself unexpectedly in a magical castle--Alfie receives letters
by raven, he's helped by an enigmatic man in a high tower, he's the sole bearer of powerful magic, and so on--but Kent
carries it off well, neatly interweaving backstory, hints about Hopcraft's tasks for Alfie, comical interludes, and plot
threads about friendship and family that help keep the narrative firmly grounded in reality. This well-paced, engaging
fantasy is tailor-made for Harry Potter fans, who will be pleased to learn there are more adventures in the works for
Alfie. --Sarah Hunter
Snakes and Stones. By Lisa Fowler. Nov. 2016. 240p. Skyhorse/Sky Pony, $15.99 (9781510710313). Gr. 3-6.
It's 1921, and Chestnut Hill has been traveling with her father and her younger triplet siblings--Hazel, Mac, and Filbert-
-since the day he took them away from their mother. Together, the siblings help sell their father's snake oil elixir, but
Chestnut is tired of having to lie to people every day about its powers. While traveling, Chestnut leaves handmade
signs behind showing their next destination, in the hope that her mother will track them down. When she finally can't
take it anymore, Chestnut steals money to buy a ticket home, which leads to a series of troubles that result in a reunion
with her mother. But when she witnesses an argument between her parents, she learns a heartbreaking truth about them.
Fowler includes some period-appropriate instances of racism, including some targeting the Hills' friend, Abraham,
although the Hills are not depicted as racist themselves. Chestnut's first-person narrative, in an old-fashioned, rural
dialect, might be a struggle for some, but the fast pace and intriguing secrets in this debut will keep the pages turning. -
-Selenia Paz
A Tail of Camelot. By Julie Leung. Illus. by Lindsey Carr. Oct. 2016.304p. Harper, $16.99 (9780062403995). Gr. 3-6.
Like most mice in Camelot, young Calib Christopher dreams of becoming a knight, but when his name is mysteriously
entered into the annual Harvest Tournament (to determine his eligibility), his nerves threaten to get the best of him.
8/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1501608938301 9/9
Shortly afterward, an assassination interrupts the competition, and the creatures grow convinced that the forestdwelling
Darklings are to blame. Calib is sure they are wrong and taps into unknown stores of courage to unite the
animals and face the true, and much more dangerous, enemy. Leungs debut is a charming blend of Arthurian legend
and Brian Jacques' Redwall series. A subplot involving Galahad's arrival as a boy in Camelot parallels Calib's
struggles--and eventual heroics--while integrating key characters from the legend. Exciting battles join suspenseful
animal alliances, such as Calib's diplomatic excursion to the owls, all while Calib tests the limits of his bravery and
learns what being a knight truly entails. With likable characters and a classic spirit of adventure, this is a satisfying
story of small heroes accomplishing great things.--Julia Smith
YA RECOMMENDATIONS
* Young adult recommendations for adult, audio, and reference titles reviewed in this issue have been contributed by
the Booklist staff and by reviewers Poornima Apte, Michael Cart, Laura Chanoux, Joan Curbow, Kristine Huntley,
Eloise Kinney, and Mary Ellen Quinn.
* Adult titles recommended for teens are marked with the following symbols: YA, for books of general YA interest;
YA/C, for books with particular curriculum value; YA/S, for books that will appeal most to teens with a special interest
in a specific subject; and YA/M, for books best suited to mature teens.
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Spotlight on first novels." Booklist, 15 Oct. 2016, p. 54+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA468771357&it=r&asid=6d1a49cf438d2ee50bf7813d173d386c.
Accessed 1 Aug. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A468771357
QUOTED: "Under Rose-Tainted Skies is touching, poignant, and funny. Told from the perspective of the sufferer, it vividly illustrates the human capacity for overcoming challenges and finding the joy in life, offering inspiration and hope to anyone who finds they struggle with living."
Under Rose-Tainted Skies, By Louise Gornall | Book Review
The Children’s Book Review | January 18, 2017
Under Rose-Tainted SkiesUnder Rose-Tainted Skies
Written by Louise Gornall
Age Range: 12-16
Paperback: 326 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books (2017)
ISBN: 978-0-544-73651-1
What to Expect: Realism, Romance
Often times the best stories are not about made-up places, people, and events, but are instead about the real life challenges, triumphs, and tragedies of real and ordinary people. Under Rose-Tainted Skies proves the point, by sensitively exploring the lives of those touched by mental illness, with both pathos and gentle humor. Drawing on the author’s own experiences, the book both inspires and encourages others battling mental health issues by showing them they are not alone.
Norah seemed like just an average school student, until the day her first panic attack caused her to black out and wake in hospital, covered in stitches and confused. Now her condition has left her heart-breakingly crippled: afraid to go out of doors, she stays in her home and, when possible, in her room, plugged in to the internet in an attempt to stay connected to the world outside. The trouble is, it is the outside world that is the source of Norah’s troubles: as a sufferer of agoraphobia, Norah lives in constant fear of disaster in a world that feels constantly threatening, with no safe means of escape. In the opening chapter of the novel, the reader is introduced to Norah as she tries desperately to make it out of the house to a therapy session with a psychologist, only to become so paralyzed by fear that she cannot make it out of the car. Set against this bleak existence, however, is a single ray of hope for Norah: Luke is funny, sweet, friendly and persistent, and when he moves to her street Norah finds that even her determined self-isolation cannot keep him away. Even as Norah basks in the warm glow of a new relationship, however, she worries: can she possibly be the right girl for Luke despite her problems?
Under Rose-Tainted Skies is touching, poignant, and funny. Told from the perspective of the sufferer, it vividly illustrates the human capacity for overcoming challenges and finding the joy in life, offering inspiration and hope to anyone who finds they struggle with living from moment to moment. This book comes highly recommended.
Available Here:
IndieBound-Iconamazon-smile_color_btnBarnes&Noble-Icon
About The Author
Louise Gornall is YA aficionado, film nerd, junk food enthusiast, and rumored pink Power Ranger. Under Rose-Tainted Skies is her first novel, and she can be found on Twitter @Rock_andor_roll. She lives in England.
Under Rose-Tainted Skies, by Louise Gornall, was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like Under Rose-Tainted Skies by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Mental Health, Reality Fiction, Romance, and Young Adult Fiction.
QUOTED: "Louise Gornall has written her novel in such a way that many teenagers can relate to."
"This is a perfect read for anyone who would like a little bit more insight into the life of a teenager with mental health issues and her day to day struggles."
Book review: Under Rose-Tainted Skies, a welcome look at teens and their mental health
Radeeyah Ebrahim a 16-year-old student at Horizon Private School, Abu Dhabi, shares her thoughts about Under Rose-Tainted Skies.
July 17, 2016
Updated: July 17, 2016 04:00 AM
0
shares
Twitter Facebook Google Plus Linkedin E-Mail Print later
Twitter
Facebook
Google Plus
Linkedin
E-Mail
Print
later
Go Up
A handout book cover image of
A handout book cover image of "Under Rose-Tainted Skies" by Louise Gornall (Courtesy: Chicken House)
To celebrate the Year of Reading, The National has teamed up with Scholastic, the specialist educational publisher, to give away more than 40,000 books to schoolchildren. To find out more and enter the weekly draw to win, visit www.thenational.ae/uaereadschallenge.
Under Rose-Tainted Skies
Louise Gornall
Chicken House, Dh29
Suitable for readers 15+
Our main character, Norah has spent a large part of her life confined to her house by her anxiety disorder, agoraphobia – a fear of open or public places. Because of this, the outside world is mostly viewed through glass windows or open doors. But when Luke moves in next door, Norah begins to develop feelings for him. She is determined to be as normal as she can, to be the girl Luke deserves.
There are so many things I’d like to say about this book that I have no idea where to start. It’s honest, realistic, well-written and it explores a topic that is so extremely important but isn’t very easily discussed in society. So many teenagers today suffer with mental health issues but refuse to talk about them because they feel it may make them look weak, that they may be made fun of, or most importantly that they will not be understood. Instead they choose to suffer in silence.
Louise Gornall has written her novel in such a way that many teenagers can relate to, whether they suffer from the same issues as Norah or not. Under Rose-Tainted Skies is refreshing and realistic. When Luke arrives and Norah falls in love, she’s not magically cured by her feelings. She still struggles and she progresses slowly, just like someone would in real life. There are no unrealistic expectations set for young people who suffer from these types of disorders and are in love at the same time.
Being in Norah’s head gives us a first-hand view of how “invisible” illnesses are just as real as others such as cancer. When someone suffers from an anxiety disorder or mental illness, they sometimes find it very difficult to explain what is going on in their heads. Norah explains and describes her feelings to us so perfectly – so we can relate to her.
This is a perfect read for anyone who would like a little bit more insight into the life of a teenager with mental health issues and her day to day struggles. Thank you Louise Gornall for a very insightful read.
Radeeyah Ebrahim is a 16-year-old student at Horizon Private School, Abu Dhabi. She blogs about books for Scholastic Middle East at http://worldofpossible.tumblr.com/
QUOTED: "Gornall's moving account of this complicated ailment, from which she herself struggles, writes this fictionalized tale describing it in all its frightening detail. To those who never grappled with emotional illnesses, this story offers insight into the disorders. Those who do face this will understand they are not alone."
Under Rose-Tainted Skies
Image of Under Rose-Tainted Skies
Author(s):
Louise Gornall
Release Date:
January 2, 2017
Publisher/Imprint:
Clarion Books
Pages:
336
Buy on Amazon
Reviewed by:
Nancy Carty Lepri
Many suffer in silence from mental illness. Since there are usually no outward appearances of the illness, most believe nothing is wrong. This is not the case for 17-year-old Norah who is dealing with agoraphobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She is a prisoner in her home with her whole life revolving around her malady.
Getting to her therapist's office is a chore for both Norah and her mother. Whenever Norah places a foot outside the door of her house, she practically collapses and needs her mom's assistance to get her into the car and to her appointment. Along the way, dread fills her thoroughly presenting the crushing sensation of impending death. Though Norah knows these feelings are unreasonable, she cannot help herself as her brain is short-circuiting on her.
A new neighbor moves in next door; a striking teen named Luke. Nora glimpses him from her window while she is shooing an annoying bird off the sill. Luke waves, thinking she is flirting with him, which makes Nora writhe in fright. Later when he spies her at her front door with a broom trying to drag in grocery bags left there, he comes onto the porch to help. She freezes, not only afraid of him but fearful of being considered a freak.
Norah's home is her sanctuary where she can deal with her situation, insecurities, and be herself. No known factor caused Norah to become like this, yet she manages her phobias in a disciplined manner. Panicked by germs, she washes her hands continuously, and she follows rituals for to deviate from them would, in her mind, bring a complete shutdown. In spite of being housebound, she likes to sit by the open front door to inhale fresh air and watch what is happening around her cul-de-sac.
Norah describes her fears in the following ways:
"Panic is bad. Panic mixed with disdain for yourself is worse. . . .
"God. I'm such a freak. I want to climb out of my own skin.
"The room undulates. There's no one here, but I feel like there are hands on me, pushing me around and around in a circle. My head throbs; my teeth start chattering.
"Most of the time I can ride out a panic attack. I just curl up in a ball and wait for it to pass. There's something about knowing it will come to an end that I'm certain of. Despite the way my body behaves, it feels manageable. But when it's cut with anger or rage, something shifts, and control feels further out of reach."
This is what happens after an incident passes:
"Moss has started to cover up my skin by the time this panic attack is spent. . . .
"I'm sticky, and there's this residual tremor jit-jit-jittery-bugging its way through my muscles, but it's time to stand and retake control of my limbs. I need a soundtrack, some droll overture played on the world's smallest violin, as I pull myself up and force my knocking knees to take the weight. It's like finding your strength after an intense bout of flu. I wobble across my bedroom, clinging to everything I pass, trying to make it to the kitchen because it's a couple of degrees cooler in there and/or, at the very least, I can climb inside the gargantuan fridge and ice myself off."
This situation is difficult not only for Norah, but her mother also has to learn how to cope with her daughter's anxieties. She demonstrates empathy.
Soon, Luke becomes a regular at Norah's house. He slips notes to her through the mail slot. They text, then later he brings ice cream to share while watching horror movies. Norah now envisions kissing him, even though the human mouth contains icky bacteria. She questions why he likes her when he could have his pick of any girl, and she considers herself damaged goods.
Norah suffers an unthinkable existence. Compassion and understanding are key factors while trying to comprehend her demons.
Gornall's moving account of this complicated ailment, from which she herself struggles, writes this fictionalized tale describing it in all its frightening detail. To those who never grappled with emotional illnesses, this story offers insight into the disorders. Those who do face this will understand they are not alone.
Nancy Carty Lepri is the author of a children’s chapter book, Tiny Angel, and is an illustrator and freelance editor. She has edited more than 20 books for national small publishers in various genres.