The Agony of Bun O'Keefe by Heather Smith

Pages: 216

Intended Audience: Mature tweens and teens

Genre: Real life / Contemporary

Notes for Parents: Contains some coarse language and a couple of very mature scenes.

The Inside Cover

Fourteen-year-old Bun O’Keefe has lived a solitary life in an unsafe, unsanitary house. Her mother is a compulsive hoarder, and Bun has had little contact with the outside world. What she’s learned about life comes from the random books and old VHS tapes that she finds in the boxes and bags her mother brings home. Bun and her mother rarely talk, so when Bun’s mother tells Bun to leave one day, she does. Hitchhiking out of town, Bun ends up on the streets of St. John’s. Fortunately, the first person she meets is Busker Boy, a street musician who senses her naivety and takes her in. Together they live in a house with an eclectic cast of characters: Chef, a hotel dishwasher with culinary dreams; Cher, a drag queen with a tragic past; Big Eyes, a Catholic school girl desperately trying to reinvent herself; and The Landlord, a man who bun is told to avoid at all cost. Through her experiences with her new roommates, and their sometimes tragic revelations, Bun learns about the world beyond the walls of her mother’s house and discovers the joy of being part of a new family.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The story is set in 1980s Newfoundland.

What’s good?

Bun O’Keefe is an unsophisticated 14-year-old girl who is at the heart of this beautiful character study. She is unwanted, leaves her stifling home, and stumbles upon Busker Boy, a young indigenous man who takes her in. She introduces the eclectic band of characters with her naïve eyes. Bun has no understanding of stereotypes and prejudice as she narrates the tragedies and triumphs that shape each person and their relationships with each other. The pace is steady and moves quickly with witty dialogue and strong characterization. The storytelling is raw and simple. Themes include abandonment, grief, prejudice, kindness, forgiveness, and community. The story is, at times upsetting, but in the end, is very heartwarming.

Best Part: Bun’s “narrator script” that she uses to comfort herself.

What isn’t good?

Bun O’Keefe is smart and clever, yet doesn’t grasp the concept of sarcasm, she takes everything literally, and has no understanding of common idioms or most pop culture references. This can get really annoying. However, it suggests that Bun may be autistic or otherwise developmentally delayed, adding another layer of mystery to her already unconventional personality.

Worst part: Pop Girl.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

This is a strange and fascinating story about a neglected girl who finds her tribe. It’s about people, and is populated with characters that you can’t help but care about. The author somehow avoids the usual literary tropes and creates a story that is tragic, uplifting, and very unique. It’s important to note that while the story never gets graphic, the subject matter does get heavy a couple of times. Ultimately this is a story about love, healing, and what constitutes a family. Definitely recommended.

Smith, Heather. The Agony of Bun O’Keefe. [Toronto]: Penguin, 2017. (Hardcover)

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Pages: 579

Intended Audience: Teens and up

Genre: Science Fiction / Futuristic

Notes for Parents: Contains coarse language, violence, and some mature scenes.

The Back Cover

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenager Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.

But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The major motion picture was released in March 2018.

What’s good?

Wade Watts is a witty and likeable protagonist who is easy to relate to in part because he displays a great deal of resiliency. Wade is an ordinary kid who leads an unfortunate life. He has no real family, no money, no safe place to live. But he finds ways to survive and doesn’t wallow in his adversity. Strong supporting characters, like Aech and Artemis, lend hope to this David versus Goliath story. The world-building is well done, allowing readers to easily envision Wade’s real world, and the OASIS. The plot is straight forward, and is full of adventure, romance, friendship, mystery, and epic battles. Escapism and consumerism are key themes in what is ultimately a high-tech treasure hunt between the forces of good and evil.

Best Part: Wade.

What isn’t good?

There’s a lot of telling as opposed to showing, especially in the first half of the novel, which slows the pace. Luckily, the pace picks up significantly when the hunt begins. There’s a ton of tech talk, computer jargon, and game references that went over my head, but it didn’t affect my understanding of the action. The premise, the plot, and even the future are not new ideas, but the originality is in the details.

Worst part: There didn’t seem to be a good reason for most of the 80s references.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

I did not expect to enjoy this one. In fact, I almost gave up about 50 pages in. But the interesting world-building made me hang on, and soon the action and adventure picked up and eventually built to explosive levels. I became fully invested in the outcome by the time I was a third of the way through. I was fascinated by the setting – 2044, a grim world of our own destruction with a civilization in decline thanks to the inevitable energy crisis and global warming. I also appreciated the escapism question – is it good? Is it bad? Is it inevitable? This was a great story. Highly recommended.

Cline, Ernest. Ready Player One. New York: Broadway Books, 2011.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Pages: 319

Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens

Genre: Realistic / Fairytale Retelling / Romance

Notes for Parents: There’s some mild language and a few mature scenes.

The Inside Cover

When geek girl Elle Wittimer sees a cosplay contest sponsored by the producers of Starfield, she has to enter. First prize is an invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. Elle’s been scraping together tips from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck behind her step-mother’s back, and winning this contest could be her ticket out once and for all—not to mention a fangirl’s dream come true.

Teen actor Darien Freeman is less than thrilled about this year’s ExcelsiCon. He used to live for conventions, but now they’re nothing but jaw-aching photo sessions and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Federation Prince Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the diehard Starfield fandom has already dismissed him as just another heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, closet nerd Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is a 2017 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction. The author is working on another “retelling,” called Heart of Iron, based on the story of Anastasia.

What’s good?

This is a witty parody of the classic Cinderella story. It goes a step further by celebrating geek culture with conventions, cosplay, fanfic, and mention of many science-fiction/fantasy tv shows, movies, and books. Ella has the obligatory evil stepmother and two stepsisters. Darien, an actor cast in the upcoming movie based on Ella’s favorite sci-fi television show, is precariously poised to be her prince. The story is told in alternative POV between Ella and Darien. Sage, my favorite character, is Ella’s co-worker at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (serving vegan treats). The story touches on issues of loneliness, friendship, betrayal, grief, and the cost of fame. The pace moves well, the plot is very simple, and the chapters are short, making this a quick and easy read.

Best Part: “Holy sweet merciful credit cards, Batman!” (pg. 201)

What isn’t good?

The story was totally predictable. There was nothing new. The romance was pretty corny – fairytale like, but still sweet. Ella’s stepmother was very over-the-top in her cruelness, so much so that I’m sure it qualifies as psychological abuse. There were a few editing errors that should have been caught. And then there was my nails on a chalkboard line, “Take that back!” Do people really say that?

Worst part: Isn’t “federation” from Star Trek?

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

It was light, fluffy, and entertaining. There were some great characters (including Sage and Frank the Tank), and a plethora of sci-fi references that every geek will enjoy. There was nothing overly complex or in-depth about the story, it was just simple and fun. Recommended.

Poston, Ashley. Geekerella. Philadelphia: Quirk Books, 2017.

Wonder Struck by Brian Selznick

Pages: 629

Intended Audience: Tweens and up

Genre: Illustrated / Historical / Crossover

Notes for Parents: There is nothing to worry about. It should be suitable for 10+.

The Inside Cover

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother’s room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories—Ben’s told in words, Rose’s in pictures—weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The form is the same as what the author used in The Invention of Hugo Cabret – half pictures, half writing. This was made into a major motion picture in 2017.

What’s good?

It’s clever how the two stories parallel each other, with Ben and Rose (both hearing impaired), searching for someone in the same area of New York City, but fifty years apart. While the plots have some complex elements, it’s still easy to understand. The pace moves quickly, thanks mostly to over 400 pages of illustrations, and each story has a likeable main character. The story has mystery, suspense, and adventure. Eventually, the two stories connect and bring both children’s journeys to a surprising conclusion.

Best Part: David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”

What isn’t good?

It’s difficult to tell a strong story when you’re limited to pictures and a few words. The secondary characters are little more than cardboard cutouts, with the exception of Jamie, whose story never gets fully told. Many questions remain in the end, including why Ben’s mother never told him about his father, or why she didn’t tell his grandparents.

Worst part: I didn’t find the illustrations particularly appealing.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

Despite the book’s colossal size, it’s a quick and easy read. Two stories are told concurrently, and both are a bit sad, but heart-warming. The overall message—that we are all connected—is beautifully played out in both words and pictures. While the story itself is a bit weak, it was nevertheless entertaining. Recommended.

Selznick, Brian. Wonder Struck. New York: Scholastic, 2011.

Girling Up: How to be Strong, Smart and Spectacular by Mayim Bialik

Pages: 171

Intended Audience: Tweens and Teens

Genre: Non-fiction

Notes for Parents: There’s frank talk about puberty (with illustrations), sex, relationships, and more

The Inside Cover

Growing up as a girl in today’s world is no easy task. Juggling family, friends, romantic relationships, social interest, and school…sometimes it feels like you might need to be a superhero to get through it all! But really, all you need is a little information.

Want to know why your stomach does a flip-flop when you run into your crush in the hallway? Or how the food you put in your body now will affect you in the future? What about the best ways to stop freaking out about your next math test?

Using scientific facts, personal anecdotes, and wisdom gained from the world around us, Mayim Bialik, the star of The Big Bang Theory, shares what she learned from her life and her PhD in neuroscience to tell you how you grow from a girl to a woman biologically, psychologically, and sociologically.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

Bialik has written two other books, one with pediatrician Jay Gordon called Beyond the Sling. The other is Mayim’s Vegan Table with over a hundred vegan recipes written by Bialik. In August 2015, Bialik launched her own lifestyle website, GrokNation, which caters to women and includes wide-ranging topics such as religion, popular culture, parenting, and Hollywood. She’s also a founding member of the Shamayim V'Aretz Institute, a Jewish organization that advocates for the ethical treatment of animals.

What’s good?

This is an honest, straight-forward introduction for young girls to puberty, growth, relationships, stress, and much more. It’s easy-to-understand information, dosed with science, and infused with humor and personal anecdotes. The categories are well-organized and relevant. The science is kept at a basic level, and serves to strengthen the understanding of each topic. The author offers a balanced, objective, and positive explanation of many issues facing pre-teens and teens today. The entire book is under 200 pages, making it a quick read, touching lightly on most of the subjects so as not to be overwhelming.

Best Part: The tone – it’s light, encouraging, and informative.

What isn’t good?

There were three things that bothered me:

1) There was no mention of homosexuality. She talks about masturbation, transgenderism, and gender roles, but nothing about lesbianism. It felt like a glaring oversight.

2) She explains why boys can’t help staring at boobs, but misses out on an opportunity to remind girls that they are not objects for boys to ogle.

3) The overall tone is simplistic and many subjects lack depth. However, this may not be a bad thing, as more details may have made some of the information too complex for the target age group.

Worst part: Nothing.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

I was the kind of girl who would really have benefitted from this kind of book when I was 12. It’s not for everyone, and it’s not all-inclusive, but it’s an excellent starting point for girls who like to learn from books. It’s a valuable conversation starter for girls and their parents to begin talking about pre-teen and teen issues. It’s geared to 10 to 14-year-olds. Younger girls may be overwhelmed by the information, while older girls may find it a bit condescending, but there’s important information to be learned for all ages. Highly recommended.

Bialik, Mayim. Girling Up: How to be Strong, Smart, and Spectacular. New York: Philomel Books, 2017.