Other Mock Printz Reading

We are still deciding on 5 more titles for the Mock Printz. Here, in short, is some of what is being discussed:

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Um, well, Libba Bray I love. This book I did not. I thought it was a bit of a slog, which surprised me. I love feminist plots, I love the idea of a bunch of beauty queens washed up on a deserted tropical island having to use their smarts to fight for survival. But it was just too much for me. The girls blended into each other (I had to remember states and names? Oy!) Don't get me wrong, there were parts I liked, but subtle it was not. It does have the best cover of the year hands down though.

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

This was a trippy little book. I remember telling someone when I was three quarters of the way through that I would either love it or develop a murderous rage when I got to the ending. It turns out that I sided more on the side of love even though I did not get the explanation I wanted. It was enough to satisfy me. This book was a tense read. The entire time I felt tense and I couldn't put it down. What exactly was Ruby really doing? She was such an interesting character and her influence did seem otherworldly. Or were we just getting Chloe's warped perspective? I feel like this one would make for interesting discussion.

Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando

I really enjoyed this. Set on Coney Island and full of Coney Island lore. At its base is a regular coming of age story of a girl who comes into her own and learns where she belongs. The setting is really what sets this apart. A more interesting cast of characters I don't believe you've ever found in a teen book. And what I liked most is that they were characters and didn't turn into caricatures. As much as I enjoyed it, I'm not sure it stands out enough for the Mock Printz.

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

I wasn't sure what to expect when I heard about this one. I really didn't feel up to a Frankenstein rehash. Luckily, this was something else entirely. It was more of a story of young Frankenstein's youth. And his youth, as you can imagine, was out of the ordinary. This is a story that is filled with adventure, jealousy, secret plotting, and best of all alchemy. Of all the potental titles I've been reading lately, I feel like this one is probably the strongest with plotting.

==============================

Book Source = Tayshas Committee Copies