Spring Pick 2015

Now that spring is officially over, it's time for me to share my favorite book I read through the spring season. So without further ado, my spring pick...

Spring Pick 2015

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

YA Thriller

 

The Summary

On the outside, there's Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement.

On the inside, within the walls of the Aurora Hills juvenile detention center, there's Amber, locked up for so long she can't imagine freedom.

Tying their two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls' darkest mysteries…

What really happened on the night Orianna stepped between Violet and her tormentors? What really happened on two strange nights at Aurora Hills? Will Amber and Violet and Orianna ever get the justice they deserve—in this life or in another one?

In prose that sings from line to line, Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and of innocence, and of what happens when one is mistaken for the other.

– Blurb from Goodreads

The Characters

While their is a diverse cast of characters, the main story focuses on three specific characters - Violet, Amber and Orianna. Each of these three girls is complex, interesting and so very realistic.

Having read a previous book by this author (Imaginary Girls), I will say that Ms. Suma has a gift at getting into her character's heads and making the most raw portraits of humanity. There is something so utterly visceral and sincere about how she crafts her characters that it's easy to get swept up into their heads and the story, in general.

Without giving too much away about these three girls with their intertwined lives, I will say this - they each feel unique unto themselves. You can easily find bits of people whom you know in real life in them. And the best part is they are so beautifully flawed. None of them is perfect by any means, not even seemingly pristine Orianna who is a character I could see as falling into the realm of saccharine with a less skilled author at the helm. Lucky for us, Suma has a strong grasp of character development and human understanding that allows her to not fall into overused tropes or stereotypes.

The Setting

This is a modern day story which primarily takes place at the fictional Aurora Hills juvenile detention center set in the northeast of the United States. The story shifts between the current time and flashbacks that may feel jarring at first, but once you settle into the tone and pace, you can easily follow the slips in and out of conscious.

Overall Opinion

The action of the story is diluted through a lot of info dumping, but it works. In fact this is one of the few stories that I have seen it succeed. There are a lot of shifts in narrative and time via flashbacks and flash-forwards. That's okay - it's supposed to be a bit confusing, a bit ethereal. All will be revealed at the end and what a brilliant reveal it is.

The tone is foreboding and almost dreamy with a lingering sense of dread weighing through the murk. Atmospheric and psychological, it had be hooked from start to end. This is masterful writing and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in reading something a little different.

Top 5 Favorite Authors

Like every writer, I am first and foremost a reader. There have been so many stories, characters and authors who have shaped my own writing. But there are just some authors who I find myself returning to time and time again. Here is a list of my five favorite authors and what it is about their works that keep me coming back for more. Enjoy!

Top 5 Favorite Authors

 

1.  Lloyd Alexander

It’s no great secret that I am an absolute fangirl when it comes to Lloyd Alexander. He is the first author that truly touched my heart and made me love the written word. There is a pure classic quality to his stories that make them feel timeless and familiar. His works are a perfect example of middle grade high fantasy and I’m not sure we’ll ever meet his like again. When I was a young woman struggling to become a writer myself, I would write to him and tell him how much of an inspiration he was to me. He, in turn, always replied without fail and encouraged me to keep following my dreams. His words both in stories and in letters continue to guide me.

2. Peter Beagle

Like most children of the 80’s, I discovered his famed story The Last Unicorn after watching the animated movie version. The movie stole my heart and the book sang to my soul. I was immediately enchanted by his words. Everything about them evoked such a sense of utter sincerity.  Having seen him several times now in person, he is also fascinating to listen to and very kind to his fans. There’s a spark of magic in that man, I swear.

3. Holly Black

I first was introduced to Holly Black’s writing with her Spiderwick Chronicles and have been following her career ever since. I think what I love most about her writing is that she does such an amazing job with integrating fey lore into modern settings. She clearly gets the fey. She has such an obvious appreciation of the lore and pays it full respect. Her characters are always complex and believable in spite of whatever bizarre circumstances they may find themselves in.

4. Jessica Day George

Princess stories have a close place in my heart, so it was only a matter of time before I discovered the works of Jessica Day George. There is no edgy guile to her stories that has started to saturate the market. She simply takes classic elements, tells straight forward stories and still manages to make them all her own. Her characters and their stories are effervescent, innocent and pure fun. She truly has a gift with capturing the joy and magic of childhood, for young and old readers alike.

5. Neil Gaiman

I’m not sure I can say much about Neil Gaiman that hasn’t already been said – the guy oozes imagination from his every pore. He does such a great job at world building and crafting beautiful stories. When I read his works, I really do feel transported to his worlds. He’s another one who really understands fey lore and how to utilize magic in his settings. A master wordsmith and an imagineer to the core, Neil Gaiman is an author’s author.