The fall roster of teen-aisle releases is populated by zombies, pranksters, fairies,
and families. Luckily, these diverse creatures and characters are well served by their
stories and their authors. Here are some fantastic pieces of fiction that stand out from the
autumnal lineup and demand to be noticed.
John Green’s highly anticipated third release,
Paper Towns, delivers on its promise.
Quentin, commonly called Q, lives next door to a girl who stole his heart at a very young
age. As kids, they painted the town red on their bicycles, but now they are in high school
and not so close anymore. Then Margo shows up unexpectedly at Q’s window one night, just
weeks before graduation, and asks him to help her with a few things. He goes with her almost
without question, not knowing she’ll soon leave him with nothing
but questions. That night,
the two hit the town like in the old days, exacting harmless revenge on Margo’s unfaithful
boyfriend and others. Their night of pranks fills Q with happiness. The next day, though,
Margo disappears. Her parents are unconcerned, more exasperated than worried, as Margo’s
gone on flights of fancy before. Now that she’s eighteen, legally an adult, they wash their
hands of her. Q, unable to discount her so easily, thinks she wants to be found. He looks
for clues and meaning in items she left behind. Woody Guthrie, Walt Whitman, and maps all
come into play. Q’s friends, irrepressible and goofy, try to distract him, but eventually
aid in his search. Inhabitants and supporters of
Paper Towns are encouraged to read As
Simple as Snow by Gregory Galloway, another haunting story about the disappearance of a
defiant young woman, likewise narrated by the boy who adored her. Also try
Shift by Jennifer
Bradbury, in which two incoming college freshmen set out on a cross-country bike trip, but
only one arrives at school.
For something a little lighter, learn
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier.
In her first comedic fantasy, Larbalestier has created a fun world that’s an amalgamation of
America and Australia, a place that’s a lot like our world except for the fact that many
people are believed to have fairies that grant them unusual bits of luck. Teenaged Charlotte
(Charlie) feels cursed by her gift: The ability to always get a good parking spot. She’s not
even old enough to drive! What she wouldn’t give for a clothes-shopping fairy, or, better
still, an all-the-boys-like-you-fairy. Wouldn’t you know it: The most popular girl in school
has that one. When she and Charlie team up, crazy things happen. The book’s humor comes not
only from their attempts to ditch or swap their fairies, but also from Charlie’s notes at
the start of the chapters (hours spent in detention, demerits earned) and the general
lighthearted tone of the book.
Zombies are turning up on the shelves in high numbers right now, and
Soulless by
Christopher Golden is the best of the batch. While most of the recent living dead stories
are satires or dark comedies,
Soulless is an action-packed thrill ride from start to finish.
A televised séance with three world-renown mediums was supposed to allow people one last
moment with their dearly departed loved ones. Unfortunately, instead of merely contacting
the dead, the mediums somehow unwillingly cause them to rise from the dead. The zombies
crawl out of their graves, fearless, heartless, and soulless. They head home and destroy
anyone who comes in their way. The book’s unlikely heroes include a pop star, two college
students, a gang member, and the daughter of one of the famed mediums, with stories told in
turn as their paths cross and uncross on this disastrous day. The stakes are raised with
every turn of the page. Tense, nail-biting, and well-executed,
Soulless is a blockbuster
film packed in between two covers.
Come back to reality with
My So-Called Family by Courtney Sheinmel. When the novel
opens, Leah lives with her mother, stepfather, and half-brother, but soon enough she’s got a
host of other half-siblings in her life. Leah’s father was a sperm donor at Lyons
Reproductive Services, a fact her mother shared with her when she was little. Though content
with the family she has, Leah can’t help but wonder if her biological father had other kids.
Without telling her mom, Leah uses an online match system and locates four more children,
all around her age, fathered by Donor 730. Leah contacts one of them, a girl named Samantha,
and the sisters secretly keep in touch. Samantha says it best: “No family is ‘normal.’” This
book celebrates the modern family without shame, without dysfunction or exaggerated angst.
Sheinmel’s characters are vibrant and good-natured, exchanging dialogue that rings true. The
book is narrated in a near stream-of-consciousness style by Leah, and many scenes are stolen
by her younger brother Charlie, an inquisitive little guy who is both smart and silly.
Ready now, steady now? Let yourself fall forward into some great books this autumn.
All of these titles hit the shelves this month.
