LITERARY LAGNIAPPE

SPRING 2007

Issue # 35

The word “lagniappe” (pronounced ‘lan yap’) is a common term used in Louisiana. It means “a little something extra.” The literary community of the University of New Orleans offers our readers a literary lagniappe–reviews of recently published books for children and young adults.

FICTION

(The Astonishing Life of) Octavian Nothing. Volume 1 The Pox Party by M. T. Anderson. Candlewick Press, 2006. $17.99. Ages 12 to adult.

Octavian Nothing is a weighty endeavor of character and history. Herein lies the well-written story of an African queen and prince forcibly emigrated to The American Colonies before the abolition of slavery. Arrived into a curious state, the College of Lucidity, the queen and prince find an unusual island in the sea of racial disparity. The young Octavian, classically educated, talented, and profoundly precocious, must come to terms with his existence in a world that thinks of him as only a slave despite his obvious gifts. He must find a way to acclimate to a world that is not yet ready for him, in a time that is, in contrast to his fine personage, even more barbaric. Clear, expressive period-style prose defines this novel, and the brilliance of the writing is conveyed in the author’s understated directness. As the first in a series, M. T. Anderson has achieved a feat in stirring anticipation for his next. –Giacomo Castrogiovanni

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girby Barry Lyga. Houghton Mifflin, 2006. $16.95. YA

Fanboy is a sophomore in a school where brute strength is valued over intelligence. Fanboy’s high grades don’t shield him from torment by the jocks. His only friend in the entire school is Cal, a popular jock and closet comic book collector. Though Cal considers Fanboy his friend, Cal neglects their friendship in pursuit of popularity, in Fanboy’s opinion. His pregnant mother seems to think ignorance is the answer to the tortures Fanboy endures day to day, but Fanboy has his own answer. He writes a graphic novel that will be his ticket out of the small town life he hates. First, he has to show it to Brian Michael Bendis, Fanboy’s favorite author who is coming to a convention. Fanboy never shows it to anyone until Goth Girl comes along. As Cal slips away from him, Fanboy strikes up a friendship with the unruly loner Kyra (aka Goth Girl). Kyra and Fanboy share their secret desires for revenge on the jocks and the belief in his graphic novel’s potential. As Fanboy becomes closer to Kyra, he begins to examine the relationships he has with the people around him and the interconnections they all share. With Kyra’s help, as the time draws near for his graphic novel presentation, he comes to find strength inside of him that he did not know he possessed.

Fanboy reaches out with a realistic, sarcastic and witty voice. Lyga presents a reluctant hero, who is a wonderful portrayal of a fifteen year old, geeky, fumbling boy. The descriptions and voices of all of the characters in the book are clear and unique. The comical yet sometimes dark nature of Lyga’s writing makes the book fly by, leaving the reader wanting more. They are all authentic characters, caught up in their own problems while trying to understand each other. Fanboy’s obstacles of acceptance (not only of his place in high school, but of others in his life) and learning self-confidence are universal issues that any reader can connect with. Lyga interweaves the literature of graphic novels and comic books without discouraging any readers who have never read either. This book may even make some readers cross the barrier to the other genre. The perseverance of Fanboy despite the distractions in his life to achieve his dream will have readers glued to the pages. A must read for any teen who loves comic books or graphic novels.– Asaya Eichaker

Leaving Jetty Road by Rebecca Burton. Random House, 2006. $15.95. Ages 14 up.

Three Australian friends who are going through their last year of high school decide to make a New Year’s resolution to become vegetarians. It is this choice that begins a sequence of events that will change their lives forever. First-time author, Rebecca Burton, tackles many important issues in teen’s lives today. In her book, the characters encounter friendship, anorexia nervosa, new boyfriends, heartbreak, parent-child relationships, and the pressures of school, among other things. The novel is written in first-person narrative with two different characters’ points of view. This is an effective way of writing because it helps the reader to understand the feelings of both or these characters instead of just one. It is a great book for young women to read and relate to.–Emily Gunther

Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes. Hyperion, 2006. $15.95. Ages 13 and up.

In Dark Sons, a young African-American teenaged boy named Sam feels betrayed when his father remarries after his parents’ divorce. Sam is especially upset when his father and hit new Caucasian wife have a son together. He gradually begins to feel inadequate. He does not understand why his father seems to favor this new son over the first-born. In a Biblical parallel to the modern-day story, Grimes tells the story of Ishmael who feels the same way as Sam when his father abandons him and his mother. This story is told in first person, by both Ishmael and Sam. It tells of their feelings of betrayal, anger, rejection, and misunderstanding. Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, this book is great because it is so real. Children from divorced families could easily relate to the characters. This book is also an easy read, wonderful for all reading levels in high school..–Emily Gunther

Cupcakeby Rachel Cohn. Simon & Schuster, 2006. $15.95.

The latest book in Rachel Cohen’s series is CupCake continuing to follow CC (as she prefers to be called) in her road to womanhood. CC is a young charismatic hellion of a girl trying to find herself in her new life in New York. One of her many problems is that everyone is expecting her to do something with her life now, but she hasn’t figured out what that is or if she even wants to. In CC’s recent move to New York, she moved in with her half-brother Danny, who is from her newly found biological family consisting of an ashamed father and a go-getter, yet jealous half-sister LisBeth. Living with Danny was supposed to be CC’s newly found freedom, but she quickly finds out that Danny is trying to take on more of a father figure than she would like. CC is now on a mission–to find the perfect cup of coffee and a certain buzzed-about barista named Dante, who’s supposed to be the best but who’s only around every once in a blue moon. Meanwhile, after a few bad dates and a trip to the local Planned Parenthood, CC finds herself wanting back her ex-boyfriend Shrimp, but when he returns she finds that things seem to be slightly less than wonderful, Cyd Charisse, the name CC is always disguising, seems to be just the ticket to winning over Max, the neighborhood grump who is just the friend CC needs. CupCake is a light-heartedly delicious book. With its hilarious and oh-no-she-didn’t dialogue, Rachel Cohen leaves you wanting more. –Natasha Aziz

The Big Nothingby Adrian Fogelin. Peachtree Publishers, 2006. $14.95. Ages 12 up.

The Big Nothing, a fiction book written by Adrian Fogelin for a young up-to-date adolescence audience, is something worth reading. Justin Riggs Fogelin’s main character has come alive in this book. Fogelin has created a memorable story from this unlikely character. About writing this book, Fogelin says: “Like the quiet people we meet in real life, quiet characters sometimes have the best stories. This one is Justin’s.” In The Big Nothing, Justin Riggs, though shy and unsure of himself, has no problem capturing readers’ attention. Fogelin creates a complete circle around Justin in the novel. No matter how much he tries to escape his problems they just keep running into one another until, it is too hard to distinguish where one stops and the other begins. With his brother gone away in the army, his parents on the outs, and his best friend occupied with a love interest, Justin finds himself escaping into what he calls the big nothing. In his attempts to remove himself from reality he finds a friend in a hidden talent. The themes of family, courage, hope, friendship, disappointment, war and many others resonate in the immediate reality Fogelin has created. She boldly confronts marital dysfunction and tactfully informs readers of the bigger picture behind the ongoing Iraq war. Justin’s fight to try to keep what’s left of his family together will encourage young readers to realize that family is not just defined by the number of parental units or siblings but by the love each person shares for the other.

Teenagers living in America will instantly place their present day situations into this book and find pieces of themselves embedded in Fogelin’s writing. Fogelin proved that in escape we don’t always have to lose ourselves. In Justin’s attempt to flee his unchangeable circumstances, he finds his strongest ally in himself. This is a timely novel that was written for every student around the country looking for a book to relate to now. –Nabila Ford

Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes. Delacorte, 2007. $15.99. YA

Mark Peter Hughes’ sophomore novel, Lemonade Mouth, introduces the freshmen musical revolution taking Rhode Island by storm. Five self-styled freaks come together in a cosmic detention, making both music and friends. Stella is the green-haired ukulele player from Arizona who feels like an outsider in her genius family, trumpeter Wen can’t accept his dad’s pretty young girlfriend, classical bassist Mohini is torn between being the perfect Bengali princess and a regular American girl, Charlie is a Tito Peunte loving percussionist “metal shop kid” and lead singer Olivia sifting through her family secrets. When these misfits join forces, they create a unique, eclectic sound. At odds with both the school’s administration and opposing band Mudslide Crush, they are forced to practice in the dilapidated basement and bond over the slushy goodness of Mel’s Organic Lemonade- which becomes a rallying point for the band and their followers. Told vividly through several characters, Hughes creates a totally unique look at the problem of fitting in. Hughes’ novel is a smash hit sky rocketing him and Lemonade Mouth to the top of the charts. –Erica Rosher

Long Gone Daddyby Helen Hemphill. Front Street, 2006. $15.99. Ages 12-15.

Long Gone Daddy takes a twist on the father/ son relationship and drives it right to Vegas. Harlan O. suddenly returns to Bear Creek, Texas after 20 years where he promptly dies, living his preacher son Harland P. and his very lost grandson Harlan Q. to sort out their affairs and each other. Learning they can only gain the $50,000 inheritance and a purple Cadillac by returning the body back to Sin City, estranged man of faith and his faith-questioning son pack up the ’72 wagon with the corpse and ice chest, setting out on a adventure that not only changes the way they look at each other, but themselves. Meeting up with Warrior, a Preacher’s kid turned Zen actor, Harland Q. realize that maybe running away from his problems will simply create more. A novel that is both philosophical and down right funny, light hearted and touching, Long Done Daddy is for those who are not only searching for themselves, but also for familial understanding, with a bit of humor and a healthy dose of Amen. –Erica Rosher

The Baptism By Sheila P. Moses. Margaret K. McElderry Books

Novelist Shelia P. Moses made me feel as though when I looked up from reading and stepped outdoors, I would walk directly into the twentieth century in Occoneechee Neck, North Carolina. “Occoneechee” is an Indian name that means powerful river. In this era, baptism was extremely important. Baptisms were a way to cleanse the soul of sins. The entire community was dedicated to the baptisms and assisted the candidates on their journey leading to this special day. Luke and Leon are twins–Leon, the mischievous and feisty twin, Luke, the well-behaved and calm twin. The twins are soon to be baptized, but before they are baptized, Twin Leon wants to cleanse himself of sins. And how does he accomplish this task? In one week he sins as much as can in hopes that he will be ready for “morning bench”. Morning bench was a bench where the candidates for baptism would sit when they were to be baptized. Leon is the reason why I liked this novel. He reminds me so much of myself with his sharp comments and his sarcastic way of telling the truth. I especially enjoyed the way he gave people nicknames according to what stood out about them the most. And the nicknames were not cute. Everyone knew the reason behind the nicknames except the person to whom the nickname was assigned. He’d given the nickname “Filthy Frank” to his stepfather because he hardly ever bathed and was always unclean and lazy. Leon called his older brother“Joe Nasty” for the same reason as “Filthy Frank.” The Baptism is filled with interesting characters like Grandma Curry, Joe Nasty and Daddy. Grandma Curry was honest and displayed a fiery attitude. She was quiet but when she knew that she felt something strong in her soul she acted on it. Grandma Curry carried a Smith & Wesson and never thought twice about using it. Daddy was deceased, but he still floated throughout the story. He was very important to the family. He was their unseen strength, and he was Grandma Curry’s only child. Joe Nasty is the twins’ big brother. He lacks guidance and structure. Twin Leon’s huge test of sin was the day his stepfather stole his mother’s money and disappeared. He disliked his stepfather. He disappointed his mother and broke her heart. This gave him and his older brother all the more reason to kill him. Their mother prayed very hard and her sons returned without committing the sin of murder. Finally Twin Leon was ready for baptism. This novel defines family values and structure. It also connects two races in a way that is loving and kind. But you must read the book to understand the connection. I promise you won’t be disappointed. –Dana Griffin

Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon. Illustrated by Henri Sorenson. Peachtree Publishers, 2006. $18.95.

It is Christmas day, all the presents have been opened, dinner has been served, and the streets are covered in snow. A grandfather, along with two of his grandchildren, sits by a warm fire, and they all chat about Christmas. The young boy asks Grandpa about his favorite Christmas ever, and Grandpa happily remembers and proudly shares his story about one particular Christmas in 1914. While serving his country, he and many others spent weeks in the battlefield feeling afraid and lonely. They realized they would be spending Christmas in the trenches. The night’s air cleared the sky making it impossible to separate them from the German soldiers. They waited until they heard a sound coming from the enemy’s side. It was the sound of caroling. With the sharing of many traditions, the spirit of Christmas reflected through every soldier that night. They felt they were no longer enemies, and they became one. This magnificent story captures the memory of our soldiers serving our country during World War I. Using oil on canvas, the beautiful artwork illuminates the story. A treasure for all ages to enjoy, this story can be particularly enlightening to the youngest of children by showing them the true meaning of the word bravery. (CD included)–Kelly Louque

NONFICTION

Dear Author: Letters of Hope edited by Joan F. Kaywell. Philomel Books, 2007. $14.99. Ages 10 & up.