Review of Stranger Than Fanfiction

Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer (2017)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

You might be friend with the local police, but I'm friend with the police of the world-they're called fangirls, and I've got about thirty million of them watching my every move right now. - Cash Carter

"You need to claim the driver's seat," Cash said. "Never take a backseat in your own life! You gotta take that bitch by the steering wheel with all your might - even if the road is bumpy, even if there's blood under your fingernails, even if you lose passengers along the way. Only you can steer your life in the direction that's best for you." - Cash Carter

 Stranger Than Fanfiction is a beautiful book that addresses some of life’s hardest topics, illness, sexuality, gender, education, and responsibility. The characters are diverse, while most hailing from a small town in Illinois they are not all Anglo-Saxon, one is Japanese American, one is half African American and half Anglo-Saxon. Cash is American TV royalty and raised in California. They all have very different home lives, Topher lives with a brother with Cerebral Palsy and an absentee parent, Sam has only her mother and is socioeconomically disadvantaged, Mo lives with only her father and he places all the pressures on her we’ve come to expect from a Japanese parent and Joey father is a pastor, his family almost oppressively religious. All 5 characters have life-altering secrets. What ties them together is tv series Wiz Kids, of which Cash is the star. Wiz Kids feels like a mash-up of Doctor Who and a couple of other shows. The fans are crazy but loveable, they are worldwide, and it is believable. The inclusion of two international friends felt so important to a book of friendship built on fandom.

Stranger Than Fiction is a rare book it provides both mirror and a window. For most young people reading they will see themselves to a degree in one of the 5 characters (the mirror) and because the book is told from multiple perspectives the opportunity to develop empathy for others is presented (the window). The writing style is perfect for the story. Chapters are short, but it suits the events and the rolling narration allows for the processing of drama and topics. The correct use of pronouns was appreciated.

I’m giving Stranger Than Fiction 4.5 stars, I’m taking off half a star for the unforgivable act of outing. While it is necessary to the plot I despise the action, I don’t think the outcome in the book is reflective of real consequence, nor do I think it is strongly enough spoken against either in text or in the author’s note. There is a difference between the illegal acts in the book we are all raised to know are wrong and the life-altering act of outing that isn’t illegal but isn’t educated against because the education system hasn’t caught up with reality.

For the sheer range of issues addressed this is an essential book for libraries. The multi-diversity is so rare and so valuable in modern society.

My reading experience in a gif:

Let me explain this, the Wheel of Death is about cooperation, symmetry and trust. This book about that. Dynamics. This is what I could see while reading. Also, I can isolate a character to each of the WoD performers.

Crossposted on Goodreads

References

Colfer, C. (2017). Stranger than fanfiction. London, United Kingdom: Atom.

Cover for isbn 9780349002309. (n.d.). Little Brown Book Group. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://www.littlebrown.co.uk/assets/LittleBrownBookGroup/img/book/309/isbn9780349002309.jpg

McPherson, C. (2018, May 4). Catherine McP's review of Stranger Than Fanfiction. Goodreads. [Goodreads Review]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2379514205

thund3rbolt. (2014, October 14). The wheel of death. giphy. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://media0.giphy.com/media/ythqf1bUZTyO4/giphy.gif

Music

I’m moving on from last weeks fandom post to another tightly linked to fandom. musical preference. The music we listen to can often say a lot about who we associate with, often people will seek out others with similar interests musically be that contact in person or virtually. Think of the high school stereotypes metalhead together, punks, pop princesses, classical musicians, bands these types are aligned on musical taste or ability.

This post will be a personal post because I couldn’t find a way to do it abstractedly. In my family there a four of us. My mother listens to 70s-80s pop, father classical and whatever his bother givers him, and my brother listens to metal and punk (largely with female vocal). My own taste is K-pop and that is what I want to talk about because libraries as community places can be of great use to the K-pop community. By talking about K-pop I want to say that I’m using it because it’s what I know, it is worth thinking about how libraries could reach out to others. As I said it’s personal because I couldn’t make it abstract.

First what is K-pop? K-pop is short for Korean pop. Essentially music in Korean, highly produced often highly choreographed and high energy.

What draws people to K-pop? Being a K-pop fan can be more of a lifestyle choice, one you do not talk about for fear of being thought weird. There different types of fans but in general, fans will learn all about group members, watch music videos obsessively, learn lyrics by rote, learn the fan chants that accompany live performances, obsess for the periodical comebacks of their favourite groups and mourn the loss of idols as they complete their two years mandatory military service. It is a community, some are drawn to it for the music, some were raised with it, some like a challenge so the choreography is for them, some are simply attracted to the performers. What can sometimes keep them people is the addictive and catchy nature of the whole thing. Most people it will be a combination of whatever got them hooked and the catchy nature of the music.

A tip if someone does say they are interested in K-pop do not mention PSY or Gangnam Style. Enough fans dislike the song, it's popularity and the constant reminder that it can cause people to shut down. K-pop fans often carry a stigma of only listening to K-pop but it’s not that simple it’s often just what they are most vocal about. A recent post by Tumblog softspearb asked fans to add what they listened too, basically, the answer is everything ("There’s a stigma around people," 2018).

How can libraries help? Don't judge the non-Asian listing to K-pop (or any Asian pop for that matter). Allow dance groups to use your community space if that is within your libraries rules if you have a community event and they offer don't say no without seeing what they can do. Be aware that if you run fanfiction writing workshops K-pop fans may want to write on K-pop. But it's all about keeping an open mind. You don't have to enjoy the music to allow someone else to. Largely K-pop fans are aware of their musical taste and try not to draw attention to it, they deal with enough problems just to enjoy it.

There are many songs that exemplify what K-pop can be, Something by Girls is seductive, I Don't Need a Man by Miss A is a feminist anthem, Oh NaNa by K.A.R.D. is one of the catchiest tracks upbeat and happy. Sorry, Sorry by Super Junior is a classic and choreography that most fans know on sight, Let Me Know by BTS is an emotional track. BTS are worth looking at for sheer popularity and power of message. They are the first group since PSY to get mainstream media play in the west (with Mic Drop) and their songs generally carry strong positive messages. I'm choosing Fantastic Baby purely because it is so loud, so mad, so classic and so quintessentially K-pop. Big Bang are an older K-pop group these days, but their popularity remains.

I could add more K-pop clips here but I’m not going to, I think I’ve taken up enough of everyone’s time. If you are interested feel free to ask me (or YouTube). I’m sorry this post is so long. I tried for brevity but as previously stated brevity not my strong suit.

References

1theK (원더케이). (2014, January 2). MV : Girl's Day (걸스데이) : Something (썸씽). [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVO5xTAbxm8

BIGBANG. (2012, March 6). BigBang : Fantastic Baby M/V. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAbokV76tkU

hatice can. (2015, July 19). BTS The Red Bullet dvd : Let Me Know live. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCSrfiqq2ko

ibighit. (2017, November 24). BTS (방탄소년단) : MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix) : Official MV. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTlv5_Bs8aw

KARD. (2016, December 12). K.A.R.D : Oh NaNa M/V. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPTcKSVAEvA

missA. (2012, October 14). miss A : I don't need a man (남자 없이 잘 살아) : M/V. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkSOOiMDGiY

officialpsy. (2012, July 15). PSY : Gangham Style (강남스타일) : M/V. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0

SMTOWN. (2009, June 7). Super Junior 슈퍼주니어 : 쏘리 쏘리 (Sorry, Sorry) MV. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6QA3m58DQw

There’s a stigma around people. (2018, April 17). softspearb. [Tumblr post]. Retrieved from https://softspearb.tumblr.com/post/173050380989/theres-a-stigma-around-people-who-listen-to-kpop

Review of Infinity

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2010)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

She’s your mother. She’s going to be worried. Honestly, you have no idea how much your parents love you until something happens to you - then it’s too late. – Kyrian of Thrace

Genetics doesn’t always rule intellect. Believe me. I come from a long line of really stupid people. Scares me that I swim in their gene pool. Yet here I am, a hell of a lot smarter than they are. – Caleb Malphas

After the reading I’d done in the last week I wanted comfortable and fun. To me, Sherrilyn Kenyon is fun and familiar. I really like the way she writes. I love her characters. Caleb is one of my all-time favourite characters, between him and Chayden Aniwaya from her League series (and maybe the wonderful Kalder, we’ll see). I think a lot of the love I have for the Chronicles of Nick Series comes from the fandom and knowing the stories knowing that three of the characters are modelled after her wonderful sons, knowing what is coming, knowing that one of the most canonically important characters is dead, knowing that the fanonically Nick isn’t straight. But the writing is what keeps me coming back, Mrs Kenyon is nothing if not quotable.

The Chronicles of Nick is about morality, the fight between the dark and the light, the concept of destiny and coming into yourself. Infinity is about a 14-year-old and his whacky bunch of friends fighting zombies. Infinity is fun a stupid in the best possible way, from zombie hunters to a sassy book to sarcastic teenagers. It is far from the best-written book, but I’m not reading it for literary merit I’m reading it to escape. It will not be a book for everyone but if the idea f the blurb appeals then it is pretty much what it says on the back.

About Nick himself. He is 14 and poor, the kind of poor where you don’t know where your next meal is coming from. He is genius level smart and is attending a prestigious school on a scholarship. Nick is being raised by the 28-year-old Cherise, who works as a dancer to make ends meet. She was disowned at 14 when she found out she was pregnant and refused to give up the baby. Nick would give up anything for his mother, one word about her and no one can hold him back, there is a lot of love in their ‘house’. They are living in New Orleans; the setting is key to everything.

What is difficult to remember in the CoN series is how young everyone is or appears. Nick is the youngest at 14, his friends range from 15 to 29. In reality, ages are different, much different. It’s also not made clear that Infinity is set in 1996, 14 years before the publication date. Sherrilynkenyon.com is brilliant for dates and tidbits, for fans of her series it has become a hub. Each character has a biography (some have multiple because alternate realities) Nick was born in 1982 and is 14 in the book, years are never mentioned. But it really doesn’t change much.

The Chronicles of Nick feels like an author writing her own fanfiction, a prequel or a do-over fic. It is inexorably tied to Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter/ Were-Hunter books and characters do cross over. But their realities are different, Nick in the Dark-Hunter universe in more likely Ambrose. A glimpse of our Nicks future should things go wrong.

I’m sorry that this prattled on about the whole Chronicles of Nick series it is hard to review a book within a loved series without digressing when you’ve read so much of it, and Infinity is just an introduction to the series nothing like what it is capable of. But now I really want to re-read the rest of the series.

My reading experience in a gif:

Crossposted on Goodreads

References

brimalandro. (2013). Sassy Salem. tumblr. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://78.media.tumblr.com/e6f2ea46af9f68bc2f496443f4c53773/tumblr_mo3v74xXKq1qcqqpjo1_r2_250.gif

Chronicles of Nick series. (n.d.). In Sherrilyn Kenyon. Retrieved May 2, 2018, from https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/book-series/chronicles-of-nick/

Cover for 9780312603045. (n.d.). Macmillan. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://images.macmillan.com/folio-assets/macmillan_us_frontbookcovers_1000H/9780312603045.jpg

Entire Dark-Hunters/Hunter Legends series series. (n.d.). In Sherrilyn Kenyon. Retrieved May 2, 2018, from https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/book-series/entire-dark-hunter/https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/book-series/entire-dark-hunter/

home. (n.d.). In Sherrilyn Kenyon. Retrieved May 2, 2018, from https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/

Kenyon, S. (2010). Infinity. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin.

The League series. (n.d.). In Sherrilyn Kenyon. Retrieved May 2, 2018, from https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/book-series/league/

McPherson, C. (2018, May 2). Catherine McP's review of Infinity. Goodreads. [Goodreads Review]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2377114086

Nick: CON. (n.d.). In Sherrilyn Kenyon. Retrieved May 2, 2018, from https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/character/nick/

Reflection on Words in Deep Blue Review

Description of the Activity Undertaken.

This is a reflection on my reading and review of 2017 Gold Inky award winner Words in Deep Blue (Crowley, 2016; Inky, 2017). The review was posted on social networking site Goodreads and a blog created for this unit.

What Did You Learn?

The basic piece of knowledge gained from this task is that writing a review for a respected book one did not enjoy is not easy, to write the review I had to articulate my dislike for characters that people enjoyed without coming across as hateful. It was a reminder that we are all coloured by our experiences or lack thereof, my own lack of experience with grief and mourning was, in this case, a hindrance. For this review, I used a guide but added some aspects of my usual review style ("Writing a fiction or non-fiction review," n.d.).

How was the Activity Relevant to Your Professional Practice Working with Children and/or Young Adults?

Success with young adult patrons is knowing what is being written for them and reading a sample ("Engaging teens with reading," n.d.). By reading and reviewing Words in Deep Blue I continued that journey, and in reviewing my experience I gave myself a prompt for a later time as to what I disliked, why and who might enjoy it. If reviews are kept on hand in a professional setting they may allow for a staff to make recommendations to young adults based on relevant enjoyment of titles (Hastings, 2013). Keeping reviews in dot points or at least having an executive summary for easy access may be better than long and wordy.

Discussion of Young People’s Book Awards in Relation to Your Chosen Activity.

Among the multiple literary award mentions Words in Deep Blue has received arguably winning the 2017 Gold Inky award may be the most significant (Inky, 2017; "Words in Deep Blue," n.d.). The Inky awards (the Inkys) has two categories; the Gold Inky is awarded to Australian authors and the Silver Inky, to International authors. Unlike most book awards of categories for young adults, the Inkys are decided by young people between 12 and 18. The shortlist is decided by a panel of young judges, the initial panel deciding the long list are previous judges and the winner is decided by popular vote, with only those between the ages of 12 and 18 eligible ("Guidelines," n.d.).

The importance of the Inkys is in the voice they provide young people and the opportunity for participation in the community, these are priorities in library service for young people (Debraski et al., 2015; IFLA, 2015; State Library of Queensland, 2009). Literary awards are used by some libraries as selection development tools (Alabaster, 2010). The winners and to some extent the shortlists, of the Inkys gives an indication of what is important to the current generation of youth, of what is popular and what acquisitions might increase circulation.

References

Alabaster, C. (2010). Developing an outstanding core collection: A guide for libraries [ALA editions]. Retrieved from: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

Crowley, C. (2016). Words in deep blue. Sydney, Australia: Pan.

Debraski, S., Finney, M., Kolderup, G., Murphy, A., Nataraj, L., & Wynn, V. (2015). Core professional values for the teen services profession. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/yalsa/core-professional-values-teen-services-profession

Engaging teens with reading. (n.d.). In National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved March 13, 2018, from https://natlib.govt.nz/schools/reading-engagement/strategies-to-engage-students-as-readers/engaging-teens-with-reading

Guidelines. (n.d.). In Inside A Dog. Retrieved March 13, 2018, from https://insideadog.com.au/page/guidelines

Hastings, R. (2013). Blogging for readers. In C. Harmon & M. Messina (Eds.), Using social media in libraries: Best practices. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/

IFLA. (2015). Guidelines for library services for young adults Retrieved from https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/libraries-for-children-and-ya/publications/ya-guidelines2-en.pdf

Inky. (2017). 2017 Winners. Inside A Dog. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://insideadog.com.au/inkys/2017-winners

McPherson, C. (2018, April 28). Catherine McP's review of Words in Deep Blue. Goodreads. [Goodreads Review]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2371205533

State Library of Queensland. (2009). Queensland public library standards and guidelines: Young peoples services standard. Retrieved from http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/138435/138435_Young_People_Services_standard_-_April_2009.pdf

Words in Deep Blue. (n.d.). In Pan Macmillan Australia. Retrieved April 27, 2018, from https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781742612386/

Writing a fiction or non-fiction review. (n.d.). In Oxforddictionaries.com. from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/writing-a-fiction-or-non-fiction-review

Review of Words in Deep Blue

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley (2016)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We are the books we read and the things we love. – Rachel Sweetie (Crowley, 2016, p. 336)

I am aware while writing this review I am in the minority, am I one who did not enjoy Words in Deep Blue. I found the characters frustrating, the writing stylistically interesting, but the whole thing unmemorable. I just couldn’t attach myself to the characters, the story, I couldn’t fall into their world and live there for a while.

The main two characters in Word in Deep Blue are Henry Jones and Rachel Sweetie. Rachel is grieving the loss of her younger brother; her life has fallen apart in the months since he died. Henry’s family own Howling books a second-hand bookstore, the story leans quite heavily on his family and their regular customers. Henry is in an on again off again relationship with the self-obsessed Amy. I found all the two main characters intolerable. Rachel’s selfishness in hiding her brother’s death from his former friends aggravated me and I can only sort of understand her reaction to her grief. Henry’s behaviour towards Amy was pathetic and I just couldn’t deal with it. The other character of note is George, Henry’s younger sister, she is a redeeming character in the book. I have met people like her, using strength as a shield. Also, regular customer Frederick who I guess was in a way Cal’s potential future, I did connect with him.

Put simply Words in Deep Blue is about discovery. People finding out who they are, where they fit in and where their futures lie after the rug is pulled from beneath them. All in that messy year right after high school where the safety net is already gone. The plot revolves around Rachel coming to terms with the death of her brother and Henry’s family deciding whether to sell their bookshop. Words in Deep Blue is a character driven book, if you don’t like the characters or if you can’t attach yourself to them it will be a difficult book to read and enjoy. I couldn’t engage with it, I couldn’t become emotionally invested. I think it was almost certainly the characters that were the issue.

Cath Crowley has chosen an interesting style for the book; love letters play a major role in the development of the story. The letters are the key, once the letters are understood the book can be understood (look at the dates is all I’m saying). The language used fits contemporary young adults, the descriptions used by each of the narrators fits their frame of reference and the chapter markers are brilliant. I liked the pacing, it felt a little slow to begin with but contextually its. The pacing feels timed to the friendship of the narrators.

A lot of my feeling towards this book has to do with my own inexperience with grief, the only family death I have experienced there was no grief from really anyone (not that he wasn’t loved, it was just a long time coming the grief happened a long time before). This could be an interesting book to read again once I have had that experience I think my feeling may change. I know I am in the minority with my response to Words in Deep Blue and that is fine by me. I can see the appeal, it just isn’t for me. On my usual library scale, I think this is one that should be in all public and school libraries, grief is universally relatable once you experience it, young people need that mirror or a window if someone they know is suffering. Just an insight into what is being experienced. For that, the importance of Words in Deep Blue cannot be underestimated.

My reading experience in a gif:

Crossposted from Goodreads

References

Cover for 9781742612386. (n.d.). Pan Macmillan Australia. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://www.biblioimages.com/macmillanaus/getimage.aspx?class=books&assetversionid=435100&cat=default&size=large&id=22184

Crowley, C. (2016). Words in deep blue. Sydney, Australia: Pan.

McPherson, C. (2018, April 28). Catherine McP's review of Words in Deep Blue. Goodreads. [Goodreads Review]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2371205533

movieclips. (2013). Destiny forget story gif. tumblr. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://78.media.tumblr.com/84c9c7ccb6db8b8a267fb8fbd6c37bdd/tumblr_o3hj1qOv691qcjzvuo1_400.gif