Adult Books 4 Teens is changing format and delivery method, but not going away. When next you encounter AB4T it will be an online column–and its very own section of the print journal!

Mark Flowers will continue as editor. I am stepping down.

It has been a true pleasure to bring this discussion of adult books to an online audience, to write about books and reading and appeal on a weekly basis. I hope that many books have found their way into the hands of teens as a result.

I want to publicly thank all of the excellent reviewers who have contributed their work to this blog. Thank you to all of our publisher marketing colleagues for understanding this project, and for supporting it so generously by responding to our requests for the books we hoped to review. Thank you to everyone at SLJ, especially Brian Kenney, Luann Toth, Trev Jones, Kathy Ishizuka, Kiera Parrott, and Shelley Diaz, for their support and enthusiasm. And thank you for continuing to champion adult books with teen appeal in the future.

And I want to thank YOU for reading. Thank you!

It also fulfills that frequent request for funny books (the humor here is largely satirical), and will satisfy readers looking for a love story, albeit a unique one. I also appreciate that its two main protagonists are artists, a composer and a costume designer. This is a sophisticated read for smart teens.

FILIPACCHI, Amanda. The Unfortunate Importance of Beauty. 332p. W.W. Norton. Feb. 2015. Tr $25.95. ISBN 9780393243871. LC 2014037010.  

A memorable group of five friends are featured in this wholly original novel filled with plot twists and turns that address the themes of beauty, friendship, and love. Barb, 28, an exquisitely beautiful costume designer, every day painstakingly dons a disguise that makes her ugly. Lily, 25, is a brilliant pianist and composer who, by society’s standards, is deemed unattractive. Georgia is a successful novelist with quick wit. Penelope, supported by her wealthy family, is struggling to find her place after having been kidnapped and held in a coffin several years prior. The fifth member is an ex-cop who was injured when he rescued Penelope. Barb and Lily have been friends for eight years and Barb finds Lily “nothing but beautiful,” though Barb’s perception is admittedly “skewed by affection.” In an attempt to have Strad, a man Lily has loved for years, notice her, she composes music that makes her beautiful. She must go to great lengths to have her music playing while they are together, or else wear a mask that Barb has created. The author weaves amusing elements of farce and fantasy into the story without jarring the narrative. Barb and Lily just want to find true love that is not based on appearances and through a host of preposterous circumstances, their wishes come true. VERDICT Though the characters are not teens, this novel is bound to spark a lively debate about the nature of beauty, whether society’s norms can be changed, and the notion of true love.—Jane Ritter, Mill Valley School District, CA

First, a fantasy novel by Daryl Gregory. You may have heard of Afterparty, last year’s science fiction novel that created quite a buzz and ended up on a few Best lists. I read Raising Stony Mayhall back in 2011, an unusually thoughtful entry in the zombie canon that made LJ’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy list that year. With Harrison Squared, I believe he has written a book with genuine Alex Award possibilities.

Combining fantasy, Lovecraftian horror, mystery, and humor, the novel starts off with a great title character, adds a wonderfully weird setting, and proceeds to follow the adventures of H2 and his gaggle of allies as they search for his mother after she disappears.

And what can we say about a new collection from Neil Gaiman? Read Sarah’s review–she says it all! Then go listen to Neil speak (briefly) about Trigger Warning on NPR, because no one can talk reading & writing quite like he can.

GREGORY, Daryl. Harrison Squared. 304p. Tor Bks. Mar. 2015. Tr $25.99. ISBN 9780765376954.  

Harrison Harrison, aka H2 or Harrison Squared, is the only child of an AMP (absent-minded professor), a marine biologist who studies squids and other giant sea creatures. Harrison’s earliest memory is of tentacles, teeth, and an upside-down boat in the ocean—the incident in which his father died and he, Harrison, lost a leg. Now, at 16, he and his mother have traveled across the country from San Diego to dreary and isolated Dunnsmouth, on the Atlantic Ocean, so that his mother can continue her research. It’s not long before weird things start happening. School is odd; all the students look as if “they did their shopping at ClinicalDepression.com,” they have classes like “Practical Skills” (knot-tying) and cryptobiology, and no one ever seems to go to the library. Then his mother disappears, and Harrison has a hard time persuading anyone that there is something wrong, so he sets out to find her on his own. But things get even weirder in the next few days, as Harrison must deal with a knife-wielding bogeyman called the Scrimshander, a monstrous female of the deep, and a weird cult. Fortunately, he also has some help, including a fish-boy who loves comics, a Dorothy Parker-esque aunt, a ghost, and some humorless but practical friends from school. Harrison is a bright, funny, determined protagonist, and readers will be glad that the ending of this book leaves open the possibility of a sequel. VERDICT Suspense, humor, and weird, creepy monsters combine to make this one a winner for teens.—Sarah Flowers, formerly of Santa Clara County (CA) Library

LOUREY, Jess. February Fever: A Murder-By-Month Mystery. 252p. Midnight Ink. Feb. 2015. pap. $14.99. ISBN  9780738742144.

Private Eye-in-Training Mira James is headed west from her tiny hometown in Minnesota ostensibly to attend the Private Investigator’s Conference in Portland, but mostly to see her boyfriend Johnny who has recently moved there. Mira is not enchanted by the fact that her octogenarian sex-crazed sidekick Mrs. Berns has booked them for “the Valentine Train—a vehicle that encourages singles to “meet and mingle”—but is pushed into going and is joined by her good friend, the ever-cheerful, pot-smoking Jed. The “Valentine Train” answers Mrs. Bern’s desires, but the trip increases Mira’s anxiety. It is late February and a murder has occurred each month for the past nine months. Her newly found skills as a P.I. are indeed put to the test as a young woman, accompanied by her husband and child, is murdered in the room next to hers. Another P.I. and a reality TV show detective onboard join Mira in the search for the killer. Snow-trapped in a train stuck in the Rockies, there are many suspects to consider. Mira must determine who can be trusted and who is adding to the many deadly twists and turns this case takes on. Readers will love the protagonist and the earthy, witty, and quirky partners upon whom she relies. While teens do not need to read the previous nine mysteries, getting Mira’s full story would add depth to this one. VERDICT Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy this young, sassy detective and her motley crew.—Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, CA

For teens who savor the best YA nonfiction, books like Bomb and Hitler Youth, or Phillip Hoose’s upcoming The Boys who Challenged Hitler (if I may sneak in an advance recommendation), Dead Wake is as suspenseful as any thriller, as intricate as a well-plotted mystery.

Dead Wake will interest war buffs (were the Allies hoping a civilian ship would be shot down, so that the U.S. would have more reason to join them?), and those obsessed with lifestyles of the Downton Abbey-era rich (how did the passengers spend their lazy, luxurious days on board the ship?).

NPR shares a compelling excerpt–introducing the captain of the U-boat on course to intercept the Lusitania.

LARSON, Erik. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. 448p. bibliog. illus. index. maps. notes. Crown. Mar. 2015. Tr $28. ISBN 9780307408860. LC 2014034182.  

One hundred years ago a German U-Boat torpedoed and sank the RMS Lusitania as the British ocean liner neared the Irish coast bound for Liverpool. Hundreds of civilian lives were lost as Germans redefined the limits of naval warfare and tempted America to enter the first World War.  With his signature storytelling, Larson weaves stories of those aboard the luxury liner and the submarine with the fabric of politics. The result is history as a tale that is as engaging and enthralling as a well-crafted mystery. The fear of passengers who were well-aware of the German pronouncement that their vessel was a target of warfare and the anxiety of the U-Boat captain desperate to fire his single last torpedo before returning to Germany ratchet up the tension as the paths of the ill-fated ship and the stalking submarine are drawn to their shared destiny.  All the while, British intelligence was charting German submarine activity in the Irish Sea and calling off escort cruisers that would have deterred any attack upon the Lusitania.  Larson does not subscribe to conspiracy or conjecture and seems content to have readers experience this remarkable historical incident through the eyes of its participants and perpetrators. In doing so, he provides teens with the opportunity to recognize that history is much more than facts and dates.  In the work’s pages, they will discover that history is often comprised of random choices, individual eccentricities, and circumstance as unpredictable as the weather.  VERDICT History is best read—and understood—as the stories of intersecting lives, and no one tells those stories as well as Larson, whose work should be in all high school libraries.–John Sexton, Greenburgh Public Library, NY

The strength of The Royal We lies in the character of Bex. She’s so ordinary, so humble and likeable. She’s not a royals-watcher. She doesn’t care about the dresses or the parties or the other perks of being loved by a prince. She wants to be an artist, is a huge Cubs fan, and she doesn’t intend to change for Nick. Still, most of this book is about the trials and tribulations of living in the public eye, the trauma of the tabloid lies and paparazzi stalking, as well as all of the work that goes into becoming a princess.

At the same time, of course the book is full of delicious insider moments–attending the Royal Ascot, vacationing on the ski slopes with the family–and some wicked humor. From what I understand there are fun parallels between Bex & Nick and Kate & William, but I don’t know enough about the British royal family for it to affect my enjoyment, or assessment, of the novel one way or another.

Readers who have a fascination with twins, or stories about sisters, will also enjoy following the changing dynamics of Bex and Lacey’s relationship. They could not have been closer before Bex left for England, and everyone would have thought Lacey more likely to end up doing something notable or outrageous. What happens when the quiet twin starts getting all the attention?

The authors offer the first 7 chapters for free on their blog, Go Fug Yourself.

MORGAN, Jessica & Heather Cocks. The Royal We. 464p. Grand Central. Apr. 2015. Tr $26. ISBN 9781455557103. LC 2014049047.  

Morgan and Cocks, cofounders of the celebrity fashion website, Go Fug Yourself, deliver a fairytale romance with their first adult novel. At least it starts out that way. Rebecca Porter (Bex) leaves Cornell for a junior year at Oxford. Nick, as in Prince Nicholas, the future King of Great Britain, happens to live just down the hall. They hit it off over late-night viewings of Devour, a show that sounds vaguely like HBO’s True Blood—much like Bex and Nick are vaguely based on Kate Middleton and Prince William. From the beginning, their relationship is sweet and sincere. They are wonderfully down-to-earth, smart people. But there are hurdles. Bex’s over-enthusiastic, beloved twin sister, Lacey, comes to visit and then quits med school and moves to London after falling for Nick’s brother, Freddie (i.e. Prince Harry). Nick and Freddie’s father is a hateful man, and their mother has been tucked away in her own mind since they were mere babes, unable to handle the strain of the royal life. Worst of all are the paparazzi, who hound Bex mercilessly. Or are the royal family’s own people the worst, as they micromanage Bex’s every move until she barely recognizes herself?  It culminates in a wedding day will-they or won’t-they. Rather long (eight years from meeting to wedding) but never dull, The Royal We balances angst and drunken parties with true love and loyal friendship. It’s all about the price of life in the public eye. Teens who enjoy Stephanie Perkins and Jennifer E. Smith will eat this up. VERDICT This work is like The Princess Diaries taken to a whole new level, with readers getting an insider view.—Angela Carstensen, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City

I didn’t immediately recognize the costume and I asked her who she was dressed as. Her reply–“Um, it’s from a movie? It’s called Clueless“–caused my wife an I to gape for two reasons: 1) my volunteer seemed to think we wouldn’t have heard of Clueless, a movie which practically defined our high school years, and 2) we had no idea that Clueless was still enough in the cultural consciousness of teens to make it worthwhile as a Halloween costume.

For readers who didn’t don’t know what I’m getting at: Clueless was a 1995 film retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, reset in the modern world of a rich Beverly Hills high school, a transplantation that makes a surprising amount of sense when comparing it to the naive landed wealth of Austen’s characters. That’s all a prelude to say that yes, teens of seemingly every generation are attracted to Jane Austen’s stories (in one form or another), particularly Emma, which some (read: me) consider to be her finest novel.

And now comes Alexander McCall Smith to bring Emma back to the novel format. Like Clueless‘s writers, McCall Smith has chosen to update the story to a contemporary setting. And he’s done such a good job of it that’s we’ve given this retelling a starred review. Not much more needs to be said than that: just bask in a classic, timeless story, retold by a fabulous storyteller.

*MCCALL SMITH, Alexander. Emma: A Modern Retelling. 256p. Pantheon. Apr. 2015. Tr $25.95. ISBN 9780804197953. LC 2014025558.

After graduation from college, Emma returns home to start her own interior design business. But she is easily sidetracked by her determination to play match-maker to her friends. Always helpful, ever-opinionated, Emma attempts to bring together mismatched couples including Harriet Smith, the English Language Learning Teacher’s Assistant, hotel owner (or perhaps “it’s just a B&B”) Philip Martin, Australian raised Frank Churchill, and her old friend George Knightly. Hovering over them all is Emma’s terribly anxious father worrying over each germ and possible disaster while Miss Taylor, Emma’s governess attempts to keep Emma’s feet firmly planted on the ground. Old friends abound in Emma’s life and she is just certain that she can help them be better than they are.  McCall Smith, author of the “#1 Ladies Detective Agency” series (Pantheon) brings us his retelling of Jane Austen’s beloved tale of Emma and her misguided attempts at bringing order into a disorderly world.  Set in contemporary England, the 21st century barely impinges on the story. Texting and other modern communication is mentioned but just skims in and out of Austen-like narrative. There is just enough change from the original to keep readers wondering if the author will change the plot—could Frank really be gay? Will Harriet stand up to Emma and choose her own boyfriend?  More importantly: Will Emma mend her bossy ways so that she can find true love? VERDICT This book will introduce the cherished story to a new generation of readers—and delight those who have read the original.–Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, CA

Randy Henderson’s debut novel, Finn Fancy Necromancy, is fantasy with a good dose of humor, something that can be hugely popular with teens if it hits them right. (Our reviewer notes call-outs to Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams!) The first three chapters are free on the Tor website.

Half the World is the second volume in Joe Abercrombie’s Shattered Sea trilogy, a good series for Game of Thrones fans waiting for that next volume (or season). We reviewed Half a King last year. The concluding volume, Half a War, is due in July. I should note that the Shattered Sea trilogy is being promoted to teens as well as adults, and is not as dark as Abercrombie’s usual; it is relatively “clean” as well. Also, Yarvi has a disability–a withered hand–which makes him an unusual and welcome protagonist.

HENDERSON, Randy. Finn Fancy Necromancy. 366p. (The Arcana Familia: Bk. 1). Tor. Feb. 2015. Tr. $25.99. ISBN 9780765378088.  

Great characters and serious action sequences are the big draw in this debut urban fantasy. Finn was exiled to the Outer Realm at age 15 (in 1986) for necromancy he didn’t commit. Now, 25 years later, he’s out of exile but those who first framed him are wasting no time in setting him up again. To make matters worse, the transfer back to the “real world” was botched and Finn’s “memory download” is patchy at best. With Zeke, a previous enemy enforcer turned ally, he has three days to try to discover the truth. Henderson is clearly a fan of the humorous fantasy of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams, with shout-outs to both, such as when human love interest Dawn asks if Finn is going to tell her the “secret to life, the universe and everything.” While the humor is hit and miss, the pop culture is spot-on, from Finn’s bafflement at the Internet to a battle set at Seattle’s Experience Music Project that will be an even bigger lark to anyone who has been to that museum. The ending is satisfying, but hints at further installments are certainly evident. VERDICT While not as skillfully written as the “Discworld” series, this novel will probably appeal to the late-Pratchett’s fans.—Jamie Watson, Baltimore County Public Library, MD

ABERCROMBIE, Joe. Half the World. 384p. (Shattered Sea: Bk. 2). maps. Del Rey. Feb. 2015. Tr $26. ISBN 9780804178426. LC 2014038766.  

In this sequel to Half a King (Del Rey, 2014), Yarvi, the betrayed heir to the throne of Gettland, has fought his way back from an assassination attempt and slavery to take his preferred position as minister to his mother, Queen Laithlin. The High King of Skekenhouse is gathering forces and threatens war with Yarvi’s homeland, so Yarvi must travel the countries surrounding the Shattered Sea in search of those willing to stand with him. He is accompanied by Thorn Bathu, a fierce 16-year-old-girl who is determined to be a warrior, and Brand, another teen fighter who, though equally fierce, is guided by his commitment to stand in the light and do good. Their journey, highlighted by the intense training Thorn must undergo along the way, leads them into risky situations where telling allies from enemies is difficult. Treachery, brutal battles, sly strategy, and more of Yarvi’s “deep cunning” make this a thrilling story whose appeal will reach beyond fantasy fans. Teen readers will especially enjoy the work’s focus on Thorn and Brand; although they are fierce warriors they still experience the awkwardness of a new attraction, thankfully in a way which does not detract from the action. Inclusion of just enough backstory and a rich plot make this sequel a fine stand-alone read. VERDICT Unlike many second books in a trilogy, Half the World moves the story forward with new characters and situations while holding on to the excitement, drama, and humor that made the first installment a winner.—Carla Riemer, Claremont Middle School, CA

What I love about this book is that even in the 2009 sections, when its characters are adults, Meche still has that sulky teen voice. And it makes sense because she’s still carrying around the weight of her past. She ran away from it, never resolved any of her issues, so she’s sort of trapped there. Now that she’s back in her hometown, Mexico City, her friends and family are nudging her to grow up already! At the same time, it’s impossible not to feel for Meche, to understand why she made the mistakes she made.

The author does a wonderful job of pacing the revelations through the narrative. She creates suspense around the fates of her character’s relationships, which propels readers through the book. Because this is an adult novel, things don’t wrap up as smoothly as the reader might expect.

As for teen appeal, Moreno-Garcia fills her book with music and a longing to travel the world and impossible high school crushes. And then there’s the magic. This would be a good book without it. With it, the book takes on a kind of mystery and depth, even moments of dread. The power becomes life-threatening, and causes rifts in deep friendships. As Meche’s grandmother says, “Magic will break your heart.”

Signal to Noise is not exactly magical realism, and it’s hard for me to call this novel a fantasy–although it seems that’s the designation assigned by popular SF/Fantasy sources like Locus, Tor, and SF Signal. If you’re interested in hearing more from the author herself, Tor featured Moreno-Garcia in its Coode Street Podcast on Tuesday.

MORENO-GARCIA, Silvia. Signal to Noise. 272p. Solaris. Feb. 2015. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781781082997.  

Fans of Eleanor and Park, meet Meche and Sebastian. Their story takes place in Mexico City and alternates between 1989 and 2009, when adult Meche returns home for her father’s funeral. It’s been 20 years since she’s seen her father, and 18 since she left the city. Mostly, she dreads running into Sebastian. At the beginning of the 1988–89 school year Meche, Sebastian, and Daniela were best friends. Meche loved music, Sebastian books, and Daniela her easy bake oven. What went wrong? Something happened that year, too, to ruin Meche’s relationship with her father, because in 1988 he worked as a radio station DJ, and she wanted to be just like him. This is largely a realistic friendship and family story, but there is another element. Meche persuades Sebastian and Daniela to change their loser status at school by harnessing magical power. They wish for money, for attention from their crushes, and Meche wishes for her parents to stay together. They take an old portable turntable to a nearby abandoned factory and, with practice, tap into the power of certain music. Disastrously, they take it too far. The author digs deep into Meche’s motivations and actions, showing her immaturity and insecurity as well as her passion and intelligence. The unexpected happens when Meche stops focusing on what she doesn’t have, and sees the boy right in front of her. Recommended as a good next read for teens who enjoyed Gabi, a Girl in Pieces (Cinco Punto, 2014)—they will recognize a similar mother/daughter relationship in particular. VERDICT: Meche returns home for her father’s funeral and remembers one extraordinary year of her youth marked by music, magic, and falling in love.–Angela Carstensen, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City

Sophia Nikolaidou’s The Scapegoat looks at another neglected war–the Greek Civil War of 1946-49, a war fought immediately following World War II to determine which side of the Cold War Greece would ultimately take. Even more specifically, Nikolaidou uses the real story of the unsolved murder of an American journalist, which ocrcurred during the war, as a lens through which to view the politics and history of both the Greek Civil War and the recent financial crisis. If that sounds a little dry, it’s true that sometimes the modern American reader (particularly teens) may be slightly confused and put off by the history involved, but the novel is anything but dry. The center of the novel is a charming high school student who will be familiar to many teens: a smart boy who has realized that school (and college) might not be all it’s cracked up to be. This teen, Minas, guides the reader through the historical and political morass and the reader should come out of it caring more about both Greece and Minas.

* MORAN, Michelle. Rebel Queen. 368p. Touchstone. Mar. 2015. Tr $26. ISBN 9781476716350. LC 2014026037.

In 1919, Sita is an old lady when she begins to write her memoir—a story of bravery in the face of the brutality of the British Conquest of India. In this narrative, mostly unfamiliar to Westerners, she describes her life as part of the Durga Dal, the cadre of highly trained young women tasked as personal guards to Queen Lakshmi, of the Kingdom of Jhansi. Living during a time and in a culture where women were hidden away in their homes, allowed to leave only under cover of clothing and carriage, the women of Queen Lakshmi’s Durga Dal not only walk openly on the streets, they carry weapons and participate in important decisions as advisors to the Queen. Lakshmi herself is a unique ruler, a capable Queen who walks the fine line of diplomacy during contentious times. Teens who know very little about the history of India will be surprised by the grueling tests Sita faces to become a guard—handling weapons, skills of strength, as well as cleverness and education. Passing this difficult test, Sita is assured a future that saves her from one with few choices. And because her father insisted she learn English, the protagonist is able to assist Lakshmi in navigating the murky waters of British culture. Readers will be shocked by the merciless actions the British take against the Indians, and the bravery it takes for Queen Lakshmi to stand up to the far better equipped British army.—Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, NY

As a high school student looking to graduate in the midst of the financial crisis—in Greece no less—Minas Georgiou abandons his plans to study for the exams which would send him on to higher education, figuring that his prospects are minimal no matter what he does. All of the adults around Minas do everything they can to persuade him to take his exams, except for his favorite teacher, Souk, who takes an entirely different tack. Souk asks Minas to spend the time he would have used studying preparing a research paper on a controversial murder case from 1948, during the Greek Civil War. Minas throws himself into the task, with the help of his journalist father, and the novel quickly develops two plotlines: one following Minas’s slow awakening throughout the school year, the other following his investigation of the crime. The case involves an American journalist who was murdered and a Greek journalist named Gris who was railroaded into confessing to the murder. The two plots end up having surprising connections, both small-scale—a number of characters from the murder case are involved in Minas’s present day life—and large scale—such as the political resonances between the Civil War and the financial meltdown. VERDICT: Teen readers may be challenged by the healthy doses of Greek politics, history, and philosophy; but they will be rewarded by the tender coming-of-age tale—including a beautiful love story—and the fascinating “cold case” mystery.—Mark Flowers, John F. Kennedy Library, Vallejo, CA