About Behind These Hands Fourteen-year-old Claire Fairchild has always known music would be her life. She enters a prestigious contest pitted against Juan, a close childhood friend. It doesn’t help that her thoughts about him have turned romantic. But nothing compares to the devastating news that both younger brothers have Batten disease.
While attending a conference about this rare neurodegenerative disorder, Claire receives word that she has won the contest. Her musical goals no longer seem relevant. She can’t reconcile the joy and prestige that a classical music career would bring to her life while her brothers are succumbing to an early and ugly death.
When Claire accompanies a friend on a school newspaper assignment, she meets a centenarian with a unique musical past and only one regret in life. Claire knows something in her life has to change before she, too, has regrets. With newfound courage and determination, she finds a new way to express herself musically while celebrating the lives of her dying brothers.
My Review I always forget how much I love a novel in verse. There’s something truly amazing about finding a way to tell an entire story saturated with emotions in so few words. Behind These Hands took me to tears so many times, both with its tragedy and its beauty.
The descriptions of Claire playing the piano and composing her piece for the contest were so vivid I felt like I heard the music. Her heartache watching her brothers and knowing what their future holds hit me hard every time. The characters, especially Claire and her two best friends, felt real and full in every scene.
I didn’t expect to be as blown away by this book as I am. I want to read it a second time. I want to tell so many people about it. I love that it’s a fantastic story but also that it raises awareness of a disorder that affects real kids.
If you liked Solo by Kwame Alexander, the family issues and Claire’s courage may remind you of that story. If you’re a fan of novels in verse or moving contemporary fiction, definitely check Behind These Hands out!Recommended for Ages 12 up.
Cultural Elements
Claire is white. Her best friend Juan is Cuban.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used a few times. At one point Claire responds to two bullies with two middle fingers.
Romance/Sexual Content Brief kissing between a boy and girl.
Spiritual Content None.
Violent Content None.
Drug Content
None.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Today I get to share some a questions and answers interview from one of my favorite authors! Can’t even say how excited I am about having a chance to ask Roshani Chokshi about the Star-Touched Series, which I’ve absolutely loved. Don’t miss details below about her latest book, a story collection of tales called Star-Touched Stories.
ROSHANI CHOKSHI is the New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen, A Crown of Wishes, and Aru Shah and the End of Time. Her work has appeared in Strange Horizons, Shimmer, and Book Smugglers. Her short story, “The Star Maiden,” was longlisted for the British Fantasy Science Award.
Roshani Chokshi proved herself an author to watch with her young adult fantasy debut, The Star-Touched Queen and companion novel A Crown of Wishes. Debuting at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list, her novels received rave reviews from fans and critics alike and appeared on the most buzzed about lists for young adult novels. With STAR-TOUCHED STORIES (Wednesday Books; August 7, 2018), Chokshi adds to the Star-Touched world in three short stories, re-visiting some fan favorite characters. Exploring what happens after the happily ever after in Chokshi’s Star-Touched novels, her short stories are the perfect read for a taste of beautiful writing with delicious plots.
Q&A with Roshani Chokshi
Out of all the characters in your novels, which one did you have the most fun writing about and who do you relate to the most personally? What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating your characters?
In the world of the Star – Touched Queen, I think the one who I related to the most was also the one that I had the most fun writing: Kamala! There’s just something about the demon horse that resonated a lot with me. I think it’s because she does everything that I would do in a fantasy story, which is frantically derail the plot and whine to her friends about how hungry she is all the time.
Where do your antagonists come from?
From my doubts.
What inspired you to create this fictional world? Were there anyRomo mythologies that particularly inspired you?
I was really inspired by the childhood stories that my grandmother told me. To me, they were so rich with details and texture that it really shocked me how these worlds and mythologies were never explored in mainstream literature. I was particularly inspired by Greek and Hindu mythology.
Why did you feel it was important to add Star-Touched Stories to this world you’ve created? What do you want readers to gain from the stories? Do you think there are any more stories to tell from the Star-Touched world, and if so, who you most like to write about next?
For me, this collection of stories is my farewell to the world that I created. It was extremely cathartic to write these three stories. I want readers to gain a sense of closure. I want readers to feel as much as I did when I with the stories. Who can say whether or not there are more stories left to tell in this world? 😉
Will you miss writing this world and characters?
Absolutely! They lived in my head for so long that I feel strangely weightless to be without them.
What was your favorite scene to write from Star-Touched Stories, and what was your favorite scene to write from the whole series?
Honestly, my favorite scene that I wrote was the last scene the last story. I think you’ll see why. As for my favorite scene that I wrote from the whole series, I think it would have to be the moment when Maya first enters the Night Bazaar.
Is there a scene or character from one of your stories that you’ve had to cut which you really wish you could share with readers?
There once was a speaking monkey character… But I had to let go of him. Maybe he’ll reappear some other time.
How is writing short stories different than writing a full-length book? How different is it to write young adult and middle grade fiction? How has your writing evolved?
Writing short stories is really different from writing a full-length book because you’re ultimately writing to a punchline in a shorter amount of space. There is less space to explore so the language must be very deliberate. I think my writing has evolved to become a lot more character focused than I once was. I still love gorgeous, decadent prose, but I believe that the best kind of language is that which is emotionally filtered through the feelings of a character.
What is the best advice you would give to inspiring writers?
Read often. I realize that sounds trite, but so many people retread the same path with stories out of comfort or nostalgia. I totally understand this and I’m one of those people who loves to reread my favorite books but I never found a sense of my own writing voice or writing style without reading a wide variety of works.
What sort of music do you listen to when you write?
I mostly listen to music to get me in the mood for writing rather than listening to music to get me through a scene. I think the only times I listen to music when I’m writing is if I’m in a third or fourth round of revisions. Otherwise I get distracted.
If any of your books were given an adaptation, would you rather it be a movie, TV show, web series, or stage musical?
For The Gilded Wolves, I would rather see that as a miniseries. For both books in the Star-Touched universe, I’d rather see those as movies.
Favorite myth and how has it inspired your writing? What was your inspiration for these stories?
I think my favorite myth is Hades and Persephone. I love the atmosphere, the goth undercurrent, the power dynamic. I love the movement of princess to Queen.
Publication date: August 7, 2018 Three lush and adventurous stories in the Star-Touched world.
Death and Night
He was Lord of Death, cursed never to love. She was Night incarnate, destined to stay alone. After a chance meeting, they wonder if, perhaps, they could be meant for more. But danger crouches in their paths, and the choices they make will set them on a journey that will span lifetimes.
Poison and Gold
Now that her wish for a choice has come true, Aasha struggles to control her powers. But when an opportunity to help Queen Gauri and King Vikram’s new reign presents itself, she is thrown into the path of the fearsome yet enchanting Spy Mistress. To help her friends, Aasha will have to battle her insecurities and perhaps, along the way, find love.
Rose and Sword
There is a tale whispered in the dark of the Empire of Bharat-Jain. A tale of a bride who loses her bridegroom on the eve of her wedding. But is it a tale or a truth?
About Star-Touched Stories
Three lush and adventurous stories in the Star-Touched world.
Death and Night
He was Lord of Death, cursed never to love. She was Night incarnate, destined to stay alone. After a chance meeting, they wonder if, perhaps, they could be meant for more. But danger crouches in their paths, and the choices they make will set them on a journey that will span lifetimes.
Poison and Gold
Now that her wish for a choice has come true, Aasha struggles to control her powers. But when an opportunity to help Queen Gauri and King Vikram’s new reign presents itself, she is thrown into the path of the fearsome yet enchanting Spy Mistress. To help her friends, Aasha will have to battle her insecurities and perhaps, along the way, find love.
Rose and Sword
There is a tale whispered in the dark of the Empire of Bharat-Jain. A tale of a bride who loses her bridegroom on the eve of her wedding. But is it a tale or a truth?
My Review
You know that feeling when you finish an amazing book, and you just wish for one more scene to revisit that favorite character or that awesome story world? That’s pretty much what Star-Touched Stories is. Every time I ran into a character I remembered from The Star-Touched Queen (my review here) or A Crown of Wishes (my review here), I got so excited. There’s a story about Aasha! And Kamala appears in another one! Yay! And more Gauri and Vikram! I couldn’t have been happier.
The same rich-as-ripened-fruit, delicious writing fills every single page of all three stories. There’s plenty of peppery banter between characters and deep, heart-wrenching emotions. Grab a spoon and eat up every page. (I know… that’s a metaphor which would make Zahril scoff.)
While the stories would stand on their own as interesting tales, it’s hard for me to imagine reading them without first reading The Star-Touched Queen or A Crown of Wishes. I think you could. But I’m pretty sure it’ll make you want more of the story world.
As with Chokshi’s other two books, these are based on Indian legend and folklore. It adds a richness to the story world and also gives it a spiritual feeling as well. See content information below for additional notes.
Recommended for Ages 12 up.
Cultural Elements
Stories are woven with Indian mythology and folklore.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used very infrequently. (One mild curse and a few references to hell as a place.)
Romance/Sexual Content All three stories show some kissing between young men and young women. “Poison and Gold” also includes kissing between two women. “Rose and Sword” includes some vague hints at sex.
Spiritual Content Several references to reincarnation. The god of Death appears as a character in “Death and Night” (Night is a goddess.). Other mythical creatures, such as a woman who is half-snake, and an immortal woman immune to poison appear in the stories. Death’s messengers appear in “Rose and Sword.”
Violent Content A woman begs death to delay her husband’s passing in “Death and Night.” In “Poison and Gold,” Aasha battles a rock monster and a giant rat. Gauri journeys to hell to save one she loves in “Rose and Sword,” and meets a half-skeletal horse who seems interested in eating her.
Drug Content
One reference to a water pipe smoked by adults.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
About Willa of the Wood Move without a sound. Steal without a trace.
Willa, a young night-spirit, is her clan’s best thief. She creeps into the cabins of the day-folk under cover of darkness and takes what they won’t miss. It’s dangerous work–the day-folk kill whatever they don’t understand–but Willa will do anything to win the approval of the padaran, the charismatic leader of the Faeran people.
When Willa’s curiosity leaves her hurt and stranded in the day-folk world, she calls upon the old powers of her beloved grandmother, and the unbreakable bonds of her forest allies, to escape. Only then does she begin to discover the shocking truth: that not all of her day-folk enemies are the same, and that the foundations of her own Faeran society are crumbling. What do you do when you realize that the society you were born and raised in is rife with evil? Do you raise your voice? Do you stand up against it?
As forces of unfathomable destruction encroach on her forest home, Willa must decide who she truly is, facing deadly force with warmest compassion, sinister corruption with trusted alliance, and finding a home for her longing heart.
My Review Willa of the Wood is the first book by Robert Beatty that I’ve read, though I think I own two of his other books. Judging from the writing style, I really want to read more. I liked the way the scenery seemed to come alive and the deep emotions Willa feels through the story—her longing for companions and her internal wrestling over the wrongness of what her tribe has asked her to do.
One of the most powerful characters is Willa’s grandmother. Even though she can’t walk, she has this powerful presence and a fierce love for Willa and the goodness of the old Faeran ways. It’s this love and wisdom that Willa carries which gets pitted against the fears of her people, and Willa has to decide which way is right—being governed by that fear and allowing it to rule her actions, or daring to love not only her tribe members, but those very different from her, too.
I loved the theme of family and adoption in the story, too. Willa feels like an outsider among her Faeran tribe members, and she desperately wants to have meaningful, lasting connections with others. Her journey to find a community where she belongs totally resonated with me.
The story as a whole is a bit dark, to be honest. I’d say it’s probably better suited to older elementary school readers and middle school readers might also enjoy it, too, even though the writing style and characters’ ages feel geared a little more toward the eight to twelve range but definitely worth a read.
Recommended for Ages 10 to 12
Cultural Elements
Willa’s appearance changes depending on her surroundings as a sort of camouflage. She befriends a Cherokee boy and a white man.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.
Romance/Sexual Content None.
Spiritual Content Willa and her people are night-spirits and have magic that comes from life (plants and animals). Sometimes the magic protects or heals, and other times it causes harm, even death.
Violent Content Willa and her peers are tasked with stealing from local humans. A man shoots Willa while she’s prowling through his house. A couple scenes show children kept in cages. Willa learns they’ve been starved, and in some instances, tortured or allowed to die. Willa uses magic to help allies and stop enemies. Sometimes the magic appears like black worms or roots attacking people. The imagery tends toward dark rather than gory.
Drug Content
None.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
About Mirage In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.
But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.
As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection…because one wrong move could lead to her death.
My Review
I had a hard time getting into Mirage initially. I felt like the beginning was a bit rushed, and I didn’t have very much time to connect with Amani before being launched into the plot. Also, since it is sci-fi, there’s a lot of names of people groups places to keep track of, and this made it a little challenging at times to understand what was going on.
However, once I did start connecting with the characters, I loved it. It was wonderful to (finally!) meet a heroine who was gentle and kind, and even though she was in the midst of horrible circumstances, she didn’t let them change her into a hardened, cynical warrior. Amani was compassionate, even to her enemies, and I absolutely loved that. Her relationship with Maram was my favorite part of the whole book. My only quibble with her was that she fell in love far too quickly, and I just couldn’t quite ship the romance. (They hardly knew each other! How could they possibly be in love already?) It did get better though as the relationship developed, and I have hopes for the sequel(s).
The sci-fi setting didn’t play a major role in the story. Yes, they use spaceships and blasters. Yes, they travel from planet to moon to plant. However, the story could have just as easily been set in a fictional country, or even a historical setting, and the plot wouldn’t have changed too much.
Overall, I’m rating Mirage 4 stars. Amani is a breath of fresh air on the YA scene, and I hope that she’ll show readers that it’s okay to love, and be compassionate and gentle, and at the same time still be incredibly strong.
Recommended for Ages 14 and up
Cultural Elements
Most of the characters are either Andalaan or Vathek. Maram is both. The Andalaans are described as having dark skin and hair. The Vathek have paler skin, and silver hair. The Vatheks have strong racial prejudice against the Andalaans.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
One reference (“Silence is the most —– criticism”).
Romance/Sexual Content Several passionate kisses, semi-detailed. Mentions of touching, and desire. One poem seems very erotic in nature, though it’s not explicit. In one scene, it’s not entirely clear how far the characters get intimately.
Spiritual Content The religion revolves around Dihya, the male deity, and Massinia, the female prophet. Massinia is rumored to return one day to her people. Tesleets, a sort of mythical bird, as shown to be messengers of Dihya and good omens. One character is largely viewed as being Massinia returned, though she is not actually Massinia.
Note: the religion is very important to the characters, and heavily influences their actions and the plot. While it is a made-up religion, it seemed to have strong influences from both Islam and Christianity, without being an allegory or having a clear connection to either. I could see younger readers easily becoming confused by this, so parents should be aware and willing to discuss with their kids the themes in this book.
Violent Content Semi-graphic descriptions of wounds, killings, and attacks, mostly by the brutal Vathek.
Drug Content
Characters drink wine.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
About Your Destination is on the Left
Dessa Rhodes is a modern day nomad. Her family travels in an RV, their lives defined by state lines, exit signs, and the small communal caravan they call home. Among them is Cyrus, her best friend and long-time crush, whom she knows she can never be with. When your families are perpetually linked, it’s too dangerous to take a risk on romance.
Instead, Dessa looks to the future. She wants to be a real artist and going to art school is her ticket to success and a new life. There’s just one problem: she hasn’t been accepted…anywhere. Suddenly her future is wide open, and it looks like she’s going to be stuck traveling forever.
Then an unexpected opportunity presents itself: an internship working with a local artist in Santa Fe. Dessa struggles to prove to her boss—and herself—that she belongs there, but just as she finally hits her stride, her family suffers an unexpected blow. Faced with losing everything that she has worked for, Dessa has a difficult decision to make. Will she say goodbye to her nomadic lifestyle and the boy she loves? Or will she choose to never stop moving?
My Review I liked that Dessa’s major goal wasn’t to find true love or be in a relationship. While romance is an important element of the story, Dessa’s real goal is to go to college and craft a future for herself. This creates some problems between her and her family as her parents want her to stay with them and continue traveling. It also strains her relationship with her best friend Cyrus, because he reads her desire for another life as a rejection of the life he’s chosen. So Dessa faces a difficult journey as she tries to find a way to do what she feels is best for her without hurting the people she loves most.
At one point, Dessa’s dad asks her to keep a secret from her mom. Dessa keeps the secret, but feels guilty about the lie and frustrated that her dad continues to lie to the family, too. I loved her relationship with her grandmother, who acts as a pillar of strength and a sort of home base for Dessa and her family. She doesn’t direct the story, but she sometimes serves as a mirror, reflecting Dessa’s true desires back to her sometimes without any words.
Dessa’s artwork also plays a major role in the story. I loved that. The descriptions of her artwork and the art of the woman who mentors her had me wishing for a studio and paintbrushes or a day at the museum.
On the whole, I liked the balance between Dessa’s dreams for the future, which she won’t compromise for a relationship that might only be for right now, and her relationships. I loved the way art was represented in and played a role in the story, too. Readers who liked Stacie Ramey’s The Sister Pact and How to Be Brave by E. Katherine Kottaras will want to check this one out.
Recommended for Ages 16 and up.
Cultural Elements
Dessa’s family is Greek. Cyrus’s family is black.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used regularly throughout the book.
Romance/Sexual Content Kissing between boy and girl and tops removed. Dessa says they don’t have sex but come close.
Spiritual Content Dessa’s grandmother is Greek Orthodox. There are a couple mentions of her going to church or passing mentions of her faith. At one point, she and Dessa plan to spend time alone together, and her grandmother says, it’s going to be her, Dessa, and the Lord.
Violent Content Dessa throws a cup of beer in the face of a cruel boy.
Drug Content
Dessa drinks beer with a friend after they both sneak into a bar together, and later drinks champagne (provided by her grandmother) with Cyrus.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
