Inkheart, the movie, based on Inkheart, Cornelia Funke’s bestselling YA novel, is an interesting specimen. The story is good (thanks to an exciting source), the cast is solid (Oscar winners! Bright newcomers), and all kinds of small elements in the film (costumes, locations, etc) are fabulous. Somehow, though, the final product doesn’t tie it all up in a bow. The flick feels kind of … average, which is fine for a fantasy adaptation in today’s culture of Harry Potter/LOTR wannabes, but not so great for fans of the novel looking for a loving cinematic incarnation. (more…)
Archive for January, 2009
YALA on INKHEART
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
She’s So Money by Cherry Cheva
Monday, January 19th, 2009
All right, loves. Here’s another sweet treat for you: She’s So Money by Cherry Cheva.
Meet Maya, a Thai-American gal whose parents make her work at their restaurant every minute she’s not studying. Which is what she does most. Study. Because she’s determined to never, ever get a grade below an A, and to get into Stanford, and to get a merit-based scholarship to the aforementioned university, and to leave Michigan behind forever.
Maya is refreshingly not interested in popularity, or designer clothes, or prom. She’s one of those wonderful folks who embrace the inner nerd. In fact, she sort of despises the popular kids. Not in the way that most of us on the outside looking in do, (they’re evil and spoiled) but in a more un-interested “they’re so trashy” way. Did I mention yet that she’s awesome?
Problem: Maya gets assigned to tutor the super-popular Camden King, who is supposedly appallingly stupid and ridiculously trashy.
Of course all her problems start the minute Camden walks into her life. Stanford? The merit-based scholarship? These are beginning to look like far-fetched dreams. Also? She has six weeks to come up with ten thousand dollars.
I won’t say any more here, except that it’s a really enchanting read– blurbed by none other than Lauren Myracle herself — and that you should definitely investigate it next time you’re on a book-buying or borrowing expedition.
Oh, no. I will say one more thing: Cheva’s representation of Asian-American life is really on the mark. Yes, it’s supposed to be funny, and yes, you’re allowed to laugh. But Cheva (full last name: Chevapravatdumrong) does a great job of capturing the kind of pressure a lot of Asian kids deal with from their parents. Hmm. Actually, maybe I should do an Asian-American Lit roundup one of these days soon. There’s some good stuff floating around out there, She’s So Money included.
Forever Princess by Meg Cabot
Tuesday, January 13th, 2009
I honestly don’t think I’ll ever stop wanting more of Princess Mia Thermopolis, who emerged in 2000 as an awesome vegetarian/die-hard liberal/Greenwich Village-dwelling teenager and completely unwilling heir to the throne of Genovia.
Which is why this book left me a little, you know, misty. It’s the final installment of Meg’s series, and it takes place almost two years after volume nine, Princess Mia, just as our awesome heroine is about to graduate from high school.
Her friendship with Lana Weinberger (!!!), formerly the evil wench who tortured her when she was naught but a nerdy, gawky girl, has thrived. Indeed, Lana has become part of Mia’s pack, while Lilly Moscovitz is still not quite a friend. Furthermore, Mia is still dating J.P., aka the guy who hates when they put corn in the chili. And Michael, Mia’s long-lost love? To her knowledge, he’s still off in Japan.
The future looks bleak. Like, you know, Mia is going to end up with chili-corn guy, not friends with Lilly, and to top it all off, her father may lose the election for prime minister of Genovia to his own cousin!
Okay, but down to the nitty gritty: The book is well-written (of course), and super-fun (of course), and generally everything we’ve come to expect from the legendary Meg Cabot.
… But what can I say? I want more. I want more Mia. I will always want more Mia, because the girl is seriously awesome. (Although I’ve yet to read her romance novel, Ransom My Heart, but it’s next on my to-buy list.)
Seriously? I think we all sort of have to mourn the end of an era here. Meg has written lots of other awesome books, and she’s got lots more coming. Still, my dear friend Jami B. introduced Meg’s writing to me shortly after I’d left college because I’d gotten sick. She sent me a copy of the freshly minted Princess Diaries, along with a plastic tiara (covered in pink feathers and pink rhinestones). Jami insisted I’d enjoy the novel best if I wore the tiara while reading the book, and she was right. I think I still have that thing in one of my “memory boxes” somewhere.
Suffice it to say, Meg’s writing has made dark times more bearable for me for a good eight years now. When I’m really down in the dumps, I whip one of Meg’s books off the shelf I have reserved for her writing, and then I draw myself a nice rose-scented bubble bath. It never fails.
So yes. I’ll miss Mia’s crazy antics quite a bit. Almost enough to suggest that you shouldn’t read Forever Princess until you’ve prepared yourself emotionally. But honestly? Who can wait. Go dig in. And don’t forget the bubble bath. I personally recommend JASON Cosmetics rosewater and glycerine bath gel. Grab the book, grab a bottle of JASON bath gel wherever organic cosmetics are sold, and hop into the tub.
Then, of course, come back and tell me what you think.
Preview: Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
Sunday, January 11th, 2009Another date to mark on your calendars, kiddies: May 26.
Let me say it louder: May 26.
Let me say it softer: Actually, not May 26. Scroll to the bottom of this preview for more info.
Diana Peterfreund has written her first YA novel, and I’ve just this moment finished reading it. (Diana’s other novels were often mistaken for YA, which must have been frustrating to her. She’s the author of the Secret Society Girl series, which has been constantly mis-shelved.)
Anyway, Rampant is fantastic. Seriously awesome. A little bit of fantasy, a little bit of chick lit, and a bunch of unicorns.
That’s right. Unicorns.
Okay, so here is where I admit that I met Diana at a party awhile back. She told me she was writing her first YA novel, and she said it was about unicorns. I smiled and nodded, and I thought, “Unicorns??? She’s crazy. That might work for eight-year-old girls, but no properly developed teenager wants to read about unicorns.”
I’m sorry, Diana. So very sorry for misjudging you.
… Because, you see, Diana’s unicorns aren’t pink and sparkly. No, actually they’re hideous evil man-eating monsters. YES.
I’m not giving anything away here. And I’ll write a proper “review” once the book comes out. On May 26. But just be warned, my friends. Go pre-order this thing from Amazon.com or your local bookseller. I’m telling you, Diana’s book is going to be a huge hit.
(PS. This book almost makes me understand the unicorns versus zombies arguments between a bunch of YA authors. Almost, but not quite. After reading Rampant, I’m totally siding with unicorns.)
EDIT: The publication date of this book has been pushed back to September of ’09. So, umm, please change the date in your calendars, and remember to pick up a copy of Diana’s fantabulous upcoming evil unicorn thriller in September. If you go to the store for it in May, you’ll be sadly disappointed!