YA Book Review: The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

The Here and Now is a new romantic scifi from Ann Brashares, bestselling author of the beloved Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series.

As soon as I started reading this book, I was drawn into the story. The premise is reminiscent of Terra Nova (cancelled TV show from a few years back). Basically, people from a failed future decide to go back in time to a better time on earth. However, in this book instead of going back to the time of the dinosaurs, the future people in this book decide that 2014 is the golden age that they want to return to, a time when global climate change is only just starting, and the mosquito plagues that ravage humanity haven’t yet happened (according to the book :)).

While the premise for this novel isn’t entirely original, it still felt completely fresh (and yay, T-rex doesn’t show up). The story centers on two teenagers, Prenna and Ethan. Ethan saw Prenna arriving in the present from the future, though Prenna doesn’t remember it. He is instantly besotted by her, though she disappears from his life for years, only to return in high school. Prenna meanwhile, is living in an extremely restrictive society—a society of time travelers with leaders who aren’t above browbeating and shaming their members to keep them from altering history.

For the first third of the book, I really loved the writing, the introductions of the characters and the society, and the sweet forbidden friendship between Prenna and Ethan. However once the plot really starts to get going, things quickly begin to unravel. The complex backstory is laid out in awkwardly long dialogues, the romance between the main characters jumps from slow hand-holding to something more much too quickly, and exciting plot twists feel a tad predictable. But perhaps the thing that I was most disappointed by was the fact that by the end of this book, there were more questions about the premise than answers, and I found myself unable to believe that the extremely restrictive, borderline abusive society that Prenna had grown up in made any sort of logical sense.

Even with all that said, I was conflicted about how to rate this book (on Goodreads), because it was still an extremely compelling and enjoyable read–just don’t expect everything to make sense by the end and you’ll be fine.

Disclaimer: Review of free ARC requested through NetGalley

#bookreview #SciFi #Annbrashares #ARC #YA #terranova #netgalley #thehereandnow

The Boskidlit Calendar is now on Facebook

For some time now, I’ve maintained a Boston area children’s author calendar on my blog. A few people have asked me to move it to Facebook. I’m still working out the kinks. Come check it out and let me know what you think.

#boston #authorevents #boskidlit #facebook #authortalks

Guest Post: Divergent vs The Hunger Games by Elizabeth Eckhart

We have a guest post at Monkey Poop today. Writer Elizabeth Eckhart compares two book to film YA dystopias, The Hunger Games and Divergent. Take it away, Elizabeth.

Comparing Divergent to The Hunger Games

by Elizabeth Eckhart

Since the release of Twilight in 2008, movie studios have been scrambling to replicate the franchise’s worldwide success with a series of adaptations of popular Young Adult book series. However, most of these attempts to make lightning strike twice have fallen flat. Films like Beautiful Creatures and The Mortal Instruments pulled in relatively low numbers, despite having what most would agree are better original narratives behind them, demonstrating that there’s more to box office success than just following a YA formula.

However, one saga has served as quite the formidable adversary to the success of Twilight: the worldwide phenomenon The Hunger Games. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, A.K.A. America’s Sweetheart, the film adaptation of the popular series of novels from author Suzanne Collins has found fantastic success at the box office.

Now, a new film adaptation of a YA book is poised to enjoy the same success as The Hunger Games. Divergent is the film adaptation from the book of the same name by newcomer Veronica Roth. Both Hunger and Divergent share dystopian settings and kick-butt female protagonists in the form of Katniss and Tris. Let’s see how the two series might possibly stack up against one another.

Round One: The Setting

The setting of The Hunger Games is fascinating. A fallen America, ravaged by war, has separated into 12 distinct districts that are forced to compete in the annual Hunger Games, a bloody competition organized by the evil Capitol. The setting is both easy to understand, and easy to summarize.

The setting of Divergent shares Hunger‘s dystopian setting, but that’s where the similarities end. Divergent takes place in a demented, futuristic Chicago where society has been divided into different factions, based on the traits that they hold most dear. Hunger is the sort of speculative fiction that makes us shiver; in a world of knock-out games and reality shows devoid of empathy, the notion of televised gladiator battles doesn’t seem that far off. The setting of Divergent, however, feels like pure fantasy.

Winner: “The Hunger Games”

Round Two: The Female Leads

Divergent‘s Tris and Hunger‘s Katniss are pretty darn tied for the title of “best kick-butt female.” Tris boldly chooses to leave her faction behind and join Dauntless, a subset of society for those who value physical strength and bravery. Katniss isn’t initially picked for the Games, but bravely volunteers to spare her younger sister from a certain death. If you have a weakness for tough-as-nails, brave heroines, both series will be right up your alley.

Winner: Clear Tie

Round Three: The Swoon-Factor

Let’s face it: Hunger‘s love triangle, at times, feels downright forced. Perhaps it was the Twilight factor that even prompted Collins to include it in the first place. Katniss is torn between the meek Peeta and the revolutionary Gale, but in both the books and the films, she never seems to give a darn about either of them, really. Perhaps Collins does have a point, though, that in times of war love truly does take a back seat to the present events.

This is, however, where Divergent is the clear winner. Divergent forgets all about the obnoxious, wish-fulfillment trend of love triangles in YA media. Instead, Tris and her brave, Alpha Male instructor Four fall for one another, but are forbidden by circumstance from pursuing their love. Fans of the series will swoon at the passion between Tris and Four, whereas Hunger fans know deep down that romance is on the bottom of Katniss’ to-do list.

Winner: “Divergent”

Thanks, Elizabeth! We may have to respectfully disagree about this one as I’m a Hunger Games fan through and through. Readers, what do you think? Did Elizabeth get it right?

More about my guest blogger:

Elizabeth Eckhart is a Chicago born and bred entertainment writer and blogger. She especially likes YA, and hopes to see the female heroine trend continue to grow. Find her on twitter: @elizeckhart.

#hungergames #suzannecollins #guestpost #Divergent #dystopia #booktoscreen #movies #YA #VeronicaRoth