Review: Riverdale Vol. 1

Riverdale Vol. 1 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This read like fanfiction for the television show Riverdale, and in a good way! I learned more of the backstory of the characters the summer before the show starts, and the other incidents are ones that could have happened during the course of the show. I'm a huge fan of both Jughead and Betty, so it was nice to see appearances by both of them. The art work was enjoyable to view.

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Review: Pride and Joy

Pride and Joy by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This volume was enjoyable to read for comics book club. It has a diverse cast and a narrative that I tend to enjoy, adolescents who are trying to create their own "family" amid a friend group and separate themselves from their parents in terms of life choices and values. The subversive aspect of this book is that their parents are super villains rather than superheroes, and they literally have to run away for safety sake. I look forward to continuing with this series and to learning more about the powers that the kids have. I can already tell there's sexual tension in the group, and I like that because it keeps the story interesting. There are moments in the story that are a bit farfetched, but since it's in a superhero universe and in LA, I was able to go with it. Brian K. Vaughan is a very witty writer, and the artwork grows and evolves with each issue.

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Review: Bash Bash Revolution

Bash Bash Revolution by Douglas Lain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A more detailed review for School Library Journal is forthcoming! This turned out to be an engaging "Snow Day January 2018" read for me. It was kind of a strange story, and the beginning was a little bit slow, but once I got into it, I found it interesting. It was a bit dark, and it struck me as a cautionary tale about what could happen if we get too invested in technology, and if aspects of the USA political climate does not change. It reminded me a little bit of Feed by MT Anderson. I am not into gaming culture, but I do think gamers in particular will resonate with the protagonist. Overall, this was a solid read for those who appreciate YA speculative fiction and nerd culture. I would recommend it for age 16 and up.

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Review: An Enchantment of Ravens

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book felt like Lord of the Rings for teenagers and young women! I really enjoyed reading it, and the world building was stupendous. Plot wise, it took me a little while to get into it at first, but it was worth it during the second 2/3 of the book, when I started to see how all of the puzzle pieces fit together. The love story between Rook and Isobel resonated with me, and it has my head spinning about why seemingly ordinary, but very talented mortal females tend to fall in love with older men (even though the older men physically appear young) from other worlds. Is it because the other worlds offer them a place where they can be treated as power figures, which our current world sometimes doesn't?
I also loved the emphasis on Isobel wanting to develop her artistic craft. As a writer, I could relate. As a teacher, I loved the idea that emotions bring strength, even though society teaches us that emotions make us weak. The book also brought up issues about morality and aging that I'll continue to think about. Overall, I loved it, and I hope many others will read this novel as well.

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