The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
I'll preface this by saying I'm not one for feel-good stories. I hate that crap. Hallmark? Blech. Holiday movies? Double blech. Disney channel movies? Ugh, the worst. I don't like neat and tidy, because life ain't like that. I like raw. I like to read real stories with real pain. If a book is happily-ever-after, I'm just NOT into it. And guess what folks, this falls into that category.
Despite that, it was a good book. I really think reading the art allowed me to enjoy the story. It was very feel good without being too candy sweet. A delicate balance. Reading this book was the equivalent to a carefully crafted cup of cha on a cold winter night. It just felt right. Of course, that opinion is coming from a cis-womxn reader. After reading two novels that dealt with rape, this was definitely a light yet still very meaningful read. It goes by super fast. Sometimes, it felt too fast. I wanted it to slow down and I wanted to spend more time with Frances.
The story itself was at times predictable but there were also a few spots where I was pleasantly surprised. There is a neat and tidy ending which may not everyone's cup of tea (definitely not mine, remember the blech?). However, taking into consideration the vibe of the book, it seemed like it was going there. Thus the closure was appropraite. Point blank, it was a good LGBTQ2+ graphic novel to have in your school and classroom libraries. I would recommend this book to Div 2 and above. As a sidenote, I had a lot of trouble holding the book. My hands were in pain as it was quite heavy. Any students/persons with joint or muscle pain, especially in their hands, may also struggle with this.
I have to say that I absolutely loved the artwork. Coming from a deep love of Batman graphic novels, I didn't expect that reaction. But there were frames that stood out and were so powerful. I think what made it powerful is the focus on emotions, and the layering of subjects in the frame. It showed movement and added an extra special something to the book. It just worked. As well, I really appreciated the illustrator's note at the end about their artistic process. As someone who enjoys pretending to be artist, that was a cool bonus I wasn't expecting!
All compliments aside, it's worth analysing how skin tones were presented in the novel. This would also make for a great upper level IB book to analyze through a post-colonial or even a Marxist lens.
Highly recommended to my LA 7 and 8 classes, in fact, one student has already "borrowed" the book off my desk. The best kind of thievery.
Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
I'm torn.
After reading this book and letting it settle in my mind, I feel... conflicted. I feel like I should love it based on the subject matter and that something is wrong with me.
The author did a great job with speaking her truth and uplifting the message and hearts of survivors. Giving them a voice and amplifying their stories. At the end of Speak, an author interview was included and at that time of publication it appears she had not spoken about her experience (correct me if I'm wrong). So the fact the author was catapulted into delivering her truth based on the reaction of Speak was empowering. I appreciated the punch of her words.
However, after the first half I stopped liking the book and in fact, really started to dislike it. By the end I was no longer invested. Repeatedly seeing the word 'bitch' used to describe other womxn put a very toxic taste in my mouth. In fact, it made me angry. Here I am, reading poems that are raw and speaking to the collective silencing of survivors. Then the poems supposedly morph into a rallying cry for the #metoo movement. And now the same person is bashing womxn without regard for the power of her words?#baffled Whatever message was trying to be delivered, was poorly executed and lost. When I read Speak, I had an issue with lack of inclusivity in the book. I chopped it up to a book written a long time ago. However, I expected a little bit more visibility in this one. Especially interesting since the #metoo movement was started by a black womxn and here I am reading an effective battle-cry. Hmmm. Unpack that.
After reading this book and letting it settle in my mind, I feel... conflicted. I feel like I should love it based on the subject matter and that something is wrong with me.
The author did a great job with speaking her truth and uplifting the message and hearts of survivors. Giving them a voice and amplifying their stories. At the end of Speak, an author interview was included and at that time of publication it appears she had not spoken about her experience (correct me if I'm wrong). So the fact the author was catapulted into delivering her truth based on the reaction of Speak was empowering. I appreciated the punch of her words.
However, after the first half I stopped liking the book and in fact, really started to dislike it. By the end I was no longer invested. Repeatedly seeing the word 'bitch' used to describe other womxn put a very toxic taste in my mouth. In fact, it made me angry. Here I am, reading poems that are raw and speaking to the collective silencing of survivors. Then the poems supposedly morph into a rallying cry for the #metoo movement. And now the same person is bashing womxn without regard for the power of her words?#baffled Whatever message was trying to be delivered, was poorly executed and lost. When I read Speak, I had an issue with lack of inclusivity in the book. I chopped it up to a book written a long time ago. However, I expected a little bit more visibility in this one. Especially interesting since the #metoo movement was started by a black womxn and here I am reading an effective battle-cry. Hmmm. Unpack that.
With regards to the poetry, it felt all over the place and not in a "let me disjoint the reader so they understand how disjointed a survivor of sexual violence feels" but rather in a "let me ride the waves of what's popular, aka poetry and the #metoo movement by packaging a few great poems with fillers to sell to the same people who liked Speak." Is that harsh? Yeah. But I guess that’s Smackdown life. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The first half of the book was great. There were heavy hitting lines anchored with great metaphors and imagery. I wasn't reading many duds. The poems had meaning and connection. They felt alive. However, when it sectioned into the 'rage poems' in part two I was less than impressed. It was angry, derisive, borderline polemical, and all of a sudden AAVE popped up. It all felt inauthentic.
I guess I'm not that torn, I just didn't want to admit that I didn't like the poetry of a rape survivor.
Would I recommend this book? Begrudgingly, yes. For mature junior high students, high schoolers, readers interested in poetry, readers who want to read about survivors of sexual violence, and adults who like decent YA poetry books.
In the end, do I pick Shout as my Smackdown champion?
Nope. That crown belongs to Frances and the Prince.
