Switch Disconnects, So Let's Get Gilded

Neither of these books shone particularly bright this round, but Gilded, at least in its clarity of action and setting, wins our pick. Switch is an experiment, and those who make it through have to work at, twisting their imaginations in strange new ways. With quirky characters, lightning dialogue, and big ideas to power it (messed-up families, how time rules us all), Switch has lots of wattage. Potentially. But often it was confusing and our readers struggled to "get into it." The literal and figurative is hard to parse out; the setting often difficult to imagine; and the source of the family's struggles both too distant and particular.) If it helps, In some ways, it reminded me of Pet, asking us to imagine somewhere entirely different and new that is still essentially here and now. 

The Gilded Ones, on the other hand, was straightforward, action-packed fantasy with an intriguing premise, and a (mildly irritating) teen narrator. Powerful females are the heart of this tale. They suffer subjugation, silencing, violence, trauma, and rejection; and in the end they respond with community, perseverance, and acceptance. The prose was less exciting; difficult subjects (like rape) are acknowledged but superficially addressed; and there was one review on the jacket -- that the author may be the next Morrison of YA fantasy -- that was particularly off-putting. Still, The Gilded Ones lit up our first round with an almost unanimous win. 

Katherine Schock on behalf of team 12