Young adult books set in college, or even about the summer before college, aren’t all too common. That’s why I was surprised when I first learnt that American Panda is set at MIT. Well, Mei is 17 years old as she enters a year early but it works out well for this book. Mei had a sheltered upbringing, which is very evident as she tries to find her place at university.
MARGOT & ME by Juno Dawson
Margot & Me, while set in contemporary times also grapples with the past set during World War II through a diary. What I loved about this book was how the stories of three generations knitted together. Fliss and her grandmother, Margot, were so at odds that Fliss’s mother was the only reason they put up with one another. Watching that relationship develop throughout the pages was immensely touching. Although, how Fliss came to read Margot’s diary didn’t entirely sit well with me. But you know, curiosity and what not…
THE BREAK-UP ARTIST by Philip Siegel
Considering how much of a cynic or a realist I am (depending on whom you ask), The Break-Up Artist should’ve been the perfect book for me. The premise drew me to The Break-Up Artist in an instant. I thought I would meet an anti-hero but I didn’t. I thought I would finally not have to roll my eyes at cliché lines. That held up for a good part of the book, until I did roll my eyes.
PIROUETTE by Robyn Bavati
Once in a while I pick up a book solely because of the author. I’ve read a book by that author before, loved it and decided to just go ahead and read whatever comes next. That’s how it went for Pirouette. Besides knowing that this book revolves around dance (I mean, duh, the title and…
DANCING IN THE DARK by Robyn Bavati
If you have no Jewish background, it might be difficult at first to get into the book because Bavati chose to adopt Jewish/ Hebrew terms wherever possible. She did explain her choice however, including a letter of sorts at the beginning, noting that she hoped to capture the authenticity in this manner. For those who…
