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Book Recommendation: What I Saw and How I Lied (no spoilers)
When What I Saw and How I Lied won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, I was a little surprised. I'd known when I started reading it that it was intended to be a young adult book, but I wasn't sure if teens would be as enraptured with the depiction of post-World War II United States as I was. The narrator exists so thoroughly in that time that instead of feeling like the historical fiction I grew up with, it feels in the moment--but the moment is sixty years passed.
Then I finished the book. Wow.
I was drawn in initially by just the cover image. I still think it's a beautiful and fabulous cover. And it captures exactly the feel of the story as the story plays out. By the last page, I think I was convinced that this actually is a true YA novel, and brings out some of the best elements of what can be done inside the genre.
That said, I'm still on the fence about whether teens will enjoy it as much as adults. And I'm afraid that the YA label might mean adults won't go for it. But I know that, given the folks who read this blog, I'm preaching to the choir. We all know how good the YA section is. And you all know how seldom I recommend a book here that isn't science fiction or fantasy. So seriously, if you have any inkling to go and read this one--pick it up. I'm really glad I did.
(Geek addendum: Judy Blundell is the real name of her pseudonymous identity, Jude Watson, author of tons of Star Wars books. I haven't read her under that identity, but I felt it pertinent to pick out the SFF link I discovered after the fact.)
Then I finished the book. Wow.
I was drawn in initially by just the cover image. I still think it's a beautiful and fabulous cover. And it captures exactly the feel of the story as the story plays out. By the last page, I think I was convinced that this actually is a true YA novel, and brings out some of the best elements of what can be done inside the genre.
That said, I'm still on the fence about whether teens will enjoy it as much as adults. And I'm afraid that the YA label might mean adults won't go for it. But I know that, given the folks who read this blog, I'm preaching to the choir. We all know how good the YA section is. And you all know how seldom I recommend a book here that isn't science fiction or fantasy. So seriously, if you have any inkling to go and read this one--pick it up. I'm really glad I did.
(Geek addendum: Judy Blundell is the real name of her pseudonymous identity, Jude Watson, author of tons of Star Wars books. I haven't read her under that identity, but I felt it pertinent to pick out the SFF link I discovered after the fact.)