The Blossom and the Firefly

The Blossom and the Firefly by Sherri L. Smith    320 pages

 This blurb from the dust jacket is what drew me to this novel: “Japan 1945. Taro is a talented violinist and a kamikaze pilot in the days before his first and only mission. He believes he is ready to die for his country . . . until he meets Hana. Hana hasn't been the same since the day she was buried alive in a collapsed trench during a bomb raid. She wonders if it would have been better to have died that day . . . until she meets Taro.”

Hana is 15 years old; Taro is 17. The war is starting to wind down with Japan not on the winning side.

Hana is one of the local school girls who work at the airbase. Their job is to support and companionship to the latest batch of kamikaze pilots.  The girls cook, wash and mend their clothes, talk with them, and when it’s time to takeoff, the wave goodbye with cherry blossoms.

Hana has watched her heart; she has never even learned any of their names…that is until Taro arrives from training.

Both are musicians, Hana plays the koto while Taro plays the violin.  They are instantly drawn to each, which makes both of their jobs very difficult.

 I haven’t read any novels before that were from the perspective of Japanese young adults.  For me, the plot dragged and there was little tension. Every time I ran across a Japanese word, I was pulled out of the story.  Much to my chagrin, when I finished the book, I found a glossary in the back.  If I had known it was there, my feelings might be different. Alas, “The Blossom and the Firefly” receives 2 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world. 

 

There Will Come a Darkness

There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool, 496 pages

This is a pretty solidly written action-adventure fantasy. The world is interesting and different. I felt like lots of elements of it were based on ancient history, in areas like Greece and Rome. I also liked the prophecy aspect of it, of five different characters whose stories will eventually overlap, each with their own role to play in this prophecy.

This book, while having familiar elements like good vs. evil, people with powers vs. people without, and prophetic hints for the future, it still managed to surprise me every once in a while.

The only thing that held me back from liking it was the fact that I didn’t care for any of the characters, which is usually a big bummer for me and keeps me from enjoying the book very much. But, I’d still recommend it, because I’m sure there are plenty of readers out there, especially fans of the fantasy genre, who would enjoy this book a great deal. It’s got action, it’s got supernatural elements, and it’s got a classic “end of the world” scenario on the horizon. So definitely check it out.

Dare Mighty Things

Dare Mighty Things by Heather Kaczynski     377 pages

From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Gupta’s entire life has been leading up to this—the opportunity to travel to space. But to secure a spot on this classified mission, she must first compete against the best and brightest people on the planet. People who are as determined as she to win a place on a journey to the farthest reaches of the universe. 

Cassie is ready for the toll that the competition will take; the rigorous mental and physical tests designed to push her to the brink of her endurance. But nothing could have prepared her for the bonds she would form with the very people she hopes to beat. Or that with each passing day it would be more and more difficult to ignore the feeling that the true objective of the mission is being kept from her.

As the days until the launch tick down and the stakes rise higher than ever before, only one thing is clear to Cassie: she’ll never back down . . . even if it costs her everything.

My review:

This book was interesting because it's a futuristic setting, which I don't come across very often. Humanity is capable of genetically modifying humans before their bore (designer babies) and has landed a man on Mars. Though the NASA still suffers insufficient funds and there's still a general lack of space exploration - until this competition, which Cass luckily get's nominated for.

I enjoyed Cass's narrative - she is hard working, determined, and yet still relatable. She struggles with homesickness, with feeling too nerdy at times and at others not ne
rdy enough, and difficulties with making friends. I liked seeing her progression through this book as she comes to understand her fellow competitors better and, even further, relates to them and befriends them.

The plot is pretty steady, hardly dragging and once the mission begins, Kaczynski really kicks it into high gear. The sci-fi is pretty soft, so I think most readers will be able to enjoy the book even if they aren't big sci-fi fans. The book follows a pretty clear trajectory that, while predictable, is still intriguing and doesn't give away everything at once. While I knew certain outcomes early on, I was still pleasantly surprised but other little twists. Though it ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger (this book is a duology), it still manages to wrap itself up so that it doesn't rely too heavily on what comes in another installment of the series.

I am definitely going to read the follow up book and I would highly recommend it to space-buffs and YA readers alike. There is some minor romance, but it's not the central plot (it barely factors in the book) and much more emphasis is placed on Cass and her growth. It's very much a woman-power book and I appreciated that.

The Altered History of Willow Sparks

The Altered History of Willow Sparks by Tara O'Connor. 152 pages.

Willow is just trying to get through high school unscathed. She and her friends are at the bottom of the social order, and her peers want to keep them there. One night, as she's working her shift at the local library, Willow discovers a strange, hidden library within that contains a book with her name on it. She soon discovers this book gives her the ability to alter the course of her life, but the further she plays with it, the more destructive she becomes...not just to herself, but to those she most cares about.

While this wasn't the most original subject matter, it still was a relatively solid, be-careful-what-you-wish-for comic that also touches on bullying, gender norms, and sexuality in a way that's good for the YA crowd. The art reminded me a lot of Faith Erin Hicks, which is a bonus in my book. As a long-time library employee, I had a few issues with how the whole library job thing was portrayed, but hey, this is also fantasy. The Altered History of Willow Sparks is due out March 6th.