As If On Cue by Marisa Kanter (Simon & Schuster)
Recommended Reading Age: 13+
As If On Cue is a delightful YA novel which is ideal for theatre-loving teens.
In this story, we follow high schoolers Natalie and Reid. Funding for arts at their school has recently been slashed, leaving Band as the sole arts survivor – and leaving Natalie and the rest of Theatre Club feeling angry. Putting these feelings to productive use, they fight to mount a student-written play. The problem? If their production gets funding, Band will lose some of theirs – and Reid simply won’t let that happen.
Natalie and Reid’s conflict turns into a prank war that eventually goes too far, and leads the school to require that Band and Theatre Club collaborate on a musical adaptation of the student-written play.
And the stakes are high: to motivate the school board to change next year’s budget for both arts clubs, they must deliver a sold-out show. So despite being opponents for their whole lives, Natalie and Reid must learn to collaborate on the musical. Oh, and to deal with the pesky feelings that just might be emerging between them…
Marisa Kanter’s writing goes down smoothly: it is easy to understand and packed with nuance yet feels authentic to how teenagers interact. The combination of well-developed characters, real stakes, a budding romance – and the occasional splash of serious topics – makes As If On Cue a delightful YA contemporary read with some real bite. It’s no small feat to maintain a light, fluffy feeling, while tackling themes like collaboration, exclusion, neglect, and even the insidious nature of anti-Semitism. Kanter is up for the task, however, and because of it, As If On Cue is a knockout.
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson (HarperCollins)
Recommended Reading Age: 14+
White Smoke is a creepy, perfect-for-Halloween read that tells the story of Mari and her blended family as they move from a small California beach town to the midwestern city of Cedarville. They’re in quest of a fresh start . . . but their newly-renovated, seemingly perfect home on Maple Street is full of secrets, randomly-opening doors, intermittent electricity, shadows, voices . . . and even weird smells.
YA readers who like to be spooked will find a lot to like in White Smoke. It explores an interesting situation and tackles important themes, such as the legalization of marijuana. But it also feels messy: the first half is a bit slow, the ending feels abrupt, and the plot in between sometimes feels repetitive.
White Smoke has a dynamic family, a gripping main character, and the perfect atmosphere. It’s a solid read. With sharper editing, it could have been a great one.
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi (HarperCollins)
Recommended Reading Age: 13+
Let me start with a confession. For years, I have tried to get into YA fantasy, but for me, this genre is just not as engaging as contemporary realistic YA fiction.
Nonethess, I don’t shy away from trying new entries in the genre. I mean, eventually I’m going to find a great YA fantasy, right?
Well, yes. Yes I am. In fact, I just did.
Let me introduce you to This Woven Kingdom by Teharah Mafi. This Woven Kingdom is a Persian-inspired fantasy with clashing empires and a forbidden romance. It follows Alizeh, a young woman who is viewed as a disposable servant. In reality, she is the long-lost heir to an ancient kingdom of Jinns, who must protect themselves by hiding in plain sight. The second main character is Kamran, a crown prince who has heard prophecies predicting the death of his king. Kamran and Alizeh meet one day, and over the course of the novel, Alizeh uproots Kamran’s kingdom.
Mafi’s gorgeous prose makes this book addicting. Its soaring lyricism feels effortless, yet its effect is profound. It draws you in and keeps you reading, always eager to flip the page to find out what happens next. This – in combination with the expert, yet easy-to-understand world-building and fully fleshed-out characters – makes for a novel that is lengthy but never sluggish.
This Woven Kingdom is the brilliantly crafted first part of a trilogy. Personally, I can’t wait for the next book. I highly recommend that everyone get in on the ground floor by reading This Woven Kingdom.
Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee (Penguin Random House)
Recommended Reading Age: 14+
Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman is an excellent novel centered around racism and privilege on elite college campuses.
Savannah Howard had her sights set on a historically black college or university (HBCU), but her mother always wanted her to go to an ivy-league school. When she’s offered a full scholarship to the fictional Wooddale University, how can she say no? But after arriving at Wooddale University, she experiences microagressions, elitism and outright racism – and discovers that the school has a racist history. This leads her on a mission to discover who is behind the racism, and what it will take for it to stop.
Though a work of fiction, Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman is very much rooted in reality. Savannah’s drive to do well and make her parents and community proud echo the experiences of many people of colour and immigrants. And the uncovering of Wooddale’s racist past is a timely and resonant story, given the way many storied institutions are currently grappling with the reassessment of their origins and benefactors.
As a debut novel, Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman is remarkable. It’s a short, impactful and timely page-turner that literally doesn’t waste a word. This engrossing tale pulls no punches in its quest to entertain and deliver an urgent message about the importance of authenticity, fighting racism, and knowing your worth.
© Sayak S-G, Sesayarts Magazine, 2022
