Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

Astrid has given up on keeping her love. She's sending it out into the world. She's sending it to the bully who picks on her at school. She's sending it to the airplanes and the passengers that pass over head. She's sending it to her pot-head dad who should be more involved. She's sending it to her close-minded sister Ellis who has taken this whole "small town girl" thing way too far.

She's even sending it to her mother, who obviously doesn't like her, and would much prefer a second version of her Ellis instead.

Why is she giving all her love away? She has two best friends, the perfect couple...except she knows their secret. They are both covering for each other. Kaitlyn's got a girlfriend, and Paul's got a boyfriend.

But neither knows Astrid's secret: she's got Dee. They collide in the walk-in at work, stealing kisses whenever they can. It's all very confusing, and more than a little painful. Until she can sort it all out, she's keeping it to herself. Is she gay? What exactly does that even mean...and how can she be sure? Is it something you are just supposed to know, like, deep in your bones? Does the fact that she enjoys kissing Dee brand her forever?

It's all hypothetical until they all get busted at a gay club in the city. Now the school is abuzz with the news that everyone's favorite couple...isn't really a couple. The hateful comments seem to be getting worse and worse. Kaitlin and Paul are both taking a break until things die down a little. Ellis gets caught up in the gossip, and pretty soon Astrid is taking abuse from her as well. Everyone is asking the same question: are you gay? The thing is...Astrid isn't sure. Does it even matter if they have all decided for her?

King is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her prose gives me goosebumps, and I share those touching, awkward moments with her characters. The extra touches she provides take a good story to a great one. I can't say enough about this book. Go read it! Right now! Why are you still reading this?!

*Library Link*

“All those people who are chained here thinking that their reputations matter and this little shit matters are so freaking shortsighted. Dude, what matters is that you're happy. What matters is your future. What matters is that we get out of here in one piece. What matters is finding the truth of our own lives, not caring about what other people think is the truth of us,” (King, 2012).

If you liked this, check out:
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Every Day by David Levithan
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth

King, A. S. (2012). Ask the Passengers: A novel. New York: Little, Brown.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

As the day of the test approaches, Eon is increasingly apprehensive. Despite his mind-sight which allows him to see into the spirit world, and to view all 11 dragons, he is crippled from a childhood injury. It is generally believed that he will never be chosen as the next Rat Dragoneye apprentice, but there is too much riding on this for him to give up.

For one thing...Eon isn't really his name...it's Eona, and she's also masquerading as a boy to hide her gender. For the past four years, she has trained under her Master with one goal in mind: to become the next Dragoneye. It would guarantee both her fortune, and his. It would most likely save her life. During the ceremony, however, she is not chosen by the Rat Dragon. Everything is over.

Or is it?! The lost Mirror Dragon, missing for over 500 years, appears and chooses her. Can this be happening? A lost dragon out of its ascension year has chosen her? In front of the Emperor himself, she is claimed. Suddenly she is rudely shoved into a life of politics, court etiquette, and even more secrets than she could have imagined. Far from the easy life she envisioned, Eona - Lord Eon now - is thrust into the middle of a power struggle between the Emperor and the Ascendant Rat Dragoneye, Lord Ido.

Ido and his ally High Lord Sethon want to make a play for the throne. With Ido's dragon power, and Sethon's military might, it's a very real possibility. The Emperor quickly makes it known that Eon is on his side, and will support his cause. He enlists the help of Lady Dela (a Contraire, a man living as a woman), and her body servant Ryko, a Shadow man (AKA he's a eunuch). They help him navigate the dangerous realm of court, and Ryko helps him steal the Mirror Dragon scroll in an effort to discover Eon's dragon's name. Without it, Eon is unable to call for the Dragon's help.

Lord Ido continues to exert his influence as "accidents" continue to happen in his favor. At times it seems Eon is outnumbered at every turn. Hiding his (her) true nature is taking its toll as well, and Eon fears for the empire, as well as his (her) life. What can one person do against the war machine that Ido and Sethon wield? With the Emperor's health failing, and the council under Ido's control, it's going to take something really drastic to shift the tide in the other direction. Will Eon find the name of his dragon? All hopes rest with Eon (Eona)...can she save them?

"I caught a soft lilt with no form, no meaning, and then it faded away like the end of a sigh. I spread my fingers across the hard, velvety surface - a silent plea to let me try again. But it was gone.
The pearl moved under my hands as the dragon lifted his head. He was calling for me, a piercing shriek that coursed through my body, searching for my core. There was nowhere to hide from the silver rush of energy. It stripped my soul bare, peeling back the shell of Eon. Finding me.
Finding Eona," (Goodman pg. 117, 2008).

*Library Link*

If you liked this, check out:
Eona by Alison Goodman (Eon, Book 2)
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima (Seven Realms, Book 1)
Sabriel by Garth Nix (Abhorsen Trilogy, Book 1)

Goodman, Alison. (2008). Eon: Dragoneye Reborn. New York: Viking.

Supergirl Mixtapes by Meagan Brothers

Maria is getting her wish: she's off to spend the school year (and maybe longer) with her long estranged mother. She hasn't even seen her since a brief encounter at age 13. Now 16 and a junior, she's had a rough summer - rough enough that her dad and overly protective grandmother are willing to let her go and stay with her mom the artist.

Her memories of her mother are few and far between, but they are happy ones. Maria can't wait to experience NYC, and the life of an artist. Arriving at her mother's one bedroom apartment, where she has been relegated to the futon in the living room, she can tell things are going to be very different. Victoria (her mom) has a new boyfriend that seems to be only a few years older than Maria, and they stay out late most nights. Maria doesn't mind. She is used to taking care of herself.

That's what she tells herself anyway; artists live differently. Maybe that's why, when she starts skipping school, Victoria doesn't notice. Her grandmother does, however, and arranges for her to go to public school. Nina - her grandmother's liason - has a better idea: she will homeschool Maria. Of course, Victoria doesn't notice that either. That's when the lies start piling up. Maria meets a boy (Gram) at the record store, and falls into a lie about attending a local university, and gets invited to a party. Just a little white lie, right?

Things start spiraling out of control, slowly at first and then suddenly at a breakneck pace. Is Maria out of her depth in this huge city? The lies are starting to get her in real trouble, but she's not the only one keeping secrets.

This is Brothers' second novel, and I loved her debut Debbie Harry Sings in French. This doesn't disappoint, and includes a drool-worthy list of music references. The title refers to the mix tapes her best friend makes for her, and they pepper the novel. Some of the characters were underdeveloped, and some loose ends were unresolved. Overall a good second novel, and recommended for high school.

"I took Mom's jacket off as carefully as I could, trying not to rip the sleeve any more. Maybe my mom had already forgotten that night. Or maybe this record didn't make her as sad. She climbed through the boxes again, back to the living room, where the turntable sat on the bare floor. She took off the Talking Heads and put the Patti Smith record on. That line was playing right when I walked in. Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine," (Brothers pg. 72, 2012).

*Library Link*

If you liked this, check out:

Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers
The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert

Brothers, Meagan. (2012). Supergirl Mixtapes. New York: Henry Holt.