Nova Ren SumaCritiques

Great story told from the perspective of three teenage girls all intertwined together. A good read about how far one goes for friendship and the consequences of jealousy.

Delightfully spooky ballet/ghost/prison mystery. I was never scared, but so fascinated by the twists and turns of the narrative and the interesting unfolding of the various stories.

Rather interesting.. i like the unknown path of this book :)

Rather interesting.. i like the unknown path of this book :)

Ugh! I kept hoping there would be something to enlighten me on the point of this story. It's simply a story about a self-centered, self-indulgent girl and her sister. There are no redeeming characters in this story. I even tried to think of one after I finished the book. Don't waste your time like I did. If you want a supernatural story about death (with a point), try Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall.

In this short story anthology, new and diverse voices are featured. Most of the stories contain some fantastical or supernatural element, though some do not. Each story is accompanied by a brief essay by the editors, highlighting some particularly noteworthy aspect of the story. I found this a surprisingly balanced collection in terms of writing quality, with no "clunkers" among the stories. I enjoyed all of them, and for many, would love to read more. Readers who enjoy short stories, especially YA, would be wise to seek out this volume.

I need to think on this one for a while. My rating may change. I just chose 3 because it's in the middle and I'm feeling VERY in the middle and weird about this one. Also, if you know what the heck this was about-- please let me in on it!!

3.5 stars because What did I just read???

Ruby and Chloe are closer than most sisters. Their mom is never around and both dad's split. Ruby has taken care of younger sister Chloe for as long as she can remember. But Ruby is more than just Chloe's caretaker and provider. In the town they live in, Ruby is the star. She's the one everyone wants to be or be with. And she always gets her way with very little persuasion.

Then something happens and Chloe decides to go live with her dad. 2 years later, Ruby brings her back promising things would be normal again. When Chloe comes back, things are normal... too normal. The accident that sent Chloe running, seemingly never happened. People in the town are still under Ruby's spell, but in almost a trance-like way.

Chloe struggles to find out the truth about her sister and the town, but the more she finds out, the more things like real and impossible start to become blurry.

My Thoughts:
One thing is for real: Nova Ren Suma is talented. After reading [b:The Walls Around Us|18044277|The Walls Around Us|Nova Ren Suma|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407168914s/18044277.jpg|25322052] and then this book, I'm definitely a believer in her writing. I didn't like this as well as The Walls Around Us (that one completely blew me away), but I'm still going to read everything this woman writes because the creativity is off the charts.

The most interesting part for me was the characters. It featured ones like I had never met before, but they weren't characters I even liked or wanted to root for. They were people I didn't really understand and don't know if I ever could. Still, I was interested in figuring out these people in this insanely odd town.

This story is about codependency at it's heart... a really sick codependency. Chloe is dependent on Ruby for an identity and approval. Ruby is willing to risk everything to get Chloe back so she can control her. Basically what happens is- there's an accident, Chloe leaves town for a period of time, Ruby comes and gets her back, and everything in town is weirder than usual when she arrives. Ruby's acting weird, people who are supposed to be dead, aren't. And while Ruby always had some sort of magnetic pull about her, it seems that pull has been kicked up times 100 because everyone is falling all over themselves to obey her every wish.

So I was left wondering how any of this could be possible?? Is this fantasy? magical realism? paranormal? Is one of the characters hallucinating? I still don't even know if it's none or all. The lines are all blurred and the ending didn't help.

From page 1 I didn't like Ruby. Actually, I hated the bitch. Despite that, I still wanted to know what the F was going on. I wanted Chloe to find out who she was without Ruby. I wanted Ruby to wake up and realize that the world wasn't hers and she didn't & shouldn't own people's free will. I learned really fast that this book didn't care what I wanted.

By the end several things became clear and unclear: I at least came to understand the way Ruby cared about her sister... but still not in a liking it way. I realized that I gave Chloe way too much credit and put all my hopes for the book onto a character that was never going to be strong enough for that. And then there were some things (like Owen, Chloe's love interest) which seemed to allude to some crack in the careful Ruby wall, but nothing came of it and I was wondering so hard why I had thought that in the first place. Much like The Walls Around Us, I think there will always be things about this story that I don't "get". And I'm cool with that.

OVERALL: The writing is haunting and unique and impressive. The characters and the story were both equally frustrating. It's this mix of paranormal and magical realism, but it's cloaked as a contemporary. So, is it fun because it's doing something different, or frustrating because it's all over the place? I think both. And definitely worth reading.

My Blog:

These YA authors have really stepped up their game lately! This was so beautiful and serious and mind-twisting.


Violet is a perfect ballerina. After this summer, she's headed for Julliard and the culmination of all her dreams are coming true. Only something violent and ugly happened in Violet's past. Her best friend Ori went to jail for a double murder, and even though Violet has put it behind her and stepped into the spotlight, she can't get past a few lingering curiosities.

Amber is in Aurora Hills, a juvenile detention center. The same one that Ori got sent to that summer that everything went down. Strange things are happening here, and Amber is determined to figure out what.

My Thoughts:
Wow another book that left me questioning everything!!! Plural narration. Mystery. Who did what, to who, and when?? How, Why?? Not all the questions get answered. And I haven't decided if I find that meaningful and thought-provoking, or irritating and frustrating. Maybe it's a little (or a lot) of both.

This is the story of Orianna as told (eventually) by two people who knew her in two different settings. Violet is the best friend that always seemed to be one step behind, and Amber is an inmate in the detention center that Orianna ends up in. I loved the different styles of the narration. Violet's was more straight-forward and Amber's was an all-seeing "we" narration. I SO loved Amber's parts. The writing during those chapters was so incredible and beautiful, I could have read them forever.

One highlight for me in the book is that Amber worked in the "library" and pushed a book cart around to all the prisoners. I loved the library aspect!! Shout out to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. [a:Libba Bray|2526|Libba Bray|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1206563678p2/2526.jpg] (The Diviners, Beauty Queens, etc.) and [a:Francine Pascal|2423|Francine Pascal|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1337593664p2/2423.jpg] (Sweet Valley High series) are also mentioned!

This book is not a happy book. Good things do not happen. It's about tragedy and loss of life. It's about flawed human beings. It's about how life is not fair and people are never 100% guilty or innocent... people are much more complicated. I loved every second of it. And if someone could explain that head-spinning ending, I would appreciate.

OVERALL: A true winner!! I loved this haunting, intricate, beautiful book. It's about so much more than what any blurb or synopsis can say. I am now a big fan of this author and can't wait to devour all of her past (and future) books.

My Blog:

3.5 Stars

Easily one of my favorite books I've ever read. 10/10 recommend-- incredible writing and imagery, very compelling. No parts felt dull. I'm not a fantasy person but this drew me in.

Truly original. I had no idea where this story was going and was intrigued throughout. I couldn’t put it down and had to keep reading to find out what the next moment would bring. The details made visualizing this unusual town and its inhabitants easy. Understanding Ruby and what kind of magic she possesses is a bit harder.

This book won’t appeal to everyone. Anyone who likes their explanations of story mysteries tied up in neat little bows will have a problem with it. But if you like a story that is eerie, surreal, and haunting, this may be the book for you.

This will either turn out to be the worst book or the best book.

This book was very well written, haunting, and atmospheric. I would have rated it with more stars, but I'm still not quite sure what to make of it. My questions weren't really answered at the end, and while I understand the need for the unreliable narrator, I don't enjoy books written in this style.

This book is a celebration of New York City and unique friendships. The flawed main character is relatable for teens, and the classic gothic mystery characteristics are fun and spooky. The characters are a secretive and mysterious and though there isn't a lot of action, you are invested in learning more. Unfortunately, though there is a great twist, the ending is unsatisfying.

During the first part of the book, I started to lose interest, then the confusion set in. Chloe's Ruby fascination was overbearing. However, all these points aside, I didn't put it down.

I liked the writing at some points, even though I felt stumped and bored at parts. Also, I didn't fully grasp the magical realism or "ghost story" style, or maybe I didn't feel confident that I knew for sure what was happening or what was intended stylistically by Suma. If a Teen picks this up and asks my opinion, I would recommend with a little critique about Chloe's fixation with her sister. Not my favorite YA, but I was able to get through it.

During the first part of the book, I started to lose interest, then the confusion set in. Chloe's Ruby fascination was overbearing. However, all these points aside, I didn't put it down.

I liked the writing at some points, even though I felt stumped and bored at parts. Also, I didn't fully grasp the magical realism or "ghost story" style, or maybe I didn't feel confident that I knew for sure what was happening or what was intended stylistically by Suma. If a Teen picks this up and asks my opinion, I would recommend with a little critique about Chloe's fixation with her sister. Not my favorite YA, but I was able to get through it.

This story is told by two individuals, one living and one dead. Violet is a ballerina, headed to Juilliard and going places. Amber is in Aurora Hills Juvenile Detention Center after being found guilty of murdering her father.

Intricately woven.

This book was very vague, both in its last 50 pages and in the main character herself. It was hard to grasp what she was running from even though it was supposed to be a major plot point. Without something to grasp onto, it was really hard to connect to Bina and it was downright impossible to know how she was really feeling. I’m also still confused as to how the boarding house works too. If all the girls are dead, how did Bina enter and why did Bina pay real-world money? How is her mom alive in the real world if she has to be dead to have lived in the house? I really don’t get this book and it has too many unclear points.

Average Rating :⭐️⭐️⭐️.9

I’m definitely having a better time reading short fiction these days, so I decided to pick this one up and it blew me away with the breadth of amazing writing in it and the wonderful new voices we get introduced to. The stories are diverse and fun and intense, and I loved the editors mentioning the reasons behind choosing these stories, and the sprinkling of writing advice throughout the anthology was just icing on the cake. There are also prompts for budding writers to try out their own hand at short fiction, and interviews with the editors towards the end which has some great advice for writers on how to approach drafting as well as editing their pieces. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves YA and wants to discover new and upcoming authors, as well as the writers at heart who would love some genuine advice.

Flight by Tanya S. Aydelott

I won’t say I understood the mythology behind the creatures that form a part of this story, but it’s very beautifully written and very mysterious and has a very interesting take on women’s relationship with their bodies, as well as how men choose to objectify and represent them in art.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Risk by Rachel Hylton

A story of a group of girls in high school who are always supportive of each other, despite the circumstances - this was very weirdly fascinating but probably not my kind of story.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng

This is a modern day horror retelling of Hansel and Gretel and it was spectacular. It has the scary parts but it also has a beautiful female friendship, the two girls just trying their best to be there for each other, while also having themes of difficult relationships between mothers and daughters. Definitely an author I look forward to read more of.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Glow by Joanna Truman

A story of two powerful girls with magic, this had all the beautiful yearning and angst of a girl whose heart is full of overwhelming feelings for another which she just wants to express and be loved back. The author really brought the emotion to life with her words.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Escape by Tanvi Berwah

Wow. This was mysterious, wonderfully written and had family drama, heirlooms and old stories, with a side dish of twisted revenge. Very enjoyable.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo

This story takes us back to the 90s when teenagers could still drive across the southern border to party, but it also weaves in a little of the dreaded times to come. Both the innocence and invincibility that the teenage girls feel and the ominous nature of their journey are captured perfectly.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Solace by Nora Elghazzawi

This was such an emotional exploration of loss and grief, but also asks us to grow and nurture and hope despite the darkness and I really enjoyed it.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Princess by Maya Prasad

I’ve read a good number of short stories about AI/digital immortality, but reading one with similar themes but inspired by Indian mythology is a different kind of joy. I loved the MC Leela who takes the second lease of life that she gets to dream for something bigger than herself and make choices that she believes in. Very interesting story.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Fools by Gina Chen

This starts off quite sad but it was such a beautiful story of a girl finding where she fits in and what she wants to do with her life. There’s love and humor and wonderful descriptions here alongwith a great ensemble of lovable characters.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Monsters by Adriana Marachlian

This was kind of sad, especially with the backdrop of the situation in Venezuela which the author captures with her words, but it’s also about feeling like the other, being alone and scared and not being believed by anyone, and how that struggle shapes a person’s choices.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Break by Sophie Meridien

This was such a cute and romantic story of two high school seniors trying to get to know each other in the small moments they get to spend together. It also has some angst and a message, but overall it just made me smile.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Resilient by Mayra Cuevas

This is a story about resilience set after the events of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and it’s absolutely devastating to read about what happened after through the words of young people who had to give up on their dreams because survival was more important. It ends with a bit of hope, but the it’s definitely more of a bittersweet story.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Belly by Desiree S. Evans

There is a great sense of place in this story, with the land and river and the character’s relationship to them forming the emotional core of the story. It was both sad as well as inspiring, with hope that it’ll get better.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Review coming on www.coffeeandtrainspotting.wordpress.com

When Ruby said something I may not have always listened to her, but I always believed her. When Rudy said it was impossible for me to ever drown, I believed her. When Ruby said she would never leave me, I believed her. When Ruby said the impossible, I believed her. I had no reason not too. Everything she said always had a way of coming true. That was the magic of Ruby.

Being Ruby's little sister meant always being seen as Ruby's little sister, but I never really minded. Although everyone loved Ruby, would do anything for Ruby, in the end she only loved me. My sister practically raised me; she was the only one who ever cared for me. But after that night at the reservoir, the attempted swim across, I realised just how far she was willing to go to save me.

Imaginary Girls is a tale of love, sacrifice and the bond shared between two sisters. While the captivating and magical Ruby is the centre of Chloe's world, it is the reserved and awkward Chloe who is the centre of this story. A poignant, raw and fantastic story where girls rise from the dead, people live in underwater towns, balloons bring midnight messages of love and one sister will never stop believing.

teen fiction. I like the author's writing style ok but wasn't a fan of the whole "ballerinas-with-murder-raps" deal--was definitely darker than I expected it to be, and I wasn't in the mood to continue reading it.

Teen/adult fiction. Mesmerizing suspense, brilliant and very dark at the same time. Awesome.

Featuring 13 short stories by underrepresented and 'fresh' voices, this book has an interesting format. Appealing to both readers and writers, each tale is followed by a short discussion focusing on an element of craft that was well developed in the proceeding story. Writing prompts/exercises are also sprinkled throughout the book, providing opportunities to apply the craft knowledge gleaned from the pages. It's an interesting approach, made more so by the exposure to new writers with such unique perspectives.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

YA, nice voice. The kid's newfound interest in old movies is well done--it integrates with the story but isn't heavy handed.