A Corner of White, by Jaclyn Moriarty (Scholastic, April 1 2013, upper Middle Grade/YA) lept with conviction onto my list of top ten books for the year--it was sweet, smart, fun, thought-provoking, gripping, and eminently readable. I must admit that I did not instantly rush to get this when I heard that it involves a fantasy land full of swarming colors that drift around killing people (if they are bad colors). This sounded somewhat suspectly whimsical and twee (despite the killing part). I should have trusted Moriarty more (after all, she wrote The Murder of Bindy McKenzie--an excellent book, not at all twee), and indeed, the colors were a perfectly fine, fresh, un-cute magical phenomenon. So that was good.
The story concerns a girl in our world, Madeleine, who gets gets drawn into a correspondence with Elliott, a boy who lives in the fantasy world of color drifts, and their epistolary friendship changes both their lives. And the lives of a number of others. For in the fantasy realm, not only is Elliott determined to charge to the rescue of his vanished father, there are intrigues and machinations at play of a socio/political sort that complicate life and need resolving. In Madeline's world, there are the mundane issues of her particular reality as a teenager, and these are so beautifully particular, yet also universal (in Moriarty's trademark way) that I enjoyed the reality as much as I did the fantasy. It added lots to my enjoyment that the characters are smart (though sometimes naive, not seeing what's right in front of them, etc.)
Even though I sincerely loved this one, I'm not going to say any more--it is full of details of plot, and character, and backstory, and world-building that don't deserve to be described in a cursory way by me. However, you can read more about it at The Book Smugglers (Ana loved it too).
Who would I give it to (besides "people who like the same books as me"):
--Middle Grade readers (10-12) who want something from the YA section that isn't fully of sexy and distrubingly violent stuff but has some Dawning Teen Romance, which, though mild, is more than you get in the children's room.
--YA readers of fantasy who aren't totally absorbed by paranormal romance and dystopia, and willing to take a chance on something quirky that has the added bonus of not involving a quest or a Chosen One.
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I loved this one too. It is on my top list so far for the year as well. It is so quietly brilliant. I was super excited that it's a Horn Book Honor too. I can't wait for the next one.
ReplyDeleteme too!
DeleteI'm more and more heartened to hear that other readers (the ones that I trust!) like this title. I have it from NetGalley and need to sit down and READ it.
ReplyDeleteI like Moriarty's other books, but haven't read this one yet. I really should since lots of people I trust like it.
ReplyDeleteI had this out from the library and didn't get too far into it, but between your recommendation and the BGHB Honor, it is back on the hold shelf for me.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can imagine you putting it down...but it does get more engrossing!
DeleteGood point about not involving quest or chosen one, but it was a bit quirky for me, and for some reason Australian titles do poorly at my school. Glad you liked it- the cover is just right for the people to whom you would recommend it.
ReplyDeleteBut surely they can't know it's Australian?
DeleteAnd yes, the cover fits the book well.
unless of course they incredibly savvy readers who read the small print...
DeleteI hope it goes well for you, Cecelia and Liviania!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of either of these books! Thanks for featuring them.
ReplyDeleteAw, this sounds so wonderful! Adding it to the list.
ReplyDeleteA fantasy without a Chosen One!! I will have to try this...killer colors are a bonus.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, I absolutely loved this one. It was quirky and different and extremely well thought out.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you loved it too, LinWash! It makes me nervous to recommend a book, because what if people who then go read it don't like it after all????
ReplyDeleteSo I hope you like it too, Andrea and Jenny and Lisa!
I heard about this a couple of places (I know the Book Smugglers, can't remember where else) - and it sounded really good! Now, if only I could justify starting another series!
ReplyDeleteWell, the next book hasn't been published yet, so it's a bit safer than than the serieses that already have multiple books that will clamor for reaing immediatly...
DeleteI just finished this one and loved it. So fun, and so different from most fantasy I've read. Really lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt's unusual to see such a nice balance of the real world and the fantasy world, where the realworld character doesn't charge in and save the day in the fantsy world. Such a nice change! This is one of my favorites of the year so far...
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