#but the fairy tale as a genre had a boom in publishing

[starberry-cupcake]

wait, can you tell me more about D'Aulnoy being inspired by midwives and nurses? one thing that stands out a lot to me when reading her stories is how much more classism, racism and ableism her stories contain, so hearing about the working class influence on them would be interesting

I am going to apologize beforehand for the length of this response, I hope that at least some of this is interesting :/ 

To put it out there from the get-go, she was a high class woman in the late 17th century/very early 18th century who had the means to publish so yes, her stories are problematic. I think the classism continues pretty unquestioned all the way until HCA in European fairy tales, but the racism and ableism don’t stop there. Some of that is even carried out to fairy tales of the European colonies, later independent countries, in which the class system remains the same, albeit the figures of heroes tend to come most frequently from low class workers (the figure of “peones de campo” in Latin American stories, who win fights against Kings, for example). 

But, back to Madame d’Aulnoy, the presence of midwives and nurses in d’Aulnoy’s life, and pretty much across the conteuses of the time, was what is said to have actually influenced the early presence of fairy “godmothers”, which would later be known as one of the “donor” archetypes. She had several stories with fairies in baptisms who cursed or blessed children, depending on the parents’ behavior, and some of them were present through their entire lives. The presence of fairies in births is said to come, at least partially, from midwives and nurses. 

Madame d’Aulnoy was given in marriage to a 45 year old man when she was 15 years old, 4 of her children were born when she was a teenager (it is said one of them might have died when she was imprisoned). Her husband was a known unlikable character with political influence and has been described also as a “libertine” and “depraved” by scholars (her imprisonment was actually because she tried to get him arrested for treason and it backfired on her). Basically, she was not in a healthy marriage and she had 4 children when she herself was a child. 

Because of this, the figure of midwives and nurses was very present during her life, some academics say that the fact that they were present during birth and in several instances of the development of children was important for her and the other women telling stories in salons, and that carried into the figure of the fairies. 

The conteuses tended to have conflicting relationships with men in their lives and many shared these sort of experiences with d’Aulnoy (it is said that she aided Angélique Ticquet, for example). So many of them had this same experience, when it comes to the relying on these other figures for the birth and care of their children. 

The uses of fairies, witches and goddesses as prominent characters was also derived from folklore and paganism as a way to establish a separation with the patriarchal figures of the court and the King, and many of those figures related to both art accessible to the high classes (opera, Greek and Roman myths) and the stories these working women were known to tell (many of the aspects of pagan beliefs were carried as memes— in the academic use of the word, although it’s similar to the current use of it— to the fairies in stories).  

d’Aulnoy is said to have coined the term “fairy tale”, in her stories and those of her contemporaries the presence of fairies was used as an expression of female empowerment (for the women of that class at that time), but they carried memetically beliefs, stories and characteristics of women who had been around in their lives, especially midwives and nurses. 

Now, when Perrault published his book of fairy tales (under the name of his son, because he wanted to distance himself from them), he also took these ideas, both from the stories the nurses told his children and from the way in which the archetype of fairy had developed in the salons where women narrated and then published their stories. The main difference between him and the women in salons, which would I believe influence the genre from then onward and establish the classism more deeply, is that he had a more morally-charged intent to educate through them, “translating” the stories to what people of his own class would appreciate and giving lessons and morals (especially to young women). The salonniers were more into their own depiction and their own enjoyment, even if morals or ideals were carried in their stories, Perrault was the one who coined the whole moral at the end of the story to educate society as a whole. Or, the part of society he cared about.  

It’s important to note that most women storytellers of this time and further down the line continued with the classism, even if the inspiration of some working women was there. I think a distinct point of change from widely known fairy tales might have been, in the mid 18th century, when Beaumont adapted Villeneuve’s Beauty and the Beast and made her Beauty of common descent rather than a princess. Still, Beaumont’s intent was to have young girls with enough means to “marry well” and get an education in different languages to settle with a convenient high class husband, so even if it’s a distinctive point, it’s still classist. 

Later on, compilers like Laura Gonzenbach with her Sicilian compilation, for example, would be more respectful of the class depiction of women and kept the narrator voices as faithful as possible, but there was still a type of editing from a higher class woman into another language (she published them in German, for reasons long to explain here), which created still a sort of barrier, as much as she tried to respect the source. In the early 20th century, Berta Elena Vidal de Battini did a similar but larger work in Argentina and kept the entire voice of the narrators without editing their speech, jargon, pronunciation or any of the words that came from languages like Quechua, Mapuche, Guaraní, etc., with extensive notes. There is still the separation of class between interviewer and source, but the focus to keep true and respectful to the source became more and more important. 

I really hope this is interesting or at least helps understand the context of my tags! 

[eastofthemoon]

Get to Know the Author

Tagged by @bosstoaster So here goes!

1. How did you come up with your username and what does it mean?

Well, to put it simply, I like picking name with celestial themes (it’s an aesthetic for me) and one of my favorite fairy tales is “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” so I combined them and got “Eastofthemoon.”

2. Which fanfic of yours has the most feedback? (bookmarks/subscriptions/hits/kudos).

According to AO3 stats, Offerings to Spring (a Rise of the Guardian fic) has gotten the most hits, and after that Mini Lions from (Voltron) and then Awkward Questions (a Zootopia one shot).  

With that said, I know the fics that heard the most feed back from recently was The Empress’s Tears, the What if the Storm Ends? series, and also the Not Another Trip To the Space Mall.

3. What is your AO3 profile icon, and why did you choose it?

It’s Zelgadis from the anime Slayers reading a book.  LOL Slayers was the first fandom I really got into writing fanfics for, and Zelgadis was my favorite character from it.  It just feels fitting to still have him as my icon there for it.

4. Do you have any regular/favourite commenters?

I do and I appetite all of them! You know who you guys are.

5. Is there a fanfic that you keep going back to read again and again?

Depends on the mood I’m in.  I do know that I have gone back to re-read @isabeau25 platonic coffee shop AU and her Babes in Space.  They’re just what I need when I need a fluffy read.  WIth that said there are a bunch of other fics I re-read that would take too long to list here. 

6. How many stories are you subscribed to? How many do you have bookmarked?

Subscribed...um about five that I know still update and lost count for bookmarks.

7. Which AU do you find yourself writing the most?

HAHAHAHA that’s like asking me to pick between my children.  I have a few AUs I write.  Currently, I’m really enjoying the Spirit Cats AU which is basically my kid AU, my BoM Keith met the Paladins in the space mall and a few others.

8. How many people are subscribed and bookmarked to you in total? (you can view this on the stats page)

1483 for subscribed, and 3175 for bookmarked.....I have written for a lot of different fandoms

9. Is there something you’d like to write about but are afraid of people judging you for it? (Feeling brave? If so, share it!)

Um....there have been some ideas I have gotten, but never wrote mainly because the idea is usually a bit more revolved around an original character (and original character is often a kid of a canon character) like say in the future Shiro having a daughter...but I doubt I’ll write it since people tend to read fics for the canon characters and not original ones.  

If I ever wrote it I would definitely try to balance it so there was equal screen time for the canon and original characters.

10. Is there anything you would like to be better at? Writing certain scenes or genres, replying to comments, updating better, etc.

 I wouldn’t mind trying to write something darker someday...but knowing me I imagine it would be rather tame compared to other people.

11. Do you write rarepairs or popular ships more often?

*shrugs* I multi-ship a lot, so I tend to write whatever I’m more in the mood for and sometimes I’ll just write gen because fandoms REALLY need to have more gen stories.

12. How many stories have you posted on AO3 to this day (finished and unfinished)?

In total, 145 fics (a lot of those being one shots).  As for how many unfinished....about 3?  I try to have a story full written before I post it on AO3

13. How many stories do you have saved in/with your writing program?

.............Too many to list. 

14. Do you write down story ideas, or just keep them in your head?

I tend to write them down so I don’t forget, but I do often sometimes just leave an idea in my head for a few days.  I find it’s easier to write it down once I’m able to think of more ideas for it.

15. Have you ever co-authored a story?

Yes, I have! I have done it with @cutekittenlady, @isabeau25 and with @ladydouji

16. How did you discover AO3?

From other authors/friends that began posting there.

17. Do you consider yourself to be a popular or famous author in your fandom(s) on AO3?

Not sure at what point you can call yourself popular.  I don’t tend to keep track on that kind of thing.

18. Do you have a nickname or fandom name for your readers?

Naw, not really.

19. Was there an author who inspired or encouraged you to write?

Actually, yes.  Long ago, and far away, 19 year old me was into this cartoon called The Magician (I doubt many people remember it, had a character Ace Cooper in it) and about 2 years later, I discovered these authors who co-wrote this whole massive fanfic series for it. 

I had read fanfics before this, but this fanfic author was the first to make me realize that fanfics could feel like the published books I had on my bookshelf.  Her stories had so much emotion, and details that I can only hope to capture in my stories.

Throw in loving the works of Patricia C. Wrede, Megan Whalen Turner and Terry Pratchett and I just got a big urge to write right there.

20. What writing advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read a lot, and write a lot.  I know that’s the common advice a lot of writers give but there’s a reason for that.  When I got into the ROTG fandom, I started a habit of trying to write a bit of something everyday (even if it was just a sentence) and I can honestly tell you it does pay off in the long run.

21. Do you plot out your stories, or do you just figure it out as you go?

I plot out my stories mostly.  I tend to prefer to know where I’m going/how it’s going to end before I start seriously writing it.  I may write a random scene in my head that I want to put into something else later, but I prefer to plan it out first.

22. Have you ever gotten a bad comment on a story? If so, what did you do?

Yes, and I just tend to ignore.  I got enough stuff in my life without worrying about that.

23. Is there a certain type of scene that you have a hard time writing? (action, smut, etc..)

Action scenes!  Giving two character chatting over coffee and boom I can write a scene for you easily, but action scenes are something I don’t look forward to writing.  I’m trying to get better at it since they do rather come with wanting to write fantasy/sc-fi stories, but it’s not my first pick to do.

24. What story(s) are you working on now?

Part 2 of Spirit Cats (I want to have the whole thing written before I start posting that), next part of the BoM Keith meets paladins in the space mall AU, and slowly poking at a feral child Shiro AU I can tackled with the other day.  Granted,I also like to write a followup to Death Wish, and there’s a Coran lost his memory fic I want to tackle more at some point to.

.....I got a lot of wip is my point I guess.

25. Do you plan your next project(s) before you finish your current ongoing story(s)?

Yeah....probably do it more often than I should.

26. Do you have a daily writing goal set for yourself? 

One sentence in something a day, just to try to keep my skills sharp.

27. Do you think you’ve improved as a writer since you first started?

Yup!  I’m definitely better at writing then when I started over a decade ago.

28. What is your favorite story that you’ve written?

Um...currently, I’m rather fond of how The Empress’s Tears turned out because that was a darker fic that I tend to write, but also thrilled at Spirit Cats (that series is a lot of fun/fluff), but I also like the BoM Space Mall Keith AU....it’s hard for me to choose.

29. What is your least favorite story that you’ve written?

My very first fanfic....that was a crossover that makes me cringe now since I was only 18 when I wrote it, and I’ve gotten so much better since those days.

30. Where do you see yourself (as a writer) in 5 years?

Hopefully stronger at action scenes, and maybe having a self published original novel to show people (I am slowly working on that) and also still enjoying writing fun stories.

31. What is the easiest thing about writing?

Getting the ideas!

32. What is the hardest thing about writing?

Sticking to said idea and finishing it.

33. Why do you write?

I got a big imagination and it’s a way for me to tap into it.  It’s also fun to just share with people and hear their reactions, and I just enjoy it. 

Tagging: @maychorian @isabeau25 @ladydouji @cutekittenlady and anyone else who follows me and wants to try this.  Feel free to say I tagged you if you want. ^_^

[nightmareonfilmstreet]

The Shape of Waiting: 7 Guillermo Del Toro Films Stuck In Development Hell

New Post has been published on https://nofspodcast.com/shape-waiting-7-guillermo-del-toro-films-stuck-development-hell/

The Shape of Waiting: 7 Guillermo Del Toro Films Stuck In Development Hell

The Shape of Water, which finally gets its worldwide release this weekend, has already stolen the hearts of many. With near unanimous praise from critics, Guillermo Del Toro’s gothic romance is prime for a busy awards season. The Shape of Water leads the Golden Globes with 7 nominations, which is the icing on the cake of a year dominated by genre film. Taking home some hardware would be a much deserved cherry atop Del Toro’s incredible career, who is widely regarded as one of the most imaginative filmmakers working in Hollywood today. In the wake of his new film, there have been many articles chronicling Del Toro’s career and ranking his filmography. Instead of contributing another, we’re venturing into a world of what could have been.

Though Del Toro has a decent sized filmography, the list of films he’s almost created is three times as long. The Mexican director has a relentless work ethic and more ideas than he knows what to do with. He’s infamous for being attached to many projects whether it be via writing, producing, or directing. I’m sure we all wish Del Toro had the time and resources to make every film his heart desired but alas, some projects will never come to be. In the spirit of the holidays, let’s visit some of the ghosts of movies’ past. Here are 6 films that Guillermo Del Toro almost brought to life!

1. Hellboy 3

I have to get this one out of the way first because it hurts the most. Del Toro was already well known in the film community for The Devil’s Backbone, but it was Hellboy that brought him into the mainstream spotlight. Hellboy was a unique, gothic superhero film released towards the beginning of the comic book movie boom.. It was our first taste of Del Toro’s insane world-building abilities, blending fantasy with the paranormal. This world was then expanded upon in Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, elevating everything from the first. Del Toro imagined the franchise as a trilogy, but ran into trouble getting the third into production reportedly due to conflict over budget. But the franchise gained a strong fanbase, banding behind Del Toro and Ron Perlman. Back in January, GDT took to Twitter to see if the fans could help. Despite efforts from passionate fans, Del Toro later confirmed in February that film was 100% not going to happen. But, it didn’t take long for Lionsgate to announce a Hellboy reboot for 2019.

2. I Am Legend

We all know Guillermo Del Toro loves working with creatures and monsters, including his vampires of Blade 2 and The Strain. So to little surprise, Del Toro was approached to direct the zombie-vampire thriller I Am Legend by Will Smith himself. He expressed a lot of interest in the film, being a big fan of the Richard Matheson novel. Del Toro ultimately had to pass in favor of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. There was a small silver lining though, GDT stated in an interview with TIME that his influence still made its way into the film:

Some of the notes about their biology actually came from me going to Warner Bros. to show them my ideas. I found it quite nice that visually the vampires in that movie had some passing similarity to those from my movie Blade II. The way they move, the fact that they all lose their hair and become these pale creatures.

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

blad

It’s a little hard to imagine Guillermo Del Toro working within an established franchise despite the fact that the Harry Potter is practically a gothic fairy tale centered around a school of children. That said, one word makes it easy to see why GDT almost directed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Werewolves. But let’s be real, it would have been DOPE to see a practical effects werewolf (performed by long time-collaborator Doug Jones, maybe?) on screen rather than the mediocre CGI lycan we were given. Del Toro passed on the project to direct Hellboy and Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, 2013) went on to direct the well-received Harry Potter film. So everything worked out in the end I guess.

4. Justice League Dark

Of all the movies on this list, Justice League Dark was the closest film GDT came to actually making. The film is currently in development hell, as many other directors such as Joseph Kahn (Detention, Bodied) have also dropped from the project. Del Toro was attached all the way back in 2012, with a penned script that was completed in 2014. For those who aren’t comic book nerds, Justice League Dark is a team of superheroes/antiheroes who deal with the darker paranormal threats of the DC universe. The team is comprised of: a dead guy, a demon, an occultist detective, a magician, and a character literally named Swamp Thing. Everything about the team and premise begs for Guillermo Del Toro to bring it to the big screen. A comic book movie seen through a horror lens with a unique story and killer effects could have been a game-changer. Del Toro was incredibly passionate about the material and we’ve already seen what he could do with dark superhero franchise. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts with Pacific Rim 2 and the rise of the DCEU, Del Toro had to step away from the project.

5. Pinocchio

It’s been a grueling 10 years of development hell for Del Toro’s imagined stop-motion take on Pinocchio. And of course whats holding it back, as the case with a few other unrealized projects, is getting it financed. GDT is a true artist in the sense of the word, he won’t make something unless it’s exactly his vision. Del Toro’s dark take on the classic tale would would be a Frankenstein twist on the original fairy tale, utilizing a combination of stop-motion and live puppetry. Though ambitious, the heavily practical production would be expensive, with a proposed budget of aprox $32 million. All the pieces are in place from the script to the production team, we’ve seen promo art and even a short clip. All that’s missing is the money to make it happen. Hopefully The Shape of Water‘s box office performance makes the nice list this Christmas and we get one step closer to seeing the film brought to life.

6. The Wolverine

Fans really enjoyed James Mangold’s The Wolverine, but it’s hard not to think of what it would have looked like through Del Toro’s eyes. GDT has been connected to several superhero films over the years, including Thor and the above mentioned Justice League Dark, but this one fascinates me the most. In an interview with Collider, Del Toro revealed he actually sat down with Fox Executives and Hugh Jackman about directing the film. It would have been cool to see him take on a story set in Japan, as Del Toro often drenches his films in culture like Pan’s Labyrinth  or even Crimson Peak. Logan and Hellboy share a lot of similarities, so I could see why this was an attractive project to him. Two things I desperately wanted from The Wolverine was more body horror with Logan losing powers and a practical Silver Samurai. Had GDT taken on this project, perhaps I would have gotten my wish. Del Toro eventually passed the project along to Darren Arronofsky, who then passed it on to Mangold. How cool would it be too see each director’s different vision on the iconic character.

7. At the Mountains of Madness

Lastly is Guillermo Del Toro’s passion project, the classic H.P. Lovecraft novella At the Mountains of Madness. The story is a connected anthology of sorts, a professor recounts stories during an Antarctic expedition. Del Toro has been trying to get this movie for over a decade, with the project being cancelled in 2004 by Dreamworks and then again in 2012 when he refused to make it PG-13. The second time around came pretty close: the script was complete, James Cameron was on board to produce, and Tom Cruise was in talks for the lead role. The film was denied once again over funding and the creative differences in tone, but as of 2013 Del Toro has stated he would try one more time. The film sounds like a terrifying thriller and the story would be treated with the highest respect, Lovecraft is a clear influence in Del Toro’s work. Hopefully with his relentless passion, the film will eventually get made and see the light of day.

  There are plenty more unrealized or up-in-the-air projects in Del Toro’s catalog including Godzilla, Beauty and the Beast, and The Haunted Mansion. At one point, he was even offered the entire Dark Universe! The talented director can only do so much, but with a mind like his can you blame the world for wanting as many Del Toro movies as possible? Today’s film landscape is so saturated with reboots and remakes, every Guillermo Del Toro project is a breath of fresh air. It’s unfortunate we can’t get more unique and imaginative films like Pacific Rim or Pan’s Labyrinth. To heck with the Dark Universe and the DCEU, I’m putting the GDTEU (Guillermo Del Toro Extended Universe, working title) on my Christmas List. One thing is for sure, at least The Shape of Water isn’t a project on this list. Go and support the film so we can get even more from Del Toro, perhaps At the Mountains of Madness if we’re lucky.

Which Guillermo Del Toro dream project do you most want to see on the big screen? Let us know in the comments below!

[pixelgrotto]

The potential of a blue tunic  I remember when Breath of the Wild was first revealed in 2014, one of the first things that caught my eye in the trailer, aside from the huge world, was Link’s different attire. Instead of his usual green fairy boy tunic, he was decked out in a blue outfit and a hood. Nintendo had been teasing a “blue Link” for a while now, first testing the waters with his Wind Waker shirt and then the long anime scarf he wore in Hyrule Warriors. But they’d always stuck to the green garb in the end, because Nintendo is a traditional, conservative company comfortable with traditional, conservative things. Breath of the Wild was supposed to be something radical, though - an upgrade bringing The Legend of Zelda into the 21st century with modern game mechanics. I didn’t know for sure if the Big N would pull it off, but I thought that perhaps the blue tunic was a start, and I was optimistic in my impressions as the years went on. 

Fast forward to 2017, and I finally beat the game about two weeks ago after four months of regular playing. I came as close to “100%” that I’m willing to go, with 155 hours under my belt, all 120 shrines found and the Trials of the Sword DLC completed. I only found 110 Korok Seeds, but that was more than enough, and at the moment, BotW owns the title of the second most time I’ve devoted to a first playthrough of a single-player game. (Number one still goes to The Witcher 3, which stole a staggering 215 hours from my life. Maybe BotW will get there when its next DLC pack comes out.)  We’ve reached the point in BotW’s life cycle where we’re past the time of copious praise and now in the era of contrarian think pieces, like one that was published by Destructoid two days ago, entitled “Breaking down why Breath of the Wild is highly overrated.” And there’s a lot of stuff in that article, as well as in the complaints of other people on the internet who didn’t love the game as much as the enthusiast press, that makes sense. This was Nintendo’s first open world project, and while they clearly studied what makes the genre tick, they picked up a few bad habits along the way. The weapons break far too much, yes. The side quests, with the exception of a few like Tarrey Town, are forgettable and a far cry from anything in The Witcher 3. (In fact, a huge majority of the quests are little more than “find me 10 of this” affairs, straight out of World of Warcraft’s game design guide…in 2006.) The 900 collectible Korok Seeds business is extravagant and seems like Nintendo splurging on a lazy design trope, and much ado has been made on how the 120 shrines across the map could’ve been consolidated into something like 50 or 60. Speaking of the map, pretty much every negative review calls it “soulless,” and it is in some ways. It’s a bit too big, with certain regions like the jungle feeling half-baked. And while the game does feature cute towns, the people residing in them are largely simplistic NPCs who never seem to act like Calamity Ganon is a threat lurking around the corner…which is maybe due to the minimal (though charming in its own fairy tale way) plot, which is designed to be as unobtrusive as possible in order to give the player more options.  But Zelda was never really a series like The Witcher, which focuses strongly on story. Zelda’s always been gameplay-driven, and for every flaw that Breath of the Wild has, it did three or four things with its mechanics that made me forgive. Clearing a Bokobolin camp by lighting the ground on fire to create a updraft, sailing into the air via paraglider, shooting a bomb arrow into a crack of their cave to ignite powder kegs and watching everything go BOOM in a massive explosion is thrilling the first time you do it and stays thrilling 100 hours in. Fighting Lynels, who initially seem frighteningly OP but become both manageable and farmable over time, is a rush that almost feels like it’s from another franchise entirely…a certain franchise with a name that begins with D and S. (Don’t worry, I ain’t gonna say it.) And while portions of the game’s map are underdeveloped, I’ve got to give a shout-out to the Gerudo region. I’ve normally lukewarm on desert areas in games, since I don’t really like deserts in real life. But with changing temperatures that force you to swap between different outfits in the day and night, giant desert worms hidden under the dunes, sand seal surfing (!!!) and an entire town filled with women who are not only the most interesting NPCs in the game, but are also all non-white and with surprisingly varied body types, Gerudo’s one of the best parts of BotW.

So if you haven’t figured it out by now, I enjoyed the game very much despite its flaws, and while it’ll take some time to determine if it can outclass the impact that Ocarina of Time had on me in 1999, I do think that it lived up to my expectations. Above all, I like how it went back to the franchise’s roots, essentially re-creating the feel of Zelda 1 (an early example of an open world game) with a new coat of paint inspired by Hayao Miyazaki. By doing this, BotW effectively broke the “eight linear dungeons with items doled out in-between” formula that the series had become so reliant upon over the last few years, and as someone who quickly becomes bored with formula, such a change was gratifying to experience. (Heck, I know I’m in the minority here, but I never really played Zelda for the dungeons and puzzle-solving in the first place - I played it for the series’ sense of adventure.) Yes, just like that Destructoid article mentioned, there are plenty of things that Nintendo needs to refine, but if they combine all of the good parts from BotW with a few less shrines, a more intimate world, the side quests of Majora’s Mask and the characterization of Wind Waker, we should have some darn solid sequels coming in the near future. 

And to go back to the blue tunic, my initial thoughts on giving Link an aqua appearance turned out to be right after all. The blue tunic is not only unique and contemporary; it’s also a tangible representation of BotW moving in a different direction from its peers. Furthermore, since it’s Link’s new default, it pulls off the cool trick of making his green getup, which is unlockable via Amiibo or by clearing all 120 shrines, seem “old school” in a good, desirable way, rather than a tired, traditional one. It’s a reinvigorating new look for new times, in other words. Blue to stand out from the green wilderness that Link explores in-game, and blue to differentiate Breath of the Wild from its predecessors as a bold beginning as fresh as sea breeze. 

I say…bring on the blue. Art courtesy of Nintendo.

[comixconnection]

Upcoming Graphic Novels: “Ladycastle” by Deliah Dawson, Becca Farrow, and Ashley Woods

Have you all noticed that there are a lot more original graphic novels coming out these days than there ever were before? We here at Comix Connection certainly have! We’ve been trying to share news about the ones that really excite us in our Big Green Previews Book (and we’ll keep doing that of course) but it can be hard sometimes to get good information about brand new graphic novels in quick bursts at the counter, so we’ve decided to start showcasing some of our favorites here!

If you want to order any of the books featured in these posts, please let us know at the store of your choice (Mechanicburg: 717-591-2727 or York 717-767-4871) as soon as possible so we can make sure we get enough copies for everyone!

You can find all of our previously spotlighted graphic novels RIGHT HERE. Today’s featured book is Ladycastle by Delilah S. Dawson and Ashley A. Woods and Becca Farrow. It’s a charmingly unapologetic evisceration and homage both to the standard Fairy Tale Kingdom (and Princess) story. It’s comical but also touching and while at first glance the premise seems only to be focused on upending the tired old tropes we’re all so used to, the heart of the story lies in the characters themselves and that heart casts a delightful spell every bit as strong -- if not stronger -- then the curse our heroines must fight.

This short, delightful story opens with a song straight out of an animated classic...well, almost; our dear princess has been locked in her tower a little longer than is healthy for her (although really, is being locked in a tower until you agree to marry some prince you’ve never met ever going to be healthy for anyone?) and so her version of the song has a few lines that don’t exactly fit the standard mold of songs like this as traditionally sung by a Snow or a Beauty or a Sleeper and even without any musical accompaniment outside your own head, you won’t be able to help but crack a grin when you read them.

That quirk of suddenly-sideways humor in the midst of traditional plots and settings is what defines Ladycastle and what makes the story stand-out from the tropes it plays with. Everybody knows how stories like this are “supposed” to go; everybody has read and heard and seen them a hundred times before. And that is exactly what this enchanting tale relies on because it gives you exactly what you’ve grown-up expecting...and then it pulls the rug out from under your feet, winks, and invites you in to share the joke. This isn’t a book that laughs at you; it’s a book that laughs with you and that sense of inclusivity pervades the series throughout not just in the way it treats its characters but in the way it stretches its arms to the reader. You get the sense -- or at least, I did -- that if you were to suddenly walk through those castle gates and into the story you would be welcomed into their charming little castle-town too.

Of course, life isn’t exactly idyllic for any of the townswomen. Princess Aeve might be the only one trapped in a tower, but everyone else is trapped in a certain state of limbo waiting for the men who rode off to battle to come back. Sadly, only one survive to return home with news of a terrible curse that the late King Mancastle earned by angering a powerful wizard. Now his remaining subjects have to deal with terrible beasties bent of besieging their home -- things like  harpies and gorgons and werewolves, oh my!

Fortunately the Lady of the Lake is ready to crown the new king who can rally the survivors to defend themselves and their home. As is traditional, she bestows a glorious sword on the hero who will rise to save the kingdom -- in this case, the blascksmith’s widow, Merinor.

Most of the town rallies around their new king quickly which is all to the good because it isn’t long before the aptly-renamed Ladycastle faces its first stage of the curse. King Merinor is assisted by her new captain of the guard, Aeve, now released from her tower and acting more as knight than princess with her bitter little sister for a squire. Once again the reader is presented with a bevvy of traditional tropes and trappings, none of which bear-out the expected result.

The official description for the story goes as follows:

Novelist Delilah S. Dawson (Star Wars: The Perfect Weapon, As Wicked as She Wants, Wake of Vultures) brings her first original series to comics, and is joined by breakthrough illustrator Ashley A. Woods (Niobe: She Is Life) for a rollicking fantasy adventure featuring women reclaiming their lives on their terms.

When King Mancastle and his mighty vassals ride off on crusade, the women left behind are not at all put out—that’s a lot less armor polishing for them to do. Of course, when the men get themselves eaten by a dragon and leave a curse that attracts monsters to the castle…well, the women take umbrage with that.

Now the blacksmith’s wife Merinor is King, Princess Aeve is the Captain, and the only remaining (and least capable) knight Sir Riddick is tasked with teaching the ladies of the castle how to fight, defend, build, and do all manner of noisy things the men had been doing while the women assumed they were just drunk.

It’s a great set-up for a story, and manages to balance humor with genuine heart as the women find new and unique ways to solve the problems their men have left them to deal with, whether that means outwitting or outfighting or going completely outside the box to deal with their dangerous curse(s).

It’s not often you get a straight-up classic high fantasy story that subverts expectations so well without ever quite crossing over into the realm of pure satire, but Ladycastle does just that and does it well, giving us a genuine fantasy tale of an imperiled kingdom at war with a dangerous wizard while still adding on a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek twist to keep things fresh (not to mention, delightfully empowering!). Whether you choose to take the story solely at face value or whether you prefer to reveal in the little nudges and smirks, if you like the genre of high fantasy at all you’ll be sure to enjoy LADYCASTLE from its magical start to the enchanting (pun intended) finish.

LADYCASTLE will be published in softcover by BOOM! Studios for $14.99 and has a slated release date of late October, 2017.

Remember, if you want to make sure that you get a copy or this – or any of the other graphic novels we’ll be highlighting here in the coming days – don’t delay to get your orders in! Choose whichever location is more convenient to you and give us a call there or just let us know to order you a copy of LADYCASTLE the next time you stop in to pick up your comics!

Note that as with any special order you make, you are agreeing to pick up all books that you order within one month of arrival. We cannot cancel orders once they have been submitted. Thank you!

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Top New YA Books in August 2020

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The YA genre is still booming, providing romance, adventure, and more for teens and adults alike. Here are some of the YA books from August 2020 we’re most looking forward to…

Top New Young Adult Books August 2020

Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon 

Type: Novel Publisher: Simon & Schuster Release date: Aug. 18

Den of Geek says: This looks like it could be an incisive and hard-hitting book that speaks to the way American Latinx students experience racism and navigate high school social life. It has gained high praise from authors including Celeste Ng. 

Publisher’s Summary: Liliana Cruz is a hitting a wall—or rather, walls.

There’s the wall her mom has put up ever since Liliana’s dad left—again.

There’s the wall that delineates Liliana’s diverse inner-city Boston neighborhood from Westburg, the wealthy—and white—suburban high school she’s just been accepted into.

And there’s the wall Liliana creates within herself, because to survive at Westburg, she can’t just lighten up, she has to whiten up.

So what if she changes her name? So what if she changes the way she talks? So what if she’s seeing her neighborhood in a different way? But then light is shed on some hard truths: It isn’t that her father doesn’t want to come home—he can’t…and her whole family is in jeopardy. And when racial tensions at school reach a fever pitch, the walls that divide feel insurmountable.

But a wall isn’t always a barrier. It can be a foundation for something better. And Liliana must choose: Use this foundation as a platform to speak her truth, or risk crumbling under its weight.

Buy Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From By Jennifer De Leon. 

Lobizona by Romina Garber 

Type: Novel  Publisher: Wednesday Books (Macmillan)  Release date: Aug. 4 

Den of Geek says: Described as a Hogwarts-style fantasy world with werewolves, this fantasy doesn’t flinch from the real world effects of ICE and deportation. 

Publisher’s summary: Some people ARE illegal. 

Lobizonas do NOT exist.

Both of these statements are false.

Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who’s on the run from her father’s Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida. 

Until Manu’s protective bubble is shattered. 

Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past―a mysterious “Z” emblem―which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong. 

As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it’s not just her U.S. residency that’s illegal. . . .it’s her entire existence.

Buy Lobizona by Jennifer De Leon.

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger 

Type: Novel  Publisher: Levine Querido Release date: Aug. 25 

Den of Geek says: Charming illustrations and a ghost story deeply tied to a family’s history promise a richly textured tale from this Lipan Apache author. 

Publisher’s summary: Imagine an America very similar to our own. It’s got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream.

There are some differences. This America been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day.

Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. Her beloved cousin has just been murdered, in a town that wants no prying eyes. But she is going to do more than pry. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends to tear off the mask and protect her family.

Darcie Little Badger is an extraordinary debut talent in the world of speculative fiction. We have paired her with her artistic match, illustrator Rovina Cai. This is a book singular in feeling and beauty.

Buy Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger.

The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska

Type: Novel Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire  Release date: Aug. 4

Den of Geek says: Described as atmospheric and salt-soaked, this F/F romance might be a good introduction to readers who want to switch from post-apocalyptic YA to dark fantasy. 

Publisher’s summary: A gripping, dark LGBT YA fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island.

Every year on St. Walpurga’s Eve, Caldella’s Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace. An innocent life to be sacrificed on the full moon to keep the island city from sinking. 

Lina Kirk is convinced her brother is going to be taken this year. To save him, she enlists the help of Thomas Lin, the boy she secretly loves, and the only person to ever escape from the palace. But they draw the queen’s attention, and Thomas is chosen as the sacrifice. 

Queen Eva watched her sister die to save the boy she loved. Now as queen, she won’t make the same mistake. She’s willing to sacrifice anyone if it means saving herself and her city.

When Lina offers herself to the queen in exchange for Thomas’s freedom, the two girls await the full moon together. But Lina is not at all what Eva expected, and the queen is nothing like Lina envisioned. Against their will, they find themselves falling for each other as water floods Caldella’s streets and the dark tide demands its sacrifice. Buy The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska.

Top New Young Adult Books In July 2020

Feathertide by Beth Cartwright 

Type: Novel  Publisher: Del Rey  Release date: July 30 

Den of Geek says: This has won a lot of praise for its prose. While some fairy tale adaptations can come off as empty, not actually adding anything to the context of the tradition they’re supposedly writing in, this one’s specificity seems like it might set it apart and add detail to the central metaphor about a young girl’s search for her family. 

Publisher’s summary: Born covered in the feathers of a bird, and kept hidden in a crumbling house full of secrets, Marea has always known she was different, but never known why. And so to find answers, she goes in search of the father she has never met.

The hunt leads her to the City of Murmurs, a place of mermaids and mystery, where jars of swirling mist are carried through the streets by the broken-hearted.

And Mara will never forget what she learns there.

Buy Feathertide by Beth Cartwright on Amazon.

Running by Natalia Sylvester 

Type: Novel  Publisher: Clarion Books Release date: July 14 

Den of Geek says: A political novel of a different type. This fantasy of being part of a presidential campaign seems like it has a lot to say about family and change. 

Publisher’s summary: In this authentic, humorous, and gorgeously written debut novel about privacy, waking up, and speaking up, Senator Anthony Ruiz is running for president. Throughout his successful political career he has always had his daughter’s vote, but a presidential campaign brings a whole new level of scrutiny to sheltered fifteen-year-old Mariana and the rest of her Cuban American family, from a 60 Minutes–style tour of their house to tabloids doctoring photos and inventing scandals. As tensions rise within the Ruiz family, Mari begins to learn about the details of her father’s political positions, and she realizes that her father is not the man she thought he was.

But how do you find your voice when everyone’s watching? When it means disagreeing with your father—publicly? What do you do when your dad stops being your hero? Will Mari get a chance to confront her father? If she does, will she have the courage to seize it? 

Buy Running by Natalia Sylvester on Amazon.

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green 

Type: Novel  Publisher: Dutton  Release date: July 7 

Den of Geek says: YouTube sensation Hank Green’s science fiction debut, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, kicked off this series about alien robots. The sequel shows the aftermath, and continues to engage with the author’s internet in internet culture and science. 

Publisher’s summary: The Carls disappeared the same way they appeared, in an instant. While the robots were on Earth, they caused confusion and destruction with only their presence. Part of their maelstrom was the sudden viral fame and untimely death of April May: a young woman who stumbled into Carl’s path, giving them their name, becoming their advocate, and putting herself in the middle of an avalanche of conspiracy theories. 

Months later, April’s friends are trying to find their footing in a post-Carl world. Andy has picked up April’s mantle of fame, speaking at conferences and online; Maya, ravaged by grief, begins to follow a string of mysteries that she is convinced will lead her to April; and Miranda is contemplating defying her friends’ advice and pursuing a new scientific operation…one that might have repercussions beyond anyone’s comprehension. Just as it is starting to seem like the gang may never learn the real story behind the events that changed their lives forever, a series of clues arrive—mysterious books that seem to predict the future and control the actions of their readers—all of which seems to suggest that April could be very much alive. 

In the midst of the search for the truth and the search for April is a growing force, something that wants to capture our consciousness and even control our reality. A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is the bold and brilliant follow-up to An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. It is a fast-paced adventure that is also a biting social commentary, asking hard, urgent questions about the way we live, our freedoms, our future, and how we handle the unknown.

Buy A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green on Amazon.

Top New YA Books June 2020 

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow 

Type: Novel Publisher: Tor Teen Release date: June 2 

Den of Geek says: After reading The Deep, I’m on board with the idea of black mermaids meeting YA fantasy world-building. The friendship at the center of this novel sounds cute and sweet. 

Publisher’s summary: In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers. 

Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, pitted against literal demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate through the perils of high school’s junior year.

But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice at the worst possible moment.

Soon, nothing in Portland, Oregon, seems safe. To save themselves from drowning, it’s only Tavia and Effie’s unbreakable sisterhood that proves to be the strongest magic of all.

Buy A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow on Amazon Read our interview with Bethany C. Morrow

Hood by Jenny Elder Moke 

Type: Novel  Publisher: Disney-Hyperion  Release date: June 9

Den of Geek says: An adventure in which a young girl joins Robin Hood’s adventures, this one reminds me of fanfic in the best way. A re-examination of legendary characters with the pacing of contemporary YA could be cinematic fun. 

Publisher’s summary: You have the blood of kings and rebels within you, love. Let it rise to meet the call.

Isabelle of Kirklees has only ever known a quiet life inside the sheltered walls of the convent, where she lives with her mother, Marien. But after she is arrested by royal soldiers for defending innocent villagers, Isabelle becomes the target of the Wolf, King John’s ruthless right hand. Desperate to keep her daughter safe, Marien helps Isabelle escape and sends her on a mission to find the one person who can help: Isabelle’s father, Robin Hood. 

As Isabelle races to stay out of the Wolf’s clutches and find the father she’s never known, she is thrust into a world of thieves and mercenaries, handsome young outlaws, new enemies with old grudges, and a king who wants her entire family dead. As she joins forces with Robin and his Merry Men in a final battle against the Wolf, will Isabelle find the strength to defy the crown and save the lives of everyone she holds dear?

In Hood, author Jenny Elder Moke reimagines the world of Robin Hood in lush, historical detail and imbues her story with more breathless action than has ever come out of Sherwood Forest before. This novel is a must-read for historical-fiction fans, adventure lovers, and reluctant readers alike!

Buy Hood by Jenny Elder Moke on Amazon

Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross 

Type: Novel Publisher: HarperTeen Release date: June 23

Den of Geek says: A sisterly bond provides the heart at the center of this story of magic and war. The Ancient Greece-inspired world and the promise of magic and battles look good, but the emphasis on characterization and familial love raise this one above the rest. 

Publisher’s summary: After eight years, Evadne will finally be reunited with her older sister, Halcyon, who has been serving in the queen’s army. But when Halcyon unexpectedly appears a day early, Eva knows something is wrong. Halcyon has charged with a heinous crime, and though her life is spared, she is sentenced to 15 years. 

Suspicious of the charges, brought forth by Halcyon’s army commander, as well as the details of the crime, Eva volunteers to take part of her sister’s sentence. If there’s a way to absolve Halcyon, she’ll find it. But as the sisters begin their sentences, they quickly learn that there are fates worse than death.

Buy Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross on Amazon 

Top New YA in May 2020 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins 

Type: Novel  Publisher: Scholastic Press  Release date: May 19 

Den of Geek says: It’s arguable whether a new Hunger Games book from the point of view of the man who will become the despotic President Snow is really what readers wanted, but it’s here. Inevitably this one will spark a lot of conversation after the runaway success of the original series. 

Publisher’s summary: It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined — every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute . . . and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Buy The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins.

House of Dragons by Jessica Cluess  

Type: Novel  Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers Release date: May 12 

Den of Geek says: This YA fantasy distinguishes itself primarily by a varied cast of five characters, making it a good introduction to epic fantasy plus the “fun group of friends” appeal of a superhero squad. Also, there are dragons and a frightening fantasy job interview, two of my favorite things. 

Publisher’s summary: When the Emperor dies, the five royal houses of Etrusia attend the Call, where one of their own will be selected to compete for the throne. It is always the oldest child, the one who has been preparing for years to compete in the Trial. But this year is different. This year these five outcasts will answer the call. . . .

THE LIAR: Emilia must hide her dark magic or be put to death.

THE SOLDIER: Lucian is a warrior who has sworn to never lift a sword again.

THE SERVANT: Vespir is a dragon trainer whose skills alone will keep her in the game.

THE THIEF: Ajax knows that nothing is free–he must take what he wants.

THE MURDERER: Hyperia was born to rule and will stop at nothing to take her throne.

Buy House of Dragons by Jessica Cluess.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo 

Type: Novel 

Publisher: Quill Tree Books 

Release date: May 5 

Den of Geek says: This looks like it could be both a tearjerker and a sweet story of sisterly love. The tragic death of their father brings Camino and Yahaira Rios into each other’s lives in a new way. 

Publisher’s summary: Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other. 

Buy Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo.

Top New YA in April 2020

Little Universes by Heather Demetrios

Type: Novel  Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.  Release date: April 7 

Den of Geek says: It’s not often that YA books focus on family, and the sisterly relationship at the heart of Little Universes looks well-crafted and heart-wrenching. When tragedy strikes, each sister will need to find a way to move on. 

Publisher’s summary: One wave: that’s all it takes for the rest of Mae and Hannah Winters’ lives to change.

When a tsunami strikes the island their parents are vacationing on in Malaysia, it soon becomes clear that their parents are never coming home. Forced to move to Boston from their sunny California home for the rest of their senior year, each girl struggles with secrets their parents’ death has brought to light and with their uncertainty about the future. Instead of getting closer, it feels like the wave has torn them apart.

Little Universes explores the powerful bond of sisters, the kinds of love that never die, and the journey we all must make through the baffling cruelty and unexpected beauty of human life in an incomprehensible universe.

Buy Little Universes by Heather Demetrios on Amazon.

What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter

Type: Novel  Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Release date: April 7 

Den of Geek says: YA romance, and digital age romance in particular, can easily come off as cheesy or derivative. But this ‘love triangle between two people’ looks like a twist on relationships and online identity, plus the coziness of a crush story. 

Publisher’s summary: There are a million things that Halle Levitt likes about her online best friend, Nash.

He’s an incredibly talented graphic novelist. He loves books almost as much as she does. And she never has to deal with the awkwardness of seeing him in real life. They can talk about anything…

Except who she really is.

Because online, Halle isn’t Halle—she’s Kels, the enigmatically cool creator of One True Pastry, a YA book blog that pairs epic custom cupcakes with covers and reviews. Kels has everything Halle doesn’t: friends, a growing platform, tons of confidence, and Nash.

That is, until Halle arrives to spend senior year in Gramps’s small town and finds herself face-to-face with real, human, not-behind-a-screen Nash. Nash, who is somehow everywhere she goes—in her classes, at the bakery, even at synagogue.

Nash who has no idea she’s actually Kels.

If Halle tells him who she is, it will ruin the non-awkward magic of their digital friendship. Not telling him though, means it can never be anything more. Because while she starts to fall for Nash as Halle…he’s in love with Kels. 

Buy What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter on Amazon.

Elysium Girls by Kate Pentecost 

Type: Novel Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Release date: April 14 

Den of Geek says: It’s an interesting time for historical fantasy, and this looks a bit like a YA cousin of Upright Women Wanted, with more robots and monsters. Check out the crunchy mechanical horses on that cover. 

Publisher’s summary: In this sweeping Dust Bowl-inspired fantasy, a ten-year game between Life and Death pits the walled Oklahoma city of Elysium-including a girl gang of witches and a demon who longs for humanity-against the supernatural in order to judge mankind.

When Sal is named Successor to Mother Morevna, a powerful witch and leader of Elysium, she jumps at the chance to prove herself to the town. Ever since she was a kid, Sal has been plagued by false visions of rain, and though people think she’s a liar, she knows she’s a leader. Even the arrival of enigmatic outsider Asa-a human-obsessed demon in disguise-doesn’t shake her confidence in her ability. Until a terrible mistake results in both Sal and Asa’s exile into the Desert of Dust and Steel.

Face-to-face with a brutal, unforgiving landscape, Sal and Asa join a gang of girls headed by another Elysium exile-and young witch herself-Olivia Rosales. In order to atone for their mistake, they create a cavalry of magic powered, scrap metal horses to save Elysium from the coming apocalypse. But Sal, Asa, and Olivia must do more than simply tip the scales in Elysium’s favor-only by reinventing the rules can they beat the Life and Death at their own game. 

Buy Elysium Girls by Kate Pentecost on Amazon.

Top New YA Books in March 2020 

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

Type: Novel Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers Release date: March 3, 2020 Den of Geek says: To put a twist on historical fantasy, author Marie Lu focuses just to the side of a world-changing life. Nannerl Mozart was a real person, and has appeared in fiction before with the aim of bringing some recognition to the famous musician’s talented but forgotten sister. The fairy tale element sounds like it will provide strong atmosphere in this musical novel. Publisher’s Summary: Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish–to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she’ll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age–her tyrannical father has made that much clear.

And as Nannerl’s hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true–but his help may cost her everything.

In her first work of historical fiction, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu spins a lush, lyrically-told story of music, magic, and the unbreakable bond between a brother and sister.

Buy The Kingdom of Back on Amazon.

The Fire Never Goes Out by Noelle Stevenson

Type: Illustrated memoir  Publisher: HarperTeen Release date: March 3 Den of Geek says: Stevenson’s cute illustrations and enthusiastic storytelling have delighted me in her adaptation She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, so a look into her life and career sounds like an interesting look into the business of art, the animation industry, and living as a creative person. Publisher’s Summary: From Noelle Stevenson, the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Nimona, comes a captivating, honest illustrated memoir that finds her turning an important corner in her creative journey—and inviting readers along for the ride.

In a collection of essays and personal mini-comics that span eight years of her young adult life, author-illustrator Noelle Stevenson charts the highs and lows of being a creative human in the world. Whether it’s hearing the wrong name called at her art school graduation ceremony or becoming a National Book Award finalist for her debut graphic novel, Nimona, Noelle captures the little and big moments that make up a real life, with a wit, wisdom, and vulnerability that are all her own.

Buy The Fire Never Goes Out on Amazon.

A Phoenix First Must Burn, edited by Patrice Caldwell

Type: Anthology Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers Release Date: March 10

Den of Geek says: A grab-bag of some of the best writers of color in the YA space today,this anthology faces challenges head-on to tell stories of Black women and gender-non-conforming people. It looks like a good mix of realistic and fantastical stories, set past, future, and present.

Publisher’s summary: Evoking Beyoncé’s Lemonade for a teen audience, these authors who are truly Octavia Butler’s heirs, have woven worlds to create a stunning narrative that centers Black women and gender nonconforming individuals. A Phoenix First Must Burn will take you on a journey from folktales retold to futuristic societies and everything in between. Filled with stories of love and betrayal, strength and resistance, this collection contains an array of complex and true-to-life characters in which you cannot help but see yourself reflected. Witches and scientists, sisters and lovers, priestesses and rebels: the heroines of A Phoenix First Must Burn shine brightly. You will never forget them.

Buy A Phoenix First Must Burn on Amazon.

Top New YA Books in March 2020 

Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland

Type: Novel (Second in series) Publisher: Balzer + Bray Release date: 2/4/20

Den of Geek says: Justina Ireland’s Dread Nation was a buzzy historical zombie novel with a keen awareness of racial dynamics in Civil War-era America. The sequel looks to be just as intense as the first. 

Publisher’s summary: The sequel to the New York Times bestselling epic Dread Nation is an unforgettable journey of revenge and salvation across a divided America.

After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler: Get out of town, stay alive, and head west to California to find her mother.

But nothing is easy when you’re a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to a protected village called Nicodemus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880s America.

What’s more, this safe haven is not what it appears—as Jane discovers when she sees familiar faces from Summerland amid this new society. Caught between mysteries and lies, the undead, and her own inner demons, Jane soon finds herself on a dark path of blood and violence that threatens to consume her.

But she won’t be in it alone.

Katherine Deveraux never expected to be allied with Jane McKeene. But after the hell she has endured, she knows friends are hard to come by—and that Jane needs her too, whether Jane wants to admit it or not.

Watching Jane’s back, however, is more than she bargained for, and when they both reach a breaking point, it’s up to Katherine to keep hope alive—even as she begins to fear that there is no happily-ever-after for girls like her.

Buy Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland on Amazon.

Cast Away: Poems for Our Time by Naomi Shihab Nye 

Type: Poetry Publisher: Greenwillow Books Release date: 2/11/2020

Den of Geek says: This unique book of poetry seems perfectly suited to today’s environmental and humanitarian issues. What happens to the things we throw away? What happens to the people who aren’t wanted? The metaphor is rich.

Publisher’s summary: Acclaimed poet and Young People’s Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab Nye shines a spotlight on the things we cast away, from plastic water bottles to those less fortunate, in this collection of more than eighty original and never-before-published poems. A deeply moving, sometimes funny, and always provocative poetry collection for all ages.

“Nye at her engaging, insightful best.”―Kirkus (starred review)

“How much have you thrown away in your lifetime already? Do you ever think about it? Where does this plethora of leavings come from? How long does it take you, even one little you, to fill the can by your desk?”―Naomi Shihab Nye

National Book Award Finalist, Young People’s Poet Laureate, and devoted trash-picker-upper Naomi Shihab Nye explores these questions and more in this original collection of poetry that features more than eighty new poems. “I couldn’t save the world, but I could pick up trash,” she says in her introduction to this stunning volume.

With poems about food wrappers, lost mittens, plastic straws, refugee children, trashy talk, the environment, connection, community, responsibility to the planet, politics, immigration, time, junk mail, trash collectors, garbage trucks, all that we carry and all that we discard, this is a rich, engaging, moving, and sometimes humorous collection for readers ages twelve to adult.

Buy Cast Away: Poems for Our Time on Amazon.

Rebelwing by Andrea Tang 

Type: Novel Publisher: Razorbill Release date: 2/25/20

Den of Geek says: Robot dragons? What more to say? The fantastical war story setting and high-energy cast of characters looks like it’ll make this one a good read for fans of Pacific Rim.

Publisher’s summary: Things just got weird for Prudence Wu. 

One minute, she’s cashing in on a routine smuggling deal. The next, she’s escaping enforcers on the wings of what very much appears to be a sentient cybernetic dragon. 

Pru is used to life throwing her some unpleasant surprises–she goes to prep school, after all, and selling banned media across the border in a country with a ruthless corporate government obviously has its risks. But a cybernetic dragon? That’s new. 

She tries to forget about the fact that the only reason she’s not in jail is because some sort of robot saved her, and that she’s going to have to get a new side job now that enforcers are on to her. So she’s not exactly thrilled when Rebelwing shows up again. 

Even worse, it’s become increasingly clear that the rogue machine has imprinted on her permanently, which means she’d better figure out this whole piloting-a-dragon thing–fast. Because Rebelwing just happens to be the ridiculously expensive weapon her government needs in a brewing war with its neighbor, and Pru’s the only one who can fly it. 

Set in a wonderfully inventive near-future Washington, D.C., this hilarious, defiant debut sparkles with wit and wisdom, deftly exploring media consumption, personal freedoms, and the weight of one life as Pru, rather reluctantly, takes to the skies.

The post Top New YA Books in August 2020 appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2Ro14iD

[dazzledbybooks]

An unforgettable alternative history fairytale series from the author of The Bone Witch trilogy about found family, modern day magic, and finding the place you belong. Many years ago, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left desolate and encased in ice when the evil Snow Queen waged war on the powerful country. Its former citizens are now refugees in a world mostly devoid of magic. Which is why the crown prince and his protectors are stuck in...Arizona. Prince Alexei, the sole survivor of the Avalon royal family, is in hiding in a town so boring, magic doesn't even work there. Few know his secret identity, but his friend Tala is one of them. Tala doesn't mind—she has secrets of her own. Namely, that she's a spellbreaker, someone who negates magic. Then hope for their abandoned homeland reignites when a famous creature of legend, and Avalon's most powerful weapon, the Firebird, appears for the first time in decades. Alex and Tala unite with a ragtag group of new friends to journey back to Avalon for a showdown that will change the world as they know it. Wicked As You Wish (A Hundred Names for Magic #1) by Rin Chupeco Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire Release Date: March 3rd 2020 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy  Links: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48999217-wicked-as-you-wish Amazon: https://amzn.to/364FjcO B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wicked-as-you-wish-rin-chupeco/1131593170 iTunes: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/wicked-as-you-wish/id1483256714 Bookdepository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Wicked-You-Wish-Rin-Chupeco/9781728225289?ref=grid-view&qid=1575499879251&sr=1-3 Google Books: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=X5u1DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=es&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0 Review: Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco is a very interesting story. I felt like it is a bit of a jumbled mess that deals with very important issues. Chupeco tackles issues like immigration and refugee policies, child abuse, family separations, and so many other government issues. I feel like all of these are super important issues but the rest of the story just didn’t keep up with the important topics. This story felt very much like a witch’s brew. Add a sprinkle of fairy dust, newt’s eye, some frog legs, and whatever else you put into the brew is what I feel like Wicked As You Wish came out to be. It is a mix of magic, fairy tales, urban, fantasy, magical realism, contemporary, I mean it is all in there. I think this is a book that would be great for the right kind of person and I feel like that wasn’t me. There was just too much thrown into this book for me to truly enjoy it. I did find the characters to be quite entertaining. I felt like Chupeco did such a great job with the characters. They were diverse and fun. I thought they were really able to drive the story. The world building was pretty great too. The books takes place in the real world except that fairy tales are true in the story. This book definitely had its ups and downs but I think it is also fun at the same time. Excerpt: The firebird arrived in Invierno later that night. It landed atop a normal-looking mailbox. The mailbox had a Tawalisi, 22 Dharma Road decal printed on its side, and it stood in front of a normal-looking house on a normal-looking street in what was by all appearances a normal-looking suburb. This house was situated between an old folks' home and a small bungalow, bordered on one side by a small cul-de-sac. Despite the town's predilection against natural magic, most people still didn't associate Invierno as a place where anything unusual was likely to happen. That didn't say much about what people actually knew about small towns, or about Invierno in particular.   Rather than retreat to the safety of nearby trees and rooftops as any similarly sensible animal would have done, the firebird drew itself up, as regal as any queen, and waited for the shades to attack. The shades in question were already closing in, and they assumed frightening, monstrous shapes. Some took human form, with long sharp claws in place of hands. Others took on semblances of wolves and bears and strange winged creatures; black eyeless silhouettes with teeth. The firebird chirped a warning, but the shades paid no attention. So it sighed, a resigned, I-really-did-warn-you-about-this-you-know sigh, and glowed again. It was as large as an eagle, and had a fascinatingly plump shape; a ham of a bird would be a frank description, if not for its long graceful neck. Its feathers, a variety of yellows and reds and oranges tipped with a subtle silver shimmer, flared. Its majestic tail fanned out like a vestal train, whipping at slow, concentrated intervals. It chirped out its first, and final, warning. The nearest shade reached out for the bird, claws extended and sharp. It was promptly engulfed in an angry red ball of fire. The shadow screamed. Its right arm skittered across the pavement. Flames danced around the firebird. With unerring precision it reared back and hurled them at the other shadowy wraiths, bathing the street in ruddy red heat until its enemies were reduced to nothing more than a whisper of cinders and smoke. But even as they sank, new ones rose to take their place. The shades were numerous, unrelenting. The firebird was young, inexperienced. Despite its ferocity, even it began to weaken under the unending assault. And things could have ended very badly, had Lola Urduja not interfered. Lola Urduja looked nothing at all like a warrior should look. Framed against the moonlight she appeared an incredibly fragile and elderly thing, with her mild brown eyes, dark skin, and thin white hair wrapped in a wispy bun. For armor, she wore an oversized peach bathrobe a size too large for her slim frame, and was for some reason still carrying an abanico fan in her right hand. But when she lifted her head to confront the lurking shadows her back straightened, her shoulders squared, and the once-mild brown eyes blazed with an unexpectedly commanding air that proposed other unimportant things like cars and airplanes and even shades should best get out of her way.  "This house is under the protection of the Katipuneros, by Avalon military decree number one oh eight two," she boomed, in a voice larger and fiercer than her body size allowed for. "Take another step and be snuffed out like the insignificant shadows you are, you reverse-projected, two-dimensional Jungian rejects!" The shades halted momentarily, as if puzzled by the old woman's audacity. But all too soon their inexorable natures reasserted themselves, and they continued their relentless trek forward. "Beta formation code one three five, defensive maneuvers!" More people of indeterminate old age emerged from hiding places behind bushes and trees, vaguely threatening only they had not been wearing bathrobes. But they were armed… with more abanico fans, a cane, and in one instance even a makeshift shiv, because General Luna had once been in prison for three days and had subsequently Learned Things there. And they were good at it. They knew where to hit, how to inflict the worst hurt. Shadows shrieked as the innocent-looking fans—or more specifically, the hidden blades lining the edges of the thin abaca fabric—dug into them, twisting and grasping, until soon even the endless darkness showed signs of faltering. "Teejay," Lola Urduja said, "shade at five o'clock." The tita, her hair still pinned up by large rollers, obeyed, punching a fan through the shadow's chest before it could reach the other woman.  "Hold your position, general," Lola Urduja said to old General Luna, who had planted himself in front of the house next door. "Don't let them in!" "Mga antipatika!" The octogenarian barked, then cheerfully shanked a shadow into nothingness. A few of the shades crept toward her, sentient enough to recognize the little old lady's importance, but Lola Urduja lunged, was quicker than her limp suggested. Her fan twisted, and the sharp knives underneath the stretched cloth tore into the creatures like they were wet paper. She whipped it toward another approaching shadow, and an abrupt flick of her wrist summoned a sudden roaring wind, slashing the darkness into pieces without ever making contact. The firebird and the elders fought the shades all night long. Finally, as dawn touched the sky with the colors of sunrise, the last of the creatures slunk away, disappearing into the sidewalk just as quickly as they arrived. Wearily, the firebird watched them leave, the flames in its feathers dimming. When the last flickered out, it sighed and closed its eyes, returning to its perch atop the mailbox. Adrenaline faded, was taken out of the elders' veins like an IV drip. They mumbled and scuffed at the ground with their good foot and looked rightfully embarrassed. This was technically not appropriate behavior for old men and women, though the awed grins had some trouble leaving their creased faces. Hadn't seen this much action since Wonderland, Boy signed. "Nakakamiss," Chedeng murmured, reverting briefly to Tagalog. "Good times." "Punyeta," the general agreed. "Natakot ba natin?" Baby asked Lola. The little old woman pursed her lips. "No. They'll be back. Umalis na kayo. Won't be good for Tala to see us out here on the lawn, she’ll have questions." "The firebird is here," Chedeng said, not without some awe. "Mare, it really is the firebird!" "Control your excitement, Mercedes. This is far from over."   The door to 24 Dharma Road opened and Kay Warnock emerged with a can of beer in hand, yawning. "So good of you to help," Mrs. Sarge said dryly. "Y'did a good enough job without me." "A little too early to be drinking." "On the contrary. After what just happened, I think it's a fine time to start." About the Author: Despite an unsettling resemblance to Japanese revenants, Rin always maintains her sense of hummus. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. Dances like the neighbors are watching.  She is represented by Rebecca Podos of the Helen Rees Agency. She is also fond of speaking in the third person, and may as well finish this short bio in this manner. While she does not always get to check her Goodreads page, she does answer questions posed to her here as promptly as she is able to.  Links: Website; https://www.rinchupeco.com/  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7055613.Rin_Chupeco  Twitter: https://twitter.com/rinchupeco  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rinchupeco/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rinchupeco/  PRE-ORDER PROMOTIONS Promo 1: If you pre-order WICKED AS YOU WISH on or before March 1, 2020 you will also receive a character card of Tala and an enamel Order of the Bandersnatch firebird pin! ·         US/ Canada pre-orders: https://t.co/5c7lQTI3Os?amp=1 ·         International pre-orders:https://t.co/eCZvNLcWj1?amp=1 Promo 2: From March 3rd – 31st 2020, the author be hosting an Instagram giveaway for WICKED AS YOU WISH (https://www.instagram.com/rinchupeco/)! Just post a photo of the book with the hashtag #PRETTYWICKEDASYOUWISH and every participant will receive book swag! (Alex character art card + character stickers). The Alex card will only be available during promos and not for the pre-orders! Giveaway: 1st Prize: Win a signed copy of WICKED AS YOU WISH by Rin Chupeco + 3 character stickers (Alex, Tala, and the firebird) + 2 character cards (Alex and Tala) [INT] 2nd Prize: Win (1) of (3) character stickers from WICKED AS YOU WISH (Alex, Tala, and the firebird) + character cards from WICKED AS YOU WISH (Alex and Tala) [INT] Starts: February 26th 2020 Ends: March 11th 2020 a Rafflecopter giveaway Tour Schedule: https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2020/01/tour-schedule-wicked-as-you-wish.html February 26th The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club - Welcome Post February 27th NovelKnight - Guest Post Here's to Happy Endings - Review The Layaway Dragon - Review + Favourite Quotes Dazzled by Books - Review dinipandareads - Review + Favourite Quotes February 28th Struck by Stories - Meet The Characters L.M. Durand - Review Sometimes Leelynn Reads - Review + Playlist + Dream Cast Fanna Wants The World To Read - Review Alys in Bookland - Review February 29th Bookish Looks - Top 10 List The Book Nut - Review + Playlist Starlight Reads - Review A Court of Coffee and Books - Review + Favourite Quotes Shalini's Books & Reviews - Review March 1st Books_andPoetrii - Character Playlist Foals, Fiction & Filigree - Review + Favourite Quotes Shelf-Rated - Review Mahkjchi's Not-So-Secret Book - Review + Favourite Quotes Stuck in the Stacks - Review March 2nd Utopia State of Mind - Character Playlist Hooked On Bookz - Review The Reading Corner for All - Review hauntedbybooks - Review + Favourite Quotes Confessions of a YA Reader - Review March 3rd Musings of a (Book) Girl - Official Dream Cast Kait Plus Books - Top 10 List Yna the Mood Reader - Review + Favourite Quotes Book Briefs - Review Biblioxytocin - Review + Playlist + Favourite Quotes

http://www.dazzledbybooks.com/2020/02/wicked-as-you-wish-blog-tour-review-and.html

[ciellinposts-blog]

Revised - Fact and issues covered in Chinese children’s literature today

In the highly developing society of China, the stability in economy encourages the boom in literature, and Chinese children’s literature stands out most in terms of the increasing diversity of categories as well the growing quantity. Although children’s literature in China is enjoying a new phase of gaining recognition from the literary circle and even the society, it doesn’t mean that the quality attains a satisfactory level. There are potential issues with its current situation which become the hindrance to its upcoming evolution.

First, let us talk about children’s literature. Children’s literature is definitely different from children’s reading or children’s book. The literary and the artistry are the key points of children’s literature. Technically, the purpose of children’s literature is not only for entertaining but also engaging children as well adults and motivate their critical thinking ability. It focuses more on the moral aspect. But in fact, in China, the distinction between children’s book and children’s literature is vague, that is, the majority of the so-called “children’s literature” in China is actually the ordinary and ubiquitous children’s book. The content in these books fails to reach a level that can be considered as thoughtful. The dominating factor that results in the lack of thoughts is commercialization. Dr. Laino Ho argued in his essay “Chinese children’s literature – then and now” (1997) that, “weak storyline, uninteresting plot, stereotyped characterization, mediocre language and cartoon-like drawings are the result of the commercialism of children’s book” (p. 135). Generally speaking, most children’s books in China today possess simple plot, vulgar storyline that seem to be easy for children to read, and it requires less effort to produce. The age of its target audience appears to be low and even getting lower (Chen, 2016, para. 8). Therefore, the immense demand for “children’s literature” results in the pipeline production of children’s book in China.

After China’s open door policy in the twentieth century, alongside the impact of economic growth, the popularity of social media and introduction of external culture, the market of Chinese children’s literature in terms of quantity is experiencing a more and more positive trend. The following statistics show the increased quality of books for children in China in the past decade as a result of the globalized market environment: Before 1974, China had only 2 presses of children’s books, publishing only some 200 children’s titles each year, most of which were reprints. As Chen demonstrated in his journal “Chinese Children’s Literature Is Getting the Chance of a Golden Decade” (2016), starting from 2005, the categories of existing children’s book keep growing rapidly for a decade, and it amounted to around 40,000 until the end of the year 2015 (para. 4). With the introduction of the two-child policy in China, the demand for children’s literature is urgently increasing. Chen stated that there are good prospects in children’s literature in China, resulting in a “golden decade” (para. 9). Besides the significant rise in quantity, children’s literature in China is rich in range and obtained several outstanding achievements. It is worth mentioning that on April 4 in 2016, a Chinese author named Cao Wenxuan, The Peking University professor of Chinese and member of children’s literature committee, won the Hans Christian Andersen Award for children’s literature, which is considered to be the top prize in the field (BBC News, 2016, para. 4). It’s the first time that a Chinese writer earns such a good reputation, recognized as a milestone in the developing history of Chinese children’s literature.

However, though the current fact of Chinese children’s literature is more positive, and children’s work has made substantial progress compared to what it used to be in the past, it is far less than we expect if we compare it with foreign children’s literature. It is facing serious challenges which might in the meantime turn into opportunities for future development.

Both narrative style and images covered in Chinese children’s literature today are a mixture of Chinese original elements and foreign elements, or even as some essays referred, children’s literature in China imitates western literature (Ho, 1997, p. 132). Figure 1 is a hardback book cover of Chinese original literature. The bright yellow color stands out most as the main color, taking up two-thirds of the whole image. The rest of the image is filled with blue, the complementary color of yellow. The contrast works together with the rule of thirds emphasize the point in this image, the wolf. Looking through the whole image, the style differs from traditional Chinese painting styles, which is close to western illustration. Figure 2 is a mermaid in Chinese children’s literature book cover. Obviously, the figure adapts from the classic figure of a mermaid in the western fairy tale. The traditional mermaid figure in China usually wears a silky outerwear that is blue or white.

Figure 1: A hardback book cover of Chinese original literature. http://m.dangdang.com/product.php?ac=image&pid=1061415009. Copyright 2014 m.dangdang.com.

Figure 2: A mermaid in Chinese children’s literature book cover. http://bkgc.zxhsd.com/

If we examine on the images included in China’s children’s books, as Dr. Laino Ho pointed out,

What excels in Chinese children’s literature are the multi-talented children’s book illustrators in recent hardback publications of children’s picture books. Since China’s open door policy in the 1980s Chinese artists have been given free rein in artistic expression. The best artistic works are those with a blending of Chinese and Western art forms (p. 133).

He recognized that the pictures are fantastic and full of imagination in China’s children’s picture books, at the same time he emphasized these outstanding artworks are a result of absorbing foreign elements after China chose to introduce itself to the world. This is true that there are lots of gifted illustrators in China, and a huge number of them are affected by western culture due to culture invasion and lack of original creative ideas. But it’s not imitation at all, and in the works of other Chinese illustrators, we could track some classic elements of Chinese own painting style, such as brush painting. And for Dr. Ho, he didn’t say that all these paintings in China’s children’s book are affected by foreign forms, he stated that the art styles of pictures in China’s children’s books are various, including classic Chinese painting style, for instance, “clearly outlined shapes against an unpainted background” (p. 134). Figure 3, 4 and 5 are typical examples of traditional Chinese painting that appear in Chinese children’s books. These images apply single and clean colors as background, aiming at creating the artistic conception other than clearly describing specific content of images. White space is the key of traditional Chinese painting style.

Figure 3: Traditional Chinese painting book cover. http://product.dangdang.com/21090590.html

Figure 4: Traditional Chinese painting illustration. http://product.dangdang.com/20609997.html

Figure 5: Traditional Chinese painting illustration. http://www.kekenet.com/read/201507/385446.shtml

Though it’s essential that Chinese children’s literature keeps classic Chinese elements, such as the painting style that Dr. Ho mentioned, it’s still deeply affected by western culture. If we refer to some well-known original Chinese children’s literature, we might notice the characters in those books are somehow similar to traditional characters exist in Western children’s literature. For example, there is a popular children’s literature in China among children called The Naughty Boy Ma Xiaotiao. It’s Yang Hongying’s series of children’s stories published in 2003. When we look at the characters in the book, it is not hard to find that both the name and character itself are a reflection of western culture. The protagonist, Ma Xiaotiao, is an elementary school student with freckle on his face. This kind of appearance disaccords with what Chinese look like, or we could say it more accord with classic western children’s appearance in literature. What’s more, the name of the characters is foreign as well. One of the main characters named Angel and the uncle of Ma Xiaotiao call Dink. There is a possibility that the name Dink might mislead children because the uncle in the book is not a dink, but a 30-year-old bachelor. Those existing similarities in the appearance feature of characters in China’s children’s literature today reflect the fact of lacking in local features.

Another issue behind China’s children’s literature is the similarity in theme and content. The popularity of one genre could result in the emerging of a huge number of books that belong to the same genre. In other word, going with the tide is a serious phenomenon exists in today’s Chinese children’s book market. For example, the success of Harry Potter led to an obvious increase in the fantasy genre in China, especially for children’s literature. In addition, these books that belong to the same genre are stereotyped in the plot, we could see little creativity added to the storyline. However, the problem is not the lack of creativity, but the market trend doesn’t allow time-consuming composing. In Li Yin’s article “Finding Its Way in The Tide of Globalization: Tendency And Deficiency In Chinese Children’s Literature Since The Mid-1990s” (2009), Yin stated that “the artistic innovation and aesthetic pursuit-oriented literary creation for children, which has existed since the 1980s, is being replaced by the market-driven and commercial value-oriented literary production” (p. 107). A large number of publishers tend to chase profit instead of serving as the cultural communicators. They refuse to publish works that are too literary due to low profit. In addition, these publishers reject those work created by some less famous authors, even though those work can be counted as outstanding ones. Or, those work which is with unclear market expectation would have a rare chance to get published. Imitating an existing successful work would be considered as the cost efficiency process. By this way, those outcomes of imitation gain recognition from the market, therefore, publishers could quickly get economic benefit, while writers harvest fame in the short time. In a word, the creative enthusiasm of children’s literature in China is forced to be the sacrifice of economic benefit due to excessive commercialization. The balance between market and literary value has been broken. Without proper marketing directions, lots of excellent children’s works might fail to enter the increasing competitive book market (Yin, p. 107).

For the sake of the chance to get published under the market-driven environment, the younger and less well-known authors tend to select the genres that are widely accepted by children or the market. As a consequence, the children’s literature in the market over enlarges the entertainment, whereas thought-provoking view is losing. Yin (2009) also referred that,

Chinese children’s literature had long been regarded as an instructional tool for children: the stories were aimed at correcting children’s weaknesses. Although this situation has changed since the 1980s with the appearance of more diversified themes than moral messages, thoughtful reflection of life and human existence is still lacking in Chinese children’s literature (p. 109).

Frequently mentioned topics in today’s children’s literature in China are far away from the real life. What reflected most is the fantastic side of the world. The views in these books that expressed are healthy children, happy family, and peaceful country. The book Naughty Boy Ma Xiaotiao mentioned above consists of funny stories about a 10-year-old boy and his family and friends, alongside exaggerated reality and fantasy, or we could say ideality. This work can be considered as a success generated from a joint effort between author and publisher that achieve substantial economic benefit, though it entertains children a lot. Themes such as single-parent child, or children with mental problems are seldom explored in China’s children literature. Realistic fiction about problems faced by the average Chinese household and its children has not been fully explored in any children’s books. Modern children’s book publications from the People’s Republic of China, though visually attractive and appealing, lack a distinctive child narrator’s voice that children can identify with and enjoy (Ho, p. 135). Zheng Yuanjie, known as the “king of fairy tales” in China in the 1980s, is a typical writer for children speaking for them from a child’s perspective. This is why he is popular during that period. He respects children and improves children’s spiritual life. Meanwhile, in other children’s work in China, the views raised that more or less aim to educate children, or work as instructional “textbook”. But for these successful children’s work, the stories are real, writing stories from the perspective of children, which get closer to children’s spiritual world. Cao Wenxue, the winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Author Award mentioned above, his stories focus on the subject of teenagers growing up in rural China, as well their pleasure, fluctuating emotions and disappointments while facing various adolescent problems.

The big problem of Chinese works for children is that the quality is not proportional to quantity, the content in children’s books is less thoughtful. The increasing quantity of books doesn’t contribute to promoting the quality of children’s literature, though it seems to enrich the categories of children’s literature. Whereas, that enormous amount of inferior quality books appears in the market, resulting in limiting the selection for readers because those books are single in content and structure. As a result, it gradually becomes the barrier to readers accessing to excellent children’s works in a real sense. Beside the existing well-known masterworks could survive in children’s literature circle, other less famous children’s works or newcomers in the unhealthy market environment do not possess the ability to keep stable without strong market value basis and economic support. Therefore, this sort of vicious circle drastically discourages creation and accelerates the disappearance of outstanding children’s works.

Yin (2009) demonstrated that children’s literature in China today is suffering a period of “tough creation”. It’s tough in the sense that creation is supposed to fulfill both “high-level artistic expression and profound theme exploration” (p. 111). On the one hand, the themes of Chinese children’s work appear to lack deep thoughts, and mostly the content can be considered as childish in terms of the use of language and the creation of characters. Yang Hongying, the author of the series book Naughty Boy Ma Xiaotiao, if we take a look at her works, it’s not hard to notice that the majority of her books are related to animals, or use animal as the main character of her fairy tale. Figure 6 is one of the work from Yang. The use of red, pink and yellow colors create a happy atmosphere associated with the figure of piggy. The fact that employing anthropomorphic animals as main characters are not childish, though animal characters are able to attract children so that it’s possible to get closer to children, it’s stereotypic in terms of the given images of specific animals. Moreover, the use of animal is vested with the instructional meaning. Ho (1997) found that “fantasy and animal characters are often used by writers in stories, with a heavy emphasis on moral values” (p. 132). For instance, the image of rabbit usually stands for gentleness, love, and it expresses the courage to fight violence. On the contrary, wolf represents violence, craftiness, and barbarity. Figure 7 is another work from Yang, which is about a bad wolf got punishment and lost his tail. Compared with the piggy one, the application of color tone tends to be cold and less bright. White, grey and black compose the majority of this image. Refer to the wolf, his facial expression appears to be miserable with tears.  If this sort of rigid mode of thinking is not broken, it might potentially affect children’s value in terms of their attitude toward objects.

Figure 6: A work from Yang Hongying, a piggy and his friends. https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BA%B2%E7%88%B1%E7%9A%84%E7%AC%A8%E7%AC%A8%E7%8C%AA/1673812?fr=aladdin

Figure 7: A work from Yang Hongying, a bad wolf got punishment and lost his tale. http://www.bookuu.com/detail.php?id=100203303

On the other hand, works that belong to the same theme follow the same way of thinking, lacking variety. If the theme is about rural life, it certainly refers to “children from migrant farmer worker families (in which parents go to work in city for survival and either leave their children to the grandparents in the countryside or bring them to the city to live in tough conditions)” (Yin, p. 109). While if the story is about urban life, it tends to exaggeratedly describe how luxurious urban teenagers are. For a historical novel, the plot is usually not supported by a plenty of historical materials, and fantasy fiction is just composed of a mass of illogical plots. Chinese’s children’s literature is still suffering lack of creation, it’s going to be tough in the future if there are no fresh thoughts injected.

Children’ literature in contemporary China is experiencing a big leap in the quantity of both categories and amount of books and even the increasing social awareness of the importance of children’s literature. Nonetheless, the raise in quantity does not represent the richness in quality. Quality works are still rare. Strictly speaking, lots of children’s works in China cannot be regarded as literature. Due to globalization and commercialization, driven by immense economic benefit, publishers and authors tend to be eager to chase profit. As a result, a large number of low-quality children’s books flooding the market, while outstanding works with little profit are blocked. These low-quality books present some features, which are single in content, similar in theme, lack of thoughtful views, and poor in creation. Children are the target readers of children’s literature; however, most writers of children’s work fail to write from children’s perspective so that these works cannot get close to children. Otherwise, some children’s works are divorced from reality, or even exaggerate what is going on in real life. There is still a long way to go for Chinese children’s literature to stand out from the world.

References

Cao Wenxuan: Chinese author wins top children’s literature prize (2016, April 5), BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35965873

Chen, H. (2016). Chinese children’s literature is getting the chance of a golden decade.           Retrieved from http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1475543

Ho, L. (1997). Chinese children’s literature – then and now. New Review of Children’s       Literature and Librarianship, 3:1, 127-137. doi: 10.1080/13614549709510595

Yin, L. (2009). Finding its way in the tide of globalization: Tendency and deficiency in Chinese children’s literature since the mid-1990s. Neohelicon XXXVI, 103-115. doi: 10.1007/s11059-1011-3

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Feature: Revisited Album: Black Sabbath - Paranoid 1970

Feature: Revisited Album: Black Sabbath - Paranoid 1970

After the summer of love in '69 the dream of revolution was crushed under it's own weight as free loving hippies turned to murder, English Skinhead gangs ruled streets of the working classes and a paranoia of imminent nuclear fallout engulfed the west. On 'Friday the 13th February 1970, less than a year since Black Sabbath's debut, the UK was delivered a thundering and crushing soundtrack to their post-decade of false hope comedown. 'Paranoid', showcased Sabbath's evolution from an occult dabbling blues band into a heavy metal monolith fuelled by a deeper understanding and embracement of the evil reality around them. Each band member was a product moulded by a hard and grim upbringing in working class Aston, Birmingham. As a youngster Bill Ward would rhythmically tap his bedpost in-between the booming strikes of metal cutting machines which shook the town and a teenage Tony Iommi felt first hand the thundering hammers unforgiving nature as he lost two finger ends operating one. It was this type of world the band were looking desperately to escape from and they toured relentlessly in order to hone their craft. By the time 'Paranoid' was released the band had become tighter, heavier and groovier than ever before. As most of the albums tracks were written during marathon live jams, Sabbath were able to create elongated constructions of noise without clinging onto the pompous un-necessities of introverted prog-rock that often relied on quantity over quality. Along with impeccable groove and tightness the bands ultimate power came from their ability to “riff” in unison. Iommi would lead through his finger ends, creating hook after hook for the band follow, creating a wall of striding noise. Once extreme volume was added to the equation the riff truly came to life, a lesson quickly learned by rock pioneers Led Zeppelin who were on a rise to stardom, releasing their groundbreaking LP Led Zeppelin IV a year later in '71. Today the riff is an integral part of many guitar driven genres but none more so than in the world of rock and metal.

Their lives in Aston and time on the road not only inspired Sabbath's sound but also the bands lyrical subjects. Whilst in America touring on the back of their debut Sabbath were able to hear first hand accounts of the atrocities, being kept hidden by the media, that were happening in Vietnam. At the time bassist Geezer Butler believed he would be called up to fight himself and was keen to reveal the true plight of wartime suffering by infusing his lyrics with stark anti-war messages. Album opener 'War Pigs' attacked fat-cat warmongering politicians, 'Hand of Doom' unveiled grim truths of heroin addiction among troops and 'Electric Funeral' recites the aftermath of a world engulfed by a storm of atomic bombs. These were not your average protest ballads wailed by self-elevated '60s intellectuals, they were aggressive accounts and forewarnings of doom asserted with full force and volume. 'Fairies Wear Boots' penned by vocalist Ozzy Osbourne offered the world a glimpse at Aston's viscous and violent skinhead gangs in their Doctor Martens before moving on to giving a grave warning of the mind melting affects of LSD and marijuana abuse. 'Planet Caravan', a jazz inspired weightless tale of space exploration as told by two lovers, sits comfortably amongst what have come to be heavyweight rock and metal fan favourites and offered the band an opportunity to show their musical and lyrical versatility. Ultimately though it was the albums hit single 'Paranoid' that helped to break the band in America. Written in the under half an hour at the studio it has become one of the most popular selling heavy metal records to date. It's success on release brought the band further album sales as well as a new type of fan, “Teenyboppers”. Ozzy Osbourne even contemplated never releasing singles again as despite their obvious financial gains, the young fans stage invasions and other antics interfered with performances putting a bad taste in the mouths of genuine Black Sabbath supporters.

The middle class music press struggled to deal with the un-sophisticated mob of long haired nihilists and their grave foretelling's of doom, which led to scathing reviews by some of the worlds most renowned critics. Lester Bangs once described the band as “Cream but worse” yet Black Sabbath were able to tap into the psyche of thousands across the globe and offered the next generation of musicians an alternative to what would later become Punk. The intensity, darkness and heaviness associated with 'Paranoid' is arguably the original blueprint for all Heavy Metal. Bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest established the New Wave of British Heavy Metal on the backs of tracks such as 'War Pigs' and 'Iron Man' by replacing lumbering blues licks with speed and virtuosity. Next Doom and Thrash emerged during the '80s (Thrash originators Metallica will be headlining Leeds and Reading Festival this year) ultimately leading to '90s Death and Black Metal. In 2012 Black Sabbath drew a crowd of over 100,000 to Download Festival, who gathered in the pouring rain to watch the forefathers of metal perform tracks over forty years old, each one just as reflective of the world we live in today as they were Friday the 13th 1971.

(Written for and published by http://theinfinityofthought.blogspot.co.uk/)