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Favorite road narrative spectrum books of 2019: 12/20/19
The road narrative spectrum project is on-going. On Fridays I highlight an example — a book that fits on of the 216 narrative types. But other books classify and the majority of my reading this year has qualified for the project. The examples here are from a wide range of genres and ages. The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton
The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton is the sequel The Belles (2018). Camille and Edel and guard Remy are on the run while there is mayhem in the castle now that Sophia is trying to claim the throne but Charlotte, the rightful heir is gathering her forces from a secret location. The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante
The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante opens in a detention center. Marisol "Sol" Morales and her sister Gabi have been kept there while they wait the ruling for their asylum claim. When a kitchen door is left open, the sisters take advantage of the situation and flee. One Night in Georgia by Celeste O. Norfleet
One Night in Georgia by Celeste O. Norfleet is a historical novel set in 1968 during a road trip from Harlem to Atlanta. Zelda Livingston, tired of being at home with her mother and new stepfather, agrees to let her two college chums drive her down to Atlanta even with her reservations. She's concerned about Veronica's cherry red sports car and how safe driving through the South will be like. Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire is a complex urban fantasy book with elements of time travel that uses the road narrative spectrum to build on similar themes to those present in her YA series, Wayward Children, but for an adult audience. Paradox Bound by Peter Clines
The Phantom Tower by Keir Graff is a middle grade horror about twin brothers Mal and Colm and their mother moving into the Brunhilde Apartments in Chicago. They're able to afford a fully furnished, luxury multi-room apartment because the building has had trouble keeping tenants in recent years. The Phantom Tower by Keir Graff
Paradox Bound by Peter Clines is a time travel road narrative. The cover alone with the little green coupe driving on a lemniscate highway sums up two of the three road narrative aspects. What it doesn't tell us is that the car contains a couple. This novel is a 33CC33: couple, uhoria, and blue highway. The Similars by Rebecca Hanover
The Similars by Rebecca Hanover is the start of a new YA science fiction series that focuses on cloning and immigration and more broadly, human rights. The narrative is told from the point of view of Emma, a student at Darkwood Academy, an east coast boarding school that has agreed to bring on six clones or "similars" as they call themselves as transfer students at a time when the United States is actively pushing to ban clones from crossing the boarder. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden is a short (213 pages) horror novel perfect to read just before or perhaps on, Halloween. Ollie has been burying herself in fiction since her adventurous mother died. She keeps her grades up well enough to get away with reading in class. But she's by no means happy or her old self. Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly is about the connection a Deaf girl connects with a whale who doesn't seem to have any other whales who can understand him. She uses her love of fixing old electronics (especially radios) to find a way to communicate with him so he knows he's not alone in the world. A Sprinkle of Spirits by Anna Meriano
A Sprinkle of Spirits by Anna Meriano is the second book in the middle grade series, Love Sugar Magic. Leonora (Leo) is now able to practice her magic with her sisters and mother. She is helping in the store and has an idea for improving the magical baking of the treats they're selling. But of course, things are about to go awry and fingers will be pointed at Leo. Trace by Pat Cummings
Trace by Pat Cummings opens with the memory of near death by drowning. Theodore "Trace" Carter was the only survivor after the car he and his parents were in drove off a bridge. He's now living with his aunt in New York. He's not sleeping well and he's having trouble adjusting because he's haunted by the memory of the water that drowned his parents. Wild Blues by Beth Kephart
Wild Blues by Beth Kephart is a middle grade novel set in Adirondacks during the escape of two convicts from a nearby prison. It's the same inspiration as Breakout by Kate Messner, but with a very different execution. Comments (0) |