The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

If you kiss your true love, he will die.  This is what Blue Sargant, daughter of the town psychic has been told all her life.  Blue is used to living with predictions, but things change when she meets Gansey, a privileged boy who attends the prestigious Aglionby Academy for Boys.  Gansey and his friends (known as the Raven boys, because of the Raven crest on their school uniforms) are on a quest find Glendower, a sleeping Welsh king.  Legend holds that whoever finds him will be granted a wish.  

Although Blue doesn’t have the same psychic powers as her mother, she does have the ability to amplify the messages that come through for her family.  It’s for this reason that she annually accompanied her mother to an old churchyard on St. Mark’s Eve. where the soon-to-be-dead spirits would walk past.  Blue never sees the spirits herself – until this year, when a boy steps up to her and speaks.  He tells her his name is Gansey.  

What does this mean?  When will Gansey die, and will it be Blue that causes his death?  Is he her true love?  Why is she so drawn to Gansey and his friends?  Blue has never really believed in true love and the repeated warning from her mother.  But now she isn’t so sure.

I can imagine this story being handled really poorly by a not-so-great writer.  Thankfully, Maggie Stiefvater has done a great job in presenting well-drawn characters, in this intriguing mystery. I love this story because the characters are all so different, and yet so vital.  Gansey is determined, has dignity, and really takes care of his friends.  Noah doesn’t say much, seems vulnerable and mostly observes.  Adam is the scholarship student who resents the wealth around him and doesn’t like handouts.  Ronan is the 'bad boy,' very cynical and angry.  And then there’s Blue, the quiet girl who lives with her psychic family – all women.  I think my favourite scenes were the ones that involved all these women and their predictions.  I loved the complexity of their personalities and the occasional conflicts between them.  They were strong, funny women, who I wanted to learn more about.

The other part of the story that kept me hooked, was the question of whether or not Gansey and Blue were destined to be together.  Was he really her true love?  Or was it one of the other boys?  Would she kiss him and therefore cause his death?  Why did she see him on the churchyard path on St. Mark’s Eve?  What was the importance of what he said to her on that road?  These were some of the questions that kept me intrigued.  

Magic is something that should be treated with respect and integrity, and I feel this author did just that.  I loved being suspended in this world of unexpected friendships, love and impending doom!

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The Fault in Our Stars

This novel arrived at the beginning of the year in hardcover, and for some reason I just didn’t get around to reading it. Even though it received tons of great reviews and I was drawn to it, it stayed on my nightstand pile for a few months.  It was only when a customer picked it up and said with her hand on her heart “oh, I read this one”  and then just tapped her heart twice “ugh, so beautiful”, that I decided to put it on the top of my pile… 

Sixteen- year-old Hazel spends most of her time reading the same book over and over, doesn’t like to leave her house, isn’t interested in eating and thinks about death a lot.   Her mother says she’s depressed.  Yes, well, no kidding.  In many ways, Hazel is just like any other teenager, except she has cancer and isn’t expected to live much longer.   

Doctor Jim, and Hazel’s mom both agree she should attend a weekly Support Group.  Hazel finds this support group “depressing as hell”.  She tells her mother “If you want me to be a teenager, don’t send me to Support Group.  Buy me a fake ID so I can go to clubs, drink vodka, and take pot.”   Her mom’s reply: ” You’re going to Support Group”. 

Even though Support Group is depressing ( will some of them die? ), there are some very good things that happen too.  One of them is the gorgeous Augustus Waters, who ends up changing Hazel’s life in a very profound way.  He’s not gorgeous just because he’s hot.  He’s gorgeous because he’s funny, smart, sweet and basically the perfect boyfriend.  Except, he too is dying. 

Let me first say that John Green is a genius.  This is the kind of story that made me laugh and ugly cry at the same time, and I will definitely re-read it, just because he really is a great writer and I want to hear some of his phrases again.   I loved Hazel and Augustus.  They “got” each other in a way that wasn’t sappy.  Not like obnoxious couples who are joined at the hip and digest each others food (sorry Bella).   I really believed the characters and cared about how they felt and what they thought.  I liked the frankness in their dialogue.   It was refreshing to read a YA title that wasn’t dystopian, paranormal or about totally depressing issues.   Of course, the inevitability of death is depressing, but somehow John Green makes it okay.

 Why didn’t I read this sooner?  And now I will definitely read all three of his other titles – Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and An Abundance of Katherines.

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