Katherine Harbour's Blog - Posts Tagged "lgbtq"

I'll Give You the Sun
With its two strange and uniquely-thinking protagonists, this story of two siblings finding their place in the world has tension and charm. Told in the first person by a twin brother and sister (Noah, from age 13, and Jude, at age 16), it is hilarious and touching.
At thirteen, Noah rules the roost as the promising artist, treasured by his mother, yet having difficulties with a dad who has some minor toxic masculinity. Noah finds a soulmate in another boy who is a science nerd and an athlete. His competition with his sister peaks at a party where she kisses Noah's boyfriend.
Every other chapter skips ahead three years, and these are from Jude's POV. Once a pretty and perfect girl, she's now an art school weirdo. She's taken Noah's art school opportunity, while Noah has become the perfect son, all of his creativity stifled by athletics. Jude takes an apprenticeship with a temperamental sculptor old enough to be her father, and meets his protege, Oscar, an English version of James Dean.
A tale of magic realism with no actual magic, of twins divided and reunited. One of my favorite YA reads.

Sawkill Girls
The island of Sawkill Rock is haunted by an ancient evil. Teenage Marion has arrived with her older sister Charlotte and her mother. Zoey lives on the island with her sheriff father and has recently had her best friend disappear. Beautiful Val is from one of the wealthy families on the island, and lives with her strict mother. And Val has a horrifying secret.
The three girls are drawn together in a tangle of betrayal, deceit, love, and terror. The island, with its Nantucket vibe, also has a life of its own. Marion, Zoey, and Val are exquisitely drawn characters. The theme of extraordinary girls and useless male authority is Buffyesque in the best way. This is a horror story, and one I'm glad I decided not to read at night.
One of my favorite horror reads.