Temporary? Insanity

I read a great deal of YA fiction. Partially because I’m currently attempting to write in that genre, but mostly because (on a good day) I have the emotional maturity of an average eighteen year old (no offense to eighteen year olds intended, truly). There’s just something about the struggles and strivings of characters who are on the brink of adulthood. Though technically I’ve long since passed into that realm myself, I still feel hesitant and awkward here. As if at any moment I might be discovered and chucked out, back into the dreadful abyss that was my teenage years.


I’ve often read books centering around “adult” characters, sometimes characters who are younger than I am, but I can’t quite connect. I think it’s that, progression wise, I’m not there yet. Stunted emotional growth aside though, I couldn’t be happier with the literature available to teenagers and teenagers at heart like myself.


Bright Blue Miracle





I met Becca at the LDS Storymaker’s Conference this past Spring. She introduced herself (thank heaven – let us not forget Kim’s stunted-ness) and immediately struck me as sweet, sincere, and intelligent. My first impression has been confirmed and amplified a hundred fold as I’ve read her blog and come to know her a little better. I was nervous to read her book, I’ll confess. It’s one thing to dislike the work of a stranger and another thing entirely to dislike the work of someone you’re tentatively building a friendship with.


Cue relief though, because Bright Blue Miracle was an absolute delight. I even stayed up till, what was it, three in the morning I think, because I couldn’t sleep without finishing. It was an emotional experience, and poor Neil had his sleep disturbed by sudden bursts of laughter and also by me fumbling around for the kleenex box. If you can’t identify with the plight of a teenage girl flung from one potentially devastating crisis to the next, this is not the book for you. It’s intense and moving and all sorts of lovely in between.


I found Bright Blue Miracle to be not only moving, but also uplifting. Though I cannot say the same of this next book, I was nonetheless similarly enthralled. I often notice this contrast in my chosen reading material. Light vs. Dark. Uplifting vs. Unsettling. Each have their merit, but I suppose that’s another blog post altogether.


The Hourglass Door





I wish the comparison between this book and Twilight were easier to avoid, but by way of apology to the very talented Lisa Mangum I can say quite fervently that the comparison cannot help but be favourable. Though deliciously flavoured with elements of the supernatural, romance, danger, and suspense of a very intense nature, Mangum has set herself apart as a force to be reckoned with in the YA genre. Her style is compelling and her flair with language was a constant source of delight as I all but devoured the book.


There’s no denying that the romance between the two main characters is one of the central focuses of the book, but the intricacy of the plot prevented (for me) any desire to groan or roll my eyes. There is a believability to the relationship despite the supernatural backdrop to it. A result, I believe, of some very impressive characterization on the author’s part.


Now I’m a self-confessed prude when it comes to the YA genre. Always, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking of my daughters. And I confess that there are books I’ve actually removed from my home in hopes that my daughters won’t read them till they’re old enough to move out. However, despite the intensity of the romantic relationship depicted in this book, I may allow my daughters to read it before they leave home. There is meaning…poignancy, if you will, to what Mangum has created here. Something that is sadly lacking in certain other books in this genre.


Overall, a thoroughly entertaining read and I’m keenly anticipating the release of the next book.