bookshelves of doom

Classic Revenge Stories: Five books that led the way for Karen Finneyfrock's The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door.

The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door had me at hello—REVENGE in huge font on the cover, sartorial choices that are reminiscent of Gingerbread, but with a more confrontational pose—and when I actually opened the book and started reading, I just loved it more and more and more with every page I turned.

Celia is angry, irritable, empathetic, creative, funny, smart, and completely believable. She's a huge reader—she has a crush on Diana Wynne Jones' Howl!—and her poetry, as in Sharon Creech's Love that Dog, reflects what she's currently studying as well as allowing her to mull over some of the stuff that's going on in her life.

Additionally? Her poetry? Makes for genuinely enjoyable reading.

Best of all, as I said in my review, The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door isn't about a how a romance changes her life: it's about how a friendship changes her life. 

Love love love, full stop.

And now I shall turn this post over to Karen Finneyfrock, who has compiled a list of Revenge Classics that made Celia's story possible:

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas

Ask a reader to name a revenge tale and this might be the first on her list. Alexandre Dumas also wrote The Three Musketeers, and these books are famous for a reason. Big emotion, big action! They blend fast-paced story telling with emotionally charged scenes. Read them when your life is sitting still and you need to feel swept away. 

Forget the pies, this is the scene from Titus that will be seared into my memory forever and ever and ever. Oh, Shakespeare: you really did write something for everyone.

Hamlet or Titus Andronicus, by William Shakespeare

People pop off Hamlet as the Shakespeare’s most revenge-happy protagonist because of the revenge Hamlet wants back at the people who murdered his father. But, I think the darker and more terrifying revenge scene lives in Titus Andronicus. Let’s just say that someone in the play eats a meat pie, and the meat used in that pie was once a couple of characters.

*Note: if you plan to read Titus Andronicus, go ahead and schedule your therapy appointments now. It’s sort of like the Shakespearian answer to that movie Saw.

*Note: I never watched Saw. 

Moby Dick, by Herman Melville

Who can resist pairing revenge with the madness of Captain Ahab, stalking through the wild southern ocean bent on killing a predatory animal for being predatory? This is one of my favorite books and should be on your shelf if you have a curiosity about American history, the sea or just enjoy a solidly built story. 

For a really fun Moby Dick experience, check out Moby Dick Big Read, where you can hear people like Tilda Swinton and John Waters read chapters aloud. 

The Princess Bride, by William Goldman

"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte

What’s up with so many revenge stories being written by men? Good thing we’ve got Emily Bronte and her dark story of Heathcliff, whose true love didn’t find him worthy of marriage due to his station in life. Chew on that for a number of years and see if you don’t find yourself walking back over the moors, intent on ruining some snobby elites’ privilege party.

Karen Finneyfrock is the author of The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door, and can be found online at her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Previously:

Dianne K. Salerni's Seven Favorite Gothic Novels.

Beth Revis' Top Ten Modern YA Science Fiction novels.

Ten Books that Shaped Laura Lam's Pantomime.

Madness, Tortured Romance, and a Heck of a Lot of Castles: Megan Shepherd's Love Affair with Gothic Literature... or, Megan Shepherd's Eight Favorite Gothics.

Lauren Roedy Vaughn's Five Favorite Literary Adult Mentors... Plus Two Characters Who Need One.

Dianne K. Salerni's Seven Favorite Gothic Novels.

What with my soft spot for books about spiritualism, I enjoyed Dianne K. Salerni's We Hear the Dead wholeheartedly. It's a fictionalized account of the rise and fall of Kate and Maggie Fox, the sisters who are credited by many for bringing the Spiritualism Movement into the mainstream. 

Her most recent book, though, I LOVED. The Caged Graves features a pitch-perfect depiction of the complex relationships found in a small town, complete with decades-old rivalries and alliances; a mystery that involves murder and lost treasure and rumors of witchcraft and vampires; it's atmospheric and spooky, with lots and lots of great Gothic-style chills; Verity is a heroine who is bright and plucky and flawed and, my favorite, A PRODUCT OF HER OWN TIME PERIOD, rather than just a modern-day girl swanning around in a corset; a slow-burning romance that grows out of trust and friendship, rather than springing fully-formed out of simple physical attraction and raging hormones; and an Author's Note that gives us details about the real-life inspiration for the story.

If that sounds at all enticing, you should read it. It's excellent across the board, and you will not be disappointed.

If you've already read The Caged Graves and are looking for more creepy fun, take a spin through Dianne K. Salerni's list of her own seven favorite Gothic novels. If you're still waffling about picking it up, I suspect that her good taste will win you over:

Moura, by Virginia Coffman 

A young woman leaves her position at a girl’s school to become the governess of a former student at the haunted Chateau Moura. I don’t know how many times I read this book as a teenager. It’s rather like a retelling of Jane Eyre, except with creepy animal killings, secret passages, a suicide that might have been murder, and a ghost with bloody pulp for a face. (I’m fairly sure that’s how it was described in the book.)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson 

Two sisters live in a mansion, ostracized by the townspeople and blamed for the mysterious poisoning that wiped out the rest of their family. The arrival of a cousin upsets their world and stirs up old talk of murder and witchcraft. This book was my first introduction to the unreliable narrator, and Mary Katherine Blackwood is as creepy as she appears on the cover of my edition.

The Album, by Mary Roberts Rinehart 

I could have put almost any Mary Roberts Rinehart mystery on this list. I read as many as I could lay my hands on, compulsively. But The Album was one of my favorites. Five connected families live in the five houses on The Crescent, making thirteen residents altogether (not counting the servants!), all hiding their own secrets and family skeletons, until the day old Mrs. Lancaster is “brutally and savagely done to death with an axe.”

My Cousin Rachel, by Daphne du Maurier 

Everyone is familiar with Rebecca, but I prefer the lesser known Rachel and the shocking end of this book. When Philip’s cousin Ambrose dies of a strange illness shortly after marrying the enigmatic Rachel, he immediately suspects her of murdering her new husband for his fortune. Philip isn’t expecting to fall in love with Rachel himself—or to subsequently fall ill with the same symptoms that killed Ambrose.

The Ivy Tree, by Mary Stewart 

Mary Stewart is another mystery writer I read compulsively, but The Ivy Tree is probably the one I re-read the most, trying to catch all the clues strewn about by the unreliable narrator. After Mary Grey is nearly assaulted by a young man over a case of mistaken identity, it seems unlikely that this same young man could talk her into impersonating his cousin, Annabel Winslow. However, she does agree to impersonate the missing heiress – but not for the reason you think.

Anna’s Book, by Barbara Vine 

This is one I read as an adult, re-read, and recommended to all mystery lovers. Barbara Vine (really Ruth Rendell) has several really good psychological mysteries, but Anna’s Book is particularly “gothic.” The diary of an Edwardian-era Danish immigrant to the UK is published by her daughter and unexpectedly becomes a best-seller. But, as her granddaughter discovers, it is the pages that were ripped out of the original diary which contain the key to two unsolved mysteries: a gruesome multiple murder and the disappearance of an infant.

The Witching Hour, by Anne Rice 

This was another book I read as an adult, and it’s got to be the most gothic of all gothic books. I don’t think it’s missing a single element of the genre: a family secret that traces back through generations, ghosts, witchcraft, murder, suicide, insanity, and a creepy old house. It seems impossible that anyone could read a 900+ page novel in one sitting, but I did.

Dianne K. Salerni is the author of The Caged Graves and We Hear the Dead, and can be found online at her website, her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Previously:

Beth Revis' Top Ten Modern YA Science Fiction novels.

Ten Books that Shaped Laura Lam's Pantomime.

Madness, Tortured Romance, and a Heck of a Lot of Castles: Megan Shepherd's Love Affair with Gothic Literature... or, Megan Shepherd's Eight Favorite Gothics.

Lauren Roedy Vaughn's Five Favorite Literary Adult Mentors... Plus Two Characters Who Need One.

Beth Revis' Top Ten Modern YA Science Fiction novels.

Although it's certainly not the only YA space opera in existence, I credit Beth Revis' Across the Universe trilogy—comprised of Across the Universe, A Million Suns, and Shades of Earth—with bringing the subgenre to a more broadly mainstream readership... WITHOUT sacrificing the science fiction elements or simply setting a popular storyline in outer space.

In other words, this is not Twilight or The Hunger Games or Harry Potter in space. Each installment of Across the Universe is something different—the first book is a murder mystery, the second a political thriller, the third a frontier adventure—but they're all tied together by the overarching story, by ongoing themes of growth and independence and choice and sacrifice and leadership and love, and by the coming-of-age of the main characters. 

The trilogy is exciting and romantic and epic and surprising and original; it stars a refreshingly difficult heroine and showcases OUTSTANDING character development; each book is very much one part of a larger whole, but still works as a satisfying story unto itself; as the best science fiction stories do, it explores current-day issues in a futuristic setting WITHOUT being overly obvious or preachy; it's atmospheric and claustrophobic, it contrasts the wondrous vastness of space with the frustration of being stuck—maybe forever—on a ship that may never reach its destination; it's realistic in that the characters face difficult, complicated situations to which there are no easy answers...

I could go on, but that's enough from me, take it away, Beth!

When I finished the first draft of Across the Universe, one of the first things I did was go to my small local indie bookstore and ask for all the YA science fiction they had. I wanted to know the market inside and out. And what I found was…no market. My bookstore had three SF novels on the YA shelf: Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games, Stephanie Meyer's The Host, and Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game. And while I’d read all three, what I wanted was more: more variety, more diversity, more space, just more.

Fortunately, in the past few years, there’s been a boom in YA SF. There is a lot more available—and more coming. I actually had a really hard time narrowing down this list to just ten titles! In the end, I decided to restrict myself to works that were published between 2011 and the end of this year. Although two of my selections are dystopians, I tried to err on the side of sci fi. So, without further ado, here’s some of my personal favorite modern YA SF—in no specific order, as I love them all equally.

Origin, by Jessica Khoury

Pia is a child of science—literally. Born in a science commune hidden in the jungle, she has been raised to be the perfect scientist. As she learns more about who—and what—she is, she must decide whether it is worth it to choose her own destiny, or take the one carefully planned for her. This novel has some of my favorite elements of sci fi: a healthy mix of philosophy, action, and possibilities.

Memento Nora, by Angie Smibert

Of all the novels on this list, Memento Nora scares me the most, because it is eerily close to being true already. Nora lives in a world where people have given up their freedoms due to fear of terrorist attacks—and many choose to give up their memories, too. When she decides to hold on to her memories—despite the bad ones—she realizes just what true terrorism is.

Hourglass, by Myra McEntire

I love a time travel novel. The first of a trilogy, Hourglass tells the story of Emerson, a true Southern girl who sees ghosts. Except they’re not ghosts. They’re echoes of the past—a past that Em can travel to. With hot boys, a healthy dose of snark, and an appropriately twisty plot, this book is such a fun read.

Cinder, by Marissa Meyer

Cinder is so high-concept that you can tell what the book is by looking at the cover—it’s a sci fi retelling of Cinderella with a cyborg instead of a princess. Brilliant, am I right? Cinder has cyborg-feet, a Prince, an evil queen that lives on the moon, and such an entertaining voice that I couldn’t put the book down. The sequel, Scarlet, tells the story of Little Red Riding Hood with a Wolf who’s a spaceship captain, and I am chomping at the bit for the next title coming, Cress, which features my favorite fairy tale, Rapunzel.

For Darkness Shows the Stars, by Diana Peterfreund

Beautifully told, this novel is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion in a far-future New Zealand. This isn’t a novel about an apocalypse—it’s about what happens after, to the ones who live far past a world event that rocks the whole world. But it’s also a love story, a commentary on technology, a story of class and prejudice, and so much more.

Tempest, by Julie Cross

Did I mention that I love time travel novels? I so do. Pick this one up for the hero, Jackson. He starts off as a jerk with a special talent for falling back in time, but when something truly traumatic happens, he finds himself stuck in the past—and given a chance to save the life of the girlfriend whose death he’s partially responsible for. Jackson’s older than most YA characters, and definitely a boy—but all the more realistic because of it.

Control, by Lydia Kang
Coming December 2013

Lydia Kang is a genius. No, I’m not exaggerating. She’s a doctor. She knows science inside and out. And it shows in this smart novel of a future where genetics have gone awry. Ostensibly, this novel tells about a group of teens on the run; their genetic mutations and anomalies have made them very special to the wrong people. But more than that, this is a book about loving someone not despite their differences, but because of them. And I’m not talking about just romantic love (although there is that), but also familial love, friendship, and more. 

Tandem, by Anna Jarzab
Coming October 2013

This is a book about parallel worlds. In the multiverse, there are many different copies of people in different worlds. In her world—this world—Sasha is an ordinary girl. But in another world, she’s a princess. Dragged across the multiverse, she must learn what happened to the original princess, how to save the people she’s come to care about, and, maybe, how to get home. 

Perfect Ruin, by Lauren DeStefano
Coming October 2013

A mix between science, alt-history, fantasy, and something unique all its own, Perfect Ruin is the perfect follow up to the Chemical Garden trilogy. Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender will love the unique wordplay of the new world Lauren’s created, and those sick of dystopians will love the utopian portrayal of Internment at the start of the novel. The best part? Internment is truly a unique setting for a cast of amazingly unique characters. You will love them all. 

These Broken Stars, by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Coming December 2013

I was so lucky to get an early copy of this book! This is exactly the sort of sci fi I wished I’d had growing up. It starts off in what is essentially a Titanic of the stars, a luxury spaceship that provides a contrast between the two main characters—a girl born to opulence and a poor boy who’s risen the ranks of the military. When the ship crashes—and they’re the only survivors—they must find a way home on an inhospitable alien planet. You will absolutely, positively not be able to guess the end of this explosive book. 

Bonus!
Love Minus Eighty, by Will McIntosh
Available Now

This one’s not YA, but it reads like one (in that it’s not hard SF, has a quick pace, is more focused on characters than most adult SF, etc.). It’s an absolutely fascinating look at a possible future where, if you’re hot and young enough when you die, you can be frozen, revived only if you’re willing to be a contracting bride for the very rich. There’s some adult language in this one, and some racy ideas, but nothing too inappropriate on-screen, so mature readers will definitely be able to get a lot out of this adult title, and I highly recommend it. It’s a modern Philip K. Dick / Twilight Zone hybrid.

Beth Revis is the author of the Across the Universe trilogy, and can be found online pretty much everywhere, including her website, her blog, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter.

Previously:

Ten Books that Shaped Laura Lam's Pantomime.

Madness, Tortured Romance, and a Heck of a Lot of Castles: Megan Shepherd's Love Affair with Gothic Literature... or, Megan Shepherd's Eight Favorite Gothics.

Lauren Roedy Vaughn's Five Favorite Literary Adult Mentors... Plus Two Characters Who Need One.

Ten Books that Shaped Laura Lam's Pantomime.

Have you read Pantomime yet? I read it over six months ago, and it's so very memorable that despite having read and written about dozens of books since, it's stayed with me more clearly than anything else I've read yet this year. I have no doubt whatsoever that come December, it'll be very high up on my Favorites of 2013 list.

Pantomime is about sixteen-year-old Micah Grey, who gets caught trespassing at a circus and then ends up getting hired on as one of their new aerialists. It's about identity and control, acceptance and love, family and friends and self. It's a fantasy novel that read and feels like historical fiction; Micah's voice is original and believable and honest; it has stellar world-building and complex character development and enormous emotional impact, and I am dying for the sequel. DYING.

Due to the theme of Laura's list, if you want to remain spoiler-free, you might want to read the book BEFORE you read the list, but believe you me, once you've read the book, you'll very definitely want to check it out! And now, here's Laura:

I’ve been a bookworm as long as I can remember. So much so that my friends for a time called me Nose-in-a-Book at school, as I was that kid reading while walking between classes.

I’m a promiscuous reader and love reading across genres, so for the list of 10 books I’ll do: 3 adult fiction, 4 non-fiction, and 3 YA fiction.

Adult fiction

1. Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen: I read this book after I’d already started Pantomime, but I wanted to see how other authors treated the themes and motifs of circuses in fiction. This one worked the best for me, as I really liked the interpersonal relationships between the members of the circus.

2. The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch: I love the worldbuilding in this book, the first instalment of the Gentleman Bastard series. Camorr is a land based a little bit on Venice, and there’s a couple of similarities between it and the land of Ellada. I actually swore out loud when I read it for the first time because he has Elderglass worked into the architecture of the city. My Penglass is different, as no one knows what’s inside them, but it was a strange moment of synchronicity.

3. Any book ever by Robin Hobb, but especially Assassin’s Apprentice: Robin Hobb is my favourite author, and I’ve read her books more time than I can count. I love her prose, her world-building, and the way her characters get under your skin. This book is about the bastard son of a prince being chosen to become an assassin, but at the same time it’s so much more. I don’t think Pantomime would be the book it became without Hobb’s influence.

Non-fiction

4. Hermaphrodites and the Medical Invention of Sex, by Alice Domurat Dreger: This was the first research book I read on intersex issues for Pantomime, and it was the book that made me realise that even though I was scared, this was a book I had to at least try my very best to tell. I didn’t realise how terribly intersex people were treated in the 19^th century (called hermaphrodites back then), and how in some ways our treatment of people with ambiguous genitalia hasn’t changed much since then. The 19^th century was when medical professionals went from displaying them as interesting subjects to actively trying to “fix” them with surgery. You can see a longer review of it here.

5. Intersex, by Catherine Harper: Another very valuable book that looked at how intersex people are treated in modern times. Some of the stories brought me to tears and made me so very angry and sad.

6. The Circus and Victorian Society, by Brenda Assael: This was the most useful research book on history as it focused on how it reflected Victorian sensibilities. It looks at the beginnings of the circus as low-brow entertainment on fairgrounds and how it transformed to lavish affairs in amphitheatres performed for royalty. It looks at equestrians, clowns, and women and children performers. A longer review can be found here.

7. Phantasmagoria: Spirit Visions, Metaphors, and Media into the Twenty-First Century, by Marina Warner: I read this book in university as part of a Folk Religion and Magic anthropology class, right when I was first contemplating the character of Micah Grey and world-building. At times incredibly dense, it still taught me a lot. From the jacket copy: “Warner tells the unexpected and often disturbing story about shifts in thought about consciousness and the individual person, from the first public waxworks portraits at the end of the eighteenth century to stories of hauntings, possession, and loss of self in modern times. She probes the perceived distinctions between fantasy and deception, and uncovers a host of spirit forms--angels, ghosts, fairies, revenants, and zombies--that are still actively present in contemporary culture.”

Young adult fiction

8. Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld: I love this series, which is a steampunk look at WWI. One of the main characters is a girl disguised as a boy, which was a long fascination with me growing up. I love the idea of girls doing whatever boys can do, but then I decided to write a book where even when the girl is dressed as a boy, it’s not a disguise, either.

9. The Bone Doll’s Twin, by Lynn Flewelling: I read the first instalment of the Tamir Triad when I was 15. Two twins are born, but the mad king is killing all female heirs to the throne because of a prophecy. So they disguise the girl twin as a boy, but to do so they have to use dark magic and kill the male twin. No one tells Tobin that he’s really Tamir, and he grows up in a secluded keep. Deliciously creepy, it’s a great read.

10. His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman: Last but not least, I love above all how deliciously clever His Dark Materials trilogy is. I love Will and Lyra and I want a daemon so much. Excellent books that deserve the success they’ve had.

Laura Lam is the author of Pantomime, and can be found in various places online, including Facebook, Twitter, and at her website.

Madness, Tortured Romance, and a Heck of a Lot of Castles: Megan Shepherd's Love Affair with Gothic LiteratureOr, Megan Shepherd's Eight Favorite Gothics.

Thus far, Megan Shepard's The Madman's Daughter hits the most Gothic-y Gothic heights I've seen in a YA novel yet: it's a reimagining of H.G. Wells' The Island of Doctor Moreau from the perspective of his abandoned daughter Juliet, and it's darkly romantic and scary and lush and grotesque and JUST WONDERFUL.

But if you wanted to hear me gush on and on about it, you'd already have clicked through to my review. So without further ado, here's Megan!

Compiling a list of my favorite Gothic literature requires a certain ambiance: a steaming cup of tea, a cat in lap, preferably lightning crashing beyond the window. I’ve liked Gothic literature since before I even knew what it was, when I used to daydream about sword fights and desolate moors and tragic lovers going mad. (Yes, I was a strange kid. I think that surprises no one.) I’m delighted that many Young Adult authors are beginning to write more in this genre, though of course Gothic sentiments have been present in YA literature for decades (VC Andrews’ infamous Flowers in the Attic comes to mind, perhaps also elements of Robert Cormier’s brilliant The Chocolate War). Below are some of my favorite Gothic classics, Gothic fiction for adults, and more recent YA Gothic fiction.

The Name of the Star, by Maureen Johnson

This chilling YA mystery deals with a ghostly Jack the Ripper stalking the modern-day streets of London. When American Rory Deveaux moves there to attend boarding school, the last thing she expects is to be swept up in “Rippermania” and worse, to become the killer’s target. This supernatural thriller has plenty of humor, romance, and shocking twists to satisfy the most devout Gothic devotee.

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

What could be more Gothic than an orphaned governess falling in love with the brooding and mysterious Mr. Rochester? Oh yeah, lots of secrets in the attic and gasp-worthy twists. Originally published in 1847, Bronte’s classic is one of the defining novels of the Gothic genre and a must-read by anyone who enjoys a desolate atmosphere, haunting mood, and an ill-fated romance.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, by April Tucholke

The atmosphere is languid, dark, and mysterious in this forthcoming YA novel about teenaged Violet White’s eccentric New England family. When a handsome and devilish stranger rents her family’s guest house, Violet is in for a romantic—and dangerous—summer. River West is all charm and secrets, but when odd and deadly occurrences start appearing at the same time he does, Violet wonders if River is the boy of her dreams or a devil in disguise. A chilling and beautifully written romantic thriller.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds, by Cat Winters

With a main character named Mary Shelley Black, I knew I’d love this historical YA filled with ghosts, war, and an unusual romance. Set against the backdrop of WWI and the Spanish influenza—an epidemic that feels like a sinister, lurking character—the séances and spiritualism of the book will satisfy the reader in all of us who craves a good Gothic tale. An atmospheric and creepy novel steeped in both historical realism and a dose of the supernatural.

The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield

Family secrets and obsessions run wild in this Gothic tale about a biographer who received a mysterious letter in the mail from a famous author wanting to tell her life story. The creepy elements leap off the page: ghosts, sprawling estates, moors, and tea. Aren’t you just dying to know what the thirteenth tale is? A Gothic story for true bibliophiles.

Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte

The Bronte sisters really nailed the Gothic genre, didn’t they? Also published in 1847, Wuthering Heights is another deliciously romantic Gothic classic spanning generations of tortured souls on the windswept English moors. The passionate love affair between Catherine and Heathcliff is bursting with revenge, forbidden love, and a legacy of unrequited love.

Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake

Though more straight-up horror than Gothic, this YA ghost story still has plenty of creepy Gothic elements: a cursed girl, a loner boy, legends and lore. Following in his father’s footsteps, Cas Lowood is a hunter of murderous ghosts. When he tracks down the legendary Anna Dressed in Blood, however, he discovers a tragic and lovely soul behind the ghost. How can he kill the girl he’s starting to fall in love with?

Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Luis Zafron

I’ve been a fan of Spanish literature since spending a year studying at the University of Seville; Carlos Luis Zafron is one of the best modern Spanish writers. This book, set after the Spanish Civil War, follows Daniel, son of an antiquarian book seller, as he tracks down the fate of a mysterious author and finds creepy similarities to his own life. With section headings like “Cemetery of Forgotten Books” and “Remembrance of the Lost,” this book takes readers on a wild tale of madness, love, and mystery.

Megan Shepherd is the author of The Madman's Daughter, and can be found online at her website and at Twitter.

Lauren Roedy Vaughn's Five Favorite Literary Adult Mentors... Plus Two Characters Who Need One.

Danielle Levine attends Meadow Oaks, a school for "high-potential students with learning disabilities". In addition to chronicling her senior year in OCD, the Dude, and Me—a year that includes required participation in a social skills class, an introduction to the community and culture surrounding The Big Lebowski, and a new friendship that helps her begin to re-enter the world—Danielle includes her correspondence with her English teacher and her school therapist, both of whom end up being hugely helpful, and hugely awesome.

So it's fitting that for this guest post, author Lauren Roedy Vaughn chose to write about her favorite mentors in literature. Take it away, Lauren!

Dr. Robert Brooks is a clinical psychologist serving on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. He’s written many helpful books, and he lectures worldwide. He speaks often about the powerful role of “the charismatic adult,” (a caring mentor) who provides invaluable support. According to Dr. Brooks, nurturing mentors help struggling young people “gather strength.” In my book OCD, The Dude, and Me, Danielle Levine transforms, in great part, because of the presence of charismatic adults. I’d like to present a few of my favorite reads that offer characters whose lives are enriched or could have been enriched from such mentors. Stories of this nature inspire us to show up for the kids in our lives and affirm that the time and energy we give to them matters in the richest terms.

Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erskine

Caitlin Smith is a young girl with Aspergers; she sees the world in rigid, black and white terms, but that doesn’t protect her from the discomfort of loss. Faced with the challenge of trying to process her brother’s violent death, Caitlin needed guidance. Thank goodness Ms. Erskine wrote into being a loving father and a skilled school counselor who could serve that role well. They provide Caitlin with the closure she insightfully seeks.

Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Melinda Sordino is unable to verbalize the trauma of being raped, and she retreats from the world and suffers outcast status. Her sensitive art teacher, Mr. Freeman, assigns a project through which she is able to find her voice and heal. Thank goodness for Mr. Freeman’s vision. His lesson plan was life changing. A powerful story told with authenticity. 

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, by Louis Sachar

The opening of this touching story reads, “Bradley Chalkers sat at his desk in the back of the room—last seat, last row. No one sat at the desk next to him or at the one in front of him. He was an island.” As a special education teacher, I was hooked from the get go. I think I said aloud, “Oh, someone please help Bradley Chalkers!” Luckily, someone does. The newly hired and controversial school counselor, Carla Davis, connects with Bradley and teaches him that he is not the monster he thinks he is. Through the tears, I cheered a lot during this read.

Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X Stork

I love a good story about a hero who is helped along the way. This book fits the bill. Marcelo Sandoval is seventeen and is described as having "a cognitive disorder."  His father believes he needs to spend some time "in the real world," so Marcelo goes to work at his father’s law firm for the summer. Marcelo learns that "the real world" is complicated and fraught with hypocrisy. Through the support of Jasmine, his supervisor in the mailroom, Marcelo finds the strength to make a difficult moral choice. I’m so glad you weren’t alone while facing a moral crisis, Marcelo!

The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson

Perhaps the most iconic of charismatic adult stories. God bless the genius of Annie Sullivan. She gave Hellen Keller to herself and to the world.

Mr. Frumble's Worst Day Ever, by Richard Scarry

Mr. Frumbles suffers from a classic case of undiagnosed ADHD, and I worried about him (with good reason) throughout his entire day in this well illustrated story. Mr. Frumbles, the poor pig, did not have a moment’s peace from the time he woke up and put his bathrobe on backwards until he made it home in the evening and flooded his house while preparing for his bath. If Mr. Frumbles procures a life coach or a loving someone who can help him strategize and plan for his daily events, he may not have to end another day by saying, “This has been a really bad day!” I hope so. Poor, Mr. Frumbles. I’ve known lots of students who could relate to his mishaps.

The Stranger, by Albert Camus

This is a well-known and well-studied book in many languages. Recently, I reread this painful tale, and I kept thinking, “Meursault is on the autism spectrum. He is being dangerously misunderstood. A psychologist or special educator could explain, to him and to all involved, why his reactions seem out of place.” My heart broke page after page. The lack of a charismatic adult in Meursault’s life was literally a matter of life or death! 

Lauren Roedy Vaughn is the author of OCD, the Dude, and Me, and you can find her online at her website and at Twitter.