Spin the Sky

September 26, 2016
Magnolia “Mags” Woodson, 18, has always turned to dance when things got bad. After Mags’s mother, a sometimes prostitute and constant drug addict, causes the death of the mayor’s daughter in a drug overdose, the reputations of Mags and her older sister, Rose, are tarnished, making life in Summerland, Ore., almost unbearable. But Mags has a plan: she is going to try out for a reality dance competition, Live to Dance, where she hopes to win over her town, in addition to the cash prize. Debut author MacKenzie, a former dancer, believably captures Mags’s overburdened and self-defeating voice, as well as her confusion over her crush on her (probably gay) best friend George and her petty jealousies involving others vying for George’s attentions. However, as realistic as Mags’s voice is, and as on-point MacKenzie’s descriptions of dance are, the narrative is slow and meandering. The story picks up once the competition begins, but Mags’s development as a character doesn’t really start until after her inevitable injury. Ages 12–up. Agent: Victoria Marini, Gelfman Schneider

September 15, 2016
Magnolia has a chance to dance her way out of her small, coastal Oregon town and into stardom on a reality TV show called Live to Dance.Magnolia, an 18-year-old with "perfectly pecan color" skin, needs to get away from the shaming she and her white half sister, Rose, face because of their absent mother's actions. Many of Summerland's residents steer clear of them, even while they're digging clams to make ends meet. Magnolia's audition takes her to LA, where she's plunged into a diverse cast of hopeful teens, all under the scrutiny of judges who pick them off one by one. Like Katniss and Peeta in The Hunger Games, the contestants are prepped by stylists to reveal their individual back stories: "You look perfect," Magnolia's assures her. "Raw. Wearing your own sores." TV and internet viewers watch clips of the dancers' reactions to being on the show and the interactions among them, along with weekly dance performances. The fast-paced story moves away from the theme of Magnolia's love of dance and into a soap opera laced with betrayal, breakups and hookups, friendships lost and gained. Life lessons abound, as Magnolia's dance instructor's encouragement to "dig deeper" is reflected in Magnolia's clam digging as a metaphor for escaping the psychological distress that holds her back from her dreams. A lively and absorbing story with all the drama of teen life. (Fiction. 12-15)

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November 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-In her debut young adult novel, the author draws on her background in dance to create a first-person narrative about a young woman striving to "dance herself free" of obstacles. Life in a small Oregon coastal town, Summerland, is fraught with taunts and accusations for Magnolia after her addict mother commits a crime. The only time she feels accepted is when she is practicing at the dance studio. After her popular, handsome best friend, George, discovers that tryouts for a television dance contest will be held in a nearby city, he convinces her to compete. Despite her strong sense that George "plays for the other team," Magnolia is infatuated with him, until he betrays her on national television. Magnolia is able to befriend other competitors, though, all of whom have their own issues. Snobby, beautiful Olivia has a mother who belittles her and calls her a loser. Loudmouthed Jack has trouble expressing himself and is perceived as a bully. Magnolia slowly realizes that the widening of her social circle empowers her with empathy. Though the themes of this title are not new, MacKenzie deftly explores the idea that each person experiences pain, often deeply hidden from the world, as well as the maturity that comes from that understanding. Teens questioning the status quo and thinking about an independent future, regardless of their family situations, will find interest in Magnolia's journey. VERDICT Recommended for mature high school readers who prefer fiction that speaks to real-life situations.-Denise Kim, Bronx High School of Science, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 14, 2012
After 15 years of wandering space and encountering various mutated humans with the names and characteristics of Greek gods and monsters, Cesar Vaquero finally returns to the orbital colony Ithaca, a sort of Texas in space. He finds his family ranch threatened by saboteurs; his almost-grown son, Trevor, collecting stories of his missing father; and his “fluffy little kitten” wife. Penelope, grown into a “panther” beset by suitors. Posing as a homeless drifter, Cesar must find a way to rescue his wife, save his ranch, and perhaps most difficult, earn his family’s forgiveness. Stauber (Revolution World) festoons this retelling of Homer’s Odyssey with clichés that range from amusing (“Their eyes flash and their chests heave and their lips meet”) to incoherent and offensive (a loyal, none-too-bright Mexican servant whose psychic powers only appear when convenient to the protagonists). Melodramatic characters, repetitive prose, and a narrative littered with clumsy infodumps add up to a tedious, unsatisfying read.