A Review of Kawai Strong Washburn’s Sharks in the Time of Saviors (MCD, 2020).

[jacobballew]

So, I read Kawai Strong Washburn’s Sharks in the Time of Saviors (MCD, 2020) in anticipation of a course on speculative fiction concerning American writers of color. Washburn’s work fits perfectly based upon its narrative conceit and opening: “In 1995 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on a rare family vacation, seven-year-old Nainoa Flores falls overboard a cruise ship into the Pacific Ocean. When a shiver of sharks appears in the water, everyone fears for the worst. But instead, Noa is gingerly delivered to his mother in the jaws of a shark, marking his story as the stuff of legends. Nainoa’s family, struggling amidst the collapse of the sugarcane industry, hails his rescue as a sign of favor from ancient Hawaiian gods—a belief that appears validated after he exhibits puzzling new abilities. But as time passes, this supposed divine favor begins to drive the family apart: Nainoa, working now as a paramedic on the streets of Portland, struggles to fathom the full measure of his expanding abilities; further north in Washington, his older brother Dean hurtles into the world of elite college athletics, obsessed with wealth and fame; while in California, risk-obsessed younger sister Kaui navigates an unforgiving academic workload in an attempt to forge her independence from the family’s legacy. When supernatural events revisit the Flores family in Hawai’i—with tragic consequences—they are all forced to reckon with the bonds of family, the meaning of heritage, and the cost of survival.” The novel uses (primarily) four alternating perspectives to great effect: Nainoa, Dean, Kaui, and their mother all receive primary storytelling billing, and we follow their rotating perspectives, as each character grows, matures, and must deal with Nainoa’s growing abilities. I will put in somewhat of a spoiler here, —so look away if you do not want to know—

**Spoiler**

( Read more... )

 

 
From there the novel sort of begins a slow disintegration. By the word “disintegration,” I don’t mean that it loses its beautifully crafted qualities but rather that the family faces one of its biggest tests, one that pushes them to consider what it is that binds them and why it is that Nainoa ever came to be saved by the sharks. Washburn’s prose is as magical as his story, and it is his great attention and love for his characters that makes this work rise to its highest levels. My only minor quibble with this text is that I wanted more of the Hawaiian folklore explored in a more informational way, only insofar as I think some of the impact of the novel’s ending was lost of me because I didn’t understand all of the cultural contexts. Despite my readerly limitations, the book is sure to be read widely and joins a rich tradition of regionalist literature set in Hawaii. A novel fit to be taught next to Lois Ann Yamanaka’s Behold the Many or R. Zammora Linmark’s Rolling the R’s.

 

Buy the Book Here:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374272081

A Review of Victoria Ying’s City of Secrets

[jacobballew]

Hardcover | $22.99  
Published by Viking Books for Young Readers
Jul 28, 2020 | 256 Pages | 6 x 9| Middle Grade (8-12)| ISBN 9780593114483

 

This graphic novel was a real pleasant surprise. I sort of wanted a break from standard narrative, so it arrived at just the right moment. I also refused to go to bed at first and was rummaging around, trying to figure out what to read. Well, Victoria Ying’s City of Secrets (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2020) was most certainly the right pick. Let’s let the official marketing description give us some context: “Ever Barnes is a shy orphan guarding a secret in an amazing puzzle box of a building. Most of the young women who work at the building's Switchboard Operating Facility, which connects the whole city of Oskar, look the other way as Ever roams around in the shadows. But one of them, Lisa, keeps an eye on the boy. So does the head of the Switchboard, Madame Alexander . . . a rather sharp eye. Enter Hannah, the spunky daughter of the building's owner. She thinks Ever needs a friend, even if he doesn't know it yet. Good thing she does! Lisa and Madame Alexander are each clearly up to something. Ever is beset by a menacing band of rogues looking to unlock the secret he holds—at any cost. And whatever is hidden deep in the Switchboard building will determine all of their futures. On a journey that twists and turns as much as the mechanical building Ever Barnes calls home, he and his new friend Hannah have to ­ and out what's really going on in this mysterious city of secrets . . . or else!” It was interesting to later hear Ying speak on a podcast about the challenges of drawing this graphic novel, as it is based upon a fictional city, Oskar, that is made of moving parts. Yes, parts of the city can shift and move. The Switchboard itself is one large building that is constantly in motion. Fortunately for the Switchboard workers, Ever also happens to know how the building works, so even if there is a minor hiccup, he is there to fix things. There are a ton of twists and turns in this plot, especially as it becomes known that Ever is being targeted by some nefarious individuals. Ever is entrusted with a secret: a safe must be guarded, even though he does not know what is inside. Eventually, Ever is forced to open the safe. With Hannah’s help, they begin to unravel a larger secret that will likely impact the future of Oskar. Ying leaves us with some dangling questions by the graphic novel’s end, so there’s likely to be at least one sequel. I really did appreciate hearing Ying speak about her process and the things she learned when completing this work. For instance, she began to understand why other graphic artists often choose to use more simple costumes for their characters. As Ying discovered, it enables them to keep the continuity without having to spend so much extra time on difficult-to-redraw clothes. Ying also discussed her manga-inspired roots, with her interest in Ranma ½, which was also a favorite of mine, so that was very cool. In any case, there is much to laud in this particular work which crackles with a unique plot and hooks us with the dynamic interplay between its two spritely protagonists. This is sure to be a hit amongst readers of all ages, not just the targeted demographic.

 
Watch the (AMAZING) animated trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMlVcJ8DH2Y 

 

Buy the Book Here:

 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/city-of-secrets-victoria-ying/1134673154