Ironside

Title: Ironside; A Modern Faery’s Tale

Author: Holly Black

Publication date: 2007

Number of pages: 323

Genre: Young Adult fiction

Geographical Setting: New York City & New Jersey

Time Period: present, 2000s

Series: yes, third book of the Faerie series, more of continuation of the first book Tithe

Plot Summary: Pixie changeling Kaye is in love with the king of the Unseelie Court. There is war brewing with his kingdom and the rival Seelie Court. Kaye finds herself in the middle as the possible key to bringing peace and stopping death on the faerie and human side. She also struggles with the desire to tell her human mother that she is not the daughter she gave birth to while her best friend, the human Corny, joins her on this quest.

Subject Headings: coming of age, faeries, supernatural, homosexuality, fantasy, love, first love, betrayal, loyalty, war, urban fantasy

Appeal: exciting addition to the Faerie series; tackles issues facing young adults like first love, homosexuality, identity; fantasy set in modern times and location

If you liked Ironside, you might enjoy: Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones, Charles de Lint’s Little (Grrl) Lost, Herbie Brennan’s Faerie Wars

Weetzie Bat

Title: Weetzie Bat

Author: Francesca Lia Block

Publication date: 1989

Number of pages: 109

Genre: fiction, Young Adult fiction
Geographical Setting: L.A., Hollywood
Time Period: 1980s

Series: yes, first in the Weetzie Bat series

Plot Summary: Weetzie is an offbeat individual living in Hollywood. A child of divorce, nobody understands Weetzie. She has a bleached-blond flattop and wears vintage clothes. She meets her best friend Dirk in high school who takes her slam-dancing at clubs in L.A. Dirk reveals to her that he is gay and this is just fine with her. They go “duck-hunting” together and dream about their true loves. Dirk’s grandmother gives Weetzie a gift that grants her three wishes. Both Weetzie and Dirk meet their true loves and live in a fairytale-like cottage together. They make underground films that are successful and have a baby they raise together. Their lives are not completely a fairy tale but their love for each other is allows them close to happily ever after.

Subject Headings: love, individuality, blended families, homosexuality, filmmaking, punk-style, death, suicide, nontraditional families, children out of wedlock, L.A., Hollywood, alcoholism, three wishes, “duck-hunting”

Appeal: fairy tale-like, love story, 1950s style and film references, punk fashion, beginning of AIDS epidemic, minimalist-style of writing, poetic-style of writing, Charlotte Zolotow Book, lonely teenage girls could identify with Weetzie, characters’ own vernacular, rape incident, 1980s Hollywood club scene, loss of parent by suicide, alcoholic parent

If you liked the Weetzie Bat series, you might enjoy: Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, Clara Vidal's Like a Thorn, Nadine Monem’s Riot Grrrl: Revolution girl Style Now!