Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick
My rating: 3/5 cats
this is one of those three-star cats situations where i am giving it three stars cats for me, karen, and not for the larger world. i liked her writing a lot, and i liked the premise, but i have been around the literary block a few too many times for this story to own me. i am certain its audience; those far younger and less handled by literature, would like it more.
it would have made a fantastic amazing stories episode. (you see how old i am??)
without giving too much away, i think that some of the elements could have been incorporated better into the narrative as a whole; it didn’t feel as cohesive to me as i would have liked. but that’s also what makes it entertaining, in a way; the ambition of bringing together nazis in america, a little magic, a sort of dark narnia (or should i reference the fantastic movie the gate to further show my rings), and this family mystery all together in one ball. it’s not perfect, no, but at least it’s a little different. and again, a good “boy-book” for those reluctant readers. it might be a little challenging at first, because she doesn’t really lead up to the story so much as throw the reader into the story, but once it got going, it was a good read.
i only read this because i saw all the fuss that her forthcoming book ashes was getting. i know w.d. had some complaints about it, but m.m. loved it, and maybe i will fall in between them. it sounds good to me, although i have come to trust w.d…so maybe you people will trust me. there are parts of this book that are a little predictable, but i liked so many of her descriptive passages, that i am eager to read more from her. so: three stars cats—solid, with promise, and more of a book that is perfect for its intended audience, but maybe not for the grown-ups, this time. let the kids have their own table for once, right?
and maybe that’s it, maybe that’s the problem. after the success in the adult market of books like the hunger games and, less deservedly, twilight, YA books are no longer being written for a teen audience, not really. everyone is trying to “write older” to attract the grown-ups, doubling their sales, but coyly staying in that YA market. i know this isn’t news to anyone else, but i am still relatively new to the YA world, enough so that i am frequently still impressed and surprised and say things to myself like “this doesn’t read like YA…” but you know what?? this one does. and more freaking power to it. come on, young’uns, this one is for you. and by that i don’t mean that it is flawed or childish because it isn’t, but i think it would be more fun for people who haven’t already read every other book that exists. like i have.
by the way, i have a killer migraine right now, so i am not entirely sure i am making sense or being interesting at all. i am going to start a new subset of reviewing: MBRs. please contribute, internet…let’s get this meme started…
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