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The American Fairy #1
Dust Girl
Callie LeRoux is choking on dust. Just as the biggest dust storm in history sweeps through the Midwest, Callie discovers her mother's long-kept secret: Callie’s not just mixed race—she's half fairy, too. Now, Callie's fairy kin have found where she's been hidden, and they're coming for her.
While dust engulfs the prairie, magic unfolds around Callie. Buildings flicker from lush to shabby, and people aren’t what they seem. The only person Callie can trust may be Jack, the charming ex-bootlegger she helped break out of jail.
From the despair of the Dust Bowl to the hot jazz of Kansas City and the dangerous beauties of the fairy realm, Sarah Zettel creates a world rooted equally in American history and in magic, where two fairy clans war over a girl marked by prophecy.
A strong example of diversity in YA, the American Fairy Trilogy introduces Callie LeRoux, a half-black teen who stars in this evocative story full of American history and fairy tales.
While dust engulfs the prairie, magic unfolds around Callie. Buildings flicker from lush to shabby, and people aren’t what they seem. The only person Callie can trust may be Jack, the charming ex-bootlegger she helped break out of jail.
From the despair of the Dust Bowl to the hot jazz of Kansas City and the dangerous beauties of the fairy realm, Sarah Zettel creates a world rooted equally in American history and in magic, where two fairy clans war over a girl marked by prophecy.
A strong example of diversity in YA, the American Fairy Trilogy introduces Callie LeRoux, a half-black teen who stars in this evocative story full of American history and fairy tales.
304 pages, Library Binding
First published June 26, 2012
45 people are currently reading
4105 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Zettel
60 books437 followersSarah Zettel is the critically acclaimed author of more than twenty novels, spanning the full range of genre fiction. Her debut novel, Reclamation, won the Locus Award for Best First Novel. Her second release, Fool’s War, was a 1997 New York Times Notable Book, and the American Library Association named Playing God one of the Best Books for Young Adults of 1999. Her novel Bitter Angels won the Philip K. Dick Award for best science fiction paperback in 2009. Her latest novel, Dust Girl, was named as one of the best young adult books of the year by both Kirkus Reviews and the American Library Association. Zettel lives in Michigan with her husband, her rapidly growing son, and her cat, Buffy the Vermin Slayer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
November 23, 2011
What makes a five-star read? For some people, a five-star book might mean "near-perfection" in storytelling, characterization, plot, prose, pacing, theme, and enjoyment. For me, however, a five-star read usually must have all of the following: a certain degree of uniqueness to the story's execution, great characters whom I come to love, a high level of enjoyability, and (most important of all) a story that grips me from beginning to end. If a book can grant me all of those things, then said book and I will undoubtedly have a wonderful reading courtship.
Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel was one such book.
Just a few hours ago, I honestly didn't expect Dust Girl to garner a five-star rating from me. My misgivings were many since fairy-centric books have become a bit of a tired trend in the past few years. How many times can we read about secret fey heritages, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts warring as only light and darkness can, and creatures of fairy tales and legends who are often just as horrific and monstrous as magical and mysterious? Added into the mix were an "American Fairies" spin and a setting of 1930's Kansas, two things that could have been downfalls if not executed properly. In a lesser writer's hands, Dust Girl might have been a disaster, a book full of good ideas that never met their full potential...but Sarah Zettel is definitely not a "lesser writer" since her book soared and broke through the barrier of my expectations.
In dust-ridden Slow Run, Kansas, day-to-day life is a struggle for Callie LeRoux. The dusty air clogs up her lungs and makes breathing nearly impossible at times; her "mad" mother refuses to leave the dying town all because of a long-ago promise that seems unlikely to be fulfilled; and her lack of a father is a detriment as well as a mark of scorn and judgment in society. As more and more people leave Slow Run, desperation clings to Callie. Will both she and her mother die in this abandoned town? But the dust is stirring with a changing wind to come...
Almost all the qualms I held about Dust Girl were thrown away as soon as I began reading. Callie's voice is sympathetic and realistic, tugging at the right heartstrings and making you care about this girl whose struggles are burdens upon her shoulders. The feel of the setting and time period is believable and vibrant as if Zettel had used a time machine to go back in time and take notes on just the right things to make her story's world grounded but not overbearing. Even before I reached the author's note at the end, I knew that a lot of time, care, and research had gone into making the historical aspects to this tale as true and honest as possible.
That's actually what I appreciated most about this story: its truth and honesty. Even with creatures and magic and otherworldliness present in the plot, the story is very grounded in portraying humanity and the struggles many people face while living in "normalcy." Though there are shades of optimism and idealism to the story, many of the characters have faced very real hardships such as poverty, abuse, hunger, ridicule, and judgment. I think it's a trend of our modern materialistic society that many historical fiction novels tend to follow middle- or upper-class people while forgetting or downplaying the great majority who often struggled to survive.
As for the fairies in this story, they are very much a presence (and even a threat) in this first installment, but I think this novel has only just grazed the surface of Zettel's American fairy mythology. Already the mythology feels familiar yet unique, with both light and dark factions of fairies as well as animal-spirit guides and creatures hiding in human skins. I definitely look forward to how the mythology will expand over the series and what the revelations will mean for Callie and her continuing adventures.
Though I know that I may end up being in the minority with my love for this book, I really hope that readers will give Dust Girl a try since it is so much more than a historical fiction novel or another spin on fairy lore. It's a journey, an account of a girl trying to survive and managing against all odds to bear the rough winds that life sends her way, and to me that's definitely the kind of story worth reading.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel was one such book.
Just a few hours ago, I honestly didn't expect Dust Girl to garner a five-star rating from me. My misgivings were many since fairy-centric books have become a bit of a tired trend in the past few years. How many times can we read about secret fey heritages, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts warring as only light and darkness can, and creatures of fairy tales and legends who are often just as horrific and monstrous as magical and mysterious? Added into the mix were an "American Fairies" spin and a setting of 1930's Kansas, two things that could have been downfalls if not executed properly. In a lesser writer's hands, Dust Girl might have been a disaster, a book full of good ideas that never met their full potential...but Sarah Zettel is definitely not a "lesser writer" since her book soared and broke through the barrier of my expectations.
In dust-ridden Slow Run, Kansas, day-to-day life is a struggle for Callie LeRoux. The dusty air clogs up her lungs and makes breathing nearly impossible at times; her "mad" mother refuses to leave the dying town all because of a long-ago promise that seems unlikely to be fulfilled; and her lack of a father is a detriment as well as a mark of scorn and judgment in society. As more and more people leave Slow Run, desperation clings to Callie. Will both she and her mother die in this abandoned town? But the dust is stirring with a changing wind to come...
Almost all the qualms I held about Dust Girl were thrown away as soon as I began reading. Callie's voice is sympathetic and realistic, tugging at the right heartstrings and making you care about this girl whose struggles are burdens upon her shoulders. The feel of the setting and time period is believable and vibrant as if Zettel had used a time machine to go back in time and take notes on just the right things to make her story's world grounded but not overbearing. Even before I reached the author's note at the end, I knew that a lot of time, care, and research had gone into making the historical aspects to this tale as true and honest as possible.
That's actually what I appreciated most about this story: its truth and honesty. Even with creatures and magic and otherworldliness present in the plot, the story is very grounded in portraying humanity and the struggles many people face while living in "normalcy." Though there are shades of optimism and idealism to the story, many of the characters have faced very real hardships such as poverty, abuse, hunger, ridicule, and judgment. I think it's a trend of our modern materialistic society that many historical fiction novels tend to follow middle- or upper-class people while forgetting or downplaying the great majority who often struggled to survive.
As for the fairies in this story, they are very much a presence (and even a threat) in this first installment, but I think this novel has only just grazed the surface of Zettel's American fairy mythology. Already the mythology feels familiar yet unique, with both light and dark factions of fairies as well as animal-spirit guides and creatures hiding in human skins. I definitely look forward to how the mythology will expand over the series and what the revelations will mean for Callie and her continuing adventures.
Though I know that I may end up being in the minority with my love for this book, I really hope that readers will give Dust Girl a try since it is so much more than a historical fiction novel or another spin on fairy lore. It's a journey, an account of a girl trying to survive and managing against all odds to bear the rough winds that life sends her way, and to me that's definitely the kind of story worth reading.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 23, 2014
A splendidly well-written book, set in the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Callie's mom has gone missing, but a mysterious stranger points her to the golden country around Hollywood, if she can get there somehow. Traveling with her is Jack, a hobo boy who knows how to survive in the cruel world of the Great Depression and who doesn't mind that Callie obviously has Negro blood--or is it blood from a people far more outside human experience even than the blacks of the 1930s?
Callie and Jack have embarked on a wild ride, one that includes the Seelie and Unseelie (fairy) courts, giant humanoid locusts that eat everything in sight, the old spirits known by the Native Americans, and some things that defy description (and spoilers)! I think this is one of the most unique fantasies I've ever read, written by one of my favorite adult writers who is now turning her hand to YA. Give it a try and see if you can't pick up that jazzy beat!
Callie and Jack have embarked on a wild ride, one that includes the Seelie and Unseelie (fairy) courts, giant humanoid locusts that eat everything in sight, the old spirits known by the Native Americans, and some things that defy description (and spoilers)! I think this is one of the most unique fantasies I've ever read, written by one of my favorite adult writers who is now turning her hand to YA. Give it a try and see if you can't pick up that jazzy beat!
June 20, 2012
It took me half the book to get really invested into the novel and Callie and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that Callie reads very differently as a character. I would have said differently than I am used to but really, that is not the case. I can’t quite put my finger on the exact reason why it’s difficult to get immediately immersed into the story but I think it might be because Callie’s “voice” is much younger than what I was expecting. There’s this skein of immaturity running through her observations which, while not unattractive, is a bit jarring. Plus, I think I had a bit of problem with the world building. I would have appreciated some more details about what’s happening, something more exact.
However, once the novel finds its pace and gets comfortable with the story it’s telling, it becomes compelling and the reader (me) is able to make a connection to Callie, her parental issues and her burgeoning feelings for the boy who has become the impetus for the journey she is undertaking. And okay, I have a gripe with the cover of the novel. Callie is clearly African American so why is the model on the cover white? I would understand if the issue remained ambiguous in the novel but her colour is one of the themes of the novel and since it is such a strong theme, I would have appreciated that the cover reflect the protagonist because generally that’s what covers are meant to do, no?
The mythology needs to more work. The thing is, the novels functions very strongly where the characters are concerned, Callie’s voice is distinct, the other characters are solidly developed and the internal conflicts that occur within Callie are well portrayed. The second half of the book is way stronger than the first in terms of plot pacing and development. And it ends on a good note too which makes me have higher hopes for the second book in the trilogy. I just hope there’s more world building (and the cover story is straightened out). Gah, my review is definitely scattered but take this from it if you will: if you can get yourself to read beyond the first half, you will definitely enjoy the book. It’s a different take on the fairies and I actually appreciate the way Zettel has woven in African American culture into her narrative. But what the novel is trying to do is undermined by the cover and…yeah.
However, once the novel finds its pace and gets comfortable with the story it’s telling, it becomes compelling and the reader (me) is able to make a connection to Callie, her parental issues and her burgeoning feelings for the boy who has become the impetus for the journey she is undertaking. And okay, I have a gripe with the cover of the novel. Callie is clearly African American so why is the model on the cover white? I would understand if the issue remained ambiguous in the novel but her colour is one of the themes of the novel and since it is such a strong theme, I would have appreciated that the cover reflect the protagonist because generally that’s what covers are meant to do, no?
The mythology needs to more work. The thing is, the novels functions very strongly where the characters are concerned, Callie’s voice is distinct, the other characters are solidly developed and the internal conflicts that occur within Callie are well portrayed. The second half of the book is way stronger than the first in terms of plot pacing and development. And it ends on a good note too which makes me have higher hopes for the second book in the trilogy. I just hope there’s more world building (and the cover story is straightened out). Gah, my review is definitely scattered but take this from it if you will: if you can get yourself to read beyond the first half, you will definitely enjoy the book. It’s a different take on the fairies and I actually appreciate the way Zettel has woven in African American culture into her narrative. But what the novel is trying to do is undermined by the cover and…yeah.
April 27, 2016
Maybe 3-1/2 stars. It did keep me zooming along.
Callie LeRoux and her mother operate a hotel in Slow Run, Kansas in 1935 ... or at least they did until the Dust Bowl came and the guests dried up right along with everything else. Now they just go through the motions while their town dies around them. One day, Callie's mother demands that she call her long-missing father for help -- by playing his piano. But when Callie does, her mother disappears and a string of mysterious strangers begin arriving, starting Callie on a wild journey as she seeks her parents and the truth about herself.This book was fast-paced but managed a good balance between action and character development. The Depression-era Dust Bowl setting is done really well; I could feel that dry air and the dust in my own throat, as well as the sense of hopelessness pervading the entire region. The prejudice of the time is shown well, too, as Callie is half-black and her traveling companion, Jack, is Jewish. So are the fears and animosity that come out in hard times -- a couple scenes in this book are shockingly violent and frightening.
I loved Callie's voice -- it's solidly Midwestern, and the author throws in just the right amount of Depression-era slang to anchor the time without overdoing it. All of the characters were well-drawn and interesting.
Minuses of the book would be that I didn't quite get a sense of what makes "American fairies" versus, say, British fairies (fairies aren't exactly Native American mythology, are they?), and the Seelie Court versus the Unseelie Court set-up felt a bit bog-standard to me.
Overall, though, I enjoyed this enough that I do plan to look for the two sequels soon.
April 28, 2012
Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!
"An unexpected delight" were the immediate words to pop into my head upon my all-too-soon completion of this historical remake of America in the Dust Bowl - with fairies! Teaching me once again that assumptions are flawed from the outset, both early and often Dust Girl exceeded my expectations. I got a thoroughly developed and humanly flawed heroine, a likeable rogue for a possible love interest, a fresh envisioning of the oft-used Seelie/Unseelie Courts of fae and a very unique background in which all these elements operate: Oklahoma, 1935 right in the grips of the Dust Bowl. From the first page I was taken completely by the story Sarah Zettel has crafted so skillfully and truthfully? I didn't want to end - the potential for awesome shown just in the creativity behind the ideas extends itself as well to the contents of the book.
Calliope referred to as "Callie" and her mom are barely making do in their dying town of Slow Run, Kansas. With a long-gone dad and a struggling mom, Callie is older than her age, mature and self-aware. Her personal evolution progresses right along with her travels to both find her mother and figure out her future - the more Callie sees and understands the more she matures and figures things out independently. She's a smart protagonist and it's easy to root for her with such a sympathetic voice. Callie is also one of the few non-white main characters in YA I've come across lately (Shadows on the Moon's Suzume and The Immortal Rules's Allison are the only others I can recall), but thankfully that is not the forefront of her characterization. Callie's mixed race does play a part in the plot of the novel but it by no means defines who she is as a person or character. (I also wish cover more accurately portrayed how Callie is described... )I also appreciate the subtlety in which Callie's race was used as a reminder of the horrendous state of American prejudices without Zettel overdoing it. But what else doesn't define Callie? Her offbeat and thoroughly charming-in-a-rogueish-way love interest, Jack.
Jack is a great addition to the story. He balances out Callie's personality traits with flair, history and wit of his own. I have to admit one of the things I liked best about Jack was that he's not immediately introduced as some swoon-worthy love-interest, nor is his and Callie's connection all about teenage fluctuating hormones. In this very action-packed novel, Jack and Callie make for an unusual but oddly complementary pair. They work well together, despite the occasional bickering (who hasn't been "ready to kill him stone dead" referring to someone they care about?), and I liked them for one another... not that anything progresses to that kind of crux. Those looking for a romance-charged YA novel, this is not that book. And I love Dust Girl even more for not going that predictable and inevitably boring route. If anything, what happens between the two main characters is more of an age-appropriate "puppy love" than anything else and it is adorable, and doesn't rely on cheap tricks love triangles to create affecting problems for the two..
The atmosphere/background of the novel is complete and stretches to every aspect of the book. I thoroughly believed I was in the 1930's, and the dialogue reads like how I would expect for an impoverished girl/boy at those times ("I got nothing." "A crazy Eye-Talian", etc.) It feels authentic without patronizing. Zettel also has a unique and charming way with words to paint a vivid but not overdone tapestry of locations throughout Dust Girl. As Callie and Jack move across the dust-covered lands, each different locale springs to life with very tactile but not overly descriptive prose. It's obvious that research has gone into crafting as authentic a representation as possible and Zettel succeeds with flying colors. I also liked the sprinkles of other mythlogies and lore within this tale of fae and fairies: Baya the Coyote familiar to many Native religions, and even Callie's own real name "Calliope" was a player in ancient Greek mythology. These inclusions don't feel odd in the middle of such an America-centric novel, but rather more mesh seamlessly within the larger scope of Zettel's novel of magic. The 'magic' aspect of this could've been expounded upon more (and one of the reasons I rated this a 4 instead of 5 stars is because it wasn't detailed to my satisfaction) but what was there, was serviceable. And creepy.
The other main reason why this a 4 star review and not a 5 like I'd love it to, is that the ending leaves a little to be desired. While there are two more novels left to conclude this series, everything seemed a bit too easy and simple at the resolution. It was satisfying in the most part, but I expected more about the fae/magic/the Midnight People. I guess I will just have to be patient and wait for book #2.
"An unexpected delight" were the immediate words to pop into my head upon my all-too-soon completion of this historical remake of America in the Dust Bowl - with fairies! Teaching me once again that assumptions are flawed from the outset, both early and often Dust Girl exceeded my expectations. I got a thoroughly developed and humanly flawed heroine, a likeable rogue for a possible love interest, a fresh envisioning of the oft-used Seelie/Unseelie Courts of fae and a very unique background in which all these elements operate: Oklahoma, 1935 right in the grips of the Dust Bowl. From the first page I was taken completely by the story Sarah Zettel has crafted so skillfully and truthfully? I didn't want to end - the potential for awesome shown just in the creativity behind the ideas extends itself as well to the contents of the book.
Calliope referred to as "Callie" and her mom are barely making do in their dying town of Slow Run, Kansas. With a long-gone dad and a struggling mom, Callie is older than her age, mature and self-aware. Her personal evolution progresses right along with her travels to both find her mother and figure out her future - the more Callie sees and understands the more she matures and figures things out independently. She's a smart protagonist and it's easy to root for her with such a sympathetic voice. Callie is also one of the few non-white main characters in YA I've come across lately (Shadows on the Moon's Suzume and The Immortal Rules's Allison are the only others I can recall), but thankfully that is not the forefront of her characterization. Callie's mixed race does play a part in the plot of the novel but it by no means defines who she is as a person or character. (I also wish cover more accurately portrayed how Callie is described... )I also appreciate the subtlety in which Callie's race was used as a reminder of the horrendous state of American prejudices without Zettel overdoing it. But what else doesn't define Callie? Her offbeat and thoroughly charming-in-a-rogueish-way love interest, Jack.
Jack is a great addition to the story. He balances out Callie's personality traits with flair, history and wit of his own. I have to admit one of the things I liked best about Jack was that he's not immediately introduced as some swoon-worthy love-interest, nor is his and Callie's connection all about teenage fluctuating hormones. In this very action-packed novel, Jack and Callie make for an unusual but oddly complementary pair. They work well together, despite the occasional bickering (who hasn't been "ready to kill him stone dead" referring to someone they care about?), and I liked them for one another... not that anything progresses to that kind of crux. Those looking for a romance-charged YA novel, this is not that book. And I love Dust Girl even more for not going that predictable and inevitably boring route. If anything, what happens between the two main characters is more of an age-appropriate "puppy love" than anything else and it is adorable, and doesn't rely on cheap tricks love triangles to create affecting problems for the two..
The atmosphere/background of the novel is complete and stretches to every aspect of the book. I thoroughly believed I was in the 1930's, and the dialogue reads like how I would expect for an impoverished girl/boy at those times ("I got nothing." "A crazy Eye-Talian", etc.) It feels authentic without patronizing. Zettel also has a unique and charming way with words to paint a vivid but not overdone tapestry of locations throughout Dust Girl. As Callie and Jack move across the dust-covered lands, each different locale springs to life with very tactile but not overly descriptive prose. It's obvious that research has gone into crafting as authentic a representation as possible and Zettel succeeds with flying colors. I also liked the sprinkles of other mythlogies and lore within this tale of fae and fairies: Baya the Coyote familiar to many Native religions, and even Callie's own real name "Calliope" was a player in ancient Greek mythology. These inclusions don't feel odd in the middle of such an America-centric novel, but rather more mesh seamlessly within the larger scope of Zettel's novel of magic. The 'magic' aspect of this could've been expounded upon more (and one of the reasons I rated this a 4 instead of 5 stars is because it wasn't detailed to my satisfaction) but what was there, was serviceable. And creepy.
The other main reason why this a 4 star review and not a 5 like I'd love it to, is that the ending leaves a little to be desired. While there are two more novels left to conclude this series, everything seemed a bit too easy and simple at the resolution. It was satisfying in the most part, but I expected more about the fae/magic/the Midnight People. I guess I will just have to be patient and wait for book #2.
January 7, 2016
Far from perfect, and some of the languaging was a little uncomfortable (just in terms of cultural depictions etc) but some really creative ideas. By the end the plot had lost control a little but I would happily read the sequel!
June 22, 2012
Faerie lore purists will probably hate Dust Girl for the same reason I love it. This novel takes the ancient faerie stories, seelie and unseelie courts, and bastardizes it as only Americans can. It's unique and compelling, weaving in American history and some of our own legends.
Callie LeRoux has spent her whole life living in the small town of Slow Run. Her mother operates an old empty hotel. Their town is a dying community, stuck in the middle of the Kansas dust bowl. To make matters worse, her mother has gone slightly crazy waiting for the return of her father, a travelling black musician who promised to return someday.
When her mother disappears during a huge duster, brought on by Callie's piano playing, faeries descend on Slow Run. She befriends a young hobo, the charming and outspoken Jack. With Jack's help, Callie figures out she's not fully human. She's not quite white, not quite black, not human and not completely fae. She doesn't know what she is.
I love how they made the Seelie and Unseelie court fit into the American culture. The Seelie, or the bright ones, are glowing white beauties operating Hollywood. The Unseelies are black fae, using jazz music and wishes to preform their magic. The mythology blends seamlessly with American history.
I found myself wondering if the inspiration for this version of faerie came from an old American legend. I'm not sure if everyone has heard the story about the birth of blues where a musician meets the devil at the crossroads and sells his soul to become the best guitar player. There is this almost mythical history of blues and jazz that ties in nicely to this novel.
Callie LeRoux has spent her whole life living in the small town of Slow Run. Her mother operates an old empty hotel. Their town is a dying community, stuck in the middle of the Kansas dust bowl. To make matters worse, her mother has gone slightly crazy waiting for the return of her father, a travelling black musician who promised to return someday.
When her mother disappears during a huge duster, brought on by Callie's piano playing, faeries descend on Slow Run. She befriends a young hobo, the charming and outspoken Jack. With Jack's help, Callie figures out she's not fully human. She's not quite white, not quite black, not human and not completely fae. She doesn't know what she is.
I love how they made the Seelie and Unseelie court fit into the American culture. The Seelie, or the bright ones, are glowing white beauties operating Hollywood. The Unseelies are black fae, using jazz music and wishes to preform their magic. The mythology blends seamlessly with American history.
I found myself wondering if the inspiration for this version of faerie came from an old American legend. I'm not sure if everyone has heard the story about the birth of blues where a musician meets the devil at the crossroads and sells his soul to become the best guitar player. There is this almost mythical history of blues and jazz that ties in nicely to this novel.
June 12, 2012
Originally reviewed here.
Before I start my review, let’s have a word about the cover. Initially, I really liked it. And then I cracked the book and realized that our main character, Callie, is half-black. To me, this makes the cover of Dust Girl the latest offender of whitewashing, a practice that needs to stop.
My papa was a black man. That made me a black girl. That meant there was a whole world of things I couldn’t do, and places I couldn’t go. I couldn’t sit in the Moonlight Room, or go to the white school, or try on clothes at the emporium, or ride in a Pullman car on the train, if we ever went anywhere. If anyone knew about Papa, and I got caught doing any of those things, I could end up in jail. Or dead.
Is it the worst offender out there? No. Callie is described as light skinned, with grey eyes, and black hair. Her skin is light enough that she has been passing, BUT this is only because she always wears a hat and gloves out of doors. Throughout the story, as she spends time in the sun, it becomes clear through the narrative and people’s reactions that she IS NOT PASSING. Also, she describes the difficulty her mother has had taming her hair to stay flat, which said to me that she had not only black hair, but that of an African American texture. The girl on the cover is light skinned with grey eyes and brown hair. To me, she does not look as if she could be half black. I would really have liked to have seen a multi-race model on the cover, and feel this could have been easily accomplished. I find whitewashing to be abhorrent, especially when those authors who write these books are working to break down barriers and create more multicultural books. Please let the covers reflect this—white people will still read them!!
~~~
Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel grabbed me after a weekend of picking up and setting down book after book that just wouldn’t do. Zettel has created a story that is eerie, fresh, grimy, and full of meaning, and I ate it up. Callie is faced with the harsh reality that her mother is crazy, and because of this, Callie will die. She will die because they live in Kansas, at the heart of the dust bowl, and Callie’s lungs are slowly filling up with dust, literally drowning her in grime. She is constantly coughing and struggling to breathe in a town that has been abandoned by nearly all of its inhabitants. Her mother, however, refuses to leave. She is holding on to a promise made by Callie’s father that he would return, and has in turn let go of reality. When in a desperate move Callie’s mother implores her to play the piano, Callie rips her reality in twain.
Callie’s mother disappears in the biggest dust storm Kansas has ever seen, and in her stead, Callie saves a Native American man, Baja. Grateful, he grants her three wishes. All at once, Callie can breathe, and she knows where to find her parents, but it will not be an easy road. Callie realizes she is half fey, and not entirely of this world. Her father defied his people and a marriage arrangement to be with her mother, and Callie is left the product of opposing factions. She must decide which road to take, and will face dangers no matter where she turns. Together with Jack, a young man who dreams of becoming a writer, she sets off to create a story worth telling.
To me, Dust Girl was a wonderful story that deftly combined American folklore, Native American, and Celtic mythology. I was honestly astounded by how seamlessly these factors were woven together with a tale that could be seen as a very honest reflection of our nation’s history of racial tension. Callie is a girl of many halves. She is half mortal, half fey, but also half black and half white. She doesn’t truly fit in anywhere, particularly not in the 1930s Midwest. She has always had to deal with that reality, and has never been close to anyone other than her mother, knowing that if they were to find out her truths she would be rejected or criminalized. For this reason, Jack, a potential friend and the first to know the real Callie even as she discovers herself, is the perfect companion:
“Jack, are you really a Jew?”
”Yeah. So?”
”Nothing,” I said. “But if you’re a Jacob Hollander, shouldn’t we be callin’ you Jake?”
”Sometimes it’s not so good for people to find out what you really are.” Jack crumpled the sandwich wrappers together and stuffed them into one of the stacks. “Like, for instance, are you really a Negro?” he asked without looking at me. I’d known that was coming. But my answer didn’t have such a straight road to travel.
”I think my papa had brown skin, but he was a fairy too, so I don’t rightly know what I am.”
Jack was quiet for a minute. “Well, from what I seen so far, being a Callie LeRoux is plenty good enough. Maybe you should just stick to that.”
Callie’s relationship to Jack isn’t an instant attraction, and honestly isn’t really overly romantic at all, and I loved it. They are partners of convenience. Callie needs to get to California, and Jack pledges to help her for a price. He wants to be a writer, and views this strange half-fey girl as an opportunity to create a story equal to The Wizard of Oz. The two certainly become more to each other as the story goes on, and I am certain romance will bloom, but their affections for one another are always a subtle background to a story that has more pressing concerns.
Those pressing concerns, as it were, have to do with the fact that both the Seelie and Unseelie courts are after Callie, and will seek to gain control of her through trickery, coercion, or brute force. There is an eerie creepiness throughout the events of Dust Girl, and I felt that Sarah Zettel had the power of fear well in hand. This story was full of action and incredibly fast paced without being muddled or overdone. I loved that the traditional white and beautiful = good and black = bad notions were thrown completely off in Dust Girl. The beautiful white and shining fey of the Seelie court were terrifying, whereas the black and merry fey of the Unseelie court were much more welcoming. That doesn’t mean the Unseelie are ‘good’ and the Seelie are ‘bad’, they’re both quite terrible, but I was happy to see this untraditional dichotomy.
Dust Girl is an enchanting and terrifying start to a new trilogy, and I cannot wait to see where the story leads. The lore, history, and magic involved is unique and rich, and the characters read to me as very real. I didn’t always love Callie, in fact, she is at times incredibly selfish, short sighted, and naive, but she is also strong, resourceful, and dedicated. The entire cast was well developed, and I am personally loving Jack, even more so than our lead.
Before I start my review, let’s have a word about the cover. Initially, I really liked it. And then I cracked the book and realized that our main character, Callie, is half-black. To me, this makes the cover of Dust Girl the latest offender of whitewashing, a practice that needs to stop.
My papa was a black man. That made me a black girl. That meant there was a whole world of things I couldn’t do, and places I couldn’t go. I couldn’t sit in the Moonlight Room, or go to the white school, or try on clothes at the emporium, or ride in a Pullman car on the train, if we ever went anywhere. If anyone knew about Papa, and I got caught doing any of those things, I could end up in jail. Or dead.
Is it the worst offender out there? No. Callie is described as light skinned, with grey eyes, and black hair. Her skin is light enough that she has been passing, BUT this is only because she always wears a hat and gloves out of doors. Throughout the story, as she spends time in the sun, it becomes clear through the narrative and people’s reactions that she IS NOT PASSING. Also, she describes the difficulty her mother has had taming her hair to stay flat, which said to me that she had not only black hair, but that of an African American texture. The girl on the cover is light skinned with grey eyes and brown hair. To me, she does not look as if she could be half black. I would really have liked to have seen a multi-race model on the cover, and feel this could have been easily accomplished. I find whitewashing to be abhorrent, especially when those authors who write these books are working to break down barriers and create more multicultural books. Please let the covers reflect this—white people will still read them!!
~~~
Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel grabbed me after a weekend of picking up and setting down book after book that just wouldn’t do. Zettel has created a story that is eerie, fresh, grimy, and full of meaning, and I ate it up. Callie is faced with the harsh reality that her mother is crazy, and because of this, Callie will die. She will die because they live in Kansas, at the heart of the dust bowl, and Callie’s lungs are slowly filling up with dust, literally drowning her in grime. She is constantly coughing and struggling to breathe in a town that has been abandoned by nearly all of its inhabitants. Her mother, however, refuses to leave. She is holding on to a promise made by Callie’s father that he would return, and has in turn let go of reality. When in a desperate move Callie’s mother implores her to play the piano, Callie rips her reality in twain.
Callie’s mother disappears in the biggest dust storm Kansas has ever seen, and in her stead, Callie saves a Native American man, Baja. Grateful, he grants her three wishes. All at once, Callie can breathe, and she knows where to find her parents, but it will not be an easy road. Callie realizes she is half fey, and not entirely of this world. Her father defied his people and a marriage arrangement to be with her mother, and Callie is left the product of opposing factions. She must decide which road to take, and will face dangers no matter where she turns. Together with Jack, a young man who dreams of becoming a writer, she sets off to create a story worth telling.
To me, Dust Girl was a wonderful story that deftly combined American folklore, Native American, and Celtic mythology. I was honestly astounded by how seamlessly these factors were woven together with a tale that could be seen as a very honest reflection of our nation’s history of racial tension. Callie is a girl of many halves. She is half mortal, half fey, but also half black and half white. She doesn’t truly fit in anywhere, particularly not in the 1930s Midwest. She has always had to deal with that reality, and has never been close to anyone other than her mother, knowing that if they were to find out her truths she would be rejected or criminalized. For this reason, Jack, a potential friend and the first to know the real Callie even as she discovers herself, is the perfect companion:
“Jack, are you really a Jew?”
”Yeah. So?”
”Nothing,” I said. “But if you’re a Jacob Hollander, shouldn’t we be callin’ you Jake?”
”Sometimes it’s not so good for people to find out what you really are.” Jack crumpled the sandwich wrappers together and stuffed them into one of the stacks. “Like, for instance, are you really a Negro?” he asked without looking at me. I’d known that was coming. But my answer didn’t have such a straight road to travel.
”I think my papa had brown skin, but he was a fairy too, so I don’t rightly know what I am.”
Jack was quiet for a minute. “Well, from what I seen so far, being a Callie LeRoux is plenty good enough. Maybe you should just stick to that.”
Callie’s relationship to Jack isn’t an instant attraction, and honestly isn’t really overly romantic at all, and I loved it. They are partners of convenience. Callie needs to get to California, and Jack pledges to help her for a price. He wants to be a writer, and views this strange half-fey girl as an opportunity to create a story equal to The Wizard of Oz. The two certainly become more to each other as the story goes on, and I am certain romance will bloom, but their affections for one another are always a subtle background to a story that has more pressing concerns.
Those pressing concerns, as it were, have to do with the fact that both the Seelie and Unseelie courts are after Callie, and will seek to gain control of her through trickery, coercion, or brute force. There is an eerie creepiness throughout the events of Dust Girl, and I felt that Sarah Zettel had the power of fear well in hand. This story was full of action and incredibly fast paced without being muddled or overdone. I loved that the traditional white and beautiful = good and black = bad notions were thrown completely off in Dust Girl. The beautiful white and shining fey of the Seelie court were terrifying, whereas the black and merry fey of the Unseelie court were much more welcoming. That doesn’t mean the Unseelie are ‘good’ and the Seelie are ‘bad’, they’re both quite terrible, but I was happy to see this untraditional dichotomy.
Dust Girl is an enchanting and terrifying start to a new trilogy, and I cannot wait to see where the story leads. The lore, history, and magic involved is unique and rich, and the characters read to me as very real. I didn’t always love Callie, in fact, she is at times incredibly selfish, short sighted, and naive, but she is also strong, resourceful, and dedicated. The entire cast was well developed, and I am personally loving Jack, even more so than our lead.
May 22, 2012
Dust Girl is unlike any novel I've ever read. It's set in the 1930s in the Dust Bowl in Kansas, and it's about a mixed race fae, Callie, and her need to reach California. While Zettel's descriptions had me feeling as if I was actually in the Dust Bowl with Callie, the world-building itself was lacking. Also, the characters were flawed and believable, but I found them hard to relate to.
Callie's race, which always hovered in the background, was a good reminder of which time period you were in, but I don't like the incorporation of the random Native American, which seemed rather racist on the part of the author. As an American Indian Studies major (political Anthropology and political History), I am extremely sensitive to how American Indians are portrayed in novels and to what these portrayals do to them politically. When Native American lore is presented in a decolonizing fashion, such as how Bethany Wiggins presented Navajo mythology in Shifting, I simply adore it. Wiggins shot all of the settler colonial ideas straight to hell with her novel and really illustrated how American Indians are very much a part of contemporary society. However, when some random Native American is thrown in and acts all weird and mysterious, simply because that is how Native Americans are viewed much of the time in contemporary society, it irks me. Yes, I know it is supposed to be Coyote, and Coyote is a trickster figure. But Coyote isn't a trickster figure for all American Indian nations, and just throwing Coyote in there to conveniently move the plot along only to have him disappear is a bit depoliticizing. And I'm not even going to go into a literary reading of the whole idea of now that the Indian was helped and he did his part, he'll disappear thing, considering that the mid-1930s was the end of the Assimilation Era when they wanted Native Americans to disappear.
But I digress. *deep breath* Okay. Moving on. I couldn't really connect to Callie, even though she was an extremely mature and strong character. I just didn't feel any emotional connection with her at all.Even though Zettel was good at showing the setting and time period, she did more telling when it came to the emotions. Because of this and the huge political faux pas at the beginning, I really didn't give a big crap if Callie made it to California or not. Also, while she and Jack seemed quite compatible, there was no romance to speak of. Just adolescent crushes and such. I'm not sure I would have cared had there been a romance since I couldn't relate to the characters, but generally that tends to spice up a dragging plot.
This plot was fairly slow moving for me. I mean I know they had insect fae and all of that, which completely grossed me out... I hate bugs, but it still took me forever to get through this book. It took me a long time because I was bored and because the plot was kind of random and didn't really make sense a lot of the time. Things would happen without any lead up whatsoever, which left me thinking, "where did that come from?" Then I would ignore the next chapter or so trying to figure out why this random event occurred. By the time I began to pay attention again, something else random would happen. I like a bit more order to my stories than this.
Overall, I'd say check this book out from the library before you buy it. I know a lot of people have loved it, and the setting is wonderfully done. However, the characters, while believable, are not easy to relate to... at least in my opinion. Also, there are a lot of plot holes. I wouldn't say avoid it completely, but I would say try before you buy.
Callie's race, which always hovered in the background, was a good reminder of which time period you were in, but I don't like the incorporation of the random Native American, which seemed rather racist on the part of the author. As an American Indian Studies major (political Anthropology and political History), I am extremely sensitive to how American Indians are portrayed in novels and to what these portrayals do to them politically. When Native American lore is presented in a decolonizing fashion, such as how Bethany Wiggins presented Navajo mythology in Shifting, I simply adore it. Wiggins shot all of the settler colonial ideas straight to hell with her novel and really illustrated how American Indians are very much a part of contemporary society. However, when some random Native American is thrown in and acts all weird and mysterious, simply because that is how Native Americans are viewed much of the time in contemporary society, it irks me. Yes, I know it is supposed to be Coyote, and Coyote is a trickster figure. But Coyote isn't a trickster figure for all American Indian nations, and just throwing Coyote in there to conveniently move the plot along only to have him disappear is a bit depoliticizing. And I'm not even going to go into a literary reading of the whole idea of now that the Indian was helped and he did his part, he'll disappear thing, considering that the mid-1930s was the end of the Assimilation Era when they wanted Native Americans to disappear.
But I digress. *deep breath* Okay. Moving on. I couldn't really connect to Callie, even though she was an extremely mature and strong character. I just didn't feel any emotional connection with her at all.Even though Zettel was good at showing the setting and time period, she did more telling when it came to the emotions. Because of this and the huge political faux pas at the beginning, I really didn't give a big crap if Callie made it to California or not. Also, while she and Jack seemed quite compatible, there was no romance to speak of. Just adolescent crushes and such. I'm not sure I would have cared had there been a romance since I couldn't relate to the characters, but generally that tends to spice up a dragging plot.
This plot was fairly slow moving for me. I mean I know they had insect fae and all of that, which completely grossed me out... I hate bugs, but it still took me forever to get through this book. It took me a long time because I was bored and because the plot was kind of random and didn't really make sense a lot of the time. Things would happen without any lead up whatsoever, which left me thinking, "where did that come from?" Then I would ignore the next chapter or so trying to figure out why this random event occurred. By the time I began to pay attention again, something else random would happen. I like a bit more order to my stories than this.
Overall, I'd say check this book out from the library before you buy it. I know a lot of people have loved it, and the setting is wonderfully done. However, the characters, while believable, are not easy to relate to... at least in my opinion. Also, there are a lot of plot holes. I wouldn't say avoid it completely, but I would say try before you buy.
November 21, 2012
This book started off amazing. The vividness of the setting, the character of Callie, the originality of the concept. Set in 1935, a time of severe drought in the dustbowl of Kansas, amid a time of racism with a biracial protagonist.
But it quickly started going downhill.
For much of the story, Callie and her new friend Jack are running from strange things, including bugs disguised as people, after Callie's mom disappears in a dust storm. In the process, Callie discovers she's half fairy and her father is a fairy prince (who left before she was born). This put me off--it's a trope used over and over in teen fiction and is getting rather tiring.
What really bothered me, though, was that despite solid writing, lots of action and some pretty creative magic and story world elements, no progress was really made in the plot. I knew half-way through there'd be no resolution in the end. YET AGAIN, we have a "book one" that is nothing more than a set-up for a series.
Also, even though Callie started off a pretty fully-fleshed character, she was the only one, and she even lost some of her appeal partway through the book. I just didn't much care about her or the other characters for most of the story. It was only my curiosity about the author's take on the fairy world that kept me reading. And then...
*****SPOILER!!! BIG TIME! AS IN, I'M TELLING YOU HOW IT ENDS!*****
But it quickly started going downhill.
For much of the story, Callie and her new friend Jack are running from strange things, including bugs disguised as people, after Callie's mom disappears in a dust storm. In the process, Callie discovers she's half fairy and her father is a fairy prince (who left before she was born). This put me off--it's a trope used over and over in teen fiction and is getting rather tiring.
What really bothered me, though, was that despite solid writing, lots of action and some pretty creative magic and story world elements, no progress was really made in the plot. I knew half-way through there'd be no resolution in the end. YET AGAIN, we have a "book one" that is nothing more than a set-up for a series.
Also, even though Callie started off a pretty fully-fleshed character, she was the only one, and she even lost some of her appeal partway through the book. I just didn't much care about her or the other characters for most of the story. It was only my curiosity about the author's take on the fairy world that kept me reading. And then...
*****SPOILER!!! BIG TIME! AS IN, I'M TELLING YOU HOW IT ENDS!*****
June 15, 2016
This was very nearly a one-sitting book (from Netgalley, thank you). I wandered off from what I was already reading, dipped into a couple of other stories, and realized with a kind of guilty start that I'd had Dust Girl for quite a while and needed to see if I wanted to commit to it. Three hours later I was 80% of the way through it and had to turn off the light because of my stupid job. Note: As usual, the Kindle galley was a bit funky – erratic indentations and line breaks, and randomly placed pagination and whatnot – but not nearly as bad as some.
I'm thisclose to giving it five stars. I think I was put off as long as I was because of the introduction, featuring incredibly creepy voices and magic-by-angry-piano – which combined with the creepy, creepy face on the cover to give the wrong impression of the book. It's not a horror novel. There are some absolutely horripilating things in it – the Hoppers were some of the … creepiest (note to self: need new word) characters I've read in a while, and as for the Sheriff … yeah. Creepy.
But the primary genre is not horror: it is, in fact, a fairy tale of sorts, in keeping with the name of the projected series: The American Fairy Trilogy. By which I mean not an adaptation of a classic, but something new and different and fresh which fits with a click into the classic mold. It makes use of the classic tropes of faery in much the same way Emma Bull did in War for the Oaks, revealing how the Seelie and Unseelie Courts rub up against and coexist with the mundane world, but this take on the relationship is beautifully unique.
I think part of this was the only real drawback to the book, and that may have been more my own expectations rather than the storytelling: I still don't know what makes one Court Seelie while the other is Un. Not to spoil anything, but there didn't seem to be much to choose between them. Still, that might be explored in the rest of the trilogy. And the fae who are encountered in the course of this book are excellent characters – they're slippery, shifting shape and surroundings and the truth as suits their whim, until nothing – not their words nor their actions nor even their surroundings – can be trusted. Oh, and they can create zombies.
There was one other place that gave me pause, now that I think of it: as the book description says, Callie's mother goes missing in a dust storm – which, by the way, was one of the scariest things I've read in a while. But Callie fetches back up in the house, having rescued a strange and mysterious man who can't seem to hold a shape, and loses all track of her mother … and hares off on a kind of half-cocked search with no solid reason for her destination. I wouldn't have wanted to read page after page about her moping or panicking, but she seemed to accept the new bizarreness in her world as well as the disappearance of her mother with more aplomb than I might expect from anyone, much less a teenager.
The setting is different – the Dust Bowl, 1930's Kansas to start out – and well-drawn. I love that this is placed in the 30's in the Midwest, which seems an under-utilized time and place, and is well-suited to the action. Jack Hollander fits right in as the young man Callie encounters before setting off on her search, with whom she forms the kind of quick bond that does tend to happen when two people help each other survive a horrific experience. That he and Callie do not immediately fall in Teenage Love is both refreshing and believable. That Callie has the intelligence to keep in mind that, like everyone else in her world after her mother disappears, his motives are not transparent and her trust has to be carefully placed – this is even more refreshing and welcome. Callie is not a cuddly protagonist, but she is sharp and self-sufficient and good company for a few hours' reading. Just block out a space for it that won't take you past your bedtime.
I'm thisclose to giving it five stars. I think I was put off as long as I was because of the introduction, featuring incredibly creepy voices and magic-by-angry-piano – which combined with the creepy, creepy face on the cover to give the wrong impression of the book. It's not a horror novel. There are some absolutely horripilating things in it – the Hoppers were some of the … creepiest (note to self: need new word) characters I've read in a while, and as for the Sheriff … yeah. Creepy.
But the primary genre is not horror: it is, in fact, a fairy tale of sorts, in keeping with the name of the projected series: The American Fairy Trilogy. By which I mean not an adaptation of a classic, but something new and different and fresh which fits with a click into the classic mold. It makes use of the classic tropes of faery in much the same way Emma Bull did in War for the Oaks, revealing how the Seelie and Unseelie Courts rub up against and coexist with the mundane world, but this take on the relationship is beautifully unique.
I think part of this was the only real drawback to the book, and that may have been more my own expectations rather than the storytelling: I still don't know what makes one Court Seelie while the other is Un. Not to spoil anything, but there didn't seem to be much to choose between them. Still, that might be explored in the rest of the trilogy. And the fae who are encountered in the course of this book are excellent characters – they're slippery, shifting shape and surroundings and the truth as suits their whim, until nothing – not their words nor their actions nor even their surroundings – can be trusted. Oh, and they can create zombies.
There was one other place that gave me pause, now that I think of it: as the book description says, Callie's mother goes missing in a dust storm – which, by the way, was one of the scariest things I've read in a while. But Callie fetches back up in the house, having rescued a strange and mysterious man who can't seem to hold a shape, and loses all track of her mother … and hares off on a kind of half-cocked search with no solid reason for her destination. I wouldn't have wanted to read page after page about her moping or panicking, but she seemed to accept the new bizarreness in her world as well as the disappearance of her mother with more aplomb than I might expect from anyone, much less a teenager.
The setting is different – the Dust Bowl, 1930's Kansas to start out – and well-drawn. I love that this is placed in the 30's in the Midwest, which seems an under-utilized time and place, and is well-suited to the action. Jack Hollander fits right in as the young man Callie encounters before setting off on her search, with whom she forms the kind of quick bond that does tend to happen when two people help each other survive a horrific experience. That he and Callie do not immediately fall in Teenage Love is both refreshing and believable. That Callie has the intelligence to keep in mind that, like everyone else in her world after her mother disappears, his motives are not transparent and her trust has to be carefully placed – this is even more refreshing and welcome. Callie is not a cuddly protagonist, but she is sharp and self-sufficient and good company for a few hours' reading. Just block out a space for it that won't take you past your bedtime.
August 1, 2012
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A great recipe of magic, historical fiction, and fantasy. Not your typical Fae story.
Opening Sentence: Once upon a time, I was a girl called Callie.
The Review:
Set in the 1930s, Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel, is about Callie LeRoux. Living in the Dust Bowl in Kansas, Callie is in search for her mother, and father, after the worst dust storm ever. Filled with many twists and unique elements, Dust Girl is a story for the fantasy genre fan. Zettel’s version of the fae is reflected on a very passionate narration, fitting for the 30s.
Callie grew up without knowing who her father really was. Living in the Imperial Hotel, Callie knew the struggles and hardships all throughout her young life. Baya, a Spirit Guide visited Callie after the disastrous dust storm, to tell a story that sounds similar to one of her parents. Aside from the story to find her parents, he also cured her of dust pneumonia.
Callie is determined to find her mother. But in order to do so, she must reveal all of the secrets surrounding her life. From finding out who her father is, to the old piano, and even to whom the Spirit Guide is. With the help of her friend Jack, and two musicians, Shake and Shimmy, Callie is off on this journey to find her mother.
Jack Hollander was not someone that I easily accepted. He was unpredictable and at times a little annoying for my taste. Jack, though, had a lot of endearing qualities, I didn’t think he was fully developed as much as Callie was. He had many flaws, but maybe that was the point, and I missed it. Even if I didn’t love him as much as I loved Callie, he was someone that interacted well with Callie.
Zettel had an amazing storyline written out, filled with action, folklore, and magic. It was filled with a detailed fae culture and some descriptive world elements. Dust Girl had so many elements that captured my imagination, as well as my 5 senses. Zettel included musical references, pulling mostly from the jazz influence. She brought in historical references to bring an authenticity to the story, like the Railroad Bulls and even mentioned the Prohibition.
Zettel has a lot of real-life issues weaved in this book. From race to poverty, Zettel takes a fantasy approach in addressing these issues. Zettel isn’t afraid to remind us of these prejudices, and it was all done subetly and with taste. I appreciated the fact that Dust Girl is for many readers with symbolism around every corner.
My assumptions of this book were just that, assumptions. Zettel proved me wrong on many occasions, throughout Dust Girl. Callie was an innocent heroine, filled with flaws and unknown truths, but someone also determined to reach her goals. I felt that there are high points and low points of this story, some more hindering than others. I felt that while the beginning had great story progression, there were others that had a slow pace, leaving me to look for something more.
Notable Scene:
We ran until we couldn’t run anymore. After that, we walked. The wind was kicking up all the new dust. It stuck to my glaze-smeared skin and itched like a whole family of fleas. Jack coughed with every step, and I was ready to be sick wondering what I’d do if he started to suffocate. So when we saw the deserted tenant farmer’s shack sticking out of the sand, we didn’t even think twice, just stumbled inside and collapsed in the middle of the floor. Jack threw his coat over us both and we huddled close under the worn-out cloth.
After a while, we fell asleep.
FTC Advisory: Random House Children’s Book provided me with a copy of Dust Girl. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A great recipe of magic, historical fiction, and fantasy. Not your typical Fae story.
Opening Sentence: Once upon a time, I was a girl called Callie.
The Review:
Set in the 1930s, Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel, is about Callie LeRoux. Living in the Dust Bowl in Kansas, Callie is in search for her mother, and father, after the worst dust storm ever. Filled with many twists and unique elements, Dust Girl is a story for the fantasy genre fan. Zettel’s version of the fae is reflected on a very passionate narration, fitting for the 30s.
Callie grew up without knowing who her father really was. Living in the Imperial Hotel, Callie knew the struggles and hardships all throughout her young life. Baya, a Spirit Guide visited Callie after the disastrous dust storm, to tell a story that sounds similar to one of her parents. Aside from the story to find her parents, he also cured her of dust pneumonia.
Callie is determined to find her mother. But in order to do so, she must reveal all of the secrets surrounding her life. From finding out who her father is, to the old piano, and even to whom the Spirit Guide is. With the help of her friend Jack, and two musicians, Shake and Shimmy, Callie is off on this journey to find her mother.
Jack Hollander was not someone that I easily accepted. He was unpredictable and at times a little annoying for my taste. Jack, though, had a lot of endearing qualities, I didn’t think he was fully developed as much as Callie was. He had many flaws, but maybe that was the point, and I missed it. Even if I didn’t love him as much as I loved Callie, he was someone that interacted well with Callie.
Zettel had an amazing storyline written out, filled with action, folklore, and magic. It was filled with a detailed fae culture and some descriptive world elements. Dust Girl had so many elements that captured my imagination, as well as my 5 senses. Zettel included musical references, pulling mostly from the jazz influence. She brought in historical references to bring an authenticity to the story, like the Railroad Bulls and even mentioned the Prohibition.
Zettel has a lot of real-life issues weaved in this book. From race to poverty, Zettel takes a fantasy approach in addressing these issues. Zettel isn’t afraid to remind us of these prejudices, and it was all done subetly and with taste. I appreciated the fact that Dust Girl is for many readers with symbolism around every corner.
My assumptions of this book were just that, assumptions. Zettel proved me wrong on many occasions, throughout Dust Girl. Callie was an innocent heroine, filled with flaws and unknown truths, but someone also determined to reach her goals. I felt that there are high points and low points of this story, some more hindering than others. I felt that while the beginning had great story progression, there were others that had a slow pace, leaving me to look for something more.
Notable Scene:
We ran until we couldn’t run anymore. After that, we walked. The wind was kicking up all the new dust. It stuck to my glaze-smeared skin and itched like a whole family of fleas. Jack coughed with every step, and I was ready to be sick wondering what I’d do if he started to suffocate. So when we saw the deserted tenant farmer’s shack sticking out of the sand, we didn’t even think twice, just stumbled inside and collapsed in the middle of the floor. Jack threw his coat over us both and we huddled close under the worn-out cloth.
After a while, we fell asleep.
FTC Advisory: Random House Children’s Book provided me with a copy of Dust Girl. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
August 10, 2012
Every now and then, a book comes along that gives a reviewer pause and the reasons can be complicated, perhaps even hard to explain. Such is the case with Dust Girl and what I think of it.
First, the downside. Callie, star of the show, is biracial, being the daughter of a white mother and a black father. Once again, the publishing industry has failed to capitalize on this fairly uncommon element and has put a slightly dark white girl on the cover. The most telling discrepancy is the hair—in the book, Callie talks about what her mother would do to try to hide the texture and curl of her hair, primarily by keeping it tightly braided. The hair on the cover is clearly not as described in the book. The skin also gives a false impression, certainly not “cream colored …with not too many freckles”—there is not a freckle in sight. The cover decisions are not the author’s fault as an author rarely has any say about cover art with major publishing houses but I’m not alone among readers when I wonder why these publishers won’t gladly depict a person of color as just that. Do they really think such a cover would deter sales? Perhaps they do think that and perhaps they would lose a few buyers but I guarantee they’d gain others who are actively looking for more diversity. (By the way, they did get Callie’s eyes right, a “stormy blue-gray…that…turned steel gray”.)
The only other negative I’ll mention is that I thought the story was a bit too slow in the beginning but that is truly a minor quibble and soon forgotten as things pick up speed.
I know about the Dust Bowl, of course, but this book does more to make the reader feel and understand what it was really like since John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Ms. Zettel handily evokes the era with its music and its railroad hobo communities and her spare prose brings the despair and heartache of the time and place to the forefront of the reader’s attention, all the while weaving a faery theme into the reality we know.
By crafting this as a tale of adversarial faery factions, Ms. Zettel has found a way to explore the racial and economic tensions of the 1930′s in an unusual and entertaining manner. The end of Callie LeRoux’s old life comes on April 14, 1935, when one of the worst dust storms recorded hits Slow Run, Kansas, her mother disappears, and Callie learns she isn’t really human. It’s then that very peculiar things begin to happen and she meets a hobo boy named Jack Holland, a boy who will prove to be the companion she needs on the journey that’s about to begin.
Sarah Zettel is a very accomplished writer and one who can be depended upon to tell a good tale. Being a fan of dark fantasy and of young adult fiction, I was hoping to find this an entertaining story that would hold my attention. Dust Girl did not let me down and I’ll be looking forward eagerly to Book Two in the American Fairy Trilogy.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, July 2012.
First, the downside. Callie, star of the show, is biracial, being the daughter of a white mother and a black father. Once again, the publishing industry has failed to capitalize on this fairly uncommon element and has put a slightly dark white girl on the cover. The most telling discrepancy is the hair—in the book, Callie talks about what her mother would do to try to hide the texture and curl of her hair, primarily by keeping it tightly braided. The hair on the cover is clearly not as described in the book. The skin also gives a false impression, certainly not “cream colored …with not too many freckles”—there is not a freckle in sight. The cover decisions are not the author’s fault as an author rarely has any say about cover art with major publishing houses but I’m not alone among readers when I wonder why these publishers won’t gladly depict a person of color as just that. Do they really think such a cover would deter sales? Perhaps they do think that and perhaps they would lose a few buyers but I guarantee they’d gain others who are actively looking for more diversity. (By the way, they did get Callie’s eyes right, a “stormy blue-gray…that…turned steel gray”.)
The only other negative I’ll mention is that I thought the story was a bit too slow in the beginning but that is truly a minor quibble and soon forgotten as things pick up speed.
I know about the Dust Bowl, of course, but this book does more to make the reader feel and understand what it was really like since John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Ms. Zettel handily evokes the era with its music and its railroad hobo communities and her spare prose brings the despair and heartache of the time and place to the forefront of the reader’s attention, all the while weaving a faery theme into the reality we know.
By crafting this as a tale of adversarial faery factions, Ms. Zettel has found a way to explore the racial and economic tensions of the 1930′s in an unusual and entertaining manner. The end of Callie LeRoux’s old life comes on April 14, 1935, when one of the worst dust storms recorded hits Slow Run, Kansas, her mother disappears, and Callie learns she isn’t really human. It’s then that very peculiar things begin to happen and she meets a hobo boy named Jack Holland, a boy who will prove to be the companion she needs on the journey that’s about to begin.
Sarah Zettel is a very accomplished writer and one who can be depended upon to tell a good tale. Being a fan of dark fantasy and of young adult fiction, I was hoping to find this an entertaining story that would hold my attention. Dust Girl did not let me down and I’ll be looking forward eagerly to Book Two in the American Fairy Trilogy.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, July 2012.
December 28, 2015
On http://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.com
“I thought maybe I could just get away from everything. But you can't get away from a thing that's your own fault.”
From the beginning I was sucked into the story of Callie. She lives in Slow Run with her mother in a small hotel. The constant storms are causing health problems for Callie, but her mother refuses to leave. Year ago their father left them, but he promised to return one day and her mother is holding tight to that promise.
When one of the worst dust storms comes up, Callie’s mother disappears. That is when Callie starts to find out that she isn’t just a girl. She is part of a prophecy and the two Faerie courts – Seelie and Unseelie – are both looking for her. Together with Jack, a boy she releases out of jail, Callie is heading for the golden hills of the west; California. Her parents are supposed to be there and she will do anything to safe her mother. On their way, they encounter dangerous people and it’s hard to find out who they can trust.
I really liked Callie. She has a hard time with the dust, but she keeps supporting her mother. I’m not really sure if her mother deserves that, but her loyalty was touching. It was fun to collect all the pieces of the puzzle with her. Why is she hearing all these strange voices and what is the mystery around her father? Jack is a sweet boy, but I didn’t really connect with him. He was just there and I like that he decides to help Callie, a girl he barely met. The secondary characters are interesting and I like how they played their role in the story. There are some creepy characters and it was a shame that the real villain was overshadowed.
The ending was a bit too rushed for my taste. I didn’t see the twist coming, but I wished that the plot got more time to unravel. A few pages more would have completed this story, but I’m definitely looking forward to part two, Golden Girl, which will be published June 25th.
“I thought maybe I could just get away from everything. But you can't get away from a thing that's your own fault.”
From the beginning I was sucked into the story of Callie. She lives in Slow Run with her mother in a small hotel. The constant storms are causing health problems for Callie, but her mother refuses to leave. Year ago their father left them, but he promised to return one day and her mother is holding tight to that promise.
When one of the worst dust storms comes up, Callie’s mother disappears. That is when Callie starts to find out that she isn’t just a girl. She is part of a prophecy and the two Faerie courts – Seelie and Unseelie – are both looking for her. Together with Jack, a boy she releases out of jail, Callie is heading for the golden hills of the west; California. Her parents are supposed to be there and she will do anything to safe her mother. On their way, they encounter dangerous people and it’s hard to find out who they can trust.
I really liked Callie. She has a hard time with the dust, but she keeps supporting her mother. I’m not really sure if her mother deserves that, but her loyalty was touching. It was fun to collect all the pieces of the puzzle with her. Why is she hearing all these strange voices and what is the mystery around her father? Jack is a sweet boy, but I didn’t really connect with him. He was just there and I like that he decides to help Callie, a girl he barely met. The secondary characters are interesting and I like how they played their role in the story. There are some creepy characters and it was a shame that the real villain was overshadowed.
The ending was a bit too rushed for my taste. I didn’t see the twist coming, but I wished that the plot got more time to unravel. A few pages more would have completed this story, but I’m definitely looking forward to part two, Golden Girl, which will be published June 25th.
June 20, 2012
Right from the start you get a real sense of the dry, dusty existence that Callie and her mother live in their isolated Kansas town. Times are already tough because of the depression, but Callie's past is mysterious. Her mother still holds a torch for her father, who disappeared long ago. Callie is bi-racial, which is hard enough in this time and place, but with a father whose identity is shrouded in mystery, things get even worse. The story is intricately woven, as many faerie stories are, and it serves to build a world that is dangerous and full of action. Callie meets both friends and enemies along the way, and you can't always tell which they are. I loved the dialogue, which is in the vernacular of the time, because it really put you in the middle of the story without the feeling that you have one foot in the 1930s and one in contemporary times. This kind of attention to detail can really make or break a reading experience, in my opinion.
I thought this book was fantastic a new take on what has become a popular genre in YA. While the basic faerie folklore is intact, setting it in the 1930s was a refreshing change. The dust and the desperation of people struggling to get by gave this book an angle that kept me turning the pages. The characters were engaging and Callie and Jack were funny and tough protagonists. There seemed to be non-stop action and a cast of strange and sometimes terrifying opponents. This book would appeal equally to teen and tweens and, in my mind, could almost be considered middle grade. However you categorize it, I thought it was a unique and wonderful read.
I thought this book was fantastic a new take on what has become a popular genre in YA. While the basic faerie folklore is intact, setting it in the 1930s was a refreshing change. The dust and the desperation of people struggling to get by gave this book an angle that kept me turning the pages. The characters were engaging and Callie and Jack were funny and tough protagonists. There seemed to be non-stop action and a cast of strange and sometimes terrifying opponents. This book would appeal equally to teen and tweens and, in my mind, could almost be considered middle grade. However you categorize it, I thought it was a unique and wonderful read.
June 9, 2012
Straight up, it took me a long time to warm up to Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel. I felt as though I had been dropped into it with no idea of what was going on. I didn’t immediately feel grounded in the story. Frankly, though, once I had a better sense of place and world, Dust Girl went from being a chore to read to a story that I absolutely wolfed down.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
January 9, 2013
Four stars: An interesting tale that blends the days of the Dust Bowl and Depression with the magic and unpredictability of the Fey.
Callie's body spasms with a deep, racking cough. Her lungs are heavy with dust. More than her lungs are plagued by the dirt that has overtaken all of the Midwest. Callie lives in Kansas, and like all the other towns in the area, the violent dust storms have choked all the land and driven away most of the citizens. Callie longs to escape the nightmarish dust, but her mother insists they must stay and wait for the return of her father. A man she has never met, as he vanished long before she was born leaving behind a piano and a promise he would return. Now Callie and her mother are trapped in the terrifying dust bowl waiting for a man to rescue them. Then in a moment of despair, Callie's mother commands her to play her father's piano, and that changes everything..... The music seems to call up a raging dust storm and unseen enemies, and Callie soon learns that her black heritage is infused with something more....magic. Magic that is dangerous and deadly. Can Callie escape the dusty plains of Kansas?
What I Liked:
*I am always fascinated by the Dust Bowl/ Depression era and I am eager to learn more about this difficult time, so I was excited to pick up Dust Girl and transport into the deadly dry, dusty plains of the Midwest. I was surprised to find that this is more than a tale of the Dust Bowl as it incorporates a bit of paranormal. With the addition of the Fey and magic, the book turns into something unexpected, and it ends up being a fast and furious read full of unexpected encounters with something different on every page. This is a book that is full of twists and surprises, and you never know from one moment to the next what will happen. If you enjoy historical books with a dash of supernatural definitely give Dust Girl a try.
*I liked that this book touched on so many issues that were prevalent during this era, such as: racism, poverty, hunger, desperation and the horror of the dust and the Great Depression. You can almost feel the dust grinding in your teeth as you eat the food that is contaminated with dirt, or feel the grime heavy in your lungs as you struggle to breath. The vivid descriptions bring all the horror and hopelessness to life. I also appreciated that Callie was of mixed race and that she struggled to hide her African American genes as she would be an outcast. The cruel spectre of racism rears it its ugly head time and time again, a reminder that we are not that far removed from the days of segregation. On the flip side, this book also presents the disparaging distribution of wealth. While so many struggled to survive, there are the few who enjoyed the luxuries of the high life, and flaunted them while they went about their daily lives, seemingly oblivious to the suffering. This theme is present throughout, as Callie and Jack encounter the wealthy as they try to endure dust and hunger.
*I enjoyed that this book does not have a full developed romance. Every once in awhile, it is a nice to read a YA novel that does not utilize a romance. This one does establish a strong friendship between Jack and Callie, that starts out a little rocky, and while there are definite hints that an attraction is building, nothing transpires. I will be interested to see how this one develops.
*I liked that this book incorporates many supernatural entities, some old and others new. From the Seelie and Unseelie Fey to the Midnight People as well as an appearance from the old trickster, Coyote.
Callie, the heroine, is an interesting and unique voice. She starts out as a shy, sheltered girl longing to be free from the despairing, dust blown plains of Kansas. She is girl of mixed heritage with a bit of magic in her blood. I liked watching her growth as she transforms into a more capable girl, one who is able to see beyond Fey glamour. She taps into her magic and learns a thing or two about the wily Fey. By the end, she is a brave and determined girl.
And The Not So Much:
*I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't just a bit more discussion on the Dust Bowl and The Depression. Many young readers, are probably unfamiliar with this era as it is starting to move into the more distant past, and we are quickly losing those who survived this time period. I would love to see in the next book, a bit more information on the events that precipitated the Dust Bowl Days and how the population ultimately dealt with this calamity.
*This book was not bogged down by a slow pace, in fact it is just the opposite. The story line zips along and often times events are not fully explained and some of the detail is lost. For instance, Callie and Jack visit the local store after a horrific dust storm to find the store ransacked and all the meat chewed off to the bone.... The reader is left to infer who did this.....and there are many more scenes where the pace is too quick. I think slowing it down a bit and expanding on the details would make for a better read. The quick speed, at times, makes some things confusing.
*One thing that bothered me was the way the mother disappeared. She vanishes in the middle of a blinding dust storm and Callie just seems to suddenly know that she is gone, not that she is out there succumbing to the dust. Furthermore, I didn't think her reaction was appropriate. She isn't distraught or fearful or crying.....I don't know something about that whole scene just didn't quite work for me.
*The final scene is also a bit confusing, it is so chaotic and crazy and then it takes on a whole new dimension with a bit of religious, after life tones.....Again, this is another area where the book's quick pace hurt the story. It also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger....nothing jarring or horrific, but there isn't any resolution to the main conflicts...it is more of a to be continued end.
Dust Girl is an exciting and interesting blend of historical and supernatural. I liked that this book combined the Dust Bowl / Depression Era with a bit of Fey magic. In the end, you have a book that is full of surprises as well as the unexpected. I also appreciated that it explored many of the the issues that were pertinent to this period. If you enjoy historical books with a dash of paranormal read Dust Girl. This fast paced adventure will take you on a wild and crazy trip through the dreary, dusty landscape of the Midwest. I am eager to see how the adventure will continue with the release of Golden Girl in June 2013.
Favorite Quotations:
"All of them waiting on a chance to hop a train. All of them trying to get someplace, anyplace where there might be work and a chance at keeping body and soul together just a little bit longer."
"Worry had worn itself deep into their minds and souls, but it was still finding new channels to dig."
"A gun is a terrible thing. It's a dark hole pointed at you, and that hole swallows up everything else in the world, your friends, your nerve, until there's nothing but you and what's waiting in that little round space of dark."
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for my review.
Posted @Rainy Day Ramblings.
Callie's body spasms with a deep, racking cough. Her lungs are heavy with dust. More than her lungs are plagued by the dirt that has overtaken all of the Midwest. Callie lives in Kansas, and like all the other towns in the area, the violent dust storms have choked all the land and driven away most of the citizens. Callie longs to escape the nightmarish dust, but her mother insists they must stay and wait for the return of her father. A man she has never met, as he vanished long before she was born leaving behind a piano and a promise he would return. Now Callie and her mother are trapped in the terrifying dust bowl waiting for a man to rescue them. Then in a moment of despair, Callie's mother commands her to play her father's piano, and that changes everything..... The music seems to call up a raging dust storm and unseen enemies, and Callie soon learns that her black heritage is infused with something more....magic. Magic that is dangerous and deadly. Can Callie escape the dusty plains of Kansas?
What I Liked:
*I am always fascinated by the Dust Bowl/ Depression era and I am eager to learn more about this difficult time, so I was excited to pick up Dust Girl and transport into the deadly dry, dusty plains of the Midwest. I was surprised to find that this is more than a tale of the Dust Bowl as it incorporates a bit of paranormal. With the addition of the Fey and magic, the book turns into something unexpected, and it ends up being a fast and furious read full of unexpected encounters with something different on every page. This is a book that is full of twists and surprises, and you never know from one moment to the next what will happen. If you enjoy historical books with a dash of supernatural definitely give Dust Girl a try.
*I liked that this book touched on so many issues that were prevalent during this era, such as: racism, poverty, hunger, desperation and the horror of the dust and the Great Depression. You can almost feel the dust grinding in your teeth as you eat the food that is contaminated with dirt, or feel the grime heavy in your lungs as you struggle to breath. The vivid descriptions bring all the horror and hopelessness to life. I also appreciated that Callie was of mixed race and that she struggled to hide her African American genes as she would be an outcast. The cruel spectre of racism rears it its ugly head time and time again, a reminder that we are not that far removed from the days of segregation. On the flip side, this book also presents the disparaging distribution of wealth. While so many struggled to survive, there are the few who enjoyed the luxuries of the high life, and flaunted them while they went about their daily lives, seemingly oblivious to the suffering. This theme is present throughout, as Callie and Jack encounter the wealthy as they try to endure dust and hunger.
*I enjoyed that this book does not have a full developed romance. Every once in awhile, it is a nice to read a YA novel that does not utilize a romance. This one does establish a strong friendship between Jack and Callie, that starts out a little rocky, and while there are definite hints that an attraction is building, nothing transpires. I will be interested to see how this one develops.
*I liked that this book incorporates many supernatural entities, some old and others new. From the Seelie and Unseelie Fey to the Midnight People as well as an appearance from the old trickster, Coyote.
Callie, the heroine, is an interesting and unique voice. She starts out as a shy, sheltered girl longing to be free from the despairing, dust blown plains of Kansas. She is girl of mixed heritage with a bit of magic in her blood. I liked watching her growth as she transforms into a more capable girl, one who is able to see beyond Fey glamour. She taps into her magic and learns a thing or two about the wily Fey. By the end, she is a brave and determined girl.
And The Not So Much:
*I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't just a bit more discussion on the Dust Bowl and The Depression. Many young readers, are probably unfamiliar with this era as it is starting to move into the more distant past, and we are quickly losing those who survived this time period. I would love to see in the next book, a bit more information on the events that precipitated the Dust Bowl Days and how the population ultimately dealt with this calamity.
*This book was not bogged down by a slow pace, in fact it is just the opposite. The story line zips along and often times events are not fully explained and some of the detail is lost. For instance, Callie and Jack visit the local store after a horrific dust storm to find the store ransacked and all the meat chewed off to the bone.... The reader is left to infer who did this.....and there are many more scenes where the pace is too quick. I think slowing it down a bit and expanding on the details would make for a better read. The quick speed, at times, makes some things confusing.
*One thing that bothered me was the way the mother disappeared. She vanishes in the middle of a blinding dust storm and Callie just seems to suddenly know that she is gone, not that she is out there succumbing to the dust. Furthermore, I didn't think her reaction was appropriate. She isn't distraught or fearful or crying.....I don't know something about that whole scene just didn't quite work for me.
*The final scene is also a bit confusing, it is so chaotic and crazy and then it takes on a whole new dimension with a bit of religious, after life tones.....Again, this is another area where the book's quick pace hurt the story. It also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger....nothing jarring or horrific, but there isn't any resolution to the main conflicts...it is more of a to be continued end.
Dust Girl is an exciting and interesting blend of historical and supernatural. I liked that this book combined the Dust Bowl / Depression Era with a bit of Fey magic. In the end, you have a book that is full of surprises as well as the unexpected. I also appreciated that it explored many of the the issues that were pertinent to this period. If you enjoy historical books with a dash of paranormal read Dust Girl. This fast paced adventure will take you on a wild and crazy trip through the dreary, dusty landscape of the Midwest. I am eager to see how the adventure will continue with the release of Golden Girl in June 2013.
Favorite Quotations:
"All of them waiting on a chance to hop a train. All of them trying to get someplace, anyplace where there might be work and a chance at keeping body and soul together just a little bit longer."
"Worry had worn itself deep into their minds and souls, but it was still finding new channels to dig."
"A gun is a terrible thing. It's a dark hole pointed at you, and that hole swallows up everything else in the world, your friends, your nerve, until there's nothing but you and what's waiting in that little round space of dark."
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for my review.
Posted @Rainy Day Ramblings.
November 14, 2019
"Dust Girl" - written by Sarah Zettel and published in 2012 by Random House Children's Books. Callie is living with her mother in their shuttered hotel in Kansas in 1935, Dust Bowl times, watching their town slowly close down. She is of mixed-race - her black father was a piano player who left before she was born and her mother takes care to hide this heritage from others. When a huge dust storm moves in, things take a turn for the worse, while Callie's latent powers inherited from her fairy father are revealed. In this action-filled YA story, Zettel highlights racial and ethnic disparities, making this an interesting choice for a class book discussion, but the fairy component was somewhat muddled, being part horror and part frantic escapes from dark characters. Zettel seems to be setting the table for the future books in this series - Callie's father and now her mother are still missing, there's a budding relationship with her co-conspirator Jack, and Callie's place in the fairy world is still up in the air. Recommended for teens as an energetic story with lots going on.
November 13, 2021
2021 bk 341. WOW! This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and held on through the end. Seriously - I missed 2 meals while reading it. From its dust bowl setting to its mixture of not one but two folklore traditions with the blues thrown in, what is there not to love. Our heroine is existing and very ill from the dust when her mother finally reveals the name of her father and then disappears. Her rescue of Coyote, the trickster, disguised as a man named Baya, results in her healing and the knowledge that she would have to leave her home to find her mother. When the Hoppers arrive, she if pulled full force into the knowledge that the Seelie Court was searching for her and that she had better get a move on. Waiting to get my hands on the sequel for this series!
August 19, 2020
The beginning of this book was full of fantastic descriptive words that really shared (for me at least) what it was like in the dust bowl of the Midwest. I had always wondered what it was like during that time and this answered so much about that. I enjoyed learning about Callie and her experiences. I cringed with her and felt the worry she experienced because of who she was. I didn't realize it was a series when I started it, so was disappointed in the end. Since then I learned that there are two more books. I'll have to read them. I'd like to see how her story ends.
July 17, 2012
Originally posted here.
Guys, this book was weird. Like one of the weirdest books I've read this side of my college course on counterculture where we read things like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Much like the books in that course, I definitely felt like I was on some sort of substance-assisted journey as I read through Dust Girl. So yeah, that was interesting.
Though it was pretty evident from the opening that this was perhaps not the book for me, I persisted on and didn't DNF, because there were some good things about the book. For one thing, I was seriously impressed by Zettel's writing. Dust Girl manages to be very southern without being obnoxious to me at all. Zettel keeps her dialect to a minimum, using it subtly. Even her non-dialect language has a rather southern feel to it, accomplishing the precise mood and tone without making me want to attempt a lobotomy upon myself.
The only thing about the writing I wasn't sure about was a stylistic choice. Zettel chose to write the story in the past tense, occasionally interjecting a monologue from future Callie into the story. There would be an analysis of how Callie felt in a situation, followed by something to the effect of 'but I didn't know that at the time.' This always left me feeling as though Zettel was trying to explain concepts and motivations to me she felt I wasn't clever to grasp without her heavy-handed assistance. I generally find this method of story-telling to be tricky and a bit overdone, and I thought it was especially clunky here, although perhaps this was fixed in the final version.
The other awesome thing about this story was how unlike anything else I've read it was. There might be moments where I thought of some other fiction, but the compilation of these moments and all of the other moments were something brand new. These faeries are familiar, but they are Zettel's own. Oh, and, adding to the originality, is the diversity in the book. I feel like I shouldn't have to issue mad props everytime I read a book with a non-white main character, but I do. Callie is a mixed race child (whatever we ultimately decide her race to be).
However, the big drawback for the book, the aspect that left me constantly going "WTF!!!!!" as I read, was the fact that I never had a freaking clue what was happening. There are books that surprise me, that do unexpected things, but I have rarely felt as completely lost in a narrative as I did in Dust Girl. Things would happen, and then some more things. I never felt like I had any sense of a direction the story was heading in or like that was an issue with me as a reader. There just wasn't a feeling of a story arc. Mostly, it felt like I was being pulled along for the ride, bumping roughly and suddenly over obstacles I couldn't possibly have seen coming.
I really can't recommend or condemn this book. Some readers will no doubt love it, because it was in pretty much every way a wholly unique reading experience. Others, though, will be entirely frustrated by that adrift feeling that it leaves you with. I didn't dislike the book, but I'm also not invested enough to continue on with the series.
Guys, this book was weird. Like one of the weirdest books I've read this side of my college course on counterculture where we read things like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Much like the books in that course, I definitely felt like I was on some sort of substance-assisted journey as I read through Dust Girl. So yeah, that was interesting.
Though it was pretty evident from the opening that this was perhaps not the book for me, I persisted on and didn't DNF, because there were some good things about the book. For one thing, I was seriously impressed by Zettel's writing. Dust Girl manages to be very southern without being obnoxious to me at all. Zettel keeps her dialect to a minimum, using it subtly. Even her non-dialect language has a rather southern feel to it, accomplishing the precise mood and tone without making me want to attempt a lobotomy upon myself.
The only thing about the writing I wasn't sure about was a stylistic choice. Zettel chose to write the story in the past tense, occasionally interjecting a monologue from future Callie into the story. There would be an analysis of how Callie felt in a situation, followed by something to the effect of 'but I didn't know that at the time.' This always left me feeling as though Zettel was trying to explain concepts and motivations to me she felt I wasn't clever to grasp without her heavy-handed assistance. I generally find this method of story-telling to be tricky and a bit overdone, and I thought it was especially clunky here, although perhaps this was fixed in the final version.
The other awesome thing about this story was how unlike anything else I've read it was. There might be moments where I thought of some other fiction, but the compilation of these moments and all of the other moments were something brand new. These faeries are familiar, but they are Zettel's own. Oh, and, adding to the originality, is the diversity in the book. I feel like I shouldn't have to issue mad props everytime I read a book with a non-white main character, but I do. Callie is a mixed race child (whatever we ultimately decide her race to be).
However, the big drawback for the book, the aspect that left me constantly going "WTF!!!!!" as I read, was the fact that I never had a freaking clue what was happening. There are books that surprise me, that do unexpected things, but I have rarely felt as completely lost in a narrative as I did in Dust Girl. Things would happen, and then some more things. I never felt like I had any sense of a direction the story was heading in or like that was an issue with me as a reader. There just wasn't a feeling of a story arc. Mostly, it felt like I was being pulled along for the ride, bumping roughly and suddenly over obstacles I couldn't possibly have seen coming.
I really can't recommend or condemn this book. Some readers will no doubt love it, because it was in pretty much every way a wholly unique reading experience. Others, though, will be entirely frustrated by that adrift feeling that it leaves you with. I didn't dislike the book, but I'm also not invested enough to continue on with the series.
July 2, 2017
This tale takes place in Slow Run Kansas during the time of the great Dust Bowl. Zettel offers us an interesting tale of dark and light fairies, danger and discovery. Fans of folk lore, history and fairies will delight in this tale.
We meet protagonist Callie LeRoux at her home, a grand hotel in Slow Run. The town is all but deserted due to the dry conditions. Sand and dust have affected her health but her mother refuses to leave. Callie’s father, a man she has never met promised he’d return. When a horrific dust storm occurs and Callie’s mother goes missing, a mysterious man appears. He tells Callie she must head west to California to find her parents. The tale and the journey offer Callie insight about herself, her parents and her destiny. The journey is difficult as Callie must determine who to trust and who to run from. Filled with twists, murder and strange creatures this tale was entertaining.
Callie is unique in more ways than one. She is of mixed color at a time when society had strict rules regarding race.(although the cover in no way reflects this) In a lot of ways Callie has had to be an adult, since her mother has obvious issues. Callie quickly learns that she is only half-human and watching her discover her powers was fun. She is tough, smart and surprisingly level-headed, despite all that is occurring. I loved some of her kick-butt action scenes. Jack is street-wise and sensitive. He cares for Callie and tries to help her. He knows the streets and every con imaginable. He is also welled versed in lore and is able to offer Callie clues about the parties involved and her role in it. At one point I disliked his actions, but he did redeemed himself. The Fae bring us an odd mix of colorful characters. There are two groups The Seelie and the Unseelie. Both want Callie in their court and ultimately she will need to decide.
The world building was fascinating. Zettel swept us back in time and I felt like I was there. Her depiction of the period was breathtaking and I could taste the dust. Callie is the center of a prophecy and both Fae kingdoms are vying for her. This created a lot of twists, turns and heart-palpitating moments. Mixed into this fantasy, Zettel touches on the topic of prejudice. She focuses on race as well as social classes. A scene towards the end is steeped in religion and I had to reread to understand exactly what happened. This was the only bump in an otherwise evenly paced tale. At this time there is no romance, and I am curious to see what happens next.
I want to thank Random House and netGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
We meet protagonist Callie LeRoux at her home, a grand hotel in Slow Run. The town is all but deserted due to the dry conditions. Sand and dust have affected her health but her mother refuses to leave. Callie’s father, a man she has never met promised he’d return. When a horrific dust storm occurs and Callie’s mother goes missing, a mysterious man appears. He tells Callie she must head west to California to find her parents. The tale and the journey offer Callie insight about herself, her parents and her destiny. The journey is difficult as Callie must determine who to trust and who to run from. Filled with twists, murder and strange creatures this tale was entertaining.
Callie is unique in more ways than one. She is of mixed color at a time when society had strict rules regarding race.(although the cover in no way reflects this) In a lot of ways Callie has had to be an adult, since her mother has obvious issues. Callie quickly learns that she is only half-human and watching her discover her powers was fun. She is tough, smart and surprisingly level-headed, despite all that is occurring. I loved some of her kick-butt action scenes. Jack is street-wise and sensitive. He cares for Callie and tries to help her. He knows the streets and every con imaginable. He is also welled versed in lore and is able to offer Callie clues about the parties involved and her role in it. At one point I disliked his actions, but he did redeemed himself. The Fae bring us an odd mix of colorful characters. There are two groups The Seelie and the Unseelie. Both want Callie in their court and ultimately she will need to decide.
The world building was fascinating. Zettel swept us back in time and I felt like I was there. Her depiction of the period was breathtaking and I could taste the dust. Callie is the center of a prophecy and both Fae kingdoms are vying for her. This created a lot of twists, turns and heart-palpitating moments. Mixed into this fantasy, Zettel touches on the topic of prejudice. She focuses on race as well as social classes. A scene towards the end is steeped in religion and I had to reread to understand exactly what happened. This was the only bump in an otherwise evenly paced tale. At this time there is no romance, and I am curious to see what happens next.
I want to thank Random House and netGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
July 21, 2012
I’m going to go ahead and admit that I am not a fan of fairy books. I like them about as much as I like vampires and zombies. Knowing that, I was a little apprehensive about reading Dust Girl because it was marketed as a Fae story. While that was true, there were other elements that kept this from feeling like a stale fairy tale (no pun intended).
One of the things I noticed right away was the original setting. I can only recall reading one other book set in the Dust Bowl during the early 1900s. I think this is partly because of the difficulty with describing the setting in historically accurate detail. Now, take that insanely challenging setting and imagine adding a paranormal twist. That is a pretty hefty challenge for an author. Did the author pull it off? I think so. There were many subtle details that I recalled learning from my history classes and other historical books along the way (yeah, I’m a nerd like that). There were also new details that I had never heard about before. I had fun learning something new from a fictional story. (You know I looked those details up to check the accuracy! That’s the teacher in me.)
I also enjoyed the characters. Callie is bi-racial during a time when that was not socially acceptable. Her father was a black Jazz musician, or so she thought, while her mother was a white hotel worker. What Callie doesn’t realize is that the term “bi-racial” takes on a whole new meaning for her because her father is actually a Fae prince. Dun dun dun… Cue the drama. I can’t mention much of the role her father and his people have in the story because that is the majority of the conflict, but I can say how much I enjoyed that slowly developing conflict. I had the chance to meet many interesting characters in this story. I just wish I could have spent more time with some of them. (I guess that’s what book 2 is for.)
Finally, I really enjoyed the subtle mythology in this story. I think Native American mythology is not represented enough. So when a character that resembled Coyote made an appearance, I was instantly intrigued. The only thing I wondered about was that Coyote is typically described as a trickster, but the character that represented Coyote did not appear to fit that mold. Makes me wonder what will happen as this story develops more.
If you want a book that wraps up tightly and leaves you well satisfied, you should probably skip this one. There is a cliff hanger ending that left me with a lot of questions. I enjoyed my time reading through this story because the author has a great writing style. It’s very conversational in tone, which made it a smooth read.
One of the things I noticed right away was the original setting. I can only recall reading one other book set in the Dust Bowl during the early 1900s. I think this is partly because of the difficulty with describing the setting in historically accurate detail. Now, take that insanely challenging setting and imagine adding a paranormal twist. That is a pretty hefty challenge for an author. Did the author pull it off? I think so. There were many subtle details that I recalled learning from my history classes and other historical books along the way (yeah, I’m a nerd like that). There were also new details that I had never heard about before. I had fun learning something new from a fictional story. (You know I looked those details up to check the accuracy! That’s the teacher in me.)
I also enjoyed the characters. Callie is bi-racial during a time when that was not socially acceptable. Her father was a black Jazz musician, or so she thought, while her mother was a white hotel worker. What Callie doesn’t realize is that the term “bi-racial” takes on a whole new meaning for her because her father is actually a Fae prince. Dun dun dun… Cue the drama. I can’t mention much of the role her father and his people have in the story because that is the majority of the conflict, but I can say how much I enjoyed that slowly developing conflict. I had the chance to meet many interesting characters in this story. I just wish I could have spent more time with some of them. (I guess that’s what book 2 is for.)
Finally, I really enjoyed the subtle mythology in this story. I think Native American mythology is not represented enough. So when a character that resembled Coyote made an appearance, I was instantly intrigued. The only thing I wondered about was that Coyote is typically described as a trickster, but the character that represented Coyote did not appear to fit that mold. Makes me wonder what will happen as this story develops more.
If you want a book that wraps up tightly and leaves you well satisfied, you should probably skip this one. There is a cliff hanger ending that left me with a lot of questions. I enjoyed my time reading through this story because the author has a great writing style. It’s very conversational in tone, which made it a smooth read.
August 27, 2014
Title: Dust Girl
Author: Sarah Zettel
Age Group: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction
Series: The American Fairy, book one
Star Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
The bottom line: An enchanting debut about a young half-fairy coming of age, Dust Girl was just a triumph of a little book--I thoroughly enjoyed it! Highly recommended for fans of both genres!
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Callie LeRoux is a girl who is well-versed in survival. As a half-black, half-white woman in a sleepy, tiny little town in Kansas, all she wants is to just be normal. But when whispers in the dry, dusty air reach Callie's ears, she realizes that she must leave. Drawn into a world of prophecies, dangerous, tempting magic, and worst of all, death, she realizes that she can no longer she is more different than even she ever imagined. And to save herself in a world conspiring to rule her, she must find a way to control the magic in her blood..
What I enjoyed:
-I loved the pacing of this novel--with its enchanting, deep, raw prose, I was completely rapt and couldn't put it down, especially when things began to roll
-Callie, the young woman who evolves from a passive, apathetic main character to a protagonist worth cheering for--I really related to her, and I loved that the character wasn't white
-The dry, dusting setting of the Midwest Dust Bowl--throughout many passages I felt as though I was dying of thirst
-Jack, the boy who inevitably becomes Callie's friend, and is on the run from his own demons--I really liked him as well, even at times I wanted to strangle him
-I also enjoyed the way the author seamlessly wove in the supernatural elements of the story--this book was like a breath of fresh air
-The way the fairies were so like the stories: beautiful but tricky, tempting but with a price that comes far too steep for some of the characters
-Shimmy and Shake
-Callie's grandparents
-Callie's parents, the doomed lovers across worlds that couldn't mingle--I wish more had been said about them in this installment
-The ending--I can't wait until I can get my hands on the next two books!
What could've been better:
-I wish more had been said about Callie's parents and grandparents
-I wish more had also been said about the warring fairy factions
Overall, Dust Girl was a great book, a supernatural adventure of a tale with a lot of heart! Highly recommended. Next on deck: Archetype: A Novel by M.D. Waters!
Author: Sarah Zettel
Age Group: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction
Series: The American Fairy, book one
Star Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
The bottom line: An enchanting debut about a young half-fairy coming of age, Dust Girl was just a triumph of a little book--I thoroughly enjoyed it! Highly recommended for fans of both genres!
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Callie LeRoux is a girl who is well-versed in survival. As a half-black, half-white woman in a sleepy, tiny little town in Kansas, all she wants is to just be normal. But when whispers in the dry, dusty air reach Callie's ears, she realizes that she must leave. Drawn into a world of prophecies, dangerous, tempting magic, and worst of all, death, she realizes that she can no longer she is more different than even she ever imagined. And to save herself in a world conspiring to rule her, she must find a way to control the magic in her blood..
What I enjoyed:
-I loved the pacing of this novel--with its enchanting, deep, raw prose, I was completely rapt and couldn't put it down, especially when things began to roll
-Callie, the young woman who evolves from a passive, apathetic main character to a protagonist worth cheering for--I really related to her, and I loved that the character wasn't white
-The dry, dusting setting of the Midwest Dust Bowl--throughout many passages I felt as though I was dying of thirst
-Jack, the boy who inevitably becomes Callie's friend, and is on the run from his own demons--I really liked him as well, even at times I wanted to strangle him
-I also enjoyed the way the author seamlessly wove in the supernatural elements of the story--this book was like a breath of fresh air
-The way the fairies were so like the stories: beautiful but tricky, tempting but with a price that comes far too steep for some of the characters
-Shimmy and Shake
-Callie's grandparents
-Callie's parents, the doomed lovers across worlds that couldn't mingle--I wish more had been said about them in this installment
-The ending--I can't wait until I can get my hands on the next two books!
What could've been better:
-I wish more had been said about Callie's parents and grandparents
-I wish more had also been said about the warring fairy factions
Overall, Dust Girl was a great book, a supernatural adventure of a tale with a lot of heart! Highly recommended. Next on deck: Archetype: A Novel by M.D. Waters!
November 3, 2014
Slow Run, Kansas is a backwater barely-town suffering greatly in the wake of the Great Depression. Dust storms rage and businesses are drying up. Callie and her mother live in and run the old Imperial Hotel. While it was once glamorous and busy, the Hotel is now crumbling and failing. But Callie and her mother have stayed in spite of it all. In spite of the dust that has settled in Callie's lungs. In spite of the lack of money and the struggle to keep the place running. And in spite of the fact that almost no one stops in Slow Run these days. They trudge along in hopes that Callie's father will keep his promise and return to them. Then, in a fit of desperation, Callie's mother calls on her to attempt to reach out to her father through means Callie doesn't even understand. Rather than bring her father home, Callie instead loses her mother as well. In order to get her back, Callie must travel West to California. But along the way, Callie will learn that everything she's come to believe may indeed be wrong. For Callie is far from normal and her life will soon be filled with magic and creatures beyond belief.
One thing everyone seems to agree on with Sarah Zettel's Dust Girl is that it's strange. I found it wonderfully imaginative! It brought to mind the magic of The Wizard of Oz and The Odyssey a la Oh, Brother Where Art Though. What's more, I found the setting to be completely unique and fabulous!
Fairies in Dust Bowl, Kansas. Oh, my! DUST GIRL is a YA fantasy and the first in the American Fairy Trilogy. Zettel does draw on some other inspirations that I'm sure many readers in the target audience will not be familiar with. The most blatantly obvious (and I caught it but it was also mentioned in the Author's Note) is THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY. I've not read Horace McCoy's book but I did randomly come across the film one evening. It's a truly strange and dark story. It sprang to mind the instant Callie comes across the flier for the dance marathon and I was pleased as punch that I recognized it.
My point in all this is that DUST GIRL, as odd a story as it is, worked for me. It was different from anything else I'd come across and I found it highly entertaining. But I kind of like weird.
This is Zettel's first official teen release. She is the author of a number of previous fantasy novels but this is my first read by her.
One thing everyone seems to agree on with Sarah Zettel's Dust Girl is that it's strange. I found it wonderfully imaginative! It brought to mind the magic of The Wizard of Oz and The Odyssey a la Oh, Brother Where Art Though. What's more, I found the setting to be completely unique and fabulous!
Fairies in Dust Bowl, Kansas. Oh, my! DUST GIRL is a YA fantasy and the first in the American Fairy Trilogy. Zettel does draw on some other inspirations that I'm sure many readers in the target audience will not be familiar with. The most blatantly obvious (and I caught it but it was also mentioned in the Author's Note) is THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY. I've not read Horace McCoy's book but I did randomly come across the film one evening. It's a truly strange and dark story. It sprang to mind the instant Callie comes across the flier for the dance marathon and I was pleased as punch that I recognized it.
My point in all this is that DUST GIRL, as odd a story as it is, worked for me. It was different from anything else I'd come across and I found it highly entertaining. But I kind of like weird.
This is Zettel's first official teen release. She is the author of a number of previous fantasy novels but this is my first read by her.
July 4, 2013
Historical fantasy is one of my favorite genres, but it is one of the most difficult ones to get right if you ask me - and Sarah Zettel manages to nearly nail it with Dust Girl. It has the perfect amount of intrigue, adventure, and great story that features a budding friendship.
I don't know how I didn't read this one earlier. I heard about it and was excited, but somehow it just slipped down my TBR pile and boy am I regretting it. I love how different Sarah Zettel's fairies are. While there are the common features, there are also different features that her fairies have. I am very eager to learn more about them in the books sequel, Golden Girl.
I am really hoping for a lot more answers in the sequel. Dust Girl lays the foundation for a lot of big questions, so I cannot wait to find out all the answers. I was left a little confused at times, since I was not really sure going on. This was particularly true at the story's end since a lot happens in a short period of time. There is a prophecy and two sides fighting for the same girl. I never was really sure where my loyalties should lie and Sarah Zettel managed to keep my clueless as to the villain was right up until the reveal. I had not a clue and that rarely happens.
Both Callie and Jack are great main characters - I am excited to see what happens with their story next. Callie is biracial and while it leaves her with insecurities, I love that she doesn't let it overcome her life, even though she mentions that others like her may.
I cannot wait to pick up Golden Girl and follow Callie and Jack's story immediately to get more adventure and find some answers. Fans of Leah Cypess or Esther Freisner will adore this stunning story from Sarah Zettel.
I don't know how I didn't read this one earlier. I heard about it and was excited, but somehow it just slipped down my TBR pile and boy am I regretting it. I love how different Sarah Zettel's fairies are. While there are the common features, there are also different features that her fairies have. I am very eager to learn more about them in the books sequel, Golden Girl.
I am really hoping for a lot more answers in the sequel. Dust Girl lays the foundation for a lot of big questions, so I cannot wait to find out all the answers. I was left a little confused at times, since I was not really sure going on. This was particularly true at the story's end since a lot happens in a short period of time. There is a prophecy and two sides fighting for the same girl. I never was really sure where my loyalties should lie and Sarah Zettel managed to keep my clueless as to the villain was right up until the reveal. I had not a clue and that rarely happens.
Both Callie and Jack are great main characters - I am excited to see what happens with their story next. Callie is biracial and while it leaves her with insecurities, I love that she doesn't let it overcome her life, even though she mentions that others like her may.
I cannot wait to pick up Golden Girl and follow Callie and Jack's story immediately to get more adventure and find some answers. Fans of Leah Cypess or Esther Freisner will adore this stunning story from Sarah Zettel.
July 24, 2012
This is such a rich and intriguing read, suitable for ages 10 on up I think. As long as the 10 year old can cope with violence, death and subtle, tricksy fae. [spoilers removed]The world building is outstanding, Zettel takes us right back to the dustbowl, Kansas 1935, and introduces us to Callie, a girl who is about to learn that not only is she biracial-passing-as-white she is also a halfling-passing-as-human. But this isn't something she can focus on right now, because she is living through the end of her world, the death by dust storms of her small town. And after her world is gone she has to learn how to live as a stranger among strangers in a world where starving to death is a real possibility, and she has to learn who she truly is and begin to negotiate life as a halfling with both courts, light and dark, in pursuit of her. Zettel makes the dustbowl feel vivid and all too relevant to today, and I especially love the diversity of her characters, and how well she balances the racial and species differences among her characters. Otherness is a major theme here, how easily any person can be Othered, whether by becoming a refugee/hobo, by being outed as black or Jewish, or by discovering your faerie heritage. [spoilers removed] Music is another strong undercurrent of this book and now that I've finished it I'm feeling a strong urge to cue up some Woody Guthrie and some Count Basie! I've loved Zettel's scifi for years but been a bit disappointed by her recent output and it is so exciting to find her back on top form with this new YA fantasy series. I can't wait for the next one!
April 2, 2013
As I've often said in recent times,I am sick of vampire/zombie(feh)/ghost/fairy/paranormal books because they are being churned out by the zillion by hip 20-somethings with websites that are mutual admiration societies for other hip 20-something authors creating similar crap.
So when this came in and I saw "The American Fairy" trilogy, I expected more of the same mediocre stuff that makes me long for the days of YA problem novels.
Not so. This book has a fresh setting: Depression Era America in the Dust Bowl region. There are interesting nuances of race and ethnicity. There are some well plotted "ewww" moments and a plot that makes sense.
This is well researched. Instead of having spent 5 minutes on the Internet, Zettel has done her homework, and the end of this book gives sources and references instead of 2 pages thanking everyone from her editor to other similar writers (you ROCK!, etc ad nauseum),to her pet ocelot and the barristas at her favorite hip coffee place.
In short, well plotted, well written, fresh ideas and while this is going to be a trilogy, if books 2 & 3 are nearly as good as book 1, it will be well worth money from my tiny YA budget.
So when this came in and I saw "The American Fairy" trilogy, I expected more of the same mediocre stuff that makes me long for the days of YA problem novels.
Not so. This book has a fresh setting: Depression Era America in the Dust Bowl region. There are interesting nuances of race and ethnicity. There are some well plotted "ewww" moments and a plot that makes sense.
This is well researched. Instead of having spent 5 minutes on the Internet, Zettel has done her homework, and the end of this book gives sources and references instead of 2 pages thanking everyone from her editor to other similar writers (you ROCK!, etc ad nauseum),to her pet ocelot and the barristas at her favorite hip coffee place.
In short, well plotted, well written, fresh ideas and while this is going to be a trilogy, if books 2 & 3 are nearly as good as book 1, it will be well worth money from my tiny YA budget.
November 21, 2011
Man, was I ever intrigued by Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel. Give me a good ole' Dust Bowl/Great Depression story any day. Give me a new twist on faerie lore any day. Wait...I get BOTH?! Ms. Zettel took a unique approach with her novel that totally caught me off-guard. I am ashamed that I thought she'd "girly out" on the faerie end of things...but the first encounter of the faerie kind wiped that idea out. There were a lot of tidbits that I wanted more information on, and I know that this book is intended to be the first of a set (trilogy, I believe), but I wish that there had been a few more answers to the many questions this story opened up. To be fair, a lot of information is given very quickly at one point, so I might have missed some of it.
The book held my interest as I read it on my way to go deer hunting, and I would be interested to see what else Ms. Zettel has in store.
The book held my interest as I read it on my way to go deer hunting, and I would be interested to see what else Ms. Zettel has in store.
December 4, 2015
DNF 57%
This book was weird and seemed to take forever to get anywhere. Halfway through the book and I know only a little more than when I started.
I also struggled with the small detail of Callie being half-black but not really looking it on the cover and none of the people in her life could tell. Supposedly it was because she stayed out of the sun. I can't think of any half-black people I've met that didn't look mixed! They couldn't pass for white people. Considering Callie's hair is stated to be unruly and impossible to control, I think it would've been a giveaway.
That aside I kept having this feeling that there was some hidden agenda the author was pushing and I quit reading on the page it became obvious. Reversed roles, good is evil and evil is good. Good quoting scripture. Yeah, no thanks.
This book was weird and seemed to take forever to get anywhere. Halfway through the book and I know only a little more than when I started.
I also struggled with the small detail of Callie being half-black but not really looking it on the cover and none of the people in her life could tell. Supposedly it was because she stayed out of the sun. I can't think of any half-black people I've met that didn't look mixed! They couldn't pass for white people. Considering Callie's hair is stated to be unruly and impossible to control, I think it would've been a giveaway.
That aside I kept having this feeling that there was some hidden agenda the author was pushing and I quit reading on the page it became obvious. Reversed roles, good is evil and evil is good. Good quoting scripture. Yeah, no thanks.
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