Buena High School Library Staff Recommendations
Mr. Levin's Book Recommendation: Let It Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle
Unlike other YA books in the vein of John Green, which tend to necessitate boxes of Kleenex (*ahem* The Fault in Our Stars *ahem*), Let It Snow showcases Green and his collaborators in merry, mirthful, and mischievous spirits. The three intertwined stories that comprise Let It Snow offer realistic, believable underdogs, all of whom are looking for love in a particularly nasty winter storm.
The first story in the book, Johnson's "The Jubilee Express," follows an intelligent (albeit snarky) protagonist in the eponymous title character - a young lady who finds herself stranded in a foreign town on Christmas Eve. Like Johnson's tale, John Green's "A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle," also features teenagers adventuring without parents on the same evening; though missing the tragic aspect of Green's characteristic heartrending fiction, the story still benefits from his warmly optimistic tone and uniquely quirky characters. The final story in the trilogy, Lauren Myracle's "The Patron Saint of Pigs," is the least effective tale in the bunch: it features a guilt-ridden, self-loathing Starbucks barista and a teacup pig. 'Nuff said.
The most rewarding aspect of this book is the cleverly interlocking set of stories - all of which converge on specific locations (Starbucks, The Waffle House, etc.) in a tidy ending that wraps up neatly... like a Christmas present tied together with a bow. Regardless of their individual flaws, these three heartwarming holiday tales would each make Ebeneezer Scrooge chuckle; as a whole, though, the three authors create a memorable and engaging book in Let It Snow.
Unlike other YA books in the vein of John Green, which tend to necessitate boxes of Kleenex (*ahem* The Fault in Our Stars *ahem*), Let It Snow showcases Green and his collaborators in merry, mirthful, and mischievous spirits. The three intertwined stories that comprise Let It Snow offer realistic, believable underdogs, all of whom are looking for love in a particularly nasty winter storm.
The first story in the book, Johnson's "The Jubilee Express," follows an intelligent (albeit snarky) protagonist in the eponymous title character - a young lady who finds herself stranded in a foreign town on Christmas Eve. Like Johnson's tale, John Green's "A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle," also features teenagers adventuring without parents on the same evening; though missing the tragic aspect of Green's characteristic heartrending fiction, the story still benefits from his warmly optimistic tone and uniquely quirky characters. The final story in the trilogy, Lauren Myracle's "The Patron Saint of Pigs," is the least effective tale in the bunch: it features a guilt-ridden, self-loathing Starbucks barista and a teacup pig. 'Nuff said.
The most rewarding aspect of this book is the cleverly interlocking set of stories - all of which converge on specific locations (Starbucks, The Waffle House, etc.) in a tidy ending that wraps up neatly... like a Christmas present tied together with a bow. Regardless of their individual flaws, these three heartwarming holiday tales would each make Ebeneezer Scrooge chuckle; as a whole, though, the three authors create a memorable and engaging book in Let It Snow.
