Age: 18
Title: Love in the Time of Global Warming
Author: Francesca Lia Block
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pub Date: text
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: I really enjoyed this book because it hit an unusual literary sweet spot of having both strong character development and a strong plot. The characters were believable, endearing and complex; all of them grew and changed and came of age throughout the story. At the same time, a legend-based apocalypse is going on, with elements of Greek mythology and science fiction mixed together, monsters and mad scientists and magic butterflies included. The author wields the strange and beautiful plot skillfully in just over 200 pages, and the ending is satisfying while still leaving a few things mysterious and unresolved.
Memorable or Forgettable: Three things make this book particularly memorable for me: the believability of the characters’ interactions and transformations among the fantastical events, the spectacularly implemented use of flashbacks that added to the story without being distracting, and the way the entire book seemed dreamlike while addressing very real emotions and concerns. At first I was skeptical of the premise, but I ended up enjoying the story very much and rooting for the characters as they fought giants and discovered inner truths.
Cover: This cover is beautiful. It is artistically unique while including several intriguing elements from the book, including the butterflies, Pen’s chopped hair, and the waves engulfing the house. It is one of the best covers I’ve seen. I picked up the book because a friend recommended it.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: When her quiet home is overrun by apocalyptic waves and one-eyed giants, Pen must awaken the courage, love, and violence within herself to save the people she cares about most. Recommended to anyone who enjoys mythology, The Odyssey in particular.
tags: coming of age / post-apocalyptic / magical realism / ya lit
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