Hammajang Luck

 

Rating: 4 for making up a new category: mahudystopianfuturism (ish)

My Thoughts:

I am going to make up a new "genre" or category for this book based on the title "Hammajang." Anyone outside of Hawaiʻi will not know/understand "hammajang" in the same way that the shaka or aloha is both international and Hawaiʻi-centric at the same time. Hammajang is an old school plantation pidgen term for "messed up," "kapakahi," chaotic. So right away, this title, by writer Makana Yamamoto (Hawaiian first name, Japanese last name) identifies as local literature, perhaps by a local writer. Indeed, they are from Maui, but if you look at the author picture, they look less Hawaiian than perhaps hapa haole/kepani. So local adjacent?

Then there is the setting. This book is touted as a mix of Ocean's 8 and Blade Runner. In other words, this is an all female heist book with the two main characters in a love hate love queer relationship. It is also like Blade Runner because of the man made world in space where even the daylight is manufactured. No androids, but it is a seedy urban setting where the few are uber rich and the majority are generationally poor. 

I wanted to call this Hawaiian futurism, but this is definitely not Hawaiʻi. Any kind of novel labeled as Hawaiʻi has to both be in Hawaiʻi, but in addition, the ʻāina should have its own chracteristics, its own role as a character in the novel. This is not that. They have more plantation values where families continue to be colonized by the big luna and really, no one gets out of that system through legal means.

Also, the definition for Afro futurism does include science fiction locales and Africans in a diaspora that also can include space stations and other planets, but it usually shows a future where Africans thrive, not get stuck in the same struggle to just survive. So maybe this is not a futurism as I originally thought.

This has nothing to do with the story. I liked the story. I always like a good heist adventure, even with an angry butchy Edie. She is more complicated than just being angry and bitter. What works with this book is that the characters have kuleana. That is why I am trying to label this. This is a queer story, in a colonized future that feels like Honolulu now. Perhaps this is a mahudystopianfuturism. 

Whatever this is called, it will be a familiar story to our high school students looking for queer science fiction, heist fiction and small kine pidgen and local food moʻolelo.

From the Publisher:

Edie is done with crime. Eight years behind bars changes a person—costs them too much time with too many of the people who need them most.

And it’s all Angel’s fault. She sold Edie out in what should have been the greatest moment of their lives. Instead, Edie was shipped off to the icy prison planet spinning far below the soaring skybridges and neon catacombs of Kepler space station—of home—to spend the best part of a decade alone.

But then a chance for early parole appears out of nowhere and Edie steps into the pallid sunlight to find none other than Angel waiting—and she has an offer.

One last job. One last deal. One last target. The trillionaire tech god they failed to bring down last time. There’s just one thing Edie needs to do—trust Angel again—which also happens to be the last thing Edie wants to do. What could possibly go all hammajang about this plan?

Publication Information:

Author: Makana Yamamoto
Publisher: Harper Voyager (January 14, 2025)
Print length: 356 pages
High school

The Subtle Knife Graphic Novel

 

Publication date: February 22, 2022

From the Publisher:

This graphic novel adaptation of The Subtle Knife is a great entry point for readers new to the remarkable world of His Dark Materials and an exciting new look at the classic from Philip Pullman.

The stunning full-color art in this graphic novel offers both new and returning readers a chance to experience the story of Lyra, an ordinary girl with an extraordinary role to play in the fates of multiple worlds, in an entirely new way.

In The Subtle Knife, Lyra steps into a new world and meets Will--a boy on the run, a murderer--a worthy and welcome ally. For this is a world where soul-eating Specters stalk the streets and witches share the skies with troops of angels.

Each is searching--Lyra for the meaning of Dark Matter, Will for his missing father--but what they find instead is a deadly secret, a knife of untold power. And neither Lyra nor Will suspects how tightly their lives, their loves, their destinies are bound together...until they are split apart.

My Thoughts:

Sometimes graphic novel adaptations are good to entice readers to read the original text. This is not one of them. Phillip Pullmanʻs Dark Materials Novels, are 300-500 pages long per book, so this adaptation of The Subtle Knife, with its 272 pages of graphic cannot address all of the characters, plots, sub plots and complexity of the original. For example, part of the anti-religion themes that run through the original novel, and one of the reasons why the original book has been banned in schools, is down played in the graphic. The violence, in its graphic form, however, is more intense, mostly because there is so much text or context missing. 

My suggestion is that this is for new readers who have not read the original book. Also, because of the way the story s summarized by just pulling the main action points, there really is no reason to then go and read the books. In addition, this is book 2 of the Dark Materials trilogy, but this graphic novel can stand alone, especially if readers have not read the originals. 

Inhuman

 

My Thoughts:

This is not an American comic, but comes from Europe Comics, however, I found the publication date of Jan 20, 2021 a little ironic based on this story. The description from the publishers is below, however, in this sort of surreal time in America when we "peacefully" transitioned on a cold January 20 morning from one President (Trump) to another (Biden), things looked peaceful on the surface until you look closely at what was missing: crowd of people replaced by flags along the reflection pool, socially distanced folding chairs on the dais, no sign of the former president or the vice president at the inauguration, no exchange of gifts from the outgoing first family to the incoming first family. . . I think the inhumanity of the inauguration came from the idea that we are all on our computers or on our televisions watching things unfold as if it is a play. There were no shots of what we see as real people. The people on camera, for the most part, are always on camera. I miss the humanity of watching real people react to what is going on onstage. I miss the humanity of real people streaming out of the public transportation stations to take part in what should be the people's celebration. It was inhuman. 

That is the lens through which I read this comic - that constant searching for the inhuman below the surface and that is exactly what this book delivers. What struck me as I was reading this on the plane (besides the fact that I was hoping that no one was walking past my screen since the primitive humans are naked) was that it amazes me that we as humans continue to have the power to destroy all life as we know it. If you look at us individually: our physique, our natural skills and talents, it is amazing that we have survived this long. Not only survived, but over thrived to the point that we are able to extinguish and destroy other life forces to the point of non existence. We are natural colonizers. Perhaps that is our power, but all it takes is another sentient being with that colonizer mentality and we do not stand a chance as humans. Lights out. The question is who are the authors referring to with the title Inhuman. Is it the giant squids or is it us? 

From the Publisher:

A small exploratory vessel crashes onto an unknown ocean planet after its crew is seized by a sudden madness. After escaping their sinking ship, the five survivors are helped to the surface by giant squid-like creatures who guide them to what appears to be the planet’s only island. To their surprise, they are greeted on the shore by primitive humans, who prove to be welcoming despite their cannibalistic rituals. But their fixed smiles and total docility suggest that something more sinister is going on. Are the castaways doomed to join them in submitting to the will of the mysterious Great One?

Wildcard (Warcross #2)

In this "much anticipated" sequal to Warcross, Asian American gamer/hacker/virtual reality bounty hunter Emika Chen must walk away from her hero and friend in order to work with his enemy for the good of the world. Like the first one, it is filled with mystery, action, sacrifice and adventure. Although this story takes place in Tokyo, this is the Neurolink Tokyo where virtual reality and reality reality intermingle seamlessly to create an almost Blade Runner existence.

Although I read e-books almost exclusively now versus a paper book, my sign that a book is good happens when the book gets really exciting and when I look down at the percentage read marker on the e-book, I am close to the 50% read mark versus the 95% read mark. At that point,  I know I am in for a ride and I start clearing my schedule so I can plow through and read to the end.

Finally, I have mad love for my local public library and the State of Hawaii public library system that actually ordered this e book when I requested it. It was worth the wait (my sneak peek of this book was in September) and I think when a state system can get a request in September and I can make my way through the waitlist by December, that is a well run machine.

Sneak Peek: Wildcard

This sneak peek is provided by Net Galley and the publishers.

This is a huge NOTE TO SELF:

Stop grabbing excerpts of books, especially when I really want to read the whole thing!!!!!!

This little sneak peek was maddening because I knew that the high action follow up of Lu's first book, Warcross was going to end badly for me by leaving me hanging with no alternative but try and forget what I read.

This book is going to be on the YA must read lists in the same way that Warcross continues to be on the must read lists.

This book continues to be an ethical dilemma about free choice and evil, but it also has all the best elements of a spy thriller like Bourne Ultimatum or Mission Impossible. 

Order it now or leave a note with your local library to order the ebook today.

Warcross

From the Publisher:

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

My Thoughts:

This blog was started because as an English teacher, I was always trying to up the number of books I could booktalk that would appeal to the reluctant (mostly male) reader. I still believe, based on my 26 years in the classroom, that we lose our male adult readers if we do not capture them in middle school. 

I used to see this 20 something Hawaiian kid on the airplane when I was flying a lot for work. He always sat down early and had a paperback novel with him. I was not as bold as to ask him what he was reading, but he always read for the whole 40 minute interisland airplane ride. I look for books that will appeal to the younger him and will create this kind of young man who will continue to read way beyond the school assignment to read.

For those kind of male readers, if you like sci fi, dystopia, the action part (versus the political part) of Hunger Games, online gaming, this book is for you. If you liked the movie Hackers or Ready Player One, this is your next read. Warcross should be a movie, it is that fast paced. 

For me, this book appeals to me because it is headed by a street smart, on her own Asian American, Emika Chen. It is a science fiction novel written by an Asian female author. Although it talks about the ethics of technology, it really is about the chase. If that appeals to you too, this is your next book. 

Finally some Hideo Tanaka-isms.

Everything's science fiction until someone makes it science fact.

Everyone pays lip service to world peace. They use it as a pretty answer to pointless questions. 

Binti: Night Masquerade

I don't normally do posts for individual books in the series, but the the first book was a novella, the second was a slim 100 pages, so it took until this third book for everything to meld together. 

Now that I am done, who should read this?

If you are interested in sci fi, African/Indigenous sci fi, adventure, fantasy, space, melding of cultures and coming of age, try the Binti series. It is both familiar and surprising, even for someone who reads a lot of this type of genre. 

Binti

From the Publisher:

Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.

Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti's stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.

If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself — but first she has to make it there, alive.

My Thoughts:

I am an old sci fi geek but I started reading more minority literature because science fiction seemed so white centric. This book, however, is a perfect combination with a protagonist who is just as marginalized in this futuristic society, but through the ancient knowledge of her people, she is able to survive when no one else does. I also learned a new word while reading some reviews: Afropolitan. Binti is an Afropolitan, meaning she is of African descent but lives globally "not citizens, but Africans of the world" and in this case, of the universe.

I was so sad to find out that this was a novella, especially since I was on the waiting list at my local library for months. Who knows how long I will have to wait for the next one, but this is a rare treat of sci fi and Indigenous knowledge used as a shield and a weapon. 

Firstlife (Everlife #1)

Description:

Tenley "Ten" Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl...who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she'll live—after she dies. 
There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death. 
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she's drawn to isn't where the boy she's falling for lives? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision...

My thoughts:

I didn't make the connection until just now, but this story reminds me of being visited by Mormon missionaries every day. Like the "elders," young, handsome in their white shirts and ties, determined to share news of the second life or eternal life, that is what the characters Archer and Killian remind me of. The difference is that Archer is a missionary or laborer from Troika and Killian is a laborer from Myriad, two different and warring second life worlds who both are trying to actively recruit Ten. 

The premise is very different even if the arc of the story is typical. Girl meets boys. Boys fight over girl and sacrifice themselves for girl. Girl, although wishy washy has other-wordly potential and strength. In other words, for a girl, she is hard to kill. Lots of side characters are killed for said girl. In the end, the reader is left on the edge of the cliff without a bridge.

Enderʻs Game Movie Trailer!

The plethora of YA books made into movies is just proof that YA literature has crossed media and age boundaries.

Enderʻs Game  has waited 20 years and the story has not lost its appeal, so I'm glad to see the movie trailer out - unlike Game of Thrones, SUMMER IS COMING!

The Water Wars

Author: Cameron Stracher
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (Jan. 2011)
Reading level: YA
Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:
Siblings Vera and Will live in a dystopian future somewhere in the midwest where people have done so much damage to the earth that the clean water sources have been dried up and remaining sources of water are controlled by governments and the Bluewater corporation. Vera befriends a wealthy teen, Kai, who promises something the kids can only dream of: enough clean water to drink so that their perpetual thirst is satisfied. But when Kai and his father, a water driller, is kidnapped, Vera and Will set out to rescue them. Along the way they are befriended by pirates, captured by environmental terrorists and imprisoned by the shady Bluewater corporation.

My thoughts:
Reluctant readers who enjoyed Hunger Games will enjoy this fast-paced plot. It's a fast read with a feisty female protagonist, and the adults are just sidekicks to the teens.  

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Young Adult
208 pages
Wendy Lamb Books (July 14, 2009)



My rating: 5 of 5 stars

6th grader Miranda lives in New York City in 1978 with her mother, and carries around a battered copy of Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, her security blanket and compass. When she receives a  series of cryptic notes about something that will happen in her future, she starts watching the people around her, both her friends, and especially the odd laughing man that sleeps near her building.

Part mystery, part historical fiction (yes, the 70's are historical fiction to twelve year olds), part science fiction, When You Reach Me is a fun romp of enough interesting subplots to keep the reader guessing. My favorite subplot is the preparations that Miranda and her mom's boyfriend make to prepare Miranda's mom for her turn at the $20,000 Pyramid. I forgot how much I loved the game show, and especially Dick Clark's banter with the contestants before the final round. Thank goodness for The Game Show Network.