Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse by Lucas Klauss YP FIC KLAUSS

Phillip is a sort-of atheist (maybe) falling for an evangelical Christian named Rebekah. That’s a problem. His dad is a DEFINITELY atheist; and the fact that his mom decided she believed in God and turned their basement into an Apocalypse shelter right before she DIED makes the whole ‘religion thing’ an atomic bomb.  So starts a funny, sad, honest look at friendship, love, faith, doubt, and all the other things that will help you survive an apocalypse. 

I picked this one up because the cover is unique, but was worried.  NOT ANOTHER APOCALYPSE BOOK!!! Fortunately, the apocalypse is just symbolic and emotional! This isn’t dystopia, it’s (really good) contemporary fiction.  Contemporary fiction (books set in the present where there are no robots, dystopias, ghosts, vampires, zombies, etc.) are a tough thing to make work, because you can’t use the fantastical to bring interest. What works best about this book is that all the major characters feel flawed, real, and relatable.  They don’t just represent an idea the author wants to examine or a character ‘type’ to move the plot forward. The characters are funny, but without seeming like professional comedy writers in teenage bodies.  I loved Phillip and Rebekah and really found myself rooting for them, even when it was obvious that they both have real issues.  The most impressive thing is this book is able to look at faith and religion in a very funny but open-minded way.  They do poke fun at the excesses of the sub-culture that is evangelical life, but they also show that is has plenty of good people in it who aren’t crazy or mean in any way.  So pick this up and you’ll laugh, cry, learn about the importance of letting go whilst simultaneously holding on, and find out how to survive symbolic apocalypses. 

You can check our catalog for Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse here

We Are on Our Own: A Memoir by Miriam Katin YP FIC KATIN

Told as a series of flashbacks, this is a graphic novel memoir of Miriam Katin’s childhood escape from the Nazi occupation of the Eastern European nation of Budapest. Facing discovery first from the Nazi’s and later fearing the advance of Russian soldiers, Miriam and her mother struggle to survive as the same Antisemitism and inhumanity that threatened them in Budapest follows them throughout their journey. Along the way they find the best and worst of humanity at every turn leading Miriam conflicted about her faith and her relationship with her own daughter.

This is an amazing story of triumph and struggle that can be very dark and depressing, but also has many moments of tenderness and hope. This is not a sentimental look at the past and confronts firsthand the atrocities that women and children often face in war. The art has a rough look to it because of the heavy hatch marks used for shading. The art seems similar to the style of storybooks which works well because this is a story of a child’s memories. This is an amazing work that stands up with other graphic works like Maus by Art Spiegelman(940.5318 SPIEGEL) and should be a good companion piece to Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl (949.2 FRANK).

Poisoned Honey: A Story of Mary Magdalene by Beatrice Gormley YP FIC GORMLEY

Everything changed with the fall of a sparrow. Mari of Magdala (known as Mary Magdalene today) had a strange childhood filled with visions she kept secret from everyone; starting with a talking sparrow. She tried ignoring them until plague took her parents and fiancé and she was forced to marry a controlling and cruel man. An Egyptian mystic teaches sees she has gifts and teaches her magic forbidden to Hebrews. This gives Mari power, but soon dark voices start to speak to her more and more. It is only when she meets Yeshua (Jesus) that she again hopes for a new future, one in which her gifts can be of service not harm.

This was a wonderful novel. Mari is an amazing character and her descent into madness is frightening as it is fascinating. Also interesting are the occasional chapters that tell the story of Matthew, a money-lender’s son (therefore looked down on in those times) that eventually becomes a disciple of Yeshua. Maybe the best part of the novel is Gormley’s take on Yeshua. He is a warm, funny, and wise character and we see him through Mari’s eyes. Mary Magdalene has always been a figure of mystery and controversy. Since the 6^th century she has been considered a reformed prostitute by the church, but modern biblical scholars often disagree with this view. Many scholars now look at Mary as one of the most important women figures in the New Testament, so this book isn’t as controversial as it could look at first glance. It is always tricky to see representations of biblical figures in fiction, but Yeshua is wonderfully represented and I think would be liked by people regardless of their beliefs. I really think that this is a unique and intelligent work of Christian fiction that can be appreciated by readers of any faith.

A Voice of Her Own: Becoming Emily Dickinson by Barbara Dana YP FIC DANA

Emily Dickinson was one of the greatest American poets that has ever written. Before that Emily was just a girl grappling with a growing inner world she did not understand and an outer world that frightened and confused her. Emily grows from child to young woman and finds love, hope, and her own voice in this fictional account of her youth.

Barbara Dana spent over 10 years researching Emily Dickinson to write from her point of view and it pays off. Having read a great deal of Dickinson I was skeptical about this novel, but Dana really has captured Dickinson. She captures her creative spark and wonderful humor and allows a window into her inner world. This is definitely a slow read and there aren’t any plot twists or heroic conflicts, but if you like poetry or historical fiction then give this one a try. Dana’s Dickinson will win over many readers. And if you haven’t already, read some Emily Dickinson! We have several collections in 811.4 DICKINSO.