Happy New Year, YA pals!
My first post of 2019 celebrates a YA classic…
CARRY ON by Rainbow Rowell
9781250049551
Ages 13 to 18
Available in hardcover, trade paperback, e-book, and audio (basically any format you want)
If you’ve read FANGIRL, you know all about Simon and Baz, the main characters in Cath’s fan-fiction. In CARRY ON, YA Queen Rainbow Rowell gives Simon and Baz an entire novel of magic, intrigue, and LOTS of moody staring.
Simon is entering his final year at Watford School of Magicks. But, let’s briefly recap his previous six: Simon is deemed The Chosen One and is forced to defeat the Insidious Humdrum—a villian that is nearly identical to an 11-year-old version of himself. Yikes!
Simon’s final year is no picnic. . . his girlfriend breaks up with him, he can’t control his magic, ghosts are popping up out of nowhere and telling secrets, and his broodingly handsome roommate / nemesis, Baz (who may also be a vampire), has inexplicably vanished. On top of all of that, the magical world—and everything Simon thought he knew about it—is falling apart around him, and he might be the only one who can put it back together.
This book is magical—and I don’t mean in the casting-spells-and-brewing-potions way. But that too, obviously. It’s just so much fun. The spells are taken from common phrases and pop culture references (“The spell for forcing honesty is The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”) and the unique magic system is clearly explained.
CARRY ON truly shines is in its character building. I easily fell in love with Simon and Baz (and Penny, and Agatha, and Ebb…). Every character is fully and uniquely realized. And is there a better trope than enemies turned friends turned lovers? CARRY ON is a Rainbow Rowell novel first and a fantasy novel second, so if you’ve loved any of her other books, you’re bound to love this one too.
If you’re also desperate for more Simon and Baz, fear not—CARRY ON’s sequel, WAYWARD SON, is coming later this year!
<3 Emily
Day’s YA Archives:
ENCHANTÉE by Gita Trelease (posted 12/13/2018)
THE GILDED WOLVES by Roshani Chokshi (posted 11/30/2018)
ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell (posted 11/8/2018)
IN PARIS WITH YOU by Clémentine Beauvais (posted (10/26/2018)
WONDERFUL FEELS LIKE THIS by Sara Lövestam (posted 10/11/2018)
TEEN TRAILBLAZERS by Jennifer Calvert, illus. by Vesna Asanovic (posted 9/26/2018)
AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS by Bonnie Pipkin (posted 9/14/2018)
FLIGHT SEASON by Marie Marquardt (posted 8/23/2018)
UNSTOPPABLE MOSES by Tyler James Smith (posted 8/9/2018)
I DO NOT TRUST YOU by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz (posted 7/25/2018)
SADIE by Courtney Summers (posted 7/12/2018)
MIRAGE by Somaiya Daud (posted 6/28/2018)
LEGENDARY by Stephanie Garber (posted 6/15/2018)
THE RAGING ONES by Krista & Becca Ritchie (posted 5/17/2018)
DEAR READER by Mary O’Connell (posted 5/9/2018)
FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell (posted 4/26/2018)
THIS HEART OF MINE by C.C. Hunter (posted 4/13/2018)
I’M NOT MISSING by Carrie Fountain (posted 3/30/2018)
CHOOSE WONDER OVER WORRY by Amber Rae (posted 3/15/2018)
GIRLS MADE OF SNOW AND GLASS by Melissa Bashardoust (posted 3/1/2018)
IN SIGHT OF STARS by Gae Polisner (posted 2/15/2018)
BRING ME THEIR HEARTS by Sara Wolf (posted 2/1/2018)
CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber (posted 1/18/2018)
HOW I RESIST by Maureen Johnson (posted 1/4/2018)
13 MINUTES by Sarah Pinborough (posted 12/21/2017)
I HATE EVERYONE BUT YOU by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin (posted 12/6/2017)