RAINBOW ROWELL lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband and two sons. She's also the author of Attachments.
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*Starred Review* Much of the literary fandoms we see are dominated by bookish girls writing and posting online fan fiction, often romantic in nature and frequently featuring gay, nontraditional relationships. But this is Cath’s world. Her fandom is the Simon Snow series. Simon is a Harry Potter–like figure who battles vampires and the Humdrum, a creature bent on ridding the world of magic. Devotees by the thousands read Cath’s two-year-long opus “Carry On,” a piece she’s determined to complete before the release of the final installment of the series. However, life has intervened: she’s starting college with her twin sister, Wren, who has demanded separate dorm rooms so they could both “meet new people.” An awakening unfolds, as Cath battles loneliness, her father’s mental illness, a new writing class, and feelings for her dorm mate’s friendly part-time boyfriend. This is an epic writ small; the magic here is cast not with wands but with Rowell’s incredible ability to build complex, vivid, troubling, and triumphant relationships. The internal lives of the characters are so well developed that it is almost surprising to remember that Rowell is writing in third person. Fans of Eleanor & Park (2013) and other novels about, nerdy types will thrill at finding such a fantastic and lasting depiction of one of their own. Grades 9-12. --Courtney Jones
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Amazon.com Review
Rainbow Rowell's Playlist
Rainbow Rowell
Fangirl is a coming-of-age novel that is smart, funny, and genuine. Fangirl takes place during Cather Avery's first year of college, learning who she is when stripped down to just Cath--not the twins Cath & Wren and not Magicath, her fan fiction pen name.
Through all the changes, both difficult and thrilling, one part of her old life still makes as much sense in her dorm room as it did in her childhood bedroom--the Emergency Kanye Party. When the going gets tough in this story, the tough crank up Kanye West, sing out loud and dance until they feel better. Check out Rowell's Fangirl playlist below to see what other music played a part in this story.
"I Wonder" – Kanye West: So Cath, the main character of Fangirl has a Kanye West thing; he's sort of her Patronus. This song lays out how lost Cath is at the beginning of the book. "You ever wonder what it all really mean? You wonder if you'll ever find your dreams?"
"Cath" – Death Cab for Cutie: I think this song might be the reason I chose the name "Cath." The lyrics don't fit my Cath, but the feelings do. More loss, more lost.
"Heaven's on Fire" – The Radio Dept.: I use songs to help me get into the right mood and frame of mind when I'm writing a scene. This song, for me, is Cath's first few weeks of college – when she feels all caught up, and completely overwhelmed, by the activity. When she's overdosing on new and other.
"Paranoid" – Kanye West feat. Mr. Hudson: When things hit bottom for Cath, she throws herself an Emergency Kanye Dance Party. I can see her jumping on her bed to this song. "You worry bout the wrong things, the wrong things."
"American Boy" – Estelle feat. Kanye West: Required listening for every Emergency Kanye Dance Party. Plus, it's happy and bouncy, so that reminds me of Cath's friend Levi, who joins the party.
"Brandy Alexander" – Feist: When Cath finally falls in love, she almost resents how easy it is. She resents that she can't help it. This song is so sweet and seductive and irresistible – which is exactly how Cath sees the guy she's falling for.
"I See You, You See Me" – The Magic Numbers: This is another reluctant love song – about two people who sort of back into love. When it gets to "This is not what I'm like, this is not what I do" – I think of Cath and the way she tries to reject her feelings. Like she's allergic to them.
"Love Letters" – Jude: There's a part of the book when just about everybody regrets their behavior. "Love Letters" feels like regret to me – but also hope. There's so much longing in Jude's voice.
"Samson" – Regina Spektor: One of the love stories in the book is between Cath and her twin sister, Wren. Cath feels abandoned by Wren. Now that they're at college, Wren would rather party than hang out with her twin. But Cath is still so devoted to Wren, and worried about her. "You are my sweetest downfall. I loved you first."
"Landslide" – Fleetwood Mac: Every book I write has "Landslide" on its soundtrack, and always at the same point in the story – the part where the main character does whatever he or she has to do to grow and change. I play "Landslide" in my head whenever my life is changing in a big way.
"Hymn for Her" – The Magic Numbers: This is my happy-ending song for Cath. I'm not exactly sure what the lyrics mean, but I love how gentle and cautious it is, especially at the beginning. It's so reassuring for a love song. "It won't hurt to find love in the wrong place. I've been hurt before, but all the scars have rearranged."
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Review
Praise for "Eleanor & Park"
"This sexy, smart, tender romance thrums with punk rock and true love. Teen readers--not to mention their Gen X parents--will swoon for "Eleanor & Park"."
--Gayle Forman, "New York Times" bestselling author of "If I Stay" and "Where She Went
""A breathless, achingly good read about love and outsiders." --Stephanie Perkins, author of "Anna and the French Kiss" and "Lola and the Boy Next Door
""Sweet, gritty and affecting...an unforgettable story about two misfits in love."
--Courtney Summers, author of "This is Not a Test" and "Cracked Up To Be
""Rowell shows us the beauty in the broken." --Stewart Lewis, author of "You Have Seven Messages"
Praise for "Eleanor & Park"
""Eleanor & Park" reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it's like to be young and in love with a book."--John Green, "The New York Times Book Review"
"This sexy, smart, tender romance thrums with punk rock and true love. Teen readers--not to mention their Gen X parents--will swoon for "Eleanor & Park"."
--Gayle Forman, "New York Times" bestselling author of "If I Stay" and "Where She Went
""A breathless, achingly good read about love and outsiders." --Stephanie Perkins, author of "Anna and the French Kiss" and "Lola and the Boy Next Door
""Sweet, gritty and affecting...an unforgettable story about two misfits in love."
--Courtney Summers, author of "This is Not a Test" and "Cracked Up To Be
""Rowell shows us the beauty in the broken." --Stewart Lewis, author of "You Have Seven Messages"
"Absolutely captivating."--"Kirkus Reviews" (starred review) on "Fangirl" "A funny and tender coming-of-age story that's also the story of a writer finding her voice...touching and utterly real."--"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) "The magic here is cast not with wands but with Rowell's incredible ability to build complex, vivid, troubling and triumphant relationships...Fans of "Eleanor & Park" and other bookish, nerdy types will thrill at finding such a fantastic and lasting depiction of one of their own."--"Booklist" (starred review) "A charming coming-of-age novel...filled with complex subjects (such as divorce, abandonment, and mental illness) handled in a realistic manner, and the writing effortlessly and seamlessly weaves these threads together."--"School Library Journal" (starred review) Praise for "Eleanor & Park"
""Eleanor & Park" reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it's like to be young and in love with a book."--John Green, "The New York Times Book Review"
"This sexy, smart, tender romance thrums with punk rock and true love. Teen readers--not to mention their Gen X parents--will swoon for "Eleanor & Park"."
--Gayle Forman, "New York Times" bestselling author of "If I Stay" and "Where She Went
""A breathless, achingly good read about love and outsiders." --Stephanie Perkins, author of "Anna and the French Kiss" and "Lola and the Boy Next Door
""Sweet, gritty and affecting...an unforgettable story about two misfits in love."
--Courtney Summers, author of "This is Not a Test" and "Cracked Up To Be
""Rowell shows us the beauty in the broken." --Stewart Lewis, author of "You Have Seven Messages"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up–This charming coming-of-age novel tells the story of a painfully shy teen who prefers the fantasy world of fanfiction to reality. Cath expected to survive her first year of college with the help of her twin sister. Wren, however, is taking full advantage of her newfound freedom from parental supervision, spending a great deal of time partying and very little time with her needy, nerdy, slightly pathetic sister. Feeling lost and alone, Cath scurries from class to class, hiding in her room and working on her Simon Snow fanfiction omnibus. When she writes, she can escape herself and be somewhere else. Otherwise she's just another social misfit stuck with a surly roommate, her roommate's overly friendly, kinda cute boyfriend (who might also be flirting with Cath), and a family that's falling apart. Sometimes, however, real life can become better than fantasy. Even if getting there feels like an epic battle. Cath is an exceptionally well-developed, self-aware, and endearing character, partly because she is so quirky and flawed. There are also great secondary characters, but because Cath doesn't want to get involved in the messiness of their lives, readers are also kept from knowing them more fully. The plot is multilayered and filled with complex subjects (such as divorce, abandonment, and mental illness) handled in a realistic manner, and the writing effortlessly and seamlessly weaves these threads together. This book will find a wide audience, especially among older fans of Harry Potter.–Heather E. Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, ALα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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