WARRIOR GIRL

The publisher sent me an autographed copy of this novel to review:

Whereas young-adult (YA) fiction might not be my cup of tea, I do recognize a well structured novel when I read one. And I think this novel by Matt Lazar and Amanda Thomas is a good example of that rationalization. It’s a simple story about a young Korean girl coming to Oxford on a scholarship. Her eastern ways are misunderstood by some western people, and inadvertently mistaken as standoffish. However there is one person at Oxford who hates her merely because of a long- standing belligerence between Korea and Japan. This is the setting for a somewhat exciting novel, although fairly predictable. The fact that our heroine, Sun Hi Kim, plays the popular video game, World of Warcraft, to ease her tensions in this new and strange western world results in the book’s title Warrior Girl.  Notwithstanding, I found that title hard to swallow based on how many times Sun Hi faints when faced with adversity. The authors paint Sun Hi as a beautiful fragile vase with a concerned distrust for western men and their motives. The writers did such a commendable job that a learned person ostensibly falls in love with Sun Hi. The reader finds himself endorsing her every move. Great job in the empathy category by the writing duo.

As Sun Hi enters her Freshman year, she encounters Marina, a loudmouth spoiled roommate; Miles, the Oxford rowing captain; Adam, a infatuated rower; and our anti-hero, Kaito Suzuki of the famous family from Japan. As the economics Professor Ellison announces that one student in the class will win a scholarship to Harvard in a student exchange, the drama unfolds. At the same time, Miles and Adam are vying for the attention of the beauty from Korea. In one way or the other, Miles gets Sun Hi to accept the job of cox on the rowing team. This is the second point that’s hard to accept, since I know how important the job of a coxswain is to rowing. Would they take a Korean girl that has just arrived to lead them in the famous race against Cambridge? Oh well, it makes for good story, besides Miles is in love, or is he? I want you to know that I enjoyed this story, but there were some elements that irritated me, such as how many times we read that Sun Hi was “smoothing down her skirt”. Okay, enough said ( for awhile ).

Meanwhile, the vile Kaito, full of animosity for Sun Hi, schemes to win that Harvard scholarship, and to derail any chance Sun Hi has to win the coveted prize. This is another concept that troubles me. The Japanese are known honorable people, and Kato’s perverse hatred for Sun Hi didn’t make any sense to me. Even though it seems like I’m criticising this novel, I'm pointing out changes that would have made this novel stronger. I think that the character of Kaito should have had an alternate reason for hating Sun Hi. Anyway, the drama explodes to a expressive conclusion as the Cambridge race; Miles and Adam’s obsession with Sun Hi; and Kaito’s chicanery meet head on. The impact is worthy of your reading this highly recommended YA novel.

Now, the only problem I have with the rating of this book as young- adult fiction is the attempted rape scene. According to Wikipedia...” The American Library Association defines a young-adult as someone between the ages of twelve and eighteen”. If that’s true, twelve is too young to read and understand that scene. On the other hand, I know that some publishers rate YA literature as low as ten years old and as high as twenty five years old. So the age is unclear, but the scene is real, and the novel should be in the hands of someone eighteen, or older.That being said, I do recommend this captivating novel by Lazar and Thomas.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Comment: Author Sherman Alexie on why he writes YA literature: “As a child, I read because books–violent and not, blasphemous and not, terrifying and not–were the most loving and trustworthy things in my life. I read widely, and loved plenty of the classics so, yes, I recognized the domestic terrors faced by Louisa May Alcott’s March sisters. But I became the kid chased by werewolves, vampires, and evil clowns in Stephen King’s books. I read books about monsters and monstrous things, often written with monstrous language, because they taught me how to battle the real monsters in my life.

And now I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don’t write to protect them. It’s far too late for that. I write to give them weapons–in the form of words and ideas-that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed.”   

According to complexmedia, some of the top YA novels of all time include:
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry , by Mildred D. Taylor: “This powerful novel, winner of the 1977 Newbery Medal, sheds light on the horrors of racism through the experiences of the Logan family, who are living in Mississippi during the height of the Great Depression.”

Watership Down , by Richard Adams. A personal favorite of this reviewer: “If you get into this book expecting a story about cute bunnies, you're going to have a rough time. Richard Adams' classic rabbit novel is a lot more violent than your last outing with Beatrix Potter.”

Matilda , by Roald Dahl: “Though many of us know Matilda because of the film adaptation, lucky readers first encountered this supernatural tale as a novel by Roald Dahl, one of the most treasured authors of children's literature.”

Hatchet , by Gary Paulsen: “Think back to when you were 13. Now, imagine that you're on a plane headed to your father when the pilot suffers a heart attack. The plane crashes, but you survive. You're stranded with nothing but the gift your mother gave you for your birthday: a hatchet. Because, what else would you give a 13-year-old? Call of Duty? No.”

Dune , by Frank Herbert: “With a massive cult following, Dune is easily one of the most popular science fiction novels ever published. But it's also a great novel for teens, thanks to its teenage protagonist.” 

Outsiders , By S.E. Hinton: “S.E. Hinton began writing this novel when she was just 15; Outsiders was published by the time she was 18. Yes, when she was concerned with writing one of the greatest young adult novels ever, you were worrying about passing your driver's test.”

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian , by Sherman Alexie: “This bestseller covers issues that, unfortunately, don't see enough discussion in pop culture: the racism that Native Americans regularly face; the tenuous relationships between reservations and white communities; and the alcoholism and poverty that too often afflicts the Native American community.”