Author Spotlight ... Lara Zielin

Welcome to a new periodic feature on my blog ... Author Spotlight.  In this feature, I'll showcase and review multiple works by a YA author.

Today's featured author is Lara Zielin, author of:

The Waiting Sky
To be published by Putnam Juvenile on August 7, 2012
Source: bought

The Implosion of Aggie Winchester
Published by Putnam Juvenile on August 4, 2011
Source: ARC traded with another blogger

Donut Days
Published by Putnam Juvenile on August 6, 2009
I didn't read this one, but just FYI

The Waiting Sky

My summary: After Jane's alcoholic mother nearly kills Jane and a friend in a car accident, Jane joins her brother on a team of tornado chasers. Jane will have to come to terms with her mother's illness, her frayed relationship with her brother, and her feelings for a cute guy on a rival tornado team.

My thoughts: Beyond seeing the movie Twister back in the 1990s, I knew next to nothing about storm chasers. Lara Zielin really takes you into the eye of the storm, offering an inside look at the teams who follow tornados to do scientific research and gain fame. Jane is part of the Tornado Brothers, but a rival team, the Twister Blisters, are hot on their heels. Zielin does a great job of using the tornados as a metaphor for Jane's stormy relationship with her mother. It was heartbreaking to watch Jane struggle to support her mother, who claims to want to address her drinking problem but clearly will have to hit bottom first. I can't even imagine how hard it must be to watch a loved one in crisis and know that you need to give them tough love.

The Implosion of Aggie Winchester

My summary: It's not easy being the principal's daughter, and Margaret "Aggie" Winchester has thumbed a nose at her mother by going Goth. When rumors fly that Aggie's mother, who's facing a health crisis, schemes to stop Aggie's best friend Sylvia from being prom queen, Aggie dives into the controversy without thinking about the consequences, and learns some difficult lessons about friendship and loyalty.

My take: This book had tons interesting issues and story lines. There's Aggie's relationship with her mother.  Sylvia's pregnancy also puts a strain on Aggie's relationship with Sylvia, as Aggie thinks Sylvia is kidding herself by believing the baby's father cares about her. Added to that is the whole Prom Queen Scandal --the town goes crazy over the idea over a Pregnant Goth Prom Queen. Aggie also has a sort-of boyfriend, about whom she says:

He wanted me in private and ignored me in public.

As a backdrop, she and her father compete in a fishing competition, which also serves as a metaphor for some of her problems.

We were going to use the fish to win the tournament, then set him free again.

I really loved watching Aggie struggle to figure everything out. And I loved that Lara Zielin let Aggie mess everything up, then try to fix it again.  I had no idea how things were going to end up.

In conclusion:  Both of these books feature strong protagonists, use nature as a metaphor and explore mother-daughter relationships.  I've discovered a talented new YA contemporary author!

Both of these will be up for grabs next week in the comment contest!