K.F.'s review of Black and White (The Icarus Project, #1) (original) (raw)

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K.F.'s Reviews > Black and White

Black and White by Jackie Kessler

Black and White (The Icarus Project, #1)
by

29101443

Again, Jackie Kessler delivers with a unique concept, well-written prose, attention-catching characters, and well-developed social justice ideas.

pretty much everything you could ask for in a sci-fi/fantasy novel.

Apparently, this book is being marketed as Young Adult, and I sort of disagree with this. There are many plot points and references that I think the typical 11-16 market for YA might be too young to grasp, depending on privilege level and exposure. Personally, I feel like I would love to teach this book in a college level class on pop culture and society. Then again, I'm 24, and still into YA fiction. So maybe that's just my grumpy age talking.

The book, centering on superheroes, reads like a dark twisted version of Disney's Sky High, but with far more adult themes. The two main characters, Iridium and Jet, are wonderfully written, although a little ambiguous in parts. This is the type of novel that Tumblr fans crave. It's perfect for fancasting, fanfiction, fanart, everything, because it's so visual. In fact, I felt a little odd, reading it off the page, instead of in graphic novel form.

Think the setting of Sky High (or Harry Potter, really), the society of Watchmen, the interpersonal dynamics of Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus series, and the pleasing witticisms of a retro Joss Whedon show (we're talking Buffy, not Dollhouse). Which all makes sense, given Kessler's writing history and influences.

(in fact, I gave a little fangirl squee when I saw that the evil Superintendent (a minor, throwaway background character, but important nonetheless) was named "Neil Moore." As in Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore? The two biggest comic book/urban fantasy writers in the past 20 years? YES!)

Again, my beefs with it, the only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars completely, were the sort of clunky romance and romancing between Jet and the mysteriously charming Bruce (I won't spoil that twist for you) (view spoiler)[ and just Jet and Iridium's unbelievable straightness. I'm sorry. Maybe I'm projecting, but I was INCREDIBLY disappointed when Iridium and Jet didn't turn out to be lesbians for each other. It's unbelievable. I will say that Samson was heartbreaking (I literally screamed "NO!" in my bathtub when I was reading..*sob**sigh*, but god...Jet and Bruce were so FORCED. Like "ohhh, tingly," (which, OK makes sense given the plot twist but STILL). Jet and Iridium...their story practically reads like a supernatural superhero version of "But I'm a Cheerleader." This was one of those moments where I was quivering and screaming "NOW KISS ALREADY" and I was SO SAD WHEN THERE WERE GAY CHARACTERS AND QUEERNESS WAS ADDRESSED BUT THEY WERE TWO MINOR BACKGROUND CHARACTERS AND WE DIDN'T GET MUCH AFTER THAT.

So yeah: angry because there should have been more lesbians.

(I wonder if Jackie Kessler will read this review and think: oh my god, there should always be more lesbians. They are like the proverbial cowbell of YA fiction. I live in hope, Jackie Kessler, I live in hope.) (hide spoiler)]

Anyways, it was the type of book where you want to be like "THIS IS SO AWESOME READ IT" to all of your friends.

DO read this book if: you like superheroes, SHEroes, backstory plots twisted with current plots, word play, creepy storylines that make you go "WTF," and scattered references to make you feel cool

DO NOT READ this book if: you want lesbians, you don't like futuristic lingo being interspersed with your witty prose (WTF IS AN "E" OK WHAT TYPE OF MONEY IS THAT PLZ), you hate dystopian stuff, you get annoyed at sci-fi/fantasy novels taking liberties with science (LOL GENETICS RAISES ITS TROPE HEAD, it's gratuitous but well-done but if you can't stand it because you do real science, I understand), or if you just don't want to read about badass women.

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Reading Progress

March 2, 2014 – Shelved as:to-read

March 3, 2014 –Started Reading

March 4, 2014 –Finished Reading

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