Nalo Hopkinson’s new YA novel THE CHAOS is one bad-ass surealistic, feminist, progressive, queer friendly, POC celebrating, anti-ableist mind- trip. Featuring gorgeously ambiguous grrls of color, the novel takes us on a ride that Andre Breton and Frida Kahlo would feel right at home in. Or should I say on? Nice town Toronto Canada becomes Ground Zero for a global nervous breakdown, as all inside fears and desires burst outwards, propelling our hero Scotch into a combination Russian fairy tale, Creole Soup Kitchen, Hurricane Katrina, and PTSD slam poetry/dance routine.
To paraphrase a sentence in the novel, weird is Hopkinson’s vacation home – a crazy house on chicken legs that gives birth to self-discovery, terror, joy, and freedom.
Think young adult fiction has to be realistic, standardly dystopian, and/or just plain nice? Or just plain mean? Or one-issued/one themed?
Think again. And jump into the fiery furnace of The Chaos. You won’t get burned.
Or will you?
[...] Ready! Set! UNREAL! Nalo Hopkinson’s THE CHAOS Magically Real Birthday Honor Roll! February: Happy Birthday Thomas More! (February 8th) [...]