What YA' Reading: Great Gatsby Aesthetic
What YA' Reading: Great Gatsby Aesthetic
There’s something magnetic about the aesthetic of the 1920s – Art Deco, flappers and luxury. One notable work of literature that comes to mind when thinking of the 1920s is The Great Gatsby. Explore some of the numerous adaptations and stories that capture the same essence.
At 17 Evie is exiled from her small town to New York City to live with her occult obsessed uncle. Luckily for Evie, this is exactly what she wanted. She has a secret supernatural power that seems to only bring her trouble. When a girl turns up murdered, Evie jumps at the chance to possibly catch a serial killer, along with a rag tag group of teens in similar situations.
Full of speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls and pickpockets, The Diviners is the first book in a series full of 1920s slang and supernatural happenings.
"The Diviners delivers an addictive and terrifying story of young New Yorkers investigating a rash of occult-based murders. Bray sustains a breathless energy throughout this ambitious series-starter, deftly evoking the exuberance of 1920s city life and the evil lurking beneath it."―Entertainment Weekly
The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls
It’s 1919 and Margot Allen is gathering with her family to celebrate Christmas for the first time since the Great War ended. Three years ago she lost her fiancé, Harry, leaving her with a devastating secret that threatened to ruin her life. But, incredibly, Harry has returned and now all the secrets Margot has fought to keep hidden might just come spilling out for everyone to see.
The Silent Stars Go By packs a big emotional punch. The subtext of the conversations between Margot and Harry is absolutely full of tension and anxiety. This story is told in short snapshots and diary entries.
Emotionally layered. . . While Margot and Harry’s chemistry proves palpable, and their series of romantic misunderstandings provide tension, it’s Margot’s longing for James, the strain of her perceived shame, and her desire for forgiveness that underpins this deeply resonant post-war tale.
—Publishers Weekly
Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore
Self-Made Boys is a straight up Great Gatsby remix. The characters are essentially the same as the original with a much more inclusive cast and the two main characters are transgender boys. Self-Made Boys is a highly rated retelling among readers and was a 2022 National Book Award Nominee for Young People’s Literature. The changes the author made to the original characters add depth and emotion to a classic beloved story.
"Anna-Marie McLemore cracks the Gatsby story wide open, breathing fresh life into these familiar characters with wisdom, honesty, and real tenderness. An all-time favorite―I was completely transported." ―Becky Albertalli, New York Times-bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
