Brainstorm 159: New Jersey...Portal to Myths & Fantasy?

So I was reading The Serpent’s Secret this week, featuring a mythical heroine who hails from New Jersey. And I went, wait a minute. I’ve seen several other fantastic adventures in New Jersey. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced we can make a pretty solid case for New Jersey having very loose ties with reality and strong ties with supernatural occurrences. It seems to attract the mythical and fantastic. Which would really explain a lot. (It also makes you wonder how anyone in New Jersey could be bored. From the literature, it seems like they have monsters and villains on every other corner.) Some of these spill over into adventures in New York City, and we know NYC is full of similar occurrences too. Is it the area, or did one affect the other? Are they trying to be near NYC but distinct? And if so, is it time for some superheroes to move into Connecticut? Because Jersey is seeming a little crowded. I’ll let you build your own theories. But if I were you, I'd keep my eyes peeled next time I crossed the Jersey state border. Here are some books to start with as you explore New Jersey adventures that are either mythical, fantastic, supernatural, or that sneak right up close to that line.

Middle Grade Fiction

The Creature of the Pines (Unicorn Rescue Society, #1) by Adam Gidwitz, ill. by Hatem Aly
Elliot is not thrilled about starting at a new school several weeks into the school year. In fact, his first day happens to be a class field trip. He ends up sitting in the bus next to a girl named Uchenna who plays air drums and spontaneously composes songs, but otherwise seems mostly sane and the most friendly person Elliot has met yet. As the two of them hike into the Pine Barrens of New Jersey with their class and special guest Professor Fauna (who teaches social studies and is rumored to have a torture chamber in the basement), Uchenna decides to go off the path to explore a strange sound. Elliot stays firmly on the path until he hears Uchenna scream. And what they find off the path is about to change their lives forever.
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Target Readers:

• Mythical Creature Fans: This series is perfect for those readers who love all kinds of mythical creatures. I’d never heard of the Jersey Devil before, but the legends of such a creature are out there. The next book goes to rescue a dragon in Basque country, and the rest of the series promises all the mythical creatures anyone’s heart could desire.
• Friendship Tale Fans: Uchenna and Elliot are quite different in many aspects, but they are great friends for each other. Half the fun of these books is watching them interact.
• Adventure Fans: These books are not dull and never slow. Those who like their heroes and heroines to be constantly on the go should like this series.

The Eye of Midnight by Andrew Brumbach
Cousins William and Maxine have been sent to stay in New Jersey with their grandfather, Colonel Battersea, for the summer of 1929. Neither of them is sure what to expect, but they definitely didn't foresee Grandfather getting kidnapped by a secret society upon their arrival in New York City. Or meeting a strange courier from oversees with an artifact that secret society obviously wants very badly. They'll go places and see things they wouldn't have dreamed happened outside of books, and they'll learn more about themselves, their family heritage, and each other in the process.
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Target Readers:

• Adventure Fans/Exciting Historical Fiction Fans: This isn't quite fantasy, but it saddles right up next to the line if not being downright legendary. There's 1920s mob fights, swashbuckling feats, discovery of secret tunnels in forgotten graveyards, family secrets, and loads of adventure. It's a high octane secret sleuthing in New York City (and New Jersey) just before the stock market crashed. True to the times, the police aren't very helpful (they were notoriously corrupt during this time period and owned by the mob bosses), and the kids have a hard time getting any help from adults so they have to do things on their own with the help of Nura, the 12 year old courier from Turkey.

The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond, #1) by Sayantani DasGupta
Kiranmala gets home on her 12th birthday to find her parents gone, a cryptic note from her mom with some rupees and a blank piece of paper, a rakkhosh (mythical demon monster) bent on destroying the kitchen (and possibly snack on her), and two strange boys on flying horses who keep calling her princess offering to help her find her parents. From there her day just gets weirder...and more dangerous as she discovers the truth about who she is while trying to rescue her parents in a different dimension.
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Target Readers:

• Fantasy & Mythology Adventure Fans/Indian Folklore Fans: This book will be right up the alley of fans of Percy Jackson, Aru Shah, and other mythology based adventures. Instead of being a retelling of any one tale from Indian mythology, it is a blend of several different tales from Indian folklore, fairy tales, and mythology. And there’s plenty of action and mythical or legendary characters to keep things exciting.
• Fans of Spunky Characters/Humor Fans/Personal Growth Story Fans: Kiran and her fellow adventurers are memorable characters with entertaining voices. There are frequently humorous moments. But there’s also a good balance of watching many of the characters grow and mature throughout their adventure.

Squirrel Meets World (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl novels, #1) by Shannon & Dean Hale
Doreen Green is a pretty typical 14 year old girl, eager to make friends in her brand new neighborhood in New Jersey. She just has one tiny, itsy difference from most 14 year old girls. She has a tail. Oh, and some other squirrel traits, including the ability to communicate with real squirrels. She never lets anyone outside her family see the tail though. The groups at her new school are proving as tough as walnuts to get into, but Doreen does make one friend. Ana Sofía honestly doesn't at first welcome Doreen's olive branches of friendship, but Doreen's knowledge of ASL does break down a little of the wall with a girl who can't hear and then there's Doreen's relentless positive attitude. Doreen also makes some friends among the local squirrels when she destroys some crazy evil traps someone set up around town. When Doreen uses her squirrel powers (and squirrel friends) to help thwart a troublesome gang in the neighborhood, Squirrel Girl gets her first appearance. Doreen always admires the Avengers and other superheroes, but she's never really thought she could be one. Squirrel Girl saves the day a few more times in the coming days, and she gets the attention of local would-be super villain Micro-Manager. He wants to make a name for himself, and what better way to do so than to take down a superhero. Besides, Squirrel Girl has already annoyed him by messing with his rodent traps around town. Can Squirrel Girl really save the day, or is she just a girl with a tail?

Target Readers:

• Superhero Fans/Spunky Character Fans/Humor Fans: Doreen Green/Squirrel Girl is my personal favorite superhero and I know she has lots and lots of other fans out there. She’s hard not to love with her spunky, upbeat personality, desire to help anyone and everyone, and her tendency to use psychology over her fists. And she frequently makes me laugh.
• Squirrel Fans: Doreen shares the spotlight with her many furry friends in these novels. We even get chapters from their perspectives.
• Readers in between Middle Grade and Young Adult: This is marketed as YA, but is totally approachable and safe for the MG crowd too.
• Fans of Awesome Hearing Impaired Characters: Doreen’s friend Ana Sofía is a great addition to the series. And is a positive portrayal of all a girl can do even if she doesn’t hear everything many other people do.

Young Adult Fiction

No Normal (Ms. Marvel, #1) by G. Willow Wilson, ill. by Adrian Alphona
Kamala is a typical immigrant kid. She doesn't quite fit in at home with her Pakistani Muslim immigrant parents, and she doesn't quite fit in at school with other teens born in Jersey City. While trying to figure out who she is, Kamala accidentally gets turned in to a superhero. Which is one part awesome (as she is a huge Marvel fan) but several parts something-worth-freaking-out-about primarily because she has no one to talk to or consult about her new powers. One thing she does know, though, based on her beliefs and who she is, she can't just not use her powers to help save lives. Eventually, one of her best friends does figure out the whole superhero thing and she is ecstatic to have an ally. On the other hand, her name as Ms Marvel starts to get around and she inadvertently also gets herself an enemy...to be dealt with in future issues.
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Target Readers:

• Graphic Novel Fans/Superhero Fans/TCK Fans: Readers can’t get enough of Kamala and her adventures saving Jersey City over and over again. She is an enjoyable heroine to follow around as she fights crime while also trying to balance high school, family life, and figure out her own identity issues of being a third culture kid along the way.