Funny
How Things Change
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, April 2009
ISBN-10: 0374302332
ISBN-13: 978-0374302337
Remy
Walker has it all: he found the love of his life at home in
crumbling little Dwyer, West Virginia, deep in his beloved
Appalachian Mountains where his family settled more than one hundred
and sixty years ago. But at seventeen, you’re not supposed to
already be where you want to be, right? You’ve got a whole world to
make your way through, and you start by leaving your dead-end town.
Like his girlfriend, Lisa. Lisa’s going away to college. If Remy
goes with her, it would be the start of everything they ever dreamed
of. So when a fascinating young artist from out of state shows Remy
his home through new eyes, why is he suddenly questioning his
future?
Over the course of a summer, Remy learns how much he has to give up
for a girl, and how much he needs to give up for a mountain.
- *Starred Review* "Laconic but full of heart, smart, thoughtful and proudly working-class, Remy makes a fresh and immensely appealing hero. Wyatt's prose is tautly evocative throughout; her plot is a welcome departure from the stale conventions of the hero's journey."—Kirkus
- "Good writing drives stellar characterization of this strong but introspective protagonist struggling with his own version of the universal questions of who he is and what matters most. Wyatt creates a vivid sense of place where nobody has much, but the land is an organic and awesome presence in the lives of people with ties to it. Kinship with Remy will come easily to readers facing similar decisions about growing up and leaving home"—School Library Journal
- "Beautifully spare language portrays the quiet story of a good
guy...honest and real, who wonders where his place in the world
ought to be....It is refreshing to find a young person capable of
contentment, willing to wrestle with issues larger than himself,
and sensitive to family history and elders yet still believably
imperfect."—Voice of Youth Advocates 5Q
- "This timeless drama of a teen trying to make the right decision about his future is credibly set against timely issues about bad local economies based on unsustainable mining practices, making for a memorable and truly compelling coming-of-age-story."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
- "Wyatt's prose is simple and poetic...The dialogue is pitch-perfect, the third-person voice perfect for dissecting the complexities of relationships and life-changing decisions. It's a beautiful gem of a book."—BookPage, Notable Title
- "Funny How Things Change is a revelation in many ways and a book
I highly - highly - recommend. Remy is a very engaging and
relatable protagonist"—GuysLitWire.com
- "Oh the praises I sing about this book. It really has so much going for it...a beautifully written male character that even female readers are going to enjoy the plot with, a locale that doesn't often show up in young adult books, a great cast of characters, a believable plot, and such HOPE. Go get this one. Seriously. I loved it."—Amanda Snow, librarian, A Patchwork of Books
- "Remy is one of the most well-developed characters I’ve read about. Wyatt really dug beneath the surface, [creating] a novel with a lot of feeling."—Tower of Books
Raising the Griffin
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
2004; ISBN: 0-385-73095-0
What's it really like to be a prince? To his horror, 16-year-old Alex Varenhoff is about to find out.
"To see, to do, to prevail." The motto of Rovenia stands for bravery and honor. But none of this matters to Alex. He's always been aware of his tie to the ancient monarchy of Rovenia, though his family was tossed out of the country long ago, when the Communists took over. But Rovenia now finds itself in need of the leadership of a king and Alex must leave the only home he's ever known in England and assume his role in Rovenia as...Prince?
Alex is thrust into a life he was never raised for. He hates the pomp and circumstance and the hordes of screaming girls that wait everywhere. And this new life is dangerous, for there are Rovenians who oppose the monarchy. Becoming a true prince presents Alex with a heartbreaking challenge far beyond anything he ever expected, one of the greatest challenges that any Varenhoff has ever had to face.
Critical Praise for Raising the Griffin:- "Packs a punch" - Kirkus Reviews
- "Powerfully affecting...This is a compulsively readable book that lingers in the mind long after the final page." - School Library Journal
- "This serious, realistic debut novel will draw plenty of young readers with Alex's taut, first-person narration of his predicament, as well as the detailed creation of a non-existent, yet totally plausible Eastern European country." - Booklist
- "The characters ring true in this novel and the pace is nonstop." - KLIATT
- "This is an exciting action filled story that is very well told. The reader will have difficulty putting this book down as the drama builds to an unexpected climax and a moving ending." - Children's Literature
- "First time novelist Wyatt is definitely one to watch. Her stunning debut will resonate with teen readers. The audience who enjoyed the change made by Cole in Ben Mikaelsen's Touching Spirit Bear will enjoy the transformation Alex makes in his life in Raising the Griffin." - Di Herald, Genrefluent
- "RAISING THE GRIFFIN is thoughtful, compelling, romantic, and suspenseful. A dazzling debut for Wyatt; clearly an author to watch. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION." - Cynthia Leitich Smith Children's Literature Resources
- "...A compelling and polished read...And if you can put the novel down with only the last few chapters left to go, no matter how late it's getting, you're a stronger woman than I." Rachel Manija Brown, Green Man Review