Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc.
Meg’s been in the White House for 10 months, and she’s finally feeling more settled in. She has a real friend in Alison, and a caring, fun boyfriend in Josh. She plays number one singles and is team captain of the tennis team. Biting her tongue has become a constant these days to prevent her natural smart-aleck remarks from being blurted out. However having an agent follow you and your boyfriend around 24/7 is infuriating at times, and Meg still makes small slip-ups when speaking to the press. And then just like that a shocking attack on her mother rips every good and bad facet of her life apart. Forced by default to care for her brothers, she can only numbly watch over them for so long. Who will rescue her when she collapses and how will she learn to talk herself through it?
Honestly it was a little difficult reading the second book in Ellen Emerson White’s President’s Daughter series. What happens to Meg’s mom and her family is serious stuff, and nothing comes easy for them. The reactions of her family to violence and grief are varied and Meg’s almost complete shutdown felt dangerously close to reality. The dire circumstances the Power’s find themselves in did make for some very poignant scenes between Meg and her mother. Naturally, Meg’s strongest initial reaction is anger, which she takes out on the Secret Service, Josh, and Alison. White definitely has guts to put her characters through so much.
White House Autumn is not without the humor of its predecessor or Meg’s wit or smart quips. Out of the White House staff, Preston, the chic First Gentlemen’s secretary and Beth, Meg’s feisty, one-of-a-kind friend from back home are rocks for Meg and provide much needed comic and emotional relief. Josh eventually becomes a comfort for Meg which results in plenty of sweet, teenage make-out sessions. Meg’s brothers continue to be well-fleshed out. The constant bickering between Meg and Steven, especially at breakfast, is quite humorous. The dynamic in this First Family is palpable and sets a high standard for portrayals of families in YA. I’m just guessing as I still have the final two books to read that the Powers will be hard to top. Like an old friend I’m anxious to read more about Meg and her unique life as only the best characters will do.
Second Opinions
Bookshelves of Doom Review
Extras
I also came across some links on the YA YA YAs review to blog posts by Ellen Emerson White on the publisher Feiwel and Friends website. They are funny and insightful looks at updating the books, comparing now to 1984, and White’s memories of pivotal political events, so if you have a chance they’re definitely worth a look.
I haven’t heard of this book, but it sounds interesting!
Amy, it’s great contemporary YA. Thanks for stopping by!
I love this series and the second one sounds really good if hard to read about some things.
I read the first book in this series when I was growing up, and just discovered last fall that there were more books that came after it. I still have this one in my TBR pile/mountain. Your review makes me want to move it up so I can get to it soon.
Thank you for the links at the end of the post! I read the revised versions recently, and was wondering how they had been updated to take into account the Internet, etc, so fascinating stuff.
And I have yet to get the fourth book, but have read and really enjoyed the first three.
The Powers family really knocks it out of the park for me. I’m happy you’re enjoying them. And I’m very interested to hear what you think of the next two books. Meg comes into her own. With a vengeance.
Jodie, so true but worth it.
Tina, I hear the series just gets better as it goes along.
Li, I’m glad you liked them. I thought they were pretty interesting.
Angie, I’m looking forward to that! Especially LONG MAY SHE REIGN.
It’s refreshing to read a YA contemporary novel that focuses more on the dynamics of a family than anything else. I really liked the Powers family and I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. Also, Beth is awesome! I love how frank she is.
Yeah, it’s true. The whole series has felt very different from the standard YA to me. Beth really is such a great character. I’m especially excited for the last book.
Oh you finished reading the third one already?