Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Waiting on Wednesdays: Playing A Part by Daria Wilke, Marian Schwartz

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!


Playing A Part by Daria Wilke, Marian Schwartz

Publish Date: March 31, 2015
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

I've never read any Russian YA fiction. I'm interested both in the plot and the opportunity to learn a bit of Russian culture.

In June 2013, the Russian government passed laws prohibiting "gay propaganda," threatening jail time and fines to offenders. That same month, in spite of these harsh laws, a Russian publisher released Playing a Part, a young adult novel with openly gay characters. It was a brave, bold act, and now this groundbreaking story has been translated for American readers.

In Playing a Part, Grisha adores everything about the Moscow puppet theater where his parents work, and spends as much time there as he can. But life outside the theater is not so wonderful. The boys in Grisha's class bully him mercilessly, and his own grandfather says hateful things about how he's not "masculine" enough. Life goes from bad to worse when Grisha learns that Sam, his favorite actor and mentor, is moving: He's leaving the country to escape the extreme homophobia he faces in Russia.

How Grisha overcomes these trials and writes himself a new role in his own story is heartfelt, courageous, and hopeful.

14 comments:

  1. this book sound like Drama, I hope you enjoy it when you get to read it :D lovely pick

    You Can Check My WOW here:
    http://cachereads.com/blog/

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  2. Not my genre, but I hope you'll enjoy this :)

    Here's mine:
    WaitingOnWednesday@EverythingNyze

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  3. Not my kind of read either, but still hope you love it!

    Here's my WoW

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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  4. Not something I'd read normally but I do hope you enjoy it. Have a great week Alison. :-)
    Sharon @ Sharon's Book Nook!

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  5. I love gay or m/m romances so this is definitely being added to my TBR, thanks.
    Kirsty xx
    http://kirstylovesbooks.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/waiting-on-wednesday-spring-knight/

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  6. Really, you had me with Russian YA, and LGBT. Yup, I'm in.

    Here's mine

    Kirsty @ StudioReads

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  7. This one is new to me but it sounds really good! I'm such a huge russophile and the LGBT themes add a different level. Adding this to my TBR!
    Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally

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  8. Wow, good for that Russian publisher!!! I want to pick this one up just to support that publisher's actions:) Thanks for bringing it to my attention Alison!

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  9. I was addicted to Russian literature when I was young...now I am very curious about how the YA genre will play within the culture. Thanks for sharing and enjoy.

    Here's mine: “SOMEONE IS WATCHING”


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  10. Sounds like a book I would enjoy. Here's my pick: http://www.lexielaser.com/2014/11/wow-heir.html :)

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  11. Never heard of this one, but it sounds good. Thanks for putting it on my radar!

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  12. Sounds interesting. I'm anxious to hear what you think of it.

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