Why I Read Young Adult Fiction
Disclaimer: I have been provided an advanced copy of Karina’s Silver Shoes
In the course of reading mystery stories about various topics such as murder, suicide, terrorism, depression, and severe family dysfunction, I’ve come to realize something. Reading about these serious topics are too daunting, that it is perhaps time to read another book from a different genre to mix things up. In comes the YA genre, often with magical wizards and daring warriors. This genre is great at taking serious topics, but describing them in a nice and hopeful manner suitable for most audiences. Hope and virtue is usually at the center of these stories as the protagonist fights against a great evil or some kind of astronomic challenge.
YA stories have an escapist appeal that take the reader into a new world that would not have been discovered otherwise. Furthermore, stories in these genres are great at evoking nostalgia in their readers. Even if one is well outside the target range for these types of books, older readers will be able to relate to younger readers through the YA plots. These plots have high applicability and themes on friendship, conflict resolution, and strong feminine characters will always be relevant (at least I hope so).
One of the YA stories that strikes a balance between a daunting challenge and hopeful fun is Karina’s Silver Shoes by Denise Marques Leitao. The story is about fourteen year old Karina who is attempting to save Whyland, a kingdom in another dimension, from complete destruction. Like in many YA stories, Leitao brings Karina into a coming-of-age adventure where the challenges that Karina goes through are similar to what teenagers and many adults find themselves in.

Karina soon runs into a pair of silver shoes that is at the center of the plot and helps provides the backdrop for the story. Karina ends up balancing all sorts of dangers as she holds the world in her hands such as a fearful witch, wild rebels, and airships to name a few. Leitao’s imaginative story helped build a new world in a parallel dimension that leaves the reader wanting more.
Overall, Karina’s Silver Shoes is an enjoyable story to read. Coming in at 249 pages, it is a quick read and easy commitment with a bit of explosive action and maybe a twist or two that you won’t see coming!
Karina’s Silver Shoes carries the YA fantasy genre with grace and beauty. I cannot wait to read more. Karina’s Silver Shoes will come out on September 18, 2017 .
Get your copy!
Denise Marques Leitao is an up-and-coming novelist and poet from Brazil. Her website can be found here.
