[Review] The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan

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Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 05/01/2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury UK

Pages: 240

Source: Library

Genre: YA {Contemporary | Verse}

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

Book Tunes

♪ Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek (Live) ♪

My Rating

3.5/5 stars

My thoughts

I adore Sarah Crossan and I think she is an amazing person. Meeting her last month at Sydney Writer's Fest reminded me that I needed to read her older books, namely The Weight of Water which she mentioned she drew slightly subconscious inspiration from her own childhood and upbringing. She had imagined this shabby one-room apartment in which her protagonist would live in this story, vivid as if she had lived there herself - until she realised that in fact, she had (but she had blocked out the memories)! And I think that's really amazing! Writing really is the truest, purest form of therapy and self-realisation.

[Review] Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

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Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 14/12/2009

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 412

Source: Library

Genre: YA {Contemporary | Verse}

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

Warning: suicide, death

Book Tunes

♪ Taylor Swift - Haunted (Acoustic) ♪*

Come on, Cass, really? You really don't even try to find creative songs anymore, do you?

My Rating

4.5/5 stars

My thoughts

*Sorry, this review is going to be all over the place! I really don't know why..can my being sick serve as an excuse? I seem to have lost the ability to speak coherently, succinctly and in an organised manner.*

When I pick up a verse book written by Lisa Schroeder I know that I'm going to read an emotionally turbulent and transcending book about grief, love and loss. Reading Chasing Brooklyn was no different - it was a quick read, full of beautifully written accounts of what grief feels like. I love Schroeder's written expression, and I think her poetry just flows so well! Chasing Brooklyn is beautiful and heart-achey and lovely, the carefully selected words tumbling down the pages.

[Review] One by Sarah Crossan

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Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 27/05/2011

Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 270

Source: Bought
Genre: YA - Contemporary (16+)

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

Book Tunes
♪ Coldplay - Fix You ♪
♪ Skin and Bones - David J. Roch ♪

My Rating: 

A special, heartbreaking story

My thoughts

Wow. This was such a beautiful story, and I an not ashamed to admit that the ending brought me to tears.

'One' is a young adult novel, written in verse, told in the perspective of conjoined twins, Grace and Tippi. So many thanks goes to Allen and Unwin for the opportunity to read this important book. For the short time I have spent with these characters between the covers I will take to heart the lovely messages and lessons Crossan has imbued in me with her storytelling. For me this is such a special book, as are all contemporary/realistic fiction... because it is just about people- their fictionalisation is merely an aside.

[Review] Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Title: Audition {goodreads}

Authors: Stasia Ward Kehoe

Publication (dd/mm/yy): 31/10/11

Publisher: Penguin Australia
RRP: $19.95

Source: For review (thanks Penguin!)
Age: 15+ Sexual content, but otherwise clean.

Pages: 450 [verse novel]

My Rating:

Summary:

Once you've been chosen,
what step can you take...?

Seventeen-year-old Sara's dream of becoming a star ballerina is challenged when she falls for Remington, an older choreographer. Instead of success onstage, she becomes Rem's muse, which is a future she never considered--and one that threatens to break her heart.

My thoughts: 

I was so excited to read AUDITION! I jump to the chance to read any dancing YA novel. I admit, I was worried that my expectations wouldn't be met, but for the most part I was quite pleased with what I found.

This cover is also beautiful as anything, and I can definitely picture both models as Sara and Rem. The pose is intimate, and pretty dead-on. The cover could almost be a bit busy - if the quote wasn't blurred in like it is. The title & quote fonts are nice, and the title itself is simple yet speaks volumes, especially since Sara alludes to auditions a couple times throughout the novel. 

My Synopsis

AUDITION is the story of a budding ballerina [Sara] from the country who gets swept away into the world of the Jersey Ballet. Not only is she far away from home, from her best friend Bess and her family. She's living with her Spanish dancing instructor, an older man [Remington] is using her as a muse, she's stuck with younger girls in her class due to her country-bumpkin-ness. The girls at her new high school are pretentious and rich and look down at Sara's humble upbringing, and dreams of dancing in the future.

As Sara climbs up her ballet class ladder and develops from hunter green leotard to grey, Snowflake to Aurora, so too does her poisonous relationship with Remington.

I have to say, I LOVE the writing of this book! It's poetic and lyrical and just so easy to read. My favourite quotes are actually the ones that are on the front and back covers. Especially the front. I actually find it fitting that this book was written in verse, since the sequences and choice of words and rhythms and moves . . . it's like a different kind of dance. The writing is equal parts dancing, equal parts romance, equal parts anguish and inner-turmoil and self-discovery.

Sara is just your average girl. She gets pretty average grades, has a couple good friends back home, deals with trying to fit in with the rich and glamorous at Upton Academy, and catch up to the talented and esteemed prima ballerinas (especially Lisette) at the Jersey Ballet. She's always wanted to be a prima ballerina, but she has doubts. I liked that she doesn't just magically become amazing. There's a progression towards her improvement.

And then there's Remington. I have conflicted feelings about him and his behaviour through the course of the book. First off, Sara and him get intimate preeeeetty quickly. At the beginning, it's all really sweet, but slowly the cracks let out and we see Rem's true colours, and his true intentions. I actually love that their relationship seemed realistic, and I have no doubt that such a one exists somewhere. Their relationship is dysfunctional, and it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Sara needed this though, to finally realise what's important to her and why she got into ballet. She grows and begins to understand herself after being with Rem, and the revelations and in-betweens are what would push me to re-read this.

There isn't too much room to develop the secondary characters too much, considering AUDITION's format. I would have liked to have seen more of Julio, the Spanish dance instructor's son, who is pursuing music. He and Sara share an almost brother-sister-like bond, which I enjoyed. Also, her dancer girl friends kind of morphed together for me. None of them stood out particularly. To me, they were just names. Lisette is a different story, since she is the cause of much of Sara's distress. Even then, I would have liked more development, of at least one of them. Probably Lisette. They barely even talked, which was a shame.

That said, I did like the dancing descriptions. It's all so foreign to me, but I was able to imagine it - once I searched up the terminology. :P All in all, AUDITION is a satisfying debut novel that centralises the problems that can befall a budding ballerina, and her actions in trying to escape these problems. AUDITION is adorned with beautiful, romantic and illustrative writing, though lacking in secondary character development.

Recommended for people with an interest in dance, those looking for a dark relationship in the contemporary YA genre and fans of verse novels.

Quotes:

#1

"'No. No. Like this, ballerina.'
His chuckling words waft through
The smoke in my ears.
I let him show me
Steps I have not seen in ordinary classes,
His expression all fire
As he shares his pas de deaux. (p. 174)

#2

"I stand up slowly,
In the aftermath
Of Remington's words.
Knees weak.
Breath fast.
Furious

At Rem for thinking
This could all be so easy,
At Jane for her power,
At Lisette for her pirouettes,

At myself
For nodding again,
For decisions that are always off count,
For not knowing the question
I would want him to answer
If I ever had the courage to ask. (pp. 344-345)

Buy:

* cheapest Australian e-store price

AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS

Fishpond | Readings | Dymocks | Angus & Robertson * | Borders | The Nile

INTERNATIONAL READERS

Amazon | The Book Depository

All links from Booko, because I'm too lazy to search each individual store anymore.

AUDITION in a song
* links to a dance

1. "Ghost" - Ingrid Michaelson (Ingrid's newest song, and is perfect for AUDITION.)
2. "Cold As You" - Taylor Swift
3. "Dancing" - Elisa *
4. "Corner of your Heart" - Ingrid Michaelson *
5. "Gravity" - Sara Bareilles (Watching this dance always gives me the chills) *
6. "You Don't Know Me" - Ben Folds Feat. Regina Spektor
7. "Foolish Games" - Jewel
8. "You Outta Know" - Alanis Morisette (Sara's INNER thoughts to Remington, especially at one point of the book, when he's with Jane.)
9. "The Silence" - Mayday Parade
10. "Stupid" - Sarah McLachlan *

But *ahem* don't get me started with SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. We'd probably be here a while. Please do comment with additions to this 'playlist' (and more dances, please!) for AUDITION.

I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.

Challenge: YA Debut 2011 Challenge

[Review] The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

Title: The Day Before {goodreads}

Author: Lisa Schroeder

Publication (dd/mm/yy): 28/06/11

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab
Age: 14+

Pages: 320

My Rating:

Summary:

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.


Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.


The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

My thoughts: 

Powerful and beautiful, raw and heartfelt. This book reads like a dream.

Told in verse, THE DAY BEFORE is about two teenagers who by some twist of fate, meet on the day before the end of their lives. Both seek refuge at the beach, and they are JUST what the other needs, just for today...

What I usually have problems with with verse novels is connecting with characters. But considering there are, essentially, only two characters of focus throughout the whole book, it was very easy to understand them and like them and know them well. If all of Schroeder's books are like this, sign me up, because this was a beautiful contemporary YA novel! Reminiscent of One Night that Changes Everything and Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, among others, due to its 24-hour time-span.

And yet, over that one day, Schroeder interweaves the past and the future so that the gaps and histories of the two are filled in. Amber, the main character, recalls letters and conversations that she has over the last couple of years that led her to 'the day before'. At the beginning I was so confused, and I'm sure that we're meant to be. No details are mentioned, it's all very vague as to who these letters are from or what the issues being discussed are really referring to.

The actual circumstances revolving around Amber and Cade are unique to me - so far I actually haven't read where an author/character FOCUSES on the issues, and I thought that it was refreshing to gain some perspective. As I don't want to spoil anything, I can't discuss much further . . .

The verse is just beautiful.
The poetic qualities are MODERN, original and never boring:--

I like

the memories
because they remind me
I haven't always been
this girl,
constantly
mad or scared
or confused.

I don't like

the memories
because the tears
come easily,
and once again I break
my promise
to myself for this day.

It's a constant battle.

A war between
remembering and forgetting.

(p. 40)

The books ends definitively, but even so I can't help wanting to know more of what happens after that day.

THE DAY BEFORE was a quick read - as most verse novels tend to be - but despite its fair shortness, it came with a surprising level of depth to it. The verse is well planned out, witty and beautiful. Schroeder assumes a unique voice for Amber in her venture towards and through 'the day before', and in that Amber finds more than she ever hoped to. And it all started with jellyfish.

Quotes:

Favourites

"Hidden, there,

behind the face

of a beautiful boy,

I see you.

The real you.

...

                        I see you.

Because in you,

I see me.

(pp. 150-151, shortened)

Links:

Author Site




I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.


Challenge: ---

[Review] The Taste of Apple by James Laidler

Title: The Taste of Apple {goodreads}

Author: James Laidler 

Publication (dd/mm/yy): 01/09/10

Publisher: Interactive Publications

Source: Author for review
Age: 14+ Moderate language and dark themes

Pages: 330

My Rating:

Summary:

Pedro Jones is lost. Abandoned by his father and forced into commission housing with his Filipino immigrant mother, the future seems bleak.

But when Pedro meets the 'mad' street busker, Johnny Lazzaro, and gets involved with the East Timor freedom movement, life takes an unexpected detour through the uncharted backblocks of the human heart.

My thoughts: 

To say I'm surprised that I actually liked this is an understatement. My track record with verse novels, I admit, hasn't been very good - I normally have problems connecting with the characters. However, with THE TASTE OF APPLE, this isn't an issue. Possibly because there are just so many dimensions, that I felt I actually knew the characters.

Pedro Jones has a fairly ordinary difficult upbringing, and when his father abandons him and his mother and sister, he's forced into commission housing. Living on the 'poor' side of my city personally I understood all the problems with ethnicity. In a rich and diverse multicultural population, criticism and racism runs rampant regardless that we are a "united" country. And for that I appreciated the realistic outlook of the racial struggle.

What I really loved about this book was the audio tracks that are included. See, this publisher and author thought it really clever to add an extra component to the reading experience. The CD includes 13 tracks, an assortment of thoughtful and meaningful poems. They brought an extra PUNCH to the book that reading alone just cannot deliver. It would also make this book a great one for reluctant readers - verse novel + music. The songs are also really cleverly crafted, with instrumentals normally over a loop replay but it really works with the lyrics/poetry. For an example, watch the trailer.

Pedro himself is a pretty average teenage boy whose interests lie in writing poetry. His future is threatened by a financial and emotional disposition but after he meets Juan 'Johnny' Lazzaro everything changes. The two form a strangely close friendship, and Pedro finds something to really care about.

The poems themselves were amazing. The complexities in its structure and word choice are well thought-out - and it shows! There is a tonne of quote-worthy passages in this book. It's rather a shame that I didn't tab any; I was flying through it before I found it a good idea to do so.

Laidler suggests this would be a good book to study for HSC/VCE English (Module: Belonging), to which I wholeheartedly agree. The book delves into belonging in an obvious way, AND it is simple but complex enough for students to dissect and interpret the book.

Overall, just a really worthwhile, thought-provoking read. The book is actually reminiscent of many contemporary YA books I've read, because of the themes and issues that were explored. It's really just an extraordinary VERSE NOVEL that will stick for weeks upon weeks.

Buy:

Live in Australia?

Fishpond | Readings | Dymocks | Angus & Robertson | Borders | The Nile

Live elsewhere?

Amazon | The Book Depository *

Links:

Author Site



I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.

Challenge: Aussie YA Challenge

[Review] Unlocked by Ryan G. Van Cleave

Title: Unlocked {goodreads}

Author: Ryan G. Van Cleave

Publication (dd/mm/yy): 01/06/11

Publisher: Bloomsbury (Walker Books)

Source: Review from publisher
Age: 14+

Pages: 160

My Rating:

Summary:

Fourteen-year old Andy is the janitor's son, and an outcast. It's rumored that formerly popular Blake, who has become a loner since his dad's death, has a gun hidden in his locker, and beautiful, unattainable Becky Ann wants to see it. In order to impress her, Andy steals the keys from his dad and opens up Blake's locker, but the gun isn't there. A friendship develops between the two loners, and Blake shares most of his secrets with Andy, including the gun. But there's one secret that worries Andy more than anything-the date circled on Blake's calendar. Does Blake have something planned? Something that Andy can prevent?

My thoughts: 

As most verse novels are, Unlocked read really quickly. While perhaps a lot of potential emotional impact could have been extended had it been written in prose, Cleave made the right choice telling this story in verse, mainly because of the issues it presents.

High school brings much of the crap that junior high did: the cliques, the bullies, the rumours. Especially for losers, like the janitor's son, like Andy. Then, a rumour provides a rare opportunity towards popularity: apparently, fellow outcast Blake has a gun in his locker. A friendship never properly defined is cast between the two of them, and what scares him most is this: what if Blake's got something planned with the gun?

I found Unlocked a great portrayal of the effects that bullying can have on those who are inflicted. The small length of the book is also a very appealing quality, but not only that. The little poems were nicely written. I enjoyed delving into the mind of this fourteen-year-old kid who doesn't know exactly where he fits in this world. The kids at school have even made up songs about his dad!

Cleave attempted to pack an enormous weight into such a small book, and while I didn't feel a strong emotional connection to the characters (a great limitation of the verse format) I did come away from it with a renewed understanding of how far bullying and rumours - NO MATTER HOW HARMLESS THE INTENTION MAY SEEM TO BE - can go. I recommend this book for young [male] teens and up.

Quotes:

First part of first poem

"August arrived
with 90^o
and high school
began at last,
meaning five hundred
were funneled
in from four
different junior highs,
meaning
no one really arrived
having anything
except a sweaty
eagerness
to belong,
meaning we all
felt equally displaced."

Buy:

Live in Australia?

Fishpond* | Readings | Dymocks | Angus & Robertson | Borders | The Nile

Live elsewhere?

Amazon | The Book Depository

Links:

Official Site


I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.

Challenge: 

[Review] Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

Title: Because I Am Furniture

Author: Thalia Chaltas

Publication: 2009

Publisher: Speak (Penguin)

Source: Won
Age: 16+

Pages: 320

My Rating:

Summary:

Anke's father is abusive to her brother and sister. But not to her. Because, to him, she is like furniture— not even worthy of the worst kind of attention.

Then Anke makes the school volleyball team. She loves feeling her muscles after workouts, an ache that reminds her she is real. Even more, Anke loves the confidence that she gets from the sport. And as she learns to call for the ball on the court, she finds a voice she never knew she had.

For the first time, Anke is making herself seen and heard, working toward the day she will be able to speak up loud enough to rescue everyone at home— including herself.

My thoughts: 

Because I Am Furniture is told in a series of poems in the perspective of Anke, the youngest child, who is barely acknowledged by her abusive father. In her gait, she pursues something that no one in her entire family would have dared to: she joins the school volleyball team. Chaltas' book follows the journey of Anke's self-discovery towards gaining a voice that she never knew she had.

I had extremely high hopes for Because I Am Furniture, and after one sitting I came out pretty torn in my opinions regarding this book. On one hand, the main issue addressed, domestic abuse, was dealt with careful sensitivity, inspiring hope for young teens and adults alike. But on the other, I felt so disconnected from the characters as result of the book's format (series of poems) that the ending felt lacking, emotionally.

I liked the poems; the words flowed with consistency and ran down the pages with ease. The story was easy to follow . . . it just all wasn't enough to make me feel anything really significant about this book. I don't believe all this is the author's fault though, more due to the format of the book. I'm led to believe that I would have enjoyed this far more had it been in prose, and it is for this very reason that I will be reading Displacement, her next novel.

Read Because I Am Furniture for the breezy poems and the sharp address of domestic abuse -- but don't expect to care much for the characters.

Quotes:

First Poem (all formatting from book intact)

"I am always there.
But they don't care if I am
because I am furniture.

I don't get hit
I don't get fondled
I don't get love
because I am furniture.

Suits me just fine."

Buy:

Live in Australia?

Fishpond | Readings | Dymocks | Angus & Robertson | Borders | The Nile

Live elsewhere?

Amazon | The Book Depository

Links:

Official Site
Goodreads Page


I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.

Challenge: --