Monday, September 7, 2009

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Plot Summary: Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey.

But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life--and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent.

For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

(summary credited to goodreads.com)

I read the galley of The Sky Is Everywhere a few months ago and was, to sum it all up, simply blown away. When I first read the summary on the back of the book, I was worried that Sky would turn out to be one of those crappy books about a promiscuous girl who is trying to balance her tangled love life, and that the extremely difficult topic of death would be something thrown in to try and make the book serious. This book immediately trumped my worries. The book touched upon death beautifully, accurately, and painfully. Sky was as much a book about the journey to a healthy way to grief as it was about finding your way in love and in life.

The Sky Is Everywhere is the the only book that I have ever read where the emotions of the protagonist are as real to me as if I were going through them. Throughout the story, I felt every single stab of pain, longing, and happiness that Lennie went through. That being said, it was an extremely painful book to get through, but the way that the topics were crafted and handled were so beautiful, it made the read as satisfying as it was painful.

Another unusual quality of The Sky Is Everywhere was that it wasn't fake in any way, shape, or form. It really is difficult to pull off a good piece of literature that involves a teenage girl being intimate with two boys, but every single action that Lennie carried out made so much sense, especially since it was connected to her grief (which in itself was astonishingly well expressed as well), that Sky really wasn't a stupid chick lit book at all.

Reading this book is also a great way for teenagers to learn about grief, and what really is the healthiest way to grieve. Every thought that Lennie has is clearly, and heartbreakingly articulated, and you really get to see what it is like to lose a sister, fall in love, and try to find yourself all at the same time.

The Sky Is Everywhere is an amazing book that I hope will get the embrace, and response it deserves. Look for it March 2010!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Plot Summary:
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker--his classmate and crush--who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why.
Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a first-hand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself--a truth he never wanted to face.
(summary, and summary format credited to RazorBill, a member of Penguin Young Readers Group)

I first read Thirteen Reasons Why as a galley (a book before it was published) in July 2007, and it didn't take more than a couple of pages for me to fall in love with the story, the writing, Hannah and Clay, and the clever plot line.

Reasons is such an emotional, and heart-wrenching story. Being told Hannah's story through the eyes of Clay is like watching someone you love slowly deteriorate, until they no longer no themselves. Obviously, this book is extremely painful to read, but at the same time completely satisfying. You really get inside a suicidal teenager's head, and witness first hand their slow, but sure journey to ending their life. But the thing that struck me the first time I read Thirteen Reasons Why was how aware it made you of the impact that everyday things you can have on someone. This is something that all teenagers NEED to become aware of, and that very few of them are. Luckily, I know that Thirteen Reasons Why has shown at least some teens, even if it is only some, how powerful an impact their "harmless" comments can have on a peer.

Thirteen Reasons Why is a book that speaks to people. It's a lot more powerful to read a fictional 16-year-old's journey to suicide than to be told why a teenager chooses suicide by a parent or guidance counselor. When you read Hannah's words, you are reading her mind, and that is something that really makes you more aware of people, and how they react to what you say.

All in all, Thirteen Reasons Why is a book that anyone who will ever have to deal with someone suicidal should read, anyone who is suicidal should read, or anyone who is just looking for a great piece of literature to power through. If you are any of the above, you will not be disappointed.


Hey!

Hey blog-readers!

First off, thank you for visiting my blog! Spreading my love of reading is something I am anxious and excited to do, and hopefully you will enjoy my book reviews! I will be reviewing mostly YA (young adult) novels, with maybe some other stuff occasionally, depending on what I read. The reviews may not be posted as frequently as I would like, seeing as my school keeps me very busy on the weekdays, and most of the weekend with work. Constant work also cuts into my reading time, and the speed at which I usually finish a book. So, that being said I will try to post a book review when I can, and when I finish a new book!

Cheers,
Kats