Beautifully Written Coming-Of-Age Story
936690
Jake Vander Ark is one of the only self-published authors that I've read that I believe truly deserves to get a deal and see a wide release. I've read two of his books and for the life of me, I can't see why he's not signed to a major publisher. Although beautiful, don't be fooled by this book's YA-ish ebook cover. It has definitely attracted readers, but to me this book is darker than any young adult fiction I've ever come across.

The story takes place during the eventful summer of 1994 in western Michigan as young James Parker just wants to make an awesome movie with his buddies. Everything changes when they meet Mara, the most beautiful girl in the world, who not only changes the course of their summer, but changes their lives forever. The book begins as your usual coming-of-age tale, but as each chapter rolls along, and the atmosphere builds, you slowly begin to realize that you are reading something much more twisted and extraordinary than you originally expected.

Vander Ark's prose is a huge part of why the book works so well. It's gorgeous and really carries you through this ultimately haunting story of obsession and growing-up the way a great book can. When he details the awesome scene where James and the other neighborhood boys are listening silently in the trees one night as the mysterious girl finishes her hypnotic singing lessons at home, he writes THIS magnificent line:

The night seemed suddenly defiled by the absence of music, as if the silence itself was injecting a sickness that only another song could cure.

The book ultimately feels like something that Stephen King would be proud to write these days. You can find the ebook for free and if this review doesn't convince you to read the novel, then check out the plethora of 5-star reviews on its page. I can't wait to read more by this author! Check out his other novels as well: The Brandywine Prophet and Lighthouse Nights.
3478669
This is the beautifully written story of a lost boy.  Misunderstood by his family and uncertain where he belongs in the world, he drifts from one situation to another--in constant search of love and himself.  He begins by finding a father figure/lover--an older man whose heart is sealed off.  Later, he wanders into the world of his estranged brother and becomes the lover of his brother's friend.  In each case, Evan's world subconsciously revolves around manifestation of family, as if he believes he can discover who he is only by knowing whom he belongs with.
Though he doesn't shy away from humor, Lisicky invests this novel with an elegant, melancholy tone.  Here is a boy who seems to be wasting his life--largely because his parents can't deal with his sexuality.  Their narcissism is disturbingly and believably portrayed.  But in the course of the book, Evan does achieve a welcome sense of self.  The intensity and lyricism wavers toward the end, but the characters and setting are so strong throughout that the tone of the book lingers well after the last page is turned.
2801426
Spin is a delightful coming of age tale that flashed this reader back to her awkward high school days. No matter what those days were like for you, you're certain to find yourself somewhere within the pages of this wonderful read. While Gudger says she writes for teens, this book will also appeal to those who have left their teen years behind. The characters are well-developed, the trouble Kisrie gets into rolls from one conundrum to the next without pause, and you won't want to put this story down until you reach the very satisfying conclusion. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
1305866
We All Looked Up is an excellent coming-of-age novel that evokes John Hughes and is quite simply one of the most compelling contemporary novels Ive read in years. Tommy Wallach writes some of the most realistic, flawed characters out there and he isn't afraid to show what actual teenagers are like. This novel is a beautiful portrait of humanity and it doesnt stray from showing the highs and lows of life. We All Looked Up is an impressive feat of literature that will give readers a glimmer of hope and inspire them to live life to the fullest.

We All Looked Up follows four high school seniors as they try to live with the impending collision of an asteroid called Ardor. No one knows for sure if it will strike the Earth, but what they do know is that life cant go on anymore. Anita is tired of being the perfect child with straight As, who vies for her fathers acceptance. Eliza doesnt want to be the slut everyone thinks she is, she doesnt want to be herself. Peter has had the time of his life being a teenager and fears that hell never experience anything more.  Andy doesnt want to be an adult, he just wants to live his life without any sort of responsibility.

This book is extremely character-driven and rides on the emotions and tension that surrounds our cast.  WALU reads extremely fast and I couldn't stop reading as Ardor drew closer and closer. Readers will need to find out what happens to each of the four main characters and will love watching them develop and grow all in the matter of a few pages. Theres such a sharp difference between who Andy, Eliza, Peter and Anita are at the beginning of this novel and who they are at the end. This novel is an exemplary coming-of-age novel and has pitch-perfect characterization.

WALU follows a group of teens in Seattle and this book features a wide variety of characters with different ethnicities and sexualities. Most of the main characters are Caucasian, but I was pretty happy to see Hispanic, trans* and African American characters in this book. This is a step in the right direction and it was refreshing to see a book where America is shown as the melting pot it truly is. People should see themselves in literature and I think WALU will resonate with countless readers.

Im usually not a fan of ambiguous endings because Im a very concrete person who needs to know everything and anything. Tommy Wallach leaves WALU on such a note that is both hopeful and satisfying, I absolutely loved how it ended. This isn't the kind of ending everyone will love, but its the right ending for this novel; nothing else wouldve worked so effectively. Wallach lets readers decide for themselves what happens next without giving any hints as to what happens next. Its a ballsy ending for sure and it was a perfect way to wrap up all loose ends in this one.

We All Looked Up is an excellent stand-alone from a promising writer who will enthrall readers from start to finish. Wallach writes excellent prose that hooks readers in like catchy song lyrics so it was no surprise to me that hes a musician. This novel truly shines and has the most lifelike and flawed characters Ive ever read about, making this one bound to be a hit with massive cross-over appeal.
2360409
I really enjoyed this beautiful coming of age story. Esben is such a precious young man, and his love and generosity made my heart soar. His love, caring and devotion brought Allison out of a dark funk that she had existed in for so long; he enriched her life in ways she never imaged. This story will make you envy young love, the thoughtfulness of mankind, and the precious and fragile splendor of life.
2923070
Her Name In the Sky was a beautiful coming of age story for Hannah and Baker that really hit home for me.

Kelly had written a story I didn't want to put down and it played out like a film in my head.

She brought me back to being in high school. What happens when your best friend makes you feel something else? What happens to the group of friends you're both in? What happens when you go to a Catholic school?

I would recommend this book for all ages.
1855820
This wonderful coming-of-age story by Robin Reardon transcends stereotypes, focusing on a main character who is, if not a jock, athletic. Jason Peele is on his school's track team, and so are all of his potential romantic interests.

It's nice to see an author address gays who are athletically inclined. The topic isn't broached enough, in my humble opinion to reflect reality. In other words, there are a large number of high school teens who play football, baseball, basketball, tennis, teens who are on the track team, swim team, etc. - who are just as good as their heterosexual counterparts, and who get short shrift in gay literature. These teens, seeking out YA gay literature, don't find themselves in many books and are often disillusioned. There are notable exceptions of course. Alex Sanchez' superb "Rainbow Trilogy" (Rainbow Boys, Rainbow High, and Rainbow Road ), comes to mind, as one of the three main characters is the star of the basketball team, and another is on the swim team.

But this isn't just a book with athletic teens. This is an extremely well written and well researched book. Jason's journey is an interesting one. We meet him in the first chapter after a wet dream (about David Bowie - to each their own, I suppose <grin>), and watch him grow. We see how easy it is for him to be around girls, how willing he is to help others, and how difficult and tongue tied he is around boys, especially one - Raj, an Indian student on the track team whose event is the high jump. (Jason's is the relay, and I think, the 100 meter dash.) Jason is immensely likable. He seems at all times to take other people's problems and concerns into consideration, at one point going so far as to tell a girl something that could backfire, if she chose to have loose lips. He is honorable and kindhearted, and these are the qualities that attract Raj - and the reader.

It's also nice to see an interracial relationship depicted without any of the typical (and clich&eacute;d) race issues. Jason sees Raj, and is attracted to him. When he gets to know Raj, he likes him even more because Raj is a nice guy. Period. (As it should be in an ideal world - not that this book expresses utopian ideals...) There's never a question about whether or not he could see himself with someone of a different nationality. Reardon handles their relationship deftly.

There are times when the book might feel preachy to some, and I mention this in my review only to refute reviews that (if written in the future, because as of this writing there are none) look down on it. I'm of the opinion that the book is not preachy; rather, it's sharing essential information that teens need. Just the facts, ma'am - so to speak.

Robin Reardon has a strong, assertive voice, is able to portray different yet complex characters adeptly, and is unquestionably a writer to keep an eye on.
3287187
A wonderful coming-of-age story set in 1970-'71 and told from the perspective of 13-year-old Nicky Martini.  Cataneo gives us a world here--Eggplant Alley, a decaying neighborhood in the Bronx, where Nicky once watched his older brother, Roy, and his friends play stickball in the streets.  But as the novel opens Roy departs for Vietnam, and stickball seems to leave with him as tension between whites and blacks in the neighborhood grows.  The book is full of humor--including a hilarious flashback to the great Northeast blackout of 1965--and the characters are complex and lovingly drawn, through what is said and what is not said.  All in all, a great read.
2861081
This well-written young adult novel is a delight to read. In particular, Fair's authorial voice is original and witty as he portrays adolescent angst and self-consciousness in this coming of age book. The major male characters-Mitch, Peanut, and Jay are convincing, and I find myself caring what happens to them. The female characters all feel believable, too. The author deftly gives us a succinct backstory on each character, which adds depth to their individual progress through rites of passage, and makes each character distinct in the mind of the reader.
Humor is always bubbling under the surface, even in the most challenging scenes, where Mitch struggles through social anxiety, drug abuse and issues with the opposite sex. Dialogue and interior monologue are very strong indeed, and Fair employs authentic, colloquial language so his young characters' voices are on point.
Fair is a writer to watch out for in the future. His novel demonstrates he is a writer-in-the-world, with a keen eye for detail. His book is not only entertaining - it highlights some of the dangers and challenges faced by today's youth as well as the opportunities and excitement of growing up in the modern world. A nice touch is the "alternative ending" at the close of the book. I have to say, I like the first ending better.
931748
Beautifully written, poignant, and at times downright heart-wrenching, this is a lovely story is appropriate for all preteens, teens and adults. Even though it delves into gritty, real-life issues, it sits firmly on the Clean and Wholesome shelf with no sex scenes and no bad language. The romance progressed at a satisfying rate, both characters underwent self discovery and self improvement, the hero was swoon-worthy, the heroine was likable and relatable, and it had a perfect, happily ever after ending.
1982271
This is a wonderful coming-of-age novel that probably relates to the authors own experiences growing up. The novel highlights the differences in people, physically, that can leadto bullying. It gives insight into why some children become bullies. Throught the book the strong faith of Sam's mother and the committment of his father provides a backdrop to how Sam copes with his world. I had not been aware of occular albinism previously. It is very rare. Sam's condition reinforces his faith, destroys it and then restores it. The cast of characters is wonderful, each with individual flaws that are weaved into this remarkably readible and enjoyable novel.
1151239
As soon as I got my hands on this book, I finished it in one night.  Ms. Tesalona's writing is captivating and draws you in immediately.  Her writing is surprisingly mature and thoughtful for a teenager, a refreshing perspective on the world in the midst of a surplus of sappy teenage novels.
The book switches from thought provoking, to joyful- from laughter to tears (I actually cried at one part of the book.)  In Media Res tells the poignant story of young Kat Reyes, an impressive future Lawyer studying at Harvard, drowning in the monotony of her life.  Kat's struggles to find happiness and fulfillment in life are relatable to just about everyone. Wanting to try something new and break out of her shell, Kat journeys to London on an Study-Abroad program and meets the impressive James Daniels, who is equally struggling with happiness and living a purposeful life.
What ensues is a gripping story that is a roller coaster of emotions- love, sadness, laughter, tears, anger, angst, and hope. As Tesalona herself puts it, the book is about two people "mending each other's wounds." With its plot twists and turns, this book will make you laugh, cry, and leave you thinking long after you've flipped the last page
. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone, and I tip my hat to Ms. Sabrina Tesalona for writing such a powerful piece. I look forward to future books from her.
2484072
LOVED IT. The prose is beautifully crafted, economic yet captivating in its use of language, the characters young and vivid and true, the story heartfelt and well constructed. Devoured this in one day - the perfect coming-of-age tale to open my summer reading season with.
2690815
A beautifully written coming of age  story wrapped around the love and rivalry between sisters, and the deep sacrifice of unconditional love.  I couldn't put it down until I knew what the wolves knew. This one will stay on my favorites list. Thank you Carol Brunt for telling a story that speaks to love between two people, regardless of age or gender.
2985200
I found this to be a beautifully written and very engaging coming-of-age story, full of adventure, humor and interesting historical details. I was immediately drawn in and by page two actually cared about the lead character. By the end of the book, I wanted to know what might happen next. That is a reliable sign of both a good writer and a good reading experience. Kudos to this author for a great first novel. I look forward to more from him.
4965400
This story has all of the elements that I like. It's a coming-of-age story, with various perspectives, combined with an appreciation for the natural environment, and of course several heart-warming relationships get developed by the end of the story.
I loved "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass too.
4150925
Stitched in Time is a wonderful coming-of-age story. While learning about Hmong culture, readers of all backgrounds will be able to relate to the themes of first love and being true to yourself and your goals. Mai, the main character, struggles with the choices she has to make as she finishes her last year of high school. Her culture, family, friends, and boyfriend aren't all on the same path as her dream of going to the best art school. Mai has to decide whose future she will follow: the one in her heart or the one others have for her. With lyrical prose and realistic dialogue, Pegi Deitz Shea has stitched together a great tale that will stay with you long after the last page.