Review: Defy The Stars by Stephanie Parent

Title: Defy The Stars
Author: Stephanie Parent
Published: August 1st 2012
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.

Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.

Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.

Defy the Stars is written in an edgy free-verse style that will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Schroeder; however, the writing is accessible enough to speak to non-verse fans as well. The novel’s combination of steamy romance and raw emotion will appeal to fans of Gayle Forman, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, and Tammara Webber. With a story, language and form that both pay homage to and subvert Shakespeare’s play, Defy the Stars is much more than just another Romeo and Juliet story.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

When I received this review request, I was excited. An indie novel told in verse? I love novels written in verse! I’m a huge fan of them. I knew I had to read this one.

It starts with Julia playing Moonlight Sonata on the piano. That piece is one of my favorites, and it adds to the overall feel of the story. She loves playing piano. She will go off to college and beyond there play piano at concert halls. Everything that is expected of her is laying out in front of her. She never anticipated doing something as illogical as kissing Reed… but she does.

Reed is one of the stoner guys at school, not one of the affluent crowd her family expects her to be interested in. A person like Perry, whose parents are close to her parents, who is the logical choice for someone of her status. He’s not who she is interested in though. Despite the part of her that wants to please her parents, she gives in to her desire to be with him. And her parents seem to be fine with it… until the secret comes out.

Once her parents know about Reed and his background, they instantly forbid her from seeing him. Of course, this doesn’t stop the two of them from sneaking around when they can. But there’s only so much time left before school is over and Julia needs to make a choice: out of state college or Reed.

Defy the Stars is a love story, but it doesn’t have a happy ending. It is tragic--it breaks your heart and glues you back together only to break again. The love of Julia and Reed is moving, you can’t bear to see them suffer. Stephanie Parent has delivered an amazing retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The verse style only adds to the magnificence of this timeless story. I highly recommend it.

My Rating:

Exceptional: Stay up until at least 1 AM

Review: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Title: Twenty Boy Summer
Author: Sarah Ockler
Summary: Read Goodreads Synopsis
Source: Purchased e-book
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Caution: May contain spoilers


My Thoughts:

Anna, Frankie, and Matt were an inseparable trio of friends. Frankie and Matt were brother and sister, and Anna was best friends with Frankie while having a crush on Matt. One wonderful day, Matt kisses Anna and everything seems to be going wonderfully. Before they could tell anyone (even Frankie), the three of them get into an accident, and Matt doesn’t make it. Anna and Frankie and her parents, Red and Jayne, struggle to keep it together while they deal with his death. Frankie is acting out, doing things she shouldn’t be doing. A little over a year after, Frankie’s family has Anna join them on the yearly family vacation. The first one they’ve gone on since the accident.

Frankie’s determined to make it the ABSE (Absolute Best Summer Ever). Included in this best summer is a challenge to meet twenty guys. Anna isn’t too keen on this idea because Matt is still close to her heart. Yet she can’t tell anyone what had happened between the two of them because she promised Matt she would let him tell Frankie. So Anna goes along with whatever Frankie has planned reluctantly.

What Anna didn’t count on was Sam. Someone she maybe might possibly like. And he seems to like her back. Liking him means pushing aside Matt, letting go the beautiful memories she has of Matt. How could she do that when Matt meant so much to her?

This story will take your breath away. The depth of the emotions carries on throughout in more ways than one. There’s the initial beginning of grief, to the aftermath, then the traditions that make the present painful when you recall the past that will never be future again. Everyone faces them, and deals with them in their own way. Anna’s secret about Matt finds it’s way out, with agonizing results. I was reading that part while at work and had to step back to keep from crying. It is intense. The whole story is intense.

Sarah Ockler has amazed me with this book. I had a feeling it would be powerful, but I had no idea how powerful. There are so many emotions you face after reading it yourself. Now that I’ve read it, I can see why some felt it needed to be banned. It is for more mature teens, but it is a must read for everyone when they can handle it.

My Rating:

Exceptional...Stay up until at least 1 AM!

~Jessica

Review: Heart On A Chain by Cindy C. Bennett

Title: Heart On A Chain
Author: Cindy C. Bennett
Summary: Read Goodreads Synopsis
Source: Purchased E-book
Buy: Amazon (Kindle) ~*~ Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Caution: May contain spoilers


My Thoughts:

Kate has a very rough life. At home, she deals with a drug addicted mother and alcoholic father. She is basically a slave in her own home--cleaning and cooking for her parents, getting barely anything in return from them. She is in a constant state of worry as to what will happen if things aren’t just so, because there are consequences to mistakes, even the smallest. Those consequences are being abused by her mother while her father is gone getting drunk. At school she is bullied and teased and tortured, and she just lets it happen. She has no friends anymore.

And then Henry returns. He and Kate shared a special bond a few years back. They even shared a kiss before he moved away. Henry tries to get close to Kate again, but she distrusts his motive. There were many times that the kids at school would pull a fake friendship on her, and just when she starts to believe she has a friend, they humiliate her. Even though Kate resists, Henry persists until he wins her over. She doesn’t fully trust him though, but as his kindness is expressed over and over in different ways, she lets him in more and more.

While Kate’s friendship with Henry begins to turn into something deeper, she faces some intense trials. One of them involves a former friend at school, the other involving a confrontation by her mother. Henry and his family take Kate under their wing and nurture her like she has never been by her own parents. She begins to understand what family and love should be like.

Suddenly, disaster strikes Kate and threatens to make her whole life crumble before her. She is in disbelief over what has happened and is reluctant to allow Henry’s family to intervene and help. Kate lets go of some things, even though it breaks her heart, while at the same time letting others build that were never there to begin with. But the things once left behind always have a way of returning. No matter how much Kate fights it, she knows what her future should hold.

This story is intense and enormously absorbing. Kate and Henry are the most amazing couple I’ve ever read about. Henry’s deep affection for Kate is so touching. You can’t help but be brought to tears as you read of the pains and struggles Kate faces--physically and emotionally. One thing that touched me on a personal level was her relationship with her father. It hits close to home and I wish I could have that same ending Kate had. I found myself sobbing in happiness over the joy of her father’s epiphany. I also hope to find a love like Kate and Henry's--powerful and timeless--someday.

Cindy C. Bennett has definitely hit the mark when it comes to story telling. Her words evoke the depth of the character’s feelings. Heart On A Chain has become one of the best books I have ever read.

My Rating:

Exceptional...Stay up until at least 1 AM

~Jessica