Softcover: 258 pages
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Genre: YA chick lit
Source: this book is courtesy of Selena from Booksparks in exchange for an honest review
About the book (from the publisher)
High school senior Bronwen Oliver swore she was switched at birth. She has nothing in common with her stoic, blonde mother or her ketchup loving brother and dreams only of her fantastical family, the Lilywhites, coming to take her away.
However, when 22-year-old Jared Sondervan comes into her life she can hardly believe how lucky she is. He is respectful, sweet and a part of the most wonderful family Bronwen has ever met. When Jared proposes she doesn’t hesitate to say yes. But as the wedding draws closer she has to decide whether she wants to be a Sondervan or fully embrace being Bronwen Oliver.
My thoughts
I honestly had a very full Saturday planned when I woke up this morning, but I received this book in the mail this week and just was going to start reading the first chapter with coffee. I didn't put it down until the very last page. Finally, a refreshing YA chick lit book with romance of the human kind, no conniving, back stabbing drama, and although there is heartbreak, it doesn't wallow in it for 200 pages. Thank you Ms. McCahan! Bronwen is a heroine that young women can look up to. She's got a good head on her shoulders, her morals are sound, and although she dreams that she belongs to another family, she really tries to be a good daughter and a loyal friend. I find Bronwen's voice in the book charming and fresh. Finally a character with her own high standards. It also helps that Jared, the love interest, is a character to "sigh" for. He's got the cutest, non-cheesy, "wish a boy told me that" lines and I think the girls will go gaga for him. No moody, angst-ridden, bad boy here. I laughed, I cried, and at the end, my heart was full. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.
Erin McMahan has a lovely bio on her blog. Its got Bronwen written all over it. I can't do it justice, just go to her site to read about this first-time novelist. I, having already enjoyed her bio, will wait for her to write more books.
By the way this book, as well as all the other review copies I get this school year are going to the the middle school classroom of Mrs. Tamara Wong Morrison at the Volcano School of Arts and Sciences in Volcano, Hawaii. Public charter schools, and especially Mrs. Morrison's 6, 7, and 8th grade English classroom, are doing a great job of finding creative ways to continue the literature discussions beyond the classroom walls, and I'd like to help by providing books to teens. Middle schools are where we keep readers or lose readers forever. Let's continue to "mind the middle."
1 comment:
High praise and a great review.
I am also in such agreement with you about losing our readers's in middle school. As a middle school teacher I try very hard to encourage students to read what they like and spend most of my time trying to find great books to turn them on to, especially my boys, who would rather do anything but read.
Can't wait to read this one, and kudos for helping send books to Morrison's classroom
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