Review #2: Will by Maria Boyd

Title: Will
Author:Maria Boyd
Published: 2006 by Knopf
My Rating: 5/5 star



GoodRead's Summary:

THE CRIME
It all started when Will mooned the girls' school bus. It wasn't his finest moment. And it's the last time William Armstrong will sully the St. Andrew's community, says Principal Waddlehead-er, Waverton.

THE PUNISHMENT
That's when a teacher worried about Will's home situation comes up with an idea. Why not let Will, a talented guitarist, give back to the school in a progressive manner? Why not have him play in . . . THE SCHOOL MUSICAL?

THE MUSICAL
Now Will is stuck in the school production of The Boy Friend. He's a laughingstock, and he has to give up his weekends for a show set at a girls' finishing school.

THE PLAYERS
There's the trombone-playing seventh grader who proclaims himself Will's best friend and refuses to leave his side. Then there's the undeniably attractive leading lady. Although she might be in love with her costar, the new football hero (and dazzling singer!).
Sharp-witted, funny, and poignant all at once, this is the story of a boy going through a difficult time who, in a most unlikely way, discovers the person he truly wants to be.

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I rate books by how well I related to the characters, writing style, and the emotional investments I have such as anger, humor, and the infamous 'cry factor'...

And I must say that WILL exceeded all my expectations and I'm in love! And it should have seeing as it has a blurb written by Aussie author Melina Marchetta;

"Will's voice is so authentic and strong that you feel as if you either knew him, want to know him, or hope that one day you'll come across him."

who, forgive me A. J., I have yet to read a single novel from.

It took me forever to wrap my head around the story and the characters that I fell in love with, to put my feelings into words...

Maria Boyd touched on a few real life subjects that effect teens and young adults regularly. I don't want to give the story away, but if you haven't read WILL then you need to acquire a copy and get to it.

Review #1: Four Seasons by Jane Breskin Zalben

Title: Four Seasons

Author: Jane Breskin Zalben

My Rating: 4/5 stars

*Spoiler Alert?
GoodRead's Summary:

Allegra Katz has been playing piano since she was four. But these aren't just any piano lessons. She studies at the Julliard School in New York, where careers are being formed—or not.

Between strict practice schedules, music classes, and regular school, Ally doesn't have time for much else. Sometimes she wishes she could break free, but she's never known any other way. Her parents—a professional violinist and a singer—would kill her if they knew she was thinking about quitting piano, especially her mother.

So she keeps on going, but as the months go by, she begins to ask herself, does she even love the piano? Why does she play? And how much longer can she stand the pressure before she breaks?


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I really don't have much to say. I loved Ally and her confusion about life. She reminded me of myself at that age. I like the fact that the romance wasn't rushed into and it remained young and fresh. I cried a few times in the end, because I completely understood her emotions and indecision.

4 stars because the settings could have used more description and other minor things, but I loved the story(maybe because I was a flutist and was pushed like Ally) and the characters for the most part.

Getting to know the blogger #1

Hi friends and fellow bloggers! I'm very new at this and wanted to introduce myself as Brie; short for Brittany. I'm a young 23 year old housewife and aspiring editor. I have many passions in life and spend my days gaming, reading, writing or editing for fanfiction authors, and just looking after my small family and friends.

Because my life is 'action packed' I don't devour books like I use to and getting one 400 to 600 page novel in a month is good for me. My goal for the is set a mere twelve books, so that's one a month and shouldn't be all that hard but I'm behind. After moving things should settle down and I can pick up two new books and complete the one I currently have on hold, Amen, L. A.

Im in coming month I shall be posting reviews of Exposed by Kimberly Marcus and The Other Side of Dark by Joan Lowery Nixon.