lucky stars, by lucy frank
Very badly-written semi-coherent review behind the cut.
So, I have seriously mixed feelings about this book. At the beginning, I was sort of, "Wow. Deadbeat musician dad and young girl who takes care of her younger siblings because he's too irresponsible. This is so original." But then we met Jake, and I didn't want to put the book down because he was so goshdarn sweet. Maybe a little too sweet - at times I feel very aware that this is written by a woman, because when I was thirteen I don't recall most boys being like this. However, Jake was more or less believable, and I felt for him so much that I wanted to keep going.
I liked Lucy Frank's turnaround - she lets you assume something, and then she taps you and the shoulder and says, "Actually, you were meant to think that, but... no." It wasn't a sharp, sudden, oh-my-god-Darth-Vader-is-his-father!? kind of twist - it was very gradual. It snuck up on you. And then you're fangirling over Eugene, when actually you thought you were supposed to be squeeing over Jake and Kira and OMG-aren't-they-cute!
But really, I think Eugene was meant to be the focus all along. I think Jake and Kira were huge figures in the story, and they certainly had their own moments - though the unoriginality of Kira's plight kind of poked at me all throughout the book - but I found myself coming to the end of the book with a sense of, That - that's it? But I want to know more! Do they do well? Does Eugene get closure? Do Kira and Jake realize how cruel they were that one time? What about Tammy? And Russell? Most of all, though, I really did want more of Eugene's story. I wanted to spend longer inside his head. He is every friend who covers for his buddies with a smile and a 'no-problem', when inside he wants nothing more than for someone to have to cover for him. (I know that was a bad sentence - I'm not sure how to rephrase it. Bleh.) These people are everywhere, and you have to really look, because they are good at doing what they do - hiding.
Oh, Eugene. I'm not going to say I want a sequel, because unless it takes place mostly from Eugene's point of view, I don't.
I will say one thing, though - when it was Eugene's time to shine, I was practically vibrating with glee and fangirlish excitement. Finally. Lucy Frank has a real way with storytelling - in that moment, I felt every ounce of Eugene's joy with him. Finally, baby.
Anyway. I know I'm terrible at these things, but has anyone else read this book and maybe provided a better review? I'm curious to know what others think. I'M LOOKING AT YOU, RENAY.
So, I have seriously mixed feelings about this book. At the beginning, I was sort of, "Wow. Deadbeat musician dad and young girl who takes care of her younger siblings because he's too irresponsible. This is so original." But then we met Jake, and I didn't want to put the book down because he was so goshdarn sweet. Maybe a little too sweet - at times I feel very aware that this is written by a woman, because when I was thirteen I don't recall most boys being like this. However, Jake was more or less believable, and I felt for him so much that I wanted to keep going.
I liked Lucy Frank's turnaround - she lets you assume something, and then she taps you and the shoulder and says, "Actually, you were meant to think that, but... no." It wasn't a sharp, sudden, oh-my-god-Darth-Vader-is-his-father!? kind of twist - it was very gradual. It snuck up on you. And then you're fangirling over Eugene, when actually you thought you were supposed to be squeeing over Jake and Kira and OMG-aren't-they-cute!
But really, I think Eugene was meant to be the focus all along. I think Jake and Kira were huge figures in the story, and they certainly had their own moments - though the unoriginality of Kira's plight kind of poked at me all throughout the book - but I found myself coming to the end of the book with a sense of, That - that's it? But I want to know more! Do they do well? Does Eugene get closure? Do Kira and Jake realize how cruel they were that one time? What about Tammy? And Russell? Most of all, though, I really did want more of Eugene's story. I wanted to spend longer inside his head. He is every friend who covers for his buddies with a smile and a 'no-problem', when inside he wants nothing more than for someone to have to cover for him. (I know that was a bad sentence - I'm not sure how to rephrase it. Bleh.) These people are everywhere, and you have to really look, because they are good at doing what they do - hiding.
Oh, Eugene. I'm not going to say I want a sequel, because unless it takes place mostly from Eugene's point of view, I don't.
I will say one thing, though - when it was Eugene's time to shine, I was practically vibrating with glee and fangirlish excitement. Finally. Lucy Frank has a real way with storytelling - in that moment, I felt every ounce of Eugene's joy with him. Finally, baby.
Anyway. I know I'm terrible at these things, but has anyone else read this book and maybe provided a better review? I'm curious to know what others think. I'M LOOKING AT YOU, RENAY.