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) This novel started off fairly decent. It's told in a two-part perspective through a teen girl who is new to town and a teen boy - who the girl has a crush on. The girl, Erin, specializes in magic tricks, and the guy, Matt, specializes in taking his best friend's burdens. Erin tries to entice Matt through her magic skills, but Matt's too busy watching his best friend's girl to even notice. Matt uses Erin's friendship as a distraction to his own disheveled life. Soon, Matt runs away from home at the worst time imaginable. This, coupled with other coincidences and secrets make this story seem a deep, dark, twisted tragedy until the very last page. It's a very slow story with depressing situations that only get worse and worse through the sadness of (a little too much) random chance. The first few chapters were interesting, but after that I just got really fed up with the story and couldn't wait to get through it.
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This book is told from the perspective of a young dark-skinned minority boy who grew up with a very young mother and no father. He is beginning the puberty years, and is in the midst of getting his first kiss. He speaks slow and feels alien to any environment with Caucasians. However, he is 'gifted'. He also has somewhat disdain for his odd name, Melanin Sun.
Soon, he finds out it isn't just the stress of growing up he has to deal with - his mom discovers something new about herself that will change both of their lives forever. Melanin deals with this new stress along with everything else. The book ends with Melanin being "sure" of himself, if not anything else. It's a quick read with a unique viewpoint on a controversial topic.
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) This main character of this book moves to a new town and a new school, where she tries to re-attempt her life. She models most of her 'new self' off of a deceased sister that she blames herself for the death of. She is instantly accepted to the 'in' crowd, and lies her way to be accepted even further. Unfortunately, a past boyfriend shows up who knows the truth - his presence threatens the position she's made for herself.
As you can guess, she eventually reverts back to who she was - finding that being anyone else is not fulfilling. (I'd say the ending is a little too obvious - which insults my intelligence.) It makes you question responsibility, right and wrong, forgiveness, and attraction - if you weren't already.
(
) This novel started off fairly decent. It's told in a two-part perspective through a teen girl who is new to town and a teen boy - who the girl has a crush on. The girl, Erin, specializes in magic tricks, and the guy, Matt, specializes in taking his best friend's burdens. Erin tries to entice Matt through her magic skills, but Matt's too busy watching his best friend's girl to even notice. Matt uses Erin's friendship as a distraction to his own disheveled life. Soon, Matt runs away from home at the worst time imaginable. This, coupled with other coincidences and secrets make this story seem a deep, dark, twisted tragedy until the very last page. It's a very slow story with depressing situations that only get worse and worse through the sadness of (a little too much) random chance. The first few chapters were interesting, but after that I just got really fed up with the story and couldn't wait to get through it.
