28 Nov 2012

Review: The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin

The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin
August 2nd, 2012 · Putnam Juvenile
Source: Brodie @ Eleusinian Mysteries
Format: ARC
Page Count: 224
One summer chasing tornadoes could finally change Jane's life for the better.

Seventeen-year-old Jane McAllister can't quite admit her mother's alcoholism is spiraling dangerously out of control until she drives drunk, nearly killing them and Jane's best friend.

Jane has only one place to turn: her older brother Ethan, who left the problems at home years ago for college. A summer with him and his tornado-chasing buddies may just provide the time and space Jane needs to figure out her life and whether it still includes her mother. But she struggles with her anger at Ethan for leaving home and feels guilty--is she also abandoning her mom just when she needs Jane most? The carefree trip turned journey of self-discovery quickly becomes more than Jane bargained for, especially when the devilishly handsome Max steps into the picture.
I must admit, I originally wasn’t planning on reading The Waiting Sky. The premise didn’t draw me in and let’s be honest, you can’t read everything. But when a copy arrived on my doorstep I decided to give it a go and I am very glad that I did.

The characters are superbly written; their spot on, true to life and most importantly, real. I loved Jane’s voice and connected with her easily. I really felt for her and what she was going through. She’s in a tough position and even though she knows that her mum has a drinking problem, she’s blind at just how badly the situation actually is. No one should have to go through life living like Jane - scraping by from day to day, working when you should be studying, living in constant fear, worrying if you’ll have enough money for necessities to get by - but the sad truth is that in today’s society, having (or even knowing of) a parent or family member who is an alcoholic isn’t an uncommon problem.

The romance aspect is sweet but takes a takes a back seat to story which I’m actually thankful for. Trust me, I’m a sucker for a good romance but I’m glad that it didn’t control the story because at its core, that’s not what The Waiting Sky is about; it’s main focus is Jane, her taking control of her life and eventually, moving on. This is my first time reading Lara Zielin but after how much I loved The Waiting Sky, I’m definitely looking forward to checking out more of her work.

The Waiting Sky is really different to anything out there on the YA market. It’s a unique, heart-warming story of self-discovering, not to mention an all-round refreshing read. You never know, it might just surprise you like it did me.

4/5

13 comments:

  1. What you say about the romance? EXACTLY. I love me some kissy times as much as the next person, but sometimes I just need a greater focus on the overall story. I find subtle romances far more effective than in-your-face ones.

    I'm glad that someone helped you decide to give this a read and you ended up enjoying it ;D I was originally intrigued because of the storm chaser element, but it turned out to be a more moving and thoughtful story, which I really enjoyed. Fantastic review, Becca!

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    1. EXACTLY. I'm all about the swoon but sometimes a subtle romance works better in these cases.

      Thank you book fairy Brodie for giving me the chance to read this! If it wasn't for you I probably would never have read The Waiting Sky and that would be a real shame. ♥

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  2. I've been wanting to read this for a while now. The whole concept of the book sounds amazing and I like the fact that the romance takes a backseat this time round. Some YA books in these instances should do the same. I like some romance to play a part in the book but . . . not when it takes everything away from the actual plot, you know? But yeah, I'm really looking forward to reading this book now! Awesome review!

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    1. Thanks Erin! Yes, I know what you mean. As I was saying, I love me some romance but sometimes it should dominate the story.

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  3. This one hasn't really been on my radar but, you have definitely changed my mind. Real characters are not always easy to find especially in YA, I just might have to check this one out. Thanks for your thoughts!

    Kristin @ Young Adult Book Haven

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    1. No worries, Kristin, glad my review piqued your interest :)

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  4. Brilliant review, Rebecca! I wasn't too interested in this book when I first heard about it either, but then all the 5 and 4 star reviews start coming in and I had a change of heart. I'm pleased you enjoyed it and I can't wait to read it myself one day!

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    1. Thanks Sam! Glad I wasn't the only one who wasn't all that interested to begin with. I hope when you get round to reading The Waiting Sky you really enjoy it!

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  5. I like to pick up a book every now and then that is close to real life. I had my eyes on this for awhile and will have to give it a try. I also enjoy a good romance, but would not like to see it control a story line such as this one. I'm glad to hear that it doesn't.

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    1. If your looking for a story with romance that doesn't control the story, I really recommend this :D

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  6. Incredible review, Rebecca! I'm so glad you enjoyed this! I was so surprised by its depth and remarkable writing quality and the romance was so sweet too, so I can't wait to read more by this author! :D

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    1. Thanks Keertana! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this too! :D

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  7. This was SUCH a good book! Yes, it had some flaws, but being a HUGE Twister fan, I found myself totally immersed in it the whole time. Great review, Rebecca!

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