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