Mundie Moms

Monday, October 4, 2010

Book Review-FREEFALL

By Mindi Scott
Published by Simon Pulse
To Be Released- October 5th, 2010 TOMORROW
Source- ARC from Simon Pulise
4 stars- I Really Like It, Go Pick It Up

Sometimes the edge is closer than it seems.

How do you come back from the point of now return?

Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time where Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn't wake up.

Convinced that his own actions led to his friend's death, Seth is torn between turning his life around... or losing himself completely. Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he's ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own and Seth will soon realize he isn't the only one who needs saving... (quoted from the back of the ARC).

I don't know if you're like me, but there's been very few times I've found myself bending my own "reading rules" for a book. There's certain things I don't care for when I'm reading and will actually turn me off from a book. Then there's the rare time I find myself reading a book and totally "bending" my own rules for it, as I'm so engrossed with the story that I look over the things that would normal bother me, because they make the story real. Freefall was that book for me.

I was blown away with Mindi Scott's debut novel, Freefall. Mindi's writing is so engaging, that I had a hard time putting the book down. It's original, real and one I think many YA readers will enjoy. Freefall will capture the most timid reader's attention, as the words flow so well together. Seth McCoy is a character who's fresh voice really pulled me to him. Though I couldn't relate to him, I felt for him. He's so realistic that I times I felt that I was there with him. If that had been the case, I would tried to talk some sense into him from the get go and helped him cope with losing his best friend. In order to drown his sorrows, he turns to binge drinking. Don't let this stop you from reading it, there's so much more to Seth and meets the reader eye. Seth is a brilliant young guy who has dreams and ambitions like the rest of and something else.

Mindi introduces a great cast of characters who all have their struggles and their strengths. Her writing has proven that it doesn't matter if we're from a trailer park or from "the hills", everyone has problems. I totally love his guidance counselor, as she sees through his "tough" guy act and gives Seth the motivation he needs to graduate, even though he's bailed on all her other academic plans. This time, Seth takes hold of what she's offered him and thrives, surprising not only himself, but his counselor and his mom. Seth has few friends, and no one he feels he can turn to to open up to about his grief, until he meets Rosetta.

I really loved Rosetta and Seth's relationship. Their relationship is one of understanding. It's an honest one and both of them are able to open up and share secrets of phobias that hold them back and a profound grief for loved ones and friends lost. Each carries the pain of feeling they were responsible when they weren't. Even though the two are from two different sides of town, they couldn't be more a like.

I liked Seth's mom. Being a single mom she works long hours, and having had both boys when she was in her teens, she admits she doesn't have all the parenting answers, but her love for her boys never waivers. She loves her boys and works hard for them. Living in a trailer park in the rougher part of town doesn't hold Seth back on his dreams. He's apart of his brother's band and until he met Rosetta and offered a chance to graduate from his guidance counselor, Seth was all about the band. Here's what I love about Seth- he realizes he has a shot to change his life. He can break free from his band and what his bandmates are doing-throwing their lives away by partying, drinking and everything else that comes along w/ the band. Though people at school believe Seth is just like them, he's far from it.

Mindi has done a wonderful job at tackling such sensitive issues that plague young adults today. Freefall is all about letting go and realizing the power that lies within you. It's about not judging and taking a chance. It's empowering watching Seth tackle his demons and realize the power that lies within him. When most people wouldn't have given him a shot, he tackles his second chance and wants to make something of himself. He gives school his all, quits the band, and tries to stay away from the influences that can bring him down. For a 16, almost 17 year old, that's far from the easy thing to do. For every step you take in the right direction, can lead a step or two back in the wrong. Seth's the only one who has the power to stand and face it, or free fall and let it consume him.

With all that goes on within the pages of Freefall, the plot flowed perfectly. The characters were great, the romance perfect, and the setting describe perfectly. Being from the NW, I love that it takes place in the state of Washington. If you're looking for a fantastically written debut novel, that carries the good, the bad and the emotional side of growing up through out it pages, than pick up Freefall. A word of caution to sensitive readers, Freefall does deal with real YA situations, and there is partying, drinking, language and a very mild sex scene in the book.

We will be chatting with Mindi later this month and we will be hosting a Freefall giveaway, thank you to Simon and Schuster.

You can find out more about Mindi and Freefall by visiting her site here

1 comment:

  1. This looks like such a credible, really gritty book. And the characterizations seem so believable. Thank you Mundie Moms for another book to add to my TBR pile!!

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