Pasadena Loves YA Blog Tour ~ Review of Things I Never Learned at Melbrook Academy + Spotlight on Liz Maccie + GIVEAWAY
I'm so excited, not only to be part of this blog tour, but also to have the privilege to go to this awesome event.
Goodreads rating: 3.58
Paperback, 193 pages
Published November 4th 2014 by Diversion Books
The most important lessons aren't learned in the classroom.
It’s the first day of sophomore year for Roberta Romano, but instead of the comfort of her local high school, she's been thrust into the elitist embrace of the affluent Meadowbrook Academy.
Surrounded by wealth, Roberta battles her own insecurities, as well as evil teachers and mean girls, to prove her worth and maybe land the boy of her dreams. With the help of two unlikely allies — and an inflatable toy raft — Robert embarks upon a journey of dark secrets and self-discovery to learn the true meaning of friendship and acceptance.
It’s the first day of sophomore year for Roberta Romano, but instead of the comfort of her local high school, she's been thrust into the elitist embrace of the affluent Meadowbrook Academy.
Surrounded by wealth, Roberta battles her own insecurities, as well as evil teachers and mean girls, to prove her worth and maybe land the boy of her dreams. With the help of two unlikely allies — and an inflatable toy raft — Robert embarks upon a journey of dark secrets and self-discovery to learn the true meaning of friendship and acceptance.
My initial thoughts remain true. I really wanted to like this book a lot more, but it just wasn't long enough. I don't think I've ever said that about a book before, but it definitely could've been more complicated! There was a particular character who I wanted to know more about, and see them heal, and that was Thad. He was one of the many messed up characters, and I felt like none of them truly got enough page-time.
But what was there on the page was so perfect! Maccie definitely understood what it's like to be Roberta's age, something I think a lot of adults forget about, even people that write YA. I also really connected with Roberta because she had to go to a new school all of a sudden, and I've had to do that on multiple occasions. Also, the high school I went to, while not an academy, was full of rich people, so I understood when she constantly felt like she wasn't adequate. That being said, Roberta learned that being rich doesn't mean that you're happy, which is something I've come to learn as well.
I wish I had more to say about this book, but the truth is that there really isn't much to talk about. There are a couple twists, and some definite humor that I loved. Each characters had their own quirks, but not all of them felt quite whole by the end, except maybe Roberta. All in all, a quick, poignant read that just needed something a little more.
Lovers of true-teen contemporary YA.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Looking for Alaska by John Green
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
.jpg)
Liz Maccie grew up in West Orange, New Jersey. A troubled childhood resulted in her being sent to a school to straighten her out, which she thought would ruin her life, but actually led to her finding good friends and sparking her imagination. She now writes for TV and splits her time between New York and Los Angeles with her husband, Stephen Chbosky, and their two children.
You can download an excerpt at http://lizmaccie.com/the-book/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LizMaccieAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lmaccie
Website: www.lizmaccie.com
Add this book on Goodreads
Pasadena Loves YA
Date: May 23, 2015 | Time: 12 noon - 4 pm
Meet 20 YA authors / Panels & Book Signings / Giveaways and Refreshments / Free tote bags for the first 150 guests!
FREE event at Pasadena Public Library, Central Branch, 285 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Keynote speaker Mary McCoy (author of Dead to Me) with Katie Alender, Victoria Aveyard, Alexis Bass, Julie Berry, Livia Blackburne, Virginia Boecker, Jessica Brody, Stephen Chbosky, Brandy Colbert, Ava Dellaira, Kody Keplinger, Liz Maccie, Morgan Matson, Lauren Miller, Alexandra Monir, Jennifer Niven, Romina Russell, Sarah Tomp, & Kiersten White
For more info, visit www.pasadenateenbookfestival.com
Link to Flyer: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pk84badmhveuwd4/PLYA_2015_flyer_rev.pdf?dl=0
Book sales by Vroman's Bookstore will begin at 11 am. Co-sponsored by Bridge to Books. No registration required, but we would appreciate it if you would post, share, tweet, and tell everyone you know about the upcoming event! Please use the hashtag #PLYA2015.
Giveaway: Any 3 books from the 2015 Pasadena Loves YA authors, US only, ends 5/20/2015.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LizMaccieAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lmaccie
Website: www.lizmaccie.com
Add this book on Goodreads
Pasadena Loves YA
Date: May 23, 2015 | Time: 12 noon - 4 pm
Meet 20 YA authors / Panels & Book Signings / Giveaways and Refreshments / Free tote bags for the first 150 guests!
FREE event at Pasadena Public Library, Central Branch, 285 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Keynote speaker Mary McCoy (author of Dead to Me) with Katie Alender, Victoria Aveyard, Alexis Bass, Julie Berry, Livia Blackburne, Virginia Boecker, Jessica Brody, Stephen Chbosky, Brandy Colbert, Ava Dellaira, Kody Keplinger, Liz Maccie, Morgan Matson, Lauren Miller, Alexandra Monir, Jennifer Niven, Romina Russell, Sarah Tomp, & Kiersten White
For more info, visit www.pasadenateenbookfestival.com
Link to Flyer: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pk84badmhveuwd4/PLYA_2015_flyer_rev.pdf?dl=0
Book sales by Vroman's Bookstore will begin at 11 am. Co-sponsored by Bridge to Books. No registration required, but we would appreciate it if you would post, share, tweet, and tell everyone you know about the upcoming event! Please use the hashtag #PLYA2015.
Giveaway: Any 3 books from the 2015 Pasadena Loves YA authors, US only, ends 5/20/2015.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
It is interesting to read your comment about the book not being long enough. I have found that to be the case with many YA books recently. Sometimes it feels as though the rushed plot can hinder my attachment to the story and/or characters. Maybe that is why I keep drifting more toward fantasy and series books?
ReplyDeleteI've found that more often too! I definitely think it's because contemporaries are normally only one book, so the author feels like they can only focus on one thing. But fantasies are usually in a series, which gives the author more time to flesh the characters out. This one is great as a standalone, if only she'd just written a little more! Thanks for you comment :)
DeleteI haven't read too much about this book so thanks for the review. I am not big on contemp but I think I will check it out when I get a chance.
ReplyDelete