Who doesn't love a story of an underdog made good? Sing Me to Sleep opens with a scene of Beth being mercilessly teased at her high school, and it did a great job of aligning me with the character instantly. Once I got to know her, I liked her even more. Beth is not a paragon of virtue - the character has flaws, for sure. But she feels real, and I loved that.

In a very Phantom of the Opera way, a large portion of the emotional plot development takes place in the form of song lyrics. I am not an overly romantic person, and I have never aspired to have someone write songs for me, but this book might just change my mind. The words, emotion, the writing- all of it pure and beautiful. Angela Morrison, should you ever be inclined to write song lyrics for me...

There was a section in the middle of the book where the story almost lost me. At certain points, the relationship dynamics made me crazy and I wanted to give Beth, Derek and Scott a collective slap across the face. Stop being so clingy! Stop being so controlling! Stop being so whiny! I love to start a book with very little idea what it's like or how it will end up, and so I honestly didn't know what was going on with some of the characters. After a key revelation, it all made sense and I was once again completely hooked.

So, to recap: great writing, relatable characters, and romance. Mix in a little mystery and the overhanging threat of tragedy, and you have a surefire winner. If you can read this book without getting at least a little misty-eyed, you have a heart of stone. ( )

Reviewed by hoopsielv for TeensReadToo.com

Beth has felt ugly for all of her life. She's now seventeen and is frustrated that everyone sees her as "the beast." She has a few good friends, including Scott.

Yet when Beth sings, the most beautiful sound emerges from inside of her. She's the star of the competitive all-girls choir, and her group has been chosen to compete in Switzerland. Beth's outer transformation is helped by a friend, and now the world can see all the beauty she has inside and out.

Derek is also a singer in a boy's choir and finds Beth through her choir's website. They chat and get to know each other well. While in Switzerland together, their romance blossoms. They writes songs together about their feelings, hopes, and dreams.

Yet something is constantly between them. What is Derek hiding, and is Beth strong enough to handle it?

SING ME TO SLEEP is a novel that is full of joyous moments and sad times, as well. It is inspired by a young man who was a wonderful singer and faced the same issues as Derek. It's a story about love, trust, and seeing inner beauty. ( )