Mary Sullivan (9)

Always remember, you can do it, you can shoot for the highest star and make it, with the support of friends, who become your family. This Novel in Verse pulled me and and didn’t let me go. It almost shattered me, so raw but so truthful. Soccer saves Ceti along with her friends, those who she was afraid to open up to. This book tells the reader it’s ok to talk, to let people in. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! This one is going into my library collection asap!

Liked it quite a bit as I was reading -- it dealt thoughtfully with a number of issues that are rare in MG (a brother with Down syndrome, the grey areas around the Iraq War), while providing plenty of everyday friendship and boy drama to keep middle schoolers reading. I find it hasn't stuck with me enough to elevate it to a favorite.

The effects of Ceti living with a momma strung out on drugs are disturbing and emotional but, like real life, there are gaps of lighter moments. Soccer is one of the only things that makes Ceti feel free. Narrative voice was very good, but some choices of the story were questionable. Pretty depressing overall.

While this is a story that deserves to be told, it falls short in several areas. The main character, Cassie, has an older brother who has enlisted and been sent to Iraq to fight in the war. This wreaks havoc on their family, especially the mother. Sef, the brother, is portrayed as ridiculously perfect and the anchor to his family. The rest of them each have their issues, seemingly to add a lot of issues to the book (alcoholism, prescription drug abuse, bullying, teenage love problems, friend show more problems, and on and on). Blue Sky is an Iraqi and has chosen to write a blog in English about her experiences during the war. Cassie happens upon it and begins to see the war differently. Blue Sky is like Sef -- too perfect. It's too bad, because the idea of showing the war from the point of view of someone who lives in the occupied area is very good. show less