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Salvation

by Anne Osterlund

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623420,350 (3.4)None
Salvador Resendez--Salva to his friends--seems to have it all. He's Student Body president, captain of the football team, and has a near-perfect GPA. Everyone thinks that he could have any girl, and go to any college, that he wants. But how could he ever leave his family? After the death of this mother, his father and younger sisters need him more than ever. Then the most unlikely girl in school--shy, quiet Beth--catches his eye, and with her help, Salva starts to see things differently. And when a tragic accident strikes, Salva is forced to accept that life is too short not to pursue your dreams. Thoughtful and romantic, this is a beautifully written story about following your heart and fulfilling your potential.… (more)
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Well, well, well.
Here's a little gem I didn't expect.

First I have to gush about the cover. I love meaningful covers. And meaningful titles that actually relate to the story.

Beth and Salvador are a very unlikely couple. She's basically a wallflower, a bookish, smart and silent girl that has had a crush on Salva for four plus years. But behind her quiet demeanor is a fierce, passionate young woman with strong beliefs. I loved the effect she had on Salva, the way she was always making him be the best he can be and never settle for less than he deserved - and most importantly, she practiced what she preached. They weren't just empty words.

Salvador is the golden boy of Liberty High, but not in your typical sense. His character strays from the usual golden boy - he's of Latin descent, his parents poor Mexican immigrants, his ambitions less athletic and more academic. He's a natural leader, but he doesn't want to be. His father's pushing him to aim higher, do better was understandable considering his background, and it wasn't out of being strict and controlling - he really wanted the best for his children. There are a lot of flaws to Salva, always looking to please, keeping up appearances, never speaking his mind so as not to offend anyone - and while forgetting himself and his wishes in the process.

I loved their relationship and how there wasn't some major drama about it. At first I thought I knew where the story would go, that he would use her for passing AP English under false pretenses -> cue the drama, but he's just not that guy! I think it's very realistic, the way they just realized they liked each other and went for it. Oh, the Romeo and Juliet scene, I was grinning like a loon. It was awesome, I felt like I was there and the whole thing was playing out in front of me.

The little twist - I didn't expect it at all.
I won't spoil anything, but I'll just say that the author surprised me, first with what happened and then how it happened which really caught me off guard.

I loved the way it was written - I always prefer 3rd person POV to first, and the transition between Beth and Salva's POVs was pretty smooth. They had great chemistry. The conflict was very believable to me, and I applaud the author for not inventing some petty problem or misunderstanding to split these two.
For those who like to know these things, there are no sex scenes in this book, it's very clean.
One thing that bothered me is that the author would skip large portions of time...I think it happened at least three times in the book. It's very short (and I'd complain about how expensive it is for an ebook but I don't think there's any point).

Overall, the book was unexpectedly good, I think. The subtle romance, realistic problems, great characters, and a really good message. I loved it all, and I definitely recommend it! ( )
  AriBookzilla | Sep 21, 2013 |
My very favorite thing about Salvation is the subject matter. As we readers know, YA fiction tends to focus on a particular type of character: white and upper middle class. Sure, there's nothing wrong with those sorts of character, but there are a lot more types of people in the world, and fiction is meant to reflect life.

In Salvation, both of the main characters, Salva and Beth are both very poor, but very bright, standing a chance to get out of their town, where most people work at the onion factory. Beth lives in a battered trailer with her mother, who struggles with alcoholism. Luckily, Beth has a trust put aside for her education, if not for anything else. Salva, however, needs to get a full ride to whatever college he attends, which should be possible since he has a good shot at being the valedictorian.

Salva, short for Salvador (and also a pun on the title), is also Mexican (and note the lack of whitewashing on the cover!). He and his friends rule the school, the most popular kids at Liberty High. Beth has had a crush on him since eighth grade, but he's never paid any attention to her before. This changes when he needs her help to pass AP English, his weakest subject. Of course, in working together, they grow feelings and it's super cute.

Their relationship comes to be very slowly, really before either one of them particularly realizes it. Salva and Beth have so many preconceived notions about one another, whether good or ill, and watching them come to appreciate one another for real is just touching. Also, they flirt with Shakespeare, which has to be the best way to flirt. Never have I liked the death scene in Romeo & Juliet more. Best of all, once they finally do get together, it's really awkward, just the way fledgling relationships are with parents and how to act at school and how to act with one another.

Towards the end, I worried things were going to a bad place plot-wise, one of melodrama and needless tears, but Anne brought things together. All of the plot threads come together to make a satisfying ending, though not an unreservedly happy one. Of all of her books, I think this one definitely has the most serious message, one that will be wonderful for teens. Salvation is all about taking action, fighting for rights, doing your best, and finding your passion.

Salvation is written in third person limited, following Salva and Beth. The book might have been more powerful in first person, because, as it is, I never was able to completely bond with the characters. I really love Salva, but Beth proves a bit trickier. Beth is a quiet character, and I think really seeing through her eyes would have been a beautiful thing, because she clearly does not see things the way that I do.

If you're looking for YA with diversity in both race and socioeconomic status, Salvation is a delight. Populated with lifelike characters and a lovely message, I highly recommend Osterlund's latest to lovers of contemporary novels. ( )
  A_Reader_of_Fictions | Apr 1, 2013 |
Salvation by Anne Osterlund
Pages: 288
Release Date: January 10th, 2013
Date Read: 2012, December 31st- January 1st, 2013
Received: ARC via author
Rating: 4/5 stars
Recommended to: 15+

SUMMARY -
Salva Resendez has his life together - or so it seems to everyone else. He's student body president, smarter than most, and popular among all. But what people don't know are this struggles: his hardships with his father, arguments with his siblings, and his broken heart because of his mother's death.
And then there's Beth, a girl he's known since 8th grade, and someone who he now finds himself drawn to during their studying sessions. He would never expect "the walking disaster area", as he named her years ago, to be so open, so willing to listen and understand.... When feelings between each other grow stronger - and tragedy strikes, will Beth be the one to save Salva from the things that make him fear?

MY THOUGHTS -
I truly and absolutely love Anne and her books. I will be a die-hard fan until the very end, no matter what. I will read every book without fail.
As I have read and loved three of her previous novels, I knew one day, the time would come when one didn't quite measure up. That day has come.

If I'm being entirely honest, Salvation wasn't the 5-star, out-of-this-world novel that Anne normally writes. BUT, since she's Anne, it is totally still worth reading and buying and loving. Because this book still delivered and promised more goodness in the future.

CHARACTER NOTES -
Anne's characters are always relatable. I find them all tugging at my heartstrings, one by one, making me fall in love. While Salva and Beth were slightly less "real" to me than Aurelia or Robert or any of the others, I still loved them. The literature/writing geek in me looooved Beth; and Salva was such a hard worker and so great at speaking up that I couldn't help but learn from him. On top of that, I loved both family dynamics, Beth's mom and Salva's immigrant family.

Most of the supporting cast was awesome. Char, Pepe, and Tosa especially. Nalani was hard to grasp; I know she doesn't have a huge role, but as Beth's best friend, I wish he'd been more...there.

I think the thing that bugged me most about this cast...the dialogue... I dunno, maybe I was just missing it, but I don't think it was totally in tune to how teens talk. It felt forced half the time.

But overall, this cast of characters will stick with me for a long time - especially because of that ENDING! GOSH!

STORY NOTES -
Speaking of which... By golly! This story builds so well, in the are of intensity. It starts out...and then all of a sudden Salva and Beth are studying together...and BAM! You're flying through those pages to reach - THE CLIMAX! Holy crap. That was unexpected until right before it happened, and then I was like, "Oh no, there's no way..." And oh yes, way.

Basically, Anne has the "master-of-suspense" thing down like a pro. What I thought needed improvement... Oh, I hate saying this.... Was the love story. Until the play Salva and Beth do together, I just wasn't feeling the chemistry. It was best friend worthy, but not romance worthy. Then, after the play, it felt a bit rushed. There wasn't really that tormenting transition period I was hoping for....and that I genuinely felt it needed. But in the end, as always, the love story was grandly topped off with awesomeness.

Salvation really explores some touchy subjects, particularly immigration, rights, speaking up for the right thing in tough subjects (something I think our society desperately needs to do more often), and family hardships. It blew me away how seamless this was and how Anne really presented both sides of all these issues well. I wanted to read more just about these things, because they were discussed so well!

SUMMING IT UP -
Well-done! Even though it wasn't a 5 star, I was absolutely enthralled with Salvation and highly recommend it!

For the Parents -
Some kissing; mention of a teenage boy making "rude sexual gestures". Some faux cussing ("What the H" and "F-you"). One middle finger shown (as a joke, if I remember correctly). Teens talk of not wanting to "screw up". Other teens sleeping together, only mentioned. An intense scene during which 3 teens are involved in an accident, some detail of blood and...well, grossness. Recommended 15+ ( )
  yearningtoread | Jan 22, 2013 |
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Salvador Resendez--Salva to his friends--seems to have it all. He's Student Body president, captain of the football team, and has a near-perfect GPA. Everyone thinks that he could have any girl, and go to any college, that he wants. But how could he ever leave his family? After the death of this mother, his father and younger sisters need him more than ever. Then the most unlikely girl in school--shy, quiet Beth--catches his eye, and with her help, Salva starts to see things differently. And when a tragic accident strikes, Salva is forced to accept that life is too short not to pursue your dreams. Thoughtful and romantic, this is a beautifully written story about following your heart and fulfilling your potential.

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