I had NO clue what I was getting into when I ordered this book. I ordered it just because of the high ratings and great reviews. I LOVED this book. Therefore, I must say THANK YOU to my GR friends!
This is not a lengthy book. However, there is NOTHING missing from the book. It is beautifully written. At some point in the book, I knew I was falling for the characters. I got that goofy smile on my face. The one that no one can see but you can't help smiling anyways. By the time the book was over, I was smiling with tears going down my face. I literally was laughing and crying at the same time.
Francesca is the main character in the book but she is not alone in this book. That is the irony in this story because Francesca feels so alone. Her mother is depressed. I'm not talking Life sucks type of depression but serious clinical depression, the type where medical intervention might be the only cure. Francesca also feels alone because she is now at a school where she is the minority- gender wise! She feels like she is alone because all her friends are elsewhere and she doesn't know how to cope.
What Francesca doesn't know is she is not alone. The reader takes a journey with Francesca in discovering how not alone she really is. At times Francesca is resistant, stubborn, and sometimes even hurtful to the people that care about her. It truly is easier to be closed off and stubborn then to let your guard down and risk being vulnerable. What Francesca doesn't know but learns is how wonderful it can be when you do open yourself up.
The other characters in this book are essential to the story. Without them, Francesca IS really alone. My favorite character by far was Thomas Mackee. As a reader, you see Thomas through Francesca's viewpoint. In the beginning, he is your typical boob, fart, burp obsessed teenage boy. Later, you really see his vulnerabilities, and later he is someone that Francesca can count on. I can't leave out Francesca's brother Luca. At times, I wanted to just hug him and tell him it will be okay!
There is a crush in this book- Will Trombal. Oddly enough, it isn't the romance (or potential romance) that is important here. It is really about Francesca coming out of her shell, and how she handles this potential relationship.
I realize I'm rambling. but this book really is important to me. It should be read by everyone. In addition, it was a great, humor-filled, heart-breaking, goofy, loving book.
This is not a lengthy book. However, there is NOTHING missing from the book. It is beautifully written. At some point in the book, I knew I was falling for the characters. I got that goofy smile on my face. The one that no one can see but you can't help smiling anyways. By the time the book was over, I was smiling with tears going down my face. I literally was laughing and crying at the same time.
Francesca is the main character in the book but she is not alone in this book. That is the irony in this story because Francesca feels so alone. Her mother is depressed. I'm not talking Life sucks type of depression but serious clinical depression, the type where medical intervention might be the only cure. Francesca also feels alone because she is now at a school where she is the minority- gender wise! She feels like she is alone because all her friends are elsewhere and she doesn't know how to cope.
What Francesca doesn't know is she is not alone. The reader takes a journey with Francesca in discovering how not alone she really is. At times Francesca is resistant, stubborn, and sometimes even hurtful to the people that care about her. It truly is easier to be closed off and stubborn then to let your guard down and risk being vulnerable. What Francesca doesn't know but learns is how wonderful it can be when you do open yourself up.
The other characters in this book are essential to the story. Without them, Francesca IS really alone. My favorite character by far was Thomas Mackee. As a reader, you see Thomas through Francesca's viewpoint. In the beginning, he is your typical boob, fart, burp obsessed teenage boy. Later, you really see his vulnerabilities, and later he is someone that Francesca can count on. I can't leave out Francesca's brother Luca. At times, I wanted to just hug him and tell him it will be okay!
There is a crush in this book- Will Trombal. Oddly enough, it isn't the romance (or potential romance) that is important here. It is really about Francesca coming out of her shell, and how she handles this potential relationship.
I realize I'm rambling. but this book really is important to me. It should be read by everyone. In addition, it was a great, humor-filled, heart-breaking, goofy, loving book.
I LOVE this book.
Francesca Spinelli's proactive mother has forced her to attend St. Sebastian's School for Boys, recently made co-ed by giving the girls a toilet. Francesca would rather go to St. Pius with her friends, instead of being stuck at Sebastian's with an unusual group of people that includes Siobhan, her ex-best friend and infamous slut; Tara Finke, feminist and activist extraordinaire; Justine, an accordian player; Thomas Mackee, whose specialty is farting and teasing the girls; Jimmy, an over-friendly upperclassman who terrifies younger kids simply by asking them questions and who seems determined to make himself a fifth member of Francesca's family; and Will Trombal, their surly prefect who Francesca can't stop thinking about.
She thinks that's bad, but it gets worse when her mother succumbs to depression and lies in bed for months at a time. Too late, Francesca realizes that she is more like her mother than she realized, and that the family needs her energy to feel complete.
Australian author Melina Marchetta's second book is jam-packed with wit and poignancy. It will make you laugh over and over and tug at your heartstrings. SAVING FRANCESCA is nearly perfect; now it just needs a large fan base.
Francesca Spinelli's proactive mother has forced her to attend St. Sebastian's School for Boys, recently made co-ed by giving the girls a toilet. Francesca would rather go to St. Pius with her friends, instead of being stuck at Sebastian's with an unusual group of people that includes Siobhan, her ex-best friend and infamous slut; Tara Finke, feminist and activist extraordinaire; Justine, an accordian player; Thomas Mackee, whose specialty is farting and teasing the girls; Jimmy, an over-friendly upperclassman who terrifies younger kids simply by asking them questions and who seems determined to make himself a fifth member of Francesca's family; and Will Trombal, their surly prefect who Francesca can't stop thinking about.
She thinks that's bad, but it gets worse when her mother succumbs to depression and lies in bed for months at a time. Too late, Francesca realizes that she is more like her mother than she realized, and that the family needs her energy to feel complete.
Australian author Melina Marchetta's second book is jam-packed with wit and poignancy. It will make you laugh over and over and tug at your heartstrings. SAVING FRANCESCA is nearly perfect; now it just needs a large fan base.
