Sophie Reads YA: Sarah Crossan

ARC Review: One by Sarah Crossan

10:00

One
Series: None
Author: Sarah Crossan
Published August 26th 2015 by Bloomsbury Children's Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Grace and Tippi are twins – conjoined twins.

And their lives are about to change.

No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world – a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. Will they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love?

But what neither Grace or Tippi realises is that a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead. A decision that could tear them apart. One that will change their lives even more than they ever imagined…

From Carnegie Medal shortlisted author Sarah Crossan, this moving and beautifully crafted novel about identity, sisterhood and love ultimately asks one question: what does it mean to want and have a soulmate?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Right, well this review will be something. One is told from the point of view of Grace, a conjoined twin, who is never separate from her sister, Tippi. Since their birth, they have done everything together, and have defied all odds to live to be 16. Now, they have ran our of money to afford home schooling, and the state are sending them to a private school, to become like 'normal' teenagers. Their friend, Yasmeen, understands them - she is also dealing with the knowledge that she doesn't have a 'normal' life, and her life expectancy isn't all that great. As family issues come to a forefront, Grace and Tippi have to make tough decisions about their future, knowing one choice could change everything, forever.

First of all, let me say that it only took me approximately 2.5 hours to get through One - so that's a plus. From the very beginning, I knew One and I would not be friends. It's written in a sort of free-verse, which really annoys me. I mean, what's wrong with a bit of prose. I've previously read Crossan's Apple and Rain, and that was utter perfection. Perhaps for that reason, I had too high a hope for this book. I know I'm a bit of an outlier, but this just wasn't for me. I even said on twitter that I may just be a 'cold hearted bitch' because the feels weren't happening. Yes, it was unbelievably sad, and I couldn't begin to imagine what I would do if I was in a similar situation; even if I was one of the secondary characters. Myself, I'm an only child, so I don't understand the connection siblings have. I've always been alone, and that's just how I like it.

One thing I did like was Grace. She was a loveable protagonist, but I would have preferred to hear something from Tippi too. If it was dual POV, it may have improved my rating. Dragon was also I character I liked. She had issues too, and because she was'normal', in comparison to her sisters, she was left alone for the most part. She pulled her weight more than some characters, *cough*dad*cough*, and that is definitely something to be proud of. Now, for their father, he was a complete, and utter, waste of space. Seriously, I wanted to slap him most times. I can understand that having conjoined daughters, and the medical bills that comes with that, is hard, but really, you're just going to waste even more money on booze. What a joke!

I don't know what it is, I just didn't enjoy this book. I so wanted to love it. I mean, on goodreads, the average rating between my friends was 4.52, with an average of 4.41 overall. So, I guess to some people it was amazing. I enjoyed the writing - the language was beautiful - but that was about it for me. I'm not trying to deter anyone from reading One, rather, I just want people to know this is a marmite sort of book - you either love it, or you don't. For me, the best way to describe this is 'meh', it was ok, and a very quick read, but didn't blow me over. I just wish it was more like Apple and Rain.

Dates Read:
August 2, 2015

Rating
2 Stars

5 Stars

ARC Review: Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan

10:00

Apple and Rain
Series: None
Author: Sarah Crossan
Published February 12th 2015 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Goodreads Synopsis
When Apple’s mother returns after eleven years of absence, Apple feels whole again. She will have an answer to her burning question – why did you go? And she will have someone who understands what it means to be a teenager – unlike Nana. But just like the stormy Christmas Eve when she left, her mother’s homecoming is bitter sweet, and Apple wonders who is really looking after whom. It’s only when Apple meets someone more lost than she is, that she begins to see things as they really are.

Like a brilliant hybrid of Cathy Cassidy and Jacqueline Wilson, Sarah Crossan entices you into her world, then tells a moving, perceptive and beautifully crafted story which has the power to make you laugh and cry.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Apple and Rain tells the story of Apple, a 13 year old who wishes her mother would return home after more than ten years. When she finally does, it is not without its own problems, and Apple finally understands that you have to be careful what you wish for.

Apple and Rain was such an unexpected read. Before diving into the book, I was a bit apprehensive, as I wasn't sure what I would think. I am so glad I've had the opportunity to read this outstanding novel! Apollinia Apostolopoulou feels lost in her life. She's living with her very religious, quiet protective and strict, Irish nana, who won't let her have some freedom, and coming to terms with her father's distance, a new stepmother and all the problems that brings with it. Finally, she has her wish of her mother returning home after eleven years, and she thinks everything will be perfect. She couldn't be more wrong. Though Annie seems to be trying really hard, she doesn't do it in a very mother-like way. And, to top it all off, Apple now has to compete with 10 year old Rain, who has her own issues to contend with.

I loved the interactions between Apple and Rain. At first I was slightly perturbed by Rain's 'weirdness', but once more came to light, you could see she was just as lost as Apple, if not more so, and was trying to cope in her own individual way. Apple's attempts to care for Rain were beautiful, and I really forgot that she was only 13 herself - she seemed so much more mature, especially if you compare her with the mother, Annie. To talk about Annie, I honestly could not stand her, I understood that she'd made mistakes, was couldn't cope with a 3 year old when she was only 20, but ever since she'd returned she just played on Apple's insecurities and kindness for her own gain. She was so not fit to be a mother, and, honestly, needed to give her head a good shake.

Though poetry has never be a favourite of mine, I really enjoyed Apple's poems throughout the novel, and how her teacher seemed to really care about her, and saw her potential. Apple was actually such an outstanding protagonist, and her relationships with every single character were truly wonderful.

Towards the end, you could kind of see what would happen next, but, even so, when it actually came, it was still heart racing and exciting, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, and hoping beyond everything, that it would all be ok in the end.

I was so blown away by this book, that I'm extremely grateful I've also got the opportunity to read Crossan's One too. She has sharply become one of my favourite UKYA contemporary authors, and I'm expecting great things from her future books! Seriously, I could not recommend this enough - you need to read it ASAP!

Dates Read:
May 30-June 1, 2015

Rating
5 Stars