“Go big or go home”
Where do I possibly start with this novel? There’s so many things that captivated, upset and inspired me that I just don’t know where exactly to begin from. Should I start by saying that I really admired the bad-ass attitude and determination of the beloved protagonist? Or should I state first that this story is a key-hole view into the life of an upcoming musical artist? Yeah, let’s start there.
Meet Marisol Reyes – a seventeen-year-old girl with her eyes set on the moon. Marisol dreams of making it big as a singer and like most hot-blooded individuals, wants it to happen fast and wants it to happen now. However, in becoming the big shot she wants to be, she finds herself stepping on her best friend’s heart and placing love and friendships as second priorities. There are hundreds of pretty Latino girls with voices and Marisol is determined to be the one that is heard. Regardless of how amazing reaching the top of the food chain feels Marisol has to ask herself one important question. Is making it to the top worth losing what she already had?
Unlike most novels I’ve read in the past couple of months, I find myself actually liking the main character. Marisol had spunk and fire. But she wasn’t so hot-blooded as to run into a situation without her head on her shoulders. She really puts thought into what she believes is best for her even though sometimes she’s wrong. Failure, heartbreak and depression never fully stop her from dusting herself off and getting right back up. She was a little immature and naive at times but being seventeen, I don’t blame her. Luckily, she has her step mother and a few other people on her side who always seem to be looking out for her and when the shit hits the fan, instantly cover her.
Lynn Menna really makes her characters so believable that I felt a deeper understanding of each character. When Vanessa, Marisol’s best friend, feels as if she’s being left behind and begins to act out, I was able to sympathize with her and see her for more than just “a jealous friend.” Still, I think I got myself band from my local library for shouting a list of expletives when the real identity of the famous rapper, Blend, was uncovered and the feds took action.
The chapter titles also stood out to me a bit and I’d like to believe that some of them were names of famous songs. Like for instance, Chapter 17 was titled “The Way You Make Me Feel” supposedly after Michael Jackson’s song? Anyways, that’s just a hunch.
In all, Piece of My Heart was a rather energetic read and shows that as long as you put the elbow grease in, anything is attainable.
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Rating: 8.5/10
Book Info:
Publisher: Merit Press (June 18, 2013)
Length: 240 pages (Hardcover)
Series: N/A
Source: ARC (Provided by publisher)
Genre: Teens & Young Adult, Entertainment
Completed: June 2013
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