Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
THE LIFE OF GLASS is a coming-of-age story of a high school freshman dealing with the death of her father and her troubling feelings for her best friend.
Melissa McAllister is the smart one. She spent lots of time with her father, who shared interesting facts and tidbits with her. But her father has died of cancer, leaving behind his journal of thoughts and findings. It's to this journal that Melissa turns to when she needs to keep her father close.
When her best friend, Ryan, discovers a special piece of glass in the wash where they hang out in the dry season, she tells him that a single piece of glass can last a million years. Melissa keeps the glass with her most of the time as her special token.
During the course of her freshman year, Melissa lives in the shadows of her beautiful older sister. Her mom and sister share a bond that she's always been left out of. When a gorgeous new girl arrives at school and befriends Melissa, even her sister is surprised. Courtney is nothing like Melissa. But soon, Courtney is moving in on Melissa's best friend, even when Melissa assures her that she and Ryan are only friends.
Ryan starts spending all of his time with Courtney and Melissa is again alone. When a popular older boy starts paying attention to her, her life starts to change drastically.
Ms. Cantor writes a bittersweet story of a girl trying to deal with the loss of her father, whom she was quite close to. She also touchingly portrays the struggles Melissa faces when she comes to realize that maybe her feelings for her best friend go beyond friendship. Over the course of Melissa's year, she matures and grows in confidence and self-esteem, as those around her come to accept her for who she is - and she learns to accept herself, as well.
THE LIFE OF GLASS is a coming-of-age story of a high school freshman dealing with the death of her father and her troubling feelings for her best friend.
Melissa McAllister is the smart one. She spent lots of time with her father, who shared interesting facts and tidbits with her. But her father has died of cancer, leaving behind his journal of thoughts and findings. It's to this journal that Melissa turns to when she needs to keep her father close.
When her best friend, Ryan, discovers a special piece of glass in the wash where they hang out in the dry season, she tells him that a single piece of glass can last a million years. Melissa keeps the glass with her most of the time as her special token.
During the course of her freshman year, Melissa lives in the shadows of her beautiful older sister. Her mom and sister share a bond that she's always been left out of. When a gorgeous new girl arrives at school and befriends Melissa, even her sister is surprised. Courtney is nothing like Melissa. But soon, Courtney is moving in on Melissa's best friend, even when Melissa assures her that she and Ryan are only friends.
Ryan starts spending all of his time with Courtney and Melissa is again alone. When a popular older boy starts paying attention to her, her life starts to change drastically.
Ms. Cantor writes a bittersweet story of a girl trying to deal with the loss of her father, whom she was quite close to. She also touchingly portrays the struggles Melissa faces when she comes to realize that maybe her feelings for her best friend go beyond friendship. Over the course of Melissa's year, she matures and grows in confidence and self-esteem, as those around her come to accept her for who she is - and she learns to accept herself, as well.
Taken from princessbookie.com
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this book! This is such a complex yet simple book, you'll have to read the book to totally understand what I mean. We meet Melissa who is just your average teenage girl. She watched her father wither away day by day and pass away finally. It happened in the beginning of the book so you feel the heartbreak right away. I think I could relate to her in so many ways. My father also passed away when I was 13 years old, so I knew exactly how Melissa felt. We meet the side characters such as Melissa's family, Melissa's best friend and neighbor Ryan. Ryan seemed like a somewhat nerdy guy but he was such a sweetheart. We meet Courtney who is new, so a few of the guys want her and of course she takes an interest in Ryan. At that moment, Melissa realizes her feelings for Ryan may run a little deeper than she thought. I felt like I could really relate to Melissa and I enjoyed reading our Ryan and Courtney's biking adventures. I liked hearing about her father's journal. I liked all the other side characters. I thought this book was sweet. You'll have to read it to find out what happened to Melissa and Ryan's relationship, Courtney and Melissa's friendship, and how she dealt with her father's death. I recommend this book. Have the tissues handy.
Overall: Loved it a lot. It was a sweet and emotional book.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this book! This is such a complex yet simple book, you'll have to read the book to totally understand what I mean. We meet Melissa who is just your average teenage girl. She watched her father wither away day by day and pass away finally. It happened in the beginning of the book so you feel the heartbreak right away. I think I could relate to her in so many ways. My father also passed away when I was 13 years old, so I knew exactly how Melissa felt. We meet the side characters such as Melissa's family, Melissa's best friend and neighbor Ryan. Ryan seemed like a somewhat nerdy guy but he was such a sweetheart. We meet Courtney who is new, so a few of the guys want her and of course she takes an interest in Ryan. At that moment, Melissa realizes her feelings for Ryan may run a little deeper than she thought. I felt like I could really relate to Melissa and I enjoyed reading our Ryan and Courtney's biking adventures. I liked hearing about her father's journal. I liked all the other side characters. I thought this book was sweet. You'll have to read it to find out what happened to Melissa and Ryan's relationship, Courtney and Melissa's friendship, and how she dealt with her father's death. I recommend this book. Have the tissues handy.
Overall: Loved it a lot. It was a sweet and emotional book.
With all the contemporary YA fiction out there, it's become increasingly harder to find one that stands out. Fortunately, there is one in THE LIFE OF GLASS. Easily readable and touching, Jillian Cantor's second book is a must-read for fans of Sarah Dessen.
The first thing one notices when reading THE LIFE OF GLASS is the ease and confidence with which Jillian Cantor writes Melissa's voice. Melissa feels like a completely real high school freshman girl: some situations make her uncomfortable, and when all else fails, she tends to close into herself, but her eyes, ears, andâmost importantly, the element that is often missing in realistic YA fictionâbrain are constantly open, observing and learning from the world around her. If you ever felt shy, awkward, or confused as a freshman, then you'll be able to relate to Melissa.
Actually, all of the characters in this book are spectacularly written. All of them run the risk of falling into âtypesâ: Courtney the manipulative and fake new girl, Ashley the bitchy older sister, and so on. Yet not one of them, including the most minor of minor characters, is flat. Each character leaps off the page and confidently takes his or her spot on center stage when it is his or her turn. It made reading THE LIFE OF GLASS hugely enjoyable.
Admittedly the post-death coming-of-age plot is a bit tired, but Jillian's skills as a writer make sure that readers will never feel the need to put this book down. Don't underestimate this unassuming book or you'll regret it!
The first thing one notices when reading THE LIFE OF GLASS is the ease and confidence with which Jillian Cantor writes Melissa's voice. Melissa feels like a completely real high school freshman girl: some situations make her uncomfortable, and when all else fails, she tends to close into herself, but her eyes, ears, andâmost importantly, the element that is often missing in realistic YA fictionâbrain are constantly open, observing and learning from the world around her. If you ever felt shy, awkward, or confused as a freshman, then you'll be able to relate to Melissa.
Actually, all of the characters in this book are spectacularly written. All of them run the risk of falling into âtypesâ: Courtney the manipulative and fake new girl, Ashley the bitchy older sister, and so on. Yet not one of them, including the most minor of minor characters, is flat. Each character leaps off the page and confidently takes his or her spot on center stage when it is his or her turn. It made reading THE LIFE OF GLASS hugely enjoyable.
Admittedly the post-death coming-of-age plot is a bit tired, but Jillian's skills as a writer make sure that readers will never feel the need to put this book down. Don't underestimate this unassuming book or you'll regret it!
