* * * *
When Amber learns about an audition at the North Carolina School of the Arts, she decides that her dream—to sing on bigger stages—could also be her ticket to a new life. Devon’s older (and unavailable) brother, Will, helps Amber prepare for her one chance to try out for the hypercompetitive arts school. But the more time Will and Amber spend together, the more complicated their relationship becomes . . . and Amber starts to wonder if she’s such a good girl, after all.
Then, in an afternoon, the bottom drops out of her family’s world—and Amber is faced with an impossible choice between her promise as an artist and the people she loves. Amber always thought she knew what a good girl would do. But between “right” and “wrong,” there’s a whole world of possibilities.
Review:
To avoid the dysfunction of her family life, Amber and her best friend
Devon have been spending their summer evenings at a hiker’s cabin in the woods
on the Appalachian Trail; meeting people from all over the country, making
music and sometimes hooking up. During
those evenings, it’s the music that makes Amber feel like she has a
future. Possibly one far away from her
small hometown.
As the new school year gets underway, life gets complicated. First, there’s Devon’s brother, Will. After an unexpected encounter with Will
(which we should note she has had a bit of a crush on for a while), Amber is
left feeling confused and regretful. Then
there are the two new kids at school; one who seems to have taken an instant
dislike to Amber and the other who immediately bonds with Amber over their
mutual love of music. And the most complicated
issue of all is Amber’s family. A dad
that doesn’t do such a great job of hiding the fact that he’s cheating on his
wife; an older sister and brother in law that are on the fast road to jail time
and losing their very young son; and a sweet overprotective mom that purposely
puts on blinders in hopes that the dysfunction going on around her will just
disappear.
When Amber finds out about auditions for a performing arts high school
in Winston-Salem, she sees a future that includes not only doing the things she
loves most but also escaping her flawed family situation. But in an attempt to help a friend re-connect
with the music that he loves so much, Amber manages to break too many rules
(and laws). Her actions could cost the audition
for which she fought so hard as well as her friends, including Will.
There is no ignoring it. This
story is uncomfortable in places. There
are a number of topics/situations that might turn some readers off – cheating,
drug use and racism were the three that stood out. All three of these things were problematic
for me but the racism bothered me most.
It was a situational comment by Amber that was obviously used to give
the reader insight into where she lives and how she was raised. It occurs in the beginning and I have to say
that I almost decided to not finish this book because of it. But I was so tired of being disappointed by books
and not finishing them that I decided to plow through anyway.
And I am glad that I did.Because there is also no denying that this story makes you think. It forces the reader to consider the
complicated fact that privileges and opportunities can be so much more accessible
to some but not to others and how difficult it can be to pursue a dream when personal
circumstances don’t allow for much support.
No Place to Fall is a great new addition to the world of contemporary
YA. It’s a thought provoking book that will grab
your interest and keep you turning the pages every step of the way.
Nat
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