Mini Reviews: The Sky Is Everywhere, The Sweetest Thing

Title: The Sky Is Everywhere

Author: Jandy Nelson

Published: 2010

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey.

But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life - and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it.

 But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

The Sky Is Everywhere has gotten a lot of praise, and rightfully so.
 In this novel Lennie deals with her huge sorrow after her sister's death. Beside her is her flower-crazy grandmother, girl-crazy uncle, her sister's boyfriend Toby, and Joe, the new boy in town.

I'm usually not a fan of "dysfunctional" families, but this family was an exception. They shared love and sorrow, good and bad, and there were so many heart-warming moments in this book.

I absolutely loved all notes Lennie left behind her, it could be a poem about her relationship with her sister or a memory of a random moment they shared together. These memories were written down on papers, old receipts, house walls - any available spot. I feel like we not only got to know Bailey through these notes, but also got to know Lennie a bit better.

If you're looking for a great contemporary read filled with everything from love and happiness to trouble and sorrow, this is the book for you.

Rating: 4.25 of 5

Title: The Sweetest Thing

Author: Christina Mandelski

Published: May 2011

In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she's decorating a cake. Unfortunately everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable.

But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems - only her dad's about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed.

Using just the right amount of romance, family drama, and cute boys, The Sweetest Thing will entice fans with its perfect mixture of girl-friendly ingredients.

First off - how I would have loved to see all Sheridan's cakes! Her creations sounded absolutely beautiful! And how fun wouldn't it be to be a cake decorater?

While I was a big fan of Sheridan's cakes, I sadly didn't like her personality as much. She acted a bit too childish - and selfish. I wish she would have been happier for her father's sake, and tried to understand him, and get to know him, a bit better. After all, he was the parent who decided to stay with her and raise her, not the one who ran away and forgot about her.

Sheridan was naive when it came to her mother, she didn't want to see the truth so she pictured her mum as a hero instead, a hero who would come running as soon as Sheridan needed help. So, does Sheridan find her long-lost mother? You have to read the book and see!

Rating: 3 of 5