Summary:
Two high school graduates are headed to UC Berkeley for their freshman year. Lauren, the oldest of several annoying siblings, desperately wants a single so that she can finally have some privacy. Unfortunately, Elizabeth emails her stating that they are roomies and wants to talk all about the details. Elizabeth is super excited to get away from a slightly overbearing mother and enjoy some new found freedom and camaraderie in California. Good-bye Jersey! After a bit of a tough start, mostly because Lauren is upset that she is not getting her own sanctuary, the two begin to share more and more about one another. They become friends through their emails, but as things happen on the outside and the two communicate poorly, their friendship is strained. Will the two actually make it to college and room together, or will these emails be the death of a friendship before it actually starts.
My thoughts:
While I like the format of communicating the story through emails, I was not overly enthralled. The only problem is that it is really slow. There is not a lot of action and a whole lot of complaining. I suppose that it reflects most of what teenage girls do: talk about going to school, talk about boys, complain about their home life. I just hear it enough in class. There is the ability to make this type of book action packed within the emails, but this doesn't really happen. There is a chance to get really introspective, but that doesn't really happen either. This makes it one of those in-between books that you can take or leave. The best part is that Sara Zarr is a good writer and does a great job of sounding exactly like a teenager.
Two high school graduates are headed to UC Berkeley for their freshman year. Lauren, the oldest of several annoying siblings, desperately wants a single so that she can finally have some privacy. Unfortunately, Elizabeth emails her stating that they are roomies and wants to talk all about the details. Elizabeth is super excited to get away from a slightly overbearing mother and enjoy some new found freedom and camaraderie in California. Good-bye Jersey! After a bit of a tough start, mostly because Lauren is upset that she is not getting her own sanctuary, the two begin to share more and more about one another. They become friends through their emails, but as things happen on the outside and the two communicate poorly, their friendship is strained. Will the two actually make it to college and room together, or will these emails be the death of a friendship before it actually starts.
My thoughts:
While I like the format of communicating the story through emails, I was not overly enthralled. The only problem is that it is really slow. There is not a lot of action and a whole lot of complaining. I suppose that it reflects most of what teenage girls do: talk about going to school, talk about boys, complain about their home life. I just hear it enough in class. There is the ability to make this type of book action packed within the emails, but this doesn't really happen. There is a chance to get really introspective, but that doesn't really happen either. This makes it one of those in-between books that you can take or leave. The best part is that Sara Zarr is a good writer and does a great job of sounding exactly like a teenager.
Elizabeth (Eb) and Lauren(Lo)have been paired up to be roommates at Berkeley
Lo isn't too happy. She lives with her parents and five siblings. She hasn't had any personal space since the younger children came along. She had requested a single room, but that was obviously denied.
Eb is thrilled. Its just her and her mother at home, and she's really looking forward to the "closeness" her and Lo are bound to share. She also hopes to possibly reconnecting with her father. He happens to own a Gallery in San Francisco. Eb excitedly sends off an email to Lo just minutes after receiving her roommates info.
This is one of the most adorable books I've ever read (or listened to). I absolutely loved both girls. Both were realistic, likable, and had their own distinctive personalities. I listened to the audio version, and while I think this would have been a great story to "read", I think the narrators are what really brought this book to life for me. Everything the girls have ever known is about to change. This is thrilling, sad, and at least a little terrifying. The narrators did a beautiful job with bringing each girl to life.
I have a hate/love feel for the ending. I really wished the book had gone on for one more scene. I almost feel cheated that it didn't. However, it really is the perfect ending to the book. I think ending it any other way may have taken away the special feeling the book gave me.
Lo isn't too happy. She lives with her parents and five siblings. She hasn't had any personal space since the younger children came along. She had requested a single room, but that was obviously denied.
Eb is thrilled. Its just her and her mother at home, and she's really looking forward to the "closeness" her and Lo are bound to share. She also hopes to possibly reconnecting with her father. He happens to own a Gallery in San Francisco. Eb excitedly sends off an email to Lo just minutes after receiving her roommates info.
This is one of the most adorable books I've ever read (or listened to). I absolutely loved both girls. Both were realistic, likable, and had their own distinctive personalities. I listened to the audio version, and while I think this would have been a great story to "read", I think the narrators are what really brought this book to life for me. Everything the girls have ever known is about to change. This is thrilling, sad, and at least a little terrifying. The narrators did a beautiful job with bringing each girl to life.
I have a hate/love feel for the ending. I really wished the book had gone on for one more scene. I almost feel cheated that it didn't. However, it really is the perfect ending to the book. I think ending it any other way may have taken away the special feeling the book gave me.
