Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson

After living in twelve places in eight years, Calle Smith finds herself in Andreas Bay, California, at the start of ninth grade. Another new home, another new school...Calle knows better than to put down roots. Her song journal keeps her moving to her own soundtrack, bouncing through a world best kept at a distance.Yet before she knows it, friends creep in-as does an unlikely boy with a secret. Calle is torn over what may be her first chance at love. With all that she's hiding and all that she wants, can she find something lasting beyond music? And will she ever discover why she and her mother have been running in the first place?
.............................................
Songs for a Teenage Nomad is a artistic story of music and life as our heroine makes an unlikely difference in the lives of her new found friends and discovers the secret behind her mother’s nomadic ways.
The greatest–and most important–aspect in this novel is the numerous mentioning of songs and artists. While not entirely unique, it helps greatly with connecting to the feelings of the characters. From Bob Dylan to Coldplay, Calle recounts her story from past memories to present circumstances and brings a voice through a teenager’s best friend, music. The book is very poetic, yet edgy in a way that makes the characters shine through the sometimes gloomy events that come to pass. Treading in self-discovery themes, Culberston hits two birds with one stone as she depicts relationships and love in both the high school setting and, at home. Teens will enjoy Songs for a Teenage Nomad because of its simplicity and its whimsical melodic setting of the small, sea-side town. Culbertson is definitely a author to keep an eye on.
Recommendation: Highly recommendable to teen ages 12+.

Content: Some dramatic elements and a few bad words; PG

The Last Straw: A quote from pg. 130:
I hear music under the crash of waves before I see any place that could be producing it. Soon, though, hovering in the distant dark appears a ripple of neon, a sign that becomes legible only when I am standing directly in front of it: Lucky's.

|Pages: 240|Published: Sept. 2010|Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire|
|Genre: Contemporary fiction, relationships, family drama, friends, romance|
|Content: PG|Age Group: YA, ages 12+|Price: pbk. $9.99|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover: 5/5|
|Overall: 4/5|

12 comments:

Nely said...

I am dying to read this one. Thanks for the review.

Katie said...

This looks really good, I just put it on my TBR list. Thanks for posting about it

Lisa_Gibson said...

This sounds great! Thanks for a throuogh review. I'll be on the lookout for it. :)
Lisa ~ YA Literature Lover

https://booksthoughtsadventures.com said...

It sounds as though this is a really good yet different book...I am not sure if it appeals to me right now...but I am going to remember it.

Leslie said...

I love books about music. I might have to consider reading this one.

Unknown said...

Just read this one, I loved it!(: I am dying to get my hands on my own copy so I can re-read it! Awesome review.(:

Day Lala said...

This sounds like a great book! I like it when books have quotes, especially from songs. Thanks for the review! :)

Name: Aine said...

I've been hearing good things. I want to read this one!

Edna said...

This one is definitely on my TBR list. I love books that incorporate music in them. Thanks for the review. :)

April X said...

This sounds pretty good :D I liked your review!

~The Book Pixie said...

'Poetic, yet edgy.' This sounds just like my kind of book. I love the idea of the incorporation of music. Glad to hear you enjoyed it and thanks for the review! :D

~Briana

Nancye said...

Great review! Sounds like a book I would enjoy!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Related Posts with Thumbnails