"I lived in a glass house full of shattered hearts
and I hadn't even fallen in love yet."
and I hadn't even fallen in love yet."
--Alyssa B. Sheinmel, Second Star
Genre: YA ContemporaryPublisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages: 256
Publication Date: May 13th, 2014
Source: ARC provided via publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Previous Books in Series: Standalone
Goodreads Description
A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them.
A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them.
The Story. I was so looking forward to this Peter Pan interpretation because I have yet to find a really amazing interpretation. I was intrigued from the beginning and was really excited to keep reading and see how the parallels to Peter Pan were going to come out. I definitely was appreciative of the similarities and it was still its own story on its own. I liked that it seemed more of an inspiration of Peter Pan than an actual re-telling. There are some definite twists to the plot and I really liked it and gah, I can't say more because I can't give anymore away!
The Writing. The writing of the story has a very surreal and visceral feeling to it. I felt like I was feeling and sensing the words rather than reading them. I think the author did an amazing job at description in a very abstract way. It was definitely different in a good way and I liked the style
The Writing. The writing of the story has a very surreal and visceral feeling to it. I felt like I was feeling and sensing the words rather than reading them. I think the author did an amazing job at description in a very abstract way. It was definitely different in a good way and I liked the style
The Length. The book is short, only 256 pages and I sped through it but I wanted more. How the story plays out and what happens would have impacted me SO much more if I had another 70-80 pages of plot development. I needed more emotional connection to the characters. I liked the book but if it was longer and developed the characters more...it would have been an easy 4 stars!! Ugh, the story was so unique and I loved how it all played out but I would have LOVED it all capital letters had I had more connection to the characters. Sad face.
Its a quick read so it's not a lot of time to commit to. You might love it, you might be meh about it. I'm pretty meh because I'm disappointed for how good it COULD have been.
I like the cover! But it doesn't seem like enough to draw me into reading the book!
ReplyDeleteI have heard some pretty terrible things about this one. I have a copy, but I'm really not sure if I want to read it after all the negative reviews. Yours is the first sort of positive one I've read. But I really love the idea of a Peter Pan retelling. To read or not to read? Maybe if I have time and am really really in the mood for a retelling.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about the writing, it was almost dreamlike and very surreal. The whole story really was such a unique spin with its CA beach setting, and the romance surprised me for sure. The ending though, kinda left me feeling let down.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Tiger Lily? that is one of my favorite books and it's a Peter Pan retelling! Also, I think I am going to pass on this book, or read it one day when I have nothing better to do (but let's be real that day will probably never come). I've just seen too many "meh" feelings that I've kind of lost interest.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you were able to finish Second Star! I tried to read it, but didn't get further than a few chapters because the writing and story were just not for me. I'm glad to hear that it does have some elements that speak to the Peter Pan inspiration, but I'm sorry to see that it wasn't quite the awesome Peter Pan inspired retelling you hoped for!
ReplyDeleteAwww, I'm sad that it's only meh! I was so looking forward to this one! I'll read it anyway, cause it's still Peter Pan and he was my childhood crush, but definitely going in with lower expectations...
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing this one on Twitter and am really excited to read it, but hate that it needed something more. Oh well!
ReplyDeleteIt could have been so much better than it actually was. I wrote my review, but the star rating is something I'm still trying to decide. I have a hard time giving it 5 stars, but I don't quite want to give it 4 stars either because I did enjoy it.
ReplyDelete