Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

Title: Keep Holding On

Author: Susane Colasanti

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Release Date: May 31, 2012

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Lunch is the worst, but there's no safe place at school for Noelle. Keeping her mortifying home life a secret and trying to ignore the kids who make her life miserable are Noelle's survival strategies. Her emotionally distant boyfriend, Matt, isn't the one she really wants to be with. But she's sure there' son way she could ever be with Julian Porter.

When Julian starts talking to her, Noelle is terrified. It seems safer to stay with matt than risk a broken heart. But when the bullying of a friend goes too far, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for everything that makes her keep holding on. 

Before reading Keep Holding On I had only read one other book by Susane Colasanti but I had been meaning to read more. And Keep Holding On was a really fantastic book and one that was special in more than just one way.

Noelle is counting down the days until she is done with high school. If she can just survive until it's all over, then she'll be free to leave everything behind. No one knows just how bad things are for Noelle. At school she is constantly being bullied and at home her mother completely neglects her. But when Julian starts paying attention to her, Noelle thinks things might be looking up a little. But at the same time, she can't help but think that maybe it's too good to be true. Now Noelle has decided to stand up for herself, and that it may be worth it to keep holding on.

Keep Holding On was a special book in more than one way. Susane Colasanti has said that this book means a lot to her because she drew a lot on her own high school experience to write the book. While reading I could definitely see it. The story is deep and powerful despite it's short length. If anything, the short length only serves to make the story deeper and more powerful. Susane Colasanti definitely hit the mark on how damaging bullying can be to teenagers and how others tend to be blind to it. Bullying is definitely an issue that deserves a lot more attention than it has been getting. Keep Holding On does a great job telling people who are getting bullied that things do get better and that if you're willing to let them, there are people who will help you.  Keep Holding On is definitely a book that needs to be read by everyone.

A lot of the powerfulness of the book comes from the main character, Noelle. Right from page one, I could tell she was suffering. It wasn't even like it got better for her when she came home because her mother was constantly neglecting her. But the great thing about Noelle is that she eventually did something about her situation, showing people that things can get better. I also loved her support system, even if she didn't know she had it. Without Noelle really realizing it, she had all these people who cared and who were willing to step in and help her. I felt like the characters in the book really made the story and were fantastic to illustrate Susane Colasanti's message.

Keep Holding On was definitely a special book, and in it Susane Colasanti wrote an even more special story. It deals with a subject that deserves more attention than it has been getting and it's a book everyone should read. Especially if you think it just won't get better. But it does and Keep Holding On will show you how it does.

Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

Title: Waiting for You

Author: Susane Colasanti

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Release Date: May 14, 2009

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Friendship...and falling in love?

At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start, and hopefully her first real boyfriend. Could it be popular, dreamy Derek? Or geeky Nash, who just might have a crush on her? Then there’s the underground, anonymous DJ, whose podcasts are the hottest thing at school and who seems to totally understand Marisa. But she doesn’t know who he is...or does she?

This was my first time reading something by Susane Colasanti and after reading the book, I can say that it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed Waiting For You, it makes a really good summer read. It’s light, enjoyable and a quick read. Had I not been so busy, I would have probably read it all in one sitting. I thought it was the perfect summer read, I just relaxed and enjoyed it the whole time I was reading it.

Marisa has been waiting for a boyfriend for a long time. She has an idea of who she wants him to be: Derek. But Derek has a girlfriend and doesn’t seem to know that Marisa exists. In the meantime, Marisa spends time with Sterling, her best friend who is an amazing cook, and Nash the geeky boy who lives a few houses down. And all of a sudden, Derek breaks up with his girlfriend and starts showing interest in Marisa, who couldn’t be happier. And then there’s Dirk, the late night radio broadcaster who seems to know exactly how Marisa feels, the only problem is she doesn’t know who he is.

Marisa was a great character but I have to admit I would sometimes get annoyed with her. Almost from the start we know she has an anxiety disorder and can sometimes make a bigger deal out of things than she needs to. But then there were other times when I just wanted to tell her to stop over analyzing and over exaggerating everything. Besides that I really liked Marisa, you can tell that she actually wants to get the bigger hand over her problem and actually improve her condition. It wasn’t only about seeing her evolved, but about her being the reason for her evolution and forcing it. Let’s just say I liked her better in the second half of the book because of this.

Nash was such a sweetheart. Right from the beginning you could tell he was in love with Marisa but he was afraid to admit it to her...until he did. The whole length of the book I was rooting for him. I really wanted Marisa to figure out that he’s the one she’s supposed to be with and get over her whole obsession with Derek. I really liked Nash and just like Marisa you really see him evolve and the whole time his motivation is really obvious...and there just may be more to him than meets the eye.

The story was great, I liked how it was divided into the different seasons and how with each season came a different Marisa...or maybe I’m just over interpreting this thanks to having taken so many literature classes. The way it was divided gave it a sort of pace, everything was evenly spaced and the timeline made sense. The story was easy to follow and at times I could predict some of what would happen but at other times I really didn’t see them coming. It was really enjoyable...but that might not mean anything considering most of what I read.

Waiting for You was a great summer read. It doesn’t actually take place in the summer but just how the story is and how it’s written makes it feel like it should be summer the whole length of the book. If you’re looking for a light summer read you should definitely pick up a copy of this book.