FROM WILLA, WITH LOVE by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

June 16, 2011 Jason 2 flames 0

FROM WILLA, WITH LOVE
Author: Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (July 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545094054
ISBN-13: 978-0545094054

SUMMARY:

It’s a surprising, sparkling summer for Willa!

It’s August on Cape Cod and Willa has a lot to look forward to. Soon, JFK will return home from baseball camp, and Willa has an idea for an exciting new project that will challenge her to dream big! But life throws Willa some unexpected twists and turns: Ruby has bad news, a beloved friend leaves, a dear friend returns, her brother Will has something he doesn’t want to talk about, and of course, there’s a wedding to plan! There’s also a cute boy who likes Willa . . . a lot, and Willa thinks she might like him too. It’s a summer full of romance and surprises!

MY THOUGHTS:

This was a really hard book to review for me. While I didn’t hate the book, I didn’t thrill in it either. I loved the reading concept and the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I liked how the author had a character who seemed to have a brain in her head, though at times I wanted her to use it more. I liked the family feel to the book as well.

What didn’t work for me was how young the book felt. I see this book geared more for the younger teens and the older teens becoming bored with it before the ending arrives. It was cutesy and nice, but nothing dramatic enough to really talk about. I don’t know if this is the norm for this authors writing, but it moved at a slow pace and drag in quite a few places. Having never read any of her previous books, maybe I am missing key factors in the story, but it did feel like it could be read as a stand alone.

If you are a fan of the series, then by all means continue on with Willa’s adventures. I am going to leave this series though for the younger teens.

MY RATING: