Life Of Glass Blog Tour: Review of The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor

Summary:

Before he died, Melissa’s father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren’t always the most beautiful—that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn’t only skin deep, the people around her don’t seem to feel that way. There’s her gorgeous sister Ashley who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school, there's her best friend Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney, and there’s Melissa’s mother who’s dating someone new, someone who Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.

To make sure she doesn’t lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and completing a journal her father began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present, as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.

This is a lyrical tale of love, loss and self-discovery from the author of THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS.
 
Review:

Last year a little debut called The September Sisters took a place in my heart and The Life of Glass continued to do the same.

I can't even begin to describe how much I absolutely loved this book of love, loss, and moving on, because I don't think my words could ever do it enough justice.

The one thing I absolutely love about Jillian Cantor's books is that she takes a topic so simple that you worry for a moment that it'll provide to be dull, but instead proves to be complex enjoyable with her smooth, lyrical like writing and her characters who always earn my respect with their realness.
I liked how Melissa could be any teen because of the fact she was dealing with a loss of the loved one, worried about fitting in while staying true to herself and coming to term with several issues that I bet any teen or even adult, possibly, can find relatable. And talking about relatable-ness, I give props to Jillian for addressing toxic friendships with Courtney and Melissa. Further more, I loved how sweet Ryan was most of the time to Melissa and how Jillian once again had siblings take part in the plot of her book. Though, this time in a happier way, thankfully.

In all, The Life of Glass once again shows of Jillian Cantor's story telling talent making it a book I'll definitely be suggesting come February.

Grade: A+

The Life of Glass comes out February 9, 2010!

Source: Contest won at one of the author's blogs. Thanks Jillian!