My curiosity about the book Talent was piqued as soon as I read
the press materials from the WOW! Women on Writing blog tour. First off,
contemporary young adult novels are one of my favorite genres to read. Second,
I participated in musicals during my high school years and loved the idea of
the stage as a main setting.
Synopsis:
Fifteen-and-half-year-old Sandee Mason wants to find her
talent, get her driver's license, and stop living in the shadow of her big
brother, Bri, who disappeared while serving in Afghanistan.
She discovers that real life doesn’t have a script as she
deals with loss, the manipulation of Bri’s best friend, her burning ambition to
find her talent and figure out what happened to Bri, and unexpected bits of joy
that pop up when she least expects them.
About the Author:
B. Lynn Goodwin is
the owner of Writer Advice, http://www. writeradvice.com, and the author of You
Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. She’s been published in local
and regional newspapers, plus numerous magazines, anthologies, and online
journals. A former drama and English teacher, she now conducts writing
workshops, writes book reviews, edits, coaches writers, and is currently
working on a second book about Sandee Mason’s adventures and a memoir about
getting married for the first time at age 62 to a two-time widower who she met
on…gulp…Craigslist. She lives with her husband, Richard, and her dog, Eddie
McPuppers, in Northern California.
B. Lynn Goodwin’s website:
Facebook:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lgood67334
Review:
Talent hooks the reader from the opening pages, as fifteen-year-old Sandee Mason anxiously awaits her audition for her school’s
production of Oklahoma! (I loved this part--I was in the ensemble Oklahoma! in
my teens and couldn’t get the songs out of my head while reading.) It’s clear
from the beginning that Sandee is searching for something of her own, after
living in the shadow of her older brother Brian for so long. With Bri M.I.A. in
Afghanistan, she is certain landing a part in the show will be her chance to
shine in the spotlight.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, maybe!) Sandee ends up taking
on a role she never imagined, and it bolsters her confidence and helps her
forge new friendships while strengthening old ones. Goodwin definitely writes
teenagers well—there is a well-rounded cast of characters that keeps you
guessing at every turn. There’s the obnoxious diva classmate that has you
rolling your eyes (Jenn), the boy-next-door/seventh grade boyfriend of Sandee’s
that looks more attractive in each chapter (Diego), the moody stage manager and
best friend of Bri (Rob), who also has his eye on Sandee, and several others.
The character of Sandee was well written; there are times she displays an
emotional maturity beyond her years and other times when her decisions made me
cringe, just as any authentic teenager would actually behave. I also enjoyed
reading about all the behind-the-scenes workings of the theater, too, as it
brought back some great memories for me.
The author also paints a vivid and heartbreaking picture of
a family struggling with the knowledge that their son has gone missing shortly
after joining the military. Sandee spends much of her time at school and
rehearsals because her home life has become non-existent. But she soon learns
that most people are dealing with their own personal demons, and there are a
few underlying mysteries sprinkled throughout the book that made me want to
keep reading. Bravo to B. Lynn Goodwin for a fast-paced, heartfelt story of
love, loss, and finding your place in the world.
Note: Read a fun interview with the author here. Be sure to check back on Wednesday, March 16, for a guest post from the author on how writers can use acting techniques to get inside of their characters.
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