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Students Across the Seven Seas
Spain or Shine
Elena is lost in the shuffle between her three overachieving siblings. But now that she’s on her own for a whole semester, she intends to keep the spotlight on herself—and Spain is just the place to do it. Once she starts living it up in tapas bars, lying out on the beach (even though it’s November), and having a nice, long siesta smack-dab in the middle of every day, Elena finds that Spain is everything she hoped it would be. She’s even met a to-fawn-over Spaniard, Miguel. But Elena has always been more comfortable writing plays than starring in them, and she’s beginning to realize that keeping out of the spotlight has its perks too. . . .
224 pages, Library Binding
First published September 8, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 55 reviews
January 4, 2015
Elena's in Spain, and I've reached the end of this series. The former is a good thing; I'm not sure about the latter.
Although Elena's Spanish is limited to what she's learned in high school, she has Spanish relatives. Her trip abroad serves two main purposes -- to figure out who she is out of the shadow of her siblings and to take advantage of the theatre course her S.A.S.S. programme offers -- with a bonus of meeting those relatives.
She's a likable character. I admit that I cherrypicked my way through the series, sort of, saving some of the ones with better reviews for the end, but that worked out well here. Elena's pretty relatable -- not exactly a wallflower, but definitely shy; fairly comfortable with others, but not always with herself. She grows a lot over the course of the book, too.
The romance was interesting, for once: there wasn't a ton to the romance itself, but this might have been the only book in the series in which the love interest is not obvious from the moment he steps onscreen (onpage?). Or perhaps he is -- but there are enough other (decent) guys around to confuse the matter for both Elena and the reader (or at least this reader). Kind of nice to see. More realistic than it could have been.
Not sure I love the last-minute solve for the play (and I would have loved to know more about the other one) -- felt a little too...last-minute change to the lesson Elena's already learned about herself. Again, though, nice to see her grow.
I know this series is largely fluff, but I really am kind of sorry to have come to the end of it.
More general look at the series here.
Although Elena's Spanish is limited to what she's learned in high school, she has Spanish relatives. Her trip abroad serves two main purposes -- to figure out who she is out of the shadow of her siblings and to take advantage of the theatre course her S.A.S.S. programme offers -- with a bonus of meeting those relatives.
She's a likable character. I admit that I cherrypicked my way through the series, sort of, saving some of the ones with better reviews for the end, but that worked out well here. Elena's pretty relatable -- not exactly a wallflower, but definitely shy; fairly comfortable with others, but not always with herself. She grows a lot over the course of the book, too.
The romance was interesting, for once: there wasn't a ton to the romance itself, but this might have been the only book in the series in which the love interest is not obvious from the moment he steps onscreen (onpage?). Or perhaps he is -- but there are enough other (decent) guys around to confuse the matter for both Elena and the reader (or at least this reader). Kind of nice to see. More realistic than it could have been.
Not sure I love the last-minute solve for the play (and I would have loved to know more about the other one) -- felt a little too...last-minute change to the lesson Elena's already learned about herself. Again, though, nice to see her grow.
I know this series is largely fluff, but I really am kind of sorry to have come to the end of it.
More general look at the series here.
November 15, 2018
This is my third book from this series, and I'm wondering if anyone goes into the program because they actually want to learn and go to a different country. Not because they wanna meet cute boys and party, and in this case, also because she's trying to one-up her overachieving siblings. If that's the case, it's going to get incredibly tiring reading this same plot in every book.
Elena was a relatable character and overall pretty likable. If she was unsure of something, she thought it was best to stay quiet. She wasn't open about her crushes.
Gwen was cool and rational, while Elena's world was colored by her emotions.
I could identify with Elena in that even though Miguel had flirted with her, she had trouble believing he was interested in her. She was used to guys liking her sister Gwen and Jenna and that comparing herself to her sister meant she hadn't looked at herself the way Miguel might.
Elena counted on Gwen to absorb the attention and her brothers to entertain everyone. It was a heavy burden being the center of attention for someone who spent so much time living in her own head.
Elena was shy and didn't speak up in class unless she was called on.
I thought it was cool that they consider you fluent in a language when you dream in that language.
I loved learning about Spain, but this ended up being the least educational book out of the three I've read. I felt like I didn't learn enough about it. There could have been more Spanish words used, and more site-seeing.
Bars have an honor system where you grab what you want and tell the bartender later.
Spanish men don't show emotion, like when Miguel's mom died, so he rarely talked about her.
The siesta custom is mentioned in here, where shops shut down their businesses to eat lunch and take naps. I had heard of that in a recent travel channel giveaway question.
Spanish people dressed up to go out, even if it was just a cafe.
Spanish people take at least a month for holiday.
They celebrate Todos los Santos there, or All Saints' Day, on Nov 1, where they place flowers in the graveyards of their ancestors to show respect for the dead. I didn't like that the book skipped over the holiday. I would have liked to read about it.
Trains were the way to travel in Spain. German trains were on time, but the Spanish didn't stress as much. Miguel said what did five, ten minutes here and there matter over a lifetime. I wish Americans could adopt a laid back attitude like that.
When they asked if you wanted water with gas they meant water with bubbles.
It was a lil odd comparing seeing an attractive boy to stumbling upon a treasure at a yard sale.
Jenna was annoying the way she'd flirt with boys who were around Elena. Alex and her were just friends, but Jenna didn't know that. Alex says hey to her and then Jenna turns the flirt on. Elena is clearly talking to Miguel and she buts in and steals his attention. Although if he's gonna let himself get distracted by another girl when he came over to talk to Elena, then he isn't worth it. That was not a good first impression for Miguel.
I liked the wisdom of "if you're going to attempt something, no matter what it is, it's worth taking a look at the best in that field."
Of course Elena was held after class and Ms. B told her her writing abilities exceed most people her age, so she ended up doing better than the know it all Dylan in the class.
When Miguel asked if she was Spanish, and saying they'd have to work on her Spanish, it totally reminded me of Kostas and Lena in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
It annoys me when side characters don't listen to the MC, and disregard what she says as if she doesn't know what she's talking about. When she tells Gwen that she was talking to Miguel and Jenna walks up and she practically disappeared, because Miguel was focused on her, Gwen says it sounds like Jenna is a flirt. And then how he kept finding reasons to touch her arm and waist while helping her up the stairs, Gwen says maybe Jenna needed help. If Miguel didn't like Jenna, then why was he acting like that? He sure acted like he liked her.
The time frame wasn't working in the book. All of a sudden she'd been there for three months when it felt like a few weeks. Nothing had happened. All she did was go to school, the beach, back to the Cruz' apartment, hanging out at tapas bars with her friends.
And then all of a sudden she could speak fluent Spanish, and understood others speaking Spanish.
I liked that Elena was tired of living in her fantasies, and wanted something real. She knew she'd have to make the next move with Miguel.
An acting technique for stage fright was to imagine a fourth wall in place of the audience to make it seem like you're in an intimate setting. Imagine a wall from a familiar, comforting place. Stage fright was really audience fright, the awareness of people watching you that makes you lock up. If you get rid of the audience in your mind, you'll get rid of the fear.
Acting was the ultimate exercise in imagination. I had never thought of it like that before. I have heard that some of the best actors are introverts.
I thought the overachiever classmate Dylan would play a bigger role. We don't even get to hear what their play was about and if it was good. Although she does realize she didn't have to be like Dylan, or have her as a partner to be great. She could be great by being herself. That was a good lesson for her.
Elena realized she didn't have to be away from her family to do something big. Now that she knew she was capable of doing big things, she wanted her siblings around to share them with her. They weren't her competition; they were her support system. Elena learned some good lessons in here.
The romance in here was just pointless. She likes Miguel, Miguel likes her. He flirted with her once. By the time she makes a move it's right before she has to leave, and it's to invite him to the play.
I couldn't believe he thought she liked Alex, and wondered why she brought him to the play to kiss another boy. I was thinking she hasn't even kissed Miguel, and her one kiss was with a guy she's friends with.
Even Jenna and Alex's romance was pointless. It could have developed from the beginning, but it never went anywhere even though they both liked each other. When Elena says she 'was happy to see that Jenna had eventually given in to her oblivious feelings for Alex' I was like are you kidding me? The night before they leave?!
I wonder if there's really a green flash as the sun sets on the ocean like Miguel mentioned.
When they went boating and she finds out Miguel's mom died, she says he wasn't the perfect guy born from her imagination, but a real person with sadness and flaws. I wondered what flaws because she doesn't know him. At the end, she says Elena said Miguel was a guy with insecurities, and faults but what were they? She doesn't know his insecurities, faults, or flaws.
I had a feeling the book would end with her dreaming in Spanish, so I was glad when it did.
Although the ending had a feeling of sadness and depression to it. It was their last night there, and we knew nothing was gonna happen with her and Miguel.
Miguel wakes her up to see the sunrise and they don't even wake up her friends to see it, or have any dialogue. Majorly disappointing.
Out of the three I've read from this series, this was the most disappointing. It was mostly boring, with nothing exciting happening, and barely anything going on at all. Just her going to school, hanging out with friends, going to the beach. And the 'romance' was barely there.
I wish these books had more romance to them. And that the couples actually ended up together and had an HEA, where the MC plans to return and live there with the guy.
These books are pretty lacking in romance, so if you like yours books heavier on romance, and a HEA, then these probably won't work for you. I think I would have liked these a lot more when I was young.
I kept waiting for the male lead to show up, and he didn't make an appearance until page 69 and the book is short anyway. He says they'd work on her Spanish but then he didn't teach her anything or speak Spanish with her.
The synopsis is misleading. Her siblings are overachievers but how are they? Are they really smart? But she's obviously smart to be in SASS. I expected them to be mean but they were nice and supportive. The author told us they were overachievers but didn't show us how they were.
This was just ok. I like that it didn't have drama like the other two I've read, and there was no annoying love triangle thing where the MC picks the bad guy first, spends too much time with him, and then realizes he's the wrong choice. I liked that Alex was just a friend, and I liked the other characters too. It was a nice group of friends, who were supportive and had fun together, although Jenna could be annoying. However, this was probably the worst in terms of romance. I can't remember exactly how the romance was in Getting the Boot, but that one was lacking too. They might be equally lacking, I don't know.
There were some good lessons in here that Elena learned, and I liked the character growth. When she was late to class and forgot to do a Spanish assignment, I was like oh no, but thankfully that didn't end up being a problem. She was a good student and didn't slack off when she got to Spain.
Elena was a relatable character and overall pretty likable. If she was unsure of something, she thought it was best to stay quiet. She wasn't open about her crushes.
Gwen was cool and rational, while Elena's world was colored by her emotions.
I could identify with Elena in that even though Miguel had flirted with her, she had trouble believing he was interested in her. She was used to guys liking her sister Gwen and Jenna and that comparing herself to her sister meant she hadn't looked at herself the way Miguel might.
Elena counted on Gwen to absorb the attention and her brothers to entertain everyone. It was a heavy burden being the center of attention for someone who spent so much time living in her own head.
Elena was shy and didn't speak up in class unless she was called on.
I thought it was cool that they consider you fluent in a language when you dream in that language.
I loved learning about Spain, but this ended up being the least educational book out of the three I've read. I felt like I didn't learn enough about it. There could have been more Spanish words used, and more site-seeing.
Bars have an honor system where you grab what you want and tell the bartender later.
Spanish men don't show emotion, like when Miguel's mom died, so he rarely talked about her.
The siesta custom is mentioned in here, where shops shut down their businesses to eat lunch and take naps. I had heard of that in a recent travel channel giveaway question.
Spanish people dressed up to go out, even if it was just a cafe.
Spanish people take at least a month for holiday.
They celebrate Todos los Santos there, or All Saints' Day, on Nov 1, where they place flowers in the graveyards of their ancestors to show respect for the dead. I didn't like that the book skipped over the holiday. I would have liked to read about it.
Trains were the way to travel in Spain. German trains were on time, but the Spanish didn't stress as much. Miguel said what did five, ten minutes here and there matter over a lifetime. I wish Americans could adopt a laid back attitude like that.
When they asked if you wanted water with gas they meant water with bubbles.
It was a lil odd comparing seeing an attractive boy to stumbling upon a treasure at a yard sale.
Jenna was annoying the way she'd flirt with boys who were around Elena. Alex and her were just friends, but Jenna didn't know that. Alex says hey to her and then Jenna turns the flirt on. Elena is clearly talking to Miguel and she buts in and steals his attention. Although if he's gonna let himself get distracted by another girl when he came over to talk to Elena, then he isn't worth it. That was not a good first impression for Miguel.
I liked the wisdom of "if you're going to attempt something, no matter what it is, it's worth taking a look at the best in that field."
Of course Elena was held after class and Ms. B told her her writing abilities exceed most people her age, so she ended up doing better than the know it all Dylan in the class.
When Miguel asked if she was Spanish, and saying they'd have to work on her Spanish, it totally reminded me of Kostas and Lena in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
It annoys me when side characters don't listen to the MC, and disregard what she says as if she doesn't know what she's talking about. When she tells Gwen that she was talking to Miguel and Jenna walks up and she practically disappeared, because Miguel was focused on her, Gwen says it sounds like Jenna is a flirt. And then how he kept finding reasons to touch her arm and waist while helping her up the stairs, Gwen says maybe Jenna needed help. If Miguel didn't like Jenna, then why was he acting like that? He sure acted like he liked her.
The time frame wasn't working in the book. All of a sudden she'd been there for three months when it felt like a few weeks. Nothing had happened. All she did was go to school, the beach, back to the Cruz' apartment, hanging out at tapas bars with her friends.
And then all of a sudden she could speak fluent Spanish, and understood others speaking Spanish.
I liked that Elena was tired of living in her fantasies, and wanted something real. She knew she'd have to make the next move with Miguel.
An acting technique for stage fright was to imagine a fourth wall in place of the audience to make it seem like you're in an intimate setting. Imagine a wall from a familiar, comforting place. Stage fright was really audience fright, the awareness of people watching you that makes you lock up. If you get rid of the audience in your mind, you'll get rid of the fear.
Acting was the ultimate exercise in imagination. I had never thought of it like that before. I have heard that some of the best actors are introverts.
I thought the overachiever classmate Dylan would play a bigger role. We don't even get to hear what their play was about and if it was good. Although she does realize she didn't have to be like Dylan, or have her as a partner to be great. She could be great by being herself. That was a good lesson for her.
Elena realized she didn't have to be away from her family to do something big. Now that she knew she was capable of doing big things, she wanted her siblings around to share them with her. They weren't her competition; they were her support system. Elena learned some good lessons in here.
The romance in here was just pointless. She likes Miguel, Miguel likes her. He flirted with her once. By the time she makes a move it's right before she has to leave, and it's to invite him to the play.
I couldn't believe he thought she liked Alex, and wondered why she brought him to the play to kiss another boy. I was thinking she hasn't even kissed Miguel, and her one kiss was with a guy she's friends with.
Even Jenna and Alex's romance was pointless. It could have developed from the beginning, but it never went anywhere even though they both liked each other. When Elena says she 'was happy to see that Jenna had eventually given in to her oblivious feelings for Alex' I was like are you kidding me? The night before they leave?!
I wonder if there's really a green flash as the sun sets on the ocean like Miguel mentioned.
When they went boating and she finds out Miguel's mom died, she says he wasn't the perfect guy born from her imagination, but a real person with sadness and flaws. I wondered what flaws because she doesn't know him. At the end, she says Elena said Miguel was a guy with insecurities, and faults but what were they? She doesn't know his insecurities, faults, or flaws.
I had a feeling the book would end with her dreaming in Spanish, so I was glad when it did.
Although the ending had a feeling of sadness and depression to it. It was their last night there, and we knew nothing was gonna happen with her and Miguel.
Miguel wakes her up to see the sunrise and they don't even wake up her friends to see it, or have any dialogue. Majorly disappointing.
Out of the three I've read from this series, this was the most disappointing. It was mostly boring, with nothing exciting happening, and barely anything going on at all. Just her going to school, hanging out with friends, going to the beach. And the 'romance' was barely there.
I wish these books had more romance to them. And that the couples actually ended up together and had an HEA, where the MC plans to return and live there with the guy.
These books are pretty lacking in romance, so if you like yours books heavier on romance, and a HEA, then these probably won't work for you. I think I would have liked these a lot more when I was young.
I kept waiting for the male lead to show up, and he didn't make an appearance until page 69 and the book is short anyway. He says they'd work on her Spanish but then he didn't teach her anything or speak Spanish with her.
The synopsis is misleading. Her siblings are overachievers but how are they? Are they really smart? But she's obviously smart to be in SASS. I expected them to be mean but they were nice and supportive. The author told us they were overachievers but didn't show us how they were.
This was just ok. I like that it didn't have drama like the other two I've read, and there was no annoying love triangle thing where the MC picks the bad guy first, spends too much time with him, and then realizes he's the wrong choice. I liked that Alex was just a friend, and I liked the other characters too. It was a nice group of friends, who were supportive and had fun together, although Jenna could be annoying. However, this was probably the worst in terms of romance. I can't remember exactly how the romance was in Getting the Boot, but that one was lacking too. They might be equally lacking, I don't know.
There were some good lessons in here that Elena learned, and I liked the character growth. When she was late to class and forgot to do a Spanish assignment, I was like oh no, but thankfully that didn't end up being a problem. She was a good student and didn't slack off when she got to Spain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2009
After being a little disappointed with the first S.A.S.S. book I read, I found this one to be quite a nice surprise. I'm not sure it's quite meaty enough for 4 stars but I'd give it 3 1/2 if I could.
It is the basic tale of a shy girl who comes out of her shell after discovering her passion and getting chance to develop her talents. Oh, and being thrown into a new setting thousands of miles from home helps, too. Elena is a character I warmed up to right away, and I enjoyed the group of friends she accumulated once she arrived in Spain. There were no real villains in this story, but somehow there was still enough of a plot to keep me engaged.
This was especially fun for me since I spent a summer studying in Spain, though I never made it to San Sebastian where this story takes place.
It is the basic tale of a shy girl who comes out of her shell after discovering her passion and getting chance to develop her talents. Oh, and being thrown into a new setting thousands of miles from home helps, too. Elena is a character I warmed up to right away, and I enjoyed the group of friends she accumulated once she arrived in Spain. There were no real villains in this story, but somehow there was still enough of a plot to keep me engaged.
This was especially fun for me since I spent a summer studying in Spain, though I never made it to San Sebastian where this story takes place.
January 9, 2013
This novel was alright. Really. It kind of fell into the perfectly good way to spend a few hours, but it didn't really leave me all that impressed by the end of the book like other novels in this series did.
The characters were all pleasant, but not super memorable. I must give credit to the fact that Elena's journey is more a 'finding myself' kind of deal as opposed to the typical for this series which tends to be 'some juvenile or selish thing that turns into real life lessons by accident'. That I found refreshing. I was however dissapointed that unlike the rest of the series we were not really given any clue as to Elena's future.
Not bad I wouldn't really give this one a recommendation, but I certainly wouldn't tell anyone to give it a pass.
The characters were all pleasant, but not super memorable. I must give credit to the fact that Elena's journey is more a 'finding myself' kind of deal as opposed to the typical for this series which tends to be 'some juvenile or selish thing that turns into real life lessons by accident'. That I found refreshing. I was however dissapointed that unlike the rest of the series we were not really given any clue as to Elena's future.
Not bad I wouldn't really give this one a recommendation, but I certainly wouldn't tell anyone to give it a pass.
July 20, 2015
I found this book to be much too predictable, with Elena coming to Spain, finding a boy, falling for him, and writing a play, which, as we all knew, would be successful. I didn't feel as though the characters were developed enough, with most of them only being mentioned in passing. I wish that this book would have delved further into Elena's relationship with Miguel, or her past with playwriting/acting. Let's hope there is a sequel which will detail more of Elena's future after her time in Spain.
August 16, 2011
amazing book!....i so love the series and i hope i get the opportunity to read them all!!...This book is totally recommended to everyone as its a great book...Elena learns soo much and makes great friends!!...Being apart from her family taught her that her family was not her competition...they were her support system!...:DD
August 28, 2025
I read this series in middle school and I'm determined to finish it 20 years later. If that means I buy a lot of books off ebay, so be it. I swear the more I read this collection, the more it focuses on the interactions with some random boy than the actual country they visit. I actually wanted to learn about Spain, dude! My mom briefly lived in Seville because my grandpa was in the Air Force. I tried to ask her about the landmarks referenced in Spain or Shine, but they were different parts of the country. This book is about a young teen who travels to Europe to learn more about her heritage and escape from her perfect siblings. Elena was a total whiner and I was annoyed by her almost immediately. There was too much drama with hardly any information about Spanish culture besides tapas and siestas. There was also a whole subplot about some hag named Jenna who kept flirting with all the boys she KNEW Elena liked. I was hella annoyed that I shared a name with a character who ruined the book. This book sucked and I don't have too many books left in the collection. I feel bad for girls who initially wanted to learn about other countries when reading this series. I mean I love romance, but if you're gonna market a series about international narratives, try to have more than 3 locations.
December 5, 2022
I am glad I only bought this for 50 cents at a used book sale. The main character goes to Spain - the entire reason I got it. On closer examination, she actually goes to San Sebastián - the Basque city I lived in myself! The positive similarities end there. It’s an oddly written book - very trivial and childish one moment and then wide, sweeping declarations the next.
I only finished this silly book because of the descriptions of San Sebastián and Spain.
I only finished this silly book because of the descriptions of San Sebastián and Spain.
February 4, 2022
I think I only loved this because it takes place around the time I was in Spain for a study abroad program, and it brought back a lot of memories. I thought it would be overly cheesy, but the main character was very mature and likable.
July 10, 2017
okkkkkkkk
October 4, 2017
I like it, sounds familiar to youth's problem. But there is too many good ending, haha... Being admired of her confidence and special talent of playwriting of the main character now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2018
I had fun reading this despite the low rating. I couldn't agree more of a better idea than doing this story an open ending rather than the typically closed endings most would set it out to be.
February 17, 2023
Fun little coming of age book but nothing special
September 27, 2023
I was completely absorbed in this book. The writing is so vivid that I felt like I was living the story alongside the characters.
August 20, 2022
I originally picked up this book to finish a prompt given to me by Bookly. I was completely surprised by how much I liked this book and how well-written it was. The story follows a high school girl, Elena, who goes to Spain for an International School Study. She meets many friends along the way and even a love interest. Throughout the book, Elena grew as a person and became more confident with herself, and the author, Michelle Jellen, wrote this out perfectly. Since the story is set in Spain, there are certain expectations that Spanish would be used in the book. And I was not disappointed. Although I don’t know Spanish well, I could tell that Jellen knew the language and wasn’t just using Google Translate for help. It was well written and not cringey as it sometimes can be.
I usually gravitate toward the romance genre, and there was some of that in this book, but the story revolved around Elena’s friend circle. Don’t get me wrong, I was giddy and waiting around for the romance, but the interactions between Elena and her friends equally satisfied me.
I would highly recommend this book for a quick read–it took me a little over 3 hours–or for anyone who wants to read a book about traveling. The towns and cities were expertly described, and at the end of the book, it mentions that Jellen had traveled to many of the cities. This made the book come to life even more for me because I knew everything wasn’t just made up. It almost makes me want to visit Spain and the many cities depicted in the book.
I have nothing bad to say about this book except that I wish there were more pages to read! I will also be sure to pick up some of the other books in the S.A.S.S. series and give them a read.
I usually gravitate toward the romance genre, and there was some of that in this book, but the story revolved around Elena’s friend circle. Don’t get me wrong, I was giddy and waiting around for the romance, but the interactions between Elena and her friends equally satisfied me.
I would highly recommend this book for a quick read–it took me a little over 3 hours–or for anyone who wants to read a book about traveling. The towns and cities were expertly described, and at the end of the book, it mentions that Jellen had traveled to many of the cities. This made the book come to life even more for me because I knew everything wasn’t just made up. It almost makes me want to visit Spain and the many cities depicted in the book.
I have nothing bad to say about this book except that I wish there were more pages to read! I will also be sure to pick up some of the other books in the S.A.S.S. series and give them a read.
May 27, 2014
Pros: Elena takes an exciting opportunity to study for a semester in San Sebastian, Spain. I found it unique that her inspiration to go was mainly to do something that her siblings had not already done and set herself apart from them. She feels like she is constantly in the shadow of her very intelligent siblings and in the story she finds that her creativity is what makes her exquisite in her own way. Elena finds that her new friends and family, including great aunt Elena, best friend Jenna, guy best friend Alex, and love interest Miguel, are willing to help her express her passion of play writing. There also is a classic opposites attract friendship between Elena and Jenna. Elena is very quiet and reserved around everyone, whereas Jenna is much more outgoing and flirtatious. Elena becomes more open to exotic and new things because of how much Jenna rubbed off on her and they do a bunch of fun things together like going to tapas bars, watching flamenco dancers, going to a bull fight, and even taking an adventurous trip to Madrid for a weekend. In the end, Elena finds out who she is while in Spain, just as she had wanted all along, and she realizes that she is talented and wonderful in her own way.
Cons: Like in many stories, there is love interest drama between Elena and Miguel and it is quite predictable and dull. They go through the classic stages of does he/she like me, I think they feel the same way, and then the well known misunderstanding leading to confusion. Of course it ends in Elena and Miguel falling for each other and telling how they feel creating a relationship, only to have to say goodbye the next day, and possibly never see each other again. Another bizarre relationship in the story was the one between Elena and Alex. They meet each other and instantaneously become friends because they live in a similar area of California and both also have a passion for play writing, acting, and directing. They have small instances during the trip where they seem to be more than friends or are just acting out of character towards each other, which makes the story seem choppy and like it had not been looked over thoroughly.
Recommendation: In this story I got to learn a lot about the culture of Spain, as well as their gorgeous art and architecture. So if anyone is the slightest bit interested about what it would be like to live there for a semester abroad they should absolutely read this book. It helps people learn about the food, architecture, and how it would be to live with a kind host family, which often seems intimidating but this book gives a nice viewpoint of how that could be. I found that the lifestyle there is very intriguing because it is easy going and not rushed, unlike the lifestyle in the US of constantly being in hasty just to get to the next thing. The tapas bars, cafes, boating, and relaxing on the beaches seem very welcoming and made me interested in to hopefully going to Spain one day myself. Overall it is a nice book for anyone interested in a leisurely read or who loves learning about other cultures and lifestyles. I would absolutely recommend this book.
Cons: Like in many stories, there is love interest drama between Elena and Miguel and it is quite predictable and dull. They go through the classic stages of does he/she like me, I think they feel the same way, and then the well known misunderstanding leading to confusion. Of course it ends in Elena and Miguel falling for each other and telling how they feel creating a relationship, only to have to say goodbye the next day, and possibly never see each other again. Another bizarre relationship in the story was the one between Elena and Alex. They meet each other and instantaneously become friends because they live in a similar area of California and both also have a passion for play writing, acting, and directing. They have small instances during the trip where they seem to be more than friends or are just acting out of character towards each other, which makes the story seem choppy and like it had not been looked over thoroughly.
Recommendation: In this story I got to learn a lot about the culture of Spain, as well as their gorgeous art and architecture. So if anyone is the slightest bit interested about what it would be like to live there for a semester abroad they should absolutely read this book. It helps people learn about the food, architecture, and how it would be to live with a kind host family, which often seems intimidating but this book gives a nice viewpoint of how that could be. I found that the lifestyle there is very intriguing because it is easy going and not rushed, unlike the lifestyle in the US of constantly being in hasty just to get to the next thing. The tapas bars, cafes, boating, and relaxing on the beaches seem very welcoming and made me interested in to hopefully going to Spain one day myself. Overall it is a nice book for anyone interested in a leisurely read or who loves learning about other cultures and lifestyles. I would absolutely recommend this book.
December 31, 2010
By the time i wrote this i still on chapter 6. Tapi sejauh ini ceritanya bagus walopun ttg remaja (Elena) 16 tahun yg ikut international summer class di Spain. Bahasanya ringan ga terlalu susah (baca: harus bolak balik buka kamus). Ngebayangin apakah gw bisa seberani Elena kalo msh 16 tahun mesti pergi sendiri ke negri orang, tinggal sama org asing yg ngurusin makanan/kebutuhan sehari-hari kita, pdhl sama keluarga sendiri aja suka sungkan :p
Yang pasti berhasil bikin aku ngiri pengen (banget banget) pergi ke Spain!!! Rumah(Elena tinggal di Apartemen) deket pantai, cowo spain yg cute and summer class (learn about subject that u love) i'm so going to switch place with Elena not to mention she also live in California..aahhh..
Kebiasaannn gw ga bisa inget nama2 tempat (ingetnya cm Tapas yaitu tmp si Elena hang out pertama kali bareng temen2nya, lucu loh kita ngambil sendiri makanan/minuman yg pengen disantap, sistemnya 'kepercayaan' dasar org Eropa) dan disini toko2 juga tutup kalo siang2 karena mereka pengen nikmatin makan siang dan setelah itu tidur siang!! That's not gonna happen in America for sure!..
I'll continue my reading and try remember the place/people name..uugghh..
The Cruzes that's their name! Akhir cerita Happy End tapi sedikit ngegantung, what happen next with Elena and Miguel, are they going to Long Distance Relationship or what? Alex with Jenna, kalo mrk mah sama2 balik ke Amrik.. Jadi males beli yg lain kalo ngegantung gini.. :( >> but i think it's doesn't matter krn fokus cerita sebnrnya kan bukan itu yak..kekekekke...
Yang pasti berhasil bikin aku ngiri pengen (banget banget) pergi ke Spain!!! Rumah(Elena tinggal di Apartemen) deket pantai, cowo spain yg cute and summer class (learn about subject that u love) i'm so going to switch place with Elena not to mention she also live in California..aahhh..
Kebiasaannn gw ga bisa inget nama2 tempat (ingetnya cm Tapas yaitu tmp si Elena hang out pertama kali bareng temen2nya, lucu loh kita ngambil sendiri makanan/minuman yg pengen disantap, sistemnya 'kepercayaan' dasar org Eropa) dan disini toko2 juga tutup kalo siang2 karena mereka pengen nikmatin makan siang dan setelah itu tidur siang!! That's not gonna happen in America for sure!..
I'll continue my reading and try remember the place/people name..uugghh..
The Cruzes that's their name! Akhir cerita Happy End tapi sedikit ngegantung, what happen next with Elena and Miguel, are they going to Long Distance Relationship or what? Alex with Jenna, kalo mrk mah sama2 balik ke Amrik.. Jadi males beli yg lain kalo ngegantung gini.. :( >> but i think it's doesn't matter krn fokus cerita sebnrnya kan bukan itu yak..kekekekke...
June 8, 2011
Much more like it. I mean, the last book I read in the series (Pardon my French) was just so unParisian. Now, Elena Holloway experiences a great time in San Sebastian, Spain. It had so much Spanish and detail about Spanish food, Spanish tradition etc.
Pardon My French by Cathy Hapka was pretty much a normal time in Paris like a day with a teenage girl like all the boring boyfriend business (:|) and all the bias. I mean, some people like crepes, and according to her, crepes taste awful, which is pretty much to only some people.
Spain or Shine had her experience around Spain, except for the theatre, yet she was to study it. However, Miguel wasn't a very fun part to read. Especially the last part.
I wouldn't exactly recommend it 'cause I still didn't find it like Heart and Salsa.
3 ***s!
Pardon My French by Cathy Hapka was pretty much a normal time in Paris like a day with a teenage girl like all the boring boyfriend business (:|) and all the bias. I mean, some people like crepes, and according to her, crepes taste awful, which is pretty much to only some people.
Spain or Shine had her experience around Spain, except for the theatre, yet she was to study it. However, Miguel wasn't a very fun part to read. Especially the last part.
I wouldn't exactly recommend it 'cause I still didn't find it like Heart and Salsa.
3 ***s!
June 28, 2012
Another great addition to the SASS series. These books make me want to travel all over! I loved this one especially because I could relate to Elena's desire to get in touch with her Spanish heritage. Just like her, I am also of Spanish descent, and my great-grandparents were actually from Mataro, a town close to Barcelona. Through this book, I got to experience a little bit of Spanish culture.
As with all the SASS books, Spain or Shine does an excellent job of immersing you within the culture of the country. Elena learns what tapas is, goes to watch flamenco dancers, and finds out that the siesta is not a myth! Along the way she makes some excellent friends, meets a very dashing Spanish boy, and learns that she can be in the spotlight sometimes.
This is a really fun read, really great for girls (though boys may enjoy it too). Each book in the series is a story of self-empowerment and discovery , both personally and culturally. Not to be missed, Spain or Shine is a great read for the summer (And check out the whole series as well)!
As with all the SASS books, Spain or Shine does an excellent job of immersing you within the culture of the country. Elena learns what tapas is, goes to watch flamenco dancers, and finds out that the siesta is not a myth! Along the way she makes some excellent friends, meets a very dashing Spanish boy, and learns that she can be in the spotlight sometimes.
This is a really fun read, really great for girls (though boys may enjoy it too). Each book in the series is a story of self-empowerment and discovery , both personally and culturally. Not to be missed, Spain or Shine is a great read for the summer (And check out the whole series as well)!
Read
April 3, 2012Overshadowed by her other siblings, Elena feels like she never stands out. So she takes a once in a lifetime opportunity to study for a semester in San Sebastian, Spain. In Spain, she quickly becomes friends with outgoing Jenna, which leads her to experience many new things in Spain, from visiting Tapas bars to relaxing on the beach everyday. But Elena also has her playwriting on her mind as she wants her play to be selected to be performed for the school. Adding to her stress is the cute boy Miguel she has her eyes on. But when Elena meets her namesake, her great aunt Elena, things seem to make sense and Elena learns that she shouldn't feel hidden by other people. This book was suggested to me for middle school. No way. There is underage drinking and suggestions of topless sunbathing. Better off for high school.
May 31, 2016
I first read this book in high school and it fueled my dreams of studying abroad and visiting Spain. Now 5+ years out of high school, I still find it as enjoyable and fun to read. The writer did a good job with setting the scene and explaining the culture and customs. I could relate a lot to Elena in so many ways; just like her I'm shy, a dreamer, and have a bad habit of not paying enough attention at times (and like her, I'm not eager to show people this side of me). Although I never got a chance to study abroad, I have since traveled solo and could relate to her in even more ways now. I would recommend this book to middle school and high school students.
February 1, 2009
This was a VERY good book, i loved it, is part of the S.A.S.S (students/across the/seven/seas) series, where a student travels to some other foriegn country to study abroad, (they are all in high school or collage), anyway, this gir named Elena Holleway goes to Spain for her country, she is part spanish, so she wanted tpo explore her heratige. When she gets there she finds a cute boy, and meets some wild, but great, new friends, and learns who she is as her passion for theatre flourishes. READ ITT:)
January 27, 2008
Elena goes on a trip to Spain and hopes that it helps her stand out from her straight A siblings. She thought of this trip as a dream which comes true. (This trip was a school program which her best friend couldn't go because she couldn't keep her grade above a C.) But on this trip Elena goes to the beach, school, partying, and all. During this time she meets a boy named Miguel where she bumps into almost everywhere, and the fun has just begun...
Read
November 16, 2010elena has to make a play for her class, but she has to partner up with somone. She teams up with this guy and their script wins. So now they get to perform the play in front of a bunch of people. At first she gets the girl that was staying with her at her host house, Jenna, to do it, but when it comes time to perform she backs out and Elena does it. She finds out that the guy she likes, likes her back so then they like go out. When its time to leave she is all sad.
June 9, 2011
I liked this book. If I could give it 3.5 stars I would, it didn't quite warrant 4, but it was entertaining. This is the first of the SASS books that I've read, and I thought it was a cute, quick read. The story focuses on Elena a shy American teenager who spends a semester abroad in San Sebastián. She slowly comes out of her shell, and meets an awesome cast of supporting characters along the way. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick summer read!
January 20, 2012
i found myself in Elena - a daydreamer, a writer (wannabe), artistic and shy. in this book, i felt like i also traveled Spain with Elena. it was as if i am 5 years younger while reading this novel. it brought me back to my teenage years and it reminded me of dealing with teenage peers.
this novel is a must-read for teens especially those who love to travel and those who are stuck in their comfort zones.
this novel is a must-read for teens especially those who love to travel and those who are stuck in their comfort zones.
October 6, 2011
Elena can't wait to step out of her extraordinary siblings shadows and excel at something on her own. A trip to Spain is a way to be unique, explore her heritage, and immerse herself in playwriting, her passion. During her stay, she meets new friends and even finds a cute Spanish guy, but will she ever be able to say more than two words to him?
November 7, 2011
Amazing book!!....i soo loved it...Elena was totally on the loose in Spain...her boyfriend was such a big jerk to drug her like anything... Elena's so outgoing and friendly and fun just my type ...I love it! her friends were awesome .....Miguel was adorable ....i loved his personality! overall the book was awesome!
December 29, 2021
It has been a while since I read this book, though I can never forget how it reminded me the reasons why I wanted to go travel! The culture of Spain was painted beautifully by the author (personal opinion) and she made me so wanderlust that I wanted to borrow Doctor Who's Tardis just to go to Spain - even for an hour!
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