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The Silent Swan
Once upon a time – better known as “now” - Gabriel Pritz reigns as king of his high school. Easy grades, perfect baseball season, a pretty date for prom—he's coasting into a golden future. Until his parents demand he cook dinner once a week. Caught between kitchen fires and ballpark withdrawal, Gabe is thrown into Tam Swann's orbit. Hostile, friendless, and stubborn, she's exactly the sort of person he'd prefer to avoid.
Tam's sphere of influence expands beyond Gabe's sad domestic skills, rapidly invading everything from his favorite game to parts of his soul he didn't know existed. It's uncomfortable, it's hard work, it's...making him a better man. And that's just what she does to people she doesn't like. The better he gets to know her, the more he has to face the truth: this sharp, heart-breaking outcast is worth fighting for. How many families, fairy tales, and felons will he go through to ride to the rescue of the bravest person he's ever met?
Tam's sphere of influence expands beyond Gabe's sad domestic skills, rapidly invading everything from his favorite game to parts of his soul he didn't know existed. It's uncomfortable, it's hard work, it's...making him a better man. And that's just what she does to people she doesn't like. The better he gets to know her, the more he has to face the truth: this sharp, heart-breaking outcast is worth fighting for. How many families, fairy tales, and felons will he go through to ride to the rescue of the bravest person he's ever met?
422 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2013
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August 28, 2013
If you read any YA novel this year, make it this one. Absolutely amazing. Rarely have I seen such character growth and love and loyalty towards family as in this book.
Gabriel (Gabe) Pritz initially comes across as somewhat of a douche. He's king of the school, captain of the baseball team, planning his prom date. Great family, well off, great life. All of it taken for granted. There is not an ounce of gratitude that came across from this guy when I first started reading. The only thorn in his side is Tam Swann, foster kid, who recently started at his school. She's easily ignored, though, and he pretty much writes her off as difficult and not worth getting to know.
Impressively, the author also gives him a brain and a good set of morals, painting him as a gentleman when it comes to his girlfriend Kerry, always worried that he might go to far, sweating when her parents are near and busy making a good impression. This is a horny teenage boy, but he is also very careful in his affections towards Kerry. I also immediately liked Gabe's easy dynamics with his brothers, both older and younger. It felt natural and, despite the ribbing and mock-fighting, very loving.
When his mother announces to Gabe and his brothers that they will need to pitch in with cooking dinner (each of them once a week), Gabe is outraged. He also sucks at cooking and their early dinners are mostly a huge mess. Then Gabe happens to hear about Tam's excellent cooking skills and offers her a deal - she helps him with the dinner prep and he helps her with her math grade.
From there, the plot slowly unravels as Gabe realizes not all is as it seems and that his view of the world was seriously skewered. He learns that his mother is not as perfect as he thought, and that his father has some great insights that Gabe still needs to learn. I was impressed with the description of the relationship between Gabe's parents, and their handling of their children, demanding respect but doling it out as well.
The amount of character growth in this novel was absolutely astounding. As Gabe gets closer to Tam and sees behind the mask, sees the obstacles thrown in her way and the pain she has had to live with, his whole attitude changes and he starts to become her greatest champion. He exhibited a maturity that is unusual for a teenage boy in YA books, and I really found myself rooting for his characters, laughing and crying with him. As the struggles with the implications of Tam's influence in his life and begins to see the big picture, the transformation of this character is breathtaking.
The plot moves at a good pace, and while the entire book is told from Gabe's POV, we get sufficient insights into the other characters' motivations and actions.
The book pits privilege against poverty, selfishness of one girl against selflessness of another, and truth against lies. It's asking Gabe to see his friends for who they are and see that what he thought was truth might be a falsehood after all. It's demanding your attention from start to finish.
It's deep, it's heartbreaking, it's uplifting.
The writing flows naturally, the prose is perfectly fitted to the mind of a teenage baseball star, and the authentic tenor of the story gives the reader no choice but to be drawn in completely, waiting with bated breath for the next epiphany, the next step forward, the next turn in the plot.
The only thing that felt just a little bit unauthentic was the perfection of Tam Swann. Who could do anything and everything. Who was the glue that held her and her brothers together, who fought tooth and nail for what was right and who never wavered from her course, not even when temptation came knocking. And while Tam might have been just a little too perfect, I reminded myself that she was seen through the eyes of Gabe, who is possibly a little bit biased. As such, I was okay with her portrayal.
I read a lot of books. It's quite rare that one touches me so deeply such as this one, and remains with me long after I've closed my Nook.
I stumbled over this on Netgalley and feel blessed to have been given the opportunity by the publisher to read this outstanding book. While I didn't promise a positive review, this one gets all the stars.
Gabriel (Gabe) Pritz initially comes across as somewhat of a douche. He's king of the school, captain of the baseball team, planning his prom date. Great family, well off, great life. All of it taken for granted. There is not an ounce of gratitude that came across from this guy when I first started reading. The only thorn in his side is Tam Swann, foster kid, who recently started at his school. She's easily ignored, though, and he pretty much writes her off as difficult and not worth getting to know.
Impressively, the author also gives him a brain and a good set of morals, painting him as a gentleman when it comes to his girlfriend Kerry, always worried that he might go to far, sweating when her parents are near and busy making a good impression. This is a horny teenage boy, but he is also very careful in his affections towards Kerry. I also immediately liked Gabe's easy dynamics with his brothers, both older and younger. It felt natural and, despite the ribbing and mock-fighting, very loving.
When his mother announces to Gabe and his brothers that they will need to pitch in with cooking dinner (each of them once a week), Gabe is outraged. He also sucks at cooking and their early dinners are mostly a huge mess. Then Gabe happens to hear about Tam's excellent cooking skills and offers her a deal - she helps him with the dinner prep and he helps her with her math grade.
From there, the plot slowly unravels as Gabe realizes not all is as it seems and that his view of the world was seriously skewered. He learns that his mother is not as perfect as he thought, and that his father has some great insights that Gabe still needs to learn. I was impressed with the description of the relationship between Gabe's parents, and their handling of their children, demanding respect but doling it out as well.
The amount of character growth in this novel was absolutely astounding. As Gabe gets closer to Tam and sees behind the mask, sees the obstacles thrown in her way and the pain she has had to live with, his whole attitude changes and he starts to become her greatest champion. He exhibited a maturity that is unusual for a teenage boy in YA books, and I really found myself rooting for his characters, laughing and crying with him. As the struggles with the implications of Tam's influence in his life and begins to see the big picture, the transformation of this character is breathtaking.
The plot moves at a good pace, and while the entire book is told from Gabe's POV, we get sufficient insights into the other characters' motivations and actions.
The book pits privilege against poverty, selfishness of one girl against selflessness of another, and truth against lies. It's asking Gabe to see his friends for who they are and see that what he thought was truth might be a falsehood after all. It's demanding your attention from start to finish.
It's deep, it's heartbreaking, it's uplifting.
The writing flows naturally, the prose is perfectly fitted to the mind of a teenage baseball star, and the authentic tenor of the story gives the reader no choice but to be drawn in completely, waiting with bated breath for the next epiphany, the next step forward, the next turn in the plot.
The only thing that felt just a little bit unauthentic was the perfection of Tam Swann. Who could do anything and everything. Who was the glue that held her and her brothers together, who fought tooth and nail for what was right and who never wavered from her course, not even when temptation came knocking. And while Tam might have been just a little too perfect, I reminded myself that she was seen through the eyes of Gabe, who is possibly a little bit biased. As such, I was okay with her portrayal.
I read a lot of books. It's quite rare that one touches me so deeply such as this one, and remains with me long after I've closed my Nook.
I stumbled over this on Netgalley and feel blessed to have been given the opportunity by the publisher to read this outstanding book. While I didn't promise a positive review, this one gets all the stars.
July 24, 2013
I’ve read a lot of books. Good books, bad books, and an absolute heap of mediocre books. Honestly the really good books are hard to find. Stories that have intriguing and realistic characters coupled with a plot full of interesting settings and situations, all held together with an excellent writing voice. A rare and particular recipe that is difficult to pull off and won’t please everyone.
The Silent Swan is one of these good books. The writing is tight, the pacing is well done, the story compelling, and best of all, it possesses an incredibly diverse and intriguing cast of characters. I loved each and every one of Gabe’s brothers as if they were one of my own and rooted for Tam’s more and more as the story progressed. The brilliance and accuracy of the glimpse allowed into Gabe’s mind through the story often left me feeling the same emotions as he was, whether that emotion was attraction and interest or rage and chivalry. All of these elements were woven together into a beautiful tale of fighting for one’s family.
I love this story. Yes, I’ll happily admit that as a young man in his early 20’s. It has all of the trappings and substance of an excellent story with a delightfully flavorful dose of brotherhood. I highly recommend this book and am overjoyed that y’all get the chance to share in this experience with me.
The Silent Swan is one of these good books. The writing is tight, the pacing is well done, the story compelling, and best of all, it possesses an incredibly diverse and intriguing cast of characters. I loved each and every one of Gabe’s brothers as if they were one of my own and rooted for Tam’s more and more as the story progressed. The brilliance and accuracy of the glimpse allowed into Gabe’s mind through the story often left me feeling the same emotions as he was, whether that emotion was attraction and interest or rage and chivalry. All of these elements were woven together into a beautiful tale of fighting for one’s family.
I love this story. Yes, I’ll happily admit that as a young man in his early 20’s. It has all of the trappings and substance of an excellent story with a delightfully flavorful dose of brotherhood. I highly recommend this book and am overjoyed that y’all get the chance to share in this experience with me.
August 10, 2013
There were quite a few great reviews for this one already when I first saw the ARC of this, which is why I took the chance and requested it.
I would love to say that I was able to jump right into this one and love it from the very beginning but that sadly just wasn't the case.
The writing was a bit all over the place, it jumped around and the MC never really seemed to form coherent thoughts. It jumped around a lot and I never quite felt like I had a grasp on exactly what was going on. Was this the cause of being suck inside the head of an adolescent teenage boy? Possibly. Maybe in reality, it was actually very realistic. I have no clue. Either way, it took me awhile to get use to the writing style and finally feel like I really understood Gabe and his seemingly, easily distracted thought processes. I think it didn't help that we sort of jumped into his life and all the chaos that ensued from having four very active and equally crazy, brothers under one roof.
Was there a great story under all the maddening chaos? Absolutely. In fact Tam and her home life (or lack thereof) was very endearing. She was aloof and distant and very hard to like but under all that roughness was a girl very much wanting to be loved and wanting to take care of her brothers. In essence, there was a lot under that gruff exterior that just had to be polished up so it could shine.
I would love to say I fell in love with Gabe but I never did quite connect with him the way I was hoping that I would but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He was a good character and he did grow a lot throughout the story, which is always a plus in my book. And he did do a world of good for Tam in the end. He never gave up on her even when she wasn't easy to put up with and I have to give the boy props for that. I just wish this would have been a little easier to follow and comprehend at times. I never was able to fall into the story and get lost but I did enjoy the way that it picked up at the end and all of the characters growth throughout the story.
Overall this was a sweet story about two people coming together and helping one another in the only way they know how. Changing for the better and letting others end and knowing when to ask for help and letting others help you as well as helping them.
I would love to say that I was able to jump right into this one and love it from the very beginning but that sadly just wasn't the case.
The writing was a bit all over the place, it jumped around and the MC never really seemed to form coherent thoughts. It jumped around a lot and I never quite felt like I had a grasp on exactly what was going on. Was this the cause of being suck inside the head of an adolescent teenage boy? Possibly. Maybe in reality, it was actually very realistic. I have no clue. Either way, it took me awhile to get use to the writing style and finally feel like I really understood Gabe and his seemingly, easily distracted thought processes. I think it didn't help that we sort of jumped into his life and all the chaos that ensued from having four very active and equally crazy, brothers under one roof.
Was there a great story under all the maddening chaos? Absolutely. In fact Tam and her home life (or lack thereof) was very endearing. She was aloof and distant and very hard to like but under all that roughness was a girl very much wanting to be loved and wanting to take care of her brothers. In essence, there was a lot under that gruff exterior that just had to be polished up so it could shine.
I would love to say I fell in love with Gabe but I never did quite connect with him the way I was hoping that I would but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He was a good character and he did grow a lot throughout the story, which is always a plus in my book. And he did do a world of good for Tam in the end. He never gave up on her even when she wasn't easy to put up with and I have to give the boy props for that. I just wish this would have been a little easier to follow and comprehend at times. I never was able to fall into the story and get lost but I did enjoy the way that it picked up at the end and all of the characters growth throughout the story.
Overall this was a sweet story about two people coming together and helping one another in the only way they know how. Changing for the better and letting others end and knowing when to ask for help and letting others help you as well as helping them.
November 14, 2013
NOTE: I received the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This novel rendered me speechless. Good news? I don't feel depressed that it's over. It left so many incredibly deep feelings inside of me, that I can only say I'm grateful for the journey.
Also, I had no idea it was a retelling of a fairy tale until the very end. In this case, it was a good thing, because I couldn't go on comparing the stories at all.
There's a lot that needs to be addressed about The Silent Swan. Mainly because it was just incredibly well written, the characters were developed in a realistic way, with depth and color, and I just fell in love with everyone (minus Kerry or however her name was spelt).
To be honest, I don't know where to begin. I guess I'll talk about the story first, then stop at the characters. It's going to be difficult though, so bear with me.
This must be the only novel where the lead characters don't even kiss. Don't get disappointed though, the pressure and passion between them is buzzing throughout the book in a way that can't be ignored. I actually loved this development. You'd ask why. Well, have you ever tried to express your feelings without the ease of a kiss? Or an intimate touch? Try it and let's see how successful you'd be. Gabriel and Tam though... these two rocked the boat. Not a kiss, just a fleeting touch from time to time, but boy was there love. And this love grew stronger with each page, until it all climaxed in the final chapter. I just can't effectively describe the feeling of pure euphoria this romance left in me. It was pure and innocent and just so touching! *sigh, swoon, fall*
Something else I rarely see in books is the real, tangible presence of Gabe's parents. Arnold and (I believe it was) Amelia (or close to that) Pritz had five sons, one of them adopted. Those boys could make any parent proud. They were respectful of their parents most of the time, and of each other. Sure they had their brotherly 'fights', but that's only natural. I was amazed at the way Arnold disciplined his sons, how he demanded honor was shown to his wife at all times, how he set rules and everyone obeyed out of sheer respect. It was truly amazing, in a loving kind of way. I simply adored that family, the Pritzes. They were well liked in the community, had connections and were respected.
Then there was Tam Swann's family. Her parents were no longer alive, and she and her brothers (seven I believe) were 'taken care of' by the foster care system. There were lots of legal terms that I didn't understand about each of the Swann's cases, but none of them hindered the story. And those boys... they were sweethearts. Deprived of a real family, they all jumped foster homes, in hopes that perhaps someday they'd be together. All of them. They seemed to only feel safe with their sister, who fought with everything she had to get to see them often. To be able to hug them, comfort them. My heart was constantly in need for stitches, because the pain those kids went through tore it to pieces time and time again.
There was lots of baseball in this book. If I'm not wrong, at least ten games were featured - some in full, others partially. And let me tell you, I don't know anything about baseball, but I learned a lot. And I actually think I may get to like it. At least I saw how a sport can teach discipline, order, passion, love, control... It was simply unexplainable and I'm in complete admiration of this author.
Now let's talk characters.
I'm starting off with Gabe, who was not a favorite of mine in the beginning. He was cocky and full of himself. He didn't appreciate any of the things he had - and he had a lot. He took everything for granted - his family, his friends, his carefree life, the girls that circulated him... But then things changed when Tam Swann entered his life. She didn't give a crap about Gabe, and he was definitely NOT used to that sort of treatment. She was bold, honest, responsible. And she could cook - which proved to be very important. Gabriel's mom was promoted to a position which required more work at work and less work at home. Which left all five sons to cook dinner during the week. So, Gabe, with his cockiness and ego, proposed Tam a deal - she'd teach him to cook, he'd tutor her in math. And that's basically how it began between them.
But the beginning had nothing to do with the end. Because by the end, there was nothing left of the Gabe we met on page one. He'd grown so much with every turn this story took, that he wasn't easy to recognize. He started realizing that his view of the world isn't exactly accurate. He used to think that he ruled the world - what with being captain of the baseball team and a rising star and all; that being beautiful automatically meant you were good within (talking about his girlfriend Kerry); that his mom was perfect in everything; that he didn't need anyone outside his circle of people. Well, by the end of the story, he'd had his perspective changed. He realized that most of the time he had been wrong in his decisions, and had to amend his ways and attitude.
One thing that didn't change in him though was the respect he felt for whoever girl he was wooing at the moment. This is true with Kerry and with Tam too. No matter how much he wanted to kiss or touch the girl, he was too afraid that he'd cross a boundary he wasn't allowed near. At one point Kerry even called him a prude, but that only made me like him more. Because he wasn't the kind of guy who'd push a girl to sleep with him, because he wanted it. He was the kind of guy who'd keep a tissue in his pocket, so he'd keep his hands occupied. I just wish those kinds of guys weren't just fictional. Our world has a great need of them.
And then there's Tamryn, Tam for short. She was a puzzle of a thousand pieces and since we followed Gabe's thoughts not hers, it was both fascinating and impossibly difficult to figure her out. One thing that was obvious from the very beginning though was her love for her family. Not only what was left of it, but also her parents. To her, their deaths didn't mean they had to be forgotten. She constantly tried to keep them alive, not only in her mind, but also in her brothers'. The youngest ones barely remembered their father, but Tam made it her purpose to have them remember. She taught them the family song, their father's moves in baseball and lots of other things that the foster parents resented (which I didn't understand at all!)
Tam was hardworking, concentrated on her goals, whatever they were. She was honest, giving, beautiful in every meaning of the word. Her heart was breathtaking. Her mind was exquisite. I just can't put into words how special she truly was. And I saw her heart breaking every time she pushed Gabe away. I just felt for this girl, you know? Like she was a close friend that I personally know.
In conclusion I can only say that the journey The Silent Swan put me through was worth every minute of my time. It had euphoric highs and lows that had me tearful. I can say that reading it has made me realize that beauty is hidden in the most unexpected places.
This novel rendered me speechless. Good news? I don't feel depressed that it's over. It left so many incredibly deep feelings inside of me, that I can only say I'm grateful for the journey.
Also, I had no idea it was a retelling of a fairy tale until the very end. In this case, it was a good thing, because I couldn't go on comparing the stories at all.
There's a lot that needs to be addressed about The Silent Swan. Mainly because it was just incredibly well written, the characters were developed in a realistic way, with depth and color, and I just fell in love with everyone (minus Kerry or however her name was spelt).
To be honest, I don't know where to begin. I guess I'll talk about the story first, then stop at the characters. It's going to be difficult though, so bear with me.
This must be the only novel where the lead characters don't even kiss. Don't get disappointed though, the pressure and passion between them is buzzing throughout the book in a way that can't be ignored. I actually loved this development. You'd ask why. Well, have you ever tried to express your feelings without the ease of a kiss? Or an intimate touch? Try it and let's see how successful you'd be. Gabriel and Tam though... these two rocked the boat. Not a kiss, just a fleeting touch from time to time, but boy was there love. And this love grew stronger with each page, until it all climaxed in the final chapter. I just can't effectively describe the feeling of pure euphoria this romance left in me. It was pure and innocent and just so touching! *sigh, swoon, fall*
Something else I rarely see in books is the real, tangible presence of Gabe's parents. Arnold and (I believe it was) Amelia (or close to that) Pritz had five sons, one of them adopted. Those boys could make any parent proud. They were respectful of their parents most of the time, and of each other. Sure they had their brotherly 'fights', but that's only natural. I was amazed at the way Arnold disciplined his sons, how he demanded honor was shown to his wife at all times, how he set rules and everyone obeyed out of sheer respect. It was truly amazing, in a loving kind of way. I simply adored that family, the Pritzes. They were well liked in the community, had connections and were respected.
Then there was Tam Swann's family. Her parents were no longer alive, and she and her brothers (seven I believe) were 'taken care of' by the foster care system. There were lots of legal terms that I didn't understand about each of the Swann's cases, but none of them hindered the story. And those boys... they were sweethearts. Deprived of a real family, they all jumped foster homes, in hopes that perhaps someday they'd be together. All of them. They seemed to only feel safe with their sister, who fought with everything she had to get to see them often. To be able to hug them, comfort them. My heart was constantly in need for stitches, because the pain those kids went through tore it to pieces time and time again.
There was lots of baseball in this book. If I'm not wrong, at least ten games were featured - some in full, others partially. And let me tell you, I don't know anything about baseball, but I learned a lot. And I actually think I may get to like it. At least I saw how a sport can teach discipline, order, passion, love, control... It was simply unexplainable and I'm in complete admiration of this author.
Now let's talk characters.
I'm starting off with Gabe, who was not a favorite of mine in the beginning. He was cocky and full of himself. He didn't appreciate any of the things he had - and he had a lot. He took everything for granted - his family, his friends, his carefree life, the girls that circulated him... But then things changed when Tam Swann entered his life. She didn't give a crap about Gabe, and he was definitely NOT used to that sort of treatment. She was bold, honest, responsible. And she could cook - which proved to be very important. Gabriel's mom was promoted to a position which required more work at work and less work at home. Which left all five sons to cook dinner during the week. So, Gabe, with his cockiness and ego, proposed Tam a deal - she'd teach him to cook, he'd tutor her in math. And that's basically how it began between them.
But the beginning had nothing to do with the end. Because by the end, there was nothing left of the Gabe we met on page one. He'd grown so much with every turn this story took, that he wasn't easy to recognize. He started realizing that his view of the world isn't exactly accurate. He used to think that he ruled the world - what with being captain of the baseball team and a rising star and all; that being beautiful automatically meant you were good within (talking about his girlfriend Kerry); that his mom was perfect in everything; that he didn't need anyone outside his circle of people. Well, by the end of the story, he'd had his perspective changed. He realized that most of the time he had been wrong in his decisions, and had to amend his ways and attitude.
One thing that didn't change in him though was the respect he felt for whoever girl he was wooing at the moment. This is true with Kerry and with Tam too. No matter how much he wanted to kiss or touch the girl, he was too afraid that he'd cross a boundary he wasn't allowed near. At one point Kerry even called him a prude, but that only made me like him more. Because he wasn't the kind of guy who'd push a girl to sleep with him, because he wanted it. He was the kind of guy who'd keep a tissue in his pocket, so he'd keep his hands occupied. I just wish those kinds of guys weren't just fictional. Our world has a great need of them.
And then there's Tamryn, Tam for short. She was a puzzle of a thousand pieces and since we followed Gabe's thoughts not hers, it was both fascinating and impossibly difficult to figure her out. One thing that was obvious from the very beginning though was her love for her family. Not only what was left of it, but also her parents. To her, their deaths didn't mean they had to be forgotten. She constantly tried to keep them alive, not only in her mind, but also in her brothers'. The youngest ones barely remembered their father, but Tam made it her purpose to have them remember. She taught them the family song, their father's moves in baseball and lots of other things that the foster parents resented (which I didn't understand at all!)
Tam was hardworking, concentrated on her goals, whatever they were. She was honest, giving, beautiful in every meaning of the word. Her heart was breathtaking. Her mind was exquisite. I just can't put into words how special she truly was. And I saw her heart breaking every time she pushed Gabe away. I just felt for this girl, you know? Like she was a close friend that I personally know.
In conclusion I can only say that the journey The Silent Swan put me through was worth every minute of my time. It had euphoric highs and lows that had me tearful. I can say that reading it has made me realize that beauty is hidden in the most unexpected places.
November 12, 2013
4.5/5.0
Ms. Keating writes a fantastic coming of age story of the relationship between a boy who has everything and a girl who’s lost it all.
Read full review in the November 2013 issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Ms. Keating writes a fantastic coming of age story of the relationship between a boy who has everything and a girl who’s lost it all.
Read full review in the November 2013 issue of InD’tale Magazine.
September 16, 2013
An ARC copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher as part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.
I really wasn't sure what to expect before reading this book. It sounded like a sort of general young adult contemporary about a budding relationship. I quickly found out it was nothing but general. The Silent Swan is an extremely touching and unique story about a high school student council president (Gabe AKA Mr. Popular) and his non-friendship with classmate Tamryn. At first I thought Gabe would be a jerk, a sort of typical popular baseball type jock. Nothing could be further from that. Gabe's a genuinely great guy. He's got a huge family (all brothers) and he was brought up well. It was so refreshing to see the two main characters be responsible, moral, good kids! I can't tell you how awesome it was. They felt real though, they weren't flawless and you could tell they were in high school, just super mature. I liked that a lot.
In fact one of the things that had me so engrossed in the story (I read it in one day! 500+ pages!) were the characters. I never played baseball in the strict sense. Of course I've played games for fun, but besides the basics I don't know the game well. There is a lot of baseball terminology but I could follow it because the characters made it easy. Gabe was the all star baseball player who played baseball and it was his life during the season. Tamryn's father was a pro baseball player and her and her brothers play as a family. I think because the characters were so relatable and easy to understand-- it was only natural that I could follow their main passion -- baseball. Gabe was amazing. I loved being in his head. He's just a genuinely wonderful young man and I loved reading about him and his family. Tam was a really complex character. I felt like I was always figuring her out and calculating things with her. Even up until the end I was not sure what she was hiding. She was an enigma, but she brought out the best in others' (most notably, Gabe).
I adored the development of Gabe's feelings for Tam. It wasn't like oh, they end up going to prom together and it ends happily ever after that. Prom was a mess (do they go together or not?). It was complicated, messy, and very real. I can't stress enough how real it felt. Life is so dang frustrating sometimes, and that frustration was a running theme in this book. The frustration of life, and the joys and sorrows as well. The hierarchy of high school was shown, but not in an extreme way. Yes, there was bullying and dishonesty-- but people were always standing up for it or being honest about the surrounding dishonesty. At least, Gabe and Tam were.
The only real critique I had was in the beginning of the book. The story just kind of gets dumped out super fast. I mean, character names and things happening so fast I couldn't make heads or tails of it. I was worried I'd feel behind the entire novel, constantly rereading pages trying to piece together a puzzle with some invisible pieces. However, once I got all the Printz boys straight (took a bit), and most of Gabe's friends and the Swanns' - the problem disappeared and I could follow nicely.
I loved the way things unfolded and the natural dialogue between all of the characters. I only have one brother, but reading this book gave me the feeling that I know exactly what it's like to live in a house full of boys. :) the strength of the sibling bond (by blood or foster care / adoption) was a prominent theme in this novel. I really hadn't thought of many of the things that were brought up. For instance, does the "system" encourage foster families to replace blood relations by not allowing the, to stick together or visit often? I could definitely see both sides of it, which I think was the authors' intention. We have Gabe's family who adopted and have totally integrated a stereotypically bad foster kid case, but then we have Tam and her family situation which is anything but stereotypical. Yet, st the end of the book we see high value in both. I really enjoyed that.
All in all; The Silent Swan was a solid, great contemporary Ya novel. I'll read anything this writer writes. I loved the epilogue and could even have done with a little more at the end. Just an extension. Another dinner, something. But maybe I'm just being greedy.
[ I recommend this book to people who enjoyed [book:The Sea of Tranquility|16151178]. It's a completely different story, but a love story at it's heart. ]
I really wasn't sure what to expect before reading this book. It sounded like a sort of general young adult contemporary about a budding relationship. I quickly found out it was nothing but general. The Silent Swan is an extremely touching and unique story about a high school student council president (Gabe AKA Mr. Popular) and his non-friendship with classmate Tamryn. At first I thought Gabe would be a jerk, a sort of typical popular baseball type jock. Nothing could be further from that. Gabe's a genuinely great guy. He's got a huge family (all brothers) and he was brought up well. It was so refreshing to see the two main characters be responsible, moral, good kids! I can't tell you how awesome it was. They felt real though, they weren't flawless and you could tell they were in high school, just super mature. I liked that a lot.
In fact one of the things that had me so engrossed in the story (I read it in one day! 500+ pages!) were the characters. I never played baseball in the strict sense. Of course I've played games for fun, but besides the basics I don't know the game well. There is a lot of baseball terminology but I could follow it because the characters made it easy. Gabe was the all star baseball player who played baseball and it was his life during the season. Tamryn's father was a pro baseball player and her and her brothers play as a family. I think because the characters were so relatable and easy to understand-- it was only natural that I could follow their main passion -- baseball. Gabe was amazing. I loved being in his head. He's just a genuinely wonderful young man and I loved reading about him and his family. Tam was a really complex character. I felt like I was always figuring her out and calculating things with her. Even up until the end I was not sure what she was hiding. She was an enigma, but she brought out the best in others' (most notably, Gabe).
I adored the development of Gabe's feelings for Tam. It wasn't like oh, they end up going to prom together and it ends happily ever after that. Prom was a mess (do they go together or not?). It was complicated, messy, and very real. I can't stress enough how real it felt. Life is so dang frustrating sometimes, and that frustration was a running theme in this book. The frustration of life, and the joys and sorrows as well. The hierarchy of high school was shown, but not in an extreme way. Yes, there was bullying and dishonesty-- but people were always standing up for it or being honest about the surrounding dishonesty. At least, Gabe and Tam were.
The only real critique I had was in the beginning of the book. The story just kind of gets dumped out super fast. I mean, character names and things happening so fast I couldn't make heads or tails of it. I was worried I'd feel behind the entire novel, constantly rereading pages trying to piece together a puzzle with some invisible pieces. However, once I got all the Printz boys straight (took a bit), and most of Gabe's friends and the Swanns' - the problem disappeared and I could follow nicely.
I loved the way things unfolded and the natural dialogue between all of the characters. I only have one brother, but reading this book gave me the feeling that I know exactly what it's like to live in a house full of boys. :) the strength of the sibling bond (by blood or foster care / adoption) was a prominent theme in this novel. I really hadn't thought of many of the things that were brought up. For instance, does the "system" encourage foster families to replace blood relations by not allowing the, to stick together or visit often? I could definitely see both sides of it, which I think was the authors' intention. We have Gabe's family who adopted and have totally integrated a stereotypically bad foster kid case, but then we have Tam and her family situation which is anything but stereotypical. Yet, st the end of the book we see high value in both. I really enjoyed that.
All in all; The Silent Swan was a solid, great contemporary Ya novel. I'll read anything this writer writes. I loved the epilogue and could even have done with a little more at the end. Just an extension. Another dinner, something. But maybe I'm just being greedy.
[ I recommend this book to people who enjoyed [book:The Sea of Tranquility|16151178]. It's a completely different story, but a love story at it's heart. ]
September 13, 2013
My Thoughts:
Gabe is on student council, he’s amazing at baseball and he dates the prettiest girls. However, when his parents ask him to cook a family dinner once a week his life drastically changes when he must ask the school recluse to assist in his cooking.
Tam is a very different high school senior. She is amazing in the kitchen and has a sure hand when it comes to sowing. She’s also not the friendliest person in the world. She has a horde of brothers…and I think a sister or two thrown in…but due to some unfair life happenings they’ve all been kicked into the foster system and placed in different families. Tam is very misunderstood, but with the stubbornness of Gabe, she can’t hide out forever.
For the most part I enjoyed this book. It definitely has the feel of the popular white knight who sees the real person behind the scenes of the unpopular outcast. You get the popular girl who is beautiful and seemingly sweet, yet has a completely different side to her that no one ever saw before certain events happen.
However, some parts of the book were really hard to get through. I’m not a great person in the names department, so when you have Gabe, four brothers, Tam, 6 Swann siblings and then high school friends and adults to try to sort through and remember…it was almost impossible for me to keep them all straight. There were even places where I would read a name and think…is that Tam’s sibling? Is that a boy or a girl? I just can’t remember!! I probably should have brought out a note pad and then wrote down all of the names with a brief description so I could go back and reference it. But then again, should you really have to do that with a book?
I also thought the story stayed a bit flat for the most part. A lot of driving here or going to practice there and a lot of conversations that probably didn’t have to happen. The big situation between our popular girl and Tam…I really thought Gabe could have handled that differently, especially when he’s a senior in high school and doesn’t understand the legal system. If I would have found that out, I honestly would have gone right to my parents or another adult that I trusted to see how they would handle it. Adults would have had a better understanding of what the correct thing to do was…not wait forever and then just tell Tam. :-(
The cover of the story also threw me off a bit. The couple looks very loving and yet, there isn’t a lot of romance that actually happens between Gabe and Tam by the end of the book. I was expecting some kissing and cuddling.
I did like that the book was in Gabe’s POV. It was fun to be in the mind of a teenage boy, especially to see how funny it was to watch his reactions based on his hormones. LOL. So funny! I also liked his character for the most part. He had a good head on his shoulders and he didn’t always let his hormones dictate his actions, even when he struggled against them a lot.
I also loved Tam’s character. She is strong, smart, and is putting her family above all else. Even though her siblings are in different foster homes, she make sure to be apart of their life…by going to all of their games/activities and never missing a court appointed visit. She could have done things to go against the system and rebel, but she really was mature in how she handled things and showed wisdom beyond her years. It was far fetched with how mature she was, because it’s the cards that life had dealt her and she reacted one of the ways I would expect people to react.
Of course, there are a lot of references to the foster care system in this book and I thought it was unique that one of Gabe’s brothers was actually a foster kid that his family adopted. It helped him relate and understand Tam a bit better.
Overall:
I enjoyed the story and the development of Gabe’s character especially. I liked how both Gabe and Tam were very family oriented and I liked seeing the beautiful popular girl with evil intentions get her karma! I would highly suggest this to people who enjoy a great young adult novel and who can keep names straight easily! If you think it sounds like a good story, but you have trouble with names, I’d honestly suggest having a note pad to write little notes down for each character. It was sweet, it had me constantly thinking about what the next move or situation was going to be, and it contained a pretty kick ass girl who I think we all could respect!
Gabe is on student council, he’s amazing at baseball and he dates the prettiest girls. However, when his parents ask him to cook a family dinner once a week his life drastically changes when he must ask the school recluse to assist in his cooking.
Tam is a very different high school senior. She is amazing in the kitchen and has a sure hand when it comes to sowing. She’s also not the friendliest person in the world. She has a horde of brothers…and I think a sister or two thrown in…but due to some unfair life happenings they’ve all been kicked into the foster system and placed in different families. Tam is very misunderstood, but with the stubbornness of Gabe, she can’t hide out forever.
For the most part I enjoyed this book. It definitely has the feel of the popular white knight who sees the real person behind the scenes of the unpopular outcast. You get the popular girl who is beautiful and seemingly sweet, yet has a completely different side to her that no one ever saw before certain events happen.
However, some parts of the book were really hard to get through. I’m not a great person in the names department, so when you have Gabe, four brothers, Tam, 6 Swann siblings and then high school friends and adults to try to sort through and remember…it was almost impossible for me to keep them all straight. There were even places where I would read a name and think…is that Tam’s sibling? Is that a boy or a girl? I just can’t remember!! I probably should have brought out a note pad and then wrote down all of the names with a brief description so I could go back and reference it. But then again, should you really have to do that with a book?
I also thought the story stayed a bit flat for the most part. A lot of driving here or going to practice there and a lot of conversations that probably didn’t have to happen. The big situation between our popular girl and Tam…I really thought Gabe could have handled that differently, especially when he’s a senior in high school and doesn’t understand the legal system. If I would have found that out, I honestly would have gone right to my parents or another adult that I trusted to see how they would handle it. Adults would have had a better understanding of what the correct thing to do was…not wait forever and then just tell Tam. :-(
The cover of the story also threw me off a bit. The couple looks very loving and yet, there isn’t a lot of romance that actually happens between Gabe and Tam by the end of the book. I was expecting some kissing and cuddling.
I did like that the book was in Gabe’s POV. It was fun to be in the mind of a teenage boy, especially to see how funny it was to watch his reactions based on his hormones. LOL. So funny! I also liked his character for the most part. He had a good head on his shoulders and he didn’t always let his hormones dictate his actions, even when he struggled against them a lot.
I also loved Tam’s character. She is strong, smart, and is putting her family above all else. Even though her siblings are in different foster homes, she make sure to be apart of their life…by going to all of their games/activities and never missing a court appointed visit. She could have done things to go against the system and rebel, but she really was mature in how she handled things and showed wisdom beyond her years. It was far fetched with how mature she was, because it’s the cards that life had dealt her and she reacted one of the ways I would expect people to react.
Of course, there are a lot of references to the foster care system in this book and I thought it was unique that one of Gabe’s brothers was actually a foster kid that his family adopted. It helped him relate and understand Tam a bit better.
Overall:
I enjoyed the story and the development of Gabe’s character especially. I liked how both Gabe and Tam were very family oriented and I liked seeing the beautiful popular girl with evil intentions get her karma! I would highly suggest this to people who enjoy a great young adult novel and who can keep names straight easily! If you think it sounds like a good story, but you have trouble with names, I’d honestly suggest having a note pad to write little notes down for each character. It was sweet, it had me constantly thinking about what the next move or situation was going to be, and it contained a pretty kick ass girl who I think we all could respect!
June 28, 2015
Actual: 3.5 stars
This review is also posted on Thoughts and Pens
I might have given this book a 3.5 star but it wouldn’t stop me from saying that this is one of the best family books that I’ve read in my entire reading life. It was bittersweet. It was painful. It was sad. It was heartwarming.
The Silent Swan’s story revolves around the life of Tamryn Swann, a sensible 18 year old orphan whose main goal in life is to unite her family (her 5 brothers to be specific) after they got separated due to the five being sent to different foster homes. Gabriel Pritz, our male lead, got involved in Tamryn’s life due to a very simple reason; he wants someone to teach him how to cook. There was dislike between the two of them at first but as Gabe got immersed more and more deeply in Tamryn’s life, he realized that his concern was transforming into something else.
The Silent Swan’s story really moved me because Lex Keating was able to show the depth of familial bonds on this book. First, there was Gabe’s family. Instead of focusing on how wealthy they are, the story put more emphasis that despite being rich, they are also facing problems like normal people do. And it was really touching to see the camaraderie that they have even if they’re kicking each other’s balls. Second, there’s Tam’s family. Basically, she and her brothers were orphans and practically separated due to the foster care system. But it didn’t stop them to always grab the opportunity of being together and continue fighting the unjust rules the system has created. The Silent Swan’s plot was basically driven by Tam’s plight to rise from the misery of being an orphan and uniting her family. While I am writing this review, I can’t help but tear up. I can still remember how intense this book was that it’s hard to come up with coherent thoughts.
It really helped that The Silent Swan has characters that are worth rooting for. Tamryn is almost perfection. I love her courage, her sensibility, her love for her brother, her passion for everything that she does, her capableness. It’s as if she can do anything in the world whilst maintaining her compassion for the people around her. That’s my kind of heroine. Always focused on her priorities even if her heart is being disturbed by a male specie in the person of Gabe. Gabe is a nice guy, he might be little bit vain (because he’s wealthy after all) but I can overlook that because his true nature is: he is a true gentleman, he is just, he is compassionate, and most of all, he is a good son. If we talk about the secondary characters, they are heapsload of mostly likeable personalities. Mind you, there are a lot of characters in this book but I can totally differentiate them from one another. Even the few antagonists (Kerry, Aileen [in a way], Brian [in a way], the two bullies) in this book were convincing with the roles that they played. Lex Keating certainly knows the right recipe to create characters with emotional depth.
I was really enticed to give this book my most coveted 5 stars but I can’t ignore the three downfalls this book has. First, the romance of The Silent Swan was very minimal and it only developed at the last part of the book. The book cover kind of fooled me because it showed Tam and Gabe almost nosegrazing and one can assume that the book is more of a love story than a family story. What’s the point of that cover if I might ask? Although it’s hard to admit, Tam’s dramatic life literally dominated the overall story. The Silent Swan is just lucky that I appreciated following Tam’s life and it compensated for the mediocre romance. Second, Lex Keating’s manner of writing was a bit off putting. I don’t know how to explain it but there were a lot of times that I have to re-read passages because I am lost. I’m not sure if it’s about the transition or the dialogues or what. And third, the ending lacked a bang. There were even loose ends that weren’t wrapped up. The explanation about the mystery surrounding Aileen Pritz’ involvement with the Swann family was ambiguous. I was left speculating about the matter.
In an overall assessment, The Silent Swan is a heartrending tale that will surely get you invested.
*ARC was gotten from Netgalley. Thank you to the publisher*
This review is also posted on Thoughts and Pens
I might have given this book a 3.5 star but it wouldn’t stop me from saying that this is one of the best family books that I’ve read in my entire reading life. It was bittersweet. It was painful. It was sad. It was heartwarming.
The Silent Swan’s story revolves around the life of Tamryn Swann, a sensible 18 year old orphan whose main goal in life is to unite her family (her 5 brothers to be specific) after they got separated due to the five being sent to different foster homes. Gabriel Pritz, our male lead, got involved in Tamryn’s life due to a very simple reason; he wants someone to teach him how to cook. There was dislike between the two of them at first but as Gabe got immersed more and more deeply in Tamryn’s life, he realized that his concern was transforming into something else.
The Silent Swan’s story really moved me because Lex Keating was able to show the depth of familial bonds on this book. First, there was Gabe’s family. Instead of focusing on how wealthy they are, the story put more emphasis that despite being rich, they are also facing problems like normal people do. And it was really touching to see the camaraderie that they have even if they’re kicking each other’s balls. Second, there’s Tam’s family. Basically, she and her brothers were orphans and practically separated due to the foster care system. But it didn’t stop them to always grab the opportunity of being together and continue fighting the unjust rules the system has created. The Silent Swan’s plot was basically driven by Tam’s plight to rise from the misery of being an orphan and uniting her family. While I am writing this review, I can’t help but tear up. I can still remember how intense this book was that it’s hard to come up with coherent thoughts.
It really helped that The Silent Swan has characters that are worth rooting for. Tamryn is almost perfection. I love her courage, her sensibility, her love for her brother, her passion for everything that she does, her capableness. It’s as if she can do anything in the world whilst maintaining her compassion for the people around her. That’s my kind of heroine. Always focused on her priorities even if her heart is being disturbed by a male specie in the person of Gabe. Gabe is a nice guy, he might be little bit vain (because he’s wealthy after all) but I can overlook that because his true nature is: he is a true gentleman, he is just, he is compassionate, and most of all, he is a good son. If we talk about the secondary characters, they are heapsload of mostly likeable personalities. Mind you, there are a lot of characters in this book but I can totally differentiate them from one another. Even the few antagonists (Kerry, Aileen [in a way], Brian [in a way], the two bullies) in this book were convincing with the roles that they played. Lex Keating certainly knows the right recipe to create characters with emotional depth.
I was really enticed to give this book my most coveted 5 stars but I can’t ignore the three downfalls this book has. First, the romance of The Silent Swan was very minimal and it only developed at the last part of the book. The book cover kind of fooled me because it showed Tam and Gabe almost nosegrazing and one can assume that the book is more of a love story than a family story. What’s the point of that cover if I might ask? Although it’s hard to admit, Tam’s dramatic life literally dominated the overall story. The Silent Swan is just lucky that I appreciated following Tam’s life and it compensated for the mediocre romance. Second, Lex Keating’s manner of writing was a bit off putting. I don’t know how to explain it but there were a lot of times that I have to re-read passages because I am lost. I’m not sure if it’s about the transition or the dialogues or what. And third, the ending lacked a bang. There were even loose ends that weren’t wrapped up. The explanation about the mystery surrounding Aileen Pritz’ involvement with the Swann family was ambiguous. I was left speculating about the matter.
In an overall assessment, The Silent Swan is a heartrending tale that will surely get you invested.
*ARC was gotten from Netgalley. Thank you to the publisher*
September 5, 2013
She made his life better -- not simpler, but more full -- and she challenged his character. It was getting to where all roads led to Tam.
The Silent Swan was one of those books that slowly but surely snuck its way up on me. I admit that through the first section of the book, I wasn't completely taken in. There are a lot of people to meet and get your head around and I found the going a bit slow, but then just completely out of the blue I found myself getting drawn into this story and completely and utterly taken in by these characters.
Gabriel Pritz has a nice, neatly packaged life. He gets good grades at school, has a love of baseball, is incredibly popular, and the girl he likes has agreed to go to prom with him. But then his parents put in place the new rule that Gabe and his brothers will each have a night where they must cook dinner. Gabe has no idea how to cook and after a few near disasters Gabe enlists the help of Tamryn Swann. To say Tam is distant, stubborn and hard to get a handle on would be an understatement. But boy if she doesn't have her reasons.
The silent Swan was a longer read than a lot of Young Adult books, and while it is slowly paced, that allowed for time to really get to know the characters. Told from Gabe's point of view, him and Tam were where the story was mainly centred around, but Lex Keating has an amazing ability to write a story where at the end of reading it I felt like I knew each and every one of them and all of them played a special part in the story.
A familiar caged beast snarled whenever Tamryn's name was mentioned. Time alone with her was a supremely bad idea, regardless of whether she welcomed the attention. She might 'know' testosterone, but Gabe lived with it. Ate it, slept it, wanted very badly to corner her and exercise it.
This book would have to be one of the best that I have read that was so deep rooted in the love of family. I'm a sucker for a book that tugs at the heart strings and this tugged so hard that I was a complete goner!! Gabe and Tam both grew so much throughout the book. I was so smitten with Gabe by the end of it but I was also completely in love with Tam. She just had that effect on everyone.
All of the cooking throughout the book had me constantly drooling. Tam was a whizz in the kitchen and I loved the bonding that was done over food.
Baseball played a pretty big part in the story and it really appealed to my love of sport. Never having had much to do with baseball in my part of the world, I loved getting glimpses into the game and a better understanding. But it was always discussed in a way that a novice like me could understand. Towards the end of the book there was a pre-game speech that was just so perfectly done. I actually went back and read it a few times.
The Silent Swan is an emotional, touch your heart, but uplifting story of love, friendships and family. For me, it was also a story of the impact that one girl can have on so many lives, and a boy who is willing to do whatever it takes for his girl.
Toast. Lightly burned, heavily buttered, drizzled with honey. The girl was owned.
4.5/5 Stars.
The Silent Swan was one of those books that slowly but surely snuck its way up on me. I admit that through the first section of the book, I wasn't completely taken in. There are a lot of people to meet and get your head around and I found the going a bit slow, but then just completely out of the blue I found myself getting drawn into this story and completely and utterly taken in by these characters.
Gabriel Pritz has a nice, neatly packaged life. He gets good grades at school, has a love of baseball, is incredibly popular, and the girl he likes has agreed to go to prom with him. But then his parents put in place the new rule that Gabe and his brothers will each have a night where they must cook dinner. Gabe has no idea how to cook and after a few near disasters Gabe enlists the help of Tamryn Swann. To say Tam is distant, stubborn and hard to get a handle on would be an understatement. But boy if she doesn't have her reasons.
The silent Swan was a longer read than a lot of Young Adult books, and while it is slowly paced, that allowed for time to really get to know the characters. Told from Gabe's point of view, him and Tam were where the story was mainly centred around, but Lex Keating has an amazing ability to write a story where at the end of reading it I felt like I knew each and every one of them and all of them played a special part in the story.
A familiar caged beast snarled whenever Tamryn's name was mentioned. Time alone with her was a supremely bad idea, regardless of whether she welcomed the attention. She might 'know' testosterone, but Gabe lived with it. Ate it, slept it, wanted very badly to corner her and exercise it.
This book would have to be one of the best that I have read that was so deep rooted in the love of family. I'm a sucker for a book that tugs at the heart strings and this tugged so hard that I was a complete goner!! Gabe and Tam both grew so much throughout the book. I was so smitten with Gabe by the end of it but I was also completely in love with Tam. She just had that effect on everyone.
All of the cooking throughout the book had me constantly drooling. Tam was a whizz in the kitchen and I loved the bonding that was done over food.
Baseball played a pretty big part in the story and it really appealed to my love of sport. Never having had much to do with baseball in my part of the world, I loved getting glimpses into the game and a better understanding. But it was always discussed in a way that a novice like me could understand. Towards the end of the book there was a pre-game speech that was just so perfectly done. I actually went back and read it a few times.
The Silent Swan is an emotional, touch your heart, but uplifting story of love, friendships and family. For me, it was also a story of the impact that one girl can have on so many lives, and a boy who is willing to do whatever it takes for his girl.
Toast. Lightly burned, heavily buttered, drizzled with honey. The girl was owned.
4.5/5 Stars.
October 3, 2013
Tam wants to hold her family together, but after the death of her parents, she and her brothers are scattered into a deeply flawed foster care system. She meets Gabe Pritz at school and begins giving him cooking lessons in exchange for math tutoring. Gabe is charming, and seems to have a golden life; Tam is withdrawn, concentrating only on her family and the future. The two seemingly could not be more different, but they find more in common than they expect.
I almost loved this book. Halfway through this book I loved this book. Then I realized I was only halfway through. The main problem with The Silent Swan is that it is much too long. It is bowed down under excess characters whose motivations are poorly explained and descriptions of things that do not matter.
Point blank, if you take the core of this book, you have a good story, interesting characters and strong writing. But you have to WORK to get to the core of the story. There is so much going on here that at times it’s like you don’t know if you’re still in the same book.
The fights between Gabe and his brothers were especially disturbing to me. Well beyond the rowdiness expected amongst a crowd of siblings, they are violent well beyond the point of excess, but treated as all in good fun. That seems like a good metaphor for the entire book. Things that were almost normal were taken to the point of excess. Rather than describing Tam’s new apartment, the author spends CHAPTERS detailing the paint in each room and giving each and every detail a deeper meaning. Having said that, however, it was never actually made clear what each room was meant to be. There is a weird mix of excessive detail and a lack of clarity that I struggled with.
You root for the characters, but with the exception of Tam, you never understand anyone’s motivation for their actions, which is a bit bizarre. Why does Mrs. Pritz act like she does? Why does Kerry do what she does? There’s never any explanation given for that and it makes parts of the book seem deeply unnecessary. We needed a villain, so Keating gives us a villain in Kerry, but with no explanation for Kerry’s behavior, it becomes a side plot that distracts from the main point.
I am torn on whether this book deserves a 2.5 or a 3 – because at one point it would have been a 3.5, but at one point it changed from “I can’t wait to finish this book!” to “I hope this book is almost over” , and clearly, that’s a problem.
Keating has a lot of potential – and the book isn’t bad – if it was, I would have simply put it down and walked away. There’s a need for a strong editor here, and potential for the future from the author.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for review.
I almost loved this book. Halfway through this book I loved this book. Then I realized I was only halfway through. The main problem with The Silent Swan is that it is much too long. It is bowed down under excess characters whose motivations are poorly explained and descriptions of things that do not matter.
Point blank, if you take the core of this book, you have a good story, interesting characters and strong writing. But you have to WORK to get to the core of the story. There is so much going on here that at times it’s like you don’t know if you’re still in the same book.
The fights between Gabe and his brothers were especially disturbing to me. Well beyond the rowdiness expected amongst a crowd of siblings, they are violent well beyond the point of excess, but treated as all in good fun. That seems like a good metaphor for the entire book. Things that were almost normal were taken to the point of excess. Rather than describing Tam’s new apartment, the author spends CHAPTERS detailing the paint in each room and giving each and every detail a deeper meaning. Having said that, however, it was never actually made clear what each room was meant to be. There is a weird mix of excessive detail and a lack of clarity that I struggled with.
You root for the characters, but with the exception of Tam, you never understand anyone’s motivation for their actions, which is a bit bizarre. Why does Mrs. Pritz act like she does? Why does Kerry do what she does? There’s never any explanation given for that and it makes parts of the book seem deeply unnecessary. We needed a villain, so Keating gives us a villain in Kerry, but with no explanation for Kerry’s behavior, it becomes a side plot that distracts from the main point.
I am torn on whether this book deserves a 2.5 or a 3 – because at one point it would have been a 3.5, but at one point it changed from “I can’t wait to finish this book!” to “I hope this book is almost over” , and clearly, that’s a problem.
Keating has a lot of potential – and the book isn’t bad – if it was, I would have simply put it down and walked away. There’s a need for a strong editor here, and potential for the future from the author.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for review.
August 26, 2013
The Silent Swan by Lex Keating is a heart-wrenching, all-consuming story of purpose from inconvenience, selflessness from selfishness, and love from disregard. This story is one that immediately took hold of my heart and never let go. I was swept away into a world of nearsightedness and privilege that slowly transformed into one of opportunity and passion. It will take me a while to even begin to scratch the surface of the full impact of this story on my own heart and life. I feel like a veiled layer of naivety and ignorance has been lifted from my eyes and heart. I hope that is stays down and takes others with it.
The main characters Gabe and Tam are ones that you may not like at first, but you will inexplicably want to know more about them. They don’t just pull you into the story; they bring the story to life in a very palatable way. While it’s Gabe’s perspective that the story is told from, this doesn’t make it any less inviting or meaningful. In fact, his voice is what makes it wholly real and enticing to find out what happens next.
I loved watching Gabe grapple with the complications caused by the intrusion of Tam into his pristine and mapped out existence. It was delightful to watch as his eyes refocused from being solely on him to finally seeing those around him. What little time and effort it truly takes to look past our own nose and capture the drama that surrounds us. What we hold as important may not be worth anything in the light of those who are truly deserving of our time and effort. I hope that each of us will soften our hearts and dare to look around for those who are in need of friendship of support. We can’t expect to become who we are meant to be if we zip up our lives into a nice, neat package not allowing anyone to touch us. We must allow our hearts to be vulnerable and open our arms to those who are hurting. The human race is at its best when it is vulnerable, self-sacrificing, and authentic.
The Silent Swan is not a story to be taken lightly. It is a story that has teeth that will sink into the life vein of your heart. What you think you know will be turned on its head, and what you don’t know will become an intoxicating fragrance that will be hungrily breathed in by all of your senses. Don’t doubt your heart during this journey. Listen to its wisdom. Cling to its yearnings. Walk by its light. I was enthralled by this delectable work of art that highlights the passion and determination of the human spirit at its best. Lex Keating has such an inspiring and mesmerizing talent that I recommend this story to those who aren’t afraid to be challenged and desire to see the world with their eyes wide open.
The main characters Gabe and Tam are ones that you may not like at first, but you will inexplicably want to know more about them. They don’t just pull you into the story; they bring the story to life in a very palatable way. While it’s Gabe’s perspective that the story is told from, this doesn’t make it any less inviting or meaningful. In fact, his voice is what makes it wholly real and enticing to find out what happens next.
I loved watching Gabe grapple with the complications caused by the intrusion of Tam into his pristine and mapped out existence. It was delightful to watch as his eyes refocused from being solely on him to finally seeing those around him. What little time and effort it truly takes to look past our own nose and capture the drama that surrounds us. What we hold as important may not be worth anything in the light of those who are truly deserving of our time and effort. I hope that each of us will soften our hearts and dare to look around for those who are in need of friendship of support. We can’t expect to become who we are meant to be if we zip up our lives into a nice, neat package not allowing anyone to touch us. We must allow our hearts to be vulnerable and open our arms to those who are hurting. The human race is at its best when it is vulnerable, self-sacrificing, and authentic.
The Silent Swan is not a story to be taken lightly. It is a story that has teeth that will sink into the life vein of your heart. What you think you know will be turned on its head, and what you don’t know will become an intoxicating fragrance that will be hungrily breathed in by all of your senses. Don’t doubt your heart during this journey. Listen to its wisdom. Cling to its yearnings. Walk by its light. I was enthralled by this delectable work of art that highlights the passion and determination of the human spirit at its best. Lex Keating has such an inspiring and mesmerizing talent that I recommend this story to those who aren’t afraid to be challenged and desire to see the world with their eyes wide open.
August 26, 2013
REVIEW ALSO FOUND ON MY BLOG, for a blog tour stop.
http://www.coffeebooksandme.com/2013/...
The Silent Swan was not something I expected. Not in a bad way, but in a good way. The book cover pre-empted you to assume the book is a happy-go-lucky all-the-way kind of book. But it actually has some depth that the cover did not show us. Don’t get me wrong, I love the cover! It depicts the whole story. But it just doesn’t tell you there’s much more to the happy dispositions of the cover models.
Let’s begin with the writing. I admit I was a lot confused with who is who and what is what and where is where when I started reading The Silent Swan. It was like I attended a party where I knew no one, and I don’t even have the slightest idea what I’m doing there. The story began with Gabe, the main character, narrates bringing a certain table to school. I have no idea what he was talking about and who he is talking about. Afterwards though, I got used to the writing and adjusted pretty well that I began to enjoy and empathize with the characters.
The characters were not all relatable to me but were all easily likable.. well some just enough but the main character Gabe is so funny and he made the awkward sound not-so-awkward. Anyway, I love how big the families mentioned in the book are. I won’t deny how confused and how OC I did get just to try to imagine each one of them, like Jake, Alex, Dan, Mike, etc.. then there are Tam’s brothers and sisters.. I actually love reading books with big families involved (like My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick). There’s something spontaneous and more fun about it. lol
The story. As I said in the first paragraph, the story has some depth in them that I never expected it to have. The issue at hand are foster cares and the story behind each child or family broken by tragic events and such...How deep it is, and the sudden twist and turns..some expected, some unprecedented.
Overall, it was a nice story with nice characters and I had a good time reading it. I recommend it not only to those of us who are family-oriented, or going through the same troubles the characters in the book do, but to everyone who loves a feel-good story with a feel-good ending. :) And maybe shed a tear or two too!
http://www.coffeebooksandme.com/2013/...
The Silent Swan was not something I expected. Not in a bad way, but in a good way. The book cover pre-empted you to assume the book is a happy-go-lucky all-the-way kind of book. But it actually has some depth that the cover did not show us. Don’t get me wrong, I love the cover! It depicts the whole story. But it just doesn’t tell you there’s much more to the happy dispositions of the cover models.
Let’s begin with the writing. I admit I was a lot confused with who is who and what is what and where is where when I started reading The Silent Swan. It was like I attended a party where I knew no one, and I don’t even have the slightest idea what I’m doing there. The story began with Gabe, the main character, narrates bringing a certain table to school. I have no idea what he was talking about and who he is talking about. Afterwards though, I got used to the writing and adjusted pretty well that I began to enjoy and empathize with the characters.
The characters were not all relatable to me but were all easily likable.. well some just enough but the main character Gabe is so funny and he made the awkward sound not-so-awkward. Anyway, I love how big the families mentioned in the book are. I won’t deny how confused and how OC I did get just to try to imagine each one of them, like Jake, Alex, Dan, Mike, etc.. then there are Tam’s brothers and sisters.. I actually love reading books with big families involved (like My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick). There’s something spontaneous and more fun about it. lol
The story. As I said in the first paragraph, the story has some depth in them that I never expected it to have. The issue at hand are foster cares and the story behind each child or family broken by tragic events and such...How deep it is, and the sudden twist and turns..some expected, some unprecedented.
Overall, it was a nice story with nice characters and I had a good time reading it. I recommend it not only to those of us who are family-oriented, or going through the same troubles the characters in the book do, but to everyone who loves a feel-good story with a feel-good ending. :) And maybe shed a tear or two too!
August 28, 2013
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
You all know by now that I'm a sucker for any retelling of a fairy tale, no matter how esoteric the reference. The Silent Swan pulls inspiration from a lesser known tale, The Six Swans by the Brothers Grimm. That particular fairy tale is beautiful (if not gruesome depending on the version you read). The Silent Swan definitely does this tale justice. Lex Keating has created a beautiful story, weaving together two endearing characters, along with a slew of interesting secondary characters, into a captivating plot.
Gabe Pritz is from a large family of boys. I absolutely loved the Pritz boys and their interaction with each other. They are loud and boisterous, playful beyond what their mother's prized possessions can probably handle (in house wrestling never works with china and art). Gabe is a top student, vice-president of the student council, captain of the varsity baseball team, and he coaches Little League. When his mother demands that he cook a family dinner once a week, it overwhelms him. Maybe it's his lack of cooking skills that overwhelm him. Really it's the, keep the fire extinguisher handy, kind of sad.
At first glance, Tam Swann does not seem like the type of girl Gabe would be interested in at all. I adored Tam, there's just something about her that leaps off the pages. She puts up a wall between herself and the world, but inside she's a sweet, strong girl. The whole foster situation with Tam and her brothers is heartbreaking. I love the interactions between Tam and Gabe; even at the beginning when she seemed to despise him, they were still so perfect together.
When I started the book, I was a bit overwhelmed, myself. It's sort of like showing up at school on the first day, the new kid when everyone else knows what's going on. The story just starts and we're thrown in to sink or swim. I suggest swimming since I doubt you'll regret it. The characters in this book are well developed. By the end, it felt like I actually knew these people.
I recommend The Silent Swan to everyone high school and up that enjoys a contemporary romance with rich characterizations. I love the cover. It really does an awesome job representing the story. Be sure to keep tissues handy while reading this one.
You all know by now that I'm a sucker for any retelling of a fairy tale, no matter how esoteric the reference. The Silent Swan pulls inspiration from a lesser known tale, The Six Swans by the Brothers Grimm. That particular fairy tale is beautiful (if not gruesome depending on the version you read). The Silent Swan definitely does this tale justice. Lex Keating has created a beautiful story, weaving together two endearing characters, along with a slew of interesting secondary characters, into a captivating plot.
Gabe Pritz is from a large family of boys. I absolutely loved the Pritz boys and their interaction with each other. They are loud and boisterous, playful beyond what their mother's prized possessions can probably handle (in house wrestling never works with china and art). Gabe is a top student, vice-president of the student council, captain of the varsity baseball team, and he coaches Little League. When his mother demands that he cook a family dinner once a week, it overwhelms him. Maybe it's his lack of cooking skills that overwhelm him. Really it's the, keep the fire extinguisher handy, kind of sad.
At first glance, Tam Swann does not seem like the type of girl Gabe would be interested in at all. I adored Tam, there's just something about her that leaps off the pages. She puts up a wall between herself and the world, but inside she's a sweet, strong girl. The whole foster situation with Tam and her brothers is heartbreaking. I love the interactions between Tam and Gabe; even at the beginning when she seemed to despise him, they were still so perfect together.
When I started the book, I was a bit overwhelmed, myself. It's sort of like showing up at school on the first day, the new kid when everyone else knows what's going on. The story just starts and we're thrown in to sink or swim. I suggest swimming since I doubt you'll regret it. The characters in this book are well developed. By the end, it felt like I actually knew these people.
I recommend The Silent Swan to everyone high school and up that enjoys a contemporary romance with rich characterizations. I love the cover. It really does an awesome job representing the story. Be sure to keep tissues handy while reading this one.
August 25, 2013
Lex Keating's riff on the lesser-known fairy tale "The Seven Swans" sets the characters in today's high school scene and gives them tempers and hormones worthy of the youthful athletes they are. I enjoyed the story for both character development and the satisfying resolution, even though I found it hard to identify with both the setting and the tempers most characters display.
Keating's writing pops and fizzes to match the characters and kept me reading well past my bedtime. I enjoyed not being told everything, but after staring at the screen for hours (I read a PDF ARC, free, no strings attached), elliptical references to past events sometimes were a little much. Not getting it doesn't hurt the plot, though, and I'm sure I'd do better on a second reading and enjoy discovering the added depth that gives the novel.
The plot doesn't quite follow the fairy tale, but closely enough to make it clear where the tale's heading. Keating throws her characters more than a few curve balls, and generally (after they've said "Gah!" and called a close relative a moron) even the minor characters develop and grow through the course of events. Food lovers get lots of cooking, romance lovers get romantic tension (with tissues), and sports lovers get baseball - what's not to like? Why only 4 stars?
Ratings are personal, and that's true in my case. The characters were a bit too agitated for me to identify, my high school experience was vastly different, and baseball's really not my thing (it speaks to Keating's ability that I still burned midnight oil on this book with those three strikes against it). I have some minor detractions: I would have wished for more sounds and smells of the Low Country, for one calmer, less awkward character (some respite for my poor phlegmatic heart), and for a more sparing use of "Gah!"
But would I recommend it? Gah! Moron. Of. Course. I. Would.
P.S. For typo fiends: I'd estimate no more than a dozen in the ARC, which will still see editing before the print run. Read without worries.
Keating's writing pops and fizzes to match the characters and kept me reading well past my bedtime. I enjoyed not being told everything, but after staring at the screen for hours (I read a PDF ARC, free, no strings attached), elliptical references to past events sometimes were a little much. Not getting it doesn't hurt the plot, though, and I'm sure I'd do better on a second reading and enjoy discovering the added depth that gives the novel.
The plot doesn't quite follow the fairy tale, but closely enough to make it clear where the tale's heading. Keating throws her characters more than a few curve balls, and generally (after they've said "Gah!" and called a close relative a moron) even the minor characters develop and grow through the course of events. Food lovers get lots of cooking, romance lovers get romantic tension (with tissues), and sports lovers get baseball - what's not to like? Why only 4 stars?
Ratings are personal, and that's true in my case. The characters were a bit too agitated for me to identify, my high school experience was vastly different, and baseball's really not my thing (it speaks to Keating's ability that I still burned midnight oil on this book with those three strikes against it). I have some minor detractions: I would have wished for more sounds and smells of the Low Country, for one calmer, less awkward character (some respite for my poor phlegmatic heart), and for a more sparing use of "Gah!"
But would I recommend it? Gah! Moron. Of. Course. I. Would.
P.S. For typo fiends: I'd estimate no more than a dozen in the ARC, which will still see editing before the print run. Read without worries.
September 5, 2013
First what a perfect title for this story. The story is about Gabe and Tam and how Gabe meets a girl named, Tam.
We get Gab’s perspective on high school and Tam. I love how he has all these opinions about his social life, his friends, and his lunch table. I did not care for Gabe when I first started reading the book. I thought he was going to a tool throughout the entire book. His friends did not impress me or his girlfriend. However, as the story continues, Gabe changes. He starts talking to Tam and he sees something special.
When I first starting reading the book, I was a little confused as to whom the main character was going to be. It is written in third person, but we see the “world” through Gabe’s eyes. I had to go back to the synopsis and check to make sure that it was Gabe who was going to be the main character. I wasn’t sure and I felt like a lot was thrown at me; different characters, Gabe’s family, Gabe’s friends. I almost felt like I had to make a list. Who was who?
Everyone judged Tam. Her clothes, her hair, her behavior without knowing a thing about her expect that she was a foster kid. Tam came across as someone who has attitude, but she is constantly judged in high school. I would have attitude too. The girls at Gabe’s lunch table were not the nicest girls. I wanted to talk to those girls about learning to accept people who did not always have everything given to them.
Nonetheless, I love these stories. I seek them out. Good looking popular guy gets to know a girl that has a huge heart, but is not popular with the great clothes and hair. A friendship starts where more develops. The story showed growth, morals, acceptance, values and responsibilities. Bottom line, it was a great YA book.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
We get Gab’s perspective on high school and Tam. I love how he has all these opinions about his social life, his friends, and his lunch table. I did not care for Gabe when I first started reading the book. I thought he was going to a tool throughout the entire book. His friends did not impress me or his girlfriend. However, as the story continues, Gabe changes. He starts talking to Tam and he sees something special.
When I first starting reading the book, I was a little confused as to whom the main character was going to be. It is written in third person, but we see the “world” through Gabe’s eyes. I had to go back to the synopsis and check to make sure that it was Gabe who was going to be the main character. I wasn’t sure and I felt like a lot was thrown at me; different characters, Gabe’s family, Gabe’s friends. I almost felt like I had to make a list. Who was who?
Everyone judged Tam. Her clothes, her hair, her behavior without knowing a thing about her expect that she was a foster kid. Tam came across as someone who has attitude, but she is constantly judged in high school. I would have attitude too. The girls at Gabe’s lunch table were not the nicest girls. I wanted to talk to those girls about learning to accept people who did not always have everything given to them.
Nonetheless, I love these stories. I seek them out. Good looking popular guy gets to know a girl that has a huge heart, but is not popular with the great clothes and hair. A friendship starts where more develops. The story showed growth, morals, acceptance, values and responsibilities. Bottom line, it was a great YA book.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2013
This book is going to be a HARD one to review for me. I hated it, I loved it. It's a contemporary young adult with a literary feel.
Gabe is a high school jock who has everything he needs and everything he thinks he needs until he meets Tam who is the exact opposite. No money, no friends, and a broken family. At least, that's what it looks like from the outside looking in.
First off, I could not relate to a hormone raging teenage boy who was the "king" of his school. So at first, he did not have my sympathies. But it was interesting to see the story told from his perspective. That said, it was great to see him change his "Bottom feeders did not mix with student council" mentality. This was a story of a rite of passage for this boy, yet it was the "Swans" story as well since this book is a modern retelling of the Grimm's fairy tale: The Six Swans.
Second, I did not always get the baseball slang or pop cultural references. There were so many brothers and characters that I had a hard time keeping up with who was who in the beginning. And for one who doesn't know a thing about cooking, but could describe in detail what kind of seasonings, spices, or ingredients were in the food, was a little hard to believe.
Despite my hang-ups, the story swept me away. It triggered anger, tears, laughter. I lived it. And when I got to the end, amazing! How the author wove the story together, the culture, the fairy tales, and all the little seeds coming to fruition at the end. Nice.
Highly recommended! Although, I do not like to read contemporary stories, especially ones set in high school, I will check out the next book in the series when it is available.
*I received an ARC for an honest review
Gabe is a high school jock who has everything he needs and everything he thinks he needs until he meets Tam who is the exact opposite. No money, no friends, and a broken family. At least, that's what it looks like from the outside looking in.
First off, I could not relate to a hormone raging teenage boy who was the "king" of his school. So at first, he did not have my sympathies. But it was interesting to see the story told from his perspective. That said, it was great to see him change his "Bottom feeders did not mix with student council" mentality. This was a story of a rite of passage for this boy, yet it was the "Swans" story as well since this book is a modern retelling of the Grimm's fairy tale: The Six Swans.
Second, I did not always get the baseball slang or pop cultural references. There were so many brothers and characters that I had a hard time keeping up with who was who in the beginning. And for one who doesn't know a thing about cooking, but could describe in detail what kind of seasonings, spices, or ingredients were in the food, was a little hard to believe.
Despite my hang-ups, the story swept me away. It triggered anger, tears, laughter. I lived it. And when I got to the end, amazing! How the author wove the story together, the culture, the fairy tales, and all the little seeds coming to fruition at the end. Nice.
Highly recommended! Although, I do not like to read contemporary stories, especially ones set in high school, I will check out the next book in the series when it is available.
*I received an ARC for an honest review
September 4, 2013
4.5 Stars
I don't read a great deal of Young Adult books but when I do I look for those that steal your heart by introducing you to a story about love, family, friendship and growth. There is something powerful about a story with characters who experience deep emotional growth and even more so when they are in their teens. I particularly like characters who are not easy to love at first; the kind that the more you get to know them they more you love their individuality. This book, The Silent Swan was one of these books.
It is the story of Gabe and Tam. Gabe comes from a well known family and lives a life of privilege whereas Tam endures struggle in her life. They come together to help each other and from this point on Gabe starts to see things in life differently and discover that some things aren't what he thought they were.
This story is written from Gabe's POV which I really enjoyed. It is really well written and keeps a steady pace throughout which kept me interested, although I have to admit I was pretty much hooked from the beginning. I was intrigued about Tam's character in particular and wondered just where the author was going to take us with the story.
If you enjoy Young Adult books I highly recommend this one to you. It has its heartbreaking moments but it is an uplifting story with amazing characters.
**ARC given in exchange for an honest review**
For more reviews visit my blog - Hook Me Up Book Blog
I don't read a great deal of Young Adult books but when I do I look for those that steal your heart by introducing you to a story about love, family, friendship and growth. There is something powerful about a story with characters who experience deep emotional growth and even more so when they are in their teens. I particularly like characters who are not easy to love at first; the kind that the more you get to know them they more you love their individuality. This book, The Silent Swan was one of these books.
It is the story of Gabe and Tam. Gabe comes from a well known family and lives a life of privilege whereas Tam endures struggle in her life. They come together to help each other and from this point on Gabe starts to see things in life differently and discover that some things aren't what he thought they were.
This story is written from Gabe's POV which I really enjoyed. It is really well written and keeps a steady pace throughout which kept me interested, although I have to admit I was pretty much hooked from the beginning. I was intrigued about Tam's character in particular and wondered just where the author was going to take us with the story.
If you enjoy Young Adult books I highly recommend this one to you. It has its heartbreaking moments but it is an uplifting story with amazing characters.
**ARC given in exchange for an honest review**
For more reviews visit my blog - Hook Me Up Book Blog
August 1, 2013
The Silent Swan by Lex Keating is the story about a family of seven children fighting to stay together despite being thrown into the foster care system after the sudden deaths of their parents, one of whom was a major league baseball player. Tam Swann is the eldest and only girl in the family, and throughout the book she does her best to support and care for her six younger brothers as they move through the system, even when their foster families try to stand in her way. When Tam meets Gabriel Pritz, one of six brothers himself, her life is tilted by more than hormones as his mother is proved to be involved in every aspect of Tam’s case with Social Services.
Lex Keating really got it right with The Silent Swan. The dual themes of family loyalty and sportsmanship are entwined perfectly in this story. Although I did not get to know the Swann boys as well as I felt like I knew Tam, their characters were developed enough that even if this isn’t your kind of book, you’ll find yourself rooting for the Swanns. If I had any issue at all with the book, it was that I don’t know anything about the foster care system myself, and there were many times when I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. I would have appreciated a bit more insight into the system, but when I went to give the book 4 stars because of this, I couldn’t do it. This is a 5-star book all the way.
Lex Keating really got it right with The Silent Swan. The dual themes of family loyalty and sportsmanship are entwined perfectly in this story. Although I did not get to know the Swann boys as well as I felt like I knew Tam, their characters were developed enough that even if this isn’t your kind of book, you’ll find yourself rooting for the Swanns. If I had any issue at all with the book, it was that I don’t know anything about the foster care system myself, and there were many times when I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. I would have appreciated a bit more insight into the system, but when I went to give the book 4 stars because of this, I couldn’t do it. This is a 5-star book all the way.
September 8, 2013
Lex Keating and Pauline Creeden somehow got into the mind of a high school boy. That's the only way they could have written such a smart, funny and particularly poignant story like, "The Silent Swan." Warning: before you sit down to read this book, purchase a new box of tissues.
Gabe is a typical high school jock, unaware of anything but his next meal and his next girl. One of the elites in school, Gabe's entire family of boys are ruled by his dad and his mother, the judge. The only reason Gabe knows that there is another world out there because of his adopted brother, Alex, who came from an abusive home.
Tamryn Swann is the only girl in a family of boys: many, many boys. After she and her brothers were orphaned, they were split up put into the foster care system. It's up to Tam, a high school student herself, to keep her brothers safe, make extra money to help out and somehow behave enough so that she doesn't lose her own foster parents.
Keating and Creeden skillfully weave this story using authentic point of view to craft a heart-breaking story of love and hate, trust and distrust. Told through Gabe, the story unfolds gradually and you learn Tam's story as he does, little-by-little between ball games, dances and the daily, busy life of today's family. If you have a young adult, get them to read this. It will open their eyes about those who live on the fringes.
Gabe is a typical high school jock, unaware of anything but his next meal and his next girl. One of the elites in school, Gabe's entire family of boys are ruled by his dad and his mother, the judge. The only reason Gabe knows that there is another world out there because of his adopted brother, Alex, who came from an abusive home.
Tamryn Swann is the only girl in a family of boys: many, many boys. After she and her brothers were orphaned, they were split up put into the foster care system. It's up to Tam, a high school student herself, to keep her brothers safe, make extra money to help out and somehow behave enough so that she doesn't lose her own foster parents.
Keating and Creeden skillfully weave this story using authentic point of view to craft a heart-breaking story of love and hate, trust and distrust. Told through Gabe, the story unfolds gradually and you learn Tam's story as he does, little-by-little between ball games, dances and the daily, busy life of today's family. If you have a young adult, get them to read this. It will open their eyes about those who live on the fringes.
July 2, 2013
This book was one of the best books I read this year...which is why I decided to publish it even though it was outside my guidelines. Hope you'll take a peek!
September 7, 2013
Read the review on my blog:
http://thaliasbooks.tumblr.com/post/6...
http://thaliasbooks.tumblr.com/post/6...
August 18, 2013
Full Review available here:
http://thecozyreader.com/2013/08/revi...
Procurement
eARC from AltWit Press via NetGalley
MY GRADE
Plot: 5
Setting: 4
Writing: 3
Originality: 4
Characters: 5
Romance: 3
OVERALL: 24/30 = 80% B
Title/Cover Bonus: 2
OVERALL
While a long read this was a great look into some complex characters; while abundant, they enhanced the reading experience. An unfamiliar Grimm fairy tale retelling.
First Line
Gabe Pritz drove through the Callahan High parking lot without waving at any of his friends.
- eARC edition via NetGalley
Most Memorable Scene
When Gade has his hand in Tam’s pants….er…and then the scene when he talks about it with his family.
Plot
The plot centers around Gabe getting to know the many mysteries of Tam Swann and her many brothers. He’s is actively pursuing a relationship with Kerry, another student council member.
Gabe’s parents decide to make each brother responsible for dinner one night a week. Gabe is no good at cooking. He learns that Tam is exceptionally well at cooking and trades his help in math for Tam’s help with his cooking at home.
Setting
Most of the book takes place in either Gabe’s kitchen, the school cafeteria, the home ec room, or on a baseball field. There was nothing exceptional with any of the settings, except towards the end when Tam does some decorating.
Writing
The writing was good but not great. I would have loved for it to have been written in first person with alternating points of view between Gabe and Tam. That, however, probably would have removed the mystery of the great reveal. I just feel like I really didn’t know Tam all that well. There were lots of inner feelings coming from Gabe and not so much from Tam.
Originality
I am not a baseball fan but I seem to enjoy baseball themed books. I guess I enjoying seeing characters with a common element. Anything that brings two characters together into something they both enjoy doing usually makes a good book. I have also read books dealing with kids in the foster care system and found this to be interesting because of Tam’s character. I loved how she took control and didn’t let anyone else hold her back.
Characters
Tam is in the foster care system along with her many brothers. None of them are together except for the twins. Tam has made it her priority to ensure that her brothers are treated well and that all of their court appointed restrictions and exceptions are met. She meets Gabe with much reluctance.
Gabe also has a plethora of brothers. He’s captain of the varsity baseball team and the coach of a little league team too. He’s also on the student council.
We meet several of Gabe’s and Tam’s brothers. There are MANY. Almost too many. It was difficult in some situations when they were all together. I kept getting Mike and Alex mixed up, I don’t know why.
I adored Tam’s grandmother even though she is only introduced for a brief period.
Romance
This is were this book loses points for me. You can tell that Gabe and Tam will be an item, at some point in the future, otherwise what’s the point of the cover? The attraction is evident from Gabe. It is not evident from Tam until very, very, very late in the book. This bothers me a whole bunch. I get it towards the end of the book with the big reveal. However, I believe that we could have gotten to the big reveal MUCH earlier and then allowed some much needed relationship progression between Gabe and Tam. At 422 pages (Goodreads) or 580 (Amazon) this book is not a fast read and covers a LOT. While dealing with some tough issues the book is exceptionally good. It just lacks the romance that I thought I’d be getting from the cover image and a bit more than I really needed. I am not familiar with the Grimm fairy tale that this is reflecting so I can’t say which scenes were not needed. I would say that the entire thing with Kerry could be removed and this book would have been a ton shorter and maybe even better.
Title/Cover Bonus
The title makes perfect sense but only after you finish the book. The cover is only half correct, which irritates me to no end. I really, really dislike a misleading cover.
Ending
There’s a reveal at the end that makes previous scenes make sense but only a little. I wish the ending would have been incorporated a lot earlier. I wanted to see Gabe and Tam together as a couple for a lot longer than just the last few scenes. While those scenes were sweet it did very little to make me think of this book as deserving of the cover.
Series
I can’t find any information about this series but it does say in the beginning that this is a part of the Ever After Collection. I was able to find the following on her publisher, AltWit Press website:
Debut author, Lex Keating, takes Grimm’s fairy tales and spins them into contemporary romances. The first in this collection is The Silent Swan, based on “The Seven Swans.”
I am not sure why this publisher has decided to only publish this in paperback at $12.33 and not also as Kindle? I would highly recommend they offer a digital version at a much lower price point, say $6.99 or so?
http://thecozyreader.com/2013/08/revi...
Procurement
eARC from AltWit Press via NetGalley
MY GRADE
Plot: 5
Setting: 4
Writing: 3
Originality: 4
Characters: 5
Romance: 3
OVERALL: 24/30 = 80% B
Title/Cover Bonus: 2
OVERALL
While a long read this was a great look into some complex characters; while abundant, they enhanced the reading experience. An unfamiliar Grimm fairy tale retelling.
First Line
Gabe Pritz drove through the Callahan High parking lot without waving at any of his friends.
- eARC edition via NetGalley
Most Memorable Scene
When Gade has his hand in Tam’s pants….er…and then the scene when he talks about it with his family.
Plot
The plot centers around Gabe getting to know the many mysteries of Tam Swann and her many brothers. He’s is actively pursuing a relationship with Kerry, another student council member.
Gabe’s parents decide to make each brother responsible for dinner one night a week. Gabe is no good at cooking. He learns that Tam is exceptionally well at cooking and trades his help in math for Tam’s help with his cooking at home.
Setting
Most of the book takes place in either Gabe’s kitchen, the school cafeteria, the home ec room, or on a baseball field. There was nothing exceptional with any of the settings, except towards the end when Tam does some decorating.
Writing
The writing was good but not great. I would have loved for it to have been written in first person with alternating points of view between Gabe and Tam. That, however, probably would have removed the mystery of the great reveal. I just feel like I really didn’t know Tam all that well. There were lots of inner feelings coming from Gabe and not so much from Tam.
Originality
I am not a baseball fan but I seem to enjoy baseball themed books. I guess I enjoying seeing characters with a common element. Anything that brings two characters together into something they both enjoy doing usually makes a good book. I have also read books dealing with kids in the foster care system and found this to be interesting because of Tam’s character. I loved how she took control and didn’t let anyone else hold her back.
Characters
Tam is in the foster care system along with her many brothers. None of them are together except for the twins. Tam has made it her priority to ensure that her brothers are treated well and that all of their court appointed restrictions and exceptions are met. She meets Gabe with much reluctance.
Gabe also has a plethora of brothers. He’s captain of the varsity baseball team and the coach of a little league team too. He’s also on the student council.
We meet several of Gabe’s and Tam’s brothers. There are MANY. Almost too many. It was difficult in some situations when they were all together. I kept getting Mike and Alex mixed up, I don’t know why.
I adored Tam’s grandmother even though she is only introduced for a brief period.
Romance
This is were this book loses points for me. You can tell that Gabe and Tam will be an item, at some point in the future, otherwise what’s the point of the cover? The attraction is evident from Gabe. It is not evident from Tam until very, very, very late in the book. This bothers me a whole bunch. I get it towards the end of the book with the big reveal. However, I believe that we could have gotten to the big reveal MUCH earlier and then allowed some much needed relationship progression between Gabe and Tam. At 422 pages (Goodreads) or 580 (Amazon) this book is not a fast read and covers a LOT. While dealing with some tough issues the book is exceptionally good. It just lacks the romance that I thought I’d be getting from the cover image and a bit more than I really needed. I am not familiar with the Grimm fairy tale that this is reflecting so I can’t say which scenes were not needed. I would say that the entire thing with Kerry could be removed and this book would have been a ton shorter and maybe even better.
Title/Cover Bonus
The title makes perfect sense but only after you finish the book. The cover is only half correct, which irritates me to no end. I really, really dislike a misleading cover.
Ending
There’s a reveal at the end that makes previous scenes make sense but only a little. I wish the ending would have been incorporated a lot earlier. I wanted to see Gabe and Tam together as a couple for a lot longer than just the last few scenes. While those scenes were sweet it did very little to make me think of this book as deserving of the cover.
Series
I can’t find any information about this series but it does say in the beginning that this is a part of the Ever After Collection. I was able to find the following on her publisher, AltWit Press website:
Debut author, Lex Keating, takes Grimm’s fairy tales and spins them into contemporary romances. The first in this collection is The Silent Swan, based on “The Seven Swans.”
I am not sure why this publisher has decided to only publish this in paperback at $12.33 and not also as Kindle? I would highly recommend they offer a digital version at a much lower price point, say $6.99 or so?
September 2, 2013
The Silent Swan by Lex Keating
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
After reading The Silent Swan I have to say that it was…wonderful. I truly enjoyed the story and the characters.
The book is in the point of view of Gabriel Pritz: rich, popular, golden boy who is crushing hard for one of his classmates Kerry…or should I say on one of Kerry’s body parts he lovingly calls “Steve.” All is perfect in Gabe’s world except for the unknown blot that has entered his life as Tam Swan, messy ponytail and all. Gabe doesn’t know who this girl, who dismisses one of the most popular boys in school so casually, is. And that starts to bug him. Add that to his progress of getting the hottest girl in school as his date for prom hindered by his parent’s new decree that he and his brothers have to make dinner once a week, Tam Swan who has proven herself to be an expert (at pretty much everything) comes into the picture.
When I read reviews I hate when a reviewer just goes on and on about how awesome a book is without saying WHY they liked it. So here it goes:
The author had intent. The plot moved at a steady pace with plot point that neither arrived too fast, too late, or worst of all came out of nowhere, and I’m not talking about twists—I like those. Wonderful references to poetry and fables to enrich the story and characters, and to make me FEEL something. This book had intelligence, which is something I can’t really say for a lot of young adult books these days. It wasn’t in it for cheap thrills, but it actually had something to say about families, values, and integrity. I don’t even care about the religious undertones, which is something I’m not really into. I don’t really mind if a book gets more adult in theme (take that how you want). What I mean is this book didn’t fall under predictable lines and it led to something that was very sweet in the end. Tam and Gabe were two great characters that, for the most part, had level heads despite their ages. This book wasn’t about epic love with vampires or fuaxcest, it was about setting goals and working hard; and that kind of stance paying off in the end. It was about stumbling when you’re growing up, and making bad decisions, but taking responsibility for the decisions. It wasn’t a fairytale, but it read as one to me. That someone like spoiled, rich boy Gabriel Pritz could learn to look under the surface of appearances and background and see the true character of a misunderstood person. That someone like Tam could have such abysmal circumstances, but still manage to have ideals and poetry in her life. Of course there was love, but it was the steady kind. Keating illustrated great relationships between siblings and parents. And there wasn’t any mopey self pity that seems to be so popular these days. I very much love how this story was based off the Grimm fairytale of the Six Swans!
The few notes I have for this book are: I received and ARC copy, so this might have been fixed, but I feel the first couple of chapters could do with a bit more editing, the language had a weird cadence to me so I wasn’t quite sure what Gabe was talking about at times…or perhaps it’s just teenage boy speak? There were some uses of punctuation and language that can be tightened up throughout. There seemed to be some disconnect at times with the dialogue, I had to reread some lines because I wasn’t really sure what the character was referring to. Positional descriptions were a little confusing, especially with “the bat” in later chapters. Also I don’t think a girl should be labeled as a slut just because of the clothes she wears, but we are talking about teenagers so what else should they say to each other? You’re a meanie? So I wasn’t too bothered by that when Gabe starts laying into a certain character.
Normally I’m a lot rougher with my scores, and I’m not gonna lie there were some flaws in this book. But I enjoyed it so much I don’t want to pick it apart and I applaud Keating for making this a great story from start to finish. I give The Silent Swan a 5 out of 5.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
After reading The Silent Swan I have to say that it was…wonderful. I truly enjoyed the story and the characters.
The book is in the point of view of Gabriel Pritz: rich, popular, golden boy who is crushing hard for one of his classmates Kerry…or should I say on one of Kerry’s body parts he lovingly calls “Steve.” All is perfect in Gabe’s world except for the unknown blot that has entered his life as Tam Swan, messy ponytail and all. Gabe doesn’t know who this girl, who dismisses one of the most popular boys in school so casually, is. And that starts to bug him. Add that to his progress of getting the hottest girl in school as his date for prom hindered by his parent’s new decree that he and his brothers have to make dinner once a week, Tam Swan who has proven herself to be an expert (at pretty much everything) comes into the picture.
When I read reviews I hate when a reviewer just goes on and on about how awesome a book is without saying WHY they liked it. So here it goes:
The author had intent. The plot moved at a steady pace with plot point that neither arrived too fast, too late, or worst of all came out of nowhere, and I’m not talking about twists—I like those. Wonderful references to poetry and fables to enrich the story and characters, and to make me FEEL something. This book had intelligence, which is something I can’t really say for a lot of young adult books these days. It wasn’t in it for cheap thrills, but it actually had something to say about families, values, and integrity. I don’t even care about the religious undertones, which is something I’m not really into. I don’t really mind if a book gets more adult in theme (take that how you want). What I mean is this book didn’t fall under predictable lines and it led to something that was very sweet in the end. Tam and Gabe were two great characters that, for the most part, had level heads despite their ages. This book wasn’t about epic love with vampires or fuaxcest, it was about setting goals and working hard; and that kind of stance paying off in the end. It was about stumbling when you’re growing up, and making bad decisions, but taking responsibility for the decisions. It wasn’t a fairytale, but it read as one to me. That someone like spoiled, rich boy Gabriel Pritz could learn to look under the surface of appearances and background and see the true character of a misunderstood person. That someone like Tam could have such abysmal circumstances, but still manage to have ideals and poetry in her life. Of course there was love, but it was the steady kind. Keating illustrated great relationships between siblings and parents. And there wasn’t any mopey self pity that seems to be so popular these days. I very much love how this story was based off the Grimm fairytale of the Six Swans!
The few notes I have for this book are: I received and ARC copy, so this might have been fixed, but I feel the first couple of chapters could do with a bit more editing, the language had a weird cadence to me so I wasn’t quite sure what Gabe was talking about at times…or perhaps it’s just teenage boy speak? There were some uses of punctuation and language that can be tightened up throughout. There seemed to be some disconnect at times with the dialogue, I had to reread some lines because I wasn’t really sure what the character was referring to. Positional descriptions were a little confusing, especially with “the bat” in later chapters. Also I don’t think a girl should be labeled as a slut just because of the clothes she wears, but we are talking about teenagers so what else should they say to each other? You’re a meanie? So I wasn’t too bothered by that when Gabe starts laying into a certain character.
Normally I’m a lot rougher with my scores, and I’m not gonna lie there were some flaws in this book. But I enjoyed it so much I don’t want to pick it apart and I applaud Keating for making this a great story from start to finish. I give The Silent Swan a 5 out of 5.
July 31, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Lex Keating, All Night Reads, and Netgalley.)
Gabe loves baseball, but he’s hopeless at cooking, so when his mom breaks the news to him and his brothers that they’ll each have to cook dinner one night a week because of her job, he knows that he’s going to need help.
After listening to his girlfriend moan about her foster-sister Tam’s awful cooking that takes minutes to prepare and fills her up with 4 bites, Gabe knows who he needs to ask for cooking advice.
Tam is working hard at school so that she can gain custody of her younger brothers once she graduates high school, and while she acing most of her classes, she needs help with Trig.
Tam and Gabe come to an arrangement; she teaches him to cook, and he teaches her trig.
Will it be enough for Tam to get her brothers back though? How will the food and Tam’s influence go down with Gabe’s family? And is this the start of a beautiful friendship for Tam and Gabe?
This story was dull, and I’m really not sure what the point was.
Tam was a bit of an odd character. She was good at everything she did, excellent even, from cooking to altering clothes, to baseball, and she even excelled at maths after tutoring from Gabe. There were never any half measures with her, and she was also fiercely loyal, and went to great lengths to ensure that her brothers were properly cared for even when they weren’t her responsibility.
Gabe and his brothers were absolutely hopeless in the kitchen. How grown men were capable of cooking pizzas with the plastic still on, and trying to cook muddy potatoes in a pot with no water is quite beyond me. You would have expected that their parents would have at least taught them some cooking basics if they were expected to cook one night a week each.
The most devious and unsavoury character was surprisingly Tam’s foster-sister Kerry, who was a gorgeous and popular cheerleader, and committed identity theft and took out a credit card in Tam’s name! Kerry the wicked foster-sister was the only character in this book who engendered any feeling from me whatsoever though, as the others just came across as dull. Even their passion for baseball couldn’t sway me.
I did find the storyline in this book pretty dull unfortunately. It seemed to take forever for anything to happen, and I got really bored of the random conversations and events that didn’t really add anything to the storyline. The baseball parts of the story were possibly the worst for me though, as I’m really not a fan of sports, and it just didn’t interest me at all. The decorating stuff drove me mad too; reading about paint drying is about as much fun as watching it.
I thought that this book would have some romance in it, but after getting all the way to the end without so much as a kiss I was seriously disappointed, and really wished that I’d never read this at all. The ending was also a bit lacklustre without a romantic happily ever after. I mean, the couple on the cover look pretty loved up, so where did that come from? Why have them all cosy on the cover if they don’t get cosy in the story? What was the point of this story other than Tam trying to rescue her brothers from foster care, which is of course going to actually make her life a lot more difficult while she has to support them all?
Overall; not what I expected at all – practically no romance, and a very dull storyline.
4 out of 10.
Gabe loves baseball, but he’s hopeless at cooking, so when his mom breaks the news to him and his brothers that they’ll each have to cook dinner one night a week because of her job, he knows that he’s going to need help.
After listening to his girlfriend moan about her foster-sister Tam’s awful cooking that takes minutes to prepare and fills her up with 4 bites, Gabe knows who he needs to ask for cooking advice.
Tam is working hard at school so that she can gain custody of her younger brothers once she graduates high school, and while she acing most of her classes, she needs help with Trig.
Tam and Gabe come to an arrangement; she teaches him to cook, and he teaches her trig.
Will it be enough for Tam to get her brothers back though? How will the food and Tam’s influence go down with Gabe’s family? And is this the start of a beautiful friendship for Tam and Gabe?
This story was dull, and I’m really not sure what the point was.
Tam was a bit of an odd character. She was good at everything she did, excellent even, from cooking to altering clothes, to baseball, and she even excelled at maths after tutoring from Gabe. There were never any half measures with her, and she was also fiercely loyal, and went to great lengths to ensure that her brothers were properly cared for even when they weren’t her responsibility.
Gabe and his brothers were absolutely hopeless in the kitchen. How grown men were capable of cooking pizzas with the plastic still on, and trying to cook muddy potatoes in a pot with no water is quite beyond me. You would have expected that their parents would have at least taught them some cooking basics if they were expected to cook one night a week each.
The most devious and unsavoury character was surprisingly Tam’s foster-sister Kerry, who was a gorgeous and popular cheerleader, and committed identity theft and took out a credit card in Tam’s name! Kerry the wicked foster-sister was the only character in this book who engendered any feeling from me whatsoever though, as the others just came across as dull. Even their passion for baseball couldn’t sway me.
I did find the storyline in this book pretty dull unfortunately. It seemed to take forever for anything to happen, and I got really bored of the random conversations and events that didn’t really add anything to the storyline. The baseball parts of the story were possibly the worst for me though, as I’m really not a fan of sports, and it just didn’t interest me at all. The decorating stuff drove me mad too; reading about paint drying is about as much fun as watching it.
I thought that this book would have some romance in it, but after getting all the way to the end without so much as a kiss I was seriously disappointed, and really wished that I’d never read this at all. The ending was also a bit lacklustre without a romantic happily ever after. I mean, the couple on the cover look pretty loved up, so where did that come from? Why have them all cosy on the cover if they don’t get cosy in the story? What was the point of this story other than Tam trying to rescue her brothers from foster care, which is of course going to actually make her life a lot more difficult while she has to support them all?
Overall; not what I expected at all – practically no romance, and a very dull storyline.
4 out of 10.
August 28, 2013
Review originally posted at Bettering Me Up as part of a blog tour.
I absolutely, positively hated putting this book down. I was drawn in to Keating's world immediately and loved how the characters grew throughout the story.
There were parts that seemed confusing and choppy--and I felt like I had missed something--but it didn't take away from the story. That may be the fact that I didn't know the fairy tale behind the story until I finished the book. It makes somewhat more sense now that I know it's a derivative.
Gabe was highly irritating at the beginning: a spoiled brat who couldn't get over himself enough to cook dinner for his family once a week.
A little melodramatic, aren't we? But it totally worked in the context of the story. Gabe is actually pretty funny, even if I didn't enjoy all of the physical fighting and "threats" to kill his brothers.
My only other pet peeve in the book was the name-calling and slut-shaming. A girl who is mean and deceptive should not be called a "ho." A bitch? Sure. An asshole? Absolutely. But not a whore.
Gabe's strategic thinking helps him throughout the book. Not only as a baseball coach, but also when he decides he likes Tam and wants to be with her.
And then he starts getting all moony-eyed over her. It's terribly sweet.
Aw!
But he still snarks about his siblings.
I also found some great advice re: public speaking. It's especially timely since I am starting to work on my final speech for my Toastmasters Competent Communicator designation.
and
Point taken!
I doubt I would have read this book were it not for IFB Tours, so I'm very happy that I took part.
Highly recommended for fans of YA Contemporary fiction.
Quotes used in this review were pulled from the ARC version of this book. Wording may have changed during the publication process.
I absolutely, positively hated putting this book down. I was drawn in to Keating's world immediately and loved how the characters grew throughout the story.
There were parts that seemed confusing and choppy--and I felt like I had missed something--but it didn't take away from the story. That may be the fact that I didn't know the fairy tale behind the story until I finished the book. It makes somewhat more sense now that I know it's a derivative.
Gabe was highly irritating at the beginning: a spoiled brat who couldn't get over himself enough to cook dinner for his family once a week.
Gabe had nightmares all week, about being chased by oven fires and flying saucepans.
A little melodramatic, aren't we? But it totally worked in the context of the story. Gabe is actually pretty funny, even if I didn't enjoy all of the physical fighting and "threats" to kill his brothers.
Mike stood there, staring, as she pedaled out of the neighborhood with considerable speed. "She has really good balance."
Gabe smacked the back of his head. Hard.
"Ow!"
"You weren't looking at her balance," he said darkly.
Perverts. They started so young these days.
My only other pet peeve in the book was the name-calling and slut-shaming. A girl who is mean and deceptive should not be called a "ho." A bitch? Sure. An asshole? Absolutely. But not a whore.
Gabe's strategic thinking helps him throughout the book. Not only as a baseball coach, but also when he decides he likes Tam and wants to be with her.
Gabe needed to tackle this less like a game and more like a government grant. Hard work, dedication, research. This entire campaign would depend on one woman's vote. Look out, Tam. This candidate was coming for her.
And then he starts getting all moony-eyed over her. It's terribly sweet.
She made his life better--not simpler, but more full--and she challenged his character.
Aw!
But he still snarks about his siblings.
Brothers. Put on this earth solely to make him look like the smart one.
I also found some great advice re: public speaking. It's especially timely since I am starting to work on my final speech for my Toastmasters Competent Communicator designation.
A captive audience needn't be entertained, but neither are you best served by talking for the pleasure of hearing yourself.
and
Whether they're interested or hostile, people respond better to sincerity. It cuts down on a lot of posturing, and it leaves you with only the important words. Harder to hear, sometimes, but it also makes silence an effective tool.
Point taken!
I doubt I would have read this book were it not for IFB Tours, so I'm very happy that I took part.
Highly recommended for fans of YA Contemporary fiction.
Quotes used in this review were pulled from the ARC version of this book. Wording may have changed during the publication process.
April 7, 2016
I received this book to give an honest review.
I was really torn on what to give this book. It started with a 3.5 star rating then I moved it to 5 then I just decided okay I am going to go with a 4 star rating, or wine glass in my case.
Okay I thought the story was a decent read you have a young girl who seems a lot wiser than her years. She is in foster care, along with her siblings and she seems to be fighting for them all to be together when she is of legal age.
You have Gabe who is a senior and ends up falling for Tam being as not only is she a famous baseball player's daughter she is strong, doesn't take any bull and doesn't like for people to run her or her family over. She cares deeply for her family more than she does herself. With that being said she seems like the type of girl that Gabe needs in his life, she might actually keep him in line lol.
There is a lot of baseball talk within this book, and even though I am not a huge baseball fan it wasn't those type of baseball books that lures you to sleep with things you don't really care about. It was more about the sport and those playing the game.
I liked how this book was all about family no matter what the circumstances were it goes to show you that families need to stick together and their is a love there like no other. Now there are a lot of brother's on both sides of the characters in the book. Gabe has I think 4 or 5 and Tam I am not quite sure exactly. I think there are 6? It gets a bit confusing even though you do not get much talk out of the brothers on Tam's side.
My favorite saying in this book: "How many pieces could a heart be broken into and still beat?" How sweet and simple is that question?
There was a certain part of the book where we really get to see Tam fight for her siblings and that was one of the best parts in the book.
Now I did have some questions in this book. One being When Stephanie is talking to Gabe, I didn't understand exactly what she meant by this. "This won't hurt. Promise. You're hiding it so well nobody else has noticed, but something's very off with you." Okay umm what? I didn't understand what won't hurt. That never seemed clear to me.
This was a minor detail that bothered me and I know I might be reading too much into it but I figured I would bring this up. Tam is in the truck with Gabe, Gabe looks over at her and she flopped against the bench. "Let me think." What bench? I thought they were in the truck.
Gabe, I kind of liked him but he seemed to get a bit too violent with his brothers over Tam. I mean he literally wanted to hurt his brothers bad which I found to be a big turn off. I get he liked Tam and didn't want his brothers to lay "claim" to her but this is not the cave man times.
Gabe grabbed her (Tam) by the bat and pulled her away from the casserole dish. Umm how exactly did he grab her by the bat if she was cooking? Did not make sense to me.
Overall a decent read I do believe I would read more by this author, she has a good story line but it kind of fell short with me. I enjoyed the way she wrote about the foster care system and how one sibling loves her family so much she will fight for them no matter what others think of her in the end.
I was really torn on what to give this book. It started with a 3.5 star rating then I moved it to 5 then I just decided okay I am going to go with a 4 star rating, or wine glass in my case.
Okay I thought the story was a decent read you have a young girl who seems a lot wiser than her years. She is in foster care, along with her siblings and she seems to be fighting for them all to be together when she is of legal age.
You have Gabe who is a senior and ends up falling for Tam being as not only is she a famous baseball player's daughter she is strong, doesn't take any bull and doesn't like for people to run her or her family over. She cares deeply for her family more than she does herself. With that being said she seems like the type of girl that Gabe needs in his life, she might actually keep him in line lol.
There is a lot of baseball talk within this book, and even though I am not a huge baseball fan it wasn't those type of baseball books that lures you to sleep with things you don't really care about. It was more about the sport and those playing the game.
I liked how this book was all about family no matter what the circumstances were it goes to show you that families need to stick together and their is a love there like no other. Now there are a lot of brother's on both sides of the characters in the book. Gabe has I think 4 or 5 and Tam I am not quite sure exactly. I think there are 6? It gets a bit confusing even though you do not get much talk out of the brothers on Tam's side.
My favorite saying in this book: "How many pieces could a heart be broken into and still beat?" How sweet and simple is that question?
There was a certain part of the book where we really get to see Tam fight for her siblings and that was one of the best parts in the book.
Now I did have some questions in this book. One being When Stephanie is talking to Gabe, I didn't understand exactly what she meant by this. "This won't hurt. Promise. You're hiding it so well nobody else has noticed, but something's very off with you." Okay umm what? I didn't understand what won't hurt. That never seemed clear to me.
This was a minor detail that bothered me and I know I might be reading too much into it but I figured I would bring this up. Tam is in the truck with Gabe, Gabe looks over at her and she flopped against the bench. "Let me think." What bench? I thought they were in the truck.
Gabe, I kind of liked him but he seemed to get a bit too violent with his brothers over Tam. I mean he literally wanted to hurt his brothers bad which I found to be a big turn off. I get he liked Tam and didn't want his brothers to lay "claim" to her but this is not the cave man times.
Gabe grabbed her (Tam) by the bat and pulled her away from the casserole dish. Umm how exactly did he grab her by the bat if she was cooking? Did not make sense to me.
Overall a decent read I do believe I would read more by this author, she has a good story line but it kind of fell short with me. I enjoyed the way she wrote about the foster care system and how one sibling loves her family so much she will fight for them no matter what others think of her in the end.
August 30, 2013
I've read a lot of books and to be honest the really good ones are hard to find. Stories that have intriguing characters, with a plot full of interesting situations, all held together with an excellent writing voice. The Silent Swan is one of these books. The writing is tight, the pacing is well done, the story compelling. I loved each and every one of Gabe's brothers. I just loved this story.
Tamryn Myova Swann is in foster care, along with her siblings and she seems to be fighting for them all to be together when she is of legal age. She is a lot wiser than her years, a true fighter. She is working hard at school so that she can gain custody of her younger brothers, and while she gets good grades in most of her classes, she needs help with Trig. Tam and Gabe come to an arrangement.
Gabe Pritz loves baseball, but he’s hopeless at cooking, so when his mom breaks the news to him and his brothers that they’ll each have to cook dinner one night a week because of her job, he knows that he’s going to need help. After listening to his girlfriend about Tam’s awful cooking that takes minutes to prepare, Gabe knows who he needs to ask for cooking advice.
He is a senior and ends up falling for Tam, being as not only is she a famous baseball player's daughter she is strong, doesn't take any bull and doesn't like for people to run her or her family over. She cares deeply for her family more than she does herself. With that being said she seems like the type of girl that Gabe needs in his life. She really brings the book together and I wish that there was a book from her perspective.
By the end, Gabe learns that his mother is not as perfect as he thought, and that his father has some great insights that Gabe still needs to learn. His whole attitude changes and he starts to become Tam’s champion, to say so.
I liked how this book was all about family no matter what the circumstances were it goes to show you that families need to stick together and their is a love there like no other. There was a certain part of the book where we really get to see Tam fight for her siblings and that was one of the best parts in the book.
I can't wait to read more by this author, she has a good story line. I enjoyed the way she wrote about the foster care system and how one sibling loves her family so much she will fight for them no matter. I recommend The Silent Swan to everyone. I love the cover, it really does a perfect job representing the story. Be sure to keep tissues near you while reading.
"How many pieces could a heart be broken into and still beat?"
“If her parents hadn't died, she would be a perfectly normal girl. Princess of her father’s baseball diamond and already drafted into a major league farm team. The only reason she’s on everybody’s—defecation roster—” Jake choked, but Gabe kept going “—is because she had the misfortune to love her brothers when it’s inconvenient for a soulless institution. Never mind if it’s necessary.”
"Tamryn had a house. Ergo, she’d need a housewarming gift.
Flowers and candy would have been normal, but romancing Tam Swann should not involve sugar. She gave it when she was in the mood, she didn't need it. Her heart had more pressing needs."
Tamryn Myova Swann is in foster care, along with her siblings and she seems to be fighting for them all to be together when she is of legal age. She is a lot wiser than her years, a true fighter. She is working hard at school so that she can gain custody of her younger brothers, and while she gets good grades in most of her classes, she needs help with Trig. Tam and Gabe come to an arrangement.
Gabe Pritz loves baseball, but he’s hopeless at cooking, so when his mom breaks the news to him and his brothers that they’ll each have to cook dinner one night a week because of her job, he knows that he’s going to need help. After listening to his girlfriend about Tam’s awful cooking that takes minutes to prepare, Gabe knows who he needs to ask for cooking advice.
He is a senior and ends up falling for Tam, being as not only is she a famous baseball player's daughter she is strong, doesn't take any bull and doesn't like for people to run her or her family over. She cares deeply for her family more than she does herself. With that being said she seems like the type of girl that Gabe needs in his life. She really brings the book together and I wish that there was a book from her perspective.
By the end, Gabe learns that his mother is not as perfect as he thought, and that his father has some great insights that Gabe still needs to learn. His whole attitude changes and he starts to become Tam’s champion, to say so.
I liked how this book was all about family no matter what the circumstances were it goes to show you that families need to stick together and their is a love there like no other. There was a certain part of the book where we really get to see Tam fight for her siblings and that was one of the best parts in the book.
I can't wait to read more by this author, she has a good story line. I enjoyed the way she wrote about the foster care system and how one sibling loves her family so much she will fight for them no matter. I recommend The Silent Swan to everyone. I love the cover, it really does a perfect job representing the story. Be sure to keep tissues near you while reading.
"How many pieces could a heart be broken into and still beat?"
“If her parents hadn't died, she would be a perfectly normal girl. Princess of her father’s baseball diamond and already drafted into a major league farm team. The only reason she’s on everybody’s—defecation roster—” Jake choked, but Gabe kept going “—is because she had the misfortune to love her brothers when it’s inconvenient for a soulless institution. Never mind if it’s necessary.”
"Tamryn had a house. Ergo, she’d need a housewarming gift.
Flowers and candy would have been normal, but romancing Tam Swann should not involve sugar. She gave it when she was in the mood, she didn't need it. Her heart had more pressing needs."
August 14, 2013
Gabriel Pritz, better known as Gabe, pretty much has the perfect life, king of his school, baseball star, perfect prom date, everything is golden for him. Until his parents decide it would be a good idea for Gabe and his brothers to each pick a night to cook dinner once a week. Desperate, Gabe seeks out the help of Tam Swann. She's argumentative, cold, stubborn, exactly the kind of person Gabe tends to avoid - but she knows her food. And her baseball.
I fell in love with the story and the characters of this book pretty quickly. Both Gabe and Tam come from big families, families full of brothers, and I admit at first it was a little hard to keep track of who was who and the ages, but the dynamics of the families were as different as the main characters.
The book is told from the POV of Gabe and the author really has teenage boy talk nailed down. As someone with siblings, the way Gabe would talk and think about his own was so spot on to how I've felt so many times. Other than the developing relationship between Gabe and Tam, Gabe's relationship with his brothers was a huge reason why I loved this book.
I found Tam to be such a strong young woman and at first I worried that, with the story told in Gabe's POV, we would miss out on a large part of seeing her strength, but instead we got to learn and see it along with Gabe. She's fierce and protective and guarded and strong and brave but also broken and vulnerable.
The plot starts off pretty simple, parents deciding that the Pritz boys should cook dinner once a week and Gabe completely sucking at it so he enlists the help of Tam. I loved all the cooking scenes, and some of the things mentioned are food I want to try) and how it slowly showed more depth than being just a story where the popular guy falls for the outcast girl. Baseball plays a pretty important role in the story and I felt Lex Keating did a good job keeping the sports talk at a level where it didn't overtake the story but it didn't feel oversimplified. I know the basics of baseball but not much more than that and I never felt lost due to the baseball talk.
There were a few scenes that felt a little dragged out and, as mentioned, the numerous brothers of Gabe and Tam were a little confusing at first, but overall I still loved this book. And I absolutely love the cover of it too. Right now I have no idea if this is a standalone, if there'll be a sequel, or maybe a companion novel from another character(Alex? Misha?), but I'll be on the watch for this author.
*I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I fell in love with the story and the characters of this book pretty quickly. Both Gabe and Tam come from big families, families full of brothers, and I admit at first it was a little hard to keep track of who was who and the ages, but the dynamics of the families were as different as the main characters.
The book is told from the POV of Gabe and the author really has teenage boy talk nailed down. As someone with siblings, the way Gabe would talk and think about his own was so spot on to how I've felt so many times. Other than the developing relationship between Gabe and Tam, Gabe's relationship with his brothers was a huge reason why I loved this book.
I found Tam to be such a strong young woman and at first I worried that, with the story told in Gabe's POV, we would miss out on a large part of seeing her strength, but instead we got to learn and see it along with Gabe. She's fierce and protective and guarded and strong and brave but also broken and vulnerable.
The plot starts off pretty simple, parents deciding that the Pritz boys should cook dinner once a week and Gabe completely sucking at it so he enlists the help of Tam. I loved all the cooking scenes, and some of the things mentioned are food I want to try) and how it slowly showed more depth than being just a story where the popular guy falls for the outcast girl. Baseball plays a pretty important role in the story and I felt Lex Keating did a good job keeping the sports talk at a level where it didn't overtake the story but it didn't feel oversimplified. I know the basics of baseball but not much more than that and I never felt lost due to the baseball talk.
There were a few scenes that felt a little dragged out and, as mentioned, the numerous brothers of Gabe and Tam were a little confusing at first, but overall I still loved this book. And I absolutely love the cover of it too. Right now I have no idea if this is a standalone, if there'll be a sequel, or maybe a companion novel from another character(Alex? Misha?), but I'll be on the watch for this author.
*I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2013
Surprising, sweet, and a hidden gem among books. The Silent Swan was an absolutely wonderful YA romance that exceeded my expectations and was just lovely.
Picking up this book, I was expecting a standard YA contemporary romance. Sweet, light, and cute, but also somewhat forgettable. But, this book blew my expectations out of the water. It turned out to be so much more. A story of growth and romance and strength. It was the kind of book that you finish and think about afterwards. Loved it!
Gabe was the narrator in this book, so I'll start with him. I'm going to be honest, I started off not liking him He was a jerk at first. But, over the course of the book, he grew into a much better character. He went from egotistical jerk to a truly good man. I went from not liking him, to slowly softening towards him, to absolutely adoring him in the end. He was so sweet and wonderful and I loved his character.
Tam was a remarkable strong heroine. She has quite a few brothers, all in the foster care system after the death of their parents. And, she fights tooth and nail to take care of them all. She's even earned herself a reputation in the system for the lengths she will go to in the name of protecting her brothers. But, despite her difficult life, she was still a genuinely good person. She didn't have a chip in her shoulder that you would expect. She was absolutely lovely. I really liked her character.
The romance developed slowly. At first, there wasn't any at all. Then, as Gabe and Tam spent more time together, the undercurrents of romance began. And it slowly grew over the course of the book. It was so sweet. I loved this couple.
I have to mention all the brothers. Tam's and Gabe's. These two had a lot of brothers. And, at first, it was difficult to keep them straight. But, the author did such a great job making them all individual characters that I ended up liking each one for their characteristics. It was quite a feat and I loved how it was done.
The plot was steadily paced. My one problem with the book was that, I wasn't fully engaged at first. It was slow to start. And, since there were so many characters, some with totally different agendas, that I was somewhat confused in the beginning. But, about a quarter of the way through, I was drawn further into the story until I was completely hooked. The story was wonderful and the ending was perfection.
The Silent Swan was a brilliant YA romance. It was sweet and deep and a truly lovely read. YA romance lovers, if you want a book that will really draw you in, then this is your book.
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Picking up this book, I was expecting a standard YA contemporary romance. Sweet, light, and cute, but also somewhat forgettable. But, this book blew my expectations out of the water. It turned out to be so much more. A story of growth and romance and strength. It was the kind of book that you finish and think about afterwards. Loved it!
Gabe was the narrator in this book, so I'll start with him. I'm going to be honest, I started off not liking him He was a jerk at first. But, over the course of the book, he grew into a much better character. He went from egotistical jerk to a truly good man. I went from not liking him, to slowly softening towards him, to absolutely adoring him in the end. He was so sweet and wonderful and I loved his character.
Tam was a remarkable strong heroine. She has quite a few brothers, all in the foster care system after the death of their parents. And, she fights tooth and nail to take care of them all. She's even earned herself a reputation in the system for the lengths she will go to in the name of protecting her brothers. But, despite her difficult life, she was still a genuinely good person. She didn't have a chip in her shoulder that you would expect. She was absolutely lovely. I really liked her character.
The romance developed slowly. At first, there wasn't any at all. Then, as Gabe and Tam spent more time together, the undercurrents of romance began. And it slowly grew over the course of the book. It was so sweet. I loved this couple.
I have to mention all the brothers. Tam's and Gabe's. These two had a lot of brothers. And, at first, it was difficult to keep them straight. But, the author did such a great job making them all individual characters that I ended up liking each one for their characteristics. It was quite a feat and I loved how it was done.
The plot was steadily paced. My one problem with the book was that, I wasn't fully engaged at first. It was slow to start. And, since there were so many characters, some with totally different agendas, that I was somewhat confused in the beginning. But, about a quarter of the way through, I was drawn further into the story until I was completely hooked. The story was wonderful and the ending was perfection.
The Silent Swan was a brilliant YA romance. It was sweet and deep and a truly lovely read. YA romance lovers, if you want a book that will really draw you in, then this is your book.
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
August 8, 2013
I found this book hard to read for a few reasons. One, I don't speak 'American Boy'. The book is told from Gabe's point of view, which I don't have a problem with - usually I love books with a boy PoV - however I found Gabe's mindset just so far removed from my 'English woman' one, that it was very hard for me to grasp in places. Also, I don't speak baseball. I think I'll class this as a separate problem - there must be American boys who don't love baseball. Maybe I'd understand them better. The game features heavily in the book though, and there are lots of baseball-related phrases used which I had no idea of the meaning of. Between the boy-thoughts and the baseball it felt like the book was written in a different language half the time! I actually had to look up the author because I was convinced it must be a man. According to her biog, she's not, but there's no picture so I'm not convinced.
I don't want to just put a list of issues here, so I'll alternate. Good point - Tam. She's all kinds of amazing. In fact, she's probably a bit too amazing, a bit too perfect, but I'll happily overlook that. She made me keep reading. I needed to know how things worked out for her. This book would probably have been perfect for me if it was told from her point of view! Although there would still have been the baseball problem - her and her many brothers love the game.
Which brings me to my next little problem. Too many brothers. Between Tam's brothers and Gabe's brothers, there's a whole mess of boys. It took me about a quarter of the book to get them straightened out in my head. We could easily have lost a couple of them without affecting the impact of the book. But that's just my opinion. Oh yeah, I get that the author is using the fairytale The Seven Swans, but still. Too many brothers.
The main reason it was hard though, was the legal wrangling and the foster care system. These things made it hard in an emotional way, rather than a technical way. There is so much love in these pages, and so many pages, that despite all the issues I have with it, I found it a really powerful read. I would read more from this author, provided there was less baseball involved!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. More reviews at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk
I don't want to just put a list of issues here, so I'll alternate. Good point - Tam. She's all kinds of amazing. In fact, she's probably a bit too amazing, a bit too perfect, but I'll happily overlook that. She made me keep reading. I needed to know how things worked out for her. This book would probably have been perfect for me if it was told from her point of view! Although there would still have been the baseball problem - her and her many brothers love the game.
Which brings me to my next little problem. Too many brothers. Between Tam's brothers and Gabe's brothers, there's a whole mess of boys. It took me about a quarter of the book to get them straightened out in my head. We could easily have lost a couple of them without affecting the impact of the book. But that's just my opinion. Oh yeah, I get that the author is using the fairytale The Seven Swans, but still. Too many brothers.
The main reason it was hard though, was the legal wrangling and the foster care system. These things made it hard in an emotional way, rather than a technical way. There is so much love in these pages, and so many pages, that despite all the issues I have with it, I found it a really powerful read. I would read more from this author, provided there was less baseball involved!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. More reviews at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk
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