What do you think?
Rate this book
Spin the Sky
Magnolia Woodson wants nothing more than to get her and her sister, Rose, out of the pitifully small, clamming-obsessed Oregon town that hates them—she just doesn’t know how. Forced to put up with the snide comments and hateful looks the townspeople throw at them, Mags thinks she’s destined to pay for the horrible, awful thing her mom did—and that she’s left her and Rose to deal with—until the day she dies.
But when a nationwide televised dance competition posts tryouts in nearby Portland, Mags’s best friend, George, says they have to go and audition. Not only have they spent the past fourteen years of their lives dancing side-by-side, dreaming of a day just like this, but also it could be Mags’s chance of a lifetime—a chance to win the grand-prize money and get her and Rose out of Summerland, a chance to do the thing she loves most with everyone watching, a chance to show the town that she’s not—and has never been—a “no-good Woodson girl,” like her mother. But will the competition prove too steep? And will Mags be able to retain her friendship with George as they go head-to-head in tryouts? Mags will have to learn that following her dreams may mean changing her life forever.
But when a nationwide televised dance competition posts tryouts in nearby Portland, Mags’s best friend, George, says they have to go and audition. Not only have they spent the past fourteen years of their lives dancing side-by-side, dreaming of a day just like this, but also it could be Mags’s chance of a lifetime—a chance to win the grand-prize money and get her and Rose out of Summerland, a chance to do the thing she loves most with everyone watching, a chance to show the town that she’s not—and has never been—a “no-good Woodson girl,” like her mother. But will the competition prove too steep? And will Mags be able to retain her friendship with George as they go head-to-head in tryouts? Mags will have to learn that following her dreams may mean changing her life forever.
362 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2016
24 people are currently reading
820 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 18, 2016
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA contemporary story about a dancer.
Magnolia was an okay character, but I felt like she cared too much what other people thought of her. She was also quick to turn on her best friend when he did something wrong, and seemed to hold grudges.
The storyline in this was about Magnolia and her best friend George entering a dance competition. We got some arguing and fighting and a love triangle, but I lost interest.
The ending to this was okay, but I was glad to be finished.
6 out of 10
This was a YA contemporary story about a dancer.
Magnolia was an okay character, but I felt like she cared too much what other people thought of her. She was also quick to turn on her best friend when he did something wrong, and seemed to hold grudges.
The storyline in this was about Magnolia and her best friend George entering a dance competition. We got some arguing and fighting and a love triangle, but I lost interest.
The ending to this was okay, but I was glad to be finished.
6 out of 10
December 13, 2016
3.5/ 5 stars
Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZbpq...
I did have some cons but overall I was happy with my reading experience.
I initially wanted to pick this book up since I have always wanted to read a book where our main character dances. I am happy to say that it is obvious Jill MacKenzie has a background in dance since she portrayed it so accurately. I also enjoyed how she handled the dance competition aspect of the novel since I haven't read any book with one featured in it. The way she wrote the competition made it easy to visual and major of the novel read as though I was watching a movie. There was drama so if that isn't something you enjoy stay anyway BUT for me I thought it fit since some of the drama stemed from a deeper root and wasn't placed for nothing. Even though I haven't read a book which featured a dance competition I have watched movies or tv shows that do which use drama as well throughout the storyline.
Going onto the cons I want to mention my thoughts on the characters and the beginning. The characters personally weren't my favorite but I still found it pleasant to follow them through their story and see them growing throughout the novel, specifically our main character Magnolia. The beginning was a little slow for me, I felt it took a little more for me to work my way through the book but once I did it had my full attention. Regarding, the ending I felt underwhelmed by it but I did appreciated the fact it wrapped up the book without leaving me unsatisfied.
In general, I would definietly recommend this book if you have been looking for one where the main character dances. I am personally excited to see what else Jill MacKenzie comes out with since this is her debut novel!
***I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own***
Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZbpq...
I did have some cons but overall I was happy with my reading experience.
I initially wanted to pick this book up since I have always wanted to read a book where our main character dances. I am happy to say that it is obvious Jill MacKenzie has a background in dance since she portrayed it so accurately. I also enjoyed how she handled the dance competition aspect of the novel since I haven't read any book with one featured in it. The way she wrote the competition made it easy to visual and major of the novel read as though I was watching a movie. There was drama so if that isn't something you enjoy stay anyway BUT for me I thought it fit since some of the drama stemed from a deeper root and wasn't placed for nothing. Even though I haven't read a book which featured a dance competition I have watched movies or tv shows that do which use drama as well throughout the storyline.
Going onto the cons I want to mention my thoughts on the characters and the beginning. The characters personally weren't my favorite but I still found it pleasant to follow them through their story and see them growing throughout the novel, specifically our main character Magnolia. The beginning was a little slow for me, I felt it took a little more for me to work my way through the book but once I did it had my full attention. Regarding, the ending I felt underwhelmed by it but I did appreciated the fact it wrapped up the book without leaving me unsatisfied.
In general, I would definietly recommend this book if you have been looking for one where the main character dances. I am personally excited to see what else Jill MacKenzie comes out with since this is her debut novel!
***I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own***
August 10, 2016
Jill Mackenzie's lyrical prose dances across the page and leaps into your heart. Magnolia is funny, flawed, driven, and every bit as real as a young-adult heroine should be. SPIN THE SKY made me want to get up and dance, but I couldn't bring myself to put it down! A truly inspiring debut about personal identity and overcoming your past by taking a blind leap into your future.
October 18, 2016
(I received a copy from Edelweiss, In exchange for an honest review.)
The characters were okay, but there wasn't any that I loved.
This wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't one I can say I enjoyed either. Despite the book being a quick read, there were parts in it that dragged for me. There wasn't really that much going on, and it took a massive chunk of the book just for the main character to dance for the show!
Overall, An okay read.
The characters were okay, but there wasn't any that I loved.
This wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't one I can say I enjoyed either. Despite the book being a quick read, there were parts in it that dragged for me. There wasn't really that much going on, and it took a massive chunk of the book just for the main character to dance for the show!
Overall, An okay read.
July 31, 2016
This gripping tale of a girl who longs to shed the shadow of her mother's reputation will dance its way straight into your heart as Magnolia learns about loving herself and knowing when to let go. Spin the Sky is a powerful, triumphant debut!
Don't miss this one!
Don't miss this one!
May 3, 2018
Magnolia has lived in Summerland her whole life. In the past the towns people were always kind and loving towards Magnolia and her sister Rose, but the last six months their lives have changed immensely. After a horrible event that their mother was part of, they're left to fend for themselves. Now that their mother isn't here to take responsibility for what happened, the girls have to live with the snide remarks of the people in town. Magnolia is a passionate dancer. This is what keeps her going every single day. Is there anything she can do, so people will be kind to her again?
Magnolia and George have been best friends ever since they were little. She has a secret crush on him, but she knows he'll never feel the same way about her. When Magnolia is waiting for her dance class to begin, George walks in with a flyer of a nationwide dance competition, Live to Dance. He talks her into going with him to try out and audition for a spot on the show. Magnolia thinks that if she'd win this competition she can show everybody that she's not the 'no good girl' people thinks she is. Will she be able to hold her own in a tough competition like Live to Dance?
Spin the Sky is a moving and emotional story about a girl who tries to outshine the hate that she gets to deal with on a daily basis. Magnolia is a skilled dancer and she absolutely has what it takes to become a contestant on the show. She can be insecure about herself, but she can also speak up and be bold when she needs to. I loved those contrasts in her character. She's still very young and this shows in some of the decisions she makes. Magnolia only has her sister and I wished for them to have a happy and carefree life.
Jill MacKenzie captured the essence of dancing perfectly. Magnolia really lives to dance. She embodies the movements and feels what she's doing with her whole heart. I loved that about her. I've watched many dance competitions and I'm always amazed when I see all of those stunning skilled dancers. With a nationwide competition also comes drama and I loved to read about the dynamics between the dancers. Jill MacKenzie's writing is amazing and I fell in love with Spin the Sky straight away.
Magnolia and George have been best friends ever since they were little. She has a secret crush on him, but she knows he'll never feel the same way about her. When Magnolia is waiting for her dance class to begin, George walks in with a flyer of a nationwide dance competition, Live to Dance. He talks her into going with him to try out and audition for a spot on the show. Magnolia thinks that if she'd win this competition she can show everybody that she's not the 'no good girl' people thinks she is. Will she be able to hold her own in a tough competition like Live to Dance?
Spin the Sky is a moving and emotional story about a girl who tries to outshine the hate that she gets to deal with on a daily basis. Magnolia is a skilled dancer and she absolutely has what it takes to become a contestant on the show. She can be insecure about herself, but she can also speak up and be bold when she needs to. I loved those contrasts in her character. She's still very young and this shows in some of the decisions she makes. Magnolia only has her sister and I wished for them to have a happy and carefree life.
Jill MacKenzie captured the essence of dancing perfectly. Magnolia really lives to dance. She embodies the movements and feels what she's doing with her whole heart. I loved that about her. I've watched many dance competitions and I'm always amazed when I see all of those stunning skilled dancers. With a nationwide competition also comes drama and I loved to read about the dynamics between the dancers. Jill MacKenzie's writing is amazing and I fell in love with Spin the Sky straight away.
October 14, 2017
Magnolia has always enjoyed living in Summerland, but the inhabitants of the town aren't friendly any longer because of something her mother has done. Magnolia and her sister Rose were left behind by their mother and the siblings have to deal with the hate for her actions on a daily basis. She only has one good friend left, George. Magnolia is a skilled dancer and George encourages her to audition for Live to Dance, a nationwide television show. Magnolia wants to win, so the people of Summerland will appreciate her again, to show them that her family can also do something good. Is that the right reason to go?
George and Magnolia spend a lot of time together and they've always been there for each other. However, at Live to Dance they are competitors. Will they both get through the auditions and what will happen afterwards? Will their friendship be strong enough to survive the competitive atmosphere or will it suffer? Who will win Live to Dance, does Magnolia have a shot to clear her name or will she have to live with her mother's infamy forever?
Spin the Sky is an emotional story about dance, paying for someone else's mistakes, friendship and dreams for the future. Magnolia is a skilled dancer. She's passionate and gracious and I loved the way Jill MacKenzie writes about her movements. Magnolia has her flaws as well, she's headstrong, doesn't know how to read people and thinks she's less loved than she actually is. It made me sad that she couldn't see the good in her life because of all the bad things that keep happening to her and I kept hoping she'd find some much deserved happiness. Because of the fact that Magnolia has easily identifiable and sometimes opposing personality traits she's an incredibly interesting main character and I really enjoyed watching her grow and find some wisdom.
Jill MacKenzie's writing has a nice and steady flow. She writes about deep emotions in an honest and understandable way. Strong feelings and dancing go together very well and I loved the way she combines the two. Magnolia's story is fascinating from beginning to end. She's a fighter, but doesn't clearly see what's happening around her most of the time, which made me want to give her a shake every now and then. I love it when I feel so strongly about a main character. Jill MacKenzie combines Magnolia's personal problems with a competitive environment and dancers who all want to win, but slowly inevitably start to like each other. The dynamics keep shifting in a fantastic way, which for me was the best thing about Spin the Sky. I loved this terrific moving story filled with dedication, drive, drama and spirit.
George and Magnolia spend a lot of time together and they've always been there for each other. However, at Live to Dance they are competitors. Will they both get through the auditions and what will happen afterwards? Will their friendship be strong enough to survive the competitive atmosphere or will it suffer? Who will win Live to Dance, does Magnolia have a shot to clear her name or will she have to live with her mother's infamy forever?
Spin the Sky is an emotional story about dance, paying for someone else's mistakes, friendship and dreams for the future. Magnolia is a skilled dancer. She's passionate and gracious and I loved the way Jill MacKenzie writes about her movements. Magnolia has her flaws as well, she's headstrong, doesn't know how to read people and thinks she's less loved than she actually is. It made me sad that she couldn't see the good in her life because of all the bad things that keep happening to her and I kept hoping she'd find some much deserved happiness. Because of the fact that Magnolia has easily identifiable and sometimes opposing personality traits she's an incredibly interesting main character and I really enjoyed watching her grow and find some wisdom.
Jill MacKenzie's writing has a nice and steady flow. She writes about deep emotions in an honest and understandable way. Strong feelings and dancing go together very well and I loved the way she combines the two. Magnolia's story is fascinating from beginning to end. She's a fighter, but doesn't clearly see what's happening around her most of the time, which made me want to give her a shake every now and then. I love it when I feel so strongly about a main character. Jill MacKenzie combines Magnolia's personal problems with a competitive environment and dancers who all want to win, but slowly inevitably start to like each other. The dynamics keep shifting in a fantastic way, which for me was the best thing about Spin the Sky. I loved this terrific moving story filled with dedication, drive, drama and spirit.
February 2, 2017
Spin the Sky is an exquisite book written with beautiful, lyrical sentences that beg you to literally read them over and over again. I'm a sucker for both setting and language when it comes to books, and this one satisfied my soul with both.
Magnolia is tired of her small town and the unfortunate legacy her mother left behind. Desperate to change the course of her life and make something of herself, she enters a reality dance competition and wins a spot on the show. While I've never personally danced a day in my life, I relate to Magnolia's truth, that self-acceptance is more important than how others see you.
Spin the Sky is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. And it will gut you. But you'll be glad you joined Mags on her journey as she comes to realize that life may not always work out the way you want, but it usually works out in the way you never realized you needed it to.
Buy this one! You'll want to reread it many times.
Magnolia is tired of her small town and the unfortunate legacy her mother left behind. Desperate to change the course of her life and make something of herself, she enters a reality dance competition and wins a spot on the show. While I've never personally danced a day in my life, I relate to Magnolia's truth, that self-acceptance is more important than how others see you.
Spin the Sky is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. And it will gut you. But you'll be glad you joined Mags on her journey as she comes to realize that life may not always work out the way you want, but it usually works out in the way you never realized you needed it to.
Buy this one! You'll want to reread it many times.
August 6, 2017
Less a story about dance than it is about small-town small-mindedness, I think. Magnolia and her sister have been ostracised since their mother was involved in a girl's death, but...really they've been ostracised much longer, or if not ostracised then at least written off. It's not the whole town, but it's enough. Enough that Magnolia wants out.
Most of the book takes place in the context of a reality TV show that Magnolia wins entry to. It's not the ordinary dance story, certainly, because reality TV is...not reality.
For the most part I enjoyed it, though honestly I think Magnolia's backstory was, if anything, underplayed. It's not that I think it should be used on the show, but since the show knows, I find it really hard to imagine that they wouldn't try to push for more drama. It just sort of...disappears. I was also a little flabbergasted by George's flirting with his part-time love interest, who he's just met: And then he's touching her. Saying things like, "I've never even seen hair like this in real life," and "it's so gorgeous," like it's the most normal thing in the world, him playing with the thick, tight curls that frame her face (109). Those curls are earlier described as a 'teased-out afro' (96), and as far as I can tell the girl is mixed-race (I could be wrong; if it's mentioned directly one way or the other, I missed it), which means good god, boy, do not touch her hair and talk as though it's crazy exotic. I mean, don't touch anyone's hair without permission (for all I know, she's white with just really curly hair), but considering how politicised (and exoticised) black women's hair has been (is), uh...dude. Get your hands out of her hair.
But I digress. I enjoyed the book. I appreciated that Magnolia learned a lesson about sexuality, and I quite liked the way the competition ended for her. Not ideal but perhaps more realistic that way. I would have loved to hear a little more about the different dance styles, because I don't know a ton about them, but overall it was a quick read with multiple layers.
Most of the book takes place in the context of a reality TV show that Magnolia wins entry to. It's not the ordinary dance story, certainly, because reality TV is...not reality.
For the most part I enjoyed it, though honestly I think Magnolia's backstory was, if anything, underplayed. It's not that I think it should be used on the show, but since the show knows, I find it really hard to imagine that they wouldn't try to push for more drama. It just sort of...disappears. I was also a little flabbergasted by George's flirting with his part-time love interest, who he's just met: And then he's touching her. Saying things like, "I've never even seen hair like this in real life," and "it's so gorgeous," like it's the most normal thing in the world, him playing with the thick, tight curls that frame her face (109). Those curls are earlier described as a 'teased-out afro' (96), and as far as I can tell the girl is mixed-race (I could be wrong; if it's mentioned directly one way or the other, I missed it), which means good god, boy, do not touch her hair and talk as though it's crazy exotic. I mean, don't touch anyone's hair without permission (for all I know, she's white with just really curly hair), but considering how politicised (and exoticised) black women's hair has been (is), uh...dude. Get your hands out of her hair.
But I digress. I enjoyed the book. I appreciated that Magnolia learned a lesson about sexuality, and I quite liked the way the competition ended for her. Not ideal but perhaps more realistic that way. I would have loved to hear a little more about the different dance styles, because I don't know a ton about them, but overall it was a quick read with multiple layers.
September 14, 2017
Featured in "Reading on a Theme: Young Ballet Dancers" on Intellectual Recreation.
Magnolia (Mags) and her best friend George enter a SYTYCD-type competition. For George the show is a chance to be recognized for his skill, but for Mags the competition means much more. She sees a victory as a way to change her small town's opinion of her and her sister, whose reputations have been tainted by their mother's abandonment after a terrible accident.
Spin the Sky gives readers look the behind-the-scenes of a reality show. This one seems to have a lot of drama. I enjoyed some of the friendships on the show and especially how Mags realized that her first impressions weren't always correct. Mags goes through a lot of personal growth in this debut novel from Jill MacKenzie, I especially loved how well she conveyed the feel of a small Oregon town. The scenes with the clam digging were some of the most moving of the whole book.
Spin the Sky was out November 2016.
Review copy from Edelweiss.
Magnolia (Mags) and her best friend George enter a SYTYCD-type competition. For George the show is a chance to be recognized for his skill, but for Mags the competition means much more. She sees a victory as a way to change her small town's opinion of her and her sister, whose reputations have been tainted by their mother's abandonment after a terrible accident.
Spin the Sky gives readers look the behind-the-scenes of a reality show. This one seems to have a lot of drama. I enjoyed some of the friendships on the show and especially how Mags realized that her first impressions weren't always correct. Mags goes through a lot of personal growth in this debut novel from Jill MacKenzie, I especially loved how well she conveyed the feel of a small Oregon town. The scenes with the clam digging were some of the most moving of the whole book.
Spin the Sky was out November 2016.
Review copy from Edelweiss.
July 1, 2019
I loved this book, it reminded me of a Jodi Picoult novel where I encounter a environment I didn’t know much about (in this case a reality show dance competition/the world of competitive dance) as a backdrop to fully realized and rich characters that I was invested in knowing more about. While I’m not quite a teenager I loved how the writing helped me access those teenage feelings and reactions in a way that drew me in and engaged in me in the story. The characters displayed electricity in their interactions and experiences that felt authentic and made me both nostalgic for that intensity and relieved to have moved past it. I was engrossed in how seeing each relationships played out. The characters were diverse but the writing revealed an emotional truth that made me want to know more about each person. The book was well-paced and very satisfying. I look forward to reading more from this author.
February 6, 2017
Spin the Sky follows Magnolia Woodson (Mags) through her journey to compete on a nationally televised dance competition, and to defeat the reputation that haunts her family. I loved how the author, Jill MacKenzie, worked in the attention to detail on the dance. I wish there had been more--both background and dance scenes! I was not a huge fan of some of the characters and thought they could have had a little more depth (George, Mark, and Rose especially). The narration and prose was lovely, but the ending left a detail or two unresolved in my mind. Overall, a solid book for YAs, especially the difficulties of navigating friendships and finding your own self. Thanks to GoodRead First Reads for sending me a complimentary copy to read!
December 28, 2018
I love reading books that center around television competitions, whether it be cooking, or dancing, ice skating, or gymnastics. Basically, the more plot-based, the better. Spin the Sky was definitely more character-based. And while that's not a bad thing, it took away from the book. Drama's fine, but I felt like there was sometimes too much drama and not enough dancing.
Essentially, my favorite characters were the minor characters who helped Magnolia along the way. The main characters were supportable at best, and hated at worst. I enjoyed reading it, but I couldn't wait to finish so I could start on another book. It just never peaked the way I thought it should have. And the ending was semi-predictable.
Essentially, my favorite characters were the minor characters who helped Magnolia along the way. The main characters were supportable at best, and hated at worst. I enjoyed reading it, but I couldn't wait to finish so I could start on another book. It just never peaked the way I thought it should have. And the ending was semi-predictable.
November 23, 2019
As a dancer, I could relate to many of the challenges of the main characters dancing career, but I thought that her dancing wasn't the main storyline of the book. I thought the main part of this book was her and her sister trying to get over the fact that their small little town hated them for something that they didn't do, but that their mother did. To find a way to make the town not hate her and her sister, Magnolia (the main character) joins a TV dance competition. I felt like overall, this was a great read.
September 4, 2024
Spin the sky was a motivational book about the coming of age and really just living your dreams despite what difficulty the world may throw at you. I really admired how the plot played out, and how many lessons I learned in this book. I Learned that not everybody is perfect just because they look the part, or vice versa. This book taught me that going after your dreams it necessary, and will make you a better person. Overall, I was thoroughly invested and really liked it!
May 29, 2017
A soon as I started reading this book I had to clear my schedule because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. The characters are as complex as they are engaging, and the story had me at the edge of my seat the whole way through. Not to mention the beautiful details, and gorgeous prose. I highly recommend this book.
July 16, 2017
Other than the sexuality issues, which I did not appreciate, I really liked this book. It was a great example that though we may fall we have to get back up. People will forget every good thing we've done and remember the one bad thing we've done. Life is like that but we have to remember that they do not define us.
March 30, 2020
This novel was more then i expected! It wasnt anything spectacular, but definitely a solid hard hitting contemporary! I went into this thinking it would be a fun novel about a dancer on a reality tv show. Something light hearted and a guilty pleasure read. Although it was all of those things, it also dealt with more difficult topics such a sexuality and addiction. Definitely would recommend!
May 6, 2017
Magnolia is eager to leave her small town and undesirable family dynamics. There’s a reality dance show competition that could be her salvation. This contemporary YA pulled at my heart. Magnolia is an amazing main character in this powerful debut novel.
March 6, 2017
Such a beautifully written book about how hard it is to rise above your past, but Jill MacKenzie does it very well in this teen drama about dancers. Loved every page.
April 15, 2019
Sweet and heartwarming, one of my favorite dance books 😊
June 9, 2023
This was beautiful
November 5, 2016
I RECIEVED THS BOOK FROM SKY PONY PRESS THROUGH EDELWEISS IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY VIEWS OR OPINIONS IN ANY WAY.
Spin The Sky by Jill MacKenzie is an amazing book!
Summary from Goodreads:
Magnolia Woodson wants nothing more than to get her and her sister, Rose, out of the pitifully small, clamming-obsessed Oregon town that hates them—she just doesn’t know how. Forced to put up with the snide comments and hateful looks the townspeople throw at them, Mags thinks she’s destined to pay for the horrible, awful thing her mom did—and that she’s left her and Rose to deal with—until the day she dies.
But when a nationwide televised dance competition posts tryouts in nearby Portland, Mags’s best friend, George, says they have to go and audition. Not only have they spent the past fourteen years of their lives dancing side-by-side, dreaming of a day just like this, but also it could be Mags’s chance of a lifetime—a chance to win the grand-prize money and get her and Rose out of Summerland, a chance to do the thing she loves most with everyone watching, a chance to show the town that she’s not—and has never been—a “no-good Woodson girl,” like her mother. But will the competition prove too steep? And will Mags be able to retain her friendship with George as they go head-to-head in tryouts? Mags will have to learn that following her dreams may mean changing her life forever.
I really loved the whole concept of this book. The dance part was so interesting, and it made me root for Mags. Any books with competitions and TV are up my alley, so this was great.
Despite the kind of trivial setting, this book is also surprisingly deep. It is about a girl who's mom killed someone. She got this teenage girl hooked on drugs until she died, and the made the whole town turn on her. Mags keeps feeling like she has to care about what the people think about her. She thinks they can control her live.
The drama in this book was amazingly huge. There were these scenes between Mags and her best friend George, and also scenes about drama scattered throughout.
I really liked the characters, and how everyone had two sides to them. Jill MacKenzie does a good job creating realistic characters.
This book started out slow. I couldn't put the book down from like 40% through on. I am glad I didn't, because it was all worth it in the end. The ending was amazing and kind of sad.
There were so many feelings in this book. I couldn't stop my emotions while reading it. There were some points where I was laughing in my head, others where I was inwardly screaming and crying.
Overall, this is a great book about the reality of a reality TV show.
Spin The Sky by Jill MacKenzie is an amazing book!
Summary from Goodreads:
Magnolia Woodson wants nothing more than to get her and her sister, Rose, out of the pitifully small, clamming-obsessed Oregon town that hates them—she just doesn’t know how. Forced to put up with the snide comments and hateful looks the townspeople throw at them, Mags thinks she’s destined to pay for the horrible, awful thing her mom did—and that she’s left her and Rose to deal with—until the day she dies.
But when a nationwide televised dance competition posts tryouts in nearby Portland, Mags’s best friend, George, says they have to go and audition. Not only have they spent the past fourteen years of their lives dancing side-by-side, dreaming of a day just like this, but also it could be Mags’s chance of a lifetime—a chance to win the grand-prize money and get her and Rose out of Summerland, a chance to do the thing she loves most with everyone watching, a chance to show the town that she’s not—and has never been—a “no-good Woodson girl,” like her mother. But will the competition prove too steep? And will Mags be able to retain her friendship with George as they go head-to-head in tryouts? Mags will have to learn that following her dreams may mean changing her life forever.
I really loved the whole concept of this book. The dance part was so interesting, and it made me root for Mags. Any books with competitions and TV are up my alley, so this was great.
Despite the kind of trivial setting, this book is also surprisingly deep. It is about a girl who's mom killed someone. She got this teenage girl hooked on drugs until she died, and the made the whole town turn on her. Mags keeps feeling like she has to care about what the people think about her. She thinks they can control her live.
The drama in this book was amazingly huge. There were these scenes between Mags and her best friend George, and also scenes about drama scattered throughout.
I really liked the characters, and how everyone had two sides to them. Jill MacKenzie does a good job creating realistic characters.
This book started out slow. I couldn't put the book down from like 40% through on. I am glad I didn't, because it was all worth it in the end. The ending was amazing and kind of sad.
There were so many feelings in this book. I couldn't stop my emotions while reading it. There were some points where I was laughing in my head, others where I was inwardly screaming and crying.
Overall, this is a great book about the reality of a reality TV show.
April 24, 2023
I may be biased since my teacher wrote this, but I absolutely loved this book. It had a good balance between pain and love and it felt real to an extent. The only things I didn’t like was how random some parts were, especially strangers the main character met and how they shared their deep stories with her. Otherwise I love Miss Jill and I enjoyed this book a lot!
January 26, 2017
Magnolia's tired of everyone in their small town judging her and her sister because of their mother's actions. They didn't have anything to do with the death of the mayor's daughter, but no matter how much Magnolia wants to start over and move somewhere where no one knows the Woodson family, she's constantly reminded that they're stuck. So when Magnolia learns about a televised dance competition she begins to hope and dream again. She loves dancing, and being able to dance in front of thousands of people is a dream come true, and not to mention the prize money, which would give Magnolia and her sister a fresh start. But the competition is much more challenging than Magnolia expected and the once in a lifetime opportunity puts a strain on Magnolia's friendship with George, her best friend. Will she be able to persevere and prove everyone wrong or will she finally realize that winning the competition isn't everything?
Jill MacKenzie's writing drew me in from the first page, because her writing's so raw and beautiful. For example, "My hands reach up to move stars, rearrange space." Her words are poetic but I never once thought they were too flowery or distracting. I also enjoyed the plot of the novel. I always love reading about dance, and I definitely give every author props for writing about it because it's difficult to consistently describe dance in a way that a non-dancer, such as me, will be able to understand. I thought the author did a great job with this. I was never confused, and I was genuinely interested in Magnolia's dancing as well as the dance competition. I also appreciated that the author also centered the story around difficult topics—drugs and death. Although Magnolia and her sister had nothing to do with the death of the mayor's daughter (their mother did), I thought it was realistic that there were still repercussions for Magnolia. On a daily basis she had to deal with gossip and mean looks, and I thought she handled herself very well. It was also interesting seeing Magnolia grow throughout the novel and come to realizations about herself as well as about her family. But at the same time, it was a little frustrating that Magnolia constantly let others' opinions get to her. I would have liked her to be slightly stronger in that regard, but I completely understand why she was the way she was because of her past. Although I enjoyed many aspects of this novel, my favorite part was probably the friendship between Magnolia and George. There was so much love and encouragement between them and I smiled whenever they were together.
Overall, I would recommend Spin the Sky to anyone looking for a young adult novel featuring dance.
Jill MacKenzie's writing drew me in from the first page, because her writing's so raw and beautiful. For example, "My hands reach up to move stars, rearrange space." Her words are poetic but I never once thought they were too flowery or distracting. I also enjoyed the plot of the novel. I always love reading about dance, and I definitely give every author props for writing about it because it's difficult to consistently describe dance in a way that a non-dancer, such as me, will be able to understand. I thought the author did a great job with this. I was never confused, and I was genuinely interested in Magnolia's dancing as well as the dance competition. I also appreciated that the author also centered the story around difficult topics—drugs and death. Although Magnolia and her sister had nothing to do with the death of the mayor's daughter (their mother did), I thought it was realistic that there were still repercussions for Magnolia. On a daily basis she had to deal with gossip and mean looks, and I thought she handled herself very well. It was also interesting seeing Magnolia grow throughout the novel and come to realizations about herself as well as about her family. But at the same time, it was a little frustrating that Magnolia constantly let others' opinions get to her. I would have liked her to be slightly stronger in that regard, but I completely understand why she was the way she was because of her past. Although I enjoyed many aspects of this novel, my favorite part was probably the friendship between Magnolia and George. There was so much love and encouragement between them and I smiled whenever they were together.
Overall, I would recommend Spin the Sky to anyone looking for a young adult novel featuring dance.
November 11, 2016
Spin the Sky by Jill MacKenzie swept me away with its compelling and compassionate storyline about a young girl trying to break free from the social attitudes in her small hometown. To enable her characters’ journeys, MacKenzie utilizes the setting of a wildly popular reality television dance show to illustrate the types of values and beliefs that often occur in these polarized settings. Struggling between society’s preset demands and her own seedling beliefs, the sweet main character Magnolia Woodson is shuffled into looking at the worst parts of her life to find answers and empowerment. MacKenzie’s writing itself is intelligent and so descriptive. She offers very little information about her characters’ educational backgrounds and writes each character with the assumption of intellectual limitlessness. While at first I wondered about this, I came to see it as one of her strongest statements. The characters are able to negotiate their varying hardships through reviewing their own actions and choice without regard to the deficits of their backgrounds. In doing this, MacKenzie emphasizes how developing a strong core and generating self-confidence through hard work and owning up to truth is such an important factor in finding happiness and making changes in your life. Her written word lets you hear the energy of crazed crowds in the reality tv settings just as easily has you can feel Magnolia’s quiet heart beating in the moments of her greatest despair. Most of all I love that this book reminds us how our passions, dance in this case, can offer us a safe platform to heal and strengthen outside the realm of drugs and alcohol. It can be so easy for a person to be swept away by quick fixes that dull our pain. By illustrating how we can use other outlets to not only escape but also give us the strength to face our problems, this book reminds us that there are also constructive options to hold onto when the sky is falling. In this day and age where reality tv is still large, social media even larger and young adults are being swept away by so many external forces, this book is a wonderful reminder that we must never overlook the importance of taking responsibility for ourselves, our beliefs and our decisions as individuals. Some material in this book may be better suited for readers age 16 and up.
December 8, 2016
"Fly. Soar. Dance again.”
Jill Mackenzie’s debut Young Adult contemporary is a moving story about a young girl in a small town that doesn’t want her. A talented dancer, Magnolia Woodson believes if she can earn a spot on the popular dance competition show Live to Dance and put her hometown on the map, then the people who live there will forgive her for her mother’s sins. With this hope, she begins a journey for one thing that leads to something she never could have imagined.
What Magnolia and her sister go through is heartbreaking. Though I’m from a small town and am all too familiar with “small town logic,” I fortunately can’t relate to this small of a town and the narrow mindedness of those who live in it. And Magnolia thinking that by winning this contest she could change the way people look at her just gutted me. Though she may have been, in my opinion, entering this competition for the wrong reason, I am so grateful she did because she learned so much and I love the growth the character experiences.
While this is a solid story, for me personally the interactions between the young characters in the beginning were, well… young. And you know what? That’s perfectly okay. I’m not the targeted demographic for this book. Spin the Sky is intended for ages 12 and up, which I feel is the perfect audience – tweens and younger teens will love this story. But then the dancing happened and I was so moved and inspired. That’s when the writing became a thing of beauty and the story became ageless. I absolutely loved these parts, and I was so pleased by the ending. These are the kind of endings we need more of. There was a wonderful lesson to be learned and even for a not-so-young adult like myself, it was one I took great pleasure in being reminded of. I highly recommend this for YA lovers and fans of dance.
“My music plays on, and I dance.”
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Quotes included in this review are taken from the ARC and are subject to change.
Review originally published at A Belle's Tales
Jill Mackenzie’s debut Young Adult contemporary is a moving story about a young girl in a small town that doesn’t want her. A talented dancer, Magnolia Woodson believes if she can earn a spot on the popular dance competition show Live to Dance and put her hometown on the map, then the people who live there will forgive her for her mother’s sins. With this hope, she begins a journey for one thing that leads to something she never could have imagined.
What Magnolia and her sister go through is heartbreaking. Though I’m from a small town and am all too familiar with “small town logic,” I fortunately can’t relate to this small of a town and the narrow mindedness of those who live in it. And Magnolia thinking that by winning this contest she could change the way people look at her just gutted me. Though she may have been, in my opinion, entering this competition for the wrong reason, I am so grateful she did because she learned so much and I love the growth the character experiences.
While this is a solid story, for me personally the interactions between the young characters in the beginning were, well… young. And you know what? That’s perfectly okay. I’m not the targeted demographic for this book. Spin the Sky is intended for ages 12 and up, which I feel is the perfect audience – tweens and younger teens will love this story. But then the dancing happened and I was so moved and inspired. That’s when the writing became a thing of beauty and the story became ageless. I absolutely loved these parts, and I was so pleased by the ending. These are the kind of endings we need more of. There was a wonderful lesson to be learned and even for a not-so-young adult like myself, it was one I took great pleasure in being reminded of. I highly recommend this for YA lovers and fans of dance.
“My music plays on, and I dance.”
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Quotes included in this review are taken from the ARC and are subject to change.
Review originally published at A Belle's Tales
November 23, 2016
From the first sentence I was captivated by the poetic rhythm and cadence of the writing style. Truth be told it was my first time reading a YA book as an adult, I was previewing it for my teen niece, but now I know YA can be stimulating and concise, unlike many adult novels. The characters and story were genuine and packed with soul. Although the subject had an edge, I completely resonated with the trials young people face and that life is not always rose colored. I absolutely loved how the author weaved Magnolia's thought process with her dancing; the contrast between a truly challenging time and the therapy of self expression through dance.
I do believe I am hooked on YA and I am eager to read the next book from Jill Mackenzie.
I do believe I am hooked on YA and I am eager to read the next book from Jill Mackenzie.
December 12, 2016
Jill MacKenzie's SPIN THE SKY is more than the universal story of a teen longing to escape the confines of her small town and follow her dreams. This novel digs deep. Magnolia's dream of showing the world she's not a "no-good Woodson girl like her mother," explores how a child is affected by the sins of the parent, forgiveness, and ultimately, redemption. Magnolia doesn't want to prove she is talented and worthy of greatness - she NEEDS to prove it. The author weaves central themes of self-esteem, friendship, and heartbreak within the setting of a televised dance competition, making this a riveting, thoughtful read. SPIN THE SKY is a stand-out debut. I'm looking forward to more novels from this author.
October 30, 2016
A truly inspiring novel that will have you on the edge of your seat one minute, and then cuddled up on the couch in the next. Every spare minute I had was given to Mags, Rose and George. I cried, I smiled, I laughed, and I jumped for joy. I was glued to Magnolia on the first chapter and craved more with each turn of the page. Jill Mackenzie, and her beautifully written tale of a girl with a "real story" to tell, gave me hope, and inspired me to "dance myself clean", and be the best me, for myself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews