Sami’s Silver Lining

The Lost and Found #2

by Cathy Cassidy

The must-have second book in the brilliant Lost and Found series from Cathy Cassidy, bestselling author of the Chocolate Box Girls.

Forced to flee his home in Syria for safety in England, Sami attempts to begin a new life but struggles to overcome the pain of the past. Memories of the long and dangerous journey across icy waters, armed with only his dad's old coat, a flute and the hope of a brighter future, are never far away.

Can his new friends in the Lost and Found band and a blossoming romance with the girl of his dreams melt his frozen heart or is it too late to find a silver lining?

Praise for Cathy's books: Touching, tender and unforgettable. Guardian

Genres: Romance, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

I was born in 1962 in Coventry (scarily ancient, I know). I wrote my first picture book for my little brother when I was eight or nine. I loved making comics, too - pages and pages of picture stories, features and competitions.

I went to Art College in Liverpool, then got a job as fiction editor on the fab and legendary Jackie magazine.

I have worked as agony aunt on Shout magazine and also as an art teacher in the local primary & secondary schools, as well as as a freelance illustrator. These days, I am a full-time author.

I love my family, I love living in the middle of nowhere and I love my work. Of all my jobs, writing has to be the best - it's the perfect excuse to daydream, after all!

Reviews

[Aurore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je ne m'attendais vraiment pas à aimer autant ce roman! Moi qui lit les romans de Cathy Cassidy un peu par dessus la jambe, je dois dire que là j'ai vraiment été soufflée. Derrière cette couverture un peu kitsch se cache une belle histoire et Sami le personnage principal m'a beaucoup touché. J'ai été émue par la fin, même je ne suis pas sûre de la trouver très réaliste. Vraiment une très chouette lecture!

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved Cathy Cassidy`s books for a long time, and this was no exception. Much like her Chocolate Box Girls series, each book of the Lost and the Found series focuses on a different member of the titular band, and this one is Sami`s story. Sami is a refugee, who has only newly arrived in England, and his book sees a new relationship and his involvement in the band beginning to bring down the walls that he has built up around himself to protect him from the incredibly harrowing experiences he has had since war broke out in Syria. In addition to this, the other main part of the plot is a truly terrible keyboard player replacing the one who was forced to leave, and this has some pretty hilarious results The members of the band are all so much fun, and I just adore all of them- my particular favourite is Marley, but I wanted things to go well for all of them, and there isn`t a single one of the core group that I don`t love. Seeing things from Sami`s perspective was so interesting, as well as utterly heart-breaking in places, and the progress he makes in coming to terms with his past and trying to build his future is so heart-warming and emotional, as is a certain unexpected event that I don`t want to spoil. I can`t wait to read Sasha`s story in the 3rd book, especially given the hints as to what issues she is facing given in this book, and frankly I`d love it if I got a book for every single member, even though this band is considerably larger than the average group. 4.5/5

[Célia · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai trouvé cette lecture dans une boîte à livres, je n'avais pas remarqué que c'était le Tome 2 d'une série mais au final, ça se comprend parfaitement et je ne compte pas spécialement lire le Tome 3. Ma lecture était géniale. Merci beaucoup pour cette histoire, c'est important d'en parler. Je le recommande à tout le monde, ça se lit très facilement tellement on plonge dans cette lecture. 🤍

[Bladelor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sami Melody est la suite de Lexie Melody (que je n'ai pas chroniqué, inutile de chercher mon avis par ici, mais j'avais bien aimé ce premier tome). Cette série tourne autour de l'univers de la musique et raconte les tribulations d'un groupe d'adolescents qui décident de jouer ensemble. Chaque tome est centré sur un des principaux personnages. Dans ce second opus, nous faisons plus ample connaissance avec le mystérieux Sami.

Clairement, ce qui m'a plu dans Sami Melody, c'est le thème abordé par ce roman, à savoir celui des réfugiés. C'est donc un texte émouvant et assez triste qui s'offre à nous, mais sans sombrer totalement dans le pathos.
On retrouvera l'écriture fluide et imagée de Cathy Cassidy qui m'a touchée cette fois encore.

[Becca 💕 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite of The Lost & Found series.

If you’re inclined, I highly recommend the audiobook. The voice actor has such an intense yet calm quality to his voice. There’s a numbness but a passion there too that fits the character perfectly - it definitely added to my overall enjoyment!

[Berthouse Ona · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'aime beaucoup le livre. L'histoire est vraiment bien. Il y'a de la tristesse, de l'amour et de la joie

[Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars.

This is my favourite book from the series. I loved that it shed light on the experiences of refugees, a message that is particularly important at this moment in time. Having done a dissertation on children refugees, I found the topic covered in this book to be both interesting and saddening. However, what was great was the character growth of Sami throughout the book and the ending when he reunited with his mother and sister Roza.

I also really enjoyed Lexi's character development in this and the growing relationship between her and Sami. Particularly after the first book, this was lovely to see.

[Ellora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sami, un membre du groupe Lost & Found, habite chez son oncle et sa tante après avoir échoué sur la plage en tentant de traverser la Méditerranée pour fuir son pays natal (la Syrie) avec sa famille. Il retrouve son père, mort, échoué sur la plage à quelques kilomètres d'où il s'est retrouvé lui même. Son père porte un manteau fabriqué par lui-même et Sami le récupère et ne s'en séparera jamais. Sa mère et sa sœur restent cependant toujours introuvables. Ce livre a été encore plus émouvant que le premier et il fait beaucoup réfléchir. Je pense que c'est l'un des meilleurs livres que j'ai lu et mon préféré de loin.

[Lili La · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Love from Lexie, I couldn't wait to find these guys again and really, I was not disappointed, although I read it years after the Chocolate box girl. Even as a 16yo, it was very enjoyable, and it felt like a hug of hope and made me happy

[Viki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE CATHY CASSIDY!!!!! This book is bringing awareness for what journey refugees go on!!!

[Estelle 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gros coup de cœur, j’adore la plume de Cathy Cassidy, elle amené extrêmement bien les thèmes et sujets dans ses romans.

[Sephora Pitafi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Book for Fighting against Trauma, Depression,Anxiety and Identity Crisis. Read it Years ago in my 5 th class.

[Gemma Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing XXxxx

[Bethany Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional and lovely 🥹

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second book of the Lost and Found series, we look deeper into Sami's life this time after he left Syria and fled with his family leaving his world behind to start again in Milford with his aunt and uncle who run a tailors like his parents used to.



As he settles into his strange new life he finds friends in the band and especially Lexie after he develops a crush on her.



The band struggle with adapting to their new keyboard player

who seems to have it in for Lexi as well as being unable to play the keyboard very well at all but has connections that could help them get heard.



As Sami comes to terms with discovering things about his family, helping the band to get better and spend time with Lexi as well as help with an art project, the boy who didn't belong anymore soon finds he can have a new home, with renewed hope and chances ahead.



A sure to win your heart read with many excellent points raised in the danger people have to flee from and how their lives can change so drastically. All about promoting friendship and fun Cathy once again makes this a fun but serious read too.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Cathy Cassidy. She has been one of my favourite authors since I was younger and I always enjoy getting her books as they are just so fun and easy to read and I always pass them down to my niece who loves them as well. Love from Lexie was the first book in the Lost and Found series and this book is the second.

I adored the first book and Sami's Silver Lining followed up nicely. We follow Sami in this book and about his life in the present but, we also get snippets of his life in diary from when he fled from Syria to Britain. It is a heartbreaking story and you just want to give Sami a big hug. This book is filled with joy but also heartbreak, drama and just overall a very important read.

I really enjoyed reading about Sami and his life. The struggles and heartache he went through as a child to live the life he now lives was heartbreaking and you can see the conflict with him sometimes as he wants to enjoy his life as a teenager in Britain but has this traumatic past and also shows that not everyone is lucky enough to escape a traumatic past.

A fantastic book from Cathy.

[ting · Rating 3 out of 5]

What is it about Cathy Cassidy’s books that are so transformative? I swear all of us walk into her books one way and emerge either wrecked/enlightened (usually both). Her Lost and Found series is the essence of the found family trope. The little details in Sami’s Silver Lining will surely tug on your heartstrings, especially Sami’s journal entries and Lexi’s song lyrics. They make a sweet couple although I feel a lot of Lexi’s backstory was cut (I definitely recommend you start with the first book). The third book, Sasha’s Secret, can be read on its own.

[St Stephen's C C]

Forced to flee his home in Syria for safety in England, Sami attempts to begin a new life but struggles to overcome the pain of the past. Memories of the long and dangerous journey across icy waters, armed with only his dad's old coat, a flute and the hope of a brighter future, are never far away.
Can his new friends in the Lost and Found band and a blossoming romance with the girl of his dreams melt his frozen heart or is it too late to find a silver lining?

[Lady K]

-> http://antredeslivres.blogspot.com/20...

Dans ce deuxième tome, nous retrouvons les Lost & Found, le groupe formé par Lexie. Mais cette fois-ci, le personnage central est Sami. Le moins bavard de la bande, mais aussi le plus mystérieux. On apprend ainsi à le connaître, à le découvrir au fil des pages, alors qu’il livre au compte goutte une histoire des plus tragiques.

La suite sur le blog :)

[Aeven Amai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certainement l’un de mes livres préféré de l’autrice.
Je me rappelle encore que ça avait été une belle surprise car je n’avais pas particulièrement apprécié le premier tome de la série, même s’il restait plutôt sympa.
Mais c’était un véritable coup de cœur, fulgurant. Vraiment le personnage de Sami était incroyable, son histoire, sa sensibilité, il m’a beaucoup touché.
Tout cela me donne envie de relire et continuer la série entre deux heures et quatre heures du matin, le temps manque TvT

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is really sweet! It has the perfect amount of drama, angst and heartwarming resolutions to keep me reading - and get me out of my (almost year-long) reading slump! The stories are filled with interesting and well-rounded characters whose stories kept me intrigued. Definitely something I will be recommending - it's perfect for middle grade readers!

[Lydia Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Really enjoyed the characters in this one. Sami was really well written. Didn't enjoy the plot twist at the end, felt it detracted from everything the writer had achieved with Sami's character. Overall, thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend. Would love to read a book from Marley's perspective.

[Cleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly excellent! So eye opening and informative of what life as a refugee is like. 10000000% reccomend this book, but you do have to read "love from Lexie" first. Go Cathy!!!!! So glad sami found his mom and sister in the end

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever. It's heartbreaking but also happy and intriguing and showing how no matter how lost you feel, you can always be found again. Even just reading the first page, you will not want to put it down.

[Une Passion des mots · Rating 5 out of 5]

À nouveau un coup de cœur pour ce livre. Cathy Cassidy aborde le sujet de l'immigration toujours avec brio et justesse et une plume remarquable que j'aime à chaque fois, qui s'adresse aux petits comme aux grands. Une autrice qui ne cesse de me surprendre positivement.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE IT!!!
FAVOURITE BOOK EVER!!!
It has everything I need and want:
1. Adorable healthy romance
2. Heartwrenching backstory
3. Music-centric story
4. Bex and Marley

CW: Death of parents, war, bombings, refugee crises, near drowning, physical and verbal bullying, homophobia

[Jay_Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

So moving and eye opening, yet still has endless laughter. So far my favourite in the series and I can’t wait to read the next books!

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathy Cassidy never fails to deliver a wonderful story

[EdenB15 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok but probably the worst in the series

[Jeanne Vermenouze · Rating 2 out of 5]

pas pu le finir mais bon livre