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Snap
Madison Sabatini thought she knew who she was: an almost-sophomore with a bright future. The newest photographer on her school paper. A shopaholic with great hair and a fabulous wardrobe. Then, in a flash, everything changed.
Now she's stuck in Sandyland, a gloomy beach town in the middle of nowhere, living with her parents in a crappy hotel "suite." Instead of spending the summer with her friends at home, she's hanging out with pink-haired Delilah, an artist who works in a shop called Psychic Photo, and a skater boy named Duncan who's totally not her type. Except, maybe he is . . .
Determined to make the best of things, Madison throws herself into her one passion: photography. But when strange figures start appearing in her pictures—people who weren't there when she snapped the shots, people who are later reported dead—she begins to question everything about who she is . . . and who she wishes she could be.
Now she's stuck in Sandyland, a gloomy beach town in the middle of nowhere, living with her parents in a crappy hotel "suite." Instead of spending the summer with her friends at home, she's hanging out with pink-haired Delilah, an artist who works in a shop called Psychic Photo, and a skater boy named Duncan who's totally not her type. Except, maybe he is . . .
Determined to make the best of things, Madison throws herself into her one passion: photography. But when strange figures start appearing in her pictures—people who weren't there when she snapped the shots, people who are later reported dead—she begins to question everything about who she is . . . and who she wishes she could be.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
12 people are currently reading
535 people want to read
About the author
Carol Snow
40 books226 followersCalled “an author to watch” by Booklist, Carol Snow is an American author of contemporary women’s fiction and young adult literature. After graduating from Brown University with a degree in psychology, she spent many years writing literary short stories before accepting that she couldn't go more than a few hundred words without cracking a joke. She eventually turned her attention to crafting humorous, heartfelt stories with a wider commercial appeal, and In 2006, Berkley/Penguin published her first novel, Been There, Done That, which Publisher's Weekly called “humorous, wise . . . romance with a bit of social commentary.” Since then, she has written four more books for adults, Getting Warmer (2007), Here Today, Gone to Maui (2009), Just Like Me, Only Better (2010), and the upcoming What Came First (2011), about which Laura Fitzgerald, bestselling author of Veil of Roses, said, “Carol Snow mixes her trademark humor with tenderness and understanding in this good-mom/bad-mom tale of unexpected twists and turns.” Carol has also written two young adult books for HarperCollins, Switch (2008), an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and Snap (2009). Foreign rights to her books have sold to publishers in Germany, Norway, and Romania.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. In addition to her psychology degree from Brown University, she holds an M.A.T. in English from Boston College. Before getting her first book published, she had the typical (for a writer) assortment of odd jobs: tour guide, tutor, chambermaid, waitress. She worked for a T-shirt company, a child services agency, and a vanity press. She even had a short stint in local politics. Her campaign brochures were really pretty, with flawless punctuation.
Since leaving New Jersey, Carol has lived all over the place: Rhode Island, London, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Utah, Arizona, and, now, Southern California, where she shares a cat-fur-coated house with her husband and their two children.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. In addition to her psychology degree from Brown University, she holds an M.A.T. in English from Boston College. Before getting her first book published, she had the typical (for a writer) assortment of odd jobs: tour guide, tutor, chambermaid, waitress. She worked for a T-shirt company, a child services agency, and a vanity press. She even had a short stint in local politics. Her campaign brochures were really pretty, with flawless punctuation.
Since leaving New Jersey, Carol has lived all over the place: Rhode Island, London, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Utah, Arizona, and, now, Southern California, where she shares a cat-fur-coated house with her husband and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
August 23, 2009
I enjoyed reading Snap, but this is one of those times that the synopsis on the back of the novel is totally misleading. If you read the above you’d think, oh kinda spooky dead people showing up in pictures, this could be interesting.
But the summary should really say. Madison Sabatini a spoiled, self centered and extremely shallow almost sophomore, dealing with adjusting to a new life, new friends, whining about wearing non-name brand clothing, and the worst life ever. Not to mention that she sometimes has dead people in her photographs.
Despite the lackluster character that is Madison. Whom, I didn’t care for at all because she was extremely judgmental and shallow. Though she did sort of grow up a little toward the end. I still couldn’t find it in myself to forgive her completely. I did enjoy Delilah, Leo and Duncan. They definitely stood out. But obviously for me to dislike her as much as I do, Snow must have her characterization down!
The plot despite it’s non spookiness was fast-paced and entertaining. I was more worried about Madison breaking Duncan’s heart than having dead people show up in her camera. One thing that I thought was important was one of the morals of the story, that superficial things don’t matter and it’s the people that are in your life that make it worth living. Which is so very true, and I’m glad that Madison finally woke up and smelled the flowers.
Snow is a fantastic writer and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of her novels. I’m just hoping next time I’ll be able to like the MC!
But the summary should really say. Madison Sabatini a spoiled, self centered and extremely shallow almost sophomore, dealing with adjusting to a new life, new friends, whining about wearing non-name brand clothing, and the worst life ever. Not to mention that she sometimes has dead people in her photographs.
Despite the lackluster character that is Madison. Whom, I didn’t care for at all because she was extremely judgmental and shallow. Though she did sort of grow up a little toward the end. I still couldn’t find it in myself to forgive her completely. I did enjoy Delilah, Leo and Duncan. They definitely stood out. But obviously for me to dislike her as much as I do, Snow must have her characterization down!
The plot despite it’s non spookiness was fast-paced and entertaining. I was more worried about Madison breaking Duncan’s heart than having dead people show up in her camera. One thing that I thought was important was one of the morals of the story, that superficial things don’t matter and it’s the people that are in your life that make it worth living. Which is so very true, and I’m glad that Madison finally woke up and smelled the flowers.
Snow is a fantastic writer and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of her novels. I’m just hoping next time I’ll be able to like the MC!
September 13, 2009
From the summary, I was pretty much expecting some ghost story and how Madison managed to save the people in her photos from dying. However, this was most definitely not the case. In fact, Snap is more about Madison and her family and how she would survive in a whole new place with new friends and without money - something that she had always taken for granted.
My first impression and probably my lasting impression of Madison is that she's a spoiled brat. She is always, always, always thinking about herself, the way she dresses, the people she interacts with, how her "friends" back at home would think, even despite the fact that her family is now officially poor. But does she understand this? No. She keeps thinking that she can have whatever she wants and she didn't really seem to understand the fact that her family can no longer afford to live where she used to live. So she lives in denial for throughout most of the novel. She keeps thinking that after a few weeks of boredom and that crappy hotel, she'll be back to living like a princess. But hello, get a grip of reality here, girl, your family is BROKE. However, I have to admit, by the last few chapters, very last few, Madison finally grew up.
Delilah, Madison's friend in Sandyland, is a very interesting character. I loved her personality and her ability to get along with practically everyone. Except for maybe that cute lifeguard but that's only because she's a little shy. So it's highly understandable. I found her funny and kinda quirky but in a good way. And the thing with selling things on eBay? Totally cute.
Overall, Snap was a very original book. I mean, who thinks about cameras and their ability to photograph the dead and wrap it all in a nicely bound book? Apparently Carol can. Which is a good thing. Hahahah. I like the imagination. Anyway, I recommend Snap to those who enjoyed Carol's previous novel, Switched.
My first impression and probably my lasting impression of Madison is that she's a spoiled brat. She is always, always, always thinking about herself, the way she dresses, the people she interacts with, how her "friends" back at home would think, even despite the fact that her family is now officially poor. But does she understand this? No. She keeps thinking that she can have whatever she wants and she didn't really seem to understand the fact that her family can no longer afford to live where she used to live. So she lives in denial for throughout most of the novel. She keeps thinking that after a few weeks of boredom and that crappy hotel, she'll be back to living like a princess. But hello, get a grip of reality here, girl, your family is BROKE. However, I have to admit, by the last few chapters, very last few, Madison finally grew up.
Delilah, Madison's friend in Sandyland, is a very interesting character. I loved her personality and her ability to get along with practically everyone. Except for maybe that cute lifeguard but that's only because she's a little shy. So it's highly understandable. I found her funny and kinda quirky but in a good way. And the thing with selling things on eBay? Totally cute.
Overall, Snap was a very original book. I mean, who thinks about cameras and their ability to photograph the dead and wrap it all in a nicely bound book? Apparently Carol can. Which is a good thing. Hahahah. I like the imagination. Anyway, I recommend Snap to those who enjoyed Carol's previous novel, Switched.
Read
December 19, 2024This has to be one of the worst books I have ever read. The main character Madison (Mad Cow) is whiny, self-centered, and spoiled. And those are her good qualities. There is no plot to the story except giving her an avenue to whine, be self-centered, and be spoiled. I wasted my time on this one.
Read
June 28, 2022This has to be one of the worst books I have ever read. The main character Madison (Mad Cow) is whiny, self-centered, and spoiled. And those are her good qualities. There is no plot to the story except giving her an avenue to whine, be self-centered, and be spoiled. I wasted my time on this one.
October 2, 2014
The summary of "Snap" is the most misleading thing I have ever read. I expected the book to be full of action, mystery, and horrific events. Instead, I got a diary of an average spoiled teenage girl. Out of 221 pages, only maybe ten were about ghosts in the photograph. The author completely abandons the idea of ghosts in the middle of the story and wrote about Madison's love life. In my opinion, Snow should have just gotten rid of the ghost part (which isn't much) and made it a book about teenage drama. The story never picks up from its boring and slow pace, and the plot has so many holes. For example, if Madison knew that her camera was "haunted" and predicted the deadly futures of others, why the f*** would she continue to take pictures? Also, if she saw her dead body floating in the beach water, why would she go to the beach right after? Avoid this book if you aren't a big fan of romance drama/whining. Those two things basically create the plot of "Snap".
April 12, 2013
Snap by Carol Snow tells the story of a popular girl with a great life, a great house, great friends and the best spot on the best high school news paper. When her vacation cruise gets cancelled for a trip to the worst beach in her opinion, everything goes downhill fast. As she is on the beach taking pictures, a strange old women appears in her photo, but she wasn't there when she took the picture. Sounds interesting, right? It turns out that even though it had an very surprisingly interesting plot, it was less than interesting. At the beginning it was a hard to put down book, but as the ending got nearer, the story started to flop. It seemed that Snow rushed to finished and made what would have been a great story, a huge fail.
January 29, 2011
This book was ab-so-lute-lee A-Freakin-mazing!!!!!! I really liked how she took the whole idea of you growing into yourself and put it in a way that made you think and start saying "Oh my zombie that's how I want to know that I made an important decision". But I really liked how she made Madison think she was seeing ghosts of the dead people. It also made me think that she was seeing ghosts and that she was maybe going a little coo-ku for coco puffs. But most of all I liked how she kept the story going and kept the reader gussing what was going to happen.
May 15, 2018
*snap*
*snap*
*snap*
Yay! Aside from all those random (dead) people in my photos, I'm going to post these on MySpace! Wait, MYSPACE?! Oh, right. This book was published in 2009. Oh well. Cue the underdeveloped plot and incomplete dialogue, we've got another book I randomly pulled off the shelf at my local library!
*snap*
*snap*
Yay! Aside from all those random (dead) people in my photos, I'm going to post these on MySpace! Wait, MYSPACE?! Oh, right. This book was published in 2009. Oh well. Cue the underdeveloped plot and incomplete dialogue, we've got another book I randomly pulled off the shelf at my local library!
October 11, 2022
2.5 on storygraph
Entertaining but not what I expected? It was just a fifteen-year-old complaining about her life in 2009. Some random and weird element that was supposed to be paranormal? Weird. Readable. But be prepared for a spoiled, complaining narrator. No particular point to this book as the character growth barely happens in the last chapter. (Does it happen at all?)
Entertaining but not what I expected? It was just a fifteen-year-old complaining about her life in 2009. Some random and weird element that was supposed to be paranormal? Weird. Readable. But be prepared for a spoiled, complaining narrator. No particular point to this book as the character growth barely happens in the last chapter. (Does it happen at all?)
February 2, 2018
The title and cover are misleading. If you are looking for a ghost/paranormal adventure skip this one. If you want a teen girl in a new environment with some romance and such... eh there are better books but this one isn't bad. It mercifully short so give it a read I guess.
March 12, 2020
Good
It's interesting and I like it
It is super cool and has good content. I really enjoyed this book very much!
It's interesting and I like it
It is super cool and has good content. I really enjoyed this book very much!
May 11, 2017
This was a great book. I loved how it had a side of romance in it.
September 18, 2009
Snap first caught my eye because of the cover, which I actually like and think fits the novel really well, but it was the summary that drew me in. I am a photography hobbyist (think dark rooms and winding my own film), so the fact that Madison is a photographer was interesting. Furthermore, Madison is a photographer who sees dead people in her pictures (I am not this type of photographer) made her even more intriguing.
The supernatural aspect was well done. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I like that – it would have been boring if everything had turned out just as I’d expected it to. I thought it was really interesting that Madison didn’t have any supernatural ability, but that the camera itself was capturing images of the ghosts. It reminded me a bit of those ghost hunting shows on television.
Throughout most of the book I was not a fan of Madison. She honestly was so unlikeable – spoiled, rude, stuck-up, and immature are words that come to mind when I think of Madison. I don’t feel too bad about feeling this way though, as I’m fairly certain Madison was meant to be viewed this way at the onset of the novel. And, in ways, I can see a bit of my younger self in her. Madison is young and it was kind of refreshing to see her act her age – complete with immaturity and annoying habits and attitudes. Luckily, Madison learns some lessons throughout the novel, gaining maturity and insight. Unfortunately, it takes about four-fifths of the novel to reach this point.
There is a minor romantic plot line in Snap as well. I liked the boy, Duncan, who sounded like a cute skater, much like a boy I would have liked when I was Madison’s age. Again though, Madison made annoyed me with her horrible treatment of him. But I must admit, once again, that I remember girls my age (and maybe me, if I’m being completely honest), treat boys just like Madison treats Duncan.
Ratings (out of 10):
Characters: 8
Plot: 10
Writing style: 10
Romance: 8
Originality: 10
Total: 46/50 (A-)
Overall, Snap was a good coming of age story with a supernatural twist. Madison is a very realistic character, which makes her simultaneously refreshing and utterly horrible. After all, she is a young teenage girl – they are generally horrible at some point or another. Snap incorporates many different story lines: romantic, supernatural, and familial, making the novel a novel with a little bit for everyone!
The supernatural aspect was well done. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I like that – it would have been boring if everything had turned out just as I’d expected it to. I thought it was really interesting that Madison didn’t have any supernatural ability, but that the camera itself was capturing images of the ghosts. It reminded me a bit of those ghost hunting shows on television.
Throughout most of the book I was not a fan of Madison. She honestly was so unlikeable – spoiled, rude, stuck-up, and immature are words that come to mind when I think of Madison. I don’t feel too bad about feeling this way though, as I’m fairly certain Madison was meant to be viewed this way at the onset of the novel. And, in ways, I can see a bit of my younger self in her. Madison is young and it was kind of refreshing to see her act her age – complete with immaturity and annoying habits and attitudes. Luckily, Madison learns some lessons throughout the novel, gaining maturity and insight. Unfortunately, it takes about four-fifths of the novel to reach this point.
There is a minor romantic plot line in Snap as well. I liked the boy, Duncan, who sounded like a cute skater, much like a boy I would have liked when I was Madison’s age. Again though, Madison made annoyed me with her horrible treatment of him. But I must admit, once again, that I remember girls my age (and maybe me, if I’m being completely honest), treat boys just like Madison treats Duncan.
Ratings (out of 10):
Characters: 8
Plot: 10
Writing style: 10
Romance: 8
Originality: 10
Total: 46/50 (A-)
Overall, Snap was a good coming of age story with a supernatural twist. Madison is a very realistic character, which makes her simultaneously refreshing and utterly horrible. After all, she is a young teenage girl – they are generally horrible at some point or another. Snap incorporates many different story lines: romantic, supernatural, and familial, making the novel a novel with a little bit for everyone!
November 28, 2014
Madison Sabatini is excited about the upcoming school year. She'll be a photographer on the school paper and hanging with her friends. Sure, she's a little bummed about having the two week trip to Hawaii canceled, but that's not enough to darken her horizons. When her contractor father takes a job in Sandyland, a dreary town on the coast, she's completely unprepared for what happens next. Mom announces that the whole family is going along, ostensibly to make up for the canceled trip. It doesn't take Madison long to start suspecting things aren't on the up and up. First, dad forgot to grab her bag, so she has only one outfit. When she asks her mom to buy new clothing, money suddenly becomes an issue. Then she drops her beloved digital camera and breaks it right after taking a bunch of photos at the beach.
When she discovers the Psychic Photo Shop and Duncan, a skater guy who's definitely not her type, things get interesting. Duncan's dad fixes her camera after Delilah, daughter of the owner takes pity on her. Delilah and her brother Leonardo live above the shop with Rose, their mother, a throwback hippie-type who does readings to supplement her income. When the camera is repaired, Madison is shocked to find an old woman in one of the last pictures she took. She knows the woman wasn't there when she took the picture, so what's going on?
Madison is faced with several challenges. Her attraction to Duncan who is totally unlike the guys she knows back home, her friendship with Delilah, who is also completely unlike her fancy friends at home, and the mystery of not one, but two people in photos who weren't there when she took them. If this weren't enough, she starts putting pieces of the puzzle regarding their extended stay at the beach, coupled with her mom getting a job, their still living in a seedy motel room and emails from her friends back home that hint at her house being for sale. Suddenly Madison is really lost and her future has started to dissolve.
How she deals with this abrupt change, how she handles the lies she told Duncan and Delilah when confronted, as well as figuring out what to do when she confronts her parents, coupled with solving the mystery of how two people showed up in her photos when they weren't actually there, will give teen and tween readers a real fun read.
When she discovers the Psychic Photo Shop and Duncan, a skater guy who's definitely not her type, things get interesting. Duncan's dad fixes her camera after Delilah, daughter of the owner takes pity on her. Delilah and her brother Leonardo live above the shop with Rose, their mother, a throwback hippie-type who does readings to supplement her income. When the camera is repaired, Madison is shocked to find an old woman in one of the last pictures she took. She knows the woman wasn't there when she took the picture, so what's going on?
Madison is faced with several challenges. Her attraction to Duncan who is totally unlike the guys she knows back home, her friendship with Delilah, who is also completely unlike her fancy friends at home, and the mystery of not one, but two people in photos who weren't there when she took them. If this weren't enough, she starts putting pieces of the puzzle regarding their extended stay at the beach, coupled with her mom getting a job, their still living in a seedy motel room and emails from her friends back home that hint at her house being for sale. Suddenly Madison is really lost and her future has started to dissolve.
How she deals with this abrupt change, how she handles the lies she told Duncan and Delilah when confronted, as well as figuring out what to do when she confronts her parents, coupled with solving the mystery of how two people showed up in her photos when they weren't actually there, will give teen and tween readers a real fun read.
January 5, 2016
When I first looked at the summary of Snap, I almost put the book back on the shelf. I didn't like the thought off strange figures popping up in this girl's pictures taken on her camera, when the people were never even there in the first place. That sounded very creepy, and I don't usually read mysteries, thrillers, or horror stories. I could not see me reading this kind of book. But, I thought I would give the book a shot just for fun. I liked the book so much, I was disappointed when it ended. Snap by Carol Snow is about a fifteen year old girl, Madison Sabatini, who is basically spoiled rich kid who expects everything to be handed to her on a silver platter. She thought she knew who she was, an-almost sophomore with a perfect future. Madison was going to be newest photographer for her school's newspaper. She has a great life, friends, house, and parents. Everything seems to be perfect.Everything is going her way until, for "vacation," or her dad's job. Madison and her parents go to Sandyland, a beach land in the middle of nowhere, instead of cruises or foreign countries, like their usual vacations. She then finds out that her once wealthy parents have gone bankrupt and are going to stay in Sandyland to get back on their feet. As she lives in Sandyland, she gets to know some pretty great, but weird, friends and even a guy who may or may not be her type. Madison also figures out how hard it is to live money when you've been spoiled with it all your life. As the story gets deeper, she finds refuge from everything by taking pictures. But, the pictures show people that were not even there, when she took them on the camera. Madison goes through the life of being poor, having weird friends, and having a creepy camera. She soon figures out that she doesn't need to have money to have a good life. She really changed as a person from the beginning to the ending of the book. I will not give away the ending of the book, or whether she figures out if her camera is haunted or if she is going crazy. Snap is a very good book that keeps you turning the pages faster and faster, as you get deeper into the story. I have never read a book by Carol Snow, but she is truly an amazing writer. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery, thriller, and romance put into one book. Snap is a great book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2010
Preppy and pampered Madison Sabatini has just about everything going for her. She got the job as photographer for her school newspaper, she has great friends, great clothes, and she is going on a Hawaiian vacation on her summer break with enough time left at the end of the summer to come home for the newspaper’s pool party. That is, until her parents cancel the trip and inform her that they are going to Sandyland instead. She suspects something is up with her parents, her dad isn’t talking much and her mother has been angry a lot lately. They seem to be keeping secrets from her. Then her prized camera begins to capture images that aren’t there in real life. Images of people who later suffer tragedies. Now Madison has a secret of her own, one she can only share with her new friends at the Psychic Photo store in town. Can she figure out what’s wrong with her parents and solve the mystery of her camera before it is too late?
In many ways this book reminded me of a Sarah Dessen novel. The family, the quirky characters, and the love interest all made me feel like I was reading a book by Sarah Dessen. But then Snow adds in the paranormal aspect which felt slightly out of place in this novel. Madison has enough going on in her life, without her paranormal camera. I felt that this book was almost two separate stories. The realistic fiction of a girl dealing with her parents, the secrets they are keeping, and the changes in her life, and then another story about a girl whose camera captures the images of people who are going to suffer a tragedy. While the book blends these stories together, Madison and her family, and Madison and her camera, I still feel that the blending was awkward.
All in all I felt that it is an okay book, but it had the potential to be great. I love Sarah Dessen’s books and this one really had the feel of one of her novels. The paranormal aspect of the story just felt wrong, It almost seemed like you can either have a book that is paranormal fiction, or realistic fiction, but it can’t be both and that is what the author was aiming for.
A quick read for someone looking for light paranormal stories or semi-realistic fiction.
In many ways this book reminded me of a Sarah Dessen novel. The family, the quirky characters, and the love interest all made me feel like I was reading a book by Sarah Dessen. But then Snow adds in the paranormal aspect which felt slightly out of place in this novel. Madison has enough going on in her life, without her paranormal camera. I felt that this book was almost two separate stories. The realistic fiction of a girl dealing with her parents, the secrets they are keeping, and the changes in her life, and then another story about a girl whose camera captures the images of people who are going to suffer a tragedy. While the book blends these stories together, Madison and her family, and Madison and her camera, I still feel that the blending was awkward.
All in all I felt that it is an okay book, but it had the potential to be great. I love Sarah Dessen’s books and this one really had the feel of one of her novels. The paranormal aspect of the story just felt wrong, It almost seemed like you can either have a book that is paranormal fiction, or realistic fiction, but it can’t be both and that is what the author was aiming for.
A quick read for someone looking for light paranormal stories or semi-realistic fiction.
September 11, 2009
Madison did not think this was how she would be spending her summer. She pictured herself in Hawaii with her family. Instead they are spending it at the worst beach she has ever been to. Sandyland, USA. Not exactly paradise.
There is nothing to do in Sandyland so Madison spends her time taking pictures at the beach. When her camera breaks she ends up at Psychic Photo where she meets some strange characters. Delilah, Leo, Duncan, Rose, and Larry. They make up a very unique family and somehow Madison finds herself spending most of her time with them.
Things seem to be looking up for Madison's summer until strange people start appearing in her photos. People that weren't there when the shots were taken. As if that's not weird enough, Madison starts getting some confusing messages from friends back home.
Will Madison ever figure out what the people in the pictures mean? Will she ever figure out who the people are? And could this vacation to Sandyland turn out to be more than a vacation?
The synopsis for Snap really intrigued me. I'm sad to say that the book didn't do the same. I was actually really disappointed with Snap after reading such rave reviews of Carol Snow's first book, Switch.
Madison Sabatini was a stuck-up witch. She was snotty, rude, ungrateful, and just plain mean at times. I couldn't really find anything to like about her and while I admit that she changed a bit at the end, it wasn't enough.
The rest of the characters were great. I loved Delilah, Leo, and Duncan. They all had problems with their lives but they were a family and they made it work. Plus, they were pretty funny. =]
Oh and the whole random people in the pictures thing was a very minor part of the book. It was more about Madison and her being forced to spend her summer in Sandyland whining about how unfair her life was. It was explained in the end but not very well or very believably.
Overall, I can't say I liked Snap or that I would recommend it. If you really want to read it check it out from your local library before buying it. =[
There is nothing to do in Sandyland so Madison spends her time taking pictures at the beach. When her camera breaks she ends up at Psychic Photo where she meets some strange characters. Delilah, Leo, Duncan, Rose, and Larry. They make up a very unique family and somehow Madison finds herself spending most of her time with them.
Things seem to be looking up for Madison's summer until strange people start appearing in her photos. People that weren't there when the shots were taken. As if that's not weird enough, Madison starts getting some confusing messages from friends back home.
Will Madison ever figure out what the people in the pictures mean? Will she ever figure out who the people are? And could this vacation to Sandyland turn out to be more than a vacation?
The synopsis for Snap really intrigued me. I'm sad to say that the book didn't do the same. I was actually really disappointed with Snap after reading such rave reviews of Carol Snow's first book, Switch.
Madison Sabatini was a stuck-up witch. She was snotty, rude, ungrateful, and just plain mean at times. I couldn't really find anything to like about her and while I admit that she changed a bit at the end, it wasn't enough.
The rest of the characters were great. I loved Delilah, Leo, and Duncan. They all had problems with their lives but they were a family and they made it work. Plus, they were pretty funny. =]
Oh and the whole random people in the pictures thing was a very minor part of the book. It was more about Madison and her being forced to spend her summer in Sandyland whining about how unfair her life was. It was explained in the end but not very well or very believably.
Overall, I can't say I liked Snap or that I would recommend it. If you really want to read it check it out from your local library before buying it. =[
October 28, 2009
Madison Sabatini thought she knew who she was: an almost-sophomore with a bright future. The newest photographer on her school paper. A shopaholic with great hair and a fabulous wardrobe. Then, in a flash, everything changed.
Now she's stuck in Sandyland, a gloomy beach town in the middle of nowhere, living with her parents in a crappy hotel "suite." Instead of spending the summer with her friends at home, she's hanging out with pink-haired Delilah, an artist who works in a shop called Psychic Photo, and a skater boy named Duncan who's totally not her type. Except, maybe he is . . .
Determined to make the best of things, Madison throws herself into her one passion: photography. But when strange figures start appearing in her pictures—people who weren't there when she snapped the shots, people who are later reported dead—she begins to question everything about who she is . . . and who she wishes she could be. (synopsis)
The plot line is somewhat great. I really like how Madison likes photography, I mean I like photography, I'm not as in in love but I just like it. I kind of liked the idea of the whole story, it was somewhat unique from other books.
I'm not sure if I have a favorite character in this book. Madison was okay, all I liked about her personality was just she loved photography. I don't know why but I got somewhat confused with the characters, maybe I was too slow understanding this. I got so puzzled about all the characters at the start, but after a while I did figure out who was who. Duncan, Celia, Lexie, and the rest of the characters are developed well in the story. Lexie was the best friend of Madison. She was a great friend with Madison and she played her role well in the story, I liked reading what parts she was involved in.
Overall, this book is good. Again, it was not amazing but not bad either, just right. I do recommend this book to you but if you don't read it, it's okay. It's up to you. But I still do look forward to Carol's writing in the future.
Now she's stuck in Sandyland, a gloomy beach town in the middle of nowhere, living with her parents in a crappy hotel "suite." Instead of spending the summer with her friends at home, she's hanging out with pink-haired Delilah, an artist who works in a shop called Psychic Photo, and a skater boy named Duncan who's totally not her type. Except, maybe he is . . .
Determined to make the best of things, Madison throws herself into her one passion: photography. But when strange figures start appearing in her pictures—people who weren't there when she snapped the shots, people who are later reported dead—she begins to question everything about who she is . . . and who she wishes she could be. (synopsis)
The plot line is somewhat great. I really like how Madison likes photography, I mean I like photography, I'm not as in in love but I just like it. I kind of liked the idea of the whole story, it was somewhat unique from other books.
I'm not sure if I have a favorite character in this book. Madison was okay, all I liked about her personality was just she loved photography. I don't know why but I got somewhat confused with the characters, maybe I was too slow understanding this. I got so puzzled about all the characters at the start, but after a while I did figure out who was who. Duncan, Celia, Lexie, and the rest of the characters are developed well in the story. Lexie was the best friend of Madison. She was a great friend with Madison and she played her role well in the story, I liked reading what parts she was involved in.
Overall, this book is good. Again, it was not amazing but not bad either, just right. I do recommend this book to you but if you don't read it, it's okay. It's up to you. But I still do look forward to Carol's writing in the future.
July 26, 2015
This is, technically, a re-read - I borrowed it fromm the school library when I was in, probably, about eighth grade or so, read it, really enjoyed it, and then saw it on BookOutlet sometime last year, remembered all of the good times, and just had to buy it.
And it's not as great as I remember.
The big thing I remember about this book being awesome was the love interest. I remember him being adorable. Thankfully, he was still adorable. Seriously, Duncan kept me going. Without Duncan, this probably would've been a two-star, maybe even a one, because man, Duncan. He was adorable. He was the most adorable love interest. Seriously, the main character didn't deserve him.
Let's talk about the main character for a second, because I couldn't stand her. I know the whole theme of the book, and that she had to be horrible at the beginning so that she could go through character development and whatever, but it didn't work for me, partially because she didn't really go through all that dramatic of character development. Some of her views on some things changed, but it wasn't enough for her absolute horribleness at the beginning of the book to be justified.
And, the writing style? It was... not... I mean... it was good for what it was. It was first-person, heavily-influenced-by-the-character, and it just didn't work for me. It was decent, I didn't really think it was a bad writing style, necessarily, but... it was just... yeah, no.
Although the MC uses MySpace, and that made me giggle. I mean, I guess the book was published in 2009, which means it was written a while before 2009, which means MySpace totally was in full swing, but still. It amused me.
Overall... it wasn't that great. But it is short, and the love interest is incredibly adorable, so if you see it at the library and want a quick read with the best love interest ever, like ugh, so cute, it's a decent choice. If you want something more, not so much.
And it's not as great as I remember.
The big thing I remember about this book being awesome was the love interest. I remember him being adorable. Thankfully, he was still adorable. Seriously, Duncan kept me going. Without Duncan, this probably would've been a two-star, maybe even a one, because man, Duncan. He was adorable. He was the most adorable love interest. Seriously, the main character didn't deserve him.
Let's talk about the main character for a second, because I couldn't stand her. I know the whole theme of the book, and that she had to be horrible at the beginning so that she could go through character development and whatever, but it didn't work for me, partially because she didn't really go through all that dramatic of character development. Some of her views on some things changed, but it wasn't enough for her absolute horribleness at the beginning of the book to be justified.
And, the writing style? It was... not... I mean... it was good for what it was. It was first-person, heavily-influenced-by-the-character, and it just didn't work for me. It was decent, I didn't really think it was a bad writing style, necessarily, but... it was just... yeah, no.
Although the MC uses MySpace, and that made me giggle. I mean, I guess the book was published in 2009, which means it was written a while before 2009, which means MySpace totally was in full swing, but still. It amused me.
Overall... it wasn't that great. But it is short, and the love interest is incredibly adorable, so if you see it at the library and want a quick read with the best love interest ever, like ugh, so cute, it's a decent choice. If you want something more, not so much.
December 16, 2009
Original/full review here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2009...
Review
When I first read the premise of Snap, I automatically thought, “Wow! I’m going to love this book. The main character has a passion for photography just like I do. Plus there is a supernatural twist to it.” Needless to say, I was somewhat disappointed when this book failed to live up to my expectations.
Snap was a lot more about Madison adjusting to her new life in a new town than it was about the mysterious people showing up in her pictures. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a fairly good, fun book, it just wasn’t quite what the synopsis lead me to believe and it was extremely predictable.
Madison wasn’t my favorite character in this. I don’t what exactly but there was something about her that just rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was the way she thought badly about Delilah, Leo, and Duncan because of their money circumstances. Yeah, I definitely think that was it. I mean they were so nice to her, trying to be her friend, but she still thought she was way better than them. She was also very whiny. However, Madison did have her moments when I liked her a little better.
I definitely would have to say that I liked the other characters better. They were more interesting and seemed like the kind of people I could hang out with.
In the end, this was a quick read that kept me occupied and mildly entertained. It wasn’t the worst but it sure could have been better. I don’t know if I’ll re-read this one or not. I recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced, interesting read. Just because I wasn’t that crazy about it doesn’t mean you won’t like it better. All I can say is if you think it sounds good, then give it a try.
Review
When I first read the premise of Snap, I automatically thought, “Wow! I’m going to love this book. The main character has a passion for photography just like I do. Plus there is a supernatural twist to it.” Needless to say, I was somewhat disappointed when this book failed to live up to my expectations.
Snap was a lot more about Madison adjusting to her new life in a new town than it was about the mysterious people showing up in her pictures. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a fairly good, fun book, it just wasn’t quite what the synopsis lead me to believe and it was extremely predictable.
Madison wasn’t my favorite character in this. I don’t what exactly but there was something about her that just rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was the way she thought badly about Delilah, Leo, and Duncan because of their money circumstances. Yeah, I definitely think that was it. I mean they were so nice to her, trying to be her friend, but she still thought she was way better than them. She was also very whiny. However, Madison did have her moments when I liked her a little better.
I definitely would have to say that I liked the other characters better. They were more interesting and seemed like the kind of people I could hang out with.
In the end, this was a quick read that kept me occupied and mildly entertained. It wasn’t the worst but it sure could have been better. I don’t know if I’ll re-read this one or not. I recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced, interesting read. Just because I wasn’t that crazy about it doesn’t mean you won’t like it better. All I can say is if you think it sounds good, then give it a try.
July 29, 2009
After reading both Switched and Snap by Carol Snow I have to say that I am unquestionably a fangirl. What I love about Carol Snow the most is , her ability to create a broad variety of attention-grabbing, and charming characters.
In Snap in particular we are introduced to a main character whose love of photography and family problems make her both an entirely relatable and sympathetic character. I felt so bad for Madison when she had to move and leave everything behind. Yet, she comes to grow as a character throughout the book. I wasn’t expecting a coming-of-age story when I started Snap, so that was a nice surprise. One of the secondary characters that stood out the most to me was pink haired Delilah. Delilah Is a very artsy and funky type of person. I loved her pink hair and her quirky personality at times I wanted to jump into the book and become her friend too.
The plot was also a complete surprise to me. After reading the summary I was expecting a much scarier novel. I imagined that the plot would go something like this, Madison discovers that her camera is causing people to die, she tries to figure it out, and when that doesn’t work she destroys it or something. Well this is why I don’t write fiction and why Carol Snow does. The plot was totally unexpected and highly original!
I did not see the ending coming and I worry that some people might be disappointed by it. However, for me it was a pleasant surprise. I liked out how things wrapped up at the end and kudos to Carol Snow for surprising me. I would recommend Snap to fans of Carol’s last novel Switched. It is a different type of story and in many ways better.
In Snap in particular we are introduced to a main character whose love of photography and family problems make her both an entirely relatable and sympathetic character. I felt so bad for Madison when she had to move and leave everything behind. Yet, she comes to grow as a character throughout the book. I wasn’t expecting a coming-of-age story when I started Snap, so that was a nice surprise. One of the secondary characters that stood out the most to me was pink haired Delilah. Delilah Is a very artsy and funky type of person. I loved her pink hair and her quirky personality at times I wanted to jump into the book and become her friend too.
The plot was also a complete surprise to me. After reading the summary I was expecting a much scarier novel. I imagined that the plot would go something like this, Madison discovers that her camera is causing people to die, she tries to figure it out, and when that doesn’t work she destroys it or something. Well this is why I don’t write fiction and why Carol Snow does. The plot was totally unexpected and highly original!
I did not see the ending coming and I worry that some people might be disappointed by it. However, for me it was a pleasant surprise. I liked out how things wrapped up at the end and kudos to Carol Snow for surprising me. I would recommend Snap to fans of Carol’s last novel Switched. It is a different type of story and in many ways better.
October 18, 2009
My Thoughts: Snap was a fun novel. There was no major depth involved but was still a fun light read. I actually liked Madison even though she seemed a bit spoiled. She reminds us all of our teenage self, you know when nothing matters but clothes, boys, and accessories. She didn't have to worry about the huge things like our parents did. I liked the premise of this story because like her, I love to take pictures. I constantly carry my camera around with me, just waiting on the perfect shot! I also liked Duncan. He is the skater-boy type of guy. He reminded me a lot of my high school boyfriend. Even the way he acted!! Madison starts seeing ghosts in her pictures, but she sums it up to the camera's fault. She can't actually see them without the camera, and its just a few "ghosts." There wasn't a whole lot of romance in this book, just a little ( I am a romance junkie) but I never expect "too" much romance from young adult books, haha! Overall, I did enjoy this book, it would be a good book to take with you on vacation or a long weekend because its a fast read but interesting at the same time!
Overall: Fun cute story. Now I need to read Switch next. I enjoy Carol Snow's work. Its very light and easy to read.
Cover: The cover is very cute! I like how it does not show her whole face, and she has really pretty brown eyes. I think this cover definitely fits the book and I can see Madison really looking like that!!! Reviewed by Princess Bookie
Overall: Fun cute story. Now I need to read Switch next. I enjoy Carol Snow's work. Its very light and easy to read.
Cover: The cover is very cute! I like how it does not show her whole face, and she has really pretty brown eyes. I think this cover definitely fits the book and I can see Madison really looking like that!!! Reviewed by Princess Bookie
August 7, 2009
Snap was one of those novels that you can’t assume about based off the summary. This book was more about Madison and her moving to a new town, losing her old friends, her perfectly planned school year, and a potential boyfriend. It was less about the eerie scenario of her photograph and the possible deaths related to it.
Snap was a decent read for someone looking to take time away. I really didn’t get much of Maddie’s character as she seemed shallow this few chapters around. She did, however, grow on me a bit later on. She grew up you may say. I enjoyed reading about her friends especially Deliah. Loving the whole sale-everything-on-eBay, I can totally relate to that. I also liked Madison’s old friend that she left back home. She wasn’t the typical snobby blond bimbo, in face she was almost the complete opposite.
The last 2 chapters were where I actually loved the book. It portrayed a distinct emotion, answered some dying questions, added some humor and revealed the truth.
As for the “dying” photographs, we actually never figured out how that came to be. Was the physic photo shop influencing the function of Maddie’s camera? We may never know…
Overall: I kind of expected more but the last 2 chapters were quite good.
Snap was a decent read for someone looking to take time away. I really didn’t get much of Maddie’s character as she seemed shallow this few chapters around. She did, however, grow on me a bit later on. She grew up you may say. I enjoyed reading about her friends especially Deliah. Loving the whole sale-everything-on-eBay, I can totally relate to that. I also liked Madison’s old friend that she left back home. She wasn’t the typical snobby blond bimbo, in face she was almost the complete opposite.
The last 2 chapters were where I actually loved the book. It portrayed a distinct emotion, answered some dying questions, added some humor and revealed the truth.
As for the “dying” photographs, we actually never figured out how that came to be. Was the physic photo shop influencing the function of Maddie’s camera? We may never know…
Overall: I kind of expected more but the last 2 chapters were quite good.
June 4, 2010
Preppy and pampered Madison Sabatini has just about everything going for her. She got the job as photographer for her school newspaper, she has great friends, great clothes, and she is going on a Hawaiian vacation on her summer break with enough time left at the end of the summer to come home for the newspaper’s pool party. That is, until her parents cancel the trip and inform her that they are going to Sandyland instead. She suspects something is up with her parents, her dad isn’t talking much and her mother has been angry a lot lately. They seem to be keeping secrets from her. Then her prized camera begins to capture images that aren’t there in real life. Images of people who later suffer tragedies. Now Madison has a secret of her own, one she can only share with her new friends at the Psychic Photo store in town. Can she figure out what’s wrong with her parents and solve the mystery of her camera before it is too late?
A quick read for someone looking for light paranormal stories or semi-realistic fiction. It has the feel of a Sarah Dessen novel with paranormal circumstances.
A quick read for someone looking for light paranormal stories or semi-realistic fiction. It has the feel of a Sarah Dessen novel with paranormal circumstances.
September 23, 2009
When I read the description of this book I knew that I had to get my hands on a copy of it. So I posted a blog post on here to trade a book of mine for a copy of this book. I got my copy and couldn't wait for it to get here-Thanks Cindy!! After reading the description on the back of the book I was thinking that it was going to be a YA suspense book. Ghosts popping up in pictures, Madison moving to a sleepy beach town. And I have to say that I was a bit disappointed in this book. BUT, I still liked it.
The book does have "ghosts" but it is not what you think. The book is basically about Madison and her family losing their home and them having to move. It is also about Madison meeting new friends and falling for a boy named Duncan.
I now know that sometimes a book description does nothing for the actual book. But saying this, I still enjoyed the book, and at the end Madison realizes that even though she doesn't have everything that she did before she can still be happy.
So this was a good read. Just not what I expected when I read the book description.
The book does have "ghosts" but it is not what you think. The book is basically about Madison and her family losing their home and them having to move. It is also about Madison meeting new friends and falling for a boy named Duncan.
I now know that sometimes a book description does nothing for the actual book. But saying this, I still enjoyed the book, and at the end Madison realizes that even though she doesn't have everything that she did before she can still be happy.
So this was a good read. Just not what I expected when I read the book description.
February 28, 2016
The story is about a girl named Madison. Her family is caught in the recession and they end up moving to a place called Sandyland. The problem is they don't tell Madison why they are moving and they leave her with the impression that they will be returning. Madison has do deal with their betrayal plus deal with all the friends and opportunities she has left behind.
The second theme of the book, and a relatively minor theme, is that Madison takes a lot of photos and on some a person will show up that she did not see there physically. The question arises as to whether these photos represent ghosts, people about to die, or something else.
I was sort of disappointed in the book since I thought that the second theme, the strange photographs, were really the main theme of the book. The way the book is written, and the emphasis on Madison's having to adjust to another lifestyle, this secondary theme actually isn't even necessary at all, and it's removal would not have damaged the book.
Not what I thought.
The second theme of the book, and a relatively minor theme, is that Madison takes a lot of photos and on some a person will show up that she did not see there physically. The question arises as to whether these photos represent ghosts, people about to die, or something else.
I was sort of disappointed in the book since I thought that the second theme, the strange photographs, were really the main theme of the book. The way the book is written, and the emphasis on Madison's having to adjust to another lifestyle, this secondary theme actually isn't even necessary at all, and it's removal would not have damaged the book.
Not what I thought.
November 27, 2009
Snap is a fun and light read making it perfect for a snowy, rainy, or even chilly day stuck at home.
While Madison's character is a bit of a spoiled brat in the beginning, she was an easy character to like (and eventually root for) as she began to show growth in becoming someone who saw that money wasn't everything. Her friends, Delilah, Duncan, and Leo, on the other hand, were more favorable to me most of the time because they each were unique and interesting, making them an absolute blast to read about.
The plot was decent and pretty interesting, but I felt that it could have been a bit better if more depth had been added. Though, I did enjoy the ghost story line along with the little romance that was added in throughout the novel.
In all, Snap is an enjoyable read, that will leave you with a smile on your face by the end. I'm looking forward to reading Carol's previous novel, Switch, as well as her future ones.
Grade: B
While Madison's character is a bit of a spoiled brat in the beginning, she was an easy character to like (and eventually root for) as she began to show growth in becoming someone who saw that money wasn't everything. Her friends, Delilah, Duncan, and Leo, on the other hand, were more favorable to me most of the time because they each were unique and interesting, making them an absolute blast to read about.
The plot was decent and pretty interesting, but I felt that it could have been a bit better if more depth had been added. Though, I did enjoy the ghost story line along with the little romance that was added in throughout the novel.
In all, Snap is an enjoyable read, that will leave you with a smile on your face by the end. I'm looking forward to reading Carol's previous novel, Switch, as well as her future ones.
Grade: B
October 10, 2009
I don't think this book is very well-known yet but it ought to be. It started off a bit slow but got going pretty quickly and turned into a very enjoyable book. At the beginning of the novel, Madison is a typical 15-year-old who is into clothes, fashion, friends, photography, and having fun. She's fairly self-centered and whiny.
But when her parents take her to a lame beach town for a "vacation" her digital camera starts acting...other-worldly. People that weren't in the original shot start showing up in the pictures and...something bad happens to them shortly afterward.
Madison's journey of self-discovery, new friends, new romance, and trying to unravel the mystery of her camera is exciting, suspenseful, fun, and poignant. Great chick-lit romance/mystery with a hint of paranormal.
But when her parents take her to a lame beach town for a "vacation" her digital camera starts acting...other-worldly. People that weren't in the original shot start showing up in the pictures and...something bad happens to them shortly afterward.
Madison's journey of self-discovery, new friends, new romance, and trying to unravel the mystery of her camera is exciting, suspenseful, fun, and poignant. Great chick-lit romance/mystery with a hint of paranormal.
January 15, 2010
An enjoyable novel that successfully balances a plot involving young Madison Sabatini's sudden and unexpected relocation to the small, economically downscale beach town of Sandyland, with an interesting subplot involving a series of strange, ghostlike apparitions appearing in the photographs Madison takes of her new surroundings. Snow's treatment of the Sabatini family's drop into misfortune never relies on stereotypes to cast those from either privileged or underdeveloped backgrounds, making Madison's internal conflicts about where she "belongs" both heartfelt and engaging. Snow also brings together her two disparate storylines convincingly and believably by novel's end, making this a very likable read.
King Library, Ground Floor, IMC, Juv | PZ7.S6807 Sn 2009
King Library, Ground Floor, IMC, Juv | PZ7.S6807 Sn 2009
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