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The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind
Sixteen-year-old Morgan lives in a hick town in the middle of Nebraska. College is two years away. Her mom was killed in a car accident when she was three, her dad drinks, and her stepmom is a non-entity. Her boyfriend Derek is boring and her coworker Rob has a very cute butt that she can't stop staring at. Then there's the kiss she shared with her classmate Tessa...
But when Morgan discovers that the one person in the world she trusted most has kept a devastating secret from her, Morgan must redefine her life and herself.
But when Morgan discovers that the one person in the world she trusted most has kept a devastating secret from her, Morgan must redefine her life and herself.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
June 29, 2010
I really liked this book.
It's definitely the kind of book I would have loved as a teenager. The main thing I loved, was Morgan. She's the coolest of narrators. I connected with her voice on the very first page. I love that feeling of only having read a page and realising, 'I am going to love this book.'
It's about Morgan and her life in a small town where she works at a grocery store (and perves on 19 year old Rob), is the girlfriend of popular jock-hottie Derek and next door-neighbour to Tessa who kisses her outside in the middle of the night. These three friends complicate all her teen-ish-hormonal feelings and general angst. She also has an alcoholic father and an enviously awesome Grandma, two little brothers who I personally feel proud of and a love of all things literary.
There's no huge inciting incident and, despite the blurb, no majorly huge event occurs (I kept guessing what was going to happen - little weird twists and scenarios that...never happened) although the secret she uncovers would really shatter your world. It's more of a read about Morgan and the cool crazy mad mess that is her life.
I think you just have to settle into a groove and go with the flow. I don't think everyone will be into this book - it's kind of quirky (in the coolest of ways. definitely not dorky) and it definitely has it's moments of tension and conflict - but what mostly kept me turning the pages was the voice and the fact that I have a little bit of a crush on Morgan. She's snarky and fun and ironic and oh-so-confused but just lovely lovely lovely. The humour in this book is definitely my style. I was smiling a lot of the time while reading it :)
Oh, and Morgan? She thinks about sex. A fair bit. Just, you know, a heads up there :) There's also a bit of language and some themes that make it an upper YA kinda read.
Stuff to Love:
1. Morgan is really into words and writing and she's always writing/thinking up little fortune cookie snippets that are a cute commentary of her life (here's the first few ones I flipped too):
Be careful of hotties searching for toothpicks.
Never hitch your star to someone who will live in a small town for the rest of his life.
When in doubt, go to sleep.
Do not enjoy uninvited kisses.
For value, buy the creamed corn.
2. I loved the ending - although I'm sure it will annoy some people :)
3. Morgan drives out to the hills and yells random things out (see blurb up the top) - and, I think, that's what being a teen is all about - feeling everything so intensely that you just have to get out in the open and scream your lungs out about it.
4. There's a lot of options in Morgan's life and the path isn't clear cut and the read isn't at all predictable.
5. I didn't find one character to be cliché - but all beautifully and compellingly flawed. Along the way, most characters surprised me - with sides of their personality. Definitely richly drawn characters - impressive to find that in some of the more minor characters.
I hope I managed to convey somewhere in here just how much this book rocks!
It's definitely the kind of book I would have loved as a teenager. The main thing I loved, was Morgan. She's the coolest of narrators. I connected with her voice on the very first page. I love that feeling of only having read a page and realising, 'I am going to love this book.'
It's about Morgan and her life in a small town where she works at a grocery store (and perves on 19 year old Rob), is the girlfriend of popular jock-hottie Derek and next door-neighbour to Tessa who kisses her outside in the middle of the night. These three friends complicate all her teen-ish-hormonal feelings and general angst. She also has an alcoholic father and an enviously awesome Grandma, two little brothers who I personally feel proud of and a love of all things literary.
There's no huge inciting incident and, despite the blurb, no majorly huge event occurs (I kept guessing what was going to happen - little weird twists and scenarios that...never happened) although the secret she uncovers would really shatter your world. It's more of a read about Morgan and the cool crazy mad mess that is her life.
I think you just have to settle into a groove and go with the flow. I don't think everyone will be into this book - it's kind of quirky (in the coolest of ways. definitely not dorky) and it definitely has it's moments of tension and conflict - but what mostly kept me turning the pages was the voice and the fact that I have a little bit of a crush on Morgan. She's snarky and fun and ironic and oh-so-confused but just lovely lovely lovely. The humour in this book is definitely my style. I was smiling a lot of the time while reading it :)
Oh, and Morgan? She thinks about sex. A fair bit. Just, you know, a heads up there :) There's also a bit of language and some themes that make it an upper YA kinda read.
Stuff to Love:
1. Morgan is really into words and writing and she's always writing/thinking up little fortune cookie snippets that are a cute commentary of her life (here's the first few ones I flipped too):
Be careful of hotties searching for toothpicks.
Never hitch your star to someone who will live in a small town for the rest of his life.
When in doubt, go to sleep.
Do not enjoy uninvited kisses.
For value, buy the creamed corn.
2. I loved the ending - although I'm sure it will annoy some people :)
3. Morgan drives out to the hills and yells random things out (see blurb up the top) - and, I think, that's what being a teen is all about - feeling everything so intensely that you just have to get out in the open and scream your lungs out about it.
4. There's a lot of options in Morgan's life and the path isn't clear cut and the read isn't at all predictable.
5. I didn't find one character to be cliché - but all beautifully and compellingly flawed. Along the way, most characters surprised me - with sides of their personality. Definitely richly drawn characters - impressive to find that in some of the more minor characters.
I hope I managed to convey somewhere in here just how much this book rocks!
September 8, 2011
Rating: 4.5 stars
Oh what a charming book! The Sky Always Hears Me and The Hills Don't Mind is beautiful.
Little bit quirky, always fun and has a lot of heart. Cronn-Mills voice is brilliant. She really captures life as a teen especially how confusing those romantic relationship are ~ trying to figure out what you want. Also isn't afraid to talk about sex in a honest way. And if you are sensitive to bad language be warned as it doesn't shy away from that either.
Morgan is such a delightful character. Gosh, she made me laugh and definitely is the star of this book. Morgan also doesn't feel like any character I have meet before.
Rob grins. "Come help me stock cigarettes." I wander over while he studies me. "You must be thinking very serious thoughts."
I am not going to tell him the truth; I was pondering his very cute ass, which he displayed as he was working on the smokes. Where has that ass been all my life.
And Rob... completely swoon worthy.
Overall, this is an amazing little book that definitely deserves more love. So glad I read it. It was a fully satisfying read that was smart, playful and heartfelt.
A big thank you to Nomes and Abbey for the recommendation.
Oh what a charming book! The Sky Always Hears Me and The Hills Don't Mind is beautiful.
Little bit quirky, always fun and has a lot of heart. Cronn-Mills voice is brilliant. She really captures life as a teen especially how confusing those romantic relationship are ~ trying to figure out what you want. Also isn't afraid to talk about sex in a honest way. And if you are sensitive to bad language be warned as it doesn't shy away from that either.
Morgan is such a delightful character. Gosh, she made me laugh and definitely is the star of this book. Morgan also doesn't feel like any character I have meet before.
Rob grins. "Come help me stock cigarettes." I wander over while he studies me. "You must be thinking very serious thoughts."
I am not going to tell him the truth; I was pondering his very cute ass, which he displayed as he was working on the smokes. Where has that ass been all my life.
And Rob... completely swoon worthy.
Overall, this is an amazing little book that definitely deserves more love. So glad I read it. It was a fully satisfying read that was smart, playful and heartfelt.
A big thank you to Nomes and Abbey for the recommendation.
December 4, 2016
2.5 stars, I guess.
Not great, but not awful. This book was a bit of a hodge podge. Didn't especially like any of the characters except maybe Ingrid, TBH, and she was barely even in it.
ETA: The "romances" were especially awful, including two of the world's worst boyfriends and a weird side flirtation ("I just like kissing!") with the neighbourhood lesbian.
This book was weird.
Not great, but not awful. This book was a bit of a hodge podge. Didn't especially like any of the characters except maybe Ingrid, TBH, and she was barely even in it.
ETA: The "romances" were especially awful, including two of the world's worst boyfriends and a weird side flirtation ("I just like kissing!") with the neighbourhood lesbian.
This book was weird.
December 12, 2011
The Sky Always Hears Me and The Hills Don't Mind is absolutely fantastic. Morgan's voice is unique and you will want to read this book only for this!
Morgan is a roughly regular teenager, she is a bit of a geek so she isn't very popular. She doesn't have any friends, just Girls To Sit By at lunch, her having a popular jock boyfriend was a bit of an accident, and now she is stuck with him whereas he's a bit boring. She has a crush on Rob who works as an assistant manager in the grocery store where she works (well, technically, she has more of a crush on his butt) and she was kissed by her friend Tessa a few nights before. Very complicated love life, indeed! She is a bit lost, especially since her dad is an alcoholic, and her step-mom kind of invisible and her brothers have very unique personalities. Morgan gives funny names to people and things and the only thing she wants is to get out of here fast. Her voice is grittily honest and it feels just like being in her head.
Morgan wants to write the Great American Novel as well as write fortunes. The entire book is filled with the fortunes she comes up with during the day. She has a very clear voice and her personality just comes through the narration. there are some truly laugh out loud moments in the book and there are some very touching ones (I read the book in one sitting in a café and I looked like an idiot laughing out loud and crying but oh well). Morgan is very close to her grandmother and she feels that she is the only one to truly understand her. When Morgan isn't feeling well, she takes her grandmother's car and drives up the hill and screams her frustration to the sky (hence the title).
The story is from the point of view of Morgan and how she is trying to help Tessa who is coming out. At the beginning Morgan doesn't really know if Tessa is just experimenting or if she is actually a lesbian. It is such a small and mostly narrow-minded town that when Tessa and another girl are found naked in the same bed, everyone assumes it is a "sleep-over" which is absolutely hilarious to read from Morgan's point of view, who knows it is more than that. Morgan has to deal with Tessa's crush on her and the fact that people think she is a lesbian too for being friends with Tessa. Morgan's position, as the straight friend of a lesbian in high school, is really fascinating to read. She herself wonders if she feels something for Tessa and she at times stands by her, at others doesn't know how to react. The reaction of everyone else to Tessa is very harsh but luckily she is one tough girl and can take care of herself, I really loved her character.
There are a lot of themes in this book and the most important one, I felt, was choosing a positive feeling rather than be mad, embarrassed, mean or spiteful. Morgan goes through the story making those choices and i really loved her for it.
I can't say much more not to spoil the story but Morgan's voice, the crazy (and quite realistic) personalities of most of the characters and the story will make you fall for this book. I cannot wait to read more by this author and I know that, the book being so fantastic, I will be rereading it soon!
Morgan is a roughly regular teenager, she is a bit of a geek so she isn't very popular. She doesn't have any friends, just Girls To Sit By at lunch, her having a popular jock boyfriend was a bit of an accident, and now she is stuck with him whereas he's a bit boring. She has a crush on Rob who works as an assistant manager in the grocery store where she works (well, technically, she has more of a crush on his butt) and she was kissed by her friend Tessa a few nights before. Very complicated love life, indeed! She is a bit lost, especially since her dad is an alcoholic, and her step-mom kind of invisible and her brothers have very unique personalities. Morgan gives funny names to people and things and the only thing she wants is to get out of here fast. Her voice is grittily honest and it feels just like being in her head.
Morgan wants to write the Great American Novel as well as write fortunes. The entire book is filled with the fortunes she comes up with during the day. She has a very clear voice and her personality just comes through the narration. there are some truly laugh out loud moments in the book and there are some very touching ones (I read the book in one sitting in a café and I looked like an idiot laughing out loud and crying but oh well). Morgan is very close to her grandmother and she feels that she is the only one to truly understand her. When Morgan isn't feeling well, she takes her grandmother's car and drives up the hill and screams her frustration to the sky (hence the title).
The story is from the point of view of Morgan and how she is trying to help Tessa who is coming out. At the beginning Morgan doesn't really know if Tessa is just experimenting or if she is actually a lesbian. It is such a small and mostly narrow-minded town that when Tessa and another girl are found naked in the same bed, everyone assumes it is a "sleep-over" which is absolutely hilarious to read from Morgan's point of view, who knows it is more than that. Morgan has to deal with Tessa's crush on her and the fact that people think she is a lesbian too for being friends with Tessa. Morgan's position, as the straight friend of a lesbian in high school, is really fascinating to read. She herself wonders if she feels something for Tessa and she at times stands by her, at others doesn't know how to react. The reaction of everyone else to Tessa is very harsh but luckily she is one tough girl and can take care of herself, I really loved her character.
There are a lot of themes in this book and the most important one, I felt, was choosing a positive feeling rather than be mad, embarrassed, mean or spiteful. Morgan goes through the story making those choices and i really loved her for it.
I can't say much more not to spoil the story but Morgan's voice, the crazy (and quite realistic) personalities of most of the characters and the story will make you fall for this book. I cannot wait to read more by this author and I know that, the book being so fantastic, I will be rereading it soon!
September 27, 2011
Did you love the movie Juno? Then I'm pretty sure you'll love this book. It has the same witty, charming, offbeat dialogue that just oozes cool. The comparison doesn't stop there - both narratives are relatively light-hearted in tone, but at the same time they explore more serious themes, such as teen pregnancy (in the case of Juno) and alcoholism, child abuse, death of a parent, teen sex and the big L word (in the case of this book).
That list makes it sound like it'd be an exhausting read, but I promise it's not! Kristin Cronn-Mills' characters make sure of that. Our MC, Morgan, dreams of escaping her one-horse town and writing the great American novel. In the meantime, she works at the local supermarket where she lusts after the sexy assistant manager, Rob, despite her cute-but-dumb boyfriend, Derek. And then there's a late-night backyard incident with her next door neighbour, Tessa...
The recounting of the plot ends here. It's better if you just jump right in and find out for yourself how awesome this book is. I haven't seen it in Aussie book stores but it's on Kindle if you're keen.
One thing I particularly loved about this one was the fortune cookie quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the fortunes Morgan writes herself. She leaves them all over the place in the style of The Sky Is Everywhere. (But Morgan's notes are funny, not heart-wrenching.)
Things you need to know: there's a fair bit of swoon in this book. There's also some sadness. But, mostly there's a hell of a lot of hilarity. Just a quick word of warning though: if you aren't open minded about girls kissing girls, then maybe this isn't the book for you. But if you don't mind the occasional questioning of sexuality, go right ahead!
That list makes it sound like it'd be an exhausting read, but I promise it's not! Kristin Cronn-Mills' characters make sure of that. Our MC, Morgan, dreams of escaping her one-horse town and writing the great American novel. In the meantime, she works at the local supermarket where she lusts after the sexy assistant manager, Rob, despite her cute-but-dumb boyfriend, Derek. And then there's a late-night backyard incident with her next door neighbour, Tessa...
The recounting of the plot ends here. It's better if you just jump right in and find out for yourself how awesome this book is. I haven't seen it in Aussie book stores but it's on Kindle if you're keen.
One thing I particularly loved about this one was the fortune cookie quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the fortunes Morgan writes herself. She leaves them all over the place in the style of The Sky Is Everywhere. (But Morgan's notes are funny, not heart-wrenching.)
Things you need to know: there's a fair bit of swoon in this book. There's also some sadness. But, mostly there's a hell of a lot of hilarity. Just a quick word of warning though: if you aren't open minded about girls kissing girls, then maybe this isn't the book for you. But if you don't mind the occasional questioning of sexuality, go right ahead!
Want to read
November 1, 2009How could I not want to read a book with a title this awesome?
September 1, 2010
I can safely begin this review by stating that I LOVE The Sky Always Hears Me:And The Hills Don’t Mind! The title and the book cover is what attracted me in the beginning. For me,the title of a book plays quite an important part in building up my interest for the book and I must say that Kirstin Cronn Mills has given her debut book the most apt title! I can’t think of any other title for the book…and I love it!
Now to move on to the story,it was an absolutely wonderful roller-coaster ride! I enjoyed the book so much so that I have even had a dream about it yesterday night! We don’t want to go into the details of the dream but I can just about hint that I was there with Rob and his ‘perfectly cute ass’!*swoons* And Tessa was together with Jessica! LOL! That one was the cherry,seriously,guys! And I wont tell you why…you have to read the book to find out the reason.
I adore the way Kirstin has sketched out Morgan’s life and character. Morgan is a regular teenager,so very relatable and one you would love to be friends with. She has been given a quirky and witty voice which made the narrative extremely enjoyable. I like that she is very focused about her dreams and is strong enough to defy everything she has for her dreams’ fulfillment. She wants to write The Great American Novel someday but for now has to keep herself satisfied with writing fortunes. I must mention that these fortunes were the highlight of the book for me. Morgan poured her thoughts,feelings,philosophy,logic and ideas in the fortunes which went on to reveal a greater understanding of Morgan’s character in a very intelligent manner.
The relationships and Morgan’s varying equations with all the other characters in the book(her grandma,her father,her stepmother,her brothers,her boyfriends,Tessa and her friends) makes the book extremely realistic and appealing. I love Morgan’s brothers. They are absolutely gorgeous! I wish I had brothers like them…
Morgan also has her so many typical teenage problems and the way she deals with them is no doubt extremely commendable. The book also covers the issue of sexuality and teenage confusion regarding sexuality. I am sure every teen has gone through a phase wondering what it would be like to kiss someone of the same sex and whether such feelings makes him/her a homosexual. This issue has been beautifully dealt with in the book. Morgan’s inner turmoil regarding her sexuality has been given much importance in the book,which,though could have made this an LGBT book,instead just portrays the pangs and angst of every teenager,making it a mainstream YA book dealing with sexuality issues.
Kirstin also writes about issues like PMS,child abuse and forgiveness. I will not disclose how Kirstin uses these issues in the book but I must say that the book,for me,transcends from being a mere high school experience into a greater understanding of life,relationships and their complexities. The treatment given to the book makes it an unforgettable experience for me. I would love to read the book over and over again. This book is like a ‘complete package’ for me-extremely fun,charming,compelling and thought provoking at the same time. I highly recommend this book!
Now to move on to the story,it was an absolutely wonderful roller-coaster ride! I enjoyed the book so much so that I have even had a dream about it yesterday night! We don’t want to go into the details of the dream but I can just about hint that I was there with Rob and his ‘perfectly cute ass’!*swoons* And Tessa was together with Jessica! LOL! That one was the cherry,seriously,guys! And I wont tell you why…you have to read the book to find out the reason.
I adore the way Kirstin has sketched out Morgan’s life and character. Morgan is a regular teenager,so very relatable and one you would love to be friends with. She has been given a quirky and witty voice which made the narrative extremely enjoyable. I like that she is very focused about her dreams and is strong enough to defy everything she has for her dreams’ fulfillment. She wants to write The Great American Novel someday but for now has to keep herself satisfied with writing fortunes. I must mention that these fortunes were the highlight of the book for me. Morgan poured her thoughts,feelings,philosophy,logic and ideas in the fortunes which went on to reveal a greater understanding of Morgan’s character in a very intelligent manner.
The relationships and Morgan’s varying equations with all the other characters in the book(her grandma,her father,her stepmother,her brothers,her boyfriends,Tessa and her friends) makes the book extremely realistic and appealing. I love Morgan’s brothers. They are absolutely gorgeous! I wish I had brothers like them…
Morgan also has her so many typical teenage problems and the way she deals with them is no doubt extremely commendable. The book also covers the issue of sexuality and teenage confusion regarding sexuality. I am sure every teen has gone through a phase wondering what it would be like to kiss someone of the same sex and whether such feelings makes him/her a homosexual. This issue has been beautifully dealt with in the book. Morgan’s inner turmoil regarding her sexuality has been given much importance in the book,which,though could have made this an LGBT book,instead just portrays the pangs and angst of every teenager,making it a mainstream YA book dealing with sexuality issues.
Kirstin also writes about issues like PMS,child abuse and forgiveness. I will not disclose how Kirstin uses these issues in the book but I must say that the book,for me,transcends from being a mere high school experience into a greater understanding of life,relationships and their complexities. The treatment given to the book makes it an unforgettable experience for me. I would love to read the book over and over again. This book is like a ‘complete package’ for me-extremely fun,charming,compelling and thought provoking at the same time. I highly recommend this book!
June 12, 2012
I thought Morgan's voice was absolutely hilarious for about, oh, 50 pages, and then I just got really tired of it. I also got tired of hearing about Rob's "cute ass" every other paragraph. Their relationship seemed driven almost purely by her physical attraction to him, and maybe that's how most teenagers are (I'm only 22), but it did not make me like or respect her.
There were a lot of little things I really liked about this book... the short scene where she's checking out all the women at the grocery store, when she goes to let loose on the hill, her honesty about sex and her father's alcoholism, when she writes fortunes (although her own coupled with the ones beginning each chapter made for a bit much, I thought), her grandmother's career, when she finally tells off Jessica... But the small things I did like didn't really make up for the fact that I felt very little connection to the main characters. The few times I could feel myself starting to like her were when she was developing her relationship with Tessa and Ingrid towards the end, and whenever she talked to her brothers. But even then, the relationships didn't carry the amount of depth that I thought they could have.
I really wanted to like this book, but I just wasn't drawn into Morgan's thoughts and emotions, and I had a really hard time believing the depth of her character. When she stayed out all night sobbing on the hillside, it didn't hit me in the chest like I wanted it to. It was kind of breezed over. The climax was resolved too quickly and Morgan's mind was so one-tracked ("I need to get out of this town and I love staring at Rob's cute ass and I like kissing people") that I found myself just wishing she would get over everything else and start caring about something or somebody else for once.
I sympathize with her wanting to get out of her small town and make something of her life, but in the end I really did not find myself caring one way or another.
There were a lot of little things I really liked about this book... the short scene where she's checking out all the women at the grocery store, when she goes to let loose on the hill, her honesty about sex and her father's alcoholism, when she writes fortunes (although her own coupled with the ones beginning each chapter made for a bit much, I thought), her grandmother's career, when she finally tells off Jessica... But the small things I did like didn't really make up for the fact that I felt very little connection to the main characters. The few times I could feel myself starting to like her were when she was developing her relationship with Tessa and Ingrid towards the end, and whenever she talked to her brothers. But even then, the relationships didn't carry the amount of depth that I thought they could have.
I really wanted to like this book, but I just wasn't drawn into Morgan's thoughts and emotions, and I had a really hard time believing the depth of her character. When she stayed out all night sobbing on the hillside, it didn't hit me in the chest like I wanted it to. It was kind of breezed over. The climax was resolved too quickly and Morgan's mind was so one-tracked ("I need to get out of this town and I love staring at Rob's cute ass and I like kissing people") that I found myself just wishing she would get over everything else and start caring about something or somebody else for once.
I sympathize with her wanting to get out of her small town and make something of her life, but in the end I really did not find myself caring one way or another.
November 23, 2012
I had a few of problems with this book.
Having said that, Morgan's voice is funny and quirky and authentic and I really enjoyed the book because of her. She struggles with accepting that the world is not black and white and the people she loves are neither good nor bad but something in-between. I would definitely read the next Kirstin Cronn-Mills book.
Having said that, Morgan's voice is funny and quirky and authentic and I really enjoyed the book because of her. She struggles with accepting that the world is not black and white and the people she loves are neither good nor bad but something in-between. I would definitely read the next Kirstin Cronn-Mills book.
January 28, 2014
The Sky Always Hears Me...But The Hills Don't Mind is definitely an interesting book. It's about a girl who lived in Nebraska, and is caught in a love "square" with two boys and a girl. Their town is very against gays and lesbians, so they get a lot of crap from everyone else. I think that this book was interesting and very realistic to me because I do live in Nebraska and close to the location that she narrates. I do recommend this book to anyone interested because it is a fun read and an interesting story.
May 16, 2018
I want to like this book because the characters are so diverse and interesting. Morgan is a complex character. She’s a sophomore but dealing with an alcoholic father and a step mother who she really just tolerates. She has a boyfriend who wants nothing more than living near their small Nebraska town and he just like his father.
Morgan has dreams though. She wants to see more of the world, she wants to be a writer. All admirable goals for her and I’m proud she stands up for those goals.
She also has a lesbian neighbor who has been her friend for years. She toys with the idea of dating her, but the local scene would never tolerate it. The few times she has hung out in her vicinity left her with hurtful sayings and a lot of drama. Typical for a small town but it’s good it was brought up to start with.
Morgan grows up some, but by the end I was glad to see things close out. Overall good but it wasn’t something I’d keep for a second read.
Morgan has dreams though. She wants to see more of the world, she wants to be a writer. All admirable goals for her and I’m proud she stands up for those goals.
She also has a lesbian neighbor who has been her friend for years. She toys with the idea of dating her, but the local scene would never tolerate it. The few times she has hung out in her vicinity left her with hurtful sayings and a lot of drama. Typical for a small town but it’s good it was brought up to start with.
Morgan grows up some, but by the end I was glad to see things close out. Overall good but it wasn’t something I’d keep for a second read.
August 20, 2021
Interestingly written...I liked the short chapters, written like a teen would think, but NOT a diary. The struggles, the fun, the frustrations of a teen growing up in a small town.
December 30, 2024
The representation of queerness through Tessa was cringey at times but the writing and plot were addicting!
June 8, 2016
This was a sweet teen book focusing on the difficulties navigating the complex feelings of budding romance. Part of me felt as if the narrator's relationships with her boyfriend and the boy at the grocery store were a bit unnecessary to what felt to be more of the meat of the plot--the complexities of her grandmother's mental health, her father's alcoholism, losing her mother at a young age, the confusion of the girl next door being a fantastic kisser--but perhaps also, these heteronormative woes (oh, the boring but popular boyfriend, the navigating cheating, the best friend who ends up dating your dull boyfriend and is probably quite right for him) are also what would draw in an average reader rather than driving the book into a niche or an after-school special.
There were some amazingly tender moments that made me love this book: when the protagonist finds out the circumstances of her mother's passing, she shuts down, and her father, ordinarily shut down himself, comes to pick her up, a moment of actual love. The moments where Morgan and Tessa have real conversations are nice--vulnerable and honest. And I do appreciate the typical-teenage angst happening at her job, though I find it interesting that a self-proclaimed nerd who doesn't care about girl stuff is so beloved by three very different characters; and of course, the flip side of that is, yes, normal, average, but also complex and deeply feeling people can be loved by many people too.
Cronn-Mills has talent: her prose is smooth and quite controlled. I love the organization of this book: small chapters that feel like scenes, vignettes--I think this is a lovely way of storytelling. They end up like strung pearls, and we follow them to the close, where Rob turns out to not be as fantastic as she had assumed (and whew, though she still likes him, proclaims them just friends at the close--after all, humans are, yes, complex, but they ought to also have some nod towards repercussions at bigotry) (and goodness, it would have been nice if Derek's reaction would have been closer to the oooh, can I watch? variety as they was a hugely common one coming from immature guys when they found out I dated a woman for a period of time--jealousy and territorialism wasn't terribly common--for me, that is, though I think, on some levels, the guys didn't take it as a "real threat").
I'd be interested to read some kind of sequel--perhaps Tessa's life as a chef, or Morgan in NYC writing, or even the evolution of Rob on a ranch. Each of these characters had strong dreams, which made this a really good book for a young reader, I think--there's a lot of hope to the book. Hope that things will change and get better. I have hopes that my own children could read this book when they are young teenagers and think, "Wow, that's what it was like?" But who knows if it's even possible, given how not-far we have come in other social justice issues (here I'm thinking about the Black Lives Matter movement).
In all, I'd certainly read more of Cronn-Mills' work. She's got a new loyal reader in me.
There were some amazingly tender moments that made me love this book: when the protagonist finds out the circumstances of her mother's passing, she shuts down, and her father, ordinarily shut down himself, comes to pick her up, a moment of actual love. The moments where Morgan and Tessa have real conversations are nice--vulnerable and honest. And I do appreciate the typical-teenage angst happening at her job, though I find it interesting that a self-proclaimed nerd who doesn't care about girl stuff is so beloved by three very different characters; and of course, the flip side of that is, yes, normal, average, but also complex and deeply feeling people can be loved by many people too.
Cronn-Mills has talent: her prose is smooth and quite controlled. I love the organization of this book: small chapters that feel like scenes, vignettes--I think this is a lovely way of storytelling. They end up like strung pearls, and we follow them to the close, where Rob turns out to not be as fantastic as she had assumed (and whew, though she still likes him, proclaims them just friends at the close--after all, humans are, yes, complex, but they ought to also have some nod towards repercussions at bigotry) (and goodness, it would have been nice if Derek's reaction would have been closer to the oooh, can I watch? variety as they was a hugely common one coming from immature guys when they found out I dated a woman for a period of time--jealousy and territorialism wasn't terribly common--for me, that is, though I think, on some levels, the guys didn't take it as a "real threat").
I'd be interested to read some kind of sequel--perhaps Tessa's life as a chef, or Morgan in NYC writing, or even the evolution of Rob on a ranch. Each of these characters had strong dreams, which made this a really good book for a young reader, I think--there's a lot of hope to the book. Hope that things will change and get better. I have hopes that my own children could read this book when they are young teenagers and think, "Wow, that's what it was like?" But who knows if it's even possible, given how not-far we have come in other social justice issues (here I'm thinking about the Black Lives Matter movement).
In all, I'd certainly read more of Cronn-Mills' work. She's got a new loyal reader in me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2010
With wit, warmth and dark humor, Kirstin Cronn-Mills weaves a powerful story in The Sky Always Hears Me: And The Hills Don’t Mind. Narrator Morgan is an intelligent teen who dreams of writing the Great American Novel, like many of us, but gets by on penning cryptic “fortunes” on Post-Its, napkins and register tape — anything she can find, basically, and leaving them strewn about like edicts from a higher power. When life gets too overwhelming, Morgan escapes to visit her grandmother, Elsie, and borrows her car to go and vent her frustrations in the wide-open hills of Nebraska.
Morgan carries The Sky Always Hears Me, letting us into her private world as she grapples with issues as large as sexuality, abuse and a stifling sense of being sequestered in a tiny place she’s long outgrown. Though the “I have to get out of this God forsakin’ town!” trope is definitely nothing new in fiction, Morgan was a fresh character with whom I could relate — someone whose dream is to write and do something more, but can’t immediately find the tools to do so.
While the book centers largely around the three love interests in the story, creating a complicated romantic triangle, it’s also about family dynamics and the long reach of grief. Morgan’s mother died when she and Martin were small, leaving them alone with a distant father and one guilty, saddened grandmother. Elsie, Morgan’s grandma, has done everything she can to provide a loving female role model for her granddaughter — but that hasn’t necessarily been enough.
Interspersed with Cronn-Mills’ narrative are snippets of fortunes from Chinese restaurants all over the world, collected by Elsie when she was a traveling concert pianist. In addition to penning her own, Morgan takes these fortunes to heart — and I liked the way we were introduced to each chapter with another quote or piece of advice. It provided credence to the sense that anything can change at any time — and that, for better or worse, we can all shape our destinies. And Morgan can shape hers.
In addition to being entertaining and very readable, The Sky Always Hears Me does an admirable job of exploring teen sexuality. As a young woman, Morgan isn’t expected to have everything figured out — and the path towards discovery can be messy. Central Nowhere is a small town, of course, and few are accepting of the idea of gay or lesbian people in their community. Fear and disapproval of an “immoral” lifestyle permeate Morgan and Tessa’s high school. I liked that Cronn-Mills didn’t take the easy way out, showing Morgan’s “repulsion” at being kissed by Tessa and failing to stick up for her friend. Instead, the author let her characters work out their feelings on their own terms.
Fans of quirky young adult fiction featuring memorable, dimensional characters would enjoy Kirstin Cronn-Mills’ debut novel — and I know this isn’t one I’ll soon forget. At just over 270 pages, too, it’s easily devoured in an afternoon or two.
Morgan carries The Sky Always Hears Me, letting us into her private world as she grapples with issues as large as sexuality, abuse and a stifling sense of being sequestered in a tiny place she’s long outgrown. Though the “I have to get out of this God forsakin’ town!” trope is definitely nothing new in fiction, Morgan was a fresh character with whom I could relate — someone whose dream is to write and do something more, but can’t immediately find the tools to do so.
While the book centers largely around the three love interests in the story, creating a complicated romantic triangle, it’s also about family dynamics and the long reach of grief. Morgan’s mother died when she and Martin were small, leaving them alone with a distant father and one guilty, saddened grandmother. Elsie, Morgan’s grandma, has done everything she can to provide a loving female role model for her granddaughter — but that hasn’t necessarily been enough.
Interspersed with Cronn-Mills’ narrative are snippets of fortunes from Chinese restaurants all over the world, collected by Elsie when she was a traveling concert pianist. In addition to penning her own, Morgan takes these fortunes to heart — and I liked the way we were introduced to each chapter with another quote or piece of advice. It provided credence to the sense that anything can change at any time — and that, for better or worse, we can all shape our destinies. And Morgan can shape hers.
In addition to being entertaining and very readable, The Sky Always Hears Me does an admirable job of exploring teen sexuality. As a young woman, Morgan isn’t expected to have everything figured out — and the path towards discovery can be messy. Central Nowhere is a small town, of course, and few are accepting of the idea of gay or lesbian people in their community. Fear and disapproval of an “immoral” lifestyle permeate Morgan and Tessa’s high school. I liked that Cronn-Mills didn’t take the easy way out, showing Morgan’s “repulsion” at being kissed by Tessa and failing to stick up for her friend. Instead, the author let her characters work out their feelings on their own terms.
Fans of quirky young adult fiction featuring memorable, dimensional characters would enjoy Kirstin Cronn-Mills’ debut novel — and I know this isn’t one I’ll soon forget. At just over 270 pages, too, it’s easily devoured in an afternoon or two.
October 29, 2015
REVIEWED ON BOOKLIKES
This is the story of a girl growing up in Central Nowhere (aka Nebraska). Morgan is in her senior year of high-school, and she can't wait to get the heck out of her small town. She has big dreams of writing the Great American Novel, and living in a big city, somewhere far away. The only thing she likes about Central Nowhere are the hills. Whenever she is frustrated, angry or confused (which is a lot), she drives into the hills, and screams her angst out to her hearts desire. And they don't mind.
Morgan is a great narrator. She is a interesting thinker, and she is constantly thinking up fortunes she would write for fortune cookies, and leaving them hidden all over the place. Each chapter starts out with an actual fortune from a cookie, and Morgan's quirky and snarky originals are scattered through the paragraphs, as they are scattered in the story in all the places Morgan goes.
Most of the story focuses on Morgan's relationships with the people around her, more so her love life. She is in a love triangle of sorts with her current boyfriend Derek (a shallow, boring guy) and her co-worker Rob (who she thinks is really cute and has a huge crush on). To make things even more complicated, she discovers that her neighbor and childhood friend, Tessa has a huge crush on HER, and she doesn't know what to make of all this. She needs to figure out what she want in life and the others in it, with some old family issues surfacing and a painful secret revealed to top it all off.
Life will fall apart, but will it fall back together? (*dramatic movie trailer voice*)
All in all, a serious but light read. I liked the narrative, and the family relationships that were discussed could have been explored more in depth, they could have been more interesting, and less neglected to the plot of a 17 year old girl's dramatic love life... Though a little sappy, things find closure in this book quite nicely. Had a breezy and refreshing feeling to it.
A story of self discovery. Learning that people aren't always what they seem at face value. Losing trust, gaining trust, and forgiveness. Knowing what you want and being who you are. Family. Acceptance. But most of all change.
----------------------------------
Here is a quote from the book to sum that up, a conversation between Morgan and a usually slobby, cranky and repulsive customer and the grocery store she works at:
He's radiant. "Hello , young lady. How are you?"
I try to get my act together. "I'm all right, sir. How are you?"
"I'm clean, literally, and also sober. It's a great day."
I give him a faint smile as I bag up his food. "That's $12.73."
He hand me a twenty. "Keep the change."
"Sir I can't do that." I hand him back $7.27.
"Yes you can. Things change. Here's my change."
Good read!
This is the story of a girl growing up in Central Nowhere (aka Nebraska). Morgan is in her senior year of high-school, and she can't wait to get the heck out of her small town. She has big dreams of writing the Great American Novel, and living in a big city, somewhere far away. The only thing she likes about Central Nowhere are the hills. Whenever she is frustrated, angry or confused (which is a lot), she drives into the hills, and screams her angst out to her hearts desire. And they don't mind.
Morgan is a great narrator. She is a interesting thinker, and she is constantly thinking up fortunes she would write for fortune cookies, and leaving them hidden all over the place. Each chapter starts out with an actual fortune from a cookie, and Morgan's quirky and snarky originals are scattered through the paragraphs, as they are scattered in the story in all the places Morgan goes.
Most of the story focuses on Morgan's relationships with the people around her, more so her love life. She is in a love triangle of sorts with her current boyfriend Derek (a shallow, boring guy) and her co-worker Rob (who she thinks is really cute and has a huge crush on). To make things even more complicated, she discovers that her neighbor and childhood friend, Tessa has a huge crush on HER, and she doesn't know what to make of all this. She needs to figure out what she want in life and the others in it, with some old family issues surfacing and a painful secret revealed to top it all off.
Life will fall apart, but will it fall back together? (*dramatic movie trailer voice*)
All in all, a serious but light read. I liked the narrative, and the family relationships that were discussed could have been explored more in depth, they could have been more interesting, and less neglected to the plot of a 17 year old girl's dramatic love life... Though a little sappy, things find closure in this book quite nicely. Had a breezy and refreshing feeling to it.
A story of self discovery. Learning that people aren't always what they seem at face value. Losing trust, gaining trust, and forgiveness. Knowing what you want and being who you are. Family. Acceptance. But most of all change.
----------------------------------
Here is a quote from the book to sum that up, a conversation between Morgan and a usually slobby, cranky and repulsive customer and the grocery store she works at:
He's radiant. "Hello , young lady. How are you?"
I try to get my act together. "I'm all right, sir. How are you?"
"I'm clean, literally, and also sober. It's a great day."
I give him a faint smile as I bag up his food. "That's $12.73."
He hand me a twenty. "Keep the change."
"Sir I can't do that." I hand him back $7.27.
"Yes you can. Things change. Here's my change."
Good read!
September 11, 2009
THE SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME is utterly incredible. It’s saucy and hilarious, twisted and touching. I can’t get enough of Morgan’s story and Kirstin’s writing.
Never before have I come across a protagonist like Morgan. Her snark and wit reminds me of Jessica Darling from Megan McCafferty’s hit series (which I love), but her conciseness of speech and thought reflects more of Courtney Summers’ characters (another author whose writing I love). Her voice had me constantly cracking up on the inside, a healthy relief from her borderline melodramatic life, which kept my countenance, if not my inner mental state, somber.
Kirstin Cronn-Mills skillfully develops her characters so that all of them are three-dimensional. All too often the choice that the protagonist should make is too easy for readers to spot early on, but that doesn’t happen in this book. Yes, Morgan is bombarded with dozens of issues, but readers can clearly see why a resolution is not at all simple. There are many different ways—all equally legitimate—that Morgan could have played out her life, and also satisfying is the realistic ending: one that speaks of hope, but also does not play off of unrealistic dreams of eternal love or easy paths to happiness.
This book is not without a bit of melodrama, of course. Any one of those issues mentioned about in my summary is enough to provide several hundred pages of fodder for a good YA novel. To have them all in the span of 250 or so pages is perhaps overkill. However, things start straightening themselves out in the second half, and by the end of the book I was satisfied with how everything was resolved. Throwing a bunch of issues into the main character’s life is a rather amateurish move, but Kirstin navigates Morgan’s way out of the overwhelming problems with the ease of a much more established writer. Overall, it’s an admirable narration and plotting job.
THE SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME is one of those books that a lot of people will like, but a few will really get. I think I am one of those people who get it and absolutely love it. Morgan’s irreverence and Kirstin’s writing style made a long-lasting impression on me. Even if the book doesn’t end up speaking to you the way it did to me, you’ll still be satisfied with this intelligent, snarky, and deeply satisfying book. Well done, Kirstin. Well done.
Never before have I come across a protagonist like Morgan. Her snark and wit reminds me of Jessica Darling from Megan McCafferty’s hit series (which I love), but her conciseness of speech and thought reflects more of Courtney Summers’ characters (another author whose writing I love). Her voice had me constantly cracking up on the inside, a healthy relief from her borderline melodramatic life, which kept my countenance, if not my inner mental state, somber.
Kirstin Cronn-Mills skillfully develops her characters so that all of them are three-dimensional. All too often the choice that the protagonist should make is too easy for readers to spot early on, but that doesn’t happen in this book. Yes, Morgan is bombarded with dozens of issues, but readers can clearly see why a resolution is not at all simple. There are many different ways—all equally legitimate—that Morgan could have played out her life, and also satisfying is the realistic ending: one that speaks of hope, but also does not play off of unrealistic dreams of eternal love or easy paths to happiness.
This book is not without a bit of melodrama, of course. Any one of those issues mentioned about in my summary is enough to provide several hundred pages of fodder for a good YA novel. To have them all in the span of 250 or so pages is perhaps overkill. However, things start straightening themselves out in the second half, and by the end of the book I was satisfied with how everything was resolved. Throwing a bunch of issues into the main character’s life is a rather amateurish move, but Kirstin navigates Morgan’s way out of the overwhelming problems with the ease of a much more established writer. Overall, it’s an admirable narration and plotting job.
THE SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME is one of those books that a lot of people will like, but a few will really get. I think I am one of those people who get it and absolutely love it. Morgan’s irreverence and Kirstin’s writing style made a long-lasting impression on me. Even if the book doesn’t end up speaking to you the way it did to me, you’ll still be satisfied with this intelligent, snarky, and deeply satisfying book. Well done, Kirstin. Well done.
October 19, 2009
The first review I read about The Sky Always Hears Me: And The Hills don't mind made it shoot right to the top of my wishlist. When Id finally got a copy, I couldn't wait to read it. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint me in any way.
Morgan lives in a town in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do except work, write crazy fortunes, and stare at Rob's butt. Well okay maybe more than that but those are Morgan's favorite things. And from descriptions of Rob, I wouldn't mind staring at his butt either. =]
The only big flaw in Morgan's plan is that she already has a boyfriend. Not a very smart boyfriend but still a boyfriend. Then add to that a cute boy, a kiss with a girl, and things really start to heat up in that tiny little town. Oh, and on top of all that she wants to write a great American novel and that can't happen where she lives, so what is she to do but find a way to get out?
I really did like Morgan. There were times I didn't agree with her thinking, when she was being stubborn and selfish, but it didn't make me dislike her. Morgan was just a good character all around. She was normal and relatable and quite funny. She had relationship, friendship, and family problems but she didn't let it get her down and ruin her dreams. In fact, it made her stronger.
Also, one of the best things about this book was how Kirstin Cronn-Mills incorporated so many issues that are very present in today's society but she didn't overdo it. There was homosexuality, bullying, sex, prejudices, and so much more. Normally it would seem a bit much for one book but somehow it wasn't. It was honest and real and just perfect.
Overall, I think The Sky Always Hears Me: And The Hills Don't Mind is something everyone will enjoy. It involves so many things relevant to today's teens and it portrays them all in a very enjoyable way. My warning to anyone who reads this is: don't read in a public place. You will find yourself getting some very odd looks when you start laughing out loud. So I definitely think you should add this one to your to be read list because if you give it a chance, I am sure you will like it. =]
Morgan lives in a town in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do except work, write crazy fortunes, and stare at Rob's butt. Well okay maybe more than that but those are Morgan's favorite things. And from descriptions of Rob, I wouldn't mind staring at his butt either. =]
The only big flaw in Morgan's plan is that she already has a boyfriend. Not a very smart boyfriend but still a boyfriend. Then add to that a cute boy, a kiss with a girl, and things really start to heat up in that tiny little town. Oh, and on top of all that she wants to write a great American novel and that can't happen where she lives, so what is she to do but find a way to get out?
I really did like Morgan. There were times I didn't agree with her thinking, when she was being stubborn and selfish, but it didn't make me dislike her. Morgan was just a good character all around. She was normal and relatable and quite funny. She had relationship, friendship, and family problems but she didn't let it get her down and ruin her dreams. In fact, it made her stronger.
Also, one of the best things about this book was how Kirstin Cronn-Mills incorporated so many issues that are very present in today's society but she didn't overdo it. There was homosexuality, bullying, sex, prejudices, and so much more. Normally it would seem a bit much for one book but somehow it wasn't. It was honest and real and just perfect.
Overall, I think The Sky Always Hears Me: And The Hills Don't Mind is something everyone will enjoy. It involves so many things relevant to today's teens and it portrays them all in a very enjoyable way. My warning to anyone who reads this is: don't read in a public place. You will find yourself getting some very odd looks when you start laughing out loud. So I definitely think you should add this one to your to be read list because if you give it a chance, I am sure you will like it. =]
September 8, 2009
It seems that I’ve been reading a lot of gay theme books lately. I’m glad that books like The Sky Always Hears Me are becoming more popular. Morgan lives in a tiny town in the heart of America where mostly everyone is homophobic. I thought it was really funny how Morgan handled all these idiots. Overall, Morgan was an extremely funny and likeable character. I loved how she was always day dreaming about Rob and checking out his butt. It was just so outrageous. The way Morgan describes some of the customers in the store was also pretty darn funny, Morgan and her fortune cooking writing was a little bizarre, but in the end it added nicely to the story. Untimely, I wanted Morgan to succeed at her dreams to write the Great American Novel.
The Sky Always Hears Me is a story about relationships, so we get to see a lot of interaction among Morgan and those closest to her: Morgan and her grandmother, Morgan and her girl (crush?) Tessa, Morgan and her parents, Morgan and her boyfriend, and Morgan and Rob. The way I describe it sounds tiring, but The Sky Always Hears Me never felt long-winded. All the characters were well developed and interesting enough to keep me on my toes.
I found the secret that was reveled about Morgan’s grandmother to be somewhat anti-climactic. After reading the summary I was expecting something truly shocking, but I ended up not being all the surprised. I did think that the idea of PMS induced aggression was rather unique. It seems like we are always hearing about how testosterone makes men more aggressive, but we never look at how women are affected by their own hormonal changes. I thought that this was a very nice touch and I’m glad the author included it.
My only real complaint about The Sky Always Hears Me are the large gaps in time between chapters. One chapter would end in September and the next one might start in November. Sometimes that would leave me wondering, “what happened to October, May, etc?” Overall, The Sky Always Hears Me was an emotional filled teen angst novel. If you enjoy coming-of-age type of stories you will enjoy this book.
The Sky Always Hears Me is a story about relationships, so we get to see a lot of interaction among Morgan and those closest to her: Morgan and her grandmother, Morgan and her girl (crush?) Tessa, Morgan and her parents, Morgan and her boyfriend, and Morgan and Rob. The way I describe it sounds tiring, but The Sky Always Hears Me never felt long-winded. All the characters were well developed and interesting enough to keep me on my toes.
I found the secret that was reveled about Morgan’s grandmother to be somewhat anti-climactic. After reading the summary I was expecting something truly shocking, but I ended up not being all the surprised. I did think that the idea of PMS induced aggression was rather unique. It seems like we are always hearing about how testosterone makes men more aggressive, but we never look at how women are affected by their own hormonal changes. I thought that this was a very nice touch and I’m glad the author included it.
My only real complaint about The Sky Always Hears Me are the large gaps in time between chapters. One chapter would end in September and the next one might start in November. Sometimes that would leave me wondering, “what happened to October, May, etc?” Overall, The Sky Always Hears Me was an emotional filled teen angst novel. If you enjoy coming-of-age type of stories you will enjoy this book.
August 22, 2016
In my journey through the Young Adult Fiction genre, I've found that my level of annoyance with a narrator is in direct proportion to just how closely that narrator resembles my teenage self. Thus, I caught myself rolling my eyes more than once at Morgan Callahan who, like me, comes from the sort of town where the gas station parking lot is a hip hang-out spot and there isn't much else for teens to do but drive around the back roads until they run out of gas money. And much like 16-year-old me, Morgan is consumed by her dream of fleeing "Central Nowhere" to write "The Great American Novel." While it sounds like this character (and my teenaged self) are in danger of being small-town cliches, the snarky narration in this voice-driven novel makes Morgan's teenage grandiosity feel more authentic and familiar than tired and corny.
That said, I sometimes found myself only marginally engaged with the central plot of Morgan's effort to navigate her many romantic entanglements. She has a boring boyfriend and she can't stop checking out her assistant manager's ass while she's stocking candy and straightening rows of baby food at her after-school grocery store job. This is further complicated by the kiss she shared with her neighbor Tessa, and the rumors about Morgan's sexuality that have already circulated around her super-conservative town before she has even had a chance to examine her own feelings.
The love triangle (or is it quadrangle? love parallelogram?) and the themes of sexual confusion are standard fare for YA novels and they are well-done here (though the Tessa plot sometimes felt a bit tangential and tacked-on.) But this novel becomes something more than just another YA romance when Morgan learns a family secret that forces her to reexamine her relationships with her bitter drunk of a father and the Grandmother whom she's always regarded as saintly.
The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind is at its most compelling when it's examining the ways sickness and abuse cycle through families, what it means to love someone who has done terrible things and just how much can be forgiven.
That said, I sometimes found myself only marginally engaged with the central plot of Morgan's effort to navigate her many romantic entanglements. She has a boring boyfriend and she can't stop checking out her assistant manager's ass while she's stocking candy and straightening rows of baby food at her after-school grocery store job. This is further complicated by the kiss she shared with her neighbor Tessa, and the rumors about Morgan's sexuality that have already circulated around her super-conservative town before she has even had a chance to examine her own feelings.
The love triangle (or is it quadrangle? love parallelogram?) and the themes of sexual confusion are standard fare for YA novels and they are well-done here (though the Tessa plot sometimes felt a bit tangential and tacked-on.) But this novel becomes something more than just another YA romance when Morgan learns a family secret that forces her to reexamine her relationships with her bitter drunk of a father and the Grandmother whom she's always regarded as saintly.
The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind is at its most compelling when it's examining the ways sickness and abuse cycle through families, what it means to love someone who has done terrible things and just how much can be forgiven.
Read
November 13, 2009If you love quirky reads then this is a book you should check out. I knew this novel would be interesting just by reading the chapter headings--they're all fortune writings collected from various restaurants. Morgan is an unconventional girl, and we journey with her through a year of her life that includes a chaotic relationship with her parents and grandmother, along with her complicated love life as she deals with falling for her coworker while already having a boyfriend (and we mustn't forget to mention the kiss with Tessa). To say Morgan's love life is complicated is an understatement.
One of my favorite relationships that I loved reading in this book was between Morgan and her grandmother. Through this relationship, the reader sees how despite troubles with family, we can retain unconditional love for one another.
Morgan can be an insightful character, and at times, it's almost surprising and certain passages can take you off guard, such as when she compares her life to a disco ball: "Can you be sixteen and write a memoir? I want to write one called My Life as a Disco Ball. Everything reflects off you and you're removed from the fray, up near the ceiling, twirling away" (47).
While this book does delve into some serious topics, it also funny, as in there were moments where I actually laughed out loud. I also loved the writing style. There wasn't an abundance of detail that dulled the book, and I liked the short chapters as if we were getting little snippets into Morgan's life. The book also comes with surprises as Morgan has to deal with hidden secrets. As you keep reading, you realize everything is not as it seems.
I did have a problem with Morgan and her lack of maturity (I often wanted to scream at her), and it is evident that she is a very flawed character. Most of the characters in this story are very flawed, but that's also what makes it interesting and real. It made the novel more believable as if these people could actually exist. Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read and at times, thought provoking, too.
One of my favorite relationships that I loved reading in this book was between Morgan and her grandmother. Through this relationship, the reader sees how despite troubles with family, we can retain unconditional love for one another.
Morgan can be an insightful character, and at times, it's almost surprising and certain passages can take you off guard, such as when she compares her life to a disco ball: "Can you be sixteen and write a memoir? I want to write one called My Life as a Disco Ball. Everything reflects off you and you're removed from the fray, up near the ceiling, twirling away" (47).
While this book does delve into some serious topics, it also funny, as in there were moments where I actually laughed out loud. I also loved the writing style. There wasn't an abundance of detail that dulled the book, and I liked the short chapters as if we were getting little snippets into Morgan's life. The book also comes with surprises as Morgan has to deal with hidden secrets. As you keep reading, you realize everything is not as it seems.
I did have a problem with Morgan and her lack of maturity (I often wanted to scream at her), and it is evident that she is a very flawed character. Most of the characters in this story are very flawed, but that's also what makes it interesting and real. It made the novel more believable as if these people could actually exist. Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read and at times, thought provoking, too.
September 20, 2009
Where to begin with my review? For me, reading THE SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME was like eating a delicious new flavor of cake: you know you love it, but you're not quite sure which ingredients were used. After some savoring of the writing, I believe these are key to the recipe:
-Morgan's voice, which hooked me as soon as I read the first chapter on the author's website. Smart, sarcastic, and saturated with a restless yearning for something more than a tiny little town in Nebraska she calls Central Nowhere. John Green hasn't written from the point of view of a girl yet, so far as I know, but if he did, I have a feeling it might sound like Morgan... full of wit, angst, and longings that so powerfully evoke what it means to be a teen.
-The people in Morgan's life: her alcoholic dad, the grandma she loves, the girl who kisses her, the coworker guy she has a crush on. All of these characters grow and reveal their many facets, complicating Morgan's life and making for an intertwined story firmly rooted in deep, scream-at-the-hills emotions.
-The setting of Central Nowhere. This book is best read outside, in the grass, on a windy day, where you can imagine Morgan venting her frustrations and desires. That's how I did it, anyway, and it made the experience all the more vivid. I also love the descriptions of the grocery store where Morgan works. I don't know why, but I've always had this strange fascination with expertly described details of everyday life that usually escape the eye of the author.
Disclaimer: I am a fellow Flux author, though my book won't be out until 2010. I am also, however, a choosy reader. There's no way I would actually go out and buy a book unless I thought I'd devour it, and I try my best to be an honest reviewer. So, honestly, I am recommending that you read THE SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME: AND THE HILLS DON'T MIND, in the hopes that you find it just as good.
-Morgan's voice, which hooked me as soon as I read the first chapter on the author's website. Smart, sarcastic, and saturated with a restless yearning for something more than a tiny little town in Nebraska she calls Central Nowhere. John Green hasn't written from the point of view of a girl yet, so far as I know, but if he did, I have a feeling it might sound like Morgan... full of wit, angst, and longings that so powerfully evoke what it means to be a teen.
-The people in Morgan's life: her alcoholic dad, the grandma she loves, the girl who kisses her, the coworker guy she has a crush on. All of these characters grow and reveal their many facets, complicating Morgan's life and making for an intertwined story firmly rooted in deep, scream-at-the-hills emotions.
-The setting of Central Nowhere. This book is best read outside, in the grass, on a windy day, where you can imagine Morgan venting her frustrations and desires. That's how I did it, anyway, and it made the experience all the more vivid. I also love the descriptions of the grocery store where Morgan works. I don't know why, but I've always had this strange fascination with expertly described details of everyday life that usually escape the eye of the author.
Disclaimer: I am a fellow Flux author, though my book won't be out until 2010. I am also, however, a choosy reader. There's no way I would actually go out and buy a book unless I thought I'd devour it, and I try my best to be an honest reviewer. So, honestly, I am recommending that you read THE SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME: AND THE HILLS DON'T MIND, in the hopes that you find it just as good.
September 21, 2015
So I picked this up on a whim a little bit ago, mainly because it was cheap at my used book store. I think I got it for like $3 and wasn't really expecting much from it. The synopsis on the back was enough to pull me in though, it sounded very different and just the type of book I was in the mood to read.
Luckily, I was very pleasantly surprised by this, I ended up loving it. It felt so realistic and I loved the real issues that it dealt with. It was a story of acceptance, forgiveness and finding yourself.
I loved the tone it was written in as well, it was both serious when it needed to be but also light and sarcastic. Cronn-Mills captured the essence of the characters so well that I felt they were real. The main character, Morgan, was beautifully written and always left me laughing with her quirks. And what is there to say about Rob, other than he is completely swoon worthy.
Unlike a lot of contemporary novels these days, I loved how the whole story wasn't about some love interest that the main character was dreaming over. Instead it had a great amount of family and friends within it and the main climax of the story actually was very emotional and had to do with her family.
I don't want to give away too much though. I think that may have been a little bit of the reason I loved it so much, no one had given me any spoilers that could ruin the story for me. Instead, I was completely surprised and sucked into the story the whole way.
Overall, I do not have anything bad to say about this one, but wish Cronn-Mills had more books out. I definitely recommend this to all contemporary YA readers, but will say that sex is talked about in an honest and frank way so just make sure you are okay with that before picking it up. I loved this so much that it has already become one of my favorites for the year. [:
Luckily, I was very pleasantly surprised by this, I ended up loving it. It felt so realistic and I loved the real issues that it dealt with. It was a story of acceptance, forgiveness and finding yourself.
I loved the tone it was written in as well, it was both serious when it needed to be but also light and sarcastic. Cronn-Mills captured the essence of the characters so well that I felt they were real. The main character, Morgan, was beautifully written and always left me laughing with her quirks. And what is there to say about Rob, other than he is completely swoon worthy.
Unlike a lot of contemporary novels these days, I loved how the whole story wasn't about some love interest that the main character was dreaming over. Instead it had a great amount of family and friends within it and the main climax of the story actually was very emotional and had to do with her family.
I don't want to give away too much though. I think that may have been a little bit of the reason I loved it so much, no one had given me any spoilers that could ruin the story for me. Instead, I was completely surprised and sucked into the story the whole way.
Overall, I do not have anything bad to say about this one, but wish Cronn-Mills had more books out. I definitely recommend this to all contemporary YA readers, but will say that sex is talked about in an honest and frank way so just make sure you are okay with that before picking it up. I loved this so much that it has already become one of my favorites for the year. [:
August 25, 2009
The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don't Mind is a teen angst ridden novel making it a star in my eyes. If you aren't captured by this funny and sometimes heartbreaking novel at first, don't worry you will be by the end.
Morgan is a character whose facing a lot going on right now. Her boyfriend is boring and lousy in certain departments, she just kissed one of her ex-friends....whose a girl, and she and her fellow co-worker at work may have more then platonic feelings for each others. Plus, her grandma may or may not be hiding a huge secret from her. The one thing I liked most about Morgan was that she has a problem or situation that any teen can find and relate to in their own way. Mine being getting out of the small town I grew up in, since she felt the same way. Plus, the secondary characters were also a riot which made me come to love Rob, Tess, and Ingrid. Since,they were always getting themselves in situations that was either extremely funny or sad.
The plot was also pretty good and kept the novel following at a rapid pace making The Sky Always Hears Me and The Hills Don't Mind hard to put down. The only complaint I really had was how Kristin would jump from month to month, not really talking about what happened it between. For example for one chapter of the story she would be talking about March and then all of sudden in the couple of pages she would jump to the end of April. Though, in all, this wasn't at all that big of a deal and did not detract one bit from this.
Overall, The Sky Always Hears Me and The Hills Don't Mind is one novel that definitely does not disappoint. I truly look forward to reading what Kristin has up next.
Grade: A-
Morgan is a character whose facing a lot going on right now. Her boyfriend is boring and lousy in certain departments, she just kissed one of her ex-friends....whose a girl, and she and her fellow co-worker at work may have more then platonic feelings for each others. Plus, her grandma may or may not be hiding a huge secret from her. The one thing I liked most about Morgan was that she has a problem or situation that any teen can find and relate to in their own way. Mine being getting out of the small town I grew up in, since she felt the same way. Plus, the secondary characters were also a riot which made me come to love Rob, Tess, and Ingrid. Since,they were always getting themselves in situations that was either extremely funny or sad.
The plot was also pretty good and kept the novel following at a rapid pace making The Sky Always Hears Me and The Hills Don't Mind hard to put down. The only complaint I really had was how Kristin would jump from month to month, not really talking about what happened it between. For example for one chapter of the story she would be talking about March and then all of sudden in the couple of pages she would jump to the end of April. Though, in all, this wasn't at all that big of a deal and did not detract one bit from this.
Overall, The Sky Always Hears Me and The Hills Don't Mind is one novel that definitely does not disappoint. I truly look forward to reading what Kristin has up next.
Grade: A-
March 24, 2010
I enjoyed this novel very much. I read it in just 7 hours, motivated both by the story and by the author which was written by my friend and teacher Kirstin. (Way to go!!! I am so proud and honored to know you.)I recommend this book to teenage girls (of which I have 3)and their mothers and all women who grew up in the Midwest in the 80's and 90's.
I related to Morgan as I was much like her in high school except that I wasn’t as self-aware. I grew up with alcoholic parents and step-parents too so I know how it felt to have that emptiness at home, the one place where it really shouldn’t have been.
I also had a wonderful grandmother. Though not as eccentric as Morgan’s, she loved me unconditionally, and like Morgan, she was MY grandmother (she had 14 grandchildren).
I really found myself really drawn to Derek and Anne. If I had been Morgan, I would have married Derek because he professed his love for me and offered her a stable home. I would have become Anne, and I’m sure Derek would have become Morgan’s father after about 8 years of being married to a man who wasn’t as smart as me and who made me feel I’d made a huge mistake. I would have been as bitter as she was about becoming a person I never expected to be, pushing the good parts of myself deeper and deeper into myself until I could forget I ever had them. The only place I think Anne felt like she really belonged was in her classroom where her kids adored her and her colleagues respected her. I loved when she let her guard down and her goodness out. It made me feel like there is some hope for her yet.
I related to Morgan as I was much like her in high school except that I wasn’t as self-aware. I grew up with alcoholic parents and step-parents too so I know how it felt to have that emptiness at home, the one place where it really shouldn’t have been.
I also had a wonderful grandmother. Though not as eccentric as Morgan’s, she loved me unconditionally, and like Morgan, she was MY grandmother (she had 14 grandchildren).
I really found myself really drawn to Derek and Anne. If I had been Morgan, I would have married Derek because he professed his love for me and offered her a stable home. I would have become Anne, and I’m sure Derek would have become Morgan’s father after about 8 years of being married to a man who wasn’t as smart as me and who made me feel I’d made a huge mistake. I would have been as bitter as she was about becoming a person I never expected to be, pushing the good parts of myself deeper and deeper into myself until I could forget I ever had them. The only place I think Anne felt like she really belonged was in her classroom where her kids adored her and her colleagues respected her. I loved when she let her guard down and her goodness out. It made me feel like there is some hope for her yet.
April 17, 2010
I love reading about independent, confident, snarky girls, and Morgan is just that. I'm the exact opposite of all these things, so I tend to vicariously live through fictional characters and their brushes with an interesting adolescence. Mine was very normal: school, homework, that kind of thing. Morgan and Co. are a million miles away from my own life, yet I still found myself wishing I could be more like her. She's not a perfect role model by a long shot, but she doesn't take any rubbish from anyone, and she lives how she wants to.
Morgan's voice is brilliant; clipped and sharp, with sarcasm available on demand. Her I-don't-care attitude is something to aspire to, and the ability to block out nasty taunts and comments is sure to be a highly desired personality trait amongst teenagers.
Morgan goes through a lot in The Sky Always Hears Me, and a lot is packed into its average page count. She faces choices about her romantic life, her home life, and her future after she leaves Nowheresville. All these plot strands are handled realistically, and they could easily be happening to every student in your nearby high school. The teenage years are a time of change and hard decisions, and Cronn-Mills delves into this with both feet.
Sexual identity is addressed, the topic of sex isn't glossed over, and swearing isn't tactfully omitted. It's very much a book about honesty; both to yourself and to showing the world as it is, and I loved every single page.
Morgan's voice is brilliant; clipped and sharp, with sarcasm available on demand. Her I-don't-care attitude is something to aspire to, and the ability to block out nasty taunts and comments is sure to be a highly desired personality trait amongst teenagers.
Morgan goes through a lot in The Sky Always Hears Me, and a lot is packed into its average page count. She faces choices about her romantic life, her home life, and her future after she leaves Nowheresville. All these plot strands are handled realistically, and they could easily be happening to every student in your nearby high school. The teenage years are a time of change and hard decisions, and Cronn-Mills delves into this with both feet.
Sexual identity is addressed, the topic of sex isn't glossed over, and swearing isn't tactfully omitted. It's very much a book about honesty; both to yourself and to showing the world as it is, and I loved every single page.
June 10, 2010
Title: The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind
Author: Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Pages: 264
Publisher: September 1st 2009 by Flux
Isbn: 0738715042 (isbn13: 9780738715049)
August 1, Morgan is spending her regular summer working in a grocery store. She’s a sophomore, two years away from college with an alcoholic dad and a “non-entity” stepmother, the only friends she has are those “Girls I Sit By At Lunch”, and a boring boyfriend. The only standout person Morgan mentions is her grandmother, the only person she truly trusts. In so many ways, I believe that most teenagers can relate to Morgan.
This book is a single story, it is written from Morgan’s perspective. I found Morgan a very interesting character because Morgan’s tone is very entertaining and sarcastic – which she does things her mind says no, but body says yes. For example, she reminds herself in her head, “Do not listen to your dress if it talks to you.” (210). Then she thinks “Maybe I should just wear the damn blue dress and go by myself.” (211).
Overall, I think The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don’t Mind is the best title for this, it suits the twitchy personality of Morgan as a character, and the text. However, the captivating secrets did not reveal in the later chapters and I would love to invite readers to find out because it is halarious. This quick-read book is a definite recommend to for all teens and grown-ups.
Author: Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Pages: 264
Publisher: September 1st 2009 by Flux
Isbn: 0738715042 (isbn13: 9780738715049)
August 1, Morgan is spending her regular summer working in a grocery store. She’s a sophomore, two years away from college with an alcoholic dad and a “non-entity” stepmother, the only friends she has are those “Girls I Sit By At Lunch”, and a boring boyfriend. The only standout person Morgan mentions is her grandmother, the only person she truly trusts. In so many ways, I believe that most teenagers can relate to Morgan.
This book is a single story, it is written from Morgan’s perspective. I found Morgan a very interesting character because Morgan’s tone is very entertaining and sarcastic – which she does things her mind says no, but body says yes. For example, she reminds herself in her head, “Do not listen to your dress if it talks to you.” (210). Then she thinks “Maybe I should just wear the damn blue dress and go by myself.” (211).
Overall, I think The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don’t Mind is the best title for this, it suits the twitchy personality of Morgan as a character, and the text. However, the captivating secrets did not reveal in the later chapters and I would love to invite readers to find out because it is halarious. This quick-read book is a definite recommend to for all teens and grown-ups.
February 23, 2012
Age: 8th-11th grade
Cronn-Mills has been unfortunately undetected for this witty, fresh novel. We're provided with an oftentimes ignored setting in the boonies of Nebraska. Morgan desires nothing more than to escape the boring small town life and be whisked away to New York to pursue her passion for writing. But she is still a junior in high school so, in the meantime, she whiles away her time working at the local grocery store, visiting her beloved grandma, and checking out the hot butt of her coworker.
This story examines the confusing choices we make regarding love and the things that test love. Morgan questions her sexuality when her next-door neighbor and childhood friend begins flirting with her and gives her an unexpected, albeit enjoyable, kiss. At the same time, she notices her charming, hot coworker. Amidst this sexual turmoil, Morgan must deal with a drunken father and a disinterested step-mother. She finds a recluse in her grandmother but the tables are turned when she discovers a terrifying secret that challenges their love.
A perfect story for those that loved the witty wordplay of Juno. This story provides a unique relationship not often explored in young adult novels, that of the grandmother/granddaughter. It also explores lesbianism but it is not the driving force of the novel. Finally, it provides a look into the perspective of the person that cheats on their boyfriend--a perspective often met with negativity and distaste.
Cronn-Mills has been unfortunately undetected for this witty, fresh novel. We're provided with an oftentimes ignored setting in the boonies of Nebraska. Morgan desires nothing more than to escape the boring small town life and be whisked away to New York to pursue her passion for writing. But she is still a junior in high school so, in the meantime, she whiles away her time working at the local grocery store, visiting her beloved grandma, and checking out the hot butt of her coworker.
This story examines the confusing choices we make regarding love and the things that test love. Morgan questions her sexuality when her next-door neighbor and childhood friend begins flirting with her and gives her an unexpected, albeit enjoyable, kiss. At the same time, she notices her charming, hot coworker. Amidst this sexual turmoil, Morgan must deal with a drunken father and a disinterested step-mother. She finds a recluse in her grandmother but the tables are turned when she discovers a terrifying secret that challenges their love.
A perfect story for those that loved the witty wordplay of Juno. This story provides a unique relationship not often explored in young adult novels, that of the grandmother/granddaughter. It also explores lesbianism but it is not the driving force of the novel. Finally, it provides a look into the perspective of the person that cheats on their boyfriend--a perspective often met with negativity and distaste.
December 14, 2010
I would consider this a coming of age book about a 16yo (soon to be 17) girl named Morgan who has a lot going on with her life.
Let's see, she lives with her step-mom, her alcoholic father (her mom died when she was 3) and her two younger brothers. She has been dating Derek, who is on the football team, for 2 years now, even though she isn't that popular and even though she isn't completely sure about their relationship anymore. She has a grandma (her father's mom) who is always there for her and who is her everything, and a girl that lives behind her that has a crush on her. Oh yeah, and not to mention the boy that works with her that is also interested in her.
So, yeah, Morgan has a lot to deal with. She goes through a lot of emotions in this book and a lot of mistakes. She also finds out some secrets and learns how to forgive. I liked how Morgan was a tough girl and didn't give in to peer pressure but stood by what she believed and didn't care what others thought of her.
I liked the way this story was written and I liked the characters, although the only one that you really see any development with is Morgan and possibly her father.
You learn that people are not always what they seem to be and you learn that sometimes it is better and easier to forgive.
A book about love, friendship, family, anger, sadness, understanding and forgiveness.
Let's see, she lives with her step-mom, her alcoholic father (her mom died when she was 3) and her two younger brothers. She has been dating Derek, who is on the football team, for 2 years now, even though she isn't that popular and even though she isn't completely sure about their relationship anymore. She has a grandma (her father's mom) who is always there for her and who is her everything, and a girl that lives behind her that has a crush on her. Oh yeah, and not to mention the boy that works with her that is also interested in her.
So, yeah, Morgan has a lot to deal with. She goes through a lot of emotions in this book and a lot of mistakes. She also finds out some secrets and learns how to forgive. I liked how Morgan was a tough girl and didn't give in to peer pressure but stood by what she believed and didn't care what others thought of her.
I liked the way this story was written and I liked the characters, although the only one that you really see any development with is Morgan and possibly her father.
You learn that people are not always what they seem to be and you learn that sometimes it is better and easier to forgive.
A book about love, friendship, family, anger, sadness, understanding and forgiveness.
August 28, 2012
If you've ever wondered what reading a 16 year old's diary would be like, this would be the book. Vignette style and titled with a fortune cookie saying from different Chinese Restaurants, I really enjoyed it in that I felt all-a-flutter of young love(s) and cringed at all the ansgt-y moments recalling my own youth back when I knew everything. I really felt Morgan's confusion throughout this whole book and the electricity between her, Rob, Tessa and the lackluster of Derek. It didn't feel like any relationship was secondary...each one even with her brothers, dad, stepmom, were all so important in a subtle way. A nice and easy read.
There were some deeper issues in the book which gave me pangs of anger & sadness but nothing too long-lasting as most things go when you're 16 in a small town. I loved the flutters it gave me too because of all those awkward high school relationships. They all gave Morgan energy.
I loved how Morgan always went on this hill for her alone time. She feels bigger than the whole town of Central Nowhere but she always goes to this hill screaming at the top of her lungs at the big ol' sky. I loved that about her. I loved her little bit of crazy.
The ending just left me wanting a little more but that was more for me than the whole of the story. I wanted to know more about the relationships after prom. I wanted more kissing.
There were some deeper issues in the book which gave me pangs of anger & sadness but nothing too long-lasting as most things go when you're 16 in a small town. I loved the flutters it gave me too because of all those awkward high school relationships. They all gave Morgan energy.
I loved how Morgan always went on this hill for her alone time. She feels bigger than the whole town of Central Nowhere but she always goes to this hill screaming at the top of her lungs at the big ol' sky. I loved that about her. I loved her little bit of crazy.
The ending just left me wanting a little more but that was more for me than the whole of the story. I wanted to know more about the relationships after prom. I wanted more kissing.
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