What do you think?
Rate this book
Leah
Introverted and shy, 14-year-old Leah Nells has lived her life alone, with only books to keep her company. As she starts 9th grade, she finds herself lost within the complicated social universe of high school — especially when she falls in love with a boy from her class. Under pressure from her parents, her classmates, and the whole noisy world, can she become the girl she wants to be?
- GenresYoung Adult
203 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1996
42 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Reep
3 books8 followersJ.M. Reep writes and teaches writing in Texas. He is the author of two young adult novels: Leah (2009) and The Spring (2008), and he is currently working on a third novel, Juvenilia. He writes stories that aspire more to Salinger than Rowling; they’re more in line with Joan of Arcadia than Gossip Girls, more in tune with The Smiths than The Jonas Brothers. They are stories that deal with those questions that are universal to young people (and all people): "Who am I?" "Why am I here?" "What is my place in the world?" "What does the future hold for me?" The characters of these stories grapple with these questions, and each character finds his or her own answers -- just as we all must.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 28, 2011
this is a horrible time wasting book....dont ever plan to read it even!
August 4, 2017
This book is very well-written, and the character development we see is quite relatable for shy people, I would imagine. 'Leah' deals with topics many young people struggle with and addresses them perfectly.
However, I found this book to be terribly boring. I understand that the story is trying to illustrate the fact that every day in Leah's life is the same - quiet, a bit dreary and consisting entirely of a routine she does not wish to disturb. It's just that nothing ever really happened in the story except for the realization (profound as it may be) that Leah comes to in the end. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who is looking for an interesting book to read, as this isn't one, at least not for me.
However, I found this book to be terribly boring. I understand that the story is trying to illustrate the fact that every day in Leah's life is the same - quiet, a bit dreary and consisting entirely of a routine she does not wish to disturb. It's just that nothing ever really happened in the story except for the realization (profound as it may be) that Leah comes to in the end. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who is looking for an interesting book to read, as this isn't one, at least not for me.
October 10, 2012
A wonderful book about self discovery and acceptance of who we are....
March 28, 2010
Have you ever been in a situation in which you have been uncomfortable? Where you don't know what to say? Or, when faced with a new task tend to panic? If you understand any of those feelings, think how Leah Nells feels, because every minute of every day is a struggle for her to get through. Not even comfortable spending time with her own mother and father, after all, they are probably going to ask her questions that she won't be able to answser, Leah lives a very isolated existence. And things are about to get worse. She is 14 years old and will be starting high school. She'll have to contend with a new campus, new classes, new teachers, and perhaps worst of all, more students. The thing that Leah clings to are her books. Even the books Leah reads are different from the norm. She won't read novels, and tends to like lengthy, non-fiction books with very few pictures. For example, some of the titles Leah picked out were The Little Book of Earthquakes and Volcanoes, The Biomechanics of Insect Flight, Attracting Birds to Your Backyard, and The Social Construction of the Ocean. Now, don't get any ideas about Leah being a top student, because she isn't. When she has read all of the books she has on hand, her mother will take her to garage sales and Leah can pick out any books she wants, and her mother will buy them for her. Or at least that's how things used to be.
As she approaches high school, Leah's mother becomes more and more frustrated with her socially awkward daughter. It is her greatest wish that Leah fit in and make a friend or two. Her wish is so great, that she pushes Leah in ways that are in some respects cruel. For example, at the start of Leah, Leah and her mother are cruising garage sales, and at the last one they visited, Leah found a book she wanted and her mother handed her the money and told Leah she would wait for her in the car. Now Leah, thrown into an unexpected situation, was unable to cope with the expectation that she pay for the book instead of her mother, and was unable to face it, so she put the book down and returned to the car in shame. Her mother was upset that Leah couldn't make a simple purchase at a garage sale.
Mrs. Nells clearly comes through as one of the biggest antagonists in Leah, and I'll admit that Mrs. Nells was the character I disliked the most in the book. I understand wanting her daughter to achieve more, and I understand Leah is a difficult child in many respects, but having a mother who has been my champion my whole life, I found Mrs. Nells animosity toward her daughter disturbing.
At the mention of her name, Leah stood up and started to go downstairs, but she stopped when her mother said, "No, I'm OK. Cooking helps me take my mind off things, and that's what I need right now. And leave Leah in her room. I don't want to see her right now."
"Why not?"
"I'm still upset with her."
Leah sat back down on the stairs.
"Because of what happened on Saturday?" Mr. Nells asked.
"Partly. I know it's not the first time she's behaved like that, and it sure won't be the last time, but I just hate it when she's so difficult in public. I can't help but wonder what other people must think. Like I told her, she's fourteen already, but she still doesn't even have the courage to buy a book unless I'm standing right there holding her hand."
"She'll learn. It'll take time, but she'll learn. She just needs some help."
"Well," Mrs. Nells said with conviction, "I don't know who's gonna help her, but it's not gonna be me! I've had it with her. If she wants to hide in her bedroom forever, then that's fine with me. We've done all we can for her—it's up to her now."
I know several parents who are unable to sever the cord with their children and continue to enable them well into their adulthood. But at 14, I believe a mother should still be there to support her child. If the statement was made right after the incident, I could even discount it as letting off steam, but to still be angry with your child for the inability to make a purchase on their own two days after the fact is carrying the animosity to a degree of disproportion. Most parents would be delighted that their 14 year old had difficulty in taking money from them and spending it. Antagonists in literature are necessary, and Mrs. Nells is certainly not the worst mother in the world, just not very likable. The primary antagonist in this piece is Leah's silence itself. Her inability to communicate verbally except for on a minimal basis is Leah's deepest shame, and her greatest desire is to overcome her silence.
So many questions filled her mind. Why did she have to be the only girl at school who was shy? No one else had any trouble talking to people or making friends. It didn't seem fair. Why me? she asked herself. Was this what her life would always be like? Was this moment, alone in her bedroom, unhappy, not only her present and her past but her future as well? She had so many questions, but here in the isolation of her room, there were no answers. Only silence surrounded her and offered itself—the same silence that had been her lone companion throughout her life. Only silence; always silence.
J. M. Reep gives us a calm and thoughtful novel bringing us into the mind of Leah and her struggle against herself. The quality of Reep's writing is excellent, and the characters are clearly drawn and realistic. Leah is a detailed character study of shyness and introversion. One of the concepts I found to be most unique was the use of Leah's books, many of which she didn't even like, as a way to pass time. Leah liked to read them slowly, because if she read too quickly, then she would have to suffer through another trip with her mother through garage sales to pick out some more. She didn't really enjoy reading the books though, and this concept seemed especially foreign to me. Of course, like Leah, I read avidly as a youngster, and still do to this day, but unlike Leah, I enjoy the books I read, and if a book bores me, I move on to the next. Life is too short to read boring books. I thought it a strange twist to have a character clinging to books like a toddler clings to a security blanket, and have the character not really enjoy the books she clings to. Leah brings to those of us who are not crippled by shyness an understanding of those who are, and for those who identify with Leah Nells a sense of relief from the knowledge that there are others who struggle against debilitating introversion.
Preview Leah at Lulu
Originally reviewed for the LL Book Review
May 27, 2018
I read this when I was a child devouring books and it sounded perfect. Like, I thought she actually manages to make friends by the end! She does not. I was so disappointed.
But now that I think about it, this was probably brilliant. It's extremely realistic from start to finish and no other book with a shy friendless main character who remains friendless comes to mind. Maybe it's a bit boring. But that life! Especially when you're sad and lonely. And you feel left out and like you're cut out wrong.
I did used to be shy but I was never friendless in school. But I do remember other shy unsocial people and they deserve a story too. And maybe a little more effort to get to know. I'm a deeply sorry because I didn't try all that hard. Mostly because I was having too much fun to notice. I'm sorry. If you've ever been one of em, you will have your day too.
But now that I think about it, this was probably brilliant. It's extremely realistic from start to finish and no other book with a shy friendless main character who remains friendless comes to mind. Maybe it's a bit boring. But that life! Especially when you're sad and lonely. And you feel left out and like you're cut out wrong.
I did used to be shy but I was never friendless in school. But I do remember other shy unsocial people and they deserve a story too. And maybe a little more effort to get to know. I'm a deeply sorry because I didn't try all that hard. Mostly because I was having too much fun to notice. I'm sorry. If you've ever been one of em, you will have your day too.
October 13, 2020
Beautifully portrayed a inner and external conflict of a shy personality.
It was my first novel which made me inclined toward the books.
I really love it.
It was my first novel which made me inclined toward the books.
I really love it.
April 22, 2009
Crossposted at http://whatvanessareads.wordpress.com
Leah Nells is a fourteen-year-old girl who doesn’t quite know how to deal with the social aspect of the world. Throughout most of her life, she has been quiet and introverted. She doesn’t have any friends and spends most of her time reading books. Leah’s parents try–without any success–to get her to meet society’s standards, but even casually talking to people is not as easy for Leah.
At the beginning of the book, Leah is entering high school. Of course, this brings a lot of anxiety on her because she encounters other teenagers who don’t understand the way she is. And then comes David Parks, who is a boy from Leah’s history class that she becomes infatuated with. Leah is tongue-tied around him, but gosh how she likes him. Will Leah find the courage to be the person she wants to be? And just who is that person?
This is one of those under-the-radar books that is purely awesome. It was first published in 1996, but a new, revised copy was released in March. The book was a pleasure to read. I loved Leah, the main character, a lot. Whenever she felt bad about her introversion it made me sad. This is probably because I can connect with the person Leah is. For one, I love to read books like she does. Also, although I’m not as extremely introverted as she is, I still am somewhat. I know what Leah felt: like she wasn’t good enough for the world; like no one understood her. As for the characters, they were very credible. From Leah, to Leah’s parents, to David, and the others. The shy-girl interpretation of Leah was fulfilled correctly by Reep. I will say that this book does not reach a high climax, and that it’s main plot is not that intense, but it is still a great read. Above everything, the thing I loved the most was the ending. It was just impacting and made me lie in bed, thinking about what this book is truly all about: accepting yourself. Of course, you won’t know the ending unless you read it!
Leah Nells is a fourteen-year-old girl who doesn’t quite know how to deal with the social aspect of the world. Throughout most of her life, she has been quiet and introverted. She doesn’t have any friends and spends most of her time reading books. Leah’s parents try–without any success–to get her to meet society’s standards, but even casually talking to people is not as easy for Leah.
At the beginning of the book, Leah is entering high school. Of course, this brings a lot of anxiety on her because she encounters other teenagers who don’t understand the way she is. And then comes David Parks, who is a boy from Leah’s history class that she becomes infatuated with. Leah is tongue-tied around him, but gosh how she likes him. Will Leah find the courage to be the person she wants to be? And just who is that person?
This is one of those under-the-radar books that is purely awesome. It was first published in 1996, but a new, revised copy was released in March. The book was a pleasure to read. I loved Leah, the main character, a lot. Whenever she felt bad about her introversion it made me sad. This is probably because I can connect with the person Leah is. For one, I love to read books like she does. Also, although I’m not as extremely introverted as she is, I still am somewhat. I know what Leah felt: like she wasn’t good enough for the world; like no one understood her. As for the characters, they were very credible. From Leah, to Leah’s parents, to David, and the others. The shy-girl interpretation of Leah was fulfilled correctly by Reep. I will say that this book does not reach a high climax, and that it’s main plot is not that intense, but it is still a great read. Above everything, the thing I loved the most was the ending. It was just impacting and made me lie in bed, thinking about what this book is truly all about: accepting yourself. Of course, you won’t know the ending unless you read it!
June 10, 2012
In his Young Adult Literature novel "Leah" Reep takes on a subject everyone knows perfectly well, at least from childhood experiences, the awkwardness when facing a new situation, talking to other people or starting at a new school. What Reep describes is nothing out of the ordinary, yet is sparsely (if any) addressed in YA Literature so far. This way, Reep succeeded again in presenting a profound novel that considerably stands out against other works of this genre.
"Leah" is quite different compared to "The Spring". As the title suggests, the focus is now on a single character, the story is set at the very beginning of high-school and thoughts and descriptions predominate against conversations. However, the locations are similar to "The Spring", being mainly at high-school or Leah's home, with a few exceptions just as in the latter novel.
Leah is an exceptionally introverted girl, who is unable to join conversations or face new situations without starting to panic. The novel chiefly describes how she is struggling to overcome these flaws, or at least what the world around her considers a flaw. It is hard to predict the plot, and has, for my taste, a well-elaborated ending. However, with Leah being extremely bashful and normally trying to retreat into her room, the story occasionally tends to get a little boring. Thus, I ended up giving 4 stars for this pretty novel.
"Leah" is quite different compared to "The Spring". As the title suggests, the focus is now on a single character, the story is set at the very beginning of high-school and thoughts and descriptions predominate against conversations. However, the locations are similar to "The Spring", being mainly at high-school or Leah's home, with a few exceptions just as in the latter novel.
Leah is an exceptionally introverted girl, who is unable to join conversations or face new situations without starting to panic. The novel chiefly describes how she is struggling to overcome these flaws, or at least what the world around her considers a flaw. It is hard to predict the plot, and has, for my taste, a well-elaborated ending. However, with Leah being extremely bashful and normally trying to retreat into her room, the story occasionally tends to get a little boring. Thus, I ended up giving 4 stars for this pretty novel.
January 16, 2013
I read that book two weeks ago, I don't what to review about it cause it doesn't have any new ideas or things to review about is just a book talks about a girl that is so so shy and can't communicate with others specially her classmates and parents, she goes to new high school and she talks about what she did almost everyday. Her parents doesn't like her react and things like that and also she loves to read weird books about weird things. At the last parts the book become boring and with boring I mean she just I want to do this and I want to do that and talk sometimes in a rude way or just want people to love her without doing any thing, also they didn't mention that her parents try to take her to some doctor or thing like that. Its not that bad but you 'll finish it quickly.
May 20, 2012
Firstly, I admit the book was a little bit boring but really meaningful especially to people who are too shy to speak just like Leah Nells but all throughout, I rate this book good because of the lessons it teaches teens about breaking free from your shell. But I was really disappointed though at the end part, there was no thrill or excitement I felt about that last paragraph. :( But hey, this book's nice. I can relate to the crush part ;)
April 19, 2014
I loved this book!It was really simple and sweet.It showed me it's not really necessary to have a Prince Charming in your life.It showed me that it's okay to be who I am.I would love to read this again sometime.
August 10, 2012
I downloaded this for my e-reader,And i got hooked on it.I'm not sure what it was but i loved it!I really loved the finishing,I'm sure different people will perceive it in different ways.
Overall a good read,I lost some sleep because of this book!
Overall a good read,I lost some sleep because of this book!
Read
July 16, 2013It was very good..But I didn't like the ending!
August 9, 2014
A very shy girl fighting with herself, parents and society. And continues fighting... and fighting... And the book ends!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews