The Waiting Sky.

The Waiting Sky.

Lara Zielin.

Publisher:Putnman Juvenille.

Publication Date:August 2,2012.

Genre:YA Contemporary|Adventure|Romance.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|224.

Source:Library|Goodreads.

Challenge:Standalone|Realistic Fiction.

4.7 STARS



Cover was actually what caught my attention for The Waiting Sky, it had an unique design and loved how the girl seemed to be holding a tornado in the jar. That’s what made me curious and made me pick up the book. It was one of the books that I was glad I checked out, I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. The first few pages were a bit slow start for me, but once it picked up, I didn’t want to put the book down. I wanted to see what would happen with Jane, Max and her mother. It was filled with action, drama and slight romance. I will be checking rest of author’s work.

  GOODREADS SUMMARY

One summer chasing tornadoes could finally change Jane's life for the better.

Seventeen-year-old Jane McAllister can't quite admit her mother's alcoholism is spiraling dangerously out of control until she drives drunk, nearly killing them and Jane's best friend.

 

Jane has only one place to turn: her older brother Ethan, who left the problems at home years ago for college. A summer with him and his tornado-chasing buddies may just provide the time and space Jane needs to figure out her life and whether it still includes her mother. But she struggles with her anger at Ethan for leaving home and feels guilty--is she also abandoning her mom just when she needs Jane most? The carefree trip turned journey of self-discovery quickly becomes more than Jane bargained for, especially when the devilishly handsome Max steps into the picture.

Of course, I am going talk about the cover first. Like mentioned earlier, I thought that the cover was stunning. It’s unique, I haven’t seen any cover like that before, and that took a lot of creativity, imagination. Just by looking at the cover, you can tell that something big is going happen in the book, by the way the girl holding the jar and the tornado inside, it’s a feeling that I got. The girl in picture looked serious too, like something big was on her mind. I have feeling that this is type of cover that would capture any reader’s attention, even before they read the summary. The illustration, photograph will make readers wonder after the book, the story.

Jane, I liked her character right from start, though at times I did feel frustrated with her, especially when it came to her mother. It made me wonder sometimes if she didn’t actually see that her mother had an issue, if she actually believed that she could change. I agreed with others, when it came to her mother. Despite that, it takes a lot to take care of an alcoholic, especially when you are 17 years old. For that, Jane seemed pretty strong, it takes courage to be able to take care of someone, who constantly drinking. At same time, I wondered if Jane would actually take up her brother’s offer towards end of summer and stay with him, or if she would go back to her mother. While reading the book, I found myself wondering what she would decide. To me, Jane was realistic, dealing with real life issue. It made easier, to connect with Jane. Even her relationship with Max was realistic.

Zielin’s writing was amazing; it brought the book to life for me. Her descriptions, way she described everything through Jane’s eyes, including how skies looked in tornadoes, when they got caught in storm. I found myself being able to imagine happening, like I was there, along with everyone else, like I was chasing storms along with everyone else. I found myself practically holding my breath when they got caught up in that storm, especially towards end when Jane practically rushed into that storm, I felt afraid for her. I love books like that; books that feel like you are there, books that keep you on the edge of seat till the end.

  If you into storms, storm chaser, be sure to check out The Waiting Sky.