Review: A teen romance with substance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 23, 2014
What happens when a popular girl is suddenly hated by everyone in her school? That’s what happens to Ashla Cameron, the protagonist in Nancy Allen’s second novel, “Soul Fire.” Honor roll student, star swimmer, Ashla has everything going her way until a freak accident changes her life—and the life of high school hockey star Justin Ledger at the same time. The result is Justin suffering two broken legs, leaving him handicapped and looking at a long recovery.I’m a newbie fan of Young Adult fiction, and after reading the description of this book, I knew I would have to check it out. What I discovered is a beautifully-written tale of perseverance, young love and the battle with bullying. It’s an emotional and sometimes tough read, but worth every moment.Allen offers an emotionally-charged tale that is both heartwarming and quick-paced. There’s never a dull moment in her prose. You won’t find yourself tempted to skim, as often happens with vividly detailed novels.It’s been thirty years since I was in a high school classroom, but the attention to detail made this a timeless story. I was there again, experiencing the good and bad. Plus, I loved the way Allen moved from view-point to view-point (all clearly identified), opening up fresh opportunities for the readers to relate to her characters. “Soul Fire” is engaging from page one, leaving me eager for this author’s next novel.