Review: Beautifully written YA novel and wonderful supporting characters
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 13, 2012
I won this book from the member librarything giveaways in exchange for an honest review.Spectacle by Angie McCullagh is the story of two girls that were best friends but are headed on very different paths in life. The first girl is a very tall (and still growing!) middle class girl named Emily who is struggling with fitting in, falling in love for the first time, and finding her mother. Trix is lower class but smart and artistic; she uses anger and insults to cover up her insecurities and hasn't learned how to respect herself and look towards the future.This book is many times heartachingly beautiful and deeply moving as we follow these two girls and their lives. I was probably more drawn to Emily's story-- it felt more real to me. A lot of the strength of this novel lies in the supporting characters. I absolutely loved Melissa, Emily's stepmother. Thomas, her gay boss, is priceless. I still remember the first description of him and can picture him exactly in my head; in fact, I think I have a friend like that. And Kennedy, a more three dimensional mean girl.At times, the story goes from lyrical showing to very concrete telling, and this would take me out of the story at times.However, that said, this is a poignant YA novel with many strengths and wonderful characters.