Review: Okay with some problems...
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 16, 2013
I was torn reading this book.  I'm a YA fan and read a lot of book in this genre.  I did finish the book and it wasn't a struggle, since it has a decent premise and an okay story line, but there were some things that kept jumping out at me that made me crazy.I can overlook most grammatical errors in a freshman attempt at writing.  But seriously, the "i done that" several times and all the "yelling" and "whispering" that is going on was grating.  Do these people not ever talk in regular, normal every day voices?Also, <spoiler alert here - although I promise it doesn't affect the plot line> what the heck is going on with his mother??  Does she or does she not have Muscular Dystrophy?  If she left to spare Liam from dealing with it, why did she have another kid?  If it's getting worse, how can she (in less than a week) move back from Florida to be near him?  Ugh!!!The whole "little bear" coming out of left field was kind of awkward as well.The biggest thing that annoyed me, and I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned it, is all of the distasteful Asian references. I am by no means an overly politically correct person. In fact, I think the media is creating an overly politically sensitive environment by beating that drum repeatedly, but these references made me...uncomfortable.  I guess the author thought it was okay to portray the Asian best friend by running right down the list of stereotypes and inserting them into the story up to and including the best friend making a joke about her "squinty eyes".  Just FYI Ms. James, it is not okay and the story would have flowed much better without these needless references to her race.  We get it, she is of Asian decent, no need to make every conversation with her about that.All of that being said, I would be hesitant, but not totally against reading something else by this author as she is obviously still honing her craft.