Review: Cassie Shine is making her mark with this debut novel.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 16, 2014
I received a review copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. Thoughts and opinions are my own.Cassie Shine is making her mark with her debut novel Harp's Song. It is both gripping and emotional. Harp's Song tackles some tough topics like abuse, neglect, and intimidation. Her storytelling is engaging and kept me turning page after page until the very end.The relationship between Harp and her mother was really tough to read. There were just a few moments of direct interaction between them and they were filled with so much pain and fear. It was understandable that Harp avoided her mother and spent a lot of time away from home as possible to avoid the mental and physical abuse.But Harp was lucky enough to have people around her that cared about her and her well being. She had people to turn when she it got really bad with her mom. There was another adult stepping in to fulfill the caretaker role that Harp's mom never accepted. This was something that I really liked about the story. Harp didn't keep all of her secrets hidden. She opened up to her best friend and his mom and accepted the help that they willingly gave her. She didn't have to figure it all out on her own.I loved the reading about the friendship between Harp and Connor. Whether their relationship was platonic or romantic, it felt authentic. Their interactions made me smile quite a few times. It was easy to believe that they truly were best friends.The story does have a resolve and doesn't end with a cliffhanger, but a follow-up book is in the works. I've already added the next to my book to my reading wish list. Cassie Shine and her characters have made an impression on me and I want to see what happens next - between Harp and her mom and between Harp and Connor.