The Art of Escaping is a light hearted read with teasing hints and outright statements of darker, more complicated themes and situations at hand.
Mattie has Problems. Her best friend is leaving for the summer, she really doesn't have other friends, college is just around the corner, and a hobby she wants to pursue is highly likely to get her shipped to a therapist.
Naturally, our sassy introverted heroine tracks down a mentor, the daughter of an idol of hers, and all but forces her out of her shell in order to pursue her dream. While I had some questions regarding Hummingbird, the mentor, and her half-forced into teaching status and the realism of that, it could very well be interpreted as a woman with a troubled background who sees a little of herself in Mattie and wants to prevent her from falling down her lonely, distrusting way of life.
The addition of a popular boy with a huge secret burdening him felt a little forced, in my opinion, and like it may have been better off as its own novel rather than a light sideplot to be noddee at and glossed over-- particularly the scene where he and Mattie have a serious discussion with his parents regarding the secret.
His story does have a somewhat happy note, as does the ending of the book, though I find it a little unrealistic there as well.
The author has a lot of potential, and with some polishing up and focus on making her characters more realistic and relatable, will likely be a great addition to the YA author circle
Mattie has Problems. Her best friend is leaving for the summer, she really doesn't have other friends, college is just around the corner, and a hobby she wants to pursue is highly likely to get her shipped to a therapist.
Naturally, our sassy introverted heroine tracks down a mentor, the daughter of an idol of hers, and all but forces her out of her shell in order to pursue her dream. While I had some questions regarding Hummingbird, the mentor, and her half-forced into teaching status and the realism of that, it could very well be interpreted as a woman with a troubled background who sees a little of herself in Mattie and wants to prevent her from falling down her lonely, distrusting way of life.
The addition of a popular boy with a huge secret burdening him felt a little forced, in my opinion, and like it may have been better off as its own novel rather than a light sideplot to be noddee at and glossed over-- particularly the scene where he and Mattie have a serious discussion with his parents regarding the secret.
His story does have a somewhat happy note, as does the ending of the book, though I find it a little unrealistic there as well.
The author has a lot of potential, and with some polishing up and focus on making her characters more realistic and relatable, will likely be a great addition to the YA author circle