liralen's review
4.0
I read this as part of a passive quest to find a book I read as a child. It wasn't the same book, but it ended up being a kind of fascinating book just for the differences between 1995 YA and contemporary (2010s) YA.
Older YA is quieter, I think, its protagonists often (not always, obviously) ascribed a bit more maturity. Here's what Alison has to say about sharing information about her best friend's cancer:
So here...I find it pretty fascinating that it's Alison who suggests that Sam date Izzy, even though Alison and Sam like each other. She gets jealous, and Sam finds it hard, but neither of them ever loses sight of what they're doing and why. It's just so. Much. Quieter. And that's kind of lovely. Maybe it's not realistic that it would all end so sweetly, but gosh, I love seeing how different the flavour is compared to other things I've been reading of late.
Older YA is quieter, I think, its protagonists often (not always, obviously) ascribed a bit more maturity. Here's what Alison has to say about sharing information about her best friend's cancer:
"How is Izzy?" Sam asked.
"She's having radiation and some follow-up tests. She'll be back Tuesday." I didn't tell him that the surgery hadn't been successful. I hadn't told anybody except my family. It wasn't my place. (41)So often I see books where a big part of the conflict is drama: friend blabs personal information all over school, or friend doesn't blab but agonises over who she can tell what, or two people like the same boy and OMG HOW CAN WE EVER BE FRIENDS AGAIN. Jealousy ends up being this huge, overbearing beast that takes over half the book. Now: that's not all, or even most, contemporary YA. And not all (or necessarily most) older YA is better about it. But still.
So here...I find it pretty fascinating that it's Alison who suggests that Sam date Izzy, even though Alison and Sam like each other. She gets jealous, and Sam finds it hard, but neither of them ever loses sight of what they're doing and why. It's just so. Much. Quieter. And that's kind of lovely. Maybe it's not realistic that it would all end so sweetly, but gosh, I love seeing how different the flavour is compared to other things I've been reading of late.
yungokssss's review
4.0
I don't like these types of books. They're whiny and BLEH.
But THIS, this was amazing. This book hit me like [b:Breaking Beautiful|10914560|Breaking Beautiful|Jennifer Shaw Wolf|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311740644s/10914560.jpg|15830837]. Not my type. Not my topic. But when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.
One reason I don't like these books is because of the fake-ness. They talk about a life topic, like cancer or death, but really, the MC spends the whole story hating on everyone and everything and life and you just want to tell them to shut up and get a life. Really. Not this book!
It was genuine. You know how often those kind of books come around? Not often. When Al had to "share" Sam, we didn't hear any of that complaining like, "OMG, I can't believe this is happening to me, my life sucks" or "I'm such a good friend so i guess he can be hers... But i can still bitch about it..." or anything, Al truly cared about her dying friend. It just struck something in me.
I loved Applegate's writing style and her ideas that just made sense. She knows how to write - and that's hard to come across.
But THIS, this was amazing. This book hit me like [b:Breaking Beautiful|10914560|Breaking Beautiful|Jennifer Shaw Wolf|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311740644s/10914560.jpg|15830837]. Not my type. Not my topic. But when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.
One reason I don't like these books is because of the fake-ness. They talk about a life topic, like cancer or death, but really, the MC spends the whole story hating on everyone and everything and life and you just want to tell them to shut up and get a life. Really. Not this book!
It was genuine. You know how often those kind of books come around? Not often. When Al had to "share" Sam, we didn't hear any of that complaining like, "OMG, I can't believe this is happening to me, my life sucks" or "I'm such a good friend so i guess he can be hers... But i can still bitch about it..." or anything, Al truly cared about her dying friend. It just struck something in me.
I loved Applegate's writing style and her ideas that just made sense. She knows how to write - and that's hard to come across.
jodi_jo's review
3.0
Sometimes a short little book about falling in love and trying to do right by the people we love is the perfect thing to do on a lazy Friday morning. At times I thought this book could have been fleshed out a little more, but then found myself thinking that I may have gotten annoyed with it if it was. As it was, I enjoyed reading it this morning and mostly that is all I ever ask for in a book.
ifthebook's review
4.0
I can't tell if I gave this a four simply because of who wrote it, or if I actually enjoyed it as much as other four books. I did enjoy it, and I thought that KA did a good job of exploring the conflicting emotions that would have gone on had this occurred, especially on the part of Sam. I also liked Izzy's character a lot. It could have been longer, but I think KA goes for the brevity.
andiabcs's review
3.0
Really sad, heartbreaking read about love, friendship and what one will do for a dying friend. Super quick read but you won't be disappointed.
bitch_breathing_books's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
howlinglibraries's review
3.0
This honestly should be a 2-star review, but I spent so many years loving this book that nostalgia won't let me go below 3. 💔 I first picked this book up back in 2005, I think, and I loved it. I reread it six or seven times over the next decade, but this was the first time I've reread it since getting back into YA books last year, and it didn't hold up at all for me.
PLOT ➳➳
Alison believes that everyone finds their "Mr./Mrs. Right" eventually, but until their times come, she and her best friend Isabella are focusing on their studies, their bright futures, and their families. Of course, a wrench gets thrown in that plan when Alison's "Mr. Right" turns out to be the motorcycle-riding new kid at school that Izzy is crushing on... and the plan is completely thrown out the window when Izzy tells Alison she's been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
In a last-ditch attempt to make her best friend's last days as joyful as she can, Alison begs Sam to leave her behind and to spend time with Isabella, just until everything is over. Romantic feelings are unpredictable things, though, and aren't meant to be toyed with.
WHAT I LIKED ➳➳
Katherine's writing style has always made for quick, easy reads (look at the MG series she wrote, Animorphs, and all of its spin-offs), and this is no exception to the rule. It's a tiny book, really, and most people could easily read it in one sitting, so you aren't investing a lot of time into the story.
Sam is a really enjoyable "bad boy" love interest, and while every bad boy in the YA contemporary world seems to have their own secrets that turn them into a lovable teddy bear, Sam's secrets are surprisingly heartwarming and bring along their very own sad spin to the story.
WHAT I DISLIKED ➳➳
The shortness of the book makes it an easy, quick read, but it also means that there is no room for development at all. I feel like, if the book had a solid 150-200 pages added to it, it could be fleshed out so brilliantly that this review would be an easy 4 or 4.5, but as it stands, the plot feels incredibly rushed and the insta-love is STROOOOOONG with this one.
Besides the insta-love, Alison is just a really bland character that never really gets developed very much. Izzy is supposed to be one of the main features of the book, but she feels like a vehicle for the "cancer prop" of the story. Sam probably gets more back story than anyone, which seems odd, since he doesn't actually appear "on screen" all that much.
FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
All in all, I'm sad to say that I probably will be donating my copy of this book now that I've finished reviewing it, because I can't see myself ever picking it up for a reread. I'm a little devastated by how much my opinion of it had to change when I took off my nostalgia-filtered sunglasses, but it's just really not what I remembered it being. I'd probably still recommend this to a very young preteen or teen - maybe someone in the 11-14 range who might be newer to the genre - but if you're looking for a solidly fleshed out YA contemporary about love and loss, I'd pass this one.
PLOT ➳➳
Alison believes that everyone finds their "Mr./Mrs. Right" eventually, but until their times come, she and her best friend Isabella are focusing on their studies, their bright futures, and their families. Of course, a wrench gets thrown in that plan when Alison's "Mr. Right" turns out to be the motorcycle-riding new kid at school that Izzy is crushing on... and the plan is completely thrown out the window when Izzy tells Alison she's been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
In a last-ditch attempt to make her best friend's last days as joyful as she can, Alison begs Sam to leave her behind and to spend time with Isabella, just until everything is over. Romantic feelings are unpredictable things, though, and aren't meant to be toyed with.
WHAT I LIKED ➳➳
Katherine's writing style has always made for quick, easy reads (look at the MG series she wrote, Animorphs, and all of its spin-offs), and this is no exception to the rule. It's a tiny book, really, and most people could easily read it in one sitting, so you aren't investing a lot of time into the story.
Sam is a really enjoyable "bad boy" love interest, and while every bad boy in the YA contemporary world seems to have their own secrets that turn them into a lovable teddy bear, Sam's secrets are surprisingly heartwarming and bring along their very own sad spin to the story.
WHAT I DISLIKED ➳➳
The shortness of the book makes it an easy, quick read, but it also means that there is no room for development at all. I feel like, if the book had a solid 150-200 pages added to it, it could be fleshed out so brilliantly that this review would be an easy 4 or 4.5, but as it stands, the plot feels incredibly rushed and the insta-love is STROOOOOONG with this one.
Besides the insta-love, Alison is just a really bland character that never really gets developed very much. Izzy is supposed to be one of the main features of the book, but she feels like a vehicle for the "cancer prop" of the story. Sam probably gets more back story than anyone, which seems odd, since he doesn't actually appear "on screen" all that much.
FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
All in all, I'm sad to say that I probably will be donating my copy of this book now that I've finished reviewing it, because I can't see myself ever picking it up for a reread. I'm a little devastated by how much my opinion of it had to change when I took off my nostalgia-filtered sunglasses, but it's just really not what I remembered it being. I'd probably still recommend this to a very young preteen or teen - maybe someone in the 11-14 range who might be newer to the genre - but if you're looking for a solidly fleshed out YA contemporary about love and loss, I'd pass this one.
onceuponabookcase's review
4.0
Sharing Sam is a very sweet, very short novel which explores the brilliant bond of friendship in arguably the worst scenario friends can find themselves in. Alison seriously fancies new boy Sam, and Sam returns her feelings. However, Alison's best friend, Izzy, likes him too - and she's dying from a brain tumour. With the desire that her best friend's last few months are happy, Alison asks Sam to go out with Izzy instead, even though he's not interested and it will hurt her.
At 183 pages (my edition - which has a different cover from the one shown above. I couldn't find a quality image of my cover, which is the one you see below), Sharing Sam is really short. Because of this, it's a little difficult to get emotionally involved; before you know it, the book is over. Although there is a complete story, it feels like you only scratch the surface of who these people are. In an ideal world, the book would have been a lot longer, with more chances to see how difficult it is for all the characters; Izzy being ill, Izzy and Sam together, Alison seeing them together. It's these instances that would really draw the reader into how sad the story is, if only there was a bit more meat to the book.
Saying all this, it's not a bad story. It's actually really quite sweet. Seeing Alison and Sam together at the beginning, you can't help but smile, they really are just adorable. But what's wonderful is that Alison "happily" hands Sam over to Izzy to make her happy, even though it hurts her. Sometimes it does seem like Alison is only cares about Izzy, and seems to forget Sam has issues - quite big issues - of his own to deal with. And on top of thos issues making his life hard, Alison wants Sam to stay away from the girl he wants and go out with another - a girl who is going to die he inevitably starts having feelings for. Yes, her best friend is going to die, and it's really sad, but she just seems to push Sam into it, not caring much about how he feels, because they can be together once Izzy's gone... it just seems a bit much. Though I guess you can take the view point that because of her encouragement, Sam ends up getting to know and care for such a wonderful person, and gets to have her in his life.
That is the main focus of the story, their relationships and Izzy's happiness. We don't find out too much about Izzy's tumour or her treatment. All we really know is she's going to die, and Alison wants her happy while she's alive. And although it's a short story that only scratches the surface, that's what stays with you, their love and friendship. Hours after finishing the book I was still thinking about it, but how could I not be? It really makes you think, could I do that? Give up the one thing you want more than anything, sacrifice your own happiness, so your best friend can spend her last temaining days smiling in bliss? It's a question I must admit I struggle with, as bad as that sounds, but it makes me admire Alison's strength and bravery and love. I think it's just brilliant.
Despite it's length and not giving me as much as I would have liked to see, Sharing Sa, is still a really good book, and I loved reading it. I really recommend you give this book a go, it's brilliant.
From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book blog
At 183 pages (my edition - which has a different cover from the one shown above. I couldn't find a quality image of my cover, which is the one you see below), Sharing Sam is really short. Because of this, it's a little difficult to get emotionally involved; before you know it, the book is over. Although there is a complete story, it feels like you only scratch the surface of who these people are. In an ideal world, the book would have been a lot longer, with more chances to see how difficult it is for all the characters; Izzy being ill, Izzy and Sam together, Alison seeing them together. It's these instances that would really draw the reader into how sad the story is, if only there was a bit more meat to the book.
Saying all this, it's not a bad story. It's actually really quite sweet. Seeing Alison and Sam together at the beginning, you can't help but smile, they really are just adorable. But what's wonderful is that Alison "happily" hands Sam over to Izzy to make her happy, even though it hurts her. Sometimes it does seem like Alison is only cares about Izzy, and seems to forget Sam has issues - quite big issues - of his own to deal with. And on top of thos issues making his life hard, Alison wants Sam to stay away from the girl he wants and go out with another - a girl who is going to die he inevitably starts having feelings for. Yes, her best friend is going to die, and it's really sad, but she just seems to push Sam into it, not caring much about how he feels, because they can be together once Izzy's gone... it just seems a bit much. Though I guess you can take the view point that because of her encouragement, Sam ends up getting to know and care for such a wonderful person, and gets to have her in his life.
That is the main focus of the story, their relationships and Izzy's happiness. We don't find out too much about Izzy's tumour or her treatment. All we really know is she's going to die, and Alison wants her happy while she's alive. And although it's a short story that only scratches the surface, that's what stays with you, their love and friendship. Hours after finishing the book I was still thinking about it, but how could I not be? It really makes you think, could I do that? Give up the one thing you want more than anything, sacrifice your own happiness, so your best friend can spend her last temaining days smiling in bliss? It's a question I must admit I struggle with, as bad as that sounds, but it makes me admire Alison's strength and bravery and love. I think it's just brilliant.
Despite it's length and not giving me as much as I would have liked to see, Sharing Sa, is still a really good book, and I loved reading it. I really recommend you give this book a go, it's brilliant.
From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book blog
gremlinjane's review
4.0
4.5... Maybe an eventual 5? It was refreshing to read such a simple (short) YA in which the characters were honest but also very true to one another. Also, what the hell is my obsession with YA cancer books?