A review by kblincoln
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
5.0
A love and friendship story from a slightly Autistic female character's POV, coupled with indie music sensibilities and high school politics, along with added rumination about how unique people fare in a world of conformists.
Awesome.
Drea is starting over (yet again) at a new high school. Only this time her ne'er do well and overprotective Mother is moving them into the basement of her no-nonsense, critical Grandmother with whom Drea does not get along.
Her music will become a bridge between Drea and two other students, Justin, who isn't as square as he first seems, and Naomi, a wild, purple-haired neighbor who isn't turned off by Drea's bluntness.
These are three souls who feel very, very alone, all for their own reasons. All three don't quite experience life the same way as many others at high school, and while together they can make beautiful music, one of them will end up not being saved by it.
Fascinating, convincing, inner details of the way Drea experiences NT's (nuerotypicals) as well as her struggle between "wanting to be normal" and feeling her way of experiencing the world isn't abnormal or wrong.
Pathos and drama galore in the tentative ways Justin and Drea get together, the way they interact with self-destructive Naomi, the way Drea's Mother has to deal both with letting go of her overprotective ways of trying to take care of Drea and never providing a stable environment.
Some things I liked especially about this book was the edge of danger, Drea's frustration with reading people and situations does lead her into situations where you aren't quite sure if she'll emerge unscathed. Also, the character of her Grandma rocked. Grandma is blunt in a way that probably shows she had some level of Asperger's herself, but blends in more with society, making one question along with Drea whether her own characteristics should be damped down. And of course, the music talk. Not only indie music references, but the gorgeous writing of Drea's synesthestic experience of music and color.
Love, love, love this book.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: a chocolate cupcake with pudding filling for smooth prose, addictive characters, and details about Autism spectrum, with the bitter-chocolate buttercream frosting of the dark aspects of addiction and high school depression, with a chocolate covered espresso bean on top for crowning the whole book with a satisfying romance.
Awesome.
Drea is starting over (yet again) at a new high school. Only this time her ne'er do well and overprotective Mother is moving them into the basement of her no-nonsense, critical Grandmother with whom Drea does not get along.
Her music will become a bridge between Drea and two other students, Justin, who isn't as square as he first seems, and Naomi, a wild, purple-haired neighbor who isn't turned off by Drea's bluntness.
These are three souls who feel very, very alone, all for their own reasons. All three don't quite experience life the same way as many others at high school, and while together they can make beautiful music, one of them will end up not being saved by it.
Fascinating, convincing, inner details of the way Drea experiences NT's (nuerotypicals) as well as her struggle between "wanting to be normal" and feeling her way of experiencing the world isn't abnormal or wrong.
Pathos and drama galore in the tentative ways Justin and Drea get together, the way they interact with self-destructive Naomi, the way Drea's Mother has to deal both with letting go of her overprotective ways of trying to take care of Drea and never providing a stable environment.
Some things I liked especially about this book was the edge of danger, Drea's frustration with reading people and situations does lead her into situations where you aren't quite sure if she'll emerge unscathed. Also, the character of her Grandma rocked. Grandma is blunt in a way that probably shows she had some level of Asperger's herself, but blends in more with society, making one question along with Drea whether her own characteristics should be damped down. And of course, the music talk. Not only indie music references, but the gorgeous writing of Drea's synesthestic experience of music and color.
Love, love, love this book.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: a chocolate cupcake with pudding filling for smooth prose, addictive characters, and details about Autism spectrum, with the bitter-chocolate buttercream frosting of the dark aspects of addiction and high school depression, with a chocolate covered espresso bean on top for crowning the whole book with a satisfying romance.