I-Can’t-Wait-to-Tell-You-All-About-This-Book Review!

Same week but another first people! Here’s a half way review of “Glow” by Amy Kathleen Ryan. I’m currently listening to the audiobook and, I have to say, this is the first audiobook in a long time that I can’t stop listening to! It’s great! There are moments when I have to pause it because I just can’t bear to find out what happens next (irony?) and then of course I push play because I NEED to find out! Instead of stopping after I get in with the dogs I find myself continuing the audio while I’m around the house and carting my phone around with me. Instead of listening to the students in the library visit before school while I’m working, I’m listening to the story between Keiran and Waverly. It’s addicting I tell you! I’ve been talking to my students about it for the past two weeks and one student has begged enough for the discs (as I finish) and he is all about this book! Other students (who aren’t patient enough to wait) have purchased their own copies. I’ve asked the school librarian to order a few copies but few of the students are even that patient (and they say patience is a virtue). I remember  I only heard a few things about this book when it was released in September and have decided that this book needs to be acknowledged for its awesomeness. It’s very much like “Across the Universe” meets “Wither” crossed with “Bumped.”

This part of the “mini review” will contain a few light spoilers – nothing plot wise, just frustrations with a particular character that I am just unable to wait to divulge to you.

Basically, there are two boys (because obviously there is a love triangle) – Keiran and Seth. Keiran is equivalent to the golden boy (without the arrogance); he’s just a good guy who is dating the girl of his dreams and who has been charged with the impossible task of taking control of 100+ young boys. He’s the oldest and the Captain’s favorite. While I’m not sure how I feel about the Captain yet, I do know that I like and trust Keiran. Everyone likes Keiran – as they should. This is not one of those tales where the underdog is underprivileged or “deserves” what the “guy who has everything” has. It’s quite the opposite (so far).

Then you have Seth – the moody, sullen boy who is jealous of Keiran’s success and begins to lie and over embellish to make Keiran look like a poor leader. Really, Keiran is just a boy who makes mistakes and who wouldn’t in a situation like his! At first I took his disrespect as unthreatening and more as annoyed. I didn’t think Seth was being mutinous on purpose – just rebellious but as I’m in Part 4 of the novel (disc 5 of 8 ) I’m realizing that Seth is cold and calculating. He is very aware of what he is doing. Seth is purposefully driving a wedge between Keiran and his crew! Gah! I hate people like that! I’m a very loyal person to begin with (and it doesn’t help that part of the book is from Keiran’s POV) but I could have been persuaded to the side of Seth (in time), but now I’m just annoyed to the point where I’m lashing out on Twitter, I’m gasping out loud, I just can’t believe him! Worse, I know Waverly (Keiran’s fiance) secretly likes him (like I said, I could have been persuaded to Team Seth had he acted differently and made different choices). Also, because I had to look, I saw the synopsis of Spark (the second in the series) and know something I probably shouldn’t and this only makes me MORE upset! I mean, how can Waverly even consider Keiran’s leadership as unjust compared to how Seth is acting!

I know I have a few discs left, but at this point I’m so visible upset that my students are curious! At first I didn’t think Seth was a bad person, just misdirected – looking for someone to be angry toward. But now after blatantly fabricating false accounts of what is going on to hurt Keiran – I’m SO frustrated! I just keep thinking, “if Waverly knew how you were acting, you wouldn’t be making these same decisions.”

Anyway, that’s the end of my rant (for now). I’ve never read characters like these before (especially Seth) and am loving the experience completely! Not only is the plot addicting, but the characters have filled me with this huge sense of emotion that I’m physically upset and distraught at the injustice. What about you? Have you read it? Heard of it? Had a similar experience?

Gah! I just can’t stop thinking about this book!!