Bibliography: Alexander, Jill S. (2011). Paradise. New York: Feiwel and Friends. ISBN: 978-0312605414
Plot Summary: Paisley lives to play the drums, and sneaks away every day after school to play with a country rock band in her uncle’s airplane hangar. They have hopes of playing in Austin at Texaspolooza and getting out of their small town. When the band gets a new handsome lead singer, Gabe, Paisley tries not to faill for him and fails. Will her feelings for him get in the way of her music?
Critical Analysis: The Sweetheart of Prosper County, Alexander’s first book, resonated with me on a very personal level. I knew those characters, had been at that school, in that town and those stores. Paradise is a different kind of book–it feels more gritty and real and more like Texas to me. (It reminds me quite a bit of the television show, Friday Night Lights, another favorite.) While the title of the book is in reference to the lead singer, Gabe, who is from Paradise, TX, this book belongs to Paisley. Her dreams, schemes, determination, longings, passions, feelings leap off the pages. Paisley doesn’t share her dream with her family, her father and sister might be supportive, but her mother doesn’t see playing in a band as something to aspire to, as a way of living. She loves both her daughters and wants for them more than she had, but doesn’t see that they need to find their own way. A key theme throughout the novel is that love is hard, on many levels. Gabe wants more than Paisley can give him right now, the band’s song writer loves from afar. Paisley’s dad knows that neither of his daughters are happy but loves his wife too much to interfere. This story swept me away and then the bittersweet hope-filled ending got me. Girls looking for a first romance will love this book, as will anyone, musician or not, who ever had a dream to be something more. I am looking forward to Alexander’s next book.
Readalikes: Although I have not read it in years, this book reminded me of Valerie Hobbes’ How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadn’t Called You Back? another emotionally driven teen romance.
Review Excerpts: “Alexander’s simmering plot is equally driven by a complex story and multiple, complex characters.”—School Library Journal
“A tame romance, alternately captivating and clichéd, yet effective in portraying a determined teen driven by the music in her soul.”–Kirkus Reviews
Reviewed from author provided advanced copy. (Thank you Jill for remembering me!) Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.
