Desert Rice

Aug 13, 2012 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, for-review

I seriously still have chills on my arms!! Angela Scott has some of the best first chapters and mid book twists that I have ever read. This is my second book of hers to read and right from the start I was captivated by both. She packs a huge punch in just a few sentences and I can definitely say that I will be on the lookout for her next book.

This story is very different from her zombie novel WANTED. This one is about survival and the love between brothers and sisters. Samantha and Jacob do not...more I seriously still have chills on my arms!! Angela Scott has some of the best first chapters and mid book twists that I have ever read. This is my second book of hers to read and right from the start I was captivated by both. She packs a huge punch in just a few sentences and I can definitely say that I will be on the lookout for her next book.

This story is very different from her zombie novel WANTED. This one is about survival and the love between brothers and sisters. Samantha and Jacob do not have the ideal life. They live with their mother who is abusive and their days consist of just trying to survive. Well when their mother dies, Jacob takes Sam on the run so that they can stay together and not be split up in foster care. My goodness, what these two go through is beyond heartbreaking. Jacob at only fifteen takes his sister who is twelve across many states, finds a job by lying about his age, and basically takes care of her the best way he can. That right there is love. Is their journey perfect, no not by a long shot. Pressure builds and Jacob shows that he is only a child several times and Sam goes through the same thing. My heart really broke for these two characters. The turning point in the story is when Sam meets Boone. Things take a very intense turn when Sam and Jacobs true story comes out and let me tell you, you will need tissues for that part. I was in shock and I am still in shock over what happened to these two kids.

Again this story is not perfect and I think if the author had made it a perfect ending with a bow then it would not have been real. Jacob did what he did for the love of his sister and he will forever hold a place in my heart. I did not know that this was going to be a series so I am very intrigued to see where Ms.Scott takes this story. There are a few loose ends that I know need to be tied up and I am very curious how those will play out. Another brilliant story from Angela Scott!

*A copy of this book was provided by the author. Thank you SOOO much!!*
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May 04, 2013 Books Mom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Ms. Scott is a truly talented author. Truth is, this isn't the type of book I'd normally read. I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into with Desert Rice, but I was so completely caught up with the authentically written, realistic characters it didn't matter that the plot was one I wasn't hugely excited about.

That's not to say the plot is bad -- it isn't. It's just I'm really a fan of happier stories, and this one takes you to the very last page before you can feel that the characters...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...

Stunning. Disturbing. Touching. Raw.

And even those words don’t do this justice. Ms. Scott has got serious writing chops. She made me love this book, even though it’s nothing like my usual choice for reading and even though it’s terribly sad and tragic for the vast majority of its pages. She creates incredibly real characters in Jacob and Sam, then puts them in a place that broke my heart.

They aren’t always the most endearing of people...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Eric Townsend rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’ll be honest, I haven’t read a whole lot of books with a 12-year-old girl’s point of view, so I didn’t really know what to expect in terms of how the character would narrate her story. My first impression of Sam was that she was woefully, and a tad annoyingly, ignorant of a lot of things. I don’t remember much about being 12, but I don’t recall being so unaware of the world as a whole. However, as I read Desert Rice I discovered more and more that what Scott was likely doing in showing that ig...more I’ll be honest, I haven’t read a whole lot of books with a 12-year-old girl’s point of view, so I didn’t really know what to expect in terms of how the character would narrate her story. My first impression of Sam was that she was woefully, and a tad annoyingly, ignorant of a lot of things. I don’t remember much about being 12, but I don’t recall being so unaware of the world as a whole. However, as I read Desert Rice I discovered more and more that what Scott was likely doing in showing that ignorance was highlighting the pathetic excuse for an upbringing that both Sam and her brother Jacob received. Sam is a character that Scott clearly poured a little extra of her writer’s essence into, she’s someone you instantly want to befriend and protect, and the lengths that her brother goes to do so seem justified by more than just their family link. She’s as innocent as they come, molding herself only by what she sees in the few encounters that she is allowed to have with the world but she has the typical stubbornness of someone her age which makes her feel all the more real.

Which brings me to Jacob. He has both of their lives on his shoulders, plus the additional weight of keeping secret what happened to them both from everyone they encounter, and from Sam as well. He puts on a brave face most of the time but some frustration does leak through, mostly fueled by what Sam had went through (can’t be any more specific, spoilers!), and a bit of a typical teenage male’s difficulty with being around his kid sister all the time. However, Scott makes it readily apparent that Jacob cares deeply for Sam so his occasional outbursts don’t demean him as a character, they even prove to separate him from other books where this character is often a cardboard cutout.

The plot might be the one complaint I have for Desert Rice, and keeps it from being among my favorites. It’s a bit obvious based on the summary where the journey is going to end up, even if the details to get them there aren’t clear. There is a slight twist at the end, don’t worry I won’t spoil it, but not enough of one to really shock you. I would also say that Sam’s indecision at certain parts, even for someone her age, was a tad ridiculous, maybe she thought she was doing what was best for them, but it was irritating to say the least. The pacing was good, though, and there was enough action in Desert Rice to keep the reader engaged while developing the characters at the same time.

There isn’t much to say about the world building as far as just the setting goes. I don’t know much about Arizona outside of the obvious, but Scott seemed to have a pretty good feel for what it is like there, and I’ll take her word(s) on it. The cowboy-type of people that were described at times were a little over the top, and though there may still be some smaller towns where these descriptions would be accurate, it just felt a little off. The setting at least felt realistic enough, so I guess I’d give this area a check mark for completion if not an outstanding (channeling my inner teacher there, weird I know).

Overall I enjoyed Desert Rice. The characters were the highlight of the book without a doubt, and I loved Sam, she was just excellently done. It was a quick and pleasant read.

Rating 4/5(less)

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Dec 02, 2012 Ana rated it 5 of 5 stars

The book was extremely well written, I liked the books twist and turns in the story she got you thinking one thing but in reality it was something else. I thought Jacob was kind of mean but I know that it was only because he cared about Sam but still sometimes I really wanted to smack him upside the head. He did everything he could to protect her and give her all the love she deserved since they're mom never showed them what love was. Although leaving like that was a big mistake, I thought Jacob...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Lenna rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was completely engrossed in the novel the entire time I was reading it, and I felt myself get anxious during intense plot moments, and I really sympathized with the characters. The novel follows the narration of twelve year old Samantha Haggert and the story of how she and her brother tried to make it in the adult world by themselves. The story starts with the death of Sam and Jacob's mother at which point, they clean up the mess and take the car to leave town. Right away we see how protective...more I was completely engrossed in the novel the entire time I was reading it, and I felt myself get anxious during intense plot moments, and I really sympathized with the characters. The novel follows the narration of twelve year old Samantha Haggert and the story of how she and her brother tried to make it in the adult world by themselves. The story starts with the death of Sam and Jacob's mother at which point, they clean up the mess and take the car to leave town. Right away we see how protective Jacob is of Sam and both characters naturally drift into their roles of older brother and younger sister.

Samantha is a most precocious young child. She doesn't always act her age. I do think she is written to be more mature than a typical twelve year old girl, but there is definitely more to her than meets the eye. For example, she uses vocabulary that a typical twelve year old wouldn't use, and she approaches certain situations with a tact beyond her age. But at the same time, she does regress into childlike mannerisms that I found to be endearing such that I found myself chuckling at certain things that she said or did. So even though she flip flops between naivete and maturity, she's very consistent in the way she alternates.

Jacob is a harder character to get behind from the beginning because we don't learn anything about his motivations for his actions until the end of the novel. I love that he loves his younger sister Sam and it is clear that his job is to be her protector, but in doing so Jacob comes off as stubborn and due to circumstances, the decisions he makes for her may not always be the most favorable. But the bond between the two is so strong and Angela Scott has successfully portrayed a functional dysfunctional family.

Desert Rice was a very good read, and it fits well within its genre. It does play with themes that are typical within young adult such coming of age, and the strong but young protagonists for example but it also plays with other themes such as familial dysfunction in the way of alcohol or drugs, and religion, to name a couple. These are not uncommon in novels, but the way that Scott utilizes these ideas was very well written. The story was not predictable even though in the beginning I was under the impression it would be. I was pleasantly surprised and drawn in by Sam and Jacob's story the whole time.

Angela Scott is a wonderful story teller and I am giving this the full five stars because of how much I enjoyed the novel. It is a solid contemporary young adult tale that is very well written. It is easy to read, straight forward, the language is simple and not overly complicated, but all of the elements are appropriate so that they make sense within the frame of the story. It is a fun read and a touching story so I recommend this book to all of you. (less)

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Nov 10, 2012 Teressa Morris rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Desert Rice" is written from the viewpoint of Sam, but not the twelve-year-old Sam. Instead it is an older, wiser Sam looking back at a pivotal year in her short life who tells this compelling story.

I was immediately drawn into Sam and Jacob's story. Their attempt to survive on their own at such a young age made this mother's heart break. Sam's experience with horses brought me back to fond memories of my own childhood, and the horse friends I rode with in those days.

But it is the last quarter...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Erin Maurer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Desert Rice was one of those gripping novels that sticks with you long after you turn the final page. Scott tells the tale of brother-sister duo, Jacob and Sam's escape from their horrific childhood in West Virginia for a new beginning in the deserts of Arizona.

Sam and Jacob not begin their journey by moving their mother's dead body in their dilapidated trailer. The two are fleeing from a childhood that rivals most of our worst nightmares. Scott skillfully weaves the kids horrifying past into a...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Aliaa El-Nashar rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book made me cry like a baby.

Repeatedly.

As I've mentioned before a couple of times, I hate human interest stories, or tragic ones, or ones that have a very traumatizing event occur in them that the whole book is dealing with that issue. I hate being so emotionally invested in a book, and right now I am holding a tissue drying my eyes as I write this.

This book was good, and bad, and awful, and brilliant.

The book starts with Jacob and Samantha carrying their mother's dead body inside so the c...more This book made me cry like a baby.

Repeatedly.

As I've mentioned before a couple of times, I hate human interest stories, or tragic ones, or ones that have a very traumatizing event occur in them that the whole book is dealing with that issue. I hate being so emotionally invested in a book, and right now I am holding a tissue drying my eyes as I write this.

This book was good, and bad, and awful, and brilliant.

The book starts with Jacob and Samantha carrying their mother's dead body inside so the corpse wouldn't be eaten up by dogs. They then proceed to go on the run in order to not be taken into foster care and be separated. Samantha's twelve, a child on her way to her teens, whilst Jacob is fifteen, pretty much not old enough to drive that family car he'd taken from his mother. Jacob forces Sam to dress up as a boy and cuts her hair so she wouldn't draw extra attention to herself. They find it hard to stand one another in this long and frustrating journey to Arizona , because it's apparently warm down there. They land in a city and struggle to make-do with what they have and stay in the motel. Jacob takes on two jobs and works himself to death whilst Sam finds more creative ways to spend her time alone and make money. But an incident with her brother drives her to meet Boone, a nice man she refers to as 'Jesus'. So when her brother gets deathly ill, Sam finds no one else to go to for help. There brother and sister are forced to confront their past and what caused them to be here, and none of it is pleasant - or in Sam's case is even remembered!

I honestly didn't know what to expect when I read the synopsis and signed up for this tour. I mean, the cover was awesome - as I am known for my impulsiveness with regards to covers - and the synopsis didn't give away much so I signed up and had at it. The first few lines were very hooking. I wanted to know straight off what the heck was going on. Then the author proceeded to keep me on said hook all the way throughout the book.

I mean come on when a book starts with this:

"Grab 'er feet!"

To grab her feet, I'd have to touch her, and nothing could be worse than putting my hands on a dead body, even my own mama's.

How can one not be caught into the web that is this book? The author's style was flowing, simple, and entrancing. It was like I cast under a spell until the book ended where I was allowed to be free. The events happened in a moderate pace that gave the book more plausibility and frankly I was impressed. I just hated the idea of crying all over, but I couldn't help myself. The added mystery and twists I didn't expect had my eyes bulging at times. I honestly didn't see most of them coming and it was a hard blow. I love such blows to your bubble of what you think is going on, when it's not really that at all.

An amazing read! I cannot wait to get my hands on book two to know what happens next!

Rating: 5/5(less)

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Sep 09, 2012 Sinziana rated it 4 of 5 stars

I must admit it took me about a week to get past the first few pages…I tend to imagine everything I read and this time I found it too much…The scenes were well written, but the images were horrifying. After that I started to really enjoy the book. I have to say that it is a must read!!! I know I said this multiple times in the last few weeks about a great number of books, but you must believe me:) You won’t regret reading the book:)

I loved the plot. It is quite original and extremely complex. It...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Soma "Insomnia Of Books" rated it 4 of 5 stars

Did you read the blurb? If you did, didn't you find the idea, captivating? Just imagine, a girl disguising as a boy, how hard can that be? I liked the story-line very much. This book is unique and intriguing to the very core!
Samantha Jean, is a pretty 12-year-old girl, but nobody can see that. Ever since her mother died, she and her brother, Jacob are running from town to town. If anyone finds them, they will end up separated in foster care. Samantha is growing up and getting more girly, so Jac...more Did you read the blurb? If you did, didn't you find the idea, captivating? Just imagine, a girl disguising as a boy, how hard can that be? I liked the story-line very much. This book is unique and intriguing to the very core!
Samantha Jean, is a pretty 12-year-old girl, but nobody can see that. Ever since her mother died, she and her brother, Jacob are running from town to town. If anyone finds them, they will end up separated in foster care. Samantha is growing up and getting more girly, so Jacob cuts her long blond her and gives her his clothes; so she can look like his brother, not sister. Samantha doesn't want this; but she doesn't want to be separated from her brother, too.
It's pretty hard for a fifteen year old boy and a twelve year old girl to find a place to live. Specially if they have so little money with them. Jacob and Samantha fight through the obstacles and make new friends, but what awaits them in the future, is not what they would have expected AT ALL.
How has Sam's mother died? What will happen to Jacob and Samantha? Will they ever have a real family? Find out much more when you read this heart-wrenching, thought-provoking story of self-discovery and hidden traumas.
I liked this book a LOT. It was definitely not what I expected. Angela Scott has a really beautiful writing style, it's simple and straight-forward. Most of the characters are three-dimensional and believable. I loved to see the world through Samantha's eyes and to watch her grow and go through puberty. Although I didn't like Jacob as much as Sam, he was so BOSSY but he was protective of his sister so I loved him for that!
The plot of the story is unique and character development is very well executed. If you wonder why I gave this book 4 stars, it's just that the book wasn't one of the books I would usually read but it was WONDERFUL! This book is recommended to all lovers of contemporary YA and contemporary, in general. Trust me, this is great! I will definitely be reading the sequel to this book,which is called Desert Flower.(less)

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Aug 24, 2012 Tana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Desert Rice by Angela Scott

Ok I am not really even sure what to say about this book, I picked it up today to read and never put it down once. Angela Scott has written a fantastic novel. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this story and Angela Scott's writing.

Where to begin but I suppose at the beginning, we are introduced quickly to Sam and her brother Jacob moving their dead mother into their trailer. Once they get the body where they want Jacob informs Sam that its time to leave. Packing as m...more Desert Rice by Angela Scott

Ok I am not really even sure what to say about this book, I picked it up today to read and never put it down once. Angela Scott has written a fantastic novel. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this story and Angela Scott's writing.

Where to begin but I suppose at the beginning, we are introduced quickly to Sam and her brother Jacob moving their dead mother into their trailer. Once they get the body where they want Jacob informs Sam that its time to leave. Packing as much as they could they take off in the family car. During the trip Jacob informs Sam that she has to dress more like a boy and he cuts off her hair and makes her wear baggy clothes. He doesn't want anything to happen to her, he needs to protect her and keep her safe.

Chills went up my back knowing there is more to this story and I have to admit it was well worth the read. Angela Scott has written a story that is heartbreaking and yet I couldn't stop reading. God I can't tell you how many tears I had to wipe away from my eyes so I could continue Desert Rice.

It is a must read and I have rated it a 5 star rating and I would rate it 10 if I could. It was terrific, fantastic, heart wrenching..OMG just go buy it and see for yourself no words will express how much this story is worth reading. You end up loving Sam and want to just hug her and Jacob for trying to do everything a 15 year old boy could do to keep his sister safe.

DISCLOSURE – *Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*(less)

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Aug 18, 2012 Kathleen Doyle rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I finished this book, it was after two in the morning. I picked up the book earlier in the day and sat down to read thinking I’d cook supper and put the kids to bed with no problem. I fooled myself into thinking this could happen. My husband took care of supper and putting the kids to bed, though by that time I’d read far enough into the book to give them both tight hugs that lasted a long time.
Sam’s story broke my heart in a million ways. She had believable flaws and thought like a twelve...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

[This review also appears on Andi's Young Adult Books.]

This book affected me deeply. It is one of the best reads I have had this summer. Samantha and Jacob's story is a sad one. No one wants them. Their father is estranged. Their mama is dead. They only have each other. They're way underage, but determined to stay together. Jacob is extremely overprotective of Sam, but he has good reason. He just hasn't shared that with her, yet, so she hasn't yet shared it with us.

They fumble around, trying to...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Novareylin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

So, how do I even begin to tell you how I feel about this book? It’s intense! I mean seriously intense! Here we have two kids, the main characters Jacob and Sam and they are being put, quite literally, through hell. Their mother dies and Jacob who is only 15 has to take care of Sam. You can tell from the very start that they are very poor and I so wanted to just take them under my arm and take care of them.

You don’t get to really know them, there’s just bits and pieces, a few clues strewn about,...more So, how do I even begin to tell you how I feel about this book? It’s intense! I mean seriously intense! Here we have two kids, the main characters Jacob and Sam and they are being put, quite literally, through hell. Their mother dies and Jacob who is only 15 has to take care of Sam. You can tell from the very start that they are very poor and I so wanted to just take them under my arm and take care of them.

You don’t get to really know them, there’s just bits and pieces, a few clues strewn about, letting us know what is going on, while they try to survive on their own. It’s not until nearly half way through the book that I really started putting things together. I felt Desert Rice was a little slow in the beginning but mainly because I just couldn’t comprehend what his motives really were without delving more into the story.

Jacob was making choices that I did not understand. He tells Sam that he doesn’t want them separated, that foster home would be the worst place for them, but the situations these two go through is worst than foster homes! And poor Sam being only 12 has to sit there and listen to her brother and do pretty much what he says or he’ll freak out on her. It’s upsetting to say the least! But I am here to tell you, everything comes together before the end! Actually, at about that halfway point when you start to figure out and put the pieces together, that’s when the story really starts to make sense. Jacob’s wild behavior over his sister is erratic but all of his decisions are based on love.

Although Jacob really ticked me off a few times he is a great character, strong and determined. Sam was fabulous although very distraught about having to dress like a boy and with all the rules Jacob kept giving her. It’s hard enough to be a 12 year old girl without all of that extra pressure. My favorite character though is Boone. He’s a really great guy. He wants to support these kids and do something for them even when so many other minor characters didn’t. Some may have gave them a hand but they didn’t DO anything for the kids, such is life. But Boone is really great and as great as he is, even he makes mistakes. Fabulous guy, I wish I knew him!

It’s a great story about very serious, difficult things that love can always overcome. Jacob’s love for his sister is nothing short of amazing. Fabulous but really intense story! I’d definitely recommend to anyone that enjoys Contemporary and can deal with reading some difficult themes.(less)

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$Faye {Daydreaming_Star}$

Nov 03, 2012 Faye {Daydreaming_Star} rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a completely stunning read. It kept me captivated and forced me to simply carry on reading. I found it incredibly difficult to stop as I just simply had to know what was going to happen. It was brilliantly written with interesting scenes and a clever writing style. It is a book that I would easily be able to read again but probably not straight away. The message and themes in the book are hard-hitting and heavy and this isn’t a light, fluffy read by any means. If you’re looking for...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Lisseth (Read-a-holicZ) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that was filled with real, difficult, and tough things that just touch you in some way & evoke emotions. It was an interesting book to read and definitely different than what I'm used to reading.

I liked the story a lot. It had twists that were good and some not so good. It starts out with a scene that no kids should see and it made me wonder what the heck happened. I was a bit confused and upset but it added this secrecy & urgency that it needed. At the start S...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Heather Boustead rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, drama, adult

Desert Rice
By Angela Scott

Samantha Jean Haggert is on the run with her brother Jacob after her mother dies. They must stick together since Sam is only twelve and Jacob fifteen they will do anything they can to keep from having Child Protective Services separate them. Since Sam begins to draw too much unwanted attention from men Jacob has her cut off all her hair and hides her beauty under baggy clothes and a baseball cap. But everything begins to unravel when they finally find people whom want t...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Gaele rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-reads, tours

This was a uniquely different and rather difficult book to read. Difficult because the angst created with the tension from both the writing and story-line were constant companions: it grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let go. Yes, it is beautifully written and the characters come to life in front of your eyes, but continue to amaze, frighten and astound you as the story continues. Whether it was too easy to envision the circumstances and situations, or the instant empathy and need to protect...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Jen rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars.

Thank you to author, Angela Scott for this e-book which was provided in exchange for an honest review. Desert Rice is a well written story about love, sacrifice and what it really means to be a family. It's raw and gritty in places but not without it's heartwarming moments of grace and redemption. Jacob is the epitome of what a brother should be and even though he harbors extreme guilt, he's willing to do whatever is necessary to protect Sam.

There were parts of this story that I found...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Moslimah rated it 5 of 5 stars

DESERT RICE by Angela Scott

***SPOILER FREE REVIEW***

Immediately after there mother’s death, fifteen year-old Jacob takes his twelve year-old sister, Samantha (Sam) away from their past in their battered family car, fearing being separated by social services- or at least that’s all he tells her. Samantha is stuck to obeying her brother’s plan to keep her safe and that means dressing up and being Sam, the boy and doing everything he asks of her. As they hit the road, things get tough and what foll...more DESERT RICE by Angela Scott

***SPOILER FREE REVIEW***

Immediately after there mother’s death, fifteen year-old Jacob takes his twelve year-old sister, Samantha (Sam) away from their past in their battered family car, fearing being separated by social services- or at least that’s all he tells her. Samantha is stuck to obeying her brother’s plan to keep her safe and that means dressing up and being Sam, the boy and doing everything he asks of her. As they hit the road, things get tough and what follows is a series of events that end with the revelation of what really happened to the children’s mother! Because Jacob knows, Samantha doesn’t remember and Jacob isn’t sharing!

I’m a VERY difficult reader to please and this isn’t a book I would typically read but I read it and boy was I blown away. This novel captivated me, not from the first page but from the very first sentence, where we are brought smack in the middle of the action. The voice of the innocent and mostly naïve narrator, Samantha is honest and real, as she navigates through two journeys, an inner journey of the issues surrounding becoming a teenager (nicely addresses some tween topics), and a journey of dealing with the world around her. There was a few times where I thought, a twelve-year old couldn’t possibly think like this, but this, in no way ruined awesomeness of the book for me. By the end, we see such wonderful character growth, it’s worth a tear or two.

What I REALLY loved was the relationship between brother and sister. It was REAL! Like, so, so real! I loved that we saw Jacob as a strong character who would do anything to protect his little sister from both the world they have been forced to face as well as from their past. Little things, like making sure she brushed her teeth and stacking up on tampons makes their relationship even more wholesome. He’s her teacher somewhat. But Jacob isn’t without flaws. He can’t always be the knight in shining armour that he’s been trying so hard to maintain. Even he fears what the immediate and long-term future could hold for both of them, especially when he must finally open up about what really happened to their mother.

We meet a few other characters in the novel who play some important roles. Although they are not as fully developed as the two siblings they are still a nice addition. DESERT RICE is a novel full of surprises, and just when you think there couldn’t possibly be any more surprises- BAM! You’re hit with them again. This is the first book I’ve read by Angela Scott and I must say, I was very impressed. The teaser of DESERT FLOWER, the second novel in the series just about had my jaw drop open. Can’t wait for this one!

P.s. the title for this novel- so clever! I only just understood it right now, as I write the end of this review.
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Aug 31, 2012 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, favourite-books

This review originally appears on my blog

Desert Rice is intense, chilling and emotionally captivating. With an estranged father and a recently deceased mother, Sam and Jacob are thrown head-first into a world they haven't learnt to trust yet. Struggling to make ends meet, their attempts at survival and escaping the seclusion of foster homes crafts this novel into a journey that is guaranteed to break your heart.

Angela Scott does well to keep us in the dark about these two characters. Bits and pi...more This review originally appears on my blog

Desert Rice is intense, chilling and emotionally captivating. With an estranged father and a recently deceased mother, Sam and Jacob are thrown head-first into a world they haven't learnt to trust yet. Struggling to make ends meet, their attempts at survival and escaping the seclusion of foster homes crafts this novel into a journey that is guaranteed to break your heart.

Angela Scott does well to keep us in the dark about these two characters. Bits and pieces are tossed into the mix to give us an understanding of what is going on but I'd advise you to have a box of tissues at the ready for when the truth is revealed. The pace at the beginning of the novel seems to be rather slow because of the lack of information we're given but the consistent twists and turns will keep you on your toes.

Jacob is exactly the type of big brother that every girl needs. His undeniable love for Sam is heartwarming although his overprotective nature towards her is slightly erratic. He made various decisions that left me in a state of confusion but I understood they were based purely on love. Honestly, I was surprised by his maturity and determination especially during the more intense moments of the book. You almost forget that he's only 15 years old which is why I appreciated the scenes where you get to witness Jacob's vulnerability.

Sam's distraught about having to dress like a boy was understandable. The pressure placed upon her shoulders is almost unbearable to fathom at times because her innocence just makes you want to curl up into a ball and cry. Experiencing these events through Samantha's eyes pulled on my heartstrings and watching her grow and come to terms with the reality of her situation was wonderful.

Angela Scott has a beautiful writing style that was easy to follow and possessed the power to pull emotions from me. She brought her characters to life and delivered a thought provoking novel that deals with serious themes in a professional manner. I strongly recommend this book to everyone who hasn't yet read it and I can't wait to see where the story continues in the next instalment, Desert Flower.(less)

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Apr 19, 2013 T. rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a truly remarkable book this was. The story was absolutely fantastic- I couldn't put it down. From the opening chapter to the very last word, the book was a masterpiece of storytelling, presenting me with a barrage of twists and turns that kept me riveted to the book. The author presented a story of two orphans determined to stay together after the death of their mother. I was so caught up in the dialog (told from the perspective of the 12 year old sister) that I wasn't trying to spend my t...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Nanette rated it 5 of 5 stars

There are books that are un-put-downable. I fall so deep into these books it's as if I am a living, breathing character involved in the chaos, heartache and adventures played out before my eyes. Desert Rice was no exception. The first page pulled me into a story full of heroism, plot thickening, and cliff hanging moments. A book is many things to one person. And to that one person, a book holds many chances for time travel, fast paced adventure and a bond with people you love and will never meet...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Disincentive/Feta rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review

Excerpt and the giveaway here http://disincentive-reviews.blogspot....

It’s one of the hardest reviews to write since I have started writing this blog. What do I say about the book that was so perfect?
Desert rice sucked me in from the very first sentence. The whole book is so tense that I didn't want to stop. I stayed up at night just to read.
Characters are really well created, but the main heroine, Sam is so perfect that I have no words to describe her. She’s going through a lot and trying to...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Mary Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Sam and Jacob are on the run. After hauling their dead mother, they skipped town. What happened? Where are they going? How will they survive? Sam and Jacob are both teenagers trying to survive outside their trailer home. Without any parent, they are forced to fend for themselves but as days passed it seems like both Sam and Jacob has something to hide.

Sam is such a timid girl. Very head strong and a bit childish at first. She doesn’t want the road they are heading and it scares her to death. In...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Jo-Anna Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars

The reason I chose to read this book is because it's YA and I'm so happy that I did. When I marked this book as "read" on Goodreads, I felt that 5 stars did NOT do this book justice. This is probably one of the best books I have read this year!

I am new to reading Angela's books and this is the first of hers that I have read but I am now hooked. When I was about half way done, I actually PM-ed Angela and gushed about the book. I just had to talk to someone about it and who better to talk to then...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this fast paced story. The first couple of chapters had me hooked to the point that I read it in almost one sitting. Being a part of this tour was a great way to be able to read this absolutely wonderful book. Having the story line keep a realistic score was one of the great points in this book. Some of the scenes were a bit...well...intense for me but that only added to the story. I enjoyed that the author didn't give it the typical "happily ever after" ending, because...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Shari rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-na-challenge, 2013-upcoming-reviews, read-for-tour, read-in-2013, upcoming-reviews

I knew this book was about a young brother and sister trying to make it on their own, other than that I had no idea what this book was really about. I ended up being completely blown away.

An emotional mess is what I became in the few hours that it took me to finish Desert Rice. Jacob and Sam are amazing characters and their story is heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time.

After I have fully recovered from reading Desert Rice I may return and add a few more thoughts.

For now I will jus...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Ana Popielnicki rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beautifully disturbing, raw, emotional, uplifting and touching
I read this book in one day. Seriously. Angela's heart-wrenching rendition of the amazingly complex events, reactions, and personalities in this powerful story is nothing short of superb. I compare it to listening to the Ave Maria by Pavarotti, or watching a beautiful sunset at the beach, or sitting by the fire with your favorite beverage (and person). The characters are amazingly developed and authentic. Besides the main characters,...more

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