Salvation

Sep 10, 2012 Anne Osterlund rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Quirky Thoughts From the Author:

I first met Salva and Beth in the middle of a collision. Papers, pencils, the contents of Beth’s backpack, and point of view everywhere!

Yet neither of them bothered to introduce themselves. Oh, no; they were both far too busy telling me about each other. According to her, he was one of those “patronizing--and annoying--organized people.” And according to him, she was “the walking disaster area.”

There was plenty of evidence to support both claims. Though I got no n...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: those looking for diversity in YA fiction

My very favorite thing about Salvation is the subject matter. As we readers know, YA fiction tends to focus on a particular type of character: white and upper middle class. Sure, there's nothing wrong with those sorts of character, but there are a lot more types of people in the world, and fiction is meant to reflect life.

In Salvation, both of the main characters, Salva and Beth are both very poor, but very bright, standing a chance to get out of their town, where most people work at the onion f...more My very favorite thing about Salvation is the subject matter. As we readers know, YA fiction tends to focus on a particular type of character: white and upper middle class. Sure, there's nothing wrong with those sorts of character, but there are a lot more types of people in the world, and fiction is meant to reflect life.

In Salvation, both of the main characters, Salva and Beth are both very poor, but very bright, standing a chance to get out of their town, where most people work at the onion factory. Beth lives in a battered trailer with her mother, who struggles with alcoholism. Luckily, Beth has a trust put aside for her education, if not for anything else. Salva, however, needs to get a full ride to whatever college he attends, which should be possible since he has a good shot at being the valedictorian.

Salva, short for Salvador (and also a pun on the title), is also Mexican (and note the lack of whitewashing on the cover!). He and his friends rule the school, the most popular kids at Liberty High. Beth has had a crush on him since eighth grade, but he's never paid any attention to her before. This changes when he needs her help to pass AP English, his weakest subject. Of course, in working together, they grow feelings and it's super cute.

Their relationship comes to be very slowly, really before either one of them particularly realizes it. Salva and Beth have so many preconceived notions about one another, whether good or ill, and watching them come to appreciate one another for real is just touching. Also, they flirt with Shakespeare, which has to be the best way to flirt. Never have I liked the death scene in Romeo & Juliet more. Best of all, once they finally do get together, it's really awkward, just the way fledgling relationships are with parents and how to act at school and how to act with one another.

Towards the end, I worried things were going to a bad place plot-wise, one of melodrama and needless tears, but Anne brought things together. All of the plot threads come together to make a satisfying ending, though not an unreservedly happy one. Of all of her books, I think this one definitely has the most serious message, one that will be wonderful for teens. Salvation is all about taking action, fighting for rights, doing your best, and finding your passion.

Salvation is written in third person limited, following Salva and Beth. The book might have been more powerful in first person, because, as it is, I never was able to completely bond with the characters. I really love Salva, but Beth proves a bit trickier. Beth is a quiet character, and I think really seeing through her eyes would have been a beautiful thing, because she clearly does not see things the way that I do.

If you're looking for YA with diversity in both race and socioeconomic status, Salvation is a delight. Populated with lifelike characters and a lovely message, I highly recommend Osterlund's latest to lovers of contemporary novels.(less)

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Jan 10, 2013 Ari J Bookzilla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: want-own-in-print, favorites, clean-read

Well, well, well.
Here's a little gem I didn't expect.

First I have to gush about the cover. I love meaningful covers. And meaningful titles that actually relate to the story.

Beth and Salvador are a very unlikely couple. She's basically a wallflower, a bookish, smart and silent girl that has had a crush on Salva for four plus years. But behind her quiet demeanor is a fierce, passionate young woman with strong beliefs. I loved the effect she had on Salva, the way she was always making him be the be...more Well, well, well.
Here's a little gem I didn't expect.

First I have to gush about the cover. I love meaningful covers. And meaningful titles that actually relate to the story.

Beth and Salvador are a very unlikely couple. She's basically a wallflower, a bookish, smart and silent girl that has had a crush on Salva for four plus years. But behind her quiet demeanor is a fierce, passionate young woman with strong beliefs. I loved the effect she had on Salva, the way she was always making him be the best he can be and never settle for less than he deserved - and most importantly, she practiced what she preached. They weren't just empty words.

Salvador is the golden boy of Liberty High, but not in your typical sense. His character strays from the usual golden boy - he's of Latin descent, his parents poor Mexican immigrants, his ambitions less athletic and more academic. He's a natural leader, but he doesn't want to be. His father's pushing him to aim higher, do better was understandable considering his background, and it wasn't out of being strict and controlling - he really wanted the best for his children. There are a lot of flaws to Salva, always looking to please, keeping up appearances, never speaking his mind so as not to offend anyone - and while forgetting himself and his wishes in the process.

I loved their relationship and how there wasn't some major drama about it. At first I thought I knew where the story would go, that he would use her for passing AP English under false pretenses -> cue the drama, but he's just not that guy! I think it's very realistic, the way they just realized they liked each other and went for it. Oh, the Romeo and Juliet scene, I was grinning like a loon. It was awesome, I felt like I was there and the whole thing was playing out in front of me.

The little twist - I didn't expect it at all.
I won't spoil anything, but I'll just say that the author surprised me, first with what happened and then how it happened which really caught me off guard.

I loved the way it was written - I always prefer 3rd person POV to first, and the transition between Beth and Salva's POVs was pretty smooth. They had great chemistry. The conflict was very believable to me, and I applaud the author for not inventing some petty problem or misunderstanding to split these two.
For those who like to know these things, there are no sex scenes in this book, it's very clean.
One thing that bothered me is that the author would skip large portions of time...I think it happened at least three times in the book. It's very short (and I'd complain about how expensive it is for an ebook but I don't think there's any point).

Overall, the book was unexpectedly good, I think. The subtle romance, realistic problems, great characters, and a really good message. I loved it all, and I definitely recommend it!(less)

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Jan 13, 2013 YAGeekess rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
When I started reading this book, I thought I knew where the story was heading. It had all the right flavors- a popular guy named Salvador, “the walking disaster area” called Beth who's been nursing a crush on him for years and a bitchy ex-girlfriend Char.

You could figure out right from the word go that Salva was the type of guy who never spoke up. I had a few "nails on the chalkboard" kind of moments in the first few chapters with Char. Man, how desperate could she get?

Be a gentleman,...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Zoe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Zoe by: Ari J Bookzilla

Shelves: ya, romance

Life was unfair, and sometimes that wasn't a bad thing.

This is such a gorgeous story. Salva and Beth are both smart. They both want to make something more for themselves and are extremely poor. They both have harsh parents. They share a lot in common but at school they're at opposite ends of the social hierarchy. Their romance moves slowly and skips large sections of time. I was okay with that.

Salva is a high-achiever. He excels in academics, sports, and in the looks department. He's Mexican....more Life was unfair, and sometimes that wasn't a bad thing.

This is such a gorgeous story. Salva and Beth are both smart. They both want to make something more for themselves and are extremely poor. They both have harsh parents. They share a lot in common but at school they're at opposite ends of the social hierarchy. Their romance moves slowly and skips large sections of time. I was okay with that.

Salva is a high-achiever. He excels in academics, sports, and in the looks department. He's Mexican. Salva is ambitious. He wants to get out of town.
I found his relationships fascinating. First, there's his childhood friend Charla the bombshell. Everyone expects them to get it on, including the parents, but Salva's not interested. She's ditzy, bitchy and has a learning disability. Salva is frustrated with the way she gets lumped with him all the time but he still feels it's his duty to protect her.
Secondly, there's his father. Salva highly respects and admires him. His father works hard and believes in tough love. But he's so stubborn and prejudice and think there's only one way to happiness so he forces it down his children's throats.

Those tears were his father's, and Salva knew, for the first time, the unbelievable feeling of making someone else's dream come true.

Salva is a lovely character. I loved seeing him fall for Beth and how even though everything's out of hand he does everything within his means to protect those he cares about. It's a beautiful combination of childlikeness and maturity.

Beth just stared at him like a deer in headlights, though a very pretty deer.

I have a liking for a girl who's disorganised. I don't know why. I guess it makes her more real. Beth's also absent-minded. I liked that the author doesn't forget this. Y'know how some authors give their character a characteristic to introduce them to you but then just leave it out as the book goes on and more important stuff happens? Yeah, well I liked that Beth continued to be a “walking disaster”. Beth lives in a trailer with her alcoholic but working mother. She's always crushed on Salva and feels he's out of her league. She's intimidated by his high school status and his elite crowd.

I'm not sure about the ending. It's good, but maybe a bit too much for too little pages.
4.5 Stars(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Jude rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Salvation is Anne Osterlund's first Contemporary YA novel, and for it being her debut in the genre I think it is excellent. First, I was really impressed with how Osterlund really captured the pressure and struggles many Mexican families have to go through. Being a Mexican myself, I found it incredibly easy to sympathize with Salvador, and I really think that everyone will be able to relate to him.

Salvador is a really smart boy, he has done everything that was expected of him. He is the golden b...more Salvation is Anne Osterlund's first Contemporary YA novel, and for it being her debut in the genre I think it is excellent. First, I was really impressed with how Osterlund really captured the pressure and struggles many Mexican families have to go through. Being a Mexican myself, I found it incredibly easy to sympathize with Salvador, and I really think that everyone will be able to relate to him.

Salvador is a really smart boy, he has done everything that was expected of him. He is the golden boy, he has fulfilled his father's wishes, has never let down his friends and has always followed the rules. He's a good boy. This is where Beth comes in, the walking disaster. I had this idea that Beth wold be this wild girl that throws Salva off balance or something, but no, turns out she's literally a disaster. Walks-and-trips, drops-everything, can't-paint-without-making-a-mess sort of disaster. She thinks Salva can be more than good, that he has much much more to offer. She helps Salva discover the biggest wish of all - his own.

Salva's father only wants the best for him and his family, which is why they brought them all to the States. The next step, if for Salva to actually be someone, not just an ordinary Mexican worker, to look down at and to treat as less. Again, Osterlund surprised me here, this is what we strive for, this is defined as our success. At least in my city and with my peers it is, we all want jobs in the States, it is the biggest goal of some of us, which is sad and something that is also marked in the novel, staying in Mexico or going back is not an option, it's a step backward. It was so easy to understand Salva's father, no matter how uptight he seemed, and it was easy to understand Salva as well, his own desperation and decisions he makes toward the end of the book, how he finds his own voice despite everything else.

Beth was also a great character, she knew how much someone or something had to offer and she didn't expect any less. It almost felt like she was that little voice in the back of our minds telling us to push forward and I really wished I was more like Beth, who honestly had every reason to be disappointed in life, and yet, she kept pushing.

I really liked Salvation, the ending was great, it had my heart pounding and just wondering 'How is this going to have a happy ending?!!! in fact how will this end at all?!!" I thought there was even a sequel I didn't know about, but no worries, it is wrapped up perfectly well. It was a great story and all of the characters will stick with me for a long time, especially Salva and Beth :)(less)

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Jan 18, 2013 Elevetha Houre rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, head-meet-your-new-friend-the-desk, neverending-regret, images-involved-in-review, oh-no-you-didn-t, one-time-too-many, the-cake-is-a-lie, why-was-this-written, not-what-i-wanted-at-all

This was so disappointing. Maybe when I have calmed down and stopped sobbing over just how betrayed I felt that this book kinda sucked, I will be able to actually write a review.

First off, the setting. So modern. Very different. Not a bad thing by itself. But with all these "modern" characters that are so...ugh. I mean, all of them are or at one time (except Beth) have been sleeping around. They're crude and annoying. Not very likable.

Salva and his friends are Catholic though they sure as shoot...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I’m a big fan of Anne Osterlund. I’ve read all of her other novels and truly enjoy them. She is a talented writer and I’m always completely engrossed in her stories. While Salvation was beautifully written, I didn’t connect with the story or the characters as much as I usually do in Osterlund’s novels.

I loved the concept of the story. Two very different characters, both working diligently to overcome personal obstacles and better their lives, and falling in love in the process. They were both ve...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Adrienne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Salva is "El Perfecto"--on track to be the valedictorian and the star quarterback. He's focused on his goals and knows that he needs to get a full scholarship to college to fulfill not only his own dreams but his parents' as well. So when his AP English class turns out to be harder than he expected, he turns to an unlikely source for help. Beth is far from perfect and organized; she's messy and constantly losing her stuff. But she is smart and if anyone can help Salva with his English class, it'...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Yessenia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

This story was really good. I loved the scenario and the little twist in the end about who's fault the incident was. This book is a good read simply because of the story line. However to be critical, the author did a poor job at describing the appearance of the characters. There are a few details of the two protagonist, but it really isn't enough to know what they look like. There was also some confusion at first to realize that Beth is white and not Mexican. If her appearance had been described...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars

It’s always the same for me. I’m so tired after a long day and I tell myself I will only read a few chapters of a new book and then I’ll go to bed. Most of the times I have no trouble doing that, but then sometimes a good book comes a long and I just have to finish it.
This was definitely a book that I had to finish reading. The story develops slowly, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not interesting - on the contrary. It focuses a lot on their futures and where they will go and what will they do...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Cdee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

I bought this book because I'm a huge fan of Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry set and this sounded along the same lines what with two different cultures coming together in a teen romance. I was pleasantly surprised with the storyline, Salva and Beth are Smart but poor; this is where their similarities end. So how can they help each other through a tough period in their lives and when more tragedy strikes, will their love be strong enough?
I liked the fact that it was another poor/rich storyline...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good read! ( No pun intended lol) I read the book in a matter of hours. It is not too long. I enjoyed the story immensely. I am a fan of popular guy/nerdy girl relationships and on top of that it dealt with two different cultures which I find interesting to read about. I liked all the characters and, as a reader, I found myself able to relate to the characters in different ways (e.g. I am a nerd like Beth and just as disorganized lol). Salvador is the main character and the reader is much more i...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was really great !!!I was pleasantly surprised!! I loved Beth !! I think she is one of my favorite book girls !! She was an unorganized mess that told it like it is !! I love that she always told Salva the truth, even if that is not what he wanted to hear !! Salva was such a great guy , you could not help but fall in love with him !! I loved the very over the top Romeo and Juliet scene !!! My favorite part was Salva reciting some poetry!! You'll know when you get there and you want to...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Pauline rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-january, standalone, released

To be honest, the cover is what initially drew me to this book. When I read the summary, this is the line that made me want to read it:

"Then tragedy strikes--and threatens to destroy everything that Salva has worked for. Will Beth's love be enough to save him?"

Once I started reading about Beth and Salva, I was pleasantly surprised with the story. I liked that Beth considers her words so that everything she says has meaning.

Salva is such a likeable guy. He's not arrogant and he cares a lot about...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Ange rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, 2013-ya-contemp-challenge, books-i-own, contemporary, high-school, romance, young-adult

When I was starting this book I expected a light and fluffy read but instead I got a beautiful, heart-warming, serious and thought-provoking novel. I was blown away by this story and hidden messages within it.

Salva (or Salvador) is the student body president, the quarterback of the football team and is a perfect student. He lives with his family who had migrated to America from Mexico and his father has high expectations for him. It appears that Salva has everything going for him. Then there is...more When I was starting this book I expected a light and fluffy read but instead I got a beautiful, heart-warming, serious and thought-provoking novel. I was blown away by this story and hidden messages within it.

Salva (or Salvador) is the student body president, the quarterback of the football team and is a perfect student. He lives with his family who had migrated to America from Mexico and his father has high expectations for him. It appears that Salva has everything going for him. Then there is Beth, she is intelligent and plans to make something of herself after high school. She’s awkward and shy so when Salva approaches Beth about tutoring in English, Beth is taken aback and unsure.

Anne Osterlund writing is what made this book truly beautiful and a joy to read. The story focused mainly on the relationship between Salva and Beth which was sweet and a relationship that slowly developed over the course of the book. The story had some small back stories, such as the issues with family relationships, college and conflicts of interest. Anne Osterlund also touched on the issues people face with immigration and the emotions people feel with racism and discrimination. What completely surprised me about this book was the plot of the last quarter of the book. It completely threw me and I was not expecting it and I really liked where the story went.

I just loved all the characters in this book. They felt so realistic and relatable. Salva and Beth were both such lovable characters, but in their own unique ways. Salva was such a well-rounded and put together young guy, he appeared to have everything going for him but as we learnt more about his life and his personality I just fell for him even more. Beth was a wonderful character, who was awkward, geeky, cute and just plain awesome.

A beautiful story that will take you through emotions of joy, heartbreak and love. I will definitely be checking out Anne Osterlund’s other books in the near future. I recommend everyone pick up this book. (less)

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Jan 25, 2013 Petra Sýkorová rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, young-adult, romance, chick-lit

Ani pořádně nevím, co mě přimělo po téhle knize sáhnout. Nejspíš to byla samotná autorka, která mi ji ke čtení doporučila (i když ta mi za tu dobu, co ji mám v přátelích, doporučila hodně knih). Líbila se mi anotace a ani recenze nezněly nijak špatně a jelikož mám zrovna období, kdy jsem naladěná spíše na romance, sáhla jsem po knize ráda. I když jsem nevěděla, co mě tak úplně čeká.

Salva se od smrti své milované matky nemůže tak úplně vzpamatovat a snaží se plnit vše, co svému otci na očích vidí...more Ani pořádně nevím, co mě přimělo po téhle knize sáhnout. Nejspíš to byla samotná autorka, která mi ji ke čtení doporučila (i když ta mi za tu dobu, co ji mám v přátelích, doporučila hodně knih). Líbila se mi anotace a ani recenze nezněly nijak špatně a jelikož mám zrovna období, kdy jsem naladěná spíše na romance, sáhla jsem po knize ráda. I když jsem nevěděla, co mě tak úplně čeká.

Salva se od smrti své milované matky nemůže tak úplně vzpamatovat a snaží se plnit vše, co svému otci na očích vidí. Ve škole má nejlepší prospěch, dostal také předsednictví studentské rady, hraje fotbal a jeho cílem je také získat fotbalové stipendium na vysoké škole. Kromě toho se stará o své malé sestřičky a i když se mu to příliš nezdá, podvolí se otcovu přání, aby se věnoval holce, s kterou vyrůstal. Vypadá to totiž, že si jeho otec přeje, aby se dali dohromady. Jenže Salva to tak prostě necítí.

Vše se změní v okamžiku, kdy se ředitel rozhodne změnit mu jeho rozvrh a přesunout ho na výuku Angličtiny pro pokročilé. Tam se opět setká s Beth. Dívkou, které na škole nikdo neřekne jinak, než chodící katastrofa. To proto, že jí pořád něco padá na zem a do všeho a všech vráží. Beth po Salvovi vždycky pokukovala a zamilovala se do něj už jako malá, kdy jí věnoval Valentýnku. I když jí je jasné, že je tahle její zamilovanost hloupá a nereálná, nějak si nemůže pomoct. Ani jeden z nich netuší, jak jim jedna společná hodina dokáže změnit život...

Na téhle knize je zajímavé už to, že oba dva hrdinové nepocházejí zrovna z bohatých poměrů. Salvův otec je mexický imigrant, který se snaží dopřát svým dětem vše, co on ani jeho žena nikdy neměli. Přitom jde spíše s davem a nijak nevyčuhuje, aby na sebe nepřilákal pozornost úřadů. Své děti na sobě nutí pracovat a nechce si připustit, že by se jim to nemuselo líbit. Ani Beth to doma nemá zrovna ideální. Její matka je věčně v práci a když už je doma, o nic se nestará a svůj žal raději utápí v alkholou. Beth se tak o sebe stará spíš sama a ani její životní podmínky nejsou dvakrát úžasné. Jenže Beth má sen, chce se dostat na vytouženou univerzitu a udělá pro to vše, co je v jejích silách. Nehodlá se jen tak vzdát.

Víte, i když kniha vypadá poměrně jednoduše a po většinu času vám možná i taková bude připadat, zase taková jednoduchá není. Jasně, funguje na docela normálním a v dnešní době romancí poměrně klišoidním tématu, ale i tak se z toho autorce podařilo vytřískat co možná nejvíc. Postavy z knih působí naprosto reálně a vy se při čtení přistihnete, že s nimi soucítíte a prožíváte všechny jejich vzlety i pády, jejich nejistotu, jejich strach, jejich cíle.

Vztah Beth a Salvy se mi opravdu líbil. Nejdřív si ani jeden z nich nechtěl připustit, co mezi nimi vzniká, ale postupně se dostávali dál a dál. Anne ve své knize pracuje s problémy každodenního života. Nebojí se zahrát i na mnohem citlivější strunu. Možná není všechno dokonalé, ale bude vám to docela jedno. Vztah hlavních postav je prostě milý a hezký. Líbila se mi i jejich improvizace s Shakespearem, všechny jejich společné chvilky, jak si jeden uvědomoval druhého.

Konec mě opravdu silně zasáhl. Celkově bych knihu popsala jako hořkosladkou. Chvílemi si říkáte, že je příběh tak nějak nudný, aby vám autorka v dalším momentu vzala vítr z plachet. A bolelo mě to. Hodně. Možná to není kniha, která vás naprosto ovládne a u níž hned od začátku víte, že jí dáte plný počet, ale postupně si vás získá a vy nevíte, jestli byla opravdu tak úžasná, nebo si s vámi autorka tak skvěle pohrála.

---------------Reakce po dočtení knihy---------------
tušila jsem, jak moc mě tahle hořkosladká kniha zasáhne. Místy byla spíš pořádně hořká, než sladká.(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Naty rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans de YA

Shelves: first-reads, i-freakin-love-it, ya

Debo confesar que ‘Salvation’ es el primer libro que he leído de Anne Osterlund, pero definitivamente no será el último. Cuando me inscribí al Giveaway de Goodreads no esperaba ni por asomo ser la ganadora y mucho menos encontrar en este libro una historia mundana y a la vez devastadoramente hermosa que me absorbió desde el inicio.

El libro nos presenta la historia, a primera vista bastante cliché, de Salvador Resendez y Beth Courant. Él, un quarterback estrella, amado por todos; y ella, una tím...more Debo confesar que ‘Salvation’ es el primer libro que he leído de Anne Osterlund, pero definitivamente no será el último. Cuando me inscribí al Giveaway de Goodreads no esperaba ni por asomo ser la ganadora y mucho menos encontrar en este libro una historia mundana y a la vez devastadoramente hermosa que me absorbió desde el inicio.

El libro nos presenta la historia, a primera vista bastante cliché, de Salvador Resendez y Beth Courant. Él, un quarterback estrella, amado por todos; y ella, una tímida joven que vive inmersa en sus libros y en su futuro. Pero ‘Salvation’ es mucho más que eso. Salva pertenece a una familia de inmigrantes mexicanos que buscan su lugar en un país que no los rechaza pero que los excluye, y por ello su mira está enfocada en asegurarse un buen futuro que le permita devolver a su familia todo lo que han hecho por él. Más que un deportista descerebrado y superficial, Salva es un personaje complejo difícil de no amar desde la primera página, incluso -o sobre todo, debería decir- con sus esporádicos toques mordaces y con su temperamento (¿qué puedo decir? amo los hombres con carácter).

“Be a gentleman, his father’s advice rang in his mind.
Sí Papá, but what do you do when she’s not a lady?”

Beth tampoco se queda atrás. Me temía en un principio encontrar en ella el típico personaje –ay-dios-mío-lo-amo-pero-no-soy-lo-suficiente-para-él y quizás así me lo pareció en el principio, pero pronto demostró ser muy madura y, sobre todo, decidida, mucho más fuerte de lo que ella misma creía que sería sin perder la dulzura que la caracteriza. Hija de una madre que nunca quiso quedar embarazada, Beth está sobreponiéndose a la repentina muerte de su abuela y no deja de salir de su asombro cuando Salva, de quien está enamorada desde hace tiempo, entra a su vida por los motivos más inesperados.

“Salva, you can’t hide from yourself.”

Más inesperada todavía es la inmediata atracción que pulsa entre ellos, atracción que parece desafiar las expectativas y a los prejuicios que los separan. Porque, ¿qué pueden tener en común dos personajes tan diferentes? Bueno, Osterlund tejió con maestría sus personalidades y la respuesta es simple: sus sueños. Pero ese no fue el único rasgo que hizo que amara tanto la historia y su relación. Salva y Beth son mucho más que un par de adolescentes que se conocen y tres segundos después están declarando su amor (¡cómo odio eso!). No. El avanzar de las páginas trae consigo una conexión entre ellos que trasciende lo físico y que inicia un fuerte vínculo en el que cada uno saca lo mejor del otro.

“Salva was immortal (…).
Unless she had broken him.
Unless she had made him breakable.”

‘Salvation’ es, entonces, más que una bonita historia con excelentes personajes principales y líneas divertidas. Me gustó mucho que tocará temas diversos como las dificultades de los inmigrantes, la incertidumbre hacia el futuro, lo complejas que pueden resultar las relaciones familiares y, ¡dios mío!, las referencias a obras literarias y poemas (particularmente cierta, hmm, ¿mención? a Romeo y Julieta, si entienden lo que quiero decir). Otro punto a favor del libro es que a pesar de que está narrado en tercera persona llegamos a conocer y a entender con exactitud los pensamientos de ambos personajes, además de que ver ambos puntos de vista enriquece mucho la historia. Y luego está esa portada tan hermosa… *suspiro*

De hecho, sólo hubo dos cosas que creo que Osterlund pudo haber hecho mucho mejor. Primero, que aunque existen buenos personajes secundarios -como los amigos de Salva y Beth (particularmente Pepe, Char y Nalani), sus profesores (amé a The Mercenary) y sus padres- algunos no están del todo desarrollados y su rol en la historia no es muy claro. Segunda y última pega, las palabras en español. Entiendo que con ellas se pretendía darle más realismo a la historia pero sinceramente me parece extraño que en medio de una frase totalmente en inglés aparezca una única palabra y al menos en mi edición (que dice “Advance uncorrected proofs”, así que quizás no deberían mucho hacerme caso) existen algunos errores como “tresciento” y “toma este plato a Char”.

En resumen, pese a mis pocas pegas, ‘Salvation’ es un libro conmovedor, entretenido y con un final inesperado (alcancé a asustarme, se los juro) que los atrapará desde el principio y que consolida a Anne Osterlund como una de las más brillantes autoras del género YA. Realmente, realmente, realmente espero que haya una continuación. Ahora entiendo qué quiso decir la autora cuando describió su libro como una “mezcla entre ‘Química Perfecta’ y ‘Romeo y Julieta’”: combina con maestría la frescura y la contemporaneidad con la introspección y el romance. Definitivamente estoy de acuerdo con ella: no pueden conocer su verdadera historia hasta que conocen a Salva y a Beth.
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Jan 17, 2013 Anu CN rated it 4 of 5 stars

ok! dat was different!
and definitely NOTHING like the 'Perfect Chemistry' series i was expecting!

it was more than just romance
it was more about Salva and his struggle to find his 'salvation'
story line is pretty neat
dint go as i predicted at all
so it ensured i read through the entire book just to know what happens next
Beth and Salva were really cute
i really hope the long distance works for them

that being said, as much as i try to ignore it or stay in denial, the book lacked the 'oomph' factor
i m...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Celestine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Gosh look at that cover!!!

Okay enough gushing. Salvation seemed to me at first to be a book about the cliche story of the popular jock and the quiet, mousey girl going about their lives until suddenly.....boomz! And they suddenly found that they had been missing their one true love standing right in front of them their whole life. (Don't mind me but I actually love these kind of books).

But rather, Salvation encompassed so much more than that. Salvation is about dreams and ambition, about growing...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-young-adult, read-in-2013

I read Salvation at the recommendation of Candace at Candace's Book Blog, who was kind enough to lend me her copy. I am so thankful that I read Salvation because I found it to be a quietly profound story that snuck up a shocked me with its beauty.

Salva and Beth were both characters that most readers will immediately fall in love with a root for. They both have profound circumstances that could hold them back, but they each struggle against the past and what is expected of them to move forward....more

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Feb 01, 2013 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-ya-contemp

Salvation was the perfect book to start my year with. It's a more serious contemporary story with a great message. Anne Osterlund's first contemporary novel greatly impressed me.

Salvation is the story of Salva Resendez and Beth Courant, two very different people. Salva is smart, funny, popular, kind, and the all-around good guy. Beth is known as the walking disaster area. She's smart and kind but she's a little odd and she lives on the edges of high school society. When chance throws the two tog...more Salvation was the perfect book to start my year with. It's a more serious contemporary story with a great message. Anne Osterlund's first contemporary novel greatly impressed me.

Salvation is the story of Salva Resendez and Beth Courant, two very different people. Salva is smart, funny, popular, kind, and the all-around good guy. Beth is known as the walking disaster area. She's smart and kind but she's a little odd and she lives on the edges of high school society. When chance throws the two together they realize that maybe they aren't that different after all, at least in some aspects. However, their few differences threaten to ruin anything they might have together.

The characters are the best part of the book. Salva, Beth, Nalani, Luka, Pepe, all of them are unique and wonderful in their own ways. Salva is a wonderful guy who definitely managed to make me fall for him (along with Beth, obviously.) He was not only a football star but also the school valedictorian and class president. He was a very well-rounded character when the book began but he was even better by the end. Beth was a little crazy but in the best possible way. She was quirky, cute, funny, and kind. She was so easy to relate to (especially with her long-time crush on Salva.) Nalani was Beth's best friend and she truly loved Beth no matter what other people thought. Luka was a good guy though he didn't play a huge role in the story. Pepe really added some humor to an otherwise rather serious book. He was a bit of a playboy but he was a good guy at heart.

The story was pretty much your typical contemporary high school romance for most of the book. There was quite a bit of build up leading to Beth and Salva's relationship but that was honestly what I liked best. Beth and Salva's relationship was very fleshed out and there was no case of insta-love here. The romance was not the sole focus of the book however. There were college worries and life worries and it was a very realistic portrayal of a high school senior's life. The big shocker though came close to the end. Let me just say, I did not see it coming and I was thoroughly torn up by it. By the end of the book I had tears running down my face and I definitely needed some tissues with this one.

Overall, Salvation is one to check out. It's clear that Anne Osterlund doesn't just succeed with historical stories but contemporary ones as well.(less)

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Jan 29, 2013 Nikki rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one. It's nice to see a book about Mexican-American main character. There are so many books about white, middle class characters -- but that's not America.

Salva(dor), a talented and well-liked high school senior, struggles with the balance between maintaining excellent grades and his demanding family life. With a traditional Mexican home life, family means everything to Salva. His mother passed away years earlier, but Salva's parents gave everything for a different life for their...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Shanelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, contemporary-romance

Had a whole "Three Idiots" episode midway into the book, which predictably made me cry because STOP WRITING MY LIFE STORY! ~~(Except I was so not a jock and all-around god in high school. Also nope to the teen romance. Tho yes to unrequited crush.)~~

Then just when I was feeling the "Why is all this very familiar.. Oh, right, this was ME seven years ago." vibe, the story made a very shocking and unexpected turn which quite jolted me out of my very pleasant (*sarcasm*) bout of introspection. That plot...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Alicia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: tablet

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 14, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Only Anne Osterlund could actually make me like modern day teen romance. Seriously, she is just awesome! Salva and Beth are real, interesting and complex people,completely unafraid to be as crazy as people can get. The problems they undergo are intriguing and certainly make readers think about immigrants and their plight in American society today. The romance is wonderful in this book, super sweet yet real at the same time. All in all, a wonderful, light read that is still heavy enough to make y...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Candace rated it 5 of 5 stars

For me, while this wasn't an issue book, it was a very powerful read. And an important one. The thing that really hit me hard and made me think so much was that Salva is from an immigrant family. His parents got Visa's so they're legal, but they don't necessarily have anything easy. His father works incredibly hard so that Salva can study hard and be the best he can be. And Salva is the head of the class, the most popular, the smartest, the class president... the list goes on. But Salva's mother...more For me, while this wasn't an issue book, it was a very powerful read. And an important one. The thing that really hit me hard and made me think so much was that Salva is from an immigrant family. His parents got Visa's so they're legal, but they don't necessarily have anything easy. His father works incredibly hard so that Salva can study hard and be the best he can be. And Salva is the head of the class, the most popular, the smartest, the class president... the list goes on. But Salva's mother died when he was younger and he has younger sisters that he has to care for and he also feels a lot of pressure from his father. In the book we really see how hard immigrant Mexican families have it, but while some may pull their kids out of school to help out, Salva's father is the opposite. And while Salva does agree with his, he does want to be the best he can be, but his dreams are not the same as his fathers.

Finding YA books with minorities as main characters is surprisingly difficult. And when we do it's often not something that's addressed much. In this book we see that Salva is angry with the way people look down on them, how they have to give in to authority because they are afraid of being deported (or having those they know get deported). We see more of their side of things. And I think this is so important. Where I live there are a lot of Mexican immigrants. A lot of the kids were born here but they still face the prejudice and it's not in their control. Their family moved here so they can have a better life, but sometimes it's hard to find the good when they have to deal with so much. Salva has things good as far as that goes, but we see how it is, what his father fears and all that. This is an important subject because so many people don't think to see things from the other side.

Okay, enough about that. This is about Salva, who you already know about now. But Salva isn't so great in his AP English and like everything else he does he needs to do well. So he asks the class brainiac, also called the walking disaster, Beth, to help. Beth has liked Salva for years but had finally gotten it through her head that she would never get him, so she's a bit afraid of allowing herself to get very close to him. But as you have probably figured out, they do get close and eventually more happens between them. I really loved that a lot of time passes with them working together and really getting to know each other before anything happens. So there's no insta-love and there's no love triangle. The way the romance progresses is realistic and full of that fantastic tension that we all love (at least I know, I love it). And when that kiss happens I know that you'll all swoon right out of your socks because this is not some average every day kiss. Nope, it's certainly not folks! And I loved that these two communicated. Once they were declared a couple, anyway. There's not a ton of drama involved and that was like a breath of fresh air for me. Loved that!

This felt more like Salva's story to me, but we get a lot of Beth's story as well and see what she's thinking and has going on. She has an absent mother and is still grieving the loss of her grandmother. While her issues weren't as numerous as Salva's she's definitely going through stuff as well. And she's was a strong character with a strong personality. While she may duck her head around school to avoid being made fun of, she doesn't hesitate to tell Salva straight up what she thinks about his situation and schoolwork, etc.

I loved this book. Absolutely loved it! The story, the characters, the romance, it's all great! And while it may all seem so predictable and all that, it's not. There's actually a big thing that happens at the end that totally surprised me.

While I would think this is probably a stand alone I would love a sequel or a companion. I want to know how things go in their future and I would definitely love more of these characters!

You can find this review, and others like it at http://www.candacesbookblog.com (less)

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Apr 13, 2013 Bayla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, non-white-characters

This is one of those times when I regret the limited options that is the Goodreads star rating system - I liked this book, but not as much as Aurelia, which I also gave 3 stars - but whatever, I can handle it. I liked Beth and her literature/writing/feelings based life, and I also liked Salva, but I wish Beth hadn't been one of those girls who is obsessed with guy for years before he notices her. I understand that that can happen, but it makes Beth seem needier than I thought she was - or wanted...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Janhvi rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

With its beautiful cover and intriguing summary Salvation seemed to catch my interest the first time I saw it. It was a good read. Some things were the same while some weren't. If you go in without any expectations this book just might surprise you. It was a fairly quick read which you could get over with in a few hours of time.

Salvation is the story of Salva. To his friends he appears to be perfect and he is to a certain extent. He's the student body president, quarterback of the foo...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Rachmi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, contemporary-romance

I always love reading story with opposite characters. Although there are many books with story like this, I never get enough reading it. And what could be more interesting reading a book about a quiet nerd girl who falls in love with a popular school athlete boy.

Salva is a son from Mexican immigrant. His father believes in order to improve their live he has to have good education. So he makes his way to became valedictorian, he also a talented athlete. Unlike his friends, he wants to pursuit it...more I always love reading story with opposite characters. Although there are many books with story like this, I never get enough reading it. And what could be more interesting reading a book about a quiet nerd girl who falls in love with a popular school athlete boy.

Salva is a son from Mexican immigrant. His father believes in order to improve their live he has to have good education. So he makes his way to became valedictorian, he also a talented athlete. Unlike his friends, he wants to pursuit it outside his town. He dream big and set his hope high. Until his senior year, he hasn’t met someone who has dream as big as his. Then he met Beth. She’s a daughter from a single parent mother. She’s clever and ambitious. She put her dream on one of Ivy leagues universities. All she cares about is reach her dream and not to end up like her mother. And just like other female students, she has a crush on Salva.

What I like from this book:
- As a YA contemporary, this book was not only about high school romance but also about culture and prejudice. Being a minority citizen, Salva’s father has some kind of prejudice to his surrounding and people in common. While Salva who is more American than Mexican thought he should think and act out of the box. Salva’s father with his prejudice has reasons to think like that as much as Salva. The prejudice and culture clash describe well in this story. It gave me more description about Mexican immigrant more than other YA contemporary books that I have read.

- The Shakespeare Play. I don’t know whether it really happen in high school or not, but I like the idea to play certain part from English literature anywhere around the school. I think it’ll make student more interested in English literature. A scene when Salva and Beth played was awesome. I can picture it and feel it.

- There are surprises along the story. I love the unpredictable story. Story with twists and surprises. This book have it, in some parts, I could not guess where the story goes.

What I didn’t quite like:
- I have a problem to feel Salva & Beth relationship. It wasn’t insta-love. Their relationship built months before admit their feeling. But all the time their spent their time together didn’t feel real to me. And when they admit each other feeling, I feel it was too rush though they have spent time together for a couple of months.

- A couple of time the narrator said a few months has passed but didn’t describe what happen on those months other than Salva & Beth studied together. It made me feel less connected to the story and their relationship.

I think it’s better if the story written through Salva or Beth’s POV or even both of them POV instead of third person. It’ll make the story more connected to me because I’ll get more pictures about Salva & Beth’s feeling. But in the end I still like this sweet story.
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