reviews
Jan 06, 2011
Phoebe
rated it: 
Fourteen-year-old Jace Adams is a musical genius but doesn't really know it. He just loses himself in the music every time he picks up his cello. The rest of his life isn't so great, with a brother in and out of prison, a mother who hits the road whenever things get tough, and the prospect of another new school in another new town for a few months before things change again. But as Jace begins to settle in to his life in Seattle with his great-aunt Bernice and some actual friends, he finds ou
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Aug 25, 2010
Claire
rated it:
It took a couple of chapters to grok with Jace. The book is written in first person and Jace is justifiably furious with his mother. He is Afro American in a true sense, his Irish dad split before he was born, his mom, a beautiful black woman get twitchy and moves every few months.
Jace is always the new kid with the cello (kind of hilarious). He possesses immense talent that his mother and brother have nurtured despite their personal demons. Now Jace has been uprooted to Seattle. He More...
Jace is always the new kid with the cello (kind of hilarious). He possesses immense talent that his mother and brother have nurtured despite their personal demons. Now Jace has been uprooted to Seattle. He More...
Apr 06, 2011
Doret
rated it:
Jace Adams and his mom are never in one place too long. The only constant in Jace's life since he was six is playing the cello. Jace will be starting his freshman year at a new school in a new state.
"In fact, it's been so crazy the past couple of years I've barely had enough time to figure out the location of the safe bathrooms at a school before mom hauls me off somewhere new - again. But she always has a very good reason : better job, shorter commute, more money, nicer apartme More...
"In fact, it's been so crazy the past couple of years I've barely had enough time to figure out the location of the safe bathrooms at a school before mom hauls me off somewhere new - again. But she always has a very good reason : better job, shorter commute, more money, nicer apartme More...
Jul 26, 2011
Rene
rated it:
This was pretty good. Seattle-based story about a boy whose mom is flighty to say the least. They end up living with her sister, his aunt, near Greenlake, his bedroom is in a shed outside until the mom leaves town with a man for Colorado.
Our hero, Jace, is a cello player and he's good. When he starts at Franklin High, he is immediately embroiled in a fight with football players who take a major disliking to him; joins the orchestra with people he has to prove himself to. He's a g More...
Our hero, Jace, is a cello player and he's good. When he starts at Franklin High, he is immediately embroiled in a fight with football players who take a major disliking to him; joins the orchestra with people he has to prove himself to. He's a g More...
Aug 01, 2010
Edi
rated it: 
Jace changes schools every few months because his mother is unable to keep a job or a man. She loses them, and moves on, her child in tow. With so many new schools in his life, why does Wenberg choose to tell us about Jace’s stint in Seattle when in fact, Jace plans to return to California where he can hit the surf as soon as he can? Wenberg tells us about Seattle because this is the place that will matter to Jace. It’s where he actually makes friends, falls in love and finds his true gifts. It’
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Feb 28, 2011
Danie
rated it: 
As if he weren't considered an oddball for surfing, Jace also plays the cello. His mom moves to Portland to follow a lead for a new job and Jace of course has to follow. He has moved so many times he can't remember and his only friend has been his cello.
When his mom moves in the middle of the night and he's left to stay with his Auntie, who can be not so nice Jace finally has the opportunity to settle down and make some friends.
Excellent realistic fiction read that deals with race, More...
When his mom moves in the middle of the night and he's left to stay with his Auntie, who can be not so nice Jace finally has the opportunity to settle down and make some friends.
Excellent realistic fiction read that deals with race, More...
Mar 21, 2011
Katrina
rated it:
Jace Adams lives a life with no stability and very little family. His mother has moved him from place to place, and he has even slept in a car at times. His brother, Derrick, is in jail and his dad is not in the picture because he left before Jace was born. The last place Jace and his mother lived was California where he could at least enjoy his love of surfing, but now they have moved to Seattle. Jace doesn't expect life to be good in this city, and he doesn't expect to make any friends. At lea
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Sep 22, 2010
Life hasn t been easy for Jace Adams, a mixed-race teen whose mom moves them from one place to another so often that sometimes he's been in four schools in a single year. To cope with all that instability, Jace has vowed to never let himself get attached to anyone or anything--other than his beloved cello. But when his mom takes them to Seattle, where they're living with
Reluctant readers FIC Wenberg 334350
Reluctant readers FIC Wenberg 334350
Jan 21, 2011
Ricki
rated it:
Jace is used to moving. His mother has forced him to change schools numerous times, and he is just waiting until she decides to move again. As a mixed race (African-American/Irish) teen, he is used to people looking at him in a funny way as he plays his cello on street corners.
I'd give this book 3.5 stars. As I read it, I had a strong desire to buy a cello and take string lessons.
I'd give this book 3.5 stars. As I read it, I had a strong desire to buy a cello and take string lessons.
Jan 18, 2011
Kiirsi
rated it:
I liked the overall premise of this book...it was different and unusual. (African-american teen boy is a cello genius.) The protagonist was appealing mostly. I didn't like all the profanity, and some of the writing wasn't the best. Overall, a worthwhile book to read and an engaging story and characters for the most part.
Jan 31, 2011
Jeanne
rated it:
I enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't deep, just enjoyable reading with everything turning out ok in the end.
I especially like that the main character played a musical instrument that is not typical for a teen. Jace emphasized that he likes all genres of music. - It just had to be GOOD music.
I especially like that the main character played a musical instrument that is not typical for a teen. Jace emphasized that he likes all genres of music. - It just had to be GOOD music.
May 18, 2010
Amy
rated it:
An extremely well-written and engaging story of a boy who becomes a confident man-to-be with a little help from his music-loving friends. Even as an adult, I found this story to be encouraging and inspirational. Definitely worth the read.
Dec 16, 2010
Susannah
rated it:
This was definitely YA. Very short, easy read. I thought it was fun, if sometimes kind of depressing, but the music part was enjoyable to me.
May 20, 2011
I like this book because it's about this kid that is playing the cello. This book is so inteesting nice book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 25, 2010
Michael
rated it:
Okay, it's my book...so I gotta give it five stars.
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