When the Stars Go Blue

Jan 29, 2011 Janina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, contemporary, on-my-shelf, covers-i-love, music, available-for-swapping, titles-i-love, beware-love-triangle, just-plain-boring, romance

Yawn. Sorry, but this book is boring me to death. I am really disappointed. I had pretty high expectations for it – silly me – and those weren’t met at all. I made it until around page 160, skimmed the next 100 pages and then ‘read’ – leaving out a few sentences/ paragraphs every now and then – until the end, simply because I wasn’t willing to give up on it entirely.

The premise sounded so intriguing to me: A modern retelling of Carmen, including a heroine who loves to dance and works hard to mak...more Yawn. Sorry, but this book is boring me to death. I am really disappointed. I had pretty high expectations for it – silly me – and those weren’t met at all. I made it until around page 160, skimmed the next 100 pages and then ‘read’ – leaving out a few sentences/ paragraphs every now and then – until the end, simply because I wasn’t willing to give up on it entirely.

The premise sounded so intriguing to me: A modern retelling of Carmen, including a heroine who loves to dance and works hard to make her dreams come true, finds love on the way and has to make an important decision between two boys. I used to love stories revolving around ballet and dance when I was younger, and as I had wanted to read something by Caridad Ferrer for a long time, When the Stars Go Blue seemed like the perfect opportunity. I had expected a passionate love story, dance and music that get under the skin, strong and fierce main characters. Instead I got a lame romance without chemistry including a boy that gave of seriously creepy, possessive vibes, a heroine I only sort-of liked but never really felt for and endless descriptions of rehearsals and performances that got boring pretty soon. The only character I liked was the other boy, but his role was a subordinate one until about two thirds into the book.
Also, the author didn’t seem to be too familiar with the principle of showing, not telling. Soledad talked about Jonathan’s presence the whole time, that he made her feel dizzy and that she was falling head over heels in love, but I just never felt it. The same goes for the feeling dancing gives her. I was only told how great and important it was to her, how she felt on stage, but it never got under my skin. I didn’t see it in her behaviour, words or gestures.

Also, the explosive encounter the summary mentions? About 80 pages before the end. Seriously, why is something that happens so late even mentioned in the summary? I was waiting and waiting for it to happen.

So sorry I spend money on this book. And I definitely don’t recommend it.
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Feb 20, 2012 Arushi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-tears-need-a-bucket, romance, ending-should-be-illegal, young-adult, i-just-died

It’s scary. Being in the center of that much love. So scary - and thrilling and...potent. And I know it goes both ways. My hold on him is as strong as his is on me. He’ll never leave.

When the stars go blue is the story of a Latina ballet dancer, Soledad. She was brought up by her Cuban grandmother ever since her mother just abandoned her and disappeared off to somewhere. About to graduate from her High School for the Performing Arts, Soledad has the whole summer planned She knows what she’s go...more
It’s scary. Being in the center of that much love. So scary - and thrilling and...potent. And I know it goes both ways. My hold on him is as strong as his is on me. He’ll never leave.

When the stars go blue is the story of a Latina ballet dancer, Soledad. She was brought up by her Cuban grandmother ever since her mother just abandoned her and disappeared off to somewhere. About to graduate from her High School for the Performing Arts, Soledad has the whole summer planned She knows what she’s going to do and where she’s going to do it until a distraction hits her in the form of Jonathan, her classmate of four years who has different plans for her. To be the Carmen of his drum corps. This book is all about that one choice which can - and really does- turn Soledad’s world upside down.

Ay Dios mío. I can safely say I haven’t ever read a book that is so, so hard to review. Soledad is a likable character. I can relate to her because I did ballet in school for a semester and I know how the slippery, smooth hardwood floor feels when you jeté and chassé across it. Soledad is filled with life and energy and I’m sure she can suck you in as she explains her love for dance and why she feels inclined to do it. To release her emotions. To feel.

Jonathan himself was sweet and adorable at start and I immediately liked him and his funny nature. I adored how he made me Soledad feel and even though I was riled about the instant attraction and love between them that was just there since the starting of the book, I accepted it and understood why it wasn’t stretched out. I know that a relationship was needed before they left for the tour but believe it or not, I felt like Ferrer could have given them both at least fifty more pages until they started jumping each other’s bones. I still calmed myself and waited to be blown away.

I wasn’t let down.

The twist in this book is the mother of all twists and while I read on, I completely lost myself in the book. I'm still not in check with my emotions but I know for sure that soon I'm either gonna start laughing like a crazy lady or break down on the floor and cry oceans in a few hours.

This book is an exquisite mixture of dancing, love, family issues, music and corps and the author made sure she incorporated each of them with enough detail and passion. I don’t wanna ruin this for anyone but I can damn well say you will be mind-blown when you reach the ending.
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Dec 05, 2010 Tara Chevrestt marked it as dnf

Shelves: 2010-release, ya

DNF. I tried. I picked it up over and over again, but I was bored to death. In all fairness, had I paid closer attention to the summary when I pre ordered it rather than drool over the lovely cover and the fact it's a Latina heroine, I would have known it wasn't for me. It's just a love story and then a love triangle. Not action packed enough for me and I wasn't really feeling the romance because it seems to have popped up out of thin air and just suddenly within a day... too unbelievable for me...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Livin' la Vida Latina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Sandra Lopez, author of "Esperanza" and "Beyond the Gardens
Member of Livin' la vida Latina

Review: After reading Adios to my old life, you can bet how much I was looking forward to the next thing from Caridad Ferrer; so you can imagine how I felt when When the stars go blue finally came out.

Soledad is your typical aspirational dancer with an a-typical body--curvaceous and hippy as opposed to flat and stick-like. I've always wanted to know what it was like to lead the dancer's life...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Sandra Lopez rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review: After reading Adios to my old life, you can bet how much I was looking forward to the next thing from Caridad Ferrer; so you can imagine how I felt when When the stars go blue finally came out.

Soledad is your typical aspirational dancer with an a-typical body--curvaceous and hippy as opposed to flat and stick-like. I've always wanted to know what it was like to lead the dancer's life. Watching movies like Center Stage and Honey helped, but I found them to be a bit too flashy. I liked tha...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Maggie Desmond-O'Brien rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there has never been a contemporary romance I enjoyed more than When the Stars Go Blue. Coming from someone who reads so little romance to begin with, perhaps that is an uninformed compliment. Maybe it was just that this book was perfect for me. But considering how smart, sassy, and just plain brilliant it was, I'm fairly certain I'm not wrong.

Three things that made this book above and beyond for me? One, the fact that Soledad isn't a tortured eating-d...more

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Apr 03, 2011 Miss rated it 4 of 5 stars

Umm why do I read so much paranormal YA again? Clearly all the best authors are writing contemporaries. I am in love with this book. I meant to just read the first chapter in the book store to see if I liked the writing and I ended up sitting down and reading through the whole thing in a few hours.

This came along at a good time for me. Lately I’ve been really frustrated with the state of YA romance. Why does so much of it suck? There are very few YA relationships that haven’t pinged me as unreal...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Tahleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen, romance, retellings

Soledad, incredibly talented dancer and recent high school graduate, knows exactly what she wants for her future. The summer after graduation, she plans on teaching at a ballet studio and, come January, will move to NYC to make her dream of dancing professionally a reality. But then an incredible opportunity presents itself: to play Carmen, the passionate gypsy of opera fame, in a drum and bugle corps for the entire summer on a tour of the country. Plus, she'll be spending time with the intoxica...more Soledad, incredibly talented dancer and recent high school graduate, knows exactly what she wants for her future. The summer after graduation, she plans on teaching at a ballet studio and, come January, will move to NYC to make her dream of dancing professionally a reality. But then an incredible opportunity presents itself: to play Carmen, the passionate gypsy of opera fame, in a drum and bugle corps for the entire summer on a tour of the country. Plus, she'll be spending time with the intoxicating and beautiful Jonathan, her classmate, a corps member, and the one who presented her with the idea in the first place.

Soledad's world is opened by her experiences in the strict corps, and her dancing is all the better for it. But her story doesn't just include a performance as Carmen; it mirrors it. It's clear after a few encounters that another is after her affection, and the results may spell ruin for Soledad and for her future.

For Valentine's Day, I wanted to pick a book that dealt with love, but also with passion. I figured a book based on the story of Carmen was a perfect fit, and I was right. Soledad and Jonathan's romance is fast and furious—the attraction is instantaneous, when Soledad notices Jonathan for the first time. Despite his crush on her for the four years they've been in high school together, he has never gotten the nerve to talk to her before his idea to have her audition as Carmen, and it's immediately clear that his passion has been burning for a long time, all but exploding when Soledad begins to return the affection.

What I love about this book is how real all of the relationship felt to me. In high school, things do happen that fast. "I love yous" are exchanged, and you'll spend as much time as possible together. The interactions are believable, especially Jonathan's jealousy and slight possessiveness. This being their first real relationship, both Soledad and Jonathan are feeling it out and learning what it means to be in a relationship, though not always in a positive way.

Soledad narrates, and her language is spot on. It has just the right amount of cursing, and rarely did I think Ferrer tried too hard with making her sound like a teen. She did a fantastic job with that. My only complaints are the overuse of elipses throughout the text—some places it worked, but I got annoyed with them more often than not—and the chapter titles, which seemed to be all song titles. Again, some worked, but for some I was confused about the link between the title and content.

And let's talk about the corps for a minute. I loved reading about the marching and the performances; I was in marching band in high school and didn't particularly like it, but I had a pride in being a part of it. It's nothing compared to what this corps was like though. The intensity and precision, the descriptions of everything, are fantastic. And Soledad's description of her dancing is thrilling to read.

This is a great story about first love and incredible passion, yet also shows which behaviors can be harmful. Plus, a modernization of Carmen? Awesome. Ferrer does a lovely job at bringing the emotion and power of the opera into a modern teen context. I couldn't have asked for a better Valentine's Day read.(less)

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Jan 09, 2011 Kyleigh rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don’t know why I continually go into non-paranormal YA books with such low expectations, but I sure need to stop because I keep getting blown away. The synopsis is rather vague so I didn’t really know what to expect, but I am very glad I read this.
There are so many odd coincidences in this book that relate to my life. The MC is Cuban. My Spanish teacher is Cuban. Soledad and her grandma speak Spanish on and off. I understood all of it! (most of the time…) They made references to Princess Brid...more I don’t know why I continually go into non-paranormal YA books with such low expectations, but I sure need to stop because I keep getting blown away. The synopsis is rather vague so I didn’t really know what to expect, but I am very glad I read this.
There are so many odd coincidences in this book that relate to my life. The MC is Cuban. My Spanish teacher is Cuban. Soledad and her grandma speak Spanish on and off. I understood all of it! (most of the time…) They made references to Princess Bride. I LOVE that movie! The story revolves around a Bugle Corps! Marching band is totally my thing. This is the first time ever I have felt that a book had been written specifically for me to enjoy! It was that amazingly close! Kind of freaky… but awesome at the same time. ^.^
Soledad was awesome. I love her rough independence and determination. Dance is her true passion in life, and she will do anything to make her dream a reality. She has had an unconventional upbringing, but she doesn’t let her tragic past intrude on her life. When asked to portray the role of Carmen by cute band geek Jonathon , Carmen is at first a bit reluctant. When shown the hard work and dedication of the Bugle Corps, Soledad realizes that it is definitely up her ally. Romance blooms and Soledad falls in love for the first time. While Jonathon and Soledad’s relationship grows, what constitutes a normal relationship and what may be just a bit too possessive, problems arise. Soledad becomes annoyed with little things that Jonathon does, but she just dismisses them away as normal relationship behavior. It truly is confusing to think about. What is “normal” relationship behavior? God I certainly am not the person to ask. Anyway I won’t go too into it. All I will say is that I believe that Jonathon is truly in love with Soledad. Does that love justify his actions? Absolutely not. However, I do sympathize with him and surprisingly enough do not hate his guts. Shocking, no?
I was amazed by how well the author captured the essence of “marching band”. I mean it was just so well described! The true essence of working together as an entire unit, being able to accomplish what you set out to do, and ultimately knowing you rocked the snot out of your show is something that no outsider can truly appreciate. Only us band geeks truly know the epic-ness of which it describes. The author did a truly amazing job capturing the intense raw emotions of the characters. The passion, the fury, the just raw edge of competition, and fierce drive. Beautifully done! It’s difficult to put it into words, but there was just something about this book that really struck a chord in me. It both stresses the importance of following your dreams, but at the same time it stresses the importance of not letting others live through you. You can’t let people pressure you into doing anything that you do not want, and despite your dreams, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. You have to be adaptable and move past what you desire, and accept what you can truly accomplish. However, life lessons aside, the messages this book sends does not overwhelm the novel.
Maybe this novel just really spoke to me because there were so many connections to my life. I have no idea… I just really enjoyed it. I’m sure fellow band geeks will adore this novel just as much as I did and non-band geeks alike. It was just a wonderful story that a lot of teens will enjoy. I hope to read further books by the author, and I’m sure I’ll adore them just as much. (less)

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Oct 20, 2010 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog, own

Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer is all the cover suggests it to be- stunningly beautiful.

It is the story of Soledad, and passionate and gifted dancer, hurt by her past but full of life and love, and ready to give. It is the story of Jonathan, an intense and brilliant musician, damaged by his past and present and scared of the love he's giving. It is the story of Carmen, a sultry gypsy who jilts her jealous lover for an...more Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer is all the cover suggests it to be- stunningly beautiful.

It is the story of Soledad, and passionate and gifted dancer, hurt by her past but full of life and love, and ready to give. It is the story of Jonathan, an intense and brilliant musician, damaged by his past and present and scared of the love he's giving. It is the story of Carmen, a sultry gypsy who jilts her jealous lover for another and meets with tragedy because of it.

Before you read this book, I strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with the story of Carmen. (Link takes you to Wikipedia page- which is a good place to start).

Soledad is asked by Jonathan to play the part of Carmen as a dancer in the drum and bugle corps he is a part of. She eventually agrees, largely in part because of her growing relationship and fascination with Jonathan. Their relationship quickly takes off, and it's easy to see why Soledad falls so hard for him so quickly. He's very attractive, understands her dedication and passion for dance, because he shares it for music, and he thinks she is the center of his world. It's a heady feeling to be the recipient of that much love and passion, and it's easy to understand how a young girl, experiencing love for the first time could get so wrapped up in him. Soledad is just as involved with Jonathan as he is with her. I enjoyed their relationship in the beginning, but it quickly started to scare me. Jonathan is just too intense. I would be worried for my daughter if she was involved with someone as intensely involved with and devoted to her as Jonathan is, especially at 18. Soledad becomes his world and he is possessive of her affection. He loses track of boundaries and his jealousy begins to consume his thoughts. It scares and confused and hurts Soledad because she doesn't understand why Jonathan is worried when she is so in love with him, and as devoted to him and he is to her.

I was beyond impressed with this book. Ferrer's writing is beautiful and haunting, bringing the world of dance and drum corps alive. I was involved in the band program all through school, and I've watched more than one corps perform. Ferrer captured the powerful emotions associated with that world perfectly. I could feel the chills with Soledad as she begins to learn what a corps is all about, and as she performs her routine successfully. I haven't really missed that part of my life before, but reading this story made me wish for it again.

The writing is beautiful, and the characterization is spot on. Ferrer has done a brilliant job creating multi-dimensional characters. There was not a single character I felt to be one-dimensional. Everyone had depth. The closest we come to a one-dimensional character is Jonathan's father, Marc. We learn early on that their relationship is rocky and it's easy to hate him. But as we learn more about what drives him, he's more understandable. I doubt anyone will ever like him, but I found his actions and reactions easy to believe. I've seen it before. Soledad has an amazing inner strength, one that I hope I share, but equally hope I'm never in a position to find that strength as Soledad was forced to. Jonathan appears to be perfect, in nearly every way but it doesn't take long to realize there is much buried within him, and far more than meets the eye. Raj, one of my favorite characters, describes him as one within whom still waters run deep and that becomes more and more clear as the novel progresses. Raj is good for Soledad, a close friend within the all-male corps who isn't a threat to her relationship with Jonathan, and someone who is always willing to listen and help where he can. He's also her partner, dancing as Don Jose (Carmen's jealous lover) throughout the show. Then, there's Taz. He is a Spanish soccer player, touring the United States with his Spanish team. At first, he seems a bit like just another cocky, good looking jock, but there's a lot more to him than that, and as we get to know him better, it's really easy to fall for him. Plus, he's just oozes hotness.

He is interested in Soledad and takes every opportunity to talk to her when their tours cross paths. Both teams are playing at many county fairs, so they see each other several times over the course of the tours. Each time they meet, Soledad is more and more intrigued by Taz, more interested and more drawn, and Jonathan becomes more jealous of their conversations and more possessive of her attention every time. It soon becomes complicated, and there is a sense of imminent danger. Something is about to happen, but what is unclear.

The story by itself was wonderful, but I believe it was made better by the ties it shares with Carmen. Too often when people use a previous story for inspiration, they merely retell the same story, adding a thing or two of their own, but leaving no doubt as to where the ideas came from. I don't like stories like that. I never have. I have to say, I was very impressed with the Carmen connections made, because it was easy to see the inspiration, but it was never over the top. It was still Ferrer's own story.

This is a book I think it would be a shame to miss. It has much to offer, was beautifully written and definitely captivating. The prose moves seamlessly, filled with gorgeous descriptions and evocative imagery. It's certainly a book to pick up, one that would be a great addition to almost any collection.(less)

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Apr 06, 2011 Doret rated it 4 of 5 stars

18 yr old Soledad has just graduated from a performing arts High School in Miami. She studied dance her entire life. Soledad was going to spend the saving up money to move to NYC. Soledad impulsively changes her plans when, Jonathan, another recent graduate offers up a new dance challenge and his heart.

Jonathan is a trumpet player and a member of the Florida Raiders drum and bugle crops. During the summer they compete against other drum crops. This year the all male team will be doing Carmen. Af...more 18 yr old Soledad has just graduated from a performing arts High School in Miami. She studied dance her entire life. Soledad was going to spend the saving up money to move to NYC. Soledad impulsively changes her plans when, Jonathan, another recent graduate offers up a new dance challenge and his heart.

Jonathan is a trumpet player and a member of the Florida Raiders drum and bugle crops. During the summer they compete against other drum crops. This year the all male team will be doing Carmen. After Jonathan convinces Soledad to audition the part is hers.

This book was so good. I loved Soledad. She wasn't humble about her dancing talent nor was she conceited. She simply owned it and would not allow any one to tell her otherwise.

"As I walked the length of the bleachers and out onto the floor eyeballing the dimensions and staking out a good starting spot, I heard, "What do you want to bet she'll be kiss-ass predictable and do something from Carmen? said fairly quiet, but not that quiet. My gut clenched some but otherwise? Bitch please. I met the offender's gaze head on and smiled that smile I'd learned from Mamacita - the serene,
"come too close and I'll cut you" smile. "

Soledad and Jonathan's relationship comes about fairly quickly, its very believable in its intensity. After the first few fair competitions the Raiders kept running into the same 20 and under all star soccer team from Spain. Soledad catches the eye of Taz, one of the best soccer players. Soledad knows her heart belongs to Jonathan but he just can't see that.

When the Stars go Blue is keep turning the pages good. Part of that comes with the beautiful balance. This is one of the best YA romances I've ever read, yet the author doesn't forget drum crop competition. I could see the Raiders on field with all eyes on Soledad. It was very nice to see Soledad embrace her Cuban curves.

Soledad, Jonathan, and Taz were all very good at what they do. One of the many things I liked, all three had keep practicing to continue to be the best.

This novel has one of the best middle of the book "WOW" didn't see that coming moments I've read in a long time. Ferrer totally crushed it. What made it even better, I was already very much into the story.

This modern retelling of Carmen is a must read for all artistically inclined people. And those who are simply smart enough to appreciate the beautiful art when they see it(less)

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Feb 03, 2011 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

While I was in the middle of reading this, I absolutely couldn't put it down. I was thrilled that Soledad and Jonathan's relationship started pretty much right away...since I hadn't read the back to realize this was the beginning of the dreaded love triangle. But it started off passionate and sexy and I was in love.

And all through Soledad's passionate affair with Jonathan and the new world of drum and bugle corp performance, I was right there with her, soaring with her highs and absolutely crush...more While I was in the middle of reading this, I absolutely couldn't put it down. I was thrilled that Soledad and Jonathan's relationship started pretty much right away...since I hadn't read the back to realize this was the beginning of the dreaded love triangle. But it started off passionate and sexy and I was in love.

And all through Soledad's passionate affair with Jonathan and the new world of drum and bugle corp performance, I was right there with her, soaring with her highs and absolutely crushed with her lows. Thrilled with the innocent flirtations of the handsome Spanish soccer player and crushed every time something worked to keep Soledad and Jonathan apart.

But when I finished the book, and started to reflect...it just didn't hold up.

For one thing, while Ferrer does an absolutely amazing job of describing the thrills of performance (I was never a dancer but I did theatre for most of my life, so I understand the draw of being in front of a crowd and the passion for performing), I never quite got what drum and bugle corp is about. When Jonathan shows Soledad a DVD of a performance, we're shown Soledad's reactions to the performance, but it's never quite clear how the band and the dancers work together to put on a cohesive performance. I was left with a lot more questions about the world of drum and bugle corp than I had answers by the end.

I was also really uncomfortable Jonathan's behavior, and Soledad's reactions to it. Ferrer does an amazing job of showing how a passionate relationship can quickly slip into an emotionally dangerous one, but I felt Soledad was way too willing to forgive and rationalize Jonathan's behavior in the end - and I can't help but feel in the end she's setting herself up to be hurt all over again. She tells us how her new relationship has and will be different - but I never saw any clear signs that it will be.

I wasn't familiar with Carmen going into the book, and the story of the opera is also never really fleshed out, just like the world of drum and bugle corp. However when I looked up the opera on Wikipedia, it looks like Ferrer has done an amazing job weaving in parallels between Soledad's and Carmen's stories.

But there was also a lot to like here, too. I loved Soledad's confidence in her body, even as she acknowledges she's physically different from ballerina norms. Her relationship with Mamacita is beautiful, and while her dance partner Raj flirts with some fabulous stereotypes, I did like that his presence illustrated that there was some diversity in sexual orientation in the all-male corp, and gave Soledad someone to talk about boys with in a story that has only three female characters.

There are some strong feminist moments in here that had me cheering early on - Soledad's body- and sexual confidence as well as Taz's encouragement of a little girl who dreams of playing soccer (I'll admit, I teared up a little. I'm a sucker for encouraging girls to follow their dreams!), but ultimately the reactions to Jonathan in the end left me feeling cold.(less)

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Nov 22, 2010 Kelly Hager rated it 4 of 5 stars

Soledad Reyes is a dancer. She mostly does ballet, but she’s also a fan of Latin dancing. After high school, she wants to work at a dance studio, save money and then go to New York and audition for dance companies there. That plan’s derailed when she meets Jonathan, who encourages her to audition for the role of Carmen for a drum and bugle corps. The corps will be traveling all summer, and it’ll be the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s not what she’s used to, but after seeing the corps perform, So...more

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May 19, 2012 Jackie Krasuski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ms. Ferrer, where did you march? This story is so true to drum corps, I actually found myself crying right along with Soledad as she experienced her first love and saw the world through her passion for dancing. I was disappointed to see that she made all of the same mistakes at corps that I did when I marched, but then again drum corps relationships are so unrealistic and toxic it is difficult to not get caught up in that mindset.

Overall, aside from a few editing catches (one paragraph repeated...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Haleema rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: damn-good-writing, meh-mazing, oh-not-again, i-knew-it, bull-shawarma

This one was one of the most bizarre books I've ever read. At some points, I couldn't decide whether I liked it or not.

The writing was beautiful. It flowed so remarkably, with perfect details and word choices. I enjoyed every part of it, especially when Ferrer described Soledad's dancing.

However, the protagonist was an obvious Mary Sue. She's an exquisite dancer just at the age of eighteen. She's beautiful, tall, lean, and graceful. Everyone seems to love her. But there wasn't anything awesome...more

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Sep 17, 2010 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer is a story that made a very strong impression on me. I've been lucky, this is the second book in a row I've read with a strong and resilient female protagonist.

Synopsis: Dance is Soledad Reyes’s life. About to graduate from Miami’s Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of...more When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer is a story that made a very strong impression on me. I've been lucky, this is the second book in a row I've read with a strong and resilient female protagonist.

Synopsis: Dance is Soledad Reyes’s life. About to graduate from Miami’s Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of fellow student Jonathan Crandall who has what sounds like an outrageous proposition: Forget teaching. Why not spend the summer performing in the intense environment of the competitive drum and bugle corps? The corps is going to be performing Carmen, and the opportunity to portray the character of the sultry gypsy proves too tempting for Soledad to pass up, as well as the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan, who intrigues her in a way no boy ever has before. But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad's affections appears: Taz, a member of an all-star Spanish soccer team. One explosive encounter later Soledad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened, but her entire future as a professional dancer.

This book mimics the ups and downs of dance and the arts so well. Caridad Ferrer does an amazing job of bringing the movements of Soledad's passions to life through words. I felt her pain when a performance did not go quite as expected. I felt her passion for each movement across the football field, and I felt her disappointment in knowing that the chances of becoming the star dancer she dreamed about may not come true. Of course, this book is about so much more than dance.

Caridad Ferrer does an absolutely exquisite job of interpreting Carmen for a YA crowd. Teen girls in particular are going to dive head first into the whirlwind romance that Jonathan stages for Soledad. Her passion for him is strong and seems invincible. Of course, as anyone knows, teen girl or not, no love is invincible and cracks start to surface. But the initial courtship, that whirlwind of meeting someone who matches you in passion and determination, it is off the charts for Soledad and Jonathan.

The romance in this book is center stage, no doubt. On first reading many of Jonathan's accolades and praise for Soledad, I was kind of creeped out. However, as the story continued, I feel like Ferrer did a good job of fleshing out Jonathan's character. He was a troubled boy in love with someone for the first time in his life. He did not make good decisions, but I truly believe, especially in the book's beginning, his heart was in the right place. He was not all evil, even if his actions were not worthy of the love he claimed for Soledad.

Then, there is Soledad herself who is this powerful, kick-ass female. She knows what she wants, even as she has many doubts that she will ever get there. I liked how she opened herself up to love, to passion, even knowing that it may not end well. I found her strength to be one of the best aspects of this story. It was a good mingling of both strong and weak because Soledad does realize, she cannot always be strong, cannot always pull off the brave face.

And Taz. What to even say except that I quietly fell in love with him as he made his mark across the story. There is a scene, and you WILL know the scene when you read it, that I think it would be pretty darn impossible to not give your heart over to this character. At least, it was for me.

Also, I really enjoyed the drum and bugle corps. I really learned quite a bit in this book, without it being information dumping at all. Ferrer obviously knows her stuff when it comes to the corps and it shows as Soledad and Jonathan face the pressure of performances and training. Honestly, sometimes I felt like I was sweating with Soledad as she worked on her routine yet again, trying to find that perfect balance for the very top deck of the bleachers to understand her passion for Don Jose.

I'm absolutely loving what YA authors are doing with female characters lately. I love a strong romance, don't get me wrong, but I also love truly amazing female characters and this is one of those stories. As soon as I finished my ARC, I went and pre-ordered a copy of this book. And I absolutely cannot wait to booktalk it because I know in my city, there is an audience for this book.

One word of warning (so to speak), particularly for my fellow teen librarians, this is a sexual book. Sex happens and love happens. The passion of dance translates very easily into the passion of love and I would say this is one of the most sensual YA stories I have read in quite some time. This is a compliment to the author because she conveyed this sensuality without always using intimacy, but it is also a charged story that is definitely for your upper level readers.

One final note, as Abby (the) Librarian noted, I think it would be helpful to know a little bit about Carmen before totally consuming this book. Having read Abby's review previously, on her recommendation, I looked up information about Carmen and yeah, it really just makes this story even more lush. It's not totally necessary but on the other hand, the layered details that Ferrer incorporates makes her reimagining of Carmen even more amazing. (less)

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Apr 29, 2013 Anne Osterlund rated it 4 of 5 stars

Soledad is a dancer. Dedicated to training her body to obey her every command. And to proving herself. Through hard work, auditions, and an eventual move away from her Cuban grandmother in Miami to the competitive dance world of New York.

Then Jonathan, a music student in the same performance arts school as Soledad, challenges her to audition for the role of Carmen in his dance and drum corps. To travel with them the entire summer. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s clearly interested in more t...more

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May 05, 2011 Kerri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Caridad Ferrer writes an intense story about passion - passion for dance, for music, for love. She paints a very realistic glimpse of the life of a serious dancer. She gives the Carmen-like story a modern day twist by throwing in the thrilling world of the competitive drum and bugle corps. Then to add spice she writes in a budding young romance where she allows the reader to get to know the two lead characters (Soledad and Jonathan) so well that we experience every wonderful and not so wonderful...more

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Feb 24, 2012 narajaponesa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Caridad Ferrer is one of my favorite authors because she perfectly captures her Latino characters without making them "flauntingly Latino." Yes, they are Latino but they are real in the sense that they do not exude exotic Latino characteristics at all times. This, along with her colorful writing style, makes her books absolutely delicious.

This book suffered some from very poor copy editing, and I wish it hadn't bothered me so much. That said, there were many pluses. I love that the relationship...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Audrey (holes In My brain) rated it 4 of 5 stars

read the full review on my blog, holes In My brain

WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE swept me off my feet: it was a beautiful and raw novel with such a strong main character and a well-developed plot. Soledad is a dancer; she’s not a tiny anorexic ballerina, she’s a ball of energy and power, and the author successfully conveyed her character and ambitious personality so that I felt complete in tuned with her. Within the first few chapters I completely fell in love with her strength and realism.

Soledad’s voi...more read the full review on my blog, holes In My brain

WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE swept me off my feet: it was a beautiful and raw novel with such a strong main character and a well-developed plot. Soledad is a dancer; she’s not a tiny anorexic ballerina, she’s a ball of energy and power, and the author successfully conveyed her character and ambitious personality so that I felt complete in tuned with her. Within the first few chapters I completely fell in love with her strength and realism.

Soledad’s voice is clear and vibrant, entirely engaging and filled with personality. I don’t know why, but I just loved one of the lines when she was calling one of the boys “that little shit” because it just felt so her, you know? I was miffed with the Spanish… most was unfamiliar for this non-speaker (think Perfect Chemistry times two). Secondary characters were by no means shoddy; they too were well-formed and lovable. I also want to touch on the fact that I admired how all the POC are so much more than their ethnicity.

While Ferrer managed to include so much into a novel— familial issues, first love, music, dance, the corps.. she makes sure that the story isn’t overwhelmed, it was Soledad’s journey with these little pieces transforming her summer and person. At first I really liked her romance with Jonathan (so cute!), though it moved a bit too fast for my tastes and I was afraid it would become clichéd. No, I wasn’t afraid, I was sure it would have a clichéd conclusion the more I read. The inclusion of the intriguingly hot soccer boy (who is awesome) just added to my adamant belief it was going to be “one of those stories”-- predictable, a bit emotional, but overall feel-good and overdone.

So imagine my surprise when things unravelled.

Man, the climax and everything that followed was such an impressive shocker for me, but this is important: it is not unbelievable. Ferrer managed to make the twist probable and even logical, the way she had developed the characters (splendidly) allowed me to think, “you know, that is actually pretty plausible… all things considered, I shouldn’t be surprised”.

So obviously I loved the intricacies of the plot. But another thing I loved was the whole vibe of the novel, the passion in the writing, the allusion to the opera Carmen (which I’m unfamiliar with), the dancing… things were intense, sexy and fiery, but there were also times of reflection and insecurity. Caridad Ferrer really managed to create a story with soul.

4.5/5 - because I was truly surprised and delighted by how good this book was. It has everything I wanted: a dynamic romance that doesn’t dominate, a strong protagonist, intriguing characters, cute ‘masochistic’ boys (love you Taz!), great and engaging voice, and a fantastic plot that moved like a dream. It dealt with issues with finesse, and oh, it has an ending that will amaze you. i wish I could ramble on forever, I can’t recommend this enough!!(less)

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Feb 28, 2011 Janssen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, young-adult

Kelly told me the ending on this dragged and she was right. . .it took a long long time to wrap up. In some ways I liked this book - I thought that Soledad was likable and I desperately wanted things to go right for her. I thought the whole corps thing was fun. But I thought Jonathan kind of changed at the drop of a hat and that annoyed me.

I expected it to be nothing but romance, but it really had a lot of other things going on, which I appreciated, although sometimes there were just too many "...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Carolina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: unexpected-delights, ya, feminist-and-feminist-friendly

I'm not much for romance-dominated stories, but I'm a sucker for "Carmen" and was really curious how the plot would be adapted for a contemporary teen setting. And I say, good job Ms. Caridad Ferrer! :D I really enjoyed the ride, and was glad to see that Soledad was not a heroine who let herself be completely dominated by her relationship, like some other YA heroines I've come across. She was very invested in her relationship, but still retained a sense of strength, which I really appreciated. S...more

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Dec 14, 2010 Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-it_ebook, contemporary-realistic-ya, 2010, retellings

This is a very intense and passionate novel. Which makes sense, as it is a retelling of the opera Carmen. Even though it might spoil some of the plotline in the book, I think it is a good idea to read up on a general outline of the opera before reading - to help you appreciate the spirit of the retelling.

A lot of books and movies attempt to explain the intensity and drive of serious dancers. Our MC, Soledad, is a very determined and talented dancer. She ends up taking a part dancing for a compet...more

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May 09, 2012 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a girl/woman who loves to dance but has never had this kind of passion or talent for it, this book was a dream come true. Soledad is not your typical teenage protagonist. She keeps her wits about her around this boy, she even wants space from him. (GASP) She is a strong, beautiful lady who had scars from her past but they do not overwhelm her, they don't drive her. Instead she is driven by this passion that seeps into every page of this fabulous book. I am so happy I grabbed this one off the...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

this was a very great read, i loved the cover and picked it up. I didn't see the ending coming, it was intense and gives you a glimpse of the life of teenage performers and the pressure they receive from their families. Soledad and Johnathan's relationship captures your attention from the start, and you become so aware of their feelings that you start to notice the change with in each other. Like I said you will never, never see this ending coming. I read this book in one sitting, it was a page...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Martha rated it 3 of 5 stars

As I read this book I tried to determine the plot: abusive relationship, fatal illness, or summer fun. I liked the characters especially Mamacita with her Tarot cards, her nail shop, and her lover. I also like Raj with his insight kept subtly under wraps yet revealed insightfully to the reader. I'm not sure I really liked the story because I couldn't figure out where it was heading. The writing was frequently redundant.
Given my lack of personal enthusiasm, I do believe we have an audience for th...more

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Feb 25, 2011 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

This modern retelling of Carmen is full of sultry sensuality, color, and rhythm. And uniquely from other adaptations of Carmen, it has a bittersweet coming-of-age young love theme layered into the mix.

I loved how the author reworked Carmen to make the ending transformative, and I loved the affectionate look at the Miami Cuban culture. The author does an excellent job in portraying jealous, possessive attachment and the mixed response it can elicit. There is plenty of tension in this book, and pl...more

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Sep 30, 2010 Christianne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This retelling of the opera Carmen, with some twists on the original, is such a contrast to "Jane," the retelling of Jane Eyre that I read last week. This book is beautifully written. I could feel the chemistry between Soledad and her lovers. I could understand the characters and their motivations.

Soledad is a strong woman, a good role model for teen girls I think: Disciplined, driven, with good heart, in touch with her emotions.

This book has it all for teen girls: romance, heartbreak, dreams. A...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Sarah M rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: love-triangle-beware, second-chance, summer-beach, retelling, cover-love-love, swoonworthy, new-adult

TAZ!
That's all I wish I could say about this book, although there's bunches more to say.
Soledad is a dancer. She loves dancing, breathes dancing, lives for dancing. She pretty much wants to become a famous dancer for her career.
Jonothan, a boy from school, makes her an offer to spend a whole summer performing Carmen with the bugle corps.
Soledad decides to do it because it's a chance she doesn't want to miss out on, but also because the cutie Jonathan will be with her the whole summer now.
Yea...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, own-finished-copy

I hadn't heard much about this book, but for some reason, I knew it was going to be good. The beautiful cover - a model who fits to the description of the main character! symbols that actually have something to do with the story! - had When the Stars Go Blue screaming 'read me!' And I am so glad I did.

Soledad is what makes this whole thing work. I just love, love, love Soledad. She's not at all the cliched image you have in mind when you think ballerina - she's spunky and has some serious attitu...more I hadn't heard much about this book, but for some reason, I knew it was going to be good. The beautiful cover - a model who fits to the description of the main character! symbols that actually have something to do with the story! - had When the Stars Go Blue screaming 'read me!' And I am so glad I did.

Soledad is what makes this whole thing work. I just love, love, love Soledad. She's not at all the cliched image you have in mind when you think ballerina - she's spunky and has some serious attitude, in a good way. Her confidence and insecurities are balanced perfectly - she's not the starving-herself, always-doubting-her-abilities, seriously-needs-to-grow-a-spine character the author could have easily made her out to be, but she's not the so-full-of-herself-it's-annoying dancer either. I loved reading about the feisty Soledad and her refreshing sense of humor, as well as being inside her head to know the insecurities she doesn't often let on she has. I just love Soledad - one of my favorite MCs in a long time!

The secondary characters are great, too. I don't want to say too much about them because I liked not knowing much and just seeing how the story develops and who ends up playing an important role, but they're really well done. Each one is complex and realistic. I liked reading about Jonathan's family situation and all of that. Raj is so adorable, and Taz is just... wow. I would have loved to see (even) more of those two! I liked reading about Soledad's family history, too, and Mamacita, Soledad's grandmother, is just plain awesome.

The romance is realistic - one of the most realistic romance storylines I've read in a while. The direction it ends up going is not predictable and actually took me by surprise, which is something that rarely happens with YA romance. (Not that I have anything against YA romances; they're just very predictable, often.) Jonathan's and Soledad's attraction is a little too strong in the beginning, in my opinion, and for a little while, I was dreading insta-love, but that didn't turn out to be the case at all. Their relationship develops over time, and it's flawed, complex and realistic; everything it's supposed to be.

***This paragraph contains spoilers!***
I would have liked to know a little more about Soledad's and Jonathan's fall-out and the accident. It probably has something to do with Soledad writhing in pain while it's happening and therefore not being able to explain what's happening all that well, but I would have liked what happens to be a little more clear. Maybe I'm being stupid, but it took me a while to get what happened, and I'm still not sure whether what I think is right.

The dancing is another aspect of When the Stars Go Blue I really enjoyed. I know nothing about dance, so I can't really judge any of this, but it sounds like Caridad Ferrer knows what she's talking about. The dance Soledad and the corps perform sounds amazing. I would have liked to know a little more about what, exactly, the corps are, though. In the beginning, Soledad is hesitant to join the corps because she was planning on sticking to ballet and latin dancing and because drum and bugle corps are so different from anything she's done. Maybe it's just because I know so little about dance, but I didn't see what makes it so different - her performance sounded similar to the kind of dancing she did before. Drum and bugle corps sounds strange and different, but I'm still not sure what exactly it is, and what exactly makes it so different.

I don't know what it is about it, but When the Stars Go Blue is just right. The writing is beautiful, and it sucked me right into Soledad's world - this is the kind of book where you're reading and so involved in the story you don't even notice anything going on around you. (At least it was like that for me.) With a main character I loved and won't soon forget, When the Stars Go Blue is one of the most realistic romances I've read in a long time!

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...(less)

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