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The Waiting Sky
One summer chasing tornadoes could finally change Jane's life for the better.
Seventeen-year-old Jane McAllister can't quite admit her mother's alcoholism is spiraling dangerously out of control until she drives drunk, nearly killing them and Jane's best friend.
Jane has only one place to turn: her older brother Ethan, who left the problems at home years ago for college. A summer with him and his tornado-chasing buddies may just provide the time and space Jane needs to figure out her life and whether it still includes her mother. But she struggles with her anger at Ethan for leaving home and feels guilty--is she also abandoning her mom just when she needs Jane most? The carefree trip turned journey of self-discovery quickly becomes more than Jane bargained for, especially when the devilishly handsome Max steps into the picture.
Seventeen-year-old Jane McAllister can't quite admit her mother's alcoholism is spiraling dangerously out of control until she drives drunk, nearly killing them and Jane's best friend.
Jane has only one place to turn: her older brother Ethan, who left the problems at home years ago for college. A summer with him and his tornado-chasing buddies may just provide the time and space Jane needs to figure out her life and whether it still includes her mother. But she struggles with her anger at Ethan for leaving home and feels guilty--is she also abandoning her mom just when she needs Jane most? The carefree trip turned journey of self-discovery quickly becomes more than Jane bargained for, especially when the devilishly handsome Max steps into the picture.
246 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2012
15 people are currently reading
5387 people want to read
About the author
Lara Zielin
9 books100 followersI love cheese! But I might love books more. I have written a few of them, like THE WAITING SKY and THE IMPLOSION OF AGGIE WINCHESTER and DONUT DAYS and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN: THE KEY TO NETWORKING FOR TEENS.
I'd love it if you stopped by my website, larawrites.com or found me on Twitter: @larazielin
I'd love it if you stopped by my website, larawrites.com or found me on Twitter: @larazielin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
July 29, 2012
Twister was one of my absolute favourite movies. I used to watch it over and over, fascinated by the tornadoes. Even now, years later, I find myself mesmerized by all natural disasters. They're terrifying and set on destruction, making us seem incredibly small and powerless. When I learned that The Waiting Sky consisted of storm chasers, I simply couldn't wait to get all over this! However, storms are only one of the parts that constitutes this invigorating, intense story.
Our fantastic main character, Jane, is blind to her mother's recklessness. Sure her mom's an alcoholic, but she's not "that" bad, right? Jane's denial of her situation with her mother is remarkably compelling. Even though we know it's out of control, and that Jane should stop making it so easy for her, we're thrown into Jane's shoes so completely that we get a first hand look, and feel, at how difficult it is to accept this reality. Regardless of never having been in this situation myself, it felt highly realistic with just the right blend of naivety and cynicism. Her home life is harsh with no light in sight, which is why Jane decides to join her brother's storm chaser team for the summer.
From one destroyer to another, Jane leaves her intoxicated mother behind to study literal vortexes of destruction: Tornadoes. The perfect distraction from a very emotional plot, this storm chasing side story works incredibly well to turn this dark, dreary book into a richly layered story filled with amazing charm that punctures the bleakness. The team of storm chasers comprises of a gang of excellent supporting characters that have issues and lives of their own. Victor, especially, had me intrigued with his PTSD sufferings. At first I despised his moodiness and inconsiderate behavior, but as time passed I became really fond of how he dealt with the cards that he was given. It's clearly not just the main character that has true substance in this novel. Aside from Victor, Jane's best friend Cat radiates with a power and confidence that Jane needs at the moment. She needs someone to tell her that it is NOT ok, how her mom is behaving. Even though Jane may not acknowledge it, Cat is her rock, her fierce bitch slapper. Everybody needs to get their senses slapped into place sometimes.
With fabulous characters comes a wickedly gratifying plot that involves some very serious, relatable issues, plenty of excitement, exceptional family dynamics, and a spritz of romance - It's instantly engrossing and highly character-driven. The Waiting Sky was far more than I expected; Its two story lines are perfectly tailored together to create a tale of self-discovery that left me equally thrilled and emotionally drained. Twister with a twist, is what it is!
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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
Our fantastic main character, Jane, is blind to her mother's recklessness. Sure her mom's an alcoholic, but she's not "that" bad, right? Jane's denial of her situation with her mother is remarkably compelling. Even though we know it's out of control, and that Jane should stop making it so easy for her, we're thrown into Jane's shoes so completely that we get a first hand look, and feel, at how difficult it is to accept this reality. Regardless of never having been in this situation myself, it felt highly realistic with just the right blend of naivety and cynicism. Her home life is harsh with no light in sight, which is why Jane decides to join her brother's storm chaser team for the summer.
From one destroyer to another, Jane leaves her intoxicated mother behind to study literal vortexes of destruction: Tornadoes. The perfect distraction from a very emotional plot, this storm chasing side story works incredibly well to turn this dark, dreary book into a richly layered story filled with amazing charm that punctures the bleakness. The team of storm chasers comprises of a gang of excellent supporting characters that have issues and lives of their own. Victor, especially, had me intrigued with his PTSD sufferings. At first I despised his moodiness and inconsiderate behavior, but as time passed I became really fond of how he dealt with the cards that he was given. It's clearly not just the main character that has true substance in this novel. Aside from Victor, Jane's best friend Cat radiates with a power and confidence that Jane needs at the moment. She needs someone to tell her that it is NOT ok, how her mom is behaving. Even though Jane may not acknowledge it, Cat is her rock, her fierce bitch slapper. Everybody needs to get their senses slapped into place sometimes.
With fabulous characters comes a wickedly gratifying plot that involves some very serious, relatable issues, plenty of excitement, exceptional family dynamics, and a spritz of romance - It's instantly engrossing and highly character-driven. The Waiting Sky was far more than I expected; Its two story lines are perfectly tailored together to create a tale of self-discovery that left me equally thrilled and emotionally drained. Twister with a twist, is what it is!
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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
August 15, 2012
I have to admit it: I only picked up The Waiting Sky because of its cover. While I was definitely intrigued by the unique premises of this novel, its cover really drew me in with its desperation and overall feel of melancholy. In fact, I think it’s such a perfect cover because this novel itself has a feel of such deep sadness to it, but it thankfully never becomes overwhelming. If anything, The Waiting Sky truly surprised me with its depth, unique take on alcoholism, and more than anything else, its character-driven plot.
When Jane’s mother drives drunk, nearly killing herself, Jane, and Jane’s best friend Cat, Jane is forced to accept that her mother has a serious alcoholic problem. Thus, she decides to join her elder brother, Ethan, while he storm-chases and get away from her mother. Yet, the whole time she’s there, Jane can’t help but question if she’s made the right choice, why her brother abandoned her and her mother, if her mother needs professional help, or most importantly if she is the one who needs help too.
As far as contemporary novels go, I absolutely loved this book. I really understood these characters, despite their different situations from my own, and I feel as if their stories are imprinted in me somehow. Zielin’s writing is so beautiful, subtle, and profound that it catches you completely off-guard until suddenly you’re hurting for Jane just as much as she is. Jane herself is such a deep and multi-dimensional character that I still feel as if there is a side to her that we haven’t seen. Jane is in complete denial over her mother’s situation, which may seem strange to some, but when you read about Jane’s situation, it seems completely logical. Jane simply cannot accept that her mother is truly an alcoholic – one who puts her booze before her family – and my heart broke for Jane every time when she was forced to accept that no, her mother wasn’t turning over a new leaf, she was simply spending money on her drinks again. Jane lives a really tough life, but it is evident that she loves her mother dearly, thus, her conflicting emotions over her mother’s alcoholism are gut-wrenching and her development to grow and accept the truth for what it is is both joyous and sad at the same time. I really loved the manner in which Zielin allowed Jane to mature realistically, not only in the book, but in the heart of the reader as well. I definitely feel as if the narrative voice in this is slightly different from most contemporary novels and while I can’t put my finger on the exact quality that makes it so, it definitely helps to connect the reader with this desperately torn character.
Jane aside, I loved nearly every other character in this story as well. I think what strikes me the most about The Waiting Sky is the fact that isn’t just Jane’s story, it’s the story of Cat, Jane’s best friend who is forced to watch the girl who is practically a sister to her suffer and deny the truth that is in front of her eyes; it’s the story of Ethan, the brother who feels guilty for leaving behind his sister but wants to mend their relationship so badly; it’s the story of Victor, a member of Ethan’s storm-chasing team, the Torbros, who suffers from PTSD after a dangerous accident in the middle of a storm. It’s the story of all these people and Zielin has weaved their tales simultaneously with that of Jane’s, all in the fascinating back-drop of storm-chasing. I particularly loved Jane and Ethan’s relationship as well as the friendship between Victor and Jane. I wasn’t expected them in the least, but I my heart really went out to these characters as well.
The Waiting Sky truly is a remarkable piece of fiction. While I did have a little difficulty trying to distinguish whether the plot focus was the storm-chasing adventures and the group dynamics of the team or whether it was Jane and her alcoholic mother, ultimately, these two ideas came together perfectly. I have to admit though, I wasn’t too big on the romance, but I definitely liked it. It did feel a bit too much like insta-love, but who am I to complain when this novel exceeded my expectations on every other count? I truly am in awe of Zielin’s writing talent and cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. Ultimately, I can only tell you to read this one, but if I could, I wouldn’t wait even for the sky to quit storming and creating tornadoes to give this one to you. It’s absolutely beautiful.
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
When Jane’s mother drives drunk, nearly killing herself, Jane, and Jane’s best friend Cat, Jane is forced to accept that her mother has a serious alcoholic problem. Thus, she decides to join her elder brother, Ethan, while he storm-chases and get away from her mother. Yet, the whole time she’s there, Jane can’t help but question if she’s made the right choice, why her brother abandoned her and her mother, if her mother needs professional help, or most importantly if she is the one who needs help too.
As far as contemporary novels go, I absolutely loved this book. I really understood these characters, despite their different situations from my own, and I feel as if their stories are imprinted in me somehow. Zielin’s writing is so beautiful, subtle, and profound that it catches you completely off-guard until suddenly you’re hurting for Jane just as much as she is. Jane herself is such a deep and multi-dimensional character that I still feel as if there is a side to her that we haven’t seen. Jane is in complete denial over her mother’s situation, which may seem strange to some, but when you read about Jane’s situation, it seems completely logical. Jane simply cannot accept that her mother is truly an alcoholic – one who puts her booze before her family – and my heart broke for Jane every time when she was forced to accept that no, her mother wasn’t turning over a new leaf, she was simply spending money on her drinks again. Jane lives a really tough life, but it is evident that she loves her mother dearly, thus, her conflicting emotions over her mother’s alcoholism are gut-wrenching and her development to grow and accept the truth for what it is is both joyous and sad at the same time. I really loved the manner in which Zielin allowed Jane to mature realistically, not only in the book, but in the heart of the reader as well. I definitely feel as if the narrative voice in this is slightly different from most contemporary novels and while I can’t put my finger on the exact quality that makes it so, it definitely helps to connect the reader with this desperately torn character.
Jane aside, I loved nearly every other character in this story as well. I think what strikes me the most about The Waiting Sky is the fact that isn’t just Jane’s story, it’s the story of Cat, Jane’s best friend who is forced to watch the girl who is practically a sister to her suffer and deny the truth that is in front of her eyes; it’s the story of Ethan, the brother who feels guilty for leaving behind his sister but wants to mend their relationship so badly; it’s the story of Victor, a member of Ethan’s storm-chasing team, the Torbros, who suffers from PTSD after a dangerous accident in the middle of a storm. It’s the story of all these people and Zielin has weaved their tales simultaneously with that of Jane’s, all in the fascinating back-drop of storm-chasing. I particularly loved Jane and Ethan’s relationship as well as the friendship between Victor and Jane. I wasn’t expected them in the least, but I my heart really went out to these characters as well.
The Waiting Sky truly is a remarkable piece of fiction. While I did have a little difficulty trying to distinguish whether the plot focus was the storm-chasing adventures and the group dynamics of the team or whether it was Jane and her alcoholic mother, ultimately, these two ideas came together perfectly. I have to admit though, I wasn’t too big on the romance, but I definitely liked it. It did feel a bit too much like insta-love, but who am I to complain when this novel exceeded my expectations on every other count? I truly am in awe of Zielin’s writing talent and cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. Ultimately, I can only tell you to read this one, but if I could, I wouldn’t wait even for the sky to quit storming and creating tornadoes to give this one to you. It’s absolutely beautiful.
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
March 21, 2013
There is something to be said of a storm's beauty. As rational as we are there is this awe that takes over when you see something that has so much power and elegance. You can't help feel something so incredible could be that horrible. Then you realize the storm doesn't care a whit that you are struck in wonderment, not even a little. Kind of cruel isn’t it?
Well our protagonist gets to get up close and personal with storms, more specifically tornadoes. Ethan, her older brother, is part of a tornado chasing group called the Tornado Brothers or Torbros for short. He has invited Jane to come to Oklahoma for a while now and she has never accepted, till now. Jane's mom is an alcoholic and as long as she can remember she has taken care of her but a recent event catapulted her decision to leave for the summer. A decision she can't help feel guilty about.
What I loved about this book was that Ethan's role as a brother is significant. He is definitely not a backseat character. They fight, argue, and disagree but still care deeply about each other. Jane still holds some resentment that Ethan left for college and started a new life without their mom and her. Then there is Jane's own turmoil if she is just abandoning her mother too, or can she hope to live a normal life? It can get annoying being in Jane's head but I think this quote sums up why she has such a hard time of letting go of her mom.
It's really true isn't it?
Anyways this is the first novel that I have read that talks at length about the storm chasing community. I am ashamed to admit that I hardly knew anything about it before I read this, even though I live in an area that is ripe for tornadoes. It's just plain awesome to catch their excitement when they are on a chase and understand where their passion comes from. The team members of the Torbros are a dedicated bunch; the group itself has a life of its own and each person has something valuable to contribute. Of course I have to talk about the love interest, Max, who is not part of the Torbros but one of the competing chasing teams. Yeah I know pretty scandalous. I liked Max but I have to say I thought Jane and him didn't have enough interaction before things started cooking. With that said I still got the warm and fuzzies with these two.
I felt like the novel needed to be a little longer so the reader would feel fully invested in Jane's story, but a book about chasing storms can't really be that bad. And it wasn't, it was pretty darn good in fact.
Well our protagonist gets to get up close and personal with storms, more specifically tornadoes. Ethan, her older brother, is part of a tornado chasing group called the Tornado Brothers or Torbros for short. He has invited Jane to come to Oklahoma for a while now and she has never accepted, till now. Jane's mom is an alcoholic and as long as she can remember she has taken care of her but a recent event catapulted her decision to leave for the summer. A decision she can't help feel guilty about.
What I loved about this book was that Ethan's role as a brother is significant. He is definitely not a backseat character. They fight, argue, and disagree but still care deeply about each other. Jane still holds some resentment that Ethan left for college and started a new life without their mom and her. Then there is Jane's own turmoil if she is just abandoning her mother too, or can she hope to live a normal life? It can get annoying being in Jane's head but I think this quote sums up why she has such a hard time of letting go of her mom.
“You don't go through things with people and not love them for it. It's like those guys in the army who fight in muddy trenches and drag each other out of harm's way and are blood brothers for life because of it all. Only in our case, my mom and I face eviction notices and power shutoffs together.”
It's really true isn't it?
Anyways this is the first novel that I have read that talks at length about the storm chasing community. I am ashamed to admit that I hardly knew anything about it before I read this, even though I live in an area that is ripe for tornadoes. It's just plain awesome to catch their excitement when they are on a chase and understand where their passion comes from. The team members of the Torbros are a dedicated bunch; the group itself has a life of its own and each person has something valuable to contribute. Of course I have to talk about the love interest, Max, who is not part of the Torbros but one of the competing chasing teams. Yeah I know pretty scandalous. I liked Max but I have to say I thought Jane and him didn't have enough interaction before things started cooking. With that said I still got the warm and fuzzies with these two.
I felt like the novel needed to be a little longer so the reader would feel fully invested in Jane's story, but a book about chasing storms can't really be that bad. And it wasn't, it was pretty darn good in fact.
August 16, 2012
The Waiting Sky has a pretty cool and unique premise, a summer of tornado chasing as sort of a catharsis after narrator Jane McAllister's relationship with her alcoholic mother hits rock bottom. So there's both meteorology and a tough personal story, plus parallels between the two. But even though Jane's personal growth worked for me in the end, the way she and several of the other characters are handled during the course of the book left me less than satisfied.
First off, Jane's an enabler. She's starts off really unwilling to put her foot down even though her mother's doing all sorts of, well, awful alcoholic things, like stealing money for drinks and drunk driving. Her best friend Cat provides that dose of tough love, trying to make her see reason about the whole thing. My problem though, is that Jane starts out so in denial of what's going on that her conversations with Cat are just ridiculously melodramatic - maybe it's because I wholeheartedly agree with Cat that Jane should cut her mother off, or maybe it's because I really didn't see Jane's reasoning beyond this is my life and that's just the way it is, I need to take care of my mother, but I don't think I understood Jane's position at all. There's obviously a 'right' way of doing things, Cat's way, and a 'wrong' way of doing things, Jane's way, but I just feel Lara Zielin has made Cat's way so obviously right and Jane's way so obviously wrong that I can't understand why Jane refuses to see what's right in front of her.
And what's in front of her? Her mother is just evil and completely unsympathetic. She doesn't just steal money and drive drunk, she's emotionally manipulative, a liar, maybe even bat shit crazy in a few parts. What's frustrating is that she's so transparent I could see right through her, and if that's not enough Jane's brother Ethan's also in the picture pointing out the exact same things I am, so I have an even harder time understanding Jane's hesitation to ditch her mother. Maybe with a more nuanced character, someone with a least a few redeeming qualities, I'd be able to understand Jane's attachment to her mother, but the way the character's written here, way over the top, my reaction when Jane finally confronts her mother isn't you go girl, but finally, why didn't you realize that at the beginning? I guess the whole thing's just too black and white for me when it should've been shades of gray to really maximize the impact.
I did like how the storm chasing, especially Ethan’s colleague Victor’s fear of storms, ties into Jane’s family troubles though. Didn’t think storm chasing and alcoholism could be tied together like that, seems completely unrelated right, but it’s done surprisingly well here - if Jane’s mother wasn’t so transparently awful I would totally believe Jane’s character growth came from what she learned with Ethan and Victor. For the most part, I enjoyed the storm chasing scenes far more than the alcoholic mom scenes, and there’s excitement to be had and some pretty nice supporting characters on Jane’s storm chasing team too, although rival tornado chaser Alex Atkins is another stereotypical jackass character and the drama with Max didn’t really go anywhere.
I came into this book expecting tornadoes, I definitely got that. I also got a daughter and her alcoholic mother dynamic that really overshadowed the storm chasing, nothing wrong with that in theory, adds a little personality to the story, but the way it’s done, with Jane in denial until suddenly she’s not in denial, that didn’t work for me.
First off, Jane's an enabler. She's starts off really unwilling to put her foot down even though her mother's doing all sorts of, well, awful alcoholic things, like stealing money for drinks and drunk driving. Her best friend Cat provides that dose of tough love, trying to make her see reason about the whole thing. My problem though, is that Jane starts out so in denial of what's going on that her conversations with Cat are just ridiculously melodramatic - maybe it's because I wholeheartedly agree with Cat that Jane should cut her mother off, or maybe it's because I really didn't see Jane's reasoning beyond this is my life and that's just the way it is, I need to take care of my mother, but I don't think I understood Jane's position at all. There's obviously a 'right' way of doing things, Cat's way, and a 'wrong' way of doing things, Jane's way, but I just feel Lara Zielin has made Cat's way so obviously right and Jane's way so obviously wrong that I can't understand why Jane refuses to see what's right in front of her.
And what's in front of her? Her mother is just evil and completely unsympathetic. She doesn't just steal money and drive drunk, she's emotionally manipulative, a liar, maybe even bat shit crazy in a few parts. What's frustrating is that she's so transparent I could see right through her, and if that's not enough Jane's brother Ethan's also in the picture pointing out the exact same things I am, so I have an even harder time understanding Jane's hesitation to ditch her mother. Maybe with a more nuanced character, someone with a least a few redeeming qualities, I'd be able to understand Jane's attachment to her mother, but the way the character's written here, way over the top, my reaction when Jane finally confronts her mother isn't you go girl, but finally, why didn't you realize that at the beginning? I guess the whole thing's just too black and white for me when it should've been shades of gray to really maximize the impact.
I did like how the storm chasing, especially Ethan’s colleague Victor’s fear of storms, ties into Jane’s family troubles though. Didn’t think storm chasing and alcoholism could be tied together like that, seems completely unrelated right, but it’s done surprisingly well here - if Jane’s mother wasn’t so transparently awful I would totally believe Jane’s character growth came from what she learned with Ethan and Victor. For the most part, I enjoyed the storm chasing scenes far more than the alcoholic mom scenes, and there’s excitement to be had and some pretty nice supporting characters on Jane’s storm chasing team too, although rival tornado chaser Alex Atkins is another stereotypical jackass character and the drama with Max didn’t really go anywhere.
I came into this book expecting tornadoes, I definitely got that. I also got a daughter and her alcoholic mother dynamic that really overshadowed the storm chasing, nothing wrong with that in theory, adds a little personality to the story, but the way it’s done, with Jane in denial until suddenly she’s not in denial, that didn’t work for me.
June 26, 2017
جین مک آلیستر بعد از اینکه، برادر بزرگترش اِتان برای رفتن به مدرسه، خونه رو ترک کرده، از مادرش مراقبت میکنه، قبض ها رو پرداخت میکنه، خونه رو تمیز میکنه. بعد از اینکه با دوستش کت، از یه تصادف جان سالم به در میبره، کت بهش اولتیماتوم میده که مادرش رو مجبور به ترک الکل بکنه. جین خونه رو برای رفتن به تعطیلات تابستونی ترک میکنه و داستان توی کمپ با برادرش ادامه پیدا میکنه.
نویسنده، زندگی جین و برادرش رو خوب به تحریر درآورده، مراحل جلوگیری از خود تخریب گری با دقت فراوان به نمایش گذاشته شده. جین متوجه میشه که خودویرانگری مادرش در نهایت به تخریب خود جین ختم میشه. آینده نگری و بیان دقیق اتفاقات از نقاط قوت کتابه. نصرش ساده س و سریع هم به پایان میرسه.
نویسنده، زندگی جین و برادرش رو خوب به تحریر درآورده، مراحل جلوگیری از خود تخریب گری با دقت فراوان به نمایش گذاشته شده. جین متوجه میشه که خودویرانگری مادرش در نهایت به تخریب خود جین ختم میشه. آینده نگری و بیان دقیق اتفاقات از نقاط قوت کتابه. نصرش ساده س و سریع هم به پایان میرسه.
August 9, 2012
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be powerful. Zielin's writing left me breathless as I experienced the chaos of living with an alcoholic through Jane and the ripples it causes through an entire family. This heartbreaking yet wonderful read is not one to miss if you are in the mood for something slightly heavier, though quick and easy to get through.
I have to say that, hands down, my favorite aspect of this story was the tornado chasing. I live in New Jersey, tornadoes don't touch down here, but the idea of chasing them is fascinating. I learned a lot about tornadoes through this novel and was able to experience exhilaration while the Torbros were on the chase. I felt as if I was in the car right alongside them, braving the elements to gain knowledge of the weather that could hopefully save more lives in the future. It's truly fascinating and I'd recommend reading the book just because of that.
But the other strong element of this novel is alcoholism. Jane and Ethan's mother is an alcoholic who steals money and is a compulsive liar. She plays with Jane's head and uses her to clean up all her messes. Jane finally realizes that she can't always be there for her mother after she almost kills Jane and her best friend, Cat, when she drives them around drunk. Jane leaves to Oklahoma to chase tornadoes with her 23-year-old brother Ethan to get her bearings straight, and begins a journey of self-discovery.
The characterization in this novel is strong. I sort of despised Jane's mother because she seemed insensitive, desperate, and manipulative. In the end, I suppose that's what an addiction does to you. Jane begins the story weak and slowly becomes strong. She doesn't want to admit that her mother has a problem and that she helps fuel it, even if by accident. Ethan's a strong character with a scientific mind. He left his mother knowing she wouldn't get better and he regrets everyday only because he wasn't able to save Jane sooner. The Torbros are all beyond interesting and wonderful. Whether it's Mason speaking like a pirate, Stephen growing out a beard, Hallie driving like a maniac or Victor being his sour self, you will begin to love them all. Even Victor, who was almost set up to be the bad guy of the bunch but served as a gateway for Jane to realize how much she truly is enabling her mother and needs to let go. Cat is truly trying to be a best friend, but I got sick of how much she threatened Jane not to be her friend if she didn't do something about her mother. She put a lot of pressure on a girl who just wanted to get by from day to day.
Lastly, there's the love interest: Max. Max is the intern for the rival tornado chasing team, Twister Blisters. They are so big that they are followed around by a television cameras. When the two of them meet, they hit it off instantly, but their romance is more or less a sub-plot. It's not essential to the plot, it's cute and done well, and it progresses at a slow gradual rate. Jane's story focuses on her journey to self-discovery and helping her mother, not her romance with Max, though it does present a welcome side-story that is greatly enjoyable. After all, he will willing risk his life for her. That's an amazing kind of love.
Jane's big breakthrough near the end of the story was a little sudden, though I enjoyed it and understood its significance. She closed one chapter of her life to open another with a new sort of chaos. And she discovered those who really cared about her in the process...her mother not being one of them.
Overall, this story really tugged at my heartstrings. I was able to fly through it because it was so short, but it's got a lot going on in its short pages. I never once felt bored or jipped from details. It flowed effortlessly and tackled a serious topic while throwing in the intriguing twist of tornado chasing. We watched several characters struggle and come to terms with themselves and I think Jane's story could be considered inspirational. 4 stars to this amazing journey to self-discovery that I recommend to anyone who desires to read a slightly heavier contemporary. I think this story is unforgettable.
I have to say that, hands down, my favorite aspect of this story was the tornado chasing. I live in New Jersey, tornadoes don't touch down here, but the idea of chasing them is fascinating. I learned a lot about tornadoes through this novel and was able to experience exhilaration while the Torbros were on the chase. I felt as if I was in the car right alongside them, braving the elements to gain knowledge of the weather that could hopefully save more lives in the future. It's truly fascinating and I'd recommend reading the book just because of that.
But the other strong element of this novel is alcoholism. Jane and Ethan's mother is an alcoholic who steals money and is a compulsive liar. She plays with Jane's head and uses her to clean up all her messes. Jane finally realizes that she can't always be there for her mother after she almost kills Jane and her best friend, Cat, when she drives them around drunk. Jane leaves to Oklahoma to chase tornadoes with her 23-year-old brother Ethan to get her bearings straight, and begins a journey of self-discovery.
The characterization in this novel is strong. I sort of despised Jane's mother because she seemed insensitive, desperate, and manipulative. In the end, I suppose that's what an addiction does to you. Jane begins the story weak and slowly becomes strong. She doesn't want to admit that her mother has a problem and that she helps fuel it, even if by accident. Ethan's a strong character with a scientific mind. He left his mother knowing she wouldn't get better and he regrets everyday only because he wasn't able to save Jane sooner. The Torbros are all beyond interesting and wonderful. Whether it's Mason speaking like a pirate, Stephen growing out a beard, Hallie driving like a maniac or Victor being his sour self, you will begin to love them all. Even Victor, who was almost set up to be the bad guy of the bunch but served as a gateway for Jane to realize how much she truly is enabling her mother and needs to let go. Cat is truly trying to be a best friend, but I got sick of how much she threatened Jane not to be her friend if she didn't do something about her mother. She put a lot of pressure on a girl who just wanted to get by from day to day.
Lastly, there's the love interest: Max. Max is the intern for the rival tornado chasing team, Twister Blisters. They are so big that they are followed around by a television cameras. When the two of them meet, they hit it off instantly, but their romance is more or less a sub-plot. It's not essential to the plot, it's cute and done well, and it progresses at a slow gradual rate. Jane's story focuses on her journey to self-discovery and helping her mother, not her romance with Max, though it does present a welcome side-story that is greatly enjoyable. After all, he will willing risk his life for her. That's an amazing kind of love.
Jane's big breakthrough near the end of the story was a little sudden, though I enjoyed it and understood its significance. She closed one chapter of her life to open another with a new sort of chaos. And she discovered those who really cared about her in the process...her mother not being one of them.
Overall, this story really tugged at my heartstrings. I was able to fly through it because it was so short, but it's got a lot going on in its short pages. I never once felt bored or jipped from details. It flowed effortlessly and tackled a serious topic while throwing in the intriguing twist of tornado chasing. We watched several characters struggle and come to terms with themselves and I think Jane's story could be considered inspirational. 4 stars to this amazing journey to self-discovery that I recommend to anyone who desires to read a slightly heavier contemporary. I think this story is unforgettable.
July 26, 2012
You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.
I was lucky enough to receive The Waiting Sky along with my ARC of Black City, I wasn't expecting any other books and was so surprised. I was once again surprised when I finished reading it because it is a fantastic novel. It is full of heart, great characters and wonderful writing. Jenna has grown up being the parent in her house, her mother is an alcoholic who would rather spend money down at the local bar than pay to have electricity and running water in the house. After her mom picks her and her friend up from the mall intoxicated, gets into an accident, flees said accident and covers it up, Jenna decides she needs to get away for the summer. Her refuge, going to scour tornado alley with her older brother, Ethan all summer.
Jenna was a character that I really felt for. She was in a tough situation and was just so used to the way things were with her mom that she didn't see how truly toxic the situation was. All along I of course knew what the right thing for her to do was, but I completely understood her hesitations and wondered if I may feel the same way. She also felt a lot of resentment toward Ethan because he got out of the house as soon as he could. It was interesting to see how they were both dealing with it in completely different ways. The root of all their trouble was their mother, and she was a despicable character to me, she stole from her children and didn't give a crap about anything except where she would find her next drink. She was so selfish and endangering Jenna and Cat the way she did, then trying to hide everything had me so angry. Cat was awesome, she was there for Jenna and pushed her to make some changes in her life.
The addition of storm chasing to the story was exhilarating. I was so excited when the Torbros were on a chase and was so scared for them. The group that Ethan got into is like a little family that has their own drama which really parallels with Jenna's home life. I really liked Hallie, she was super cute and spoke her mind. The Waiting Sky was a wonderful, quick read that had me fully invested in its characters. It dealt with a heavy issue and had just enough to make it stand out amongst the pack. You should definitely add this one to you to-read shelf!
I was lucky enough to receive The Waiting Sky along with my ARC of Black City, I wasn't expecting any other books and was so surprised. I was once again surprised when I finished reading it because it is a fantastic novel. It is full of heart, great characters and wonderful writing. Jenna has grown up being the parent in her house, her mother is an alcoholic who would rather spend money down at the local bar than pay to have electricity and running water in the house. After her mom picks her and her friend up from the mall intoxicated, gets into an accident, flees said accident and covers it up, Jenna decides she needs to get away for the summer. Her refuge, going to scour tornado alley with her older brother, Ethan all summer.
Jenna was a character that I really felt for. She was in a tough situation and was just so used to the way things were with her mom that she didn't see how truly toxic the situation was. All along I of course knew what the right thing for her to do was, but I completely understood her hesitations and wondered if I may feel the same way. She also felt a lot of resentment toward Ethan because he got out of the house as soon as he could. It was interesting to see how they were both dealing with it in completely different ways. The root of all their trouble was their mother, and she was a despicable character to me, she stole from her children and didn't give a crap about anything except where she would find her next drink. She was so selfish and endangering Jenna and Cat the way she did, then trying to hide everything had me so angry. Cat was awesome, she was there for Jenna and pushed her to make some changes in her life.
The addition of storm chasing to the story was exhilarating. I was so excited when the Torbros were on a chase and was so scared for them. The group that Ethan got into is like a little family that has their own drama which really parallels with Jenna's home life. I really liked Hallie, she was super cute and spoke her mind. The Waiting Sky was a wonderful, quick read that had me fully invested in its characters. It dealt with a heavy issue and had just enough to make it stand out amongst the pack. You should definitely add this one to you to-read shelf!
June 8, 2018
I bought this book on a whim, when I was on my vacation in Canada last year (Ikr! How awesome is that?) and I got it at a steal, and in such perfect condition! The cover wowed me over and I wanted it, bad. And the story? It totally suited that fantastic cover. Plus, I’ve always been fascinated by tornadoes so this book already had an in with me lol 😉
I’ve never read any of Lara Zielin’s books so I went in without expectations. First off, I have to say, the writing was really good. Case in point, when I started the book, I’d intended to read only a few pages but from the first few paragraphs, I was so interested in Jane and her life, that I read several chapters without realizing it. The writing was so easy and witty to read, it was a pleasure.
Jane’s plight as she deals with the fact that her mom is an alcoholic tugs at the heartstrings. She loves her mom so much that she’s in denial about how her mother is set on a path to destruction. It’s only when she spends the summer with her brother chasing tornadoes, when she gets that much-needed distance from the parent who should have cared about her instead of the other way around, that she begins to see things as they are in reality, to understand that sometimes loving someone means you have to make the hard decisions, no matter how painful.
“There’s a fine line between saving someone and helping them destroy themselves.”
An unexpected kinship with another person makes her see the similarities in both their situations and that understanding brings hard truths for her to bear. The events that happen during that summer change her life, fill it with painful insights into the deep-yawning chasm she’d been headed for.
I loved how her brother was concerned about her and you see how their mother’s alcoholism affected him as well, even though he now lived in another state. Addicts don’t just destroy their own lives but also leave repercussions that resonate throughout the lives of the people who love them. Kudos to the author for emphasizing that point. My dad was an alcoholic and he never got out of that pit. It’s impacted on my life far more than other people can understand and this story really got to me.
The description of the twisters was really good and I could imagine what it must have been like, to be right there in the midst of it all. The wind, the noise, the chaos. I like that the romance fit in well with the story and didn’t detract from the overall emotional impact of the book’s message. Yep, I really liked this book a lot.
Posted on Blog
February 19, 2017
Happy to say I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I struggled with it a bit in the beginning, but as time went on I found myself beginning to care for the characters and in the end I really liked it.
I love tornadoes. Sounds a bit odd, but I’ve watched shows like Tornado Alley, and I find these weather phenomenons so fascinating! The fact that the sky can drop these funnels of wind and destroy a town in seconds is terrifying, which also makes them really interesting. Whenever I see books with tornadoes I feel compelled to pick them up.
The Waiting Sky isn’t really that much about tornadoes, though. It focuses more on Jane, a young girl who is dealing with the fact that her mother is an extreme alcoholic. The tornado chasing is more of a side plot, in which her brother is part of a storm chasing group called the Torbros (which is a really stupid name lol) and they make a bet with another chaser group called the Twister Blisters (which is an even worse name omg).
At first I was a little disappointed by the tornadoes not being super prominent. I also didn’t feel like the descriptions of tornadoes did them justice. She didn’t really capture that feeling of awe when you see them. I also thought the group found tornadoes WAY too easily…
I definitely feel like this was more of a character book than anything else. I love character stories when done right, and though I had trouble connecting to Jane at first, I found myself enjoying her by the end.
Jane is a frustrating character; she makes stupid decisions and can be naive, but she’s also understandable. The portrayal of what it was like for Jane to grow up with an alcoholic mother was done very well. It allowed me to feel frustrated with Jane’s choices but still understand where she was coming from.
The other characters are frustrating as well. At first I didn’t like any of the characters in the tornado chasing team, but I think the author did a great job of developing and humanizing them. She really seemed to understand her characters and make them complex, so by the end I really liked all of the characters that had annoyed me in the beginning.
The relationships between characters are also really well done. Jane’s complex relationship with her brother, Ethan, is very well done. Her strong friendship with Cat was wonderful to see. The romance was meh for me, but I’m a stickler for romance anyway.
The writing style was pretty good, I felt like it really captured Jane’s voice. The dialogue felt very accurate to teenagers, which is always a plus.
Overall, a very well done story! Glad I picked this one up, recommending to people looking for contemporary with some well done heavy aspects.
I love tornadoes. Sounds a bit odd, but I’ve watched shows like Tornado Alley, and I find these weather phenomenons so fascinating! The fact that the sky can drop these funnels of wind and destroy a town in seconds is terrifying, which also makes them really interesting. Whenever I see books with tornadoes I feel compelled to pick them up.
The Waiting Sky isn’t really that much about tornadoes, though. It focuses more on Jane, a young girl who is dealing with the fact that her mother is an extreme alcoholic. The tornado chasing is more of a side plot, in which her brother is part of a storm chasing group called the Torbros (which is a really stupid name lol) and they make a bet with another chaser group called the Twister Blisters (which is an even worse name omg).
At first I was a little disappointed by the tornadoes not being super prominent. I also didn’t feel like the descriptions of tornadoes did them justice. She didn’t really capture that feeling of awe when you see them. I also thought the group found tornadoes WAY too easily…
I definitely feel like this was more of a character book than anything else. I love character stories when done right, and though I had trouble connecting to Jane at first, I found myself enjoying her by the end.
Jane is a frustrating character; she makes stupid decisions and can be naive, but she’s also understandable. The portrayal of what it was like for Jane to grow up with an alcoholic mother was done very well. It allowed me to feel frustrated with Jane’s choices but still understand where she was coming from.
The other characters are frustrating as well. At first I didn’t like any of the characters in the tornado chasing team, but I think the author did a great job of developing and humanizing them. She really seemed to understand her characters and make them complex, so by the end I really liked all of the characters that had annoyed me in the beginning.
The relationships between characters are also really well done. Jane’s complex relationship with her brother, Ethan, is very well done. Her strong friendship with Cat was wonderful to see. The romance was meh for me, but I’m a stickler for romance anyway.
The writing style was pretty good, I felt like it really captured Jane’s voice. The dialogue felt very accurate to teenagers, which is always a plus.
Overall, a very well done story! Glad I picked this one up, recommending to people looking for contemporary with some well done heavy aspects.
August 9, 2012
Ever since her older brother Ethan left for school, Jane McAllister has been taking care of her mother, paying the bills, cleaning the house, making excuses for her mother's mistakes. When when a drunk driving accident injures Jane and her best friend Cat, Cat gives her friend an ultimatum and insists that she must quit enabling her mother's alcoholism. Jane temporarily leaves her mother to spend the summer chasing tornadoes across the midwest with her brother and a crew called the Torbros. Ethan's crew, for whom Jane takes storm photographs, is competing against another crew trying to collect scientific information from the twisters. The author does a good job of describing the lives of Jane and Ethan, chasing after one form of disaster while avoiding another type of chaos at home. The descriptions of the storms are engaging while also showing clearly just how destructive they can be, just as Jane realizes that her mother's self-destructive path can only lead to her own disaster as well. There are some loose ends left dangling and references to Jane's mother's possible addiction to other substances that left me a bit disatisfied and detracted from my enjoyment of the book, but the book vividly describes lives gone awry and the possibility for a brighter future for Jane, if not her mother.
July 14, 2012
Jane's mother is an alcoholic.
It's not just a problem with drinking alcohol, though. Jane's mother's actions are much more dangerous and life altering, and Jane feels a heavy sense of responsibility for her mom's behavior. After Jane knew she had to get away -- at least for a little while. Nothing sounds more appealing than interning with the tornado chasers her brother works with in the plains.
After a tornado clips a small town, Jane and the crew (as well as rivaling chasers) stick around to help with rebuilding and cleaning efforts. Fortunately, no one had been hurt, but the town needed a little help. More than that, though, this was an opportunity for the rivaling chasers to get some good press. Because naturally, there's competition among them. And when that competition and tension comes to a head, it's because Jane and rival chase team member Max may be falling for one another.
What works well in this book is the metaphor of tornado chasing and dealing with whirlwind events that shake up relationships. But more than that, this is really a story about Jane learning how to take control of her own life and her own destiny. Jane is a likeable character, even though she makes some poor choices and she's really unaware of her own ability to take control of her life. But as much as I liked her, I found myself more sucked in to Victor. Victor didn't even like chasing tornadoes because he'd been hurt in one. The thing is, he couldn't stop -- he didn't want to hurt his brother. However, Victor's dislike for the classic movie TWISTER was cause for a little side eye from me.
The writing was good, though I found some of the references to be a little dated and/or irrelevant to developing or advancing the characters. They could have been cut to make the narrative a little tighter. There were some fantastic lines and passages, though, and I wished for just a little bit more of that and a little bit less of the periodic hand-holding. A couple of times I felt like I was being led a little too obviously into the metaphor when the metaphors and story parallels spoke loudly for themselves.
I also found the ending to be a little too clean. What I'd hoped for was a little more emotional angst in making these tough choices. Rather than have them just happen, I wanted to feel the struggle. Jane's had it rough, but I wanted her to hit bottom -- real bottom -- for that ending to feel as satisfying as it should have felt. It felt like she'd gotten about 3/4 of the way there. Reaching that total loss would have given the book just a little more weight.
I appreciated the way the romance did and did not play out, as it was only a tiny bit of the story and never once was an opportunity for a male character to save a female.
This reminded me a lot of Jenna Blum's adult novel THE STORMCHASERS, which is one of my all-time favorite reads. Readers who enjoy Zielin's novel and are ready for something a little more literary will likely appreciate Blum's take on storm chasing and family relationships. This book will work well for those who are interested in family stories, in storm chasing (though admittedly, it's more on the implications of instead of the action of doing so), or who want something just a little bit different in their contemporary YA.
Longer review to come.
It's not just a problem with drinking alcohol, though. Jane's mother's actions are much more dangerous and life altering, and Jane feels a heavy sense of responsibility for her mom's behavior. After Jane knew she had to get away -- at least for a little while. Nothing sounds more appealing than interning with the tornado chasers her brother works with in the plains.
After a tornado clips a small town, Jane and the crew (as well as rivaling chasers) stick around to help with rebuilding and cleaning efforts. Fortunately, no one had been hurt, but the town needed a little help. More than that, though, this was an opportunity for the rivaling chasers to get some good press. Because naturally, there's competition among them. And when that competition and tension comes to a head, it's because Jane and rival chase team member Max may be falling for one another.
What works well in this book is the metaphor of tornado chasing and dealing with whirlwind events that shake up relationships. But more than that, this is really a story about Jane learning how to take control of her own life and her own destiny. Jane is a likeable character, even though she makes some poor choices and she's really unaware of her own ability to take control of her life. But as much as I liked her, I found myself more sucked in to Victor. Victor didn't even like chasing tornadoes because he'd been hurt in one. The thing is, he couldn't stop -- he didn't want to hurt his brother. However, Victor's dislike for the classic movie TWISTER was cause for a little side eye from me.
The writing was good, though I found some of the references to be a little dated and/or irrelevant to developing or advancing the characters. They could have been cut to make the narrative a little tighter. There were some fantastic lines and passages, though, and I wished for just a little bit more of that and a little bit less of the periodic hand-holding. A couple of times I felt like I was being led a little too obviously into the metaphor when the metaphors and story parallels spoke loudly for themselves.
I also found the ending to be a little too clean. What I'd hoped for was a little more emotional angst in making these tough choices. Rather than have them just happen, I wanted to feel the struggle. Jane's had it rough, but I wanted her to hit bottom -- real bottom -- for that ending to feel as satisfying as it should have felt. It felt like she'd gotten about 3/4 of the way there. Reaching that total loss would have given the book just a little more weight.
I appreciated the way the romance did and did not play out, as it was only a tiny bit of the story and never once was an opportunity for a male character to save a female.
This reminded me a lot of Jenna Blum's adult novel THE STORMCHASERS, which is one of my all-time favorite reads. Readers who enjoy Zielin's novel and are ready for something a little more literary will likely appreciate Blum's take on storm chasing and family relationships. This book will work well for those who are interested in family stories, in storm chasing (though admittedly, it's more on the implications of instead of the action of doing so), or who want something just a little bit different in their contemporary YA.
Longer review to come.
August 20, 2012
This book reminded me so much of Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols and I mean that in a totally good way. This is the story of a girl who is drowning in the misery and problems in her own life and most of them are created by her alcoholic mother. Jane McAllister goes out to Oklahoma to stay with her brother, Ethan, and help him and his storm chasing team, Tornado Brothers, locate and photograph a few bad tornados. This is more than just an escape for Jane; it’s a way to be released from the grips of her mother and make her own life.
I loved Jane from the moment that I was introduced to her. Jane’s story could happen to anyone and I often felt so sorry for the way she was forced to live. Her mother was a severe alcoholic and often times squandered away all of their money for alcohol at the local bar. Jane was always there to protect and take care of her mother, and when Jane left to go out west her mother was completely lost. Jane loved her mother and it was so sad to see Jane struggle through letting her mother go, but she knew that she had to do it for her own good. It was such a heart wrenching experience to read and see Jane struggle, but she became so much stronger because of it.
Then there was the actual chasing tornados part!! It was so full of action and so electrifying to see how the team of storm chasers interacted with one another on the journeys after massive storms. I have never read a story before about chasing storms and I was so pleased with this one that I want more. These people, including Jane, all have to have a little adrenaline junkie inside of them somewhere in order to be able to do what they do. Jane was so used to dealing with chaos, after taking care of her mother for so long, that she fit right in with the team and really seemed to enjoy helping her brother. It was one of the most thrilling reads that I have opened up this summer and I felt as if I were in the van alongside the storm the whole entire time.
You also get a look into what being a part of a real storm chaser team would feel like. They hop from town to town and stay in different hotels every night, which sounds like it might suck but the team is really a family and they seem to enjoy each other’s company more than anything. They are always eating fast food or at some local restaurant, which gives the book a nice cozy feel. The most important thing about this book is the passion that each character brings to the chase! They really love what they do and that makes for an amazing read!
***A copy of this book was provided to me by Putnam Juvenile for review purposes***
I loved Jane from the moment that I was introduced to her. Jane’s story could happen to anyone and I often felt so sorry for the way she was forced to live. Her mother was a severe alcoholic and often times squandered away all of their money for alcohol at the local bar. Jane was always there to protect and take care of her mother, and when Jane left to go out west her mother was completely lost. Jane loved her mother and it was so sad to see Jane struggle through letting her mother go, but she knew that she had to do it for her own good. It was such a heart wrenching experience to read and see Jane struggle, but she became so much stronger because of it.
Then there was the actual chasing tornados part!! It was so full of action and so electrifying to see how the team of storm chasers interacted with one another on the journeys after massive storms. I have never read a story before about chasing storms and I was so pleased with this one that I want more. These people, including Jane, all have to have a little adrenaline junkie inside of them somewhere in order to be able to do what they do. Jane was so used to dealing with chaos, after taking care of her mother for so long, that she fit right in with the team and really seemed to enjoy helping her brother. It was one of the most thrilling reads that I have opened up this summer and I felt as if I were in the van alongside the storm the whole entire time.
You also get a look into what being a part of a real storm chaser team would feel like. They hop from town to town and stay in different hotels every night, which sounds like it might suck but the team is really a family and they seem to enjoy each other’s company more than anything. They are always eating fast food or at some local restaurant, which gives the book a nice cozy feel. The most important thing about this book is the passion that each character brings to the chase! They really love what they do and that makes for an amazing read!
***A copy of this book was provided to me by Putnam Juvenile for review purposes***
June 18, 2013
“Max's lips part slightly, and mine do the same. His tongue inside my mouth makes fireworks of color burst behind my closed eyelids. We explore and taste each other again and again, until Max finally pulls away. I want more-- I think I could survive on nothing but his mouth for weeks--but I try not to let it show too much.”
This is one of them books that I've had on my Kindle since last year and never managed to get around to it. Finally, I can say I've read it and honestly, it's such a unique read - I've never read anything like it!
The Waiting Sky follows Jane, a teenage girl who has gone to stay with her brother - the tornado chaser, after her mother nearly killed her and her best friend for driving while drink. Jane's mother is an alcoholic and it's up to Jane to sort out the bills and what they will be eating etc. So getting away for the summer, chasing tornado's is just what Jane needs but she can't help feeling guilty for leaving her mother behind. While with Ethan, Jane meets Max and suddenly Jane is questioning everything she knows.
If any of you guys are a fan of the film Twister - then read this book! Seriously, it's awesome. While The Waiting Sky follows tornado's, I will say this story is not a rip off of the film. The Waiting Sky is a highly emotional and adrenaline pumping story - one filled with despair, heartbreak and first love. It's just so unique and I honestly believe there isn't another YA Contemporary novel like this out there.
What is it lately with these problematic mothers? In the last 2/3 weeks I must have read at least 4 books with characters that have unreliable mothers. Seriously mothers, get it together! My heart always goes out to the characters and in this case, it's no different with Jane. Jane's mother is one of the worst I've read about in a long time. She lies and cheats just to get more drink. Jane has to deal with the household responsibilities and for a girl of her age, it's not fair. I was glad she had someone else to lean on - her brother, Ethan.
Max and Jane have such a loving relationship. It's one that builds over time so you can truly see how much they've come to care for each other. I wasn't very hopeful they could make their relationship work, so I was very surprised by the outcome.
And while this novel isn't long, it's like 220 odd pages - it's so easy to get through and such a quick read, I think anyone will be able to find the time to fit it in. Read it guys, you won't be disappointed!
This is one of them books that I've had on my Kindle since last year and never managed to get around to it. Finally, I can say I've read it and honestly, it's such a unique read - I've never read anything like it!
The Waiting Sky follows Jane, a teenage girl who has gone to stay with her brother - the tornado chaser, after her mother nearly killed her and her best friend for driving while drink. Jane's mother is an alcoholic and it's up to Jane to sort out the bills and what they will be eating etc. So getting away for the summer, chasing tornado's is just what Jane needs but she can't help feeling guilty for leaving her mother behind. While with Ethan, Jane meets Max and suddenly Jane is questioning everything she knows.
If any of you guys are a fan of the film Twister - then read this book! Seriously, it's awesome. While The Waiting Sky follows tornado's, I will say this story is not a rip off of the film. The Waiting Sky is a highly emotional and adrenaline pumping story - one filled with despair, heartbreak and first love. It's just so unique and I honestly believe there isn't another YA Contemporary novel like this out there.
What is it lately with these problematic mothers? In the last 2/3 weeks I must have read at least 4 books with characters that have unreliable mothers. Seriously mothers, get it together! My heart always goes out to the characters and in this case, it's no different with Jane. Jane's mother is one of the worst I've read about in a long time. She lies and cheats just to get more drink. Jane has to deal with the household responsibilities and for a girl of her age, it's not fair. I was glad she had someone else to lean on - her brother, Ethan.
Max and Jane have such a loving relationship. It's one that builds over time so you can truly see how much they've come to care for each other. I wasn't very hopeful they could make their relationship work, so I was very surprised by the outcome.
And while this novel isn't long, it's like 220 odd pages - it's so easy to get through and such a quick read, I think anyone will be able to find the time to fit it in. Read it guys, you won't be disappointed!
February 28, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7yeqoz8
Third time is definitely the charm.
The most fun of paying attention to a particular author is to see how her writing transforms over the years, from the first book onwards. It is beyond clear that Zielin's confidence in her writing has vastly improved since the beginning: I may have loved Donut Days but I really LOVED The Waiting Sky.
In part, this is because Zielin has adeptly tackled a very difficult subject: that of alcoholism and how it affects entire families. I learned a ton reading this book-- that interactions among family members are beyond complex when a disease of this type takes hold, that self-awareness of one's feelings on this subject are incredibly difficult to decipher, and that it takes one tough cookie to work out the solution to these problems. I'll admit I stayed up way, way too late to finish this novel one evening because the last 75 pages would not let me go. I had to know how our protagonist worked her way through everything being thrown at her.
Plus, it has tornadoes in it! I also learned a boatload about their destructive capabilities. And no, you will not catch me as a tornado tourist at any point in the future. Yipes.
With these double (or triple) whammies, there is no doubt in my mind that this novel will have a cult following when it comes out this summer.
Third time is definitely the charm.
The most fun of paying attention to a particular author is to see how her writing transforms over the years, from the first book onwards. It is beyond clear that Zielin's confidence in her writing has vastly improved since the beginning: I may have loved Donut Days but I really LOVED The Waiting Sky.
In part, this is because Zielin has adeptly tackled a very difficult subject: that of alcoholism and how it affects entire families. I learned a ton reading this book-- that interactions among family members are beyond complex when a disease of this type takes hold, that self-awareness of one's feelings on this subject are incredibly difficult to decipher, and that it takes one tough cookie to work out the solution to these problems. I'll admit I stayed up way, way too late to finish this novel one evening because the last 75 pages would not let me go. I had to know how our protagonist worked her way through everything being thrown at her.
Plus, it has tornadoes in it! I also learned a boatload about their destructive capabilities. And no, you will not catch me as a tornado tourist at any point in the future. Yipes.
With these double (or triple) whammies, there is no doubt in my mind that this novel will have a cult following when it comes out this summer.
December 9, 2015
I found myself skimming and skimming. Wasn't for me. :(
May 26, 2020
this was a great stories and enjoyed reading and learning about the weather.!! i recommend this book.!!
February 17, 2021
Decent. Thought it was going to be more about the drunk mother, but tornadoes are cool too
August 28, 2012
Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner
This book caught my attention because it sounded similar to the movie Twister. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I’m glad I read it.
Jane McAllister’s mother is an alcoholic. Her brother left home as soon as he could, leaving Jane to fend for herself. She handles the situation as best as she can, or at least as best as she thinks she should. She pays the bills, covers for her mother and is basically the adult responsible to take care of their crumbling home. Her brother asks her to move with him, but she can’t leave their mom.
Things get complicated when Jane’s mother causes an accident that almost kills them and her best friend, Cat. When Cat tells her that it’s time so seek help because covering for her mother is not helping anyone, Jane realizes that she can’t keep denying what’s going on. So she decides to join her brother Ethan and his team of tornado-chasing friends. Spending time away from her mother helps her put things in perspective, but is that enough to make the right decision? She’s very conflicted so it’ won’t be easy.
When I picked this book, I was expecting an action-oriented plot. After all, the characters chase storms and tornadoes. But although there’s a part of the book that’s clearly about the adventure, the heart of the story is Jane trying to come to terms with her mother’s alcoholism, her resentment towards her brother, and ultimately deciding to stop sacrificing her life to take care of her mother who clearly isn’t willing to get better.
Jane was a great heroine. She is in a tricky situation, one of those that are really easy to figure out when you see them as an outsider, but not so easy when they happen to you. Her character reflected that conflict because although at times it was obvious she knew what was right, it was just as obvious that she was trying to convince herself of the contrary. She knew that protecting her mother wasn’t helping, but she kept making excuses. I thought it was an interesting portrayal of the situation, it felt authentic and it gave Jane a reason to be much more mature than your regular teenager.
Another significant aspect of the book was Jane’s relationship with her brother, Ethan. Since we only see him through Jane’s eyes, he mostly comes across as a self-involved nice guy. He’s not evil, and he wants what’s best for Jane, but he’s not willing to sacrifice his life for her. I was an interesting contrast between those characters and I would have loved to see more of their relationship and maybe even into his head. We don’t get his POV, and I think it was a missed opportunity to give his character some depth.
The romance doesn’t overtake the plot but it’s very sweet. In just a few pages there are a couple of cute scenes, a big misunderstanding and a grand gesture. So I’m calling it a romance. Max was just a love interest but I really like their story and how realistic and appropriate the resolution was.
I liked the adventure aspect of the book, but it felt a bit disjointed. The only correlation between tornado chasing and Jane’s situation was a subplot involving a secondary character suffering from PTSD. But I just felt like her story would have worked against any other background, not just this one in particular. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the action, but it’s not the main reason why the book worked for me.
Overall this was an entertaining story that deals with a dark subject and yet manages to be light at the same time. It's dramatic, but not overly so. The main character is conflicted and compelling. The ending was a bit rushed, but I was satisfied with how things turned out for everyone involved, a realistic happy ending with no miracles. I think fans of YA will love it.
This book caught my attention because it sounded similar to the movie Twister. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I’m glad I read it.
Jane McAllister’s mother is an alcoholic. Her brother left home as soon as he could, leaving Jane to fend for herself. She handles the situation as best as she can, or at least as best as she thinks she should. She pays the bills, covers for her mother and is basically the adult responsible to take care of their crumbling home. Her brother asks her to move with him, but she can’t leave their mom.
Things get complicated when Jane’s mother causes an accident that almost kills them and her best friend, Cat. When Cat tells her that it’s time so seek help because covering for her mother is not helping anyone, Jane realizes that she can’t keep denying what’s going on. So she decides to join her brother Ethan and his team of tornado-chasing friends. Spending time away from her mother helps her put things in perspective, but is that enough to make the right decision? She’s very conflicted so it’ won’t be easy.
When I picked this book, I was expecting an action-oriented plot. After all, the characters chase storms and tornadoes. But although there’s a part of the book that’s clearly about the adventure, the heart of the story is Jane trying to come to terms with her mother’s alcoholism, her resentment towards her brother, and ultimately deciding to stop sacrificing her life to take care of her mother who clearly isn’t willing to get better.
Jane was a great heroine. She is in a tricky situation, one of those that are really easy to figure out when you see them as an outsider, but not so easy when they happen to you. Her character reflected that conflict because although at times it was obvious she knew what was right, it was just as obvious that she was trying to convince herself of the contrary. She knew that protecting her mother wasn’t helping, but she kept making excuses. I thought it was an interesting portrayal of the situation, it felt authentic and it gave Jane a reason to be much more mature than your regular teenager.
Another significant aspect of the book was Jane’s relationship with her brother, Ethan. Since we only see him through Jane’s eyes, he mostly comes across as a self-involved nice guy. He’s not evil, and he wants what’s best for Jane, but he’s not willing to sacrifice his life for her. I was an interesting contrast between those characters and I would have loved to see more of their relationship and maybe even into his head. We don’t get his POV, and I think it was a missed opportunity to give his character some depth.
The romance doesn’t overtake the plot but it’s very sweet. In just a few pages there are a couple of cute scenes, a big misunderstanding and a grand gesture. So I’m calling it a romance. Max was just a love interest but I really like their story and how realistic and appropriate the resolution was.
I liked the adventure aspect of the book, but it felt a bit disjointed. The only correlation between tornado chasing and Jane’s situation was a subplot involving a secondary character suffering from PTSD. But I just felt like her story would have worked against any other background, not just this one in particular. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the action, but it’s not the main reason why the book worked for me.
Overall this was an entertaining story that deals with a dark subject and yet manages to be light at the same time. It's dramatic, but not overly so. The main character is conflicted and compelling. The ending was a bit rushed, but I was satisfied with how things turned out for everyone involved, a realistic happy ending with no miracles. I think fans of YA will love it.
August 20, 2012
I’ve been known to dislike characters for their obliviousness - those that appear weak and stupid because they refused to acknowledge the severity of their situation until it’s too late. More often (and on my own accord), Jane drove me head first into a wall. Why?
- Her definition of “normal mom behavior” defies every conceivable logic known to man.
- She was so quick to blame her brother for helping himself – for getting out of a situation and for thinking that there was a life outside of cleaning up after a drunken mother.
- For being the worst - or best (depending on how you look at it) enabler ever.
- For refusing to acknowledge a problem, which includes lying, denying and covering for her mother.
- For not giving herself a chance at happiness, temporary or otherwise.
- For making herself unavailable, unattainable and unreachable - emotionally for other people other than her mother.
- FOR NOT HELPING HERSELF.
But heck, maybe I’m not being very forgiving or understanding of the difficult situations her mother kept putting her through and maybe I shouldn’t judge her until I was in her shoes. Maybe her way of coping with her shit life was knowing that no matter what happens, she could rest easy with the self-appeasing knowledge that she didn’t fully abandon her mother. It’s hard to understand, let alone sympathize with Jane. It’s hard to comprehend the sickness of her mother, Jane’s inability to see the truth, and Ethan’s seemingly effortless way in which he took off and abandoned his sister to spend her young life caring for an alcoholic.
Zielen’s latest work is a difficult and quick dose of hard-hitting realities of living with alcoholism; what forces a person to turn to drinking (an attempt to damper down a severe guilt) and what forces another to enable the addiction (unconditional love). It also highlighted the frustration that everyone, directly affected by the addiction, felt as they try to help in their own ways. This frustration easily transferred to the reader as she (meaning me) wished for Jane to open her eyes and recognize her part in the problem.
VERDICT: The Waiting Sky is a book about chasing storms, weathering the storms and living through the storms of life. Lara Zielen’s writing brought forth a powerful story of a girl too young to be handling the difficulties of living with an addict. While Jane may seem weak with her inability to say what she needed to say in order to help her mother, she was strong for putting up for as long as she did. Her breakthrough came in slow progression and from unexpected people and places. Emotional, raw, with the adrenaline rush of chasing tornadoes – The Waiting Sky is a must-have in your reading pile.
- Her definition of “normal mom behavior” defies every conceivable logic known to man.
- She was so quick to blame her brother for helping himself – for getting out of a situation and for thinking that there was a life outside of cleaning up after a drunken mother.
- For being the worst - or best (depending on how you look at it) enabler ever.
- For refusing to acknowledge a problem, which includes lying, denying and covering for her mother.
- For not giving herself a chance at happiness, temporary or otherwise.
- For making herself unavailable, unattainable and unreachable - emotionally for other people other than her mother.
- FOR NOT HELPING HERSELF.
But heck, maybe I’m not being very forgiving or understanding of the difficult situations her mother kept putting her through and maybe I shouldn’t judge her until I was in her shoes. Maybe her way of coping with her shit life was knowing that no matter what happens, she could rest easy with the self-appeasing knowledge that she didn’t fully abandon her mother. It’s hard to understand, let alone sympathize with Jane. It’s hard to comprehend the sickness of her mother, Jane’s inability to see the truth, and Ethan’s seemingly effortless way in which he took off and abandoned his sister to spend her young life caring for an alcoholic.
Zielen’s latest work is a difficult and quick dose of hard-hitting realities of living with alcoholism; what forces a person to turn to drinking (an attempt to damper down a severe guilt) and what forces another to enable the addiction (unconditional love). It also highlighted the frustration that everyone, directly affected by the addiction, felt as they try to help in their own ways. This frustration easily transferred to the reader as she (meaning me) wished for Jane to open her eyes and recognize her part in the problem.
VERDICT: The Waiting Sky is a book about chasing storms, weathering the storms and living through the storms of life. Lara Zielen’s writing brought forth a powerful story of a girl too young to be handling the difficulties of living with an addict. While Jane may seem weak with her inability to say what she needed to say in order to help her mother, she was strong for putting up for as long as she did. Her breakthrough came in slow progression and from unexpected people and places. Emotional, raw, with the adrenaline rush of chasing tornadoes – The Waiting Sky is a must-have in your reading pile.
August 19, 2012
Originally posted on A Book and a Latte:
4.5 stars! The Waiting Sky hooked me from the moment I saw its cover and read the synopsis! I’ve always been fascinated by storms, and I was obsessed with the movie Twister when it came out in the mid-90s… When I saw that Zielin paired storm chasing with a girl struggling to figure out how to live life for herself when she has an alcoholic mother; I knew immediately that this was a must read for me. I was quickly gripped by this story, and was not disappointed.
I loved Jane, the protagonist, and easily connected with her. Jane is caught up in the chaos of her alcoholic mother and feels stuck. She’s so far into the situation, that she’s not able see the big picture. Ever since her brother Ethan left for college when she was twelve, Jane has taken care of her mother alone. She’s angry with Ethan for leaving, and doesn’t want to abandon her mom, especially when she’s getting worse. She feels responsible for keeping their lives put together.
After a serious accident (caused by her mother) Jane decides to take up her brother’s offer to spend the summer chasing storms with him and the Tornado Brothers. She thought it’d be a fun trip, and a nice break from her mother. She never thought (consciously) that it’d turn into a summer of self-discovery. The TorBros and crew have their own drama and challenges… and after spending so much time with them (and her thoughts) following storm after storm, Jane begins to gain some perspective.
Zielin created a great supporting cast of characters, and I enjoyed getting to know them all. I really liked seeing the brother/sister relationship between Jane and Ethan, and how they interacted. Jane’s best friend Cat is a gem – she’s a source of amazing support, tough love, and encouragement. Each member of the TorBros team was well developed too, and they all had their own story. Max, a member of another tornado chasing team and Jane’s love interest, was swoon-worthy and added just the right amount of romance.
“There’s a fine line between saving someone and helping them destroy themselves”
I think it’s perfect how Zielin used tornados as a metaphor for Jane’s relationship with her mother in The Waiting Sky. I loved the message that you can’t live your life for someone else, and sometimes helping someone means choosing yourself. I appreciated everything about this book – from the characters and family dynamics to the storyline and storm chasing. I can’t wait to read more by Lara Zielin!
4.5 stars! The Waiting Sky hooked me from the moment I saw its cover and read the synopsis! I’ve always been fascinated by storms, and I was obsessed with the movie Twister when it came out in the mid-90s… When I saw that Zielin paired storm chasing with a girl struggling to figure out how to live life for herself when she has an alcoholic mother; I knew immediately that this was a must read for me. I was quickly gripped by this story, and was not disappointed.
I loved Jane, the protagonist, and easily connected with her. Jane is caught up in the chaos of her alcoholic mother and feels stuck. She’s so far into the situation, that she’s not able see the big picture. Ever since her brother Ethan left for college when she was twelve, Jane has taken care of her mother alone. She’s angry with Ethan for leaving, and doesn’t want to abandon her mom, especially when she’s getting worse. She feels responsible for keeping their lives put together.
After a serious accident (caused by her mother) Jane decides to take up her brother’s offer to spend the summer chasing storms with him and the Tornado Brothers. She thought it’d be a fun trip, and a nice break from her mother. She never thought (consciously) that it’d turn into a summer of self-discovery. The TorBros and crew have their own drama and challenges… and after spending so much time with them (and her thoughts) following storm after storm, Jane begins to gain some perspective.
Zielin created a great supporting cast of characters, and I enjoyed getting to know them all. I really liked seeing the brother/sister relationship between Jane and Ethan, and how they interacted. Jane’s best friend Cat is a gem – she’s a source of amazing support, tough love, and encouragement. Each member of the TorBros team was well developed too, and they all had their own story. Max, a member of another tornado chasing team and Jane’s love interest, was swoon-worthy and added just the right amount of romance.
“There’s a fine line between saving someone and helping them destroy themselves”
I think it’s perfect how Zielin used tornados as a metaphor for Jane’s relationship with her mother in The Waiting Sky. I loved the message that you can’t live your life for someone else, and sometimes helping someone means choosing yourself. I appreciated everything about this book – from the characters and family dynamics to the storyline and storm chasing. I can’t wait to read more by Lara Zielin!
June 13, 2015
Going into The Waiting Sky, I had no expectations. It was my first book by Lara Zielin and I had heard pretty much nothing about it. However, had I gone in with the highest expectations The Waiting Sky would have exceeded them. I was completely blown away by this book (pun totally intended!)
Jane is a very realistic character. She’s seen so much sadness in her life that she doesn’t really expect happiness, especially not with the brother who abandoned her. She’s reserved and pretty unwilling to trust people. However all that starts to change the more time she spends with her brother, Ethan, the Tornado Brothers, and Max. Sure, it doesn’t happen overnight but that’s what makes this story (and Jane) even better and more realistic.
Ethan, Jane’s much older brother, is her complete opposite. He’s unwilling to let his alcoholic mother walk all over him and he’s determined to stop her from walking all over Jane as well. He’s kind, funny, outgoing, and completely charming. He’s exactly what Jane needs even if she doesn’t know it. The rest of the Tornado Brothers, his stormchasing team, are also like family to Jane although it takes a little time for them to get to that point. They have problems, sure, but they look out for each other. They help bring Jane out of her shell. Then there is Max. Max is not your typical love interest. He comes off as rich and stuck up at first but it quickly becomes clear that he is a total nerd. He’s sweet, funny, and oh so lovable. I have a little bit of a crush on him!
The characters aren’t all that make The Waiting Sky awesome, though. The story is completely unique and totally gripping. Jane leaves behind her alcoholic mother to chase tornadoes with her brother. Let me just tell you, I will never be crazy enough to chase storms but I had a blast reading about it. There is some scientific information thrown in but it wasn’t boring at all. It was necessary to the story and I actually found it very interesting. The Waiting Sky is one of the most gripping contemporaries I have read.
Overall, The Waiting Sky is my first Lara Zielin book but it definitely won’t be my last. Check it out!
Jane is a very realistic character. She’s seen so much sadness in her life that she doesn’t really expect happiness, especially not with the brother who abandoned her. She’s reserved and pretty unwilling to trust people. However all that starts to change the more time she spends with her brother, Ethan, the Tornado Brothers, and Max. Sure, it doesn’t happen overnight but that’s what makes this story (and Jane) even better and more realistic.
Ethan, Jane’s much older brother, is her complete opposite. He’s unwilling to let his alcoholic mother walk all over him and he’s determined to stop her from walking all over Jane as well. He’s kind, funny, outgoing, and completely charming. He’s exactly what Jane needs even if she doesn’t know it. The rest of the Tornado Brothers, his stormchasing team, are also like family to Jane although it takes a little time for them to get to that point. They have problems, sure, but they look out for each other. They help bring Jane out of her shell. Then there is Max. Max is not your typical love interest. He comes off as rich and stuck up at first but it quickly becomes clear that he is a total nerd. He’s sweet, funny, and oh so lovable. I have a little bit of a crush on him!
The characters aren’t all that make The Waiting Sky awesome, though. The story is completely unique and totally gripping. Jane leaves behind her alcoholic mother to chase tornadoes with her brother. Let me just tell you, I will never be crazy enough to chase storms but I had a blast reading about it. There is some scientific information thrown in but it wasn’t boring at all. It was necessary to the story and I actually found it very interesting. The Waiting Sky is one of the most gripping contemporaries I have read.
Overall, The Waiting Sky is my first Lara Zielin book but it definitely won’t be my last. Check it out!
June 15, 2013
While tornado-chasing isn't my thing, I am blown away by the huge topics this author takes on in her three teen novels. (Donut Days is about the free-thinking daughter of pastors in a fundamentalist church and The Implosion of Aggie Winchester is about the Goth daughter of the high school principal and her pregnant friend elected prom queen.) The Waiting Sky takes on a severely alcoholic mother and her inadvertently enabling daughter, plus the older brother who got away to save himself. Guilt, desperation, anger, love... they all run through the story as Jane tries to figure out how to live her own life.
I would love to see high school English classes read some of these and hear the discussions!
I would love to see high school English classes read some of these and hear the discussions!
August 7, 2012
The book was well written, the storyline was engaging, but what really stopped me from actually enjoying this book was the main character Jane. There were times when I felt like I should've felt compassion for her, understood better why she acted the way she did and said the things she said, but I just didn't. I honestly just didn't like her and I'm not really sure why.
March 9, 2012
I liked this book. The romance was secondary to the growth of the main character. Unfortunately I thought her big breakthrough near the end of the book happened too quickly and neatly. Still, I would recommend this author and this title to teen girls who want a book that isn't too heavy but deals with some real life issues and isn't all about boys.
December 6, 2016
I have enjoyed every moment of this story, and I'm so happy to have come across it. Tornadoes are very fascinating to me, and I was happy to come across this story about storm chasing. Of course this story is just not about storm chasing or tornadoes, but it's about Jane finding her way in her life and deciding what life is best for her.
March 13, 2013
Great read. The characters were well fleshed out, the emotions driving the daughter and the son were well-written and I could easily relate to it.
The only thing stopping this from being a 5 star, was I felt the ending was a tad rushed and a wee bit safe.
The only thing stopping this from being a 5 star, was I felt the ending was a tad rushed and a wee bit safe.
April 9, 2012
Review to come!
December 13, 2011
I can't beleive I have to wait for 8 months to red this book :(
June 12, 2021
Honestly, this book had a great start and looked very promising. The fact that the author uses twisters and storms to help reference what is going on in Jane's family and romantic life was really good and creative. What falls a bit short is that we don't get to tie some loose ends, like for example Jane and Hallie's reconciliation after their fallout, how her relationship with all the other Torbros turns out after they save her, how she gets the news about Max not being the one who told on her, amongst other things. It is an enjoyable book and I would've rated it with 4 or 5 stars had that ending not been so rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2022
Couldn't put this one down! If you're a fan of the movie Twister, you might enjoy this read.
Jane has been living alone with her alcoholic mother for the past few years. After Jane, her best friend Cat, and her mother are in an accident caused by her mom's drunk driving, Cat gives Jane an ultimatum. Because of this, Jane decides to spend the summer with her older brother Ethan, a storm chaser. The entire time, Jane worries about her mother's well-being without her there while Ethan hopes that Jane will stay with him past the summer.
Action packed with family dynamics at the heart.
Jane has been living alone with her alcoholic mother for the past few years. After Jane, her best friend Cat, and her mother are in an accident caused by her mom's drunk driving, Cat gives Jane an ultimatum. Because of this, Jane decides to spend the summer with her older brother Ethan, a storm chaser. The entire time, Jane worries about her mother's well-being without her there while Ethan hopes that Jane will stay with him past the summer.
Action packed with family dynamics at the heart.
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