What do you think?
Rate this book
Cardboard Hearts #1
Seeds of Hate
They said high school would be fun.
They said we would make forever friends.
They said we would have the time of our lives.
They lied.
They said we would make forever friends.
They said we would have the time of our lives.
They lied.
342 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
1391 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Perea
3 books111 followersI have kids, a husband and a dog. It's a fairly normal life over here.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
May 17, 2013
I am the author and this is my debut novel. I tried to write a novel that would make you think and make you question the world around us.
We've stopped appreciating human life. We've stopped valuing it. There are so many forms in which I could've portrayed these concepts, but I chose to use a high school campus.
It is all too often the breeding ground for humanity's darkest hour.
We've stopped appreciating human life. We've stopped valuing it. There are so many forms in which I could've portrayed these concepts, but I chose to use a high school campus.
It is all too often the breeding ground for humanity's darkest hour.
July 9, 2013
5 So Many Feelings Stars
So many feelings. When I finished Seeds Of Hate I had to take a moment. Actually several moments to process the book. There are so many feelings my feelings are feeling. First is the feeling that I have been ripped off. Where is the wrap up? I need the wrap up. I need the Everything Will Be OK HEA. But Ms Perea knows that life does always include a nice neat wrap up. In fact it usually doesn't. I hate that she knows this and makes me live it with her. The second feeling I can pinpoint is complete awe. The book is so well written, so subtle in the way it sneaks up on you and BAM....what did I just read? Ms Perea hooks you with her words and reels you in like a big mouth bass. The next is disappointment. Disappointment that there are kids like Javier and Gio out there and we, all of us, let them down. We miss the opportunity to be not heroes but human to the Javiers of the world.
So. Many. Feelings.
Javier has a mom who loves him. That makes him one up on a lot of kids, however, it does not insure his life is roses and lollipops. She is absent much of the time just trying to keep a roof over their head. Javier is a kind soul who has seen too much hurt in his lifetime. He too has a great deal of disappointment to deal with.
I...watched the drain swallow--swallow every problem, pain, worry and fear, but they won't fit. I could still see them. All of them. Puddling at my feet.
Selah is the girl who sees him. She doesn't try to make him have a life. She just wants to join him on the wall. The wall where the invisible kids go to be invisible. She tries to be his friend. Not because he needs a friend, but because she does.
It's a long story.
How long could it be, we're only seventeen.
Long...the story can be very long and involved because a lot can happen in seventeen years.
Ther are so many pieces to this story. Javier is tall and good looking. He has a kind heart. He looks after young neighbor, Gio, who has been almost completely abandoned by his mother. Javier is the perpetual victim at his school. He has breakdowns. He loses his shoes all the time. So many pieces.
Selah's life is not much better. Her parents have left her with another family while they do the missionary thing in Africa. She feels abandoned. Duh. She was.
Then there are Izzy and Gio. Complete opposites on the family spectrum, but still pulled into Javier's gratational field.
This is ultimately a story of kids who want to hope, but know that hope is illusive.
Its not healthy to miss something that's never coming back. All you end up doing is hating your reality.
They want to find love. They want to be loved. To be cherished.
I want Selah. But more than that I wanted her to want me.
I know I have not given you much in the way of plot here. The thing is...you have to discover the plot as you get to know the characters. Why does Javier lose his shoes? Where are Selah's parents? Why is Javier the victim and not fight back? What makes him so passive to outside world? Ms Perea has written a character driven story that has so many layers, I can't tell you much without robbing you of the joy of discovery. And I do mean joy. J. O. Y. Just another one of the many feeling I had while reading Seeds of Hate. So. Many. Feelings.
So many feelings. When I finished Seeds Of Hate I had to take a moment. Actually several moments to process the book. There are so many feelings my feelings are feeling. First is the feeling that I have been ripped off. Where is the wrap up? I need the wrap up. I need the Everything Will Be OK HEA. But Ms Perea knows that life does always include a nice neat wrap up. In fact it usually doesn't. I hate that she knows this and makes me live it with her. The second feeling I can pinpoint is complete awe. The book is so well written, so subtle in the way it sneaks up on you and BAM....what did I just read? Ms Perea hooks you with her words and reels you in like a big mouth bass. The next is disappointment. Disappointment that there are kids like Javier and Gio out there and we, all of us, let them down. We miss the opportunity to be not heroes but human to the Javiers of the world.
So. Many. Feelings.
Javier has a mom who loves him. That makes him one up on a lot of kids, however, it does not insure his life is roses and lollipops. She is absent much of the time just trying to keep a roof over their head. Javier is a kind soul who has seen too much hurt in his lifetime. He too has a great deal of disappointment to deal with.
I...watched the drain swallow--swallow every problem, pain, worry and fear, but they won't fit. I could still see them. All of them. Puddling at my feet.
Selah is the girl who sees him. She doesn't try to make him have a life. She just wants to join him on the wall. The wall where the invisible kids go to be invisible. She tries to be his friend. Not because he needs a friend, but because she does.
It's a long story.
How long could it be, we're only seventeen.
Long...the story can be very long and involved because a lot can happen in seventeen years.
Ther are so many pieces to this story. Javier is tall and good looking. He has a kind heart. He looks after young neighbor, Gio, who has been almost completely abandoned by his mother. Javier is the perpetual victim at his school. He has breakdowns. He loses his shoes all the time. So many pieces.
Selah's life is not much better. Her parents have left her with another family while they do the missionary thing in Africa. She feels abandoned. Duh. She was.
Then there are Izzy and Gio. Complete opposites on the family spectrum, but still pulled into Javier's gratational field.
This is ultimately a story of kids who want to hope, but know that hope is illusive.
Its not healthy to miss something that's never coming back. All you end up doing is hating your reality.
They want to find love. They want to be loved. To be cherished.
I want Selah. But more than that I wanted her to want me.
I know I have not given you much in the way of plot here. The thing is...you have to discover the plot as you get to know the characters. Why does Javier lose his shoes? Where are Selah's parents? Why is Javier the victim and not fight back? What makes him so passive to outside world? Ms Perea has written a character driven story that has so many layers, I can't tell you much without robbing you of the joy of discovery. And I do mean joy. J. O. Y. Just another one of the many feeling I had while reading Seeds of Hate. So. Many. Feelings.
July 9, 2013
I'd be lying if I said I don't have a ginormous girl crush on Melissa Perea after reading this book. I'm not normally a huge fan of stories about kids in high school, I just...don't connect with them I guess. I'm 35. High school was a lifetime ago. I will say I was honored enough to be able to beta read this baby and good lord, one of my faves of 2013. Hands down. No doubt about it. There is something special about this book. The way that Melissa develops these characters, the overall atmosphere of this book...it all reminds me of a very well written Indie movie...and that makes my heart go pitter patter.
Javier is....an old soul. He's seen more and been through more in his lifetime than any "child" should. It's just him and his mostly absent mother. Oh, I take that back, there's Gio. Gio is the little boy next door who has been basically left to survive on his own. Javier does what any sympathetic person would do, and takes Gio under his wings. Javier is complex. He takes abuse from his peers. He has breakdowns. He just exsists. He wants to be loved yet wants to be invisible at the same time.
Selah is an enigma. On the outside she is outgoing, fairly happy, and pretty carefree. When her reality is anything but that.
Izzy....is pretty normal for the most part. Sure, he's in high school, doesn't everyone in HS have some sort of issues? He is pretty much Javier's saving grace through it all. He's been there for him and continues to do so.
I've given you an outline of some of the main characters (note I said some), but for me to go any farther would be a total disservice to not only Melissa's amazingness, but also to you, the reader. There are so many, many bits and pieces of this story that make you think, so many pieces that will rip your guts out, so many pieces that will make you think, "oh my god, that happened to ME!" and so many pieces that will tug at your heart strings, that you just need to experience that for yourself. I want to send a copy of this book to every single one of my friends because I know the experience will be different for everyone. Raw. Real....and probably more than any person wants to admit.
I am being very real when I say, if there is one book you should read this year, this would be it.
Javier is....an old soul. He's seen more and been through more in his lifetime than any "child" should. It's just him and his mostly absent mother. Oh, I take that back, there's Gio. Gio is the little boy next door who has been basically left to survive on his own. Javier does what any sympathetic person would do, and takes Gio under his wings. Javier is complex. He takes abuse from his peers. He has breakdowns. He just exsists. He wants to be loved yet wants to be invisible at the same time.
Selah is an enigma. On the outside she is outgoing, fairly happy, and pretty carefree. When her reality is anything but that.
Izzy....is pretty normal for the most part. Sure, he's in high school, doesn't everyone in HS have some sort of issues? He is pretty much Javier's saving grace through it all. He's been there for him and continues to do so.
I've given you an outline of some of the main characters (note I said some), but for me to go any farther would be a total disservice to not only Melissa's amazingness, but also to you, the reader. There are so many, many bits and pieces of this story that make you think, so many pieces that will rip your guts out, so many pieces that will make you think, "oh my god, that happened to ME!" and so many pieces that will tug at your heart strings, that you just need to experience that for yourself. I want to send a copy of this book to every single one of my friends because I know the experience will be different for everyone. Raw. Real....and probably more than any person wants to admit.
I am being very real when I say, if there is one book you should read this year, this would be it.
July 15, 2013
It's hard to put into words how much I loved this book. How much I adored the characters. How much the plot affected me. But, I can tell you that it is, by far, the best book I've read this year.....and I read a lot. A heck of a lot.
Melissa Perea is a force to be reckoned with in the writing world. I can't recommend this book more. It's that good. It will make you feel. It will make you ache. It will make you agonize for the wonderful characters in its pages.
Javier, Selah, Izzy and sweet little Gio---they all made their way into my heart. Even Nathan got in there slightly.
The story stayed with me for days. It wouldn't let go of my brain, of my heart. I felt for these characters as if they were real---that's how incredible the writing is. You feel like you're right along side these characters as they struggle through their lives and relationships.
If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.
READ.
THIS.
BOOK.
Melissa Perea is a force to be reckoned with in the writing world. I can't recommend this book more. It's that good. It will make you feel. It will make you ache. It will make you agonize for the wonderful characters in its pages.
Javier, Selah, Izzy and sweet little Gio---they all made their way into my heart. Even Nathan got in there slightly.
The story stayed with me for days. It wouldn't let go of my brain, of my heart. I felt for these characters as if they were real---that's how incredible the writing is. You feel like you're right along side these characters as they struggle through their lives and relationships.
If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.
READ.
THIS.
BOOK.
July 19, 2013
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
- Nelson Mandela,Long Walk to Freedom (quoted at the beginning of Seeds of Hate)
Seeds of Hate is a powerful, timely story which, frankly, transcends genres and reader preferences. Melissa Perea wrote a stark, frighteningly realistic novel, and it’s one which probably every person should take the time to read. I do want to point out that this is the first book in Melissa’s Cardboard Hearts series, which I should have taken the time to understand prior to reading. So, I was a bit surprised when it ended as it did, though the ending point was very natural.
It should come as no surprise that, at its core, Seeds of Hate is a story of the epidemic of bullying. The names incorporated as part of the book cover are there for a reason. Javier, Nathan, Selah, Izzy. These are the characters I came to know and care about—or, in Nathan’s case, intensely dislike (because how can I possibly say that I hate someone who is still, essentially, a child)—through Melissa Perea’s eloquently beautiful writing.
However, more so than the rest, this was really Javier’s story to tell, and he told it well. He let me in very slowly. What had happened to him took time and trust to unravel. When it did, I wanted to weep for him and what he had been through, what he still went through. His strength humbled me. His ability to just keep going made me come undone. His capacity to feel love and hate at the same time took me to a place I was all too familiar with. Those moments when courage and sheer inner strength and determination deserted him and he tried to leave it all behind, in a way, I could empathize, I could understand. At the same time, I wanted to grab him and hold him and tell him that he was worth something, his life was worth something. That it would get better. I could only thank God that he had Izzy and then Selah in his life, along with a loving mother and an adorable little neighbor boy named Gio.
I could literally feel the…grittiness of real life in Melissa Perea’s writing. There is absolutely nothing in this author’s ‘voice’ that I have heard anywhere before. Nothing. Read that sentence again, carefully. Her style is completely fresh and original. It’s stark, arid and gritty, like walking through a desert. It is stunning. Even more stunning is that she’s a debut author. I guarantee Melissa Perea won’t be unknown for long.
Only a few of my favorite quotes from Seeds of Hate:
My reflection said so many things, and as I searched for what it wanted me to hear, I heard nothing. When you don’t even want to be who you are, how do you listen when you try to tell yourself something?
Why, why couldn’t I just be good enough?
“I’m not supposed to want to be you. I have everything. You have nothing. A world where you have something that I can’t have…will never exist.”
My head fell back against the wall and my muscles relaxed. Grabbing Javier, I squeezed his body one last time.
“Why?” I cried out in a whisper. “Why?”
Javier grunted and wheezed as he tried to respond.
“I couldn’t—“ he continued, the words disjointed and quiet. “I couldn’t…take it,” he spewed.
“But I was here. I was here!” I replied. “Did that mean nothing?”
“I…didn’t…know,” Javier replied.
“How could you let him win, Javi? How could you let him win?”
4 Stars
*ARC provided by the author*
For more reviews, please visit Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews or visit us on Facebook.
August 5, 2013
*3 to 3.5 stars*
Unfortunately, this book was a little bit of a disappointment. So much seemed to be going on, there was a mix of maybe 5 different POV's throughout and for at least the first 50% I didn't have a clue what was going on.
The book starts off in the POV of Javier. Stupidly, I didn't pay enough attention to what his name was, because for the first 10% I was convinced I was reading a book written in a female POV. When I figured it out, I reread and it did make a little more sense but he had a very feminine voice. He certainly didn't shine through as a male.
Javier was.. interesting. He obviously is a very messed up, broken and hurting boy. He has been through something, only the reader doesn't know what for a long time. In school he is a loner. He keeps to himself, doesn't have a social life and only has one person that he could begin to call a friend. At home, he is mostly left to fend for himself. His mum isn't necessarily a bad mum.. just not much of a mum at all. He has a young neighbour, Gio, who he has taken under his wing. Gio's home life is bad and most nights he finds himself sleeping in Javier's place to avoid it. I found this odd.. I couldn't come up with much purpose for Gio in the book, and when I came to the end I was still a little lost where he was concerned.
As I said, there were several POV's in the book and I just found it a little confusing. I couldn't have easily distinguished who was saying what and felt that some of it was unnecessary. The story progresses very slowly, piece by piece we are given a little more insight in to Javier's life. We also get to go back in time, to live through Javier's pain alongside him.
• Why did his childhood best friend, Nathan, suddenly turn against him?
• Why is he so closed off to making new friends?
• Why does he run away all the time?
Unfortunately, I didn't get answers to all of those questions. I still don't understand why Nathan treated Javier the way he did. I just didn't understand his motives and actions. Maybe I will in book #2, if I carry on the series.
Unfortunately, this book was a little bit of a disappointment. So much seemed to be going on, there was a mix of maybe 5 different POV's throughout and for at least the first 50% I didn't have a clue what was going on.
The book starts off in the POV of Javier. Stupidly, I didn't pay enough attention to what his name was, because for the first 10% I was convinced I was reading a book written in a female POV. When I figured it out, I reread and it did make a little more sense but he had a very feminine voice. He certainly didn't shine through as a male.
Javier was.. interesting. He obviously is a very messed up, broken and hurting boy. He has been through something, only the reader doesn't know what for a long time. In school he is a loner. He keeps to himself, doesn't have a social life and only has one person that he could begin to call a friend. At home, he is mostly left to fend for himself. His mum isn't necessarily a bad mum.. just not much of a mum at all. He has a young neighbour, Gio, who he has taken under his wing. Gio's home life is bad and most nights he finds himself sleeping in Javier's place to avoid it. I found this odd.. I couldn't come up with much purpose for Gio in the book, and when I came to the end I was still a little lost where he was concerned.
As I said, there were several POV's in the book and I just found it a little confusing. I couldn't have easily distinguished who was saying what and felt that some of it was unnecessary. The story progresses very slowly, piece by piece we are given a little more insight in to Javier's life. We also get to go back in time, to live through Javier's pain alongside him.
• Why did his childhood best friend, Nathan, suddenly turn against him?
• Why is he so closed off to making new friends?
• Why does he run away all the time?
Unfortunately, I didn't get answers to all of those questions. I still don't understand why Nathan treated Javier the way he did. I just didn't understand his motives and actions. Maybe I will in book #2, if I carry on the series.
August 1, 2013
Read more reviews | Find Me on Facebook
Prepare to read a book that will make you cry for these characters you will absolutely LOVE. I NEEDED all the characters to have a happy ever after; somehow if possible. I became so attached to them I felt as if I knew them. Melissa Perea hit it out of the park with her debut novel.
From the very beginning I adored the character of Javi. He is so wise beyond his years taking on the role of a caregiver to his young neighbor who has been neglected by his mother. I immediately became a fan of Javi and knew he would be an amazing character just from his interaction with his young neighbor.
Melissa did the most amazing job of connecting her readers to the characters and be able to feel what the characters are feeling. Javi who has a loving mom has had a lot of heartbreak in his lifetime, things do not seem to ever go his way but he is determined to go to college and make a good life for himself. Selah is another sad character, I thought of her as being almost broken with issues of being left behind. She needs someone like Javi in her life.
The characters are beautifully written and so deep, the story is real, it’s raw, and wonderful. This is a great emotional book about high schools yet anyone could relate to the characters in the book and what they are dealing with.
I give Seeds of Hate (Cardboard Hearts) 4 Stars.
Book provided by the author in return for an honest review.
Prepare to read a book that will make you cry for these characters you will absolutely LOVE. I NEEDED all the characters to have a happy ever after; somehow if possible. I became so attached to them I felt as if I knew them. Melissa Perea hit it out of the park with her debut novel.
From the very beginning I adored the character of Javi. He is so wise beyond his years taking on the role of a caregiver to his young neighbor who has been neglected by his mother. I immediately became a fan of Javi and knew he would be an amazing character just from his interaction with his young neighbor.
Melissa did the most amazing job of connecting her readers to the characters and be able to feel what the characters are feeling. Javi who has a loving mom has had a lot of heartbreak in his lifetime, things do not seem to ever go his way but he is determined to go to college and make a good life for himself. Selah is another sad character, I thought of her as being almost broken with issues of being left behind. She needs someone like Javi in her life.
The characters are beautifully written and so deep, the story is real, it’s raw, and wonderful. This is a great emotional book about high schools yet anyone could relate to the characters in the book and what they are dealing with.
I give Seeds of Hate (Cardboard Hearts) 4 Stars.
Book provided by the author in return for an honest review.
July 19, 2013
For more reviews visit my blog - Hook Me Up Book Blog
5 Heartbreaking Stars
"All a life needed was one person. One person to count on. One person to love. One person to believe in you."
Oh my goodness, I didn't know what I was about to read when I started this book. Didn't know how freaking good it was going to be. I told my friend I was about to read a book about high school bullies but little did I know what an emotional and heartbreaking story it really would be. I don't read a lot of YA but now I have to add Seeds of Hate to my favourites list - it is that good.
This is the story of Javier and Selah, two teenagers who each deal with a life they didn't ask for and desperately need to escape. These characters are so beautifully and skillfully written that my heart really did break for them while at the same time felt hope and even some joy in the journey they took. Javier is a complex human being and for a good part of the story I was left asking "why did he do that?". I thought perhaps I understood his behaviour but the beauty of Melissa's writing is how she slowly reveals the story until eventually you have the real reason for his behaviour. And boy, his story is tragic and will move you. Javier is a tremendously generous human being and I spent most of the book hoping that he could find a way through his problems to a better life. To me, he is the kind of friend we all need.
"He was kind, he was loyal and he was hurting."
Selah is also a wonderful friend. She forms an unlikely friendship with Javier and his only other school friend, Izzy. The three of them are so good for each other. Melissa developed the story of their friendship beautifully - I absolutely loved watching it unfold. There was such depth to these characters which allowed me to effortlessly read and absorb myself in the book.
One of the things I loved the most about this story was the underlying themes that Melissa worked into it.
"Just because the world was mean to me didn't mean I had to be mean to the world."
Although Javier and Selah are teenagers they have a maturity to them - probably because of what they have each been through in life.
"If you smile, it gets easier."
I just knew at this point that this would be a book I would be recommending to everyone, especially my teenage daughter. I can't recommend it enough! Although I do need to point out that it is book one of two in a series. It didn't really end on a cliffhanger as such but I was at 97% of the book and thinking NO it can't end here!!
If you enjoy a deep and moving story about damaged people finding their way in life you will like this book.
5 Heartbreaking Stars
"All a life needed was one person. One person to count on. One person to love. One person to believe in you."
Oh my goodness, I didn't know what I was about to read when I started this book. Didn't know how freaking good it was going to be. I told my friend I was about to read a book about high school bullies but little did I know what an emotional and heartbreaking story it really would be. I don't read a lot of YA but now I have to add Seeds of Hate to my favourites list - it is that good.
This is the story of Javier and Selah, two teenagers who each deal with a life they didn't ask for and desperately need to escape. These characters are so beautifully and skillfully written that my heart really did break for them while at the same time felt hope and even some joy in the journey they took. Javier is a complex human being and for a good part of the story I was left asking "why did he do that?". I thought perhaps I understood his behaviour but the beauty of Melissa's writing is how she slowly reveals the story until eventually you have the real reason for his behaviour. And boy, his story is tragic and will move you. Javier is a tremendously generous human being and I spent most of the book hoping that he could find a way through his problems to a better life. To me, he is the kind of friend we all need.
"He was kind, he was loyal and he was hurting."
Selah is also a wonderful friend. She forms an unlikely friendship with Javier and his only other school friend, Izzy. The three of them are so good for each other. Melissa developed the story of their friendship beautifully - I absolutely loved watching it unfold. There was such depth to these characters which allowed me to effortlessly read and absorb myself in the book.
One of the things I loved the most about this story was the underlying themes that Melissa worked into it.
"Just because the world was mean to me didn't mean I had to be mean to the world."
Although Javier and Selah are teenagers they have a maturity to them - probably because of what they have each been through in life.
"If you smile, it gets easier."
I just knew at this point that this would be a book I would be recommending to everyone, especially my teenage daughter. I can't recommend it enough! Although I do need to point out that it is book one of two in a series. It didn't really end on a cliffhanger as such but I was at 97% of the book and thinking NO it can't end here!!
If you enjoy a deep and moving story about damaged people finding their way in life you will like this book.
July 24, 2013
Ms. Perea surprised me with this story to say the least. Her writing and character development was sensational, even if I had to use a little brain power at the beginning to figure out what was going on. I like that - I enjoy being challenged.
I will tell you that I'm not a typical young adult reader. Like my friend, Laura said in her review, high school for me feels like a lifetime ago, although, now that I have a son about to enter 9th grade, I perked up when the storyline became a question in my mind of, "where the heck are the freaking parents?!" Believe me people, I seriously say that a lot now, even before I read this gut-punch, thought provoking story.
I've had the pleasure of reading Ms. Perea's earlier work and even though I was sincerely impressed, once I began this story, I'm pretty sure I finally found and removed my jaw from the floor...because the writing was THAT GOOD. I could tell that she took her time to think about her characters; to make sure their development was right on and relative in a contemporary setting. Her creativity alone with her poignant words and subsequent stab-you-in-the-heart tragedy was enough for me to say to myself, "this author played her keyboard like a concert pianist for the reader."
Congrats, Ms. Perea...well done, very well done.
I will tell you that I'm not a typical young adult reader. Like my friend, Laura said in her review, high school for me feels like a lifetime ago, although, now that I have a son about to enter 9th grade, I perked up when the storyline became a question in my mind of, "where the heck are the freaking parents?!" Believe me people, I seriously say that a lot now, even before I read this gut-punch, thought provoking story.
I've had the pleasure of reading Ms. Perea's earlier work and even though I was sincerely impressed, once I began this story, I'm pretty sure I finally found and removed my jaw from the floor...because the writing was THAT GOOD. I could tell that she took her time to think about her characters; to make sure their development was right on and relative in a contemporary setting. Her creativity alone with her poignant words and subsequent stab-you-in-the-heart tragedy was enough for me to say to myself, "this author played her keyboard like a concert pianist for the reader."
Congrats, Ms. Perea...well done, very well done.
January 4, 2015
I read this book in one sitting and i have to say that this book kept me hooked right from the beginning. Melissa Perea by quoting Nelson Mandela in the very beginning gives you the insight and the very foundation of the story.
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
- Nelson Mandela,Long Walk to Freedom
Melissa has beautifully weaved her story around this very quote and through her characters Javi, Sey, Izzy, Gio she makes her readers embark on these characters journey.
How small and big incidents in these characters life have sculpted their emotions, making them hate, love, weak, coward, scream for freedom, giving up on hope, giving up on life, desperate for some semblance in their life.
What i really loved about the aforementioned characters is that no matter what crap they're going through they are still humble and even if they carry hatred(something they learnt) they still have the strength to love and help each other and remain human.
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
- Nelson Mandela,Long Walk to Freedom
Melissa has beautifully weaved her story around this very quote and through her characters Javi, Sey, Izzy, Gio she makes her readers embark on these characters journey.
How small and big incidents in these characters life have sculpted their emotions, making them hate, love, weak, coward, scream for freedom, giving up on hope, giving up on life, desperate for some semblance in their life.
What i really loved about the aforementioned characters is that no matter what crap they're going through they are still humble and even if they carry hatred(something they learnt) they still have the strength to love and help each other and remain human.
July 19, 2013
so many feels!!!
this book came highly recommended, and although it started out a little slow for me, i fell in love, slowly but surely. i laughed, i cried, i ached for these souls, and i found myself relating to each character in one way or another. their pain, their struggle, their sadness, their innocence...it was my own...and the promise of hope, of new beginnings at the end has me anxiously awaiting part two of the series.
javi, Izzy, gio, Selah and yes, even Nathan, all weaved their way into my heart and haven't left. that's some magical writing. bravo, Melissa!
this book came highly recommended, and although it started out a little slow for me, i fell in love, slowly but surely. i laughed, i cried, i ached for these souls, and i found myself relating to each character in one way or another. their pain, their struggle, their sadness, their innocence...it was my own...and the promise of hope, of new beginnings at the end has me anxiously awaiting part two of the series.
javi, Izzy, gio, Selah and yes, even Nathan, all weaved their way into my heart and haven't left. that's some magical writing. bravo, Melissa!
July 25, 2013
Oh, wow.
4.5 stars
I still don't know what to say. Review will be up soon.
4.5 stars
I still don't know what to say. Review will be up soon.
August 8, 2013
I must say the back of the book and the cover immediately drew me in. There was so little description but what was there was definitely enough to intrigue me. So I pretty much went into this book not knowing what to expect.
What I found was a very touching story of Javier, Selah, Izzy and kind of Nathan too. I liked all the characters except I didn't like Nathan. He was hatefully and I didn't think his reasoning justified the why.
Javier has had a really tough life but midway through the book a friend came along and changed everything for him. I also really love his relationship toward his neighbor Gio. He is like a father figure to him and I love it!
I didn't realize this is a two part book so I can't wait to see how it ends. I felt almost as if this one ended to soon.
What I found was a very touching story of Javier, Selah, Izzy and kind of Nathan too. I liked all the characters except I didn't like Nathan. He was hatefully and I didn't think his reasoning justified the why.
Javier has had a really tough life but midway through the book a friend came along and changed everything for him. I also really love his relationship toward his neighbor Gio. He is like a father figure to him and I love it!
I didn't realize this is a two part book so I can't wait to see how it ends. I felt almost as if this one ended to soon.
July 17, 2013
I just loved this story about selah and Javi it was so emotional and deep for 2 high school students they were very mature and full of pain for me there's no excuse for Nathan's behaviour I couldn't stand him and thought he didn't deserve Javi's love or friendship like any of his situation was Javi's fault izzy love him what a lovely boy and I think it had to do with his lovely upbringing poor selah what an excuse for a father so selfish I could never leave my child let alone with frank and Caroline cold hearted caregivers the end OMG that ending killed me I need a HEA for these 2 please tell me the next book will be coming out soon :) great first novel Melissa def a fan 4 life
July 21, 2013
I'm going to get a lot of crap for this review, but I didn't think it was that great. I read this because it was suggested by Tarryn Fisher and because she is such a fabulous writer, I thought this book would be of the same caliber. Towards the end, the characters started to develop, but by that point I was kind of over it. I thought it was kind of disorganized and scattered. I probably won't bother to read book two. 2.5 stars.
July 21, 2013
This book was amazing! Loved the authors writing style and the duel POV. The way the author describes things is fresh and beautiful. I can't wait for her next book and the rest of Sey and Javi's story.
July 19, 2013
Loved it!!! A story worth reading!!!!
July 18, 2013
I am writing this review as a guest reviewer for Sugar and Spice book reviews.
I gave Seeds of hate 4.5 stars!
Seeds of Hate is Melissa Perea’s debut novel and the first book in a duet. Book 2 will be out in the beginning of 2014. This book is unlike anything I have recently read. It is harsh, raw, rough, humbling, and inspiring; but most of all it is REAL. As I am writing this review, I am still trying to process this story.
Who were you in high school? Were you one of the popular kids, the jock, the book worm, the loner, the stoner, the bully, or were you the weird kid? We all had them… that kid everyone stays away from, whispers about, the one that never talks, or always says the most outlandish things. This book is about the “misfits”. It is not the typical jock falls for cheerleader or popular boy falling for bookish nerd. This is not the hot boy falling for the girl next door or his best friend’s little sister. This book has me remembering the “misfits” from my own school and wondering, who they really were. What was going on behind the scenes? What could they have possibly have done to deserve to be treated as an outcast? High school is a breeding ground for bullies and hate. What can be the most amazing experience for some is a living hell for others.
Javier is the main character in this story. He is literally surviving high school every single day. He is tortured by his past and his ex-best friend, Nathan. He has a new best friend, Izzy. They are the loners. Javier is the weird kid. Selah is just your average girl. She is not a part of the popular crowd and just tries to fly under the radar.
“I saw him. We all saw him. And yet, none of us, not a single person out of our group of rejects said a single word or offered to help.” ~Selah
One day Selah finally decides enough is enough and basically pushes her way into Izzy and Javier’s lives. Izzy is a lot more welcoming than Javier.
“Some people are born beautiful and it’s available for the entire world to see. Others have a beauty that grows within you. It’s separate from them, but a part of them. That was Selah. She had grown on me.” ~Javier
There is a lot to this book. I am not going to go into details because I don’t want to ruin the experience for any of you. You will discover what happened to Javier. I’m fairly certain you will fall in love with the amazing people both Izzy and Selah are.
Parents often tell you to enjoy those high-school years and soak it all in because before you know it, it is over. This is true, if you are one of those blessed enough to fit in. But what if high-school is your worst nightmare? What about those kids? What role could you have played in their lives? Could you have been that one person, who all the difference in the world to them?
What a fantastic and emotional read! I cannot wait to see where Javier, Senah, and Izzy go from here!
July 18, 2013
*This review was done by Heather, one of Sugar and Spice's reviewers and may also be listed under her personal goodreads account*
Seeds of Hate is Melissa Perea’s debut novel and the first book in a duet. Book 2 will be out in the beginning of 2014. This book is unlike anything I have recently read. It is harsh, raw, rough, humbling, and inspiring; but most of all it is REAL. As I am writing this review, I am still trying to process this story.
Who were you in high school? Were you one of the popular kids, the jock, the book worm, the loner, the stoner, the bully, or were you the weird kid? We all had them… that kid everyone stays away from, whispers about, the one that never talks, or always says the most outlandish things. This book is about the “misfits”. It is not the typical jock falls for cheerleader or popular boy falling for bookish nerd. This is not the hot boy falling for the girl next door or his best friend’s little sister. This book has me remembering the “misfits” from my own school and wondering, who they really were. What was going on behind the scenes? What could they have possibly have done to deserve to be treated as an outcast? High school is a breeding ground for bullies and hate. What can be the most amazing experience for some is a living hell for others.
Javier is the main character in this story. He is literally surviving high school every single day. He is tortured by his past and his ex-best friend, Nathan. He has a new best friend, Izzy. They are the loners. Javier is the weird kid. Selah is just your average girl. She is not a part of the popular crowd and just tries to fly under the radar.
“I saw him. We all saw him. And yet, none of us, not a single person out of our group of rejects said a single word or offered to help.” ~Selah
One day Selah finally decides enough is enough and basically pushes her way into Izzy and Javier’s lives. Izzy is a lot more welcoming than Javier.
“Some people are born beautiful and it’s available for the entire world to see. Others have a beauty that grows within you. It’s separate from them, but a part of them. That was Selah. She had grown on me.” ~Javier
There is a lot to this book. I am not going to go into details because I don’t want to ruin the experience for any of you. You will discover what happened to Javier. I’m fairly certain you will fall in love with the amazing people both Izzy and Selah are.
Parents often tell you to enjoy those high-school years and soak it all in because before you know it, it is over. This is true, if you are one of those blessed enough to fit in. But what if high-school is your worst nightmare? What about those kids? What role could you have played in their lives? Could you have been that one person, who all the difference in the world to them?
What a fantastic and emotional read! I cannot wait to see where Javier, Senah, and Izzy go from here!
August 19, 2013
Reviewed by Heather as a guest reviewer for Sugar and Spice book reviews.
I gave Seeds of hate 4.5 stars!
Seeds of Hate is Melissa Perea’s debut novel and the first book in a duet. Book 2 will be out in the beginning of 2014. This book is unlike anything I have recently read. It is harsh, raw, rough, humbling, and inspiring; but most of all it is REAL. As I am writing this review, I am still trying to process this story.
Who were you in high school? Were you one of the popular kids, the jock, the book worm, the loner, the stoner, the bully, or were you the weird kid? We all had them… that kid everyone stays away from, whispers about, the one that never talks, or always says the most outlandish things. This book is about the “misfits”. It is not the typical jock falls for cheerleader or popular boy falling for bookish nerd. This is not the hot boy falling for the girl next door or his best friend’s little sister. This book has me remembering the “misfits” from my own school and wondering, who they really were. What was going on behind the scenes? What could they have possibly have done to deserve to be treated as an outcast? High school is a breeding ground for bullies and hate. What can be the most amazing experience for some is a living hell for others.
Javier is the main character in this story. He is literally surviving high school every single day. He is tortured by his past and his ex-best friend, Nathan. He has a new best friend, Izzy. They are the loners. Javier is the weird kid. Selah is just your average girl. She is not a part of the popular crowd and just tries to fly under the radar.
“I saw him. We all saw him. And yet, none of us, not a single person out of our group of rejects said a single word or offered to help.” ~Selah
One day Selah finally decides enough is enough and basically pushes her way into Izzy and Javier’s lives. Izzy is a lot more welcoming than Javier.
“Some people are born beautiful and it’s available for the entire world to see. Others have a beauty that grows within you. It’s separate from them, but a part of them. That was Selah. She had grown on me.” ~Javier
There is a lot to this book. I am not going to go into details because I don’t want to ruin the experience for any of you. You will discover what happened to Javier. I’m fairly certain you will fall in love with the amazing people both Izzy and Selah are.
Parents often tell you to enjoy those high-school years and soak it all in because before you know it, it is over. This is true, if you are one of those blessed enough to fit in. But what if high-school is your worst nightmare? What about those kids? What role could you have played in their lives? Could you have been that one person, who all the difference in the world to them?
What a fantastic and emotional read! I cannot wait to see where Javier, Senah, and Izzy go from here!
I gave Seeds of hate 4.5 stars!
Seeds of Hate is Melissa Perea’s debut novel and the first book in a duet. Book 2 will be out in the beginning of 2014. This book is unlike anything I have recently read. It is harsh, raw, rough, humbling, and inspiring; but most of all it is REAL. As I am writing this review, I am still trying to process this story.
Who were you in high school? Were you one of the popular kids, the jock, the book worm, the loner, the stoner, the bully, or were you the weird kid? We all had them… that kid everyone stays away from, whispers about, the one that never talks, or always says the most outlandish things. This book is about the “misfits”. It is not the typical jock falls for cheerleader or popular boy falling for bookish nerd. This is not the hot boy falling for the girl next door or his best friend’s little sister. This book has me remembering the “misfits” from my own school and wondering, who they really were. What was going on behind the scenes? What could they have possibly have done to deserve to be treated as an outcast? High school is a breeding ground for bullies and hate. What can be the most amazing experience for some is a living hell for others.
Javier is the main character in this story. He is literally surviving high school every single day. He is tortured by his past and his ex-best friend, Nathan. He has a new best friend, Izzy. They are the loners. Javier is the weird kid. Selah is just your average girl. She is not a part of the popular crowd and just tries to fly under the radar.
“I saw him. We all saw him. And yet, none of us, not a single person out of our group of rejects said a single word or offered to help.” ~Selah
One day Selah finally decides enough is enough and basically pushes her way into Izzy and Javier’s lives. Izzy is a lot more welcoming than Javier.
“Some people are born beautiful and it’s available for the entire world to see. Others have a beauty that grows within you. It’s separate from them, but a part of them. That was Selah. She had grown on me.” ~Javier
There is a lot to this book. I am not going to go into details because I don’t want to ruin the experience for any of you. You will discover what happened to Javier. I’m fairly certain you will fall in love with the amazing people both Izzy and Selah are.
Parents often tell you to enjoy those high-school years and soak it all in because before you know it, it is over. This is true, if you are one of those blessed enough to fit in. But what if high-school is your worst nightmare? What about those kids? What role could you have played in their lives? Could you have been that one person, who all the difference in the world to them?
What a fantastic and emotional read! I cannot wait to see where Javier, Senah, and Izzy go from here!
July 21, 2013
True,this book is about high school students. But it's so much more than a "typical" high school book. The characters, which Melissa Perea develops so carefully and so beautifully, are haunting. They glide their way into your soul and leave you aching for them.
Javier. The "tough guy" that everyone at school is almost afraid of. Little do they know that underneath that exterior is a young man who cares deeply, loves wholly, has been hurt deeply, and is more afraid than any of them will ever know. His relationship and interactions with Gio, the little boy next door is whose mother is ridiculously absent, show a tenderness and protective tendency not common in 17 year old boys. The inner turmoil and torture Javi experiences are sometimes too much for him, and honestly at times, were too much for me, as the tears streamed down my face for him.
Selah. The girl nobody really notices, and she likes it that way. She's completely alone until the day she helps rescue Javi from the boys bathroom. That brief glimpse into his tortured soul is enough to draw her out, and send her taking steps to befriend him and Izzy.
Izzy. He's the "normal" one. The one who has parents who are actually there, and a family that's fairly typical. He's the glue that holds Javi together, and the common point for Javi and Selah's relationship.
The friendships and relationships among these three, plus Nate, who I won't even talk about, lol...are the basic backdrop of the story. As Javi and Selah explore their connection and learn each other's painful pasts and secrets, they form a bond that is truly rooted in love and respect for one another. This book tore my heart into pieces at times, but one thing I can say for Melissa Perea, is that she knows how to spin a story that touches the reader and has them begging for more.
Javier. The "tough guy" that everyone at school is almost afraid of. Little do they know that underneath that exterior is a young man who cares deeply, loves wholly, has been hurt deeply, and is more afraid than any of them will ever know. His relationship and interactions with Gio, the little boy next door is whose mother is ridiculously absent, show a tenderness and protective tendency not common in 17 year old boys. The inner turmoil and torture Javi experiences are sometimes too much for him, and honestly at times, were too much for me, as the tears streamed down my face for him.
Selah. The girl nobody really notices, and she likes it that way. She's completely alone until the day she helps rescue Javi from the boys bathroom. That brief glimpse into his tortured soul is enough to draw her out, and send her taking steps to befriend him and Izzy.
Izzy. He's the "normal" one. The one who has parents who are actually there, and a family that's fairly typical. He's the glue that holds Javi together, and the common point for Javi and Selah's relationship.
The friendships and relationships among these three, plus Nate, who I won't even talk about, lol...are the basic backdrop of the story. As Javi and Selah explore their connection and learn each other's painful pasts and secrets, they form a bond that is truly rooted in love and respect for one another. This book tore my heart into pieces at times, but one thing I can say for Melissa Perea, is that she knows how to spin a story that touches the reader and has them begging for more.
April 25, 2014
I've had Seeds of Hate in my TBR pile for a really long time. For whatever reason, I didn't pick it up until a few days ago. Maybe it was the fact that there wasn't any info about what the story was about, beyond high school and that it sucked... but the cover is gorgeous (and I love it more after reading the book - although the shoes should be red!) but I finally did take a chance and I'm so glad I did.
We are in high school and follow the story of Javier, Izzy, Nathan, Selah, and Gio. I have to say that I struggled with how to pronounce Selah for almost half the book before I settled on a good version in my head (after seeing them call her by a shortened name). I tend to struggle with pronunciations though so I feel like that's all me.
Javier is a strong character, with a good head on his shoulders and is very empathetic to his sweet next door neighbor boy, who has a hard life. We know that Javi has a hard life as well but he seems to be taking it in strides before we are eased into knowing how he is bullied and tormented by a few different things going on in his life. I trusted Javier's character to show us what was going on in his life and enjoyed seeing it through his eyes.
Selah was sweet, a little giggly and trusting even with some big family events that have gone on in her life.
A lot of the reviews repeat that what you will read in this book is REAL and I completely agree. There is a realness to what we are reading that lends itself to my memories of high school.
I won't spoil the ending but I loved it. It was real. It was true. It made me hope for a better Selah and Javier.
A fabulous first novel by Ms Perea.
We are in high school and follow the story of Javier, Izzy, Nathan, Selah, and Gio. I have to say that I struggled with how to pronounce Selah for almost half the book before I settled on a good version in my head (after seeing them call her by a shortened name). I tend to struggle with pronunciations though so I feel like that's all me.
Javier is a strong character, with a good head on his shoulders and is very empathetic to his sweet next door neighbor boy, who has a hard life. We know that Javi has a hard life as well but he seems to be taking it in strides before we are eased into knowing how he is bullied and tormented by a few different things going on in his life. I trusted Javier's character to show us what was going on in his life and enjoyed seeing it through his eyes.
Selah was sweet, a little giggly and trusting even with some big family events that have gone on in her life.
A lot of the reviews repeat that what you will read in this book is REAL and I completely agree. There is a realness to what we are reading that lends itself to my memories of high school.
I won't spoil the ending but I loved it. It was real. It was true. It made me hope for a better Selah and Javier.
A fabulous first novel by Ms Perea.
July 15, 2013
"Its not healthy to miss something that's never coming back. All you end up doing is hating your reality."
I am no expert but I do read a lot. At the end of the day I am just a fangirl like all the rest but one thing I know for sure is that this story is not only touching but is also AMAZINGLY written. The thoughts and feelings expressed in this book blew me away and to know that this is Melissa's first book makes the read that more enjoyable. Melissa's talent pours off the pages. Well-crafted sentences transport you back to high school taking you back to those emotional moments from days pasted. No matter if you were to jock, nerd, cheerleader, or even the loner we all dealt with issues in high school. Never trust the face people show on the outside because inside they hide their deepest fears and insecurity. People are all driven by the need to feel wanted and loved and when there is a lack of that love the feeling of lost takes over.
"I let go." I said. And as I held her, I let it all go again. Except this time, it was better"
Here are the facts...I am at a loss for words to describe this book and you MUST add Seeds of Hate to your TBR list. Javi, Selah, Izzy, and Nate are screaming to be found in a sea of high school angst. These angsts filled moments create a story that anyone can relate to and before you know you will have finished this book in one sitting. Go and one click now! Yes right now! I am waiting, not so patently, for book two in the Cardboard Heart series. Melissa Perea has proven that you can knock it out of the park on your first try!
I am no expert but I do read a lot. At the end of the day I am just a fangirl like all the rest but one thing I know for sure is that this story is not only touching but is also AMAZINGLY written. The thoughts and feelings expressed in this book blew me away and to know that this is Melissa's first book makes the read that more enjoyable. Melissa's talent pours off the pages. Well-crafted sentences transport you back to high school taking you back to those emotional moments from days pasted. No matter if you were to jock, nerd, cheerleader, or even the loner we all dealt with issues in high school. Never trust the face people show on the outside because inside they hide their deepest fears and insecurity. People are all driven by the need to feel wanted and loved and when there is a lack of that love the feeling of lost takes over.
"I let go." I said. And as I held her, I let it all go again. Except this time, it was better"
Here are the facts...I am at a loss for words to describe this book and you MUST add Seeds of Hate to your TBR list. Javi, Selah, Izzy, and Nate are screaming to be found in a sea of high school angst. These angsts filled moments create a story that anyone can relate to and before you know you will have finished this book in one sitting. Go and one click now! Yes right now! I am waiting, not so patently, for book two in the Cardboard Heart series. Melissa Perea has proven that you can knock it out of the park on your first try!
July 31, 2013
We all remember high school. Whether you were a geek, a cheerleader, a jock, a band nerd, or a nobody, high school affected you.
This is Javi's story of survival. Waiting it out until high school is over. Waiting until he can turn his back and walk away for good. It takes a while for Javi's story to unravel. He trusts no one and the author, instead of laying everything out in the beginning, does a fantastic job of inviting you into Javi's world. There you meet Gio, the little boy next door who captures your heart and doesn't let go. You meet Izzy, the boy whose family owns a bakery and brings Javi a sticky bun and coffee every morning. There's Selah, the girl who always wears red shoes and band t-shirts and strolls up one day and so sweetly plants herself into Javi's life. Then there's Nate, the center of so much anger and hate, the "bully" of high school if that's what you want to call him.
Javi isn't struggling to get noticed. He's struggling to stay hidden.
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
- Nelson Mandela,Long Walk to Freedom (quoted at the beginning of the story)
This is Javi's story of survival. Waiting it out until high school is over. Waiting until he can turn his back and walk away for good. It takes a while for Javi's story to unravel. He trusts no one and the author, instead of laying everything out in the beginning, does a fantastic job of inviting you into Javi's world. There you meet Gio, the little boy next door who captures your heart and doesn't let go. You meet Izzy, the boy whose family owns a bakery and brings Javi a sticky bun and coffee every morning. There's Selah, the girl who always wears red shoes and band t-shirts and strolls up one day and so sweetly plants herself into Javi's life. Then there's Nate, the center of so much anger and hate, the "bully" of high school if that's what you want to call him.
Javi isn't struggling to get noticed. He's struggling to stay hidden.
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
- Nelson Mandela,Long Walk to Freedom (quoted at the beginning of the story)
July 19, 2013
They said high school would be fun.
They said we would make forever friends.
They said we would have the time of our lives.
They lied.
I don't read that many YA books anymore, especially ones set in High School. This was suggested by an author while waiting on another book so I figured why not... I only read the above book description, not the except or the few reviews out at the time. Since the first three lines are similar to what I was told going into High school and I also felt they lied, I figured might as well jump in. Wow! Mind blown! Not at all what I was expecting. I don't know what I was expecting but not that. I didn't expect to care so much for these kids! She did a great job of giving us just enough from everyone's point of view to make the background feel whole. An amazing story of best friends becoming enemies, strangers becoming friends, learning to love, learning its okay not to love, learning to trust. So many things that even adults still can't handle. I hope book two comes out sooner rather than later. I can't wait to read how this story ends for Javi, Selah, Gio, Izzy, and Nathan.
They said we would make forever friends.
They said we would have the time of our lives.
They lied.
I don't read that many YA books anymore, especially ones set in High School. This was suggested by an author while waiting on another book so I figured why not... I only read the above book description, not the except or the few reviews out at the time. Since the first three lines are similar to what I was told going into High school and I also felt they lied, I figured might as well jump in. Wow! Mind blown! Not at all what I was expecting. I don't know what I was expecting but not that. I didn't expect to care so much for these kids! She did a great job of giving us just enough from everyone's point of view to make the background feel whole. An amazing story of best friends becoming enemies, strangers becoming friends, learning to love, learning its okay not to love, learning to trust. So many things that even adults still can't handle. I hope book two comes out sooner rather than later. I can't wait to read how this story ends for Javi, Selah, Gio, Izzy, and Nathan.
January 5, 2014
4.5 stars
Melissa Perea’s words have a poetic ring to them. I have seen this through her Facebook updates, messages, comments and notes. Even before I started reading her book, I knew that her words would pull me in. And I was not mistaken. Seeds of Hate is written so flawlessly, it isn’t difficult to find yourself immersed in her writing. And the story – well, it’s something else too. The emotion that she weaves in and out of us as we get to know Javi and Selah and Izzy is intense. They are wounded children, clinging together for brief moments of escape from the reality that is their life. Each character’s deep longing for acceptance is almost too painful to watch. And yet, we’re drawn in by the soulfulness of it all. Growing up isn’t easy and life isn’t fair. The struggle to rise above it all – that’s where one either succeeds or fails. Javi, Selah and Izzy – their hearts are pure as gold. We root for them. We want them to forgive. To forget and to move on. Can they? Will they? This book had me thinking, spinning, waiting, crying and smiling. Feelings that can only be evoked by words that touch the heart. Congratulations, MP, you nailed it.
Melissa Perea’s words have a poetic ring to them. I have seen this through her Facebook updates, messages, comments and notes. Even before I started reading her book, I knew that her words would pull me in. And I was not mistaken. Seeds of Hate is written so flawlessly, it isn’t difficult to find yourself immersed in her writing. And the story – well, it’s something else too. The emotion that she weaves in and out of us as we get to know Javi and Selah and Izzy is intense. They are wounded children, clinging together for brief moments of escape from the reality that is their life. Each character’s deep longing for acceptance is almost too painful to watch. And yet, we’re drawn in by the soulfulness of it all. Growing up isn’t easy and life isn’t fair. The struggle to rise above it all – that’s where one either succeeds or fails. Javi, Selah and Izzy – their hearts are pure as gold. We root for them. We want them to forgive. To forget and to move on. Can they? Will they? This book had me thinking, spinning, waiting, crying and smiling. Feelings that can only be evoked by words that touch the heart. Congratulations, MP, you nailed it.
August 11, 2013
I loved this story! It was told mostly from Selah and Javier's point of view, but there are a few chapters told from the point of view from minor characters when their p.o.v. adds an unique perspective on certain events.
I loved how each character had their own burdens to carry. They were shaped by circumstances beyond their control as many of us are. I also love how you know from the start that something really traumatic happened to Javier, but you don't figure it out until he's ready to tell Selah and share his story. It was a lot darker than I was expecting, but still held those fragments of hope. "We found love in a hopeless place" would definitely describe this story, and that you can find love provides hope in itself. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one and see where Selah and Javier's lives take them.
I loved how each character had their own burdens to carry. They were shaped by circumstances beyond their control as many of us are. I also love how you know from the start that something really traumatic happened to Javier, but you don't figure it out until he's ready to tell Selah and share his story. It was a lot darker than I was expecting, but still held those fragments of hope. "We found love in a hopeless place" would definitely describe this story, and that you can find love provides hope in itself. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one and see where Selah and Javier's lives take them.
July 16, 2013
A beautifully written debut novel from Melissa Perea. It's hard to believe she wrote it in less than a year, with a toddler, and while pregnant! She is truly talented and I can't wait to read more from her.
The story is simple - a couple of misfits trying to survive high school - but the characters are so complex. Every chapter leaves you wanting to know...why. WHY are they the way they are? What happened? What changed? Is there HOPE for the future, or will the pain & the hatred continue to define them?
And in the end you wonder a big fat, WHAT NOW?! Yes, she leaves you hanging...darn you, Melissa! Thankfully, the 2nd book is in the works and this beautifully tragic story will continue...
Until then. There is hope.
The story is simple - a couple of misfits trying to survive high school - but the characters are so complex. Every chapter leaves you wanting to know...why. WHY are they the way they are? What happened? What changed? Is there HOPE for the future, or will the pain & the hatred continue to define them?
And in the end you wonder a big fat, WHAT NOW?! Yes, she leaves you hanging...darn you, Melissa! Thankfully, the 2nd book is in the works and this beautifully tragic story will continue...
Until then. There is hope.
July 11, 2013
The dark corners in this book have you holding your breath......
The light caresses and quirky romance make you itch for more....
The subtle grasp that each character has on you, page by page, gets stronger....
Javi..... Selah.....Izzy.....Gio....................................................Nate
They all take a little piece of your heart with their complicated stories, relationships, and personal struggles.
This may be YA, but ANYONE can relate to it.....because who hasn't been burned by family or friends and tried to find someone to walk with through the ashes.
Beautifully written debut novel, Seeds of Hate won't let you down.....that is until you finish it and MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.....
I can't wait to see what Melissa has in store for us.
The light caresses and quirky romance make you itch for more....
The subtle grasp that each character has on you, page by page, gets stronger....
Javi..... Selah.....Izzy.....Gio....................................................Nate
They all take a little piece of your heart with their complicated stories, relationships, and personal struggles.
This may be YA, but ANYONE can relate to it.....because who hasn't been burned by family or friends and tried to find someone to walk with through the ashes.
Beautifully written debut novel, Seeds of Hate won't let you down.....that is until you finish it and MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.....
I can't wait to see what Melissa has in store for us.
September 24, 2013
So I wanted to give it 5 stars when I saw the Nelson Mandela quote. I thought I love this author already! Then 50% I was like, "What the Fuck." But not in the good way. I was done with the questions and the confusion. I was this close to putting it down or even scheming but then they came. The answers came and it was beautify done. The way the characters came to life with their tragedies and the way they're dealing with life. Nobody was perfect except maybe for izzy and that's not saying a lot we didn't get a I depth reading of his life. But all the characters has such depth and no one was "bad" but all had their reasons. They might have not been good ones but they are all victims of their surroundings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews