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Singing All The Way Up
The Truth is Extraordinary
Laura is an alien abductee , but rather than screaming as she's drawn into the UFO, she's singing. Or so she's told. Seeking opportunity, Laura's father turns her into a child star, forcing Laura to perform her song to UFO devotees . But when he dies, and the money runs out, her mother sells her to a freak show .
Within a stinking tour bus, a fire dancer, a psychic, and a time traveler force Laura to unravel the truth. Was she actually abducted, one of the chosen few to be given a glimpse of what’s beyond the stars? Or is she just a publicity stunt, forced into the light by those willing to destroy a little girl’s ordinary life ?
Singing All the Way Up is the story of extraordinary transformation. It’s a story of our search for the truth and the horrors hiding within ourselves and within the stars.
Laura is an alien abductee , but rather than screaming as she's drawn into the UFO, she's singing. Or so she's told. Seeking opportunity, Laura's father turns her into a child star, forcing Laura to perform her song to UFO devotees . But when he dies, and the money runs out, her mother sells her to a freak show .
Within a stinking tour bus, a fire dancer, a psychic, and a time traveler force Laura to unravel the truth. Was she actually abducted, one of the chosen few to be given a glimpse of what’s beyond the stars? Or is she just a publicity stunt, forced into the light by those willing to destroy a little girl’s ordinary life ?
Singing All the Way Up is the story of extraordinary transformation. It’s a story of our search for the truth and the horrors hiding within ourselves and within the stars.
- GenresHorror
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2023
4 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 15, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this new book in exchange for an honest review.
Stephanie Sanders-Jacob debut novel, Singing All the Way Up, was an interesting read for sure. I love the author's note, speaking on the author's own experiences with aliens/UFOs. The story follows Laura, a young girl who was abducted by aliens and then spends the remainder of her childhood and early adult years being the provider for her family (brought on by her fame) and dealing with the uncertainty around her abduction from the start.
I loved the first 30% of this book and I liked the depictions of real-life alien/UFO encounters at the end of each chapter, though it did start to drag on a little bit as the novel progressed. I did start to lose interest a little, towards the middle, but the ending started to pick up again. I think I would've liked a little more time spent with the traveling show and some more character development in those relationships. Like it was fascinating, so I wanted MORE of it - you know? The writing was great and the descriptions were rich. I wanted more from Laura and her relationships (or perhaps the lack thereof ). Great work on this debut!
Stephanie Sanders-Jacob debut novel, Singing All the Way Up, was an interesting read for sure. I love the author's note, speaking on the author's own experiences with aliens/UFOs. The story follows Laura, a young girl who was abducted by aliens and then spends the remainder of her childhood and early adult years being the provider for her family (brought on by her fame) and dealing with the uncertainty around her abduction from the start.
I loved the first 30% of this book and I liked the depictions of real-life alien/UFO encounters at the end of each chapter, though it did start to drag on a little bit as the novel progressed. I did start to lose interest a little, towards the middle, but the ending started to pick up again. I think I would've liked a little more time spent with the traveling show and some more character development in those relationships. Like it was fascinating, so I wanted MORE of it - you know? The writing was great and the descriptions were rich. I wanted more from Laura and her relationships (or perhaps the lack thereof ). Great work on this debut!
May 9, 2023
I had the honor of beta reading this story. It is such a unique book with lots of twists. Laura is a complicated character and I really liked her voice. I liked the inclusion of the UFO stories after each chapter. It was interesting to learn about real cases.
July 31, 2023
Wow, what an incredible debut novel by Stephanie Sanders-Jacob! I will start out by saying that I don’t usually read books about extra-terrestrial life or abductions, but I thoroughly enjoyed this.
The writing style was very matter-of-fact (in a good way). As a reader, I am not particularly fond of flowery descriptions when simple language can be used just as effectively. I also thought this type of writing really matched with Laura’s personality (it is told from her perspective).
One of my favorite things about the novel (for the most part) was the inclusion of real-life accounts of alien abductions/encounters. Because I am not at all well-versed in these stories, they were all new to me and fascinating in their own right. I will say that about halfway through I started to get a little bit bored with those portions of the chapters. My only complaint is that maybe there should have been fewer and they could have been spaced out every 2-3 chapters instead of every chapter.
I also wish there was a bit more character development for the “freak show” characters. I thought their stories were too thin, but they were still interesting. There were a few comments made about Judith and Warner in particular that I wanted to know more about. I don’t want to say anything more about that because I don’t want to give anything away.
I think this story also resonates because of our culture’s obsession with commodifying everything (including parents that commodify their own children, sometimes in extremely harmful ways). I think the book really captured how disorienting/disturbing this could be for a child to be told over and over that their family relies on them for income and how isolating that can be for a child. So isolating that their only friendships are with adults (who may or may not have their best interest at heart).
Overall, I loved this book and can’t wait to read more of Stephanie Sanders-Jacob in the future!
The writing style was very matter-of-fact (in a good way). As a reader, I am not particularly fond of flowery descriptions when simple language can be used just as effectively. I also thought this type of writing really matched with Laura’s personality (it is told from her perspective).
One of my favorite things about the novel (for the most part) was the inclusion of real-life accounts of alien abductions/encounters. Because I am not at all well-versed in these stories, they were all new to me and fascinating in their own right. I will say that about halfway through I started to get a little bit bored with those portions of the chapters. My only complaint is that maybe there should have been fewer and they could have been spaced out every 2-3 chapters instead of every chapter.
I also wish there was a bit more character development for the “freak show” characters. I thought their stories were too thin, but they were still interesting. There were a few comments made about Judith and Warner in particular that I wanted to know more about. I don’t want to say anything more about that because I don’t want to give anything away.
I think this story also resonates because of our culture’s obsession with commodifying everything (including parents that commodify their own children, sometimes in extremely harmful ways). I think the book really captured how disorienting/disturbing this could be for a child to be told over and over that their family relies on them for income and how isolating that can be for a child. So isolating that their only friendships are with adults (who may or may not have their best interest at heart).
Overall, I loved this book and can’t wait to read more of Stephanie Sanders-Jacob in the future!
May 8, 2023
*CWs at the End
“Sometimes it hurt to be chosen.”
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGallery for providing me with this ARC!
Singing All the Way Up follows a young girl, Laura, through the highs and lows of her childhood years after an alleged alien abduction causes her to become famous. The book examines her interpersonal relationships and trauma as she descends further and further, both into and away from the spotlight.
One thing I’m going to say right up-front: I would not describe this book as horror. I recognize that horror is subjective, and maybe, in some ways, this book would fit the bill. In my opinion, I think that the genres should just be general fiction and sci-fi, if you want to avoid people ranting and raving about the lack of spooky scenes. That said, I do think horror readers will like it regardless. I know I did.
Honestly, I really loved what this book did. I’ve always wondered about the kind of people that would use their child as a cash-grab, and I think that, in the future, Laura’s story will hit closer to home with some of our young “family” influencers. Much of the story appears dubious on the surface, until you remember how many kids out there are getting milked dry by predatory talent agencies and money-grubbing parents on sites like TikTok and YouTube. A few minor errors here and there, a rather lackluster expository ending, and the realization that the story itself is remarkably short are what keeps me at four stars.
The prose is nice. Simple but fluid. It’s not the most beautiful writing I’ve ever read, but it doesn’t need to be, either. Fast-paced readers will enjoy this book; however, haters of the oxford comma will not.
I was rather shocked to discover that the story was written in the first-person view, as it has been an exceptionally long time since I’ve come across a book that utilized that type of narrative. Thankfully, Laura is our only narrator, so it never becomes confusing. Likewise, the characters are very easy to keep track of. There’s only a few that are really important, and they’re distinct enough to remember as individuals. There are a few minor spelling and grammatical errors, nothing egregious. Mostly through the omission of a word or a spelling error. It didn’t destroy my reading experience, but it was noticeable.
One thing that I imagine will be controversial is the over-abundant inclusion of real-life UFO and cryptid sightings. To begin with, I thought it was a fun addition. It adds a layer of reality and history to the book, and makes the story seem more like an autobiography and less like a work of fiction. Each chapter has such a tale, and they reflect or intertwine with the overall theme of the chapter (my favorite was the comparison to the changeling). That said, those that want to focus on the actual plot of the book will not enjoy this; you could skip over these stories completely and lose absolutely nothing, which means that the storyline itself is actually quite a bit shorter than you might believe based on the page count alone. That’s the only reason I became a little annoyed by the sheer amount of stories included, even if I understood why they were there.
I also imagine that some people will come out furious by the ending and by Laura’s actions. While I didn’t mind that, I wasn’t a huge fan of the moralizing, Sparknotes synopsis-style final chapter. I don’t think Laura needed to explain what the book was about to us, or why she did what she did. I know this is kind of a new trend where authors succinctly tie up the book’s themes so people who don’t get it can understand what they just read, but frankly, I think that should be kept to discussion forums and book clubs. It just seems weird and out-of-place on paper. It felt awkward, disjointed. It took me out of the otherwise engaging narrative that, at times, had my jaw dropping to the floor.
Overall, I really loved this book, and I was surprised to find that this is Stephanie Sanders-Jacob’s debut novel! She’s a pro already. I am excited to read more from her in the future.
CWs:
“Sometimes it hurt to be chosen.”
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGallery for providing me with this ARC!
Singing All the Way Up follows a young girl, Laura, through the highs and lows of her childhood years after an alleged alien abduction causes her to become famous. The book examines her interpersonal relationships and trauma as she descends further and further, both into and away from the spotlight.
One thing I’m going to say right up-front: I would not describe this book as horror. I recognize that horror is subjective, and maybe, in some ways, this book would fit the bill. In my opinion, I think that the genres should just be general fiction and sci-fi, if you want to avoid people ranting and raving about the lack of spooky scenes. That said, I do think horror readers will like it regardless. I know I did.
Honestly, I really loved what this book did. I’ve always wondered about the kind of people that would use their child as a cash-grab, and I think that, in the future, Laura’s story will hit closer to home with some of our young “family” influencers. Much of the story appears dubious on the surface, until you remember how many kids out there are getting milked dry by predatory talent agencies and money-grubbing parents on sites like TikTok and YouTube. A few minor errors here and there, a rather lackluster expository ending, and the realization that the story itself is remarkably short are what keeps me at four stars.
The prose is nice. Simple but fluid. It’s not the most beautiful writing I’ve ever read, but it doesn’t need to be, either. Fast-paced readers will enjoy this book; however, haters of the oxford comma will not.
I was rather shocked to discover that the story was written in the first-person view, as it has been an exceptionally long time since I’ve come across a book that utilized that type of narrative. Thankfully, Laura is our only narrator, so it never becomes confusing. Likewise, the characters are very easy to keep track of. There’s only a few that are really important, and they’re distinct enough to remember as individuals. There are a few minor spelling and grammatical errors, nothing egregious. Mostly through the omission of a word or a spelling error. It didn’t destroy my reading experience, but it was noticeable.
One thing that I imagine will be controversial is the over-abundant inclusion of real-life UFO and cryptid sightings. To begin with, I thought it was a fun addition. It adds a layer of reality and history to the book, and makes the story seem more like an autobiography and less like a work of fiction. Each chapter has such a tale, and they reflect or intertwine with the overall theme of the chapter (my favorite was the comparison to the changeling). That said, those that want to focus on the actual plot of the book will not enjoy this; you could skip over these stories completely and lose absolutely nothing, which means that the storyline itself is actually quite a bit shorter than you might believe based on the page count alone. That’s the only reason I became a little annoyed by the sheer amount of stories included, even if I understood why they were there.
I also imagine that some people will come out furious by the ending and by Laura’s actions. While I didn’t mind that, I wasn’t a huge fan of the moralizing, Sparknotes synopsis-style final chapter. I don’t think Laura needed to explain what the book was about to us, or why she did what she did. I know this is kind of a new trend where authors succinctly tie up the book’s themes so people who don’t get it can understand what they just read, but frankly, I think that should be kept to discussion forums and book clubs. It just seems weird and out-of-place on paper. It felt awkward, disjointed. It took me out of the otherwise engaging narrative that, at times, had my jaw dropping to the floor.
Overall, I really loved this book, and I was surprised to find that this is Stephanie Sanders-Jacob’s debut novel! She’s a pro already. I am excited to read more from her in the future.
CWs:
July 9, 2023
I had the opportunity to beta read this wonderful book. And later received ARC. I went dived in not knowing what to expect and was completely blown away. This story is so unique, with a very interesting protagonist. Laura is someone you can feel for and the people she meets along this journey each bring something special to the story. And then there's the ending of each chapter.... absolutely fantastic! Really, pick up this book if you want a good read.
July 19, 2023
"I can't remember the abduction at all."
"It doesn't matter if you remember or not," he said. "What matters is that it changed you."
Our search for answers to cosmic mysteries can be shaped just as well by the cultural impact of the unknown, or by spectacle, as by any actuality of visitation. This is a gripping tale of a life built on spectacle, on "Singing. All the way up."
Guy Debord's "Society of the Spectacle" sprang to mind throughout as Laura toured between media and Ufology conventions, her father in particular basking vicariously in the fame and (tenuous) fortune. This is a community of convention-goers where people at least recognize each other, where the spectacle [i]is[/i] the reality and the mundane viewed with suspicion. Most importantly, there's an unspoken rule: admitting or being exposed to be just putting on a show that you know is all for show is the greatest sin, one that could burn down the whole house.
Laura did not ask for her niche fame. Her family thrust that upon her. She doesn't remember "the incident" that made her famous. Yet, rather than completely resist that spectacle, she leans into it either for a sense of empowerment or just to get by. Even as she does, she's constantly aware of her own uncertainty and guilt at how much she relies on others around her going along with the story. This isn't Holden Caulfield running around yelling, "Phony!" This is someone more conflicted, grappling with the ethics of herself and others putting forth an image as a way to survive.
I especially enjoyed the accounts at the end of each chapter, which were effective at provoking thought on UFO phenomena broadly. Without giving too much away, in one, there's an account of a sighting in Flatwoods, ending with the poignant note, "They said the boys were lying, but gladly profited all the same." In another, we see a psy-op play out as a man gets strung along.
That, to me, is the real danger. Disturbing or enthralling, accounts of the unknown and our rationalizations of them, or our insistence on their truth, are part of our collective experience. Its structures that push manipulative opacity and commercial exploitation which distort that part of being human into something harmful.
Maybe the hardest idea to come to grips with is letting those things be as they are. If Laura's friend Warner was right that the search for closure can be good for us, then Laura is also right that sometimes it's about luck, and things just happen. It's not the search for answers or purpose behind events that hurts us, or that answers might be only partly satisfying. What hurts is the 'answers' that profit others and entrap us, and seeing that happen.
=====
Anyway, beyond my waxing philosophical to more literary matters, Laura was an enjoyably acerbic and sympathetic character. I related to her feelings about the journalists, fellow freaks, and others she encounters. I felt her anger when it boiled. It was well-written, and if I saw a thing or two coming, it still had its impact. Things seemed to happen in a rush toward the end, but it was satisfying after chapters and chapters of suspense-building. I set out knowing I'd want to avoid being overly generous and review this honestly, but I genuinely thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It ended with some sense of closure, but not finality. Looking forward to Steph's future work!
"It doesn't matter if you remember or not," he said. "What matters is that it changed you."
Our search for answers to cosmic mysteries can be shaped just as well by the cultural impact of the unknown, or by spectacle, as by any actuality of visitation. This is a gripping tale of a life built on spectacle, on "Singing. All the way up."
Guy Debord's "Society of the Spectacle" sprang to mind throughout as Laura toured between media and Ufology conventions, her father in particular basking vicariously in the fame and (tenuous) fortune. This is a community of convention-goers where people at least recognize each other, where the spectacle [i]is[/i] the reality and the mundane viewed with suspicion. Most importantly, there's an unspoken rule: admitting or being exposed to be just putting on a show that you know is all for show is the greatest sin, one that could burn down the whole house.
Laura did not ask for her niche fame. Her family thrust that upon her. She doesn't remember "the incident" that made her famous. Yet, rather than completely resist that spectacle, she leans into it either for a sense of empowerment or just to get by. Even as she does, she's constantly aware of her own uncertainty and guilt at how much she relies on others around her going along with the story. This isn't Holden Caulfield running around yelling, "Phony!" This is someone more conflicted, grappling with the ethics of herself and others putting forth an image as a way to survive.
I especially enjoyed the accounts at the end of each chapter, which were effective at provoking thought on UFO phenomena broadly. Without giving too much away, in one, there's an account of a sighting in Flatwoods, ending with the poignant note, "They said the boys were lying, but gladly profited all the same." In another, we see a psy-op play out as a man gets strung along.
That, to me, is the real danger. Disturbing or enthralling, accounts of the unknown and our rationalizations of them, or our insistence on their truth, are part of our collective experience. Its structures that push manipulative opacity and commercial exploitation which distort that part of being human into something harmful.
Maybe the hardest idea to come to grips with is letting those things be as they are. If Laura's friend Warner was right that the search for closure can be good for us, then Laura is also right that sometimes it's about luck, and things just happen. It's not the search for answers or purpose behind events that hurts us, or that answers might be only partly satisfying. What hurts is the 'answers' that profit others and entrap us, and seeing that happen.
=====
Anyway, beyond my waxing philosophical to more literary matters, Laura was an enjoyably acerbic and sympathetic character. I related to her feelings about the journalists, fellow freaks, and others she encounters. I felt her anger when it boiled. It was well-written, and if I saw a thing or two coming, it still had its impact. Things seemed to happen in a rush toward the end, but it was satisfying after chapters and chapters of suspense-building. I set out knowing I'd want to avoid being overly generous and review this honestly, but I genuinely thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It ended with some sense of closure, but not finality. Looking forward to Steph's future work!
Read
August 2, 2023So many emotions in this book that I was not expecting. Very well written and I know this is a book that will stick with me. I loved how the author added additional UFO stories to the end of each chapter - very fun and creative!
September 13, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this new book in exchange for an honest review!
This was honestly an interesting read. I enjoyed going through everything Laura went through. The emotions were truly a Rollercoaster. She goes through so much being an abductee and at such a young age she's being constantly manipulated. Money truly is for the greedy in this book.
Is Laura a monster? No. She's had no real help dealing with her problems nor her trauma. It's created serious problems for her and a very interesting character to follow. Her emotions are very valid as you progress through the book.
I truly loved reading about the sightings, aliens and different cryptids. I honestly had no idea there were so many interesting stories out there like this. Some were funny, startling and others were ok. Of course more are still coming in today.
With how the book went it wasent exactly horror but I think people will still enjoy it nonetheless.
Once again thank you for letting me review and read this book!
This was honestly an interesting read. I enjoyed going through everything Laura went through. The emotions were truly a Rollercoaster. She goes through so much being an abductee and at such a young age she's being constantly manipulated. Money truly is for the greedy in this book.
Is Laura a monster? No. She's had no real help dealing with her problems nor her trauma. It's created serious problems for her and a very interesting character to follow. Her emotions are very valid as you progress through the book.
I truly loved reading about the sightings, aliens and different cryptids. I honestly had no idea there were so many interesting stories out there like this. Some were funny, startling and others were ok. Of course more are still coming in today.
With how the book went it wasent exactly horror but I think people will still enjoy it nonetheless.
Once again thank you for letting me review and read this book!
August 2, 2023
At this point you’ve got to be pretty out there to NOT believe there is life outside of Earth, right? So, why then are all abductees treated like they’re insane people? I always wonder about this. If believing is so common now, why do we struggle to believe people with stories? Seems counter productive. Maybe this is why so many stories of aliens are just kept close to people’s chests. They’re afraid of coming out for what they see happening to other believers and abductees. After reading Singing all the Way Up I can understand why abductees are weary of telling their stories. Stephanie Sanders-Jacob crafts one of the most unique, readable, and downright crushing tales of alien abduction here. This is a story about a person who has to live with a choice, one that she didn’t make, about telling the world her story. There’s so much to say here about the parallels of absentee parents, about feeling alone in the world; about those feelings being set to an abductee story that I don’t think my words can do justice in a review. We see the world through the eyes of a child who has had something extraordinary happen, or maybe hasn’t, to them. We see her struggle with believing or not believing her own life, how the world treats her, how the weird fandom treats abductees, and how it feels to be in a world where you’re used/exploited/only thought of for one event in your life. This is a hugely powerful book that I’ll be recommending to anyone that will listen. K thx.
May 16, 2023
This is an excellent novel about truth, lies, and how one incident can consume a life, losing yourself in the process.
Laura was abducted by a UFO as a young girl. Though she has no memories of the event, she is coached by her father, given all the details, and he uses it for profit. But was she really abducted or is it all a manipulative lie?
This is the crux of this book. And it paints a sad heart wrenching portrait of Laura as she grows up. This incident, true or not, has consumed her entire life. The feeling that she might be a fraud haunts her and nobody is willing to tell her the truth.
This novel is beautifully written and you will feel for Laura as certain things come to light and, eventually, the truth is revealed. But at what cost? And will it even matter after a life spent being seen as a saviour by some and a freak by others?
I wouldn't classify this as horror, per se, but it's so well told and so effective that it doesn't matter. It's just a fantastic story that you'll relish and talk about once you've finished. I definitely recommend this book.
Laura was abducted by a UFO as a young girl. Though she has no memories of the event, she is coached by her father, given all the details, and he uses it for profit. But was she really abducted or is it all a manipulative lie?
This is the crux of this book. And it paints a sad heart wrenching portrait of Laura as she grows up. This incident, true or not, has consumed her entire life. The feeling that she might be a fraud haunts her and nobody is willing to tell her the truth.
This novel is beautifully written and you will feel for Laura as certain things come to light and, eventually, the truth is revealed. But at what cost? And will it even matter after a life spent being seen as a saviour by some and a freak by others?
I wouldn't classify this as horror, per se, but it's so well told and so effective that it doesn't matter. It's just a fantastic story that you'll relish and talk about once you've finished. I definitely recommend this book.
September 4, 2023
“Knowing and accepting the truth are two different things, and they’re getting closer all the time.” Singing All the Way Up by Stephanie Sanders-Jacob is a genre-defying novel of science fiction, horror, and coming-of-age. Young protagonist Laura was abducted by aliens, singing all the way up the tractor beam…or was she? She recalls nothing of The Incident, but that doesn’t stop her parents, folks at UFO conventions, and others from believing. In many ways this short book is about relationships, disclosure of truth, and the complex multifaceted and mysterious nature of reality that can make both survivors and monsters of us all. Written in a fast-paced highly compelling plot - interspersed with stories of real alien abductions, UFO sighting, and Cryptid encounters - I found this book extremely readable and enjoyable. Toward the end my empathy for Laura began to diminish, but I think the author poses some interesting ethical questions for the reader and gives us a lot to think about. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
March 20, 2024
It’s a 2.5 rounded up to 3. I liked this… a lot. There’s just some pretty rough pacing issues that are hard to get past. The chapters start off with anecdotal alien abduction stories, chopping up the action like that was an odd choice (especially since they amounted to nothing) I started skipping those about halfway through got very tedious after a while. And I just wish there was just one likable sap in the mix… the tone is decidedly dark, dare I say, bleak 🥴. And the ‘twist’ was telegraphed so clearly that by the time I got to it, I just didn’t care because of course she’s not who she says she is and nothing—and I mean, nothing—good can happen to this MC because that’s what’s been established time and again. The writing is nice and flowery and there’s a good bit that works wonderfully for it and I think it’s definitely worth the read. Would recommend 👍👍🤓
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2023
This novel combines a lot of topics I’m interested in (trauma, family, identity) — but it’s definitely the first I’ve found that also includes ALIENS! I loved the mini UFO stories at the end of each chapter — especially how Laura told them.
Laura’s struggle to define herself outside of what happened to her is illustrated so well. Her quest for truth above all else is as impassioning as it is frustrating.
Laura’s relationship with her parents makes a perfect example of how it feels when the lines between your “good” parent and “bad” parent are blurred. What do I do now? Who’s the real evil? Was it me the whole time?
I can’t wait to see what Stephanie Sanders-Jacob does next!
Laura’s struggle to define herself outside of what happened to her is illustrated so well. Her quest for truth above all else is as impassioning as it is frustrating.
Laura’s relationship with her parents makes a perfect example of how it feels when the lines between your “good” parent and “bad” parent are blurred. What do I do now? Who’s the real evil? Was it me the whole time?
I can’t wait to see what Stephanie Sanders-Jacob does next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2023
Stephanie Sanders-Jacob has penned a unique and compelling debut novel. With quirky and fun UFO tales, campy characters and weirdly delicious side stories, Singing All the Way Up shines as it digs deeper into themes of identity and truth. Laura is an isolated child with no way to fact check the story that defines her life. As she grows, she struggles with trust and loneliness, but ultimately takes power over her own story and her own life. I really was drawn in through this character development and the twists of this story!! Congrats to the author!!!
August 28, 2023
A unique sci-fi story. An intriguing character study about an alien abductee, about the fallout from such a life-altering encounter.
Narratively, it goes places I did not expect, and I always appreciate being surprised by what I find on the page.
I also enjoyed the real-life abduction stories added to each chapter's end.
Overall, an interesting blend of fiction and non-fiction, well worth the read!
Narratively, it goes places I did not expect, and I always appreciate being surprised by what I find on the page.
I also enjoyed the real-life abduction stories added to each chapter's end.
Overall, an interesting blend of fiction and non-fiction, well worth the read!
November 11, 2023
I think the most familiar part of this book that kept me completely tied to it was the heartbreaking experience of being the only adult in the room while being just a child. The parallel alien history throughout felt seamless as you imagined that young girl soaking up as much information as she could find to try to understand herself and she was left to figure it out on her own. So brilliant. I cannot wait to read Stephanie Sanders-Jacob's next book.
August 15, 2023
Very good debut book from Stephanie Sanders-Jacob. This book is not something I would normally read but I really enjoyed it! The real UFO accounts at the end of each chapter were a nice touch. I am looking forward to more works from this author! ☺️
May 22, 2023
I was lucky enough to get to Beta read Singing All the Way Up!
It’s usually pretty easy to tell when a book was written early in an author’s catalogue. You can tell kinks are still being worked out in their prose and character grasp and development is a work in progress. That’s not to say that they’re bad or that I myself can do any better, just that after reading an author’s third or fourth outing the early ones stick out a little as stepping stones to later triumphs.
All that to say the most shocking thing about this release is that it’s Stephanie’s DEBUT NOVEL! Laura is such a real character and her story is told so beautifully. I felt for her at every turn in her story. I wanted to reach into the book and punch her father in the face, I wanted to grab her mother and shake her for what she did to her. The way the real life accounts of UFO and other worldly sightings were presented woven in with each chapter helped tie the fictional tale to the real world and took the book to another level. This story felt real and it was expertly crafted.
If this is the first step in the staircase of progression for Stephanie Sanders-Jacob as an author then she’ll be climbing to the moon her future books, and I’ll be along for the ride…singing all the way up!
It’s usually pretty easy to tell when a book was written early in an author’s catalogue. You can tell kinks are still being worked out in their prose and character grasp and development is a work in progress. That’s not to say that they’re bad or that I myself can do any better, just that after reading an author’s third or fourth outing the early ones stick out a little as stepping stones to later triumphs.
All that to say the most shocking thing about this release is that it’s Stephanie’s DEBUT NOVEL! Laura is such a real character and her story is told so beautifully. I felt for her at every turn in her story. I wanted to reach into the book and punch her father in the face, I wanted to grab her mother and shake her for what she did to her. The way the real life accounts of UFO and other worldly sightings were presented woven in with each chapter helped tie the fictional tale to the real world and took the book to another level. This story felt real and it was expertly crafted.
If this is the first step in the staircase of progression for Stephanie Sanders-Jacob as an author then she’ll be climbing to the moon her future books, and I’ll be along for the ride…singing all the way up!
June 4, 2023
The synopsis to this novel sounded great and ‘out there’ but, unfortunately, this just wasn’t what I was expecting. Initially, trying to work out whether the protagonist was abducted or not kept me reading, and the vignettes at the end of each chapter about ‘actual’ UFO encounters was really interesting. However, I guess I was looking for some humour that I felt the synopsis was pointing towards but, instead, the novel felt dark all the way through. Don’t get me wrong, it was well written but there were some scenes that I was not prepared for. So, who’s this for? I guess those looking more for a psychological tale than a humorous exploration. It just wasn’t for me.
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