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The Way The Light Bends
Virtual twins Linc and Holly were once extremely close. But while artistic, creative Linc is her parents' daughter biologically, it's smart, popular Holly, adopted from Ghana as a baby, who exemplifies the family's high-achieving model of academic success.
Linc is desperate to pursue photography, to find a place of belonging, and for her family to accept her for who she is, despite her surgeon mother's constant disapproval and her growing distance from Holly. So when she comes up with a plan to use her photography interests and skills to do better in school--via a project based on Seneca Village, a long-gone village in the space that now holds Central Park, where all inhabitants, regardless of race, lived together harmoniously--Linc is excited and determined to prove that her differences are assets, that she has what it takes to make her mother proud. But when a long-buried family secret comes to light, Linc must decide whether her mother's love is worth obtaining.
Linc is desperate to pursue photography, to find a place of belonging, and for her family to accept her for who she is, despite her surgeon mother's constant disapproval and her growing distance from Holly. So when she comes up with a plan to use her photography interests and skills to do better in school--via a project based on Seneca Village, a long-gone village in the space that now holds Central Park, where all inhabitants, regardless of race, lived together harmoniously--Linc is excited and determined to prove that her differences are assets, that she has what it takes to make her mother proud. But when a long-buried family secret comes to light, Linc must decide whether her mother's love is worth obtaining.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2018
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3560 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
August 14, 2018
Thanks so much to the author for providing me with a review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
As in her previous work, Jensen writes this story in poetic verse, but this time with a great variation in structure. THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS seems to me even more poetic in nature, more abstract and artistic in form than SKYSCRAPING or EVERY SHINY THING, in a way that definitely requires more of the reader. This isn't typical fiction written in verse, this is verse that requires a discerning reader with an keen eye.
Linc's story is complex and her relationship with her adopted sister is unique in my reading experience. I definitely appreciate that Jensen utilized well-known authors as sensitivity readers in her writing about Linc's adopted "twin" sister Holly who was born in Ghana. I loved the photography storyline and definitely appreciate how flawed Linc is ~ some readers may get frustrated with her ongoing defiance of parental expectations, but anyone who has worked with teens will understand that they often feel no other option than to lie or steal or defy in order to achieve their intended goal, due to adults constantly thwarting their honest attempts to get what they feel is best. Did I word that awkwardly? Yes, but it's true!
Highly recommended for library collections that serve teens or grades 7 and up.
As in her previous work, Jensen writes this story in poetic verse, but this time with a great variation in structure. THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS seems to me even more poetic in nature, more abstract and artistic in form than SKYSCRAPING or EVERY SHINY THING, in a way that definitely requires more of the reader. This isn't typical fiction written in verse, this is verse that requires a discerning reader with an keen eye.
Linc's story is complex and her relationship with her adopted sister is unique in my reading experience. I definitely appreciate that Jensen utilized well-known authors as sensitivity readers in her writing about Linc's adopted "twin" sister Holly who was born in Ghana. I loved the photography storyline and definitely appreciate how flawed Linc is ~ some readers may get frustrated with her ongoing defiance of parental expectations, but anyone who has worked with teens will understand that they often feel no other option than to lie or steal or defy in order to achieve their intended goal, due to adults constantly thwarting their honest attempts to get what they feel is best. Did I word that awkwardly? Yes, but it's true!
Highly recommended for library collections that serve teens or grades 7 and up.
September 4, 2017
Thank you so much to Cordelia Jensen for sending me an ARC! This book comes out in March 2018! There are things that I absolutely loved about this book, and other things that I thought were just okay. This story follows a girl named Linc, who has an adopted sister named Holly. She is always trying to live up to her Mom's expectations of her, and she has this constant feeling of letting her parents down and failing to live up to their high standards. This story is told in poetic verse, and is beautifully written. I was a huge fan of Jensen's debut novel Skyscraping, so I was very excited for this new release!
Like Skyscraping, this story is a very powerful story about family. It's about finding your place in your family, and feeling accepted in your family for who you are. I loved the poetry and metaphors in this book that made me fall in love with Cordelia Jensen's writing in the first place. I also love the diversity with these characters: her sister is adapted from Ghana, and has dark skin, and her best friend is a lesbian. So I appreciate the representation in this novel! I also thought the family dynamics were really interesting, because Linc is always trying to live up to her straight-A's sister Holly, and their Mom is a doctor and has very high expectations for both her daughters, but Linc always feels like she's disappointing them. Linc is obsessed with photography and arts, and her parents don't understand it and don't think it's important. I definitely related to her and understood her in the way she loves creativity and her art and thinks it's just as important as her education. I also related to her with the way she constantly felt alone and like she didn't "belong" in high school. Her sister has a boyfriend, and her best friend has a girlfriend, and she feels so alone most of the time, and I definitely related to that, considering I was always the only one in my group of friends without a boyfriend as well.
Now, for the things I didn't really care for: Linc's love interest in this story. The romance felt so inta-love and forced, and I didn't see them chemistry or like him at all. I thought he was shady and weird and it felt like they'd barely spoken to each other before they were kissing and "dating". Linc was difficult to relate to at times because she is very naive and makes bad decision after bad decision and at times it made me want to strangle her a little bit. But this could also be because I am getting too old for YA stories like this, or see this repetitive behavior in YA books and am getting tired of it. Linc always says she wants to do better and achieve so many things, and then she makes careless, stupid decisions all the time and hates herself more for it, and she falls into this never-ending cycle of that.
Overall, I did really enjoy this story and I think Cordelia Jensen is a fantastic writer. Even though I didn't love Linc as a main character, I still think this is a very powerful, good story about family and finding yourself. There is no doubt that Cordelia Jensen is a very talented writer and I will definitely be checking out all of her future books!
Like Skyscraping, this story is a very powerful story about family. It's about finding your place in your family, and feeling accepted in your family for who you are. I loved the poetry and metaphors in this book that made me fall in love with Cordelia Jensen's writing in the first place. I also love the diversity with these characters: her sister is adapted from Ghana, and has dark skin, and her best friend is a lesbian. So I appreciate the representation in this novel! I also thought the family dynamics were really interesting, because Linc is always trying to live up to her straight-A's sister Holly, and their Mom is a doctor and has very high expectations for both her daughters, but Linc always feels like she's disappointing them. Linc is obsessed with photography and arts, and her parents don't understand it and don't think it's important. I definitely related to her and understood her in the way she loves creativity and her art and thinks it's just as important as her education. I also related to her with the way she constantly felt alone and like she didn't "belong" in high school. Her sister has a boyfriend, and her best friend has a girlfriend, and she feels so alone most of the time, and I definitely related to that, considering I was always the only one in my group of friends without a boyfriend as well.
Now, for the things I didn't really care for: Linc's love interest in this story. The romance felt so inta-love and forced, and I didn't see them chemistry or like him at all. I thought he was shady and weird and it felt like they'd barely spoken to each other before they were kissing and "dating". Linc was difficult to relate to at times because she is very naive and makes bad decision after bad decision and at times it made me want to strangle her a little bit. But this could also be because I am getting too old for YA stories like this, or see this repetitive behavior in YA books and am getting tired of it. Linc always says she wants to do better and achieve so many things, and then she makes careless, stupid decisions all the time and hates herself more for it, and she falls into this never-ending cycle of that.
Overall, I did really enjoy this story and I think Cordelia Jensen is a fantastic writer. Even though I didn't love Linc as a main character, I still think this is a very powerful, good story about family and finding yourself. There is no doubt that Cordelia Jensen is a very talented writer and I will definitely be checking out all of her future books!
March 25, 2018
You can find this review and others at arctic books
THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS is a wonderfully written free-verse novel. It’s beautiful and genuine, and it’s now one of my favorite books. I look forward to what Jensen has to offer in the future.
This novel focuses on Linc’s struggle through high school and her relationship with her adopted sister Holly. Linc is incredibly artistically talented but doesn’t do well in school, while Holly does, making Linc feel like her biological parents prefer Holly over her. Linc also goes through the novelty of relationships, such as those of Linc herself, Holly, and one of her friends.
I didn’t realize THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS was written in free verse, but I’m glad it is – Jensen’s poems successfully reflect the raw emotion and personal struggles of Linc. The poems are expertly crafted and really captured the story well. [I can’t say myself about the representation of Holly’s heritage as she is from Ghana, but! If any #ownvoices reviewers have anything to say about it, I’d be more than happy to include links in my review.]
Overall, THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS is one of my new favorites. It focuses on love and art, family and reconnecting. This upcoming novel is not one to miss – if you enjoyed BLOOD WATER PAINT (another amazing novel), be sure to check this one out.
Thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS is a wonderfully written free-verse novel. It’s beautiful and genuine, and it’s now one of my favorite books. I look forward to what Jensen has to offer in the future.
This novel focuses on Linc’s struggle through high school and her relationship with her adopted sister Holly. Linc is incredibly artistically talented but doesn’t do well in school, while Holly does, making Linc feel like her biological parents prefer Holly over her. Linc also goes through the novelty of relationships, such as those of Linc herself, Holly, and one of her friends.
I didn’t realize THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS was written in free verse, but I’m glad it is – Jensen’s poems successfully reflect the raw emotion and personal struggles of Linc. The poems are expertly crafted and really captured the story well. [I can’t say myself about the representation of Holly’s heritage as she is from Ghana, but! If any #ownvoices reviewers have anything to say about it, I’d be more than happy to include links in my review.]
Overall, THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS is one of my new favorites. It focuses on love and art, family and reconnecting. This upcoming novel is not one to miss – if you enjoyed BLOOD WATER PAINT (another amazing novel), be sure to check this one out.
Thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2018
"Mom, you're crying."
That was the moment I realized how good this book is. I felt Linc deep in my heart. The sense of wanting to belong. I looked at my kids and cried some more. Because just like Linc's mom, I thought what I was doing was for them. When I never ask them what they want. My daughter want to be a cheff and my son want to be a gamer. And now I knew.
This book is not just about Linc finding her 'place' but also a journey for me. When a literature help you to see things differently, to question the actions you take, then for me, it's classic.
I knew things could go wrong for Linc. When she met Silas, untrustworthy he was, in some sense, he helped Linc to discover herself. I don't think Linc love him. He was a mean of escape from her life.
I felt disconnected from Holly. Maybe because the story was in Linc's pov and my feeling was projected via Linc. But towards the end, Holly emerged and took her place in my heart. She too wanted something she could hold on to, some place she could belong.
This is about self discovery, not just for the characters, but also the readers.
That was the moment I realized how good this book is. I felt Linc deep in my heart. The sense of wanting to belong. I looked at my kids and cried some more. Because just like Linc's mom, I thought what I was doing was for them. When I never ask them what they want. My daughter want to be a cheff and my son want to be a gamer. And now I knew.
This book is not just about Linc finding her 'place' but also a journey for me. When a literature help you to see things differently, to question the actions you take, then for me, it's classic.
I knew things could go wrong for Linc. When she met Silas, untrustworthy he was, in some sense, he helped Linc to discover herself. I don't think Linc love him. He was a mean of escape from her life.
I felt disconnected from Holly. Maybe because the story was in Linc's pov and my feeling was projected via Linc. But towards the end, Holly emerged and took her place in my heart. She too wanted something she could hold on to, some place she could belong.
This is about self discovery, not just for the characters, but also the readers.
July 12, 2018
A beautifully written novel told through fluid verse and detailed words. A story about sisters, family, success, failure, & healing. Although it was a seemingly slow story, it only took me a matter of hours to be sucked in through a whirlwind of grief, release, rebellion, & acceptance. I was not expecting such an amazing story and I’m glad I got to read this.
March 29, 2018
**Review on https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/**
I will be the first to admit that I don't read poetry, ever- I have never sought it out, connected to it or enjoyed it in any way; really it is something I try to avoid if being totally honest. That being said, this book was completely written in free verse and it was gorgeous. Cordelia was able to convey so much emotional heartbreak, turmoil, love, struggle, and angst, through the use of her words. But not only word choice, but word placement on the pages and the font used on the words- everything was just so carefully crafted to make the whole. I have never read a book like this before and I was blown away by how connected I felt to Linc and her emotions. I felt like I was right there with her, through this journey of self-discovery and I am still kind of baffled how Cordelia was so skilled with just a few words.
I highly recommend this completely unique read to any fans of YA contemporary. The way The Light Bends was a beautiful layout as well as a highly emotional read full of self-discovery and triumphs.
I received an early copy of this title for reviewing purposes.
I will be the first to admit that I don't read poetry, ever- I have never sought it out, connected to it or enjoyed it in any way; really it is something I try to avoid if being totally honest. That being said, this book was completely written in free verse and it was gorgeous. Cordelia was able to convey so much emotional heartbreak, turmoil, love, struggle, and angst, through the use of her words. But not only word choice, but word placement on the pages and the font used on the words- everything was just so carefully crafted to make the whole. I have never read a book like this before and I was blown away by how connected I felt to Linc and her emotions. I felt like I was right there with her, through this journey of self-discovery and I am still kind of baffled how Cordelia was so skilled with just a few words.
I highly recommend this completely unique read to any fans of YA contemporary. The way The Light Bends was a beautiful layout as well as a highly emotional read full of self-discovery and triumphs.
I received an early copy of this title for reviewing purposes.
May 14, 2018
Linc and Holly are sisters. They're almost the same age and consider themselves twins. Holly is adopted and Linc is a biological daughter. Linc is the creative sister and Holly the athletic one with academic success. Their mother loves everything Holly does, but doesn't approve of anything Linc finds important. This makes it hard for Linc to pursue her dreams. She'd love to go to art school and would like to take photography lessons, but her parents just care about her grades and nothing else.
Linc finds a way to prove she is worthy of her parents' approval. She secretly takes photography lessons and works hard on a school project about Seneca Village and Central Park's rich history. Linc is keeping her wishes, plans and goals a secret. Photography makes her feel good about herself for the first time. However, she knows it will get her in trouble once her parents discover she's done something without their permission. Linc's home situation is getting even tenser than it already was and she's in trouble at school, will she ever get out of the dire situation she's in?
The Way the Light Bends is a beautiful poignant story. Linc is a sweet and talented girl. I loved her creativity and really liked the way she sees the world. Linc's mother constantly pressures her and Linc's life lacks warmth, love and appreciation. I had tears in my eyes when I read about the way she's being treated at home. She's such a wonderful special girl and deserves a lot more than she gets. Linc is desperate to get approval and to be loved and therefore she doesn't always make the best choices, this is heartbreaking to witness. She learns from her mistakes though and she never stops trying, which is something I greatly admired about her character. Cordelia Jensen has perfectly captured what it's like to live with unreasonable expectations and a lack of empathy and I loved the amazing honest and raw way she describes Linc's situation.
Cordelia Jensen's words are gorgeous. I fell in love with her mind-blowing poetic verse from the first sentence. The Way the Light Bends immediately captivated me, I didn't want to stop reading and finished this fantastic book in one sitting. Because of the stunning writing it's a story I could read over and over again. Cordelia Jensen knows how to describe emotion and there are many impressive layers in The Way the Light Bends. I was mesmerized by this brilliant book and highly recommend it.
Linc finds a way to prove she is worthy of her parents' approval. She secretly takes photography lessons and works hard on a school project about Seneca Village and Central Park's rich history. Linc is keeping her wishes, plans and goals a secret. Photography makes her feel good about herself for the first time. However, she knows it will get her in trouble once her parents discover she's done something without their permission. Linc's home situation is getting even tenser than it already was and she's in trouble at school, will she ever get out of the dire situation she's in?
The Way the Light Bends is a beautiful poignant story. Linc is a sweet and talented girl. I loved her creativity and really liked the way she sees the world. Linc's mother constantly pressures her and Linc's life lacks warmth, love and appreciation. I had tears in my eyes when I read about the way she's being treated at home. She's such a wonderful special girl and deserves a lot more than she gets. Linc is desperate to get approval and to be loved and therefore she doesn't always make the best choices, this is heartbreaking to witness. She learns from her mistakes though and she never stops trying, which is something I greatly admired about her character. Cordelia Jensen has perfectly captured what it's like to live with unreasonable expectations and a lack of empathy and I loved the amazing honest and raw way she describes Linc's situation.
Cordelia Jensen's words are gorgeous. I fell in love with her mind-blowing poetic verse from the first sentence. The Way the Light Bends immediately captivated me, I didn't want to stop reading and finished this fantastic book in one sitting. Because of the stunning writing it's a story I could read over and over again. Cordelia Jensen knows how to describe emotion and there are many impressive layers in The Way the Light Bends. I was mesmerized by this brilliant book and highly recommend it.
February 15, 2018
beautiful
July 14, 2018
Jensen, Cordelia. The Way the Light Bends. Philomel Books, 2018.
Linc is the artistic sister. She loves photography, and her mind is always seeing things in motion and the way objects can capture a moment. Holly, Linc's sister who was adopted when Linc was just a baby, is the smart one. She is doing fantastically at school, is athletic, and constantly pleases their parents. Meanwhile, Linc's mom only ever seems to nag Linc and point out how she could be more like Holly if she just Tried Harder. Linc and Holly drift apart as Linc secretly applies to an elite art school and sneaks out of the house to go to classes, meanwhile trying to figure out how to convince her parents to let her pursue her dreams.
This is a novel in verse, and as such may appeal to teens who wouldn't otherwise tackle a book of this length. It reads quickly, and the poetic elements are appropriate as Linc is the narrator through the entire story. I have taught students like Linc, students who don't excel academically not because of lack of effort, but rather because their gifts lie somewhere beyond acadamia. I wasn't that surprised at the "big reveal" at the end of the story, but as I am not the target audience, I am guessing some teen readers may be surprised. I did appreciate how the reveal was treated, as well as the presence of Linc's best friend who is dating a girl. Her presence in the story is not a coming out plot or a place to discuss homophobia; rather, just like any other pair of best friends, Linc and her friend discuss break-ups and hookups and go on double dates, etc.
Recommended for: teens
Red Flags: one character steals his parents pot lollipops, which he and Linc then eat.
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
Read-Alikes: Letting Go of Gravity; You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone; The Language Inside;
Linc is the artistic sister. She loves photography, and her mind is always seeing things in motion and the way objects can capture a moment. Holly, Linc's sister who was adopted when Linc was just a baby, is the smart one. She is doing fantastically at school, is athletic, and constantly pleases their parents. Meanwhile, Linc's mom only ever seems to nag Linc and point out how she could be more like Holly if she just Tried Harder. Linc and Holly drift apart as Linc secretly applies to an elite art school and sneaks out of the house to go to classes, meanwhile trying to figure out how to convince her parents to let her pursue her dreams.
This is a novel in verse, and as such may appeal to teens who wouldn't otherwise tackle a book of this length. It reads quickly, and the poetic elements are appropriate as Linc is the narrator through the entire story. I have taught students like Linc, students who don't excel academically not because of lack of effort, but rather because their gifts lie somewhere beyond acadamia. I wasn't that surprised at the "big reveal" at the end of the story, but as I am not the target audience, I am guessing some teen readers may be surprised. I did appreciate how the reveal was treated, as well as the presence of Linc's best friend who is dating a girl. Her presence in the story is not a coming out plot or a place to discuss homophobia; rather, just like any other pair of best friends, Linc and her friend discuss break-ups and hookups and go on double dates, etc.
Recommended for: teens
Red Flags: one character steals his parents pot lollipops, which he and Linc then eat.
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
Read-Alikes: Letting Go of Gravity; You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone; The Language Inside;
March 1, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 for THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS by @cordeliajensen1 ; thanks to @theloudlibrarylady and @kidlitexchange for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
_*_*_*_*_*
Linc and Holly are virtual twins; Linc is white and Holly was adopted from Ghana as a baby. And yet, although Linc is biologically related to their parents, she feels apart from the family as the artistic black sheep who struggles academically. When an opportunity presents itself for Linc to explore her creative side, she goes for it, but keeps her ambitions secret from her family. At the same time, Holly has secrets of her own, as does their mother.
_*_*_*_*_*
I’m in love with novels in verse these days and @cordeliajensen1 is a master. This is a powerful story about knowing yourself and the importance of standing up for your own future despite setbacks and challenges. Students will identify with Linc’s struggles and will enjoy her journey, which includes a small romance, secrets from her mother’s past and more. This book is out March 27. I think this is great for grades 8+.
_*_*_*_*_*
#bookstagram #book #reading #bibliophile #bookworm #bookaholic #booknerd #bookgram #librarian #librariansfollowlibrarians #librariansofinstagram #booklove #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookish #bookaddict #booknerdigans #booknerd #ilovereading #instabook #futurereadylibs #ISTElibs #TLChat
_*_*_*_*_*
Linc and Holly are virtual twins; Linc is white and Holly was adopted from Ghana as a baby. And yet, although Linc is biologically related to their parents, she feels apart from the family as the artistic black sheep who struggles academically. When an opportunity presents itself for Linc to explore her creative side, she goes for it, but keeps her ambitions secret from her family. At the same time, Holly has secrets of her own, as does their mother.
_*_*_*_*_*
I’m in love with novels in verse these days and @cordeliajensen1 is a master. This is a powerful story about knowing yourself and the importance of standing up for your own future despite setbacks and challenges. Students will identify with Linc’s struggles and will enjoy her journey, which includes a small romance, secrets from her mother’s past and more. This book is out March 27. I think this is great for grades 8+.
_*_*_*_*_*
#bookstagram #book #reading #bibliophile #bookworm #bookaholic #booknerd #bookgram #librarian #librariansfollowlibrarians #librariansofinstagram #booklove #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookish #bookaddict #booknerdigans #booknerd #ilovereading #instabook #futurereadylibs #ISTElibs #TLChat
March 24, 2019
I'm giving this book a four out of five stars because 1) I won it in a Goodreads giveaway so it was free and worth a star and 2) it had great imagery. The imagery mention sounds like something from a literature class but this whole book was literally about imagery so I feel the need to mention it. The writing style took a bit to get used to but it was an interesting way to tell a story and I applaud that. The character development of all of the characters was pretty good especially with Linc. I feel like the plot kind of fell flat towards the end but it was a great idea for a story and I felt that if it was a little bit longer it could have been better. Maybe her parents wouldn't stay such assholes? Who knows? But it was a light and easy read.
April 1, 2019
4.5/5 stars
I won this book through a giveaway on Goodreads and I am so happy that I did! This is a novel written in free verse poetry, and that made it a quick read while still allowing the emotions that characters were feeling to percolate through in the narration. It has definitely been the most uniquely-written book I have read thus far, and now I am wanting to read more books that don't follow the "traditional" writing techniques. It was also a very easy book to read and every single sentence was deliberate to move the story along. I definitely recommend this book!
I won this book through a giveaway on Goodreads and I am so happy that I did! This is a novel written in free verse poetry, and that made it a quick read while still allowing the emotions that characters were feeling to percolate through in the narration. It has definitely been the most uniquely-written book I have read thus far, and now I am wanting to read more books that don't follow the "traditional" writing techniques. It was also a very easy book to read and every single sentence was deliberate to move the story along. I definitely recommend this book!
May 4, 2018
What a beautiful book! A great and quick read for any teen who struggles to be who they are while conforming to who they think they’re supposed to be. Also loved learning about the history of Central Park and viewing Linc’s world through her mind-camera and real camera. I highly recommend this book to teens and their parents (as well as writers). This book even makes me want to try my hand at verse.
January 12, 2019
#partner @kidlitexchange
The Way the Light Bends
By Cordelia Jensen @cordeliajensen1
@penguinteen
Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This is my second novel in verse by @cordeliajensen and it was just as memorable as the first!
Linc and Holly are virtual twins. Holly was adopted as an infant from Ghana and Linc was surprisingly born a short time later. As children, Linc and Holly were inseparable, even though it soon became apparent that Holly was a high achiever and Linc was more imaginative and creative. Their parents, a doctor and a historian, quickly begin to favor Holly and to wonder why Linc has so little academic success. As the girls grow older, their lives become more and more different, especially when their mother shows so much pride in Holly’s accomplishments and so much disappointment about Linc’s.
This is a story about finding yourself, about family and about the different ways to define success. It is the story of Linc and Holly, virtual twins, sophomores in high school in New York City. It is the story of their closeness while they were growing up, but also about how they have grown apart in their teen years. It is about the loneliness that Linc experiences because her parents value Holly’s academic and athletic success over her artistic success. It is about Holly’s search to gain a real understanding of her background and of the country where she was born.
I flew through this book, which is especially easy to do with books in verse, but the story itself made me want to keep reading every chance I got. I was fascinated by Linc’s pursuit of finding a way she could succeed, and her creative pursuit of photography to achieve that goal. My heart was breaking for Linc as her mother again and again refused to accept her pursuit of artistic goals; as she constantly chastised Linc for failing to work up to her potential, rather than recognizing her achievements. I found myself cheering Linc and Holly on, hoping that their parents would become more open minded, both about Linc’s artistic interests and Holly’s need to understand her heritage, and that she and Holly would find some understanding for one another. This is a book that will provide a mirror for many readers who are trying to find a place to belong.
This story in verse is best for those in grades 8 and up. It deserves a spot in every library.
The Way the Light Bends
By Cordelia Jensen @cordeliajensen1
@penguinteen
Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This is my second novel in verse by @cordeliajensen and it was just as memorable as the first!
Linc and Holly are virtual twins. Holly was adopted as an infant from Ghana and Linc was surprisingly born a short time later. As children, Linc and Holly were inseparable, even though it soon became apparent that Holly was a high achiever and Linc was more imaginative and creative. Their parents, a doctor and a historian, quickly begin to favor Holly and to wonder why Linc has so little academic success. As the girls grow older, their lives become more and more different, especially when their mother shows so much pride in Holly’s accomplishments and so much disappointment about Linc’s.
This is a story about finding yourself, about family and about the different ways to define success. It is the story of Linc and Holly, virtual twins, sophomores in high school in New York City. It is the story of their closeness while they were growing up, but also about how they have grown apart in their teen years. It is about the loneliness that Linc experiences because her parents value Holly’s academic and athletic success over her artistic success. It is about Holly’s search to gain a real understanding of her background and of the country where she was born.
I flew through this book, which is especially easy to do with books in verse, but the story itself made me want to keep reading every chance I got. I was fascinated by Linc’s pursuit of finding a way she could succeed, and her creative pursuit of photography to achieve that goal. My heart was breaking for Linc as her mother again and again refused to accept her pursuit of artistic goals; as she constantly chastised Linc for failing to work up to her potential, rather than recognizing her achievements. I found myself cheering Linc and Holly on, hoping that their parents would become more open minded, both about Linc’s artistic interests and Holly’s need to understand her heritage, and that she and Holly would find some understanding for one another. This is a book that will provide a mirror for many readers who are trying to find a place to belong.
This story in verse is best for those in grades 8 and up. It deserves a spot in every library.
July 20, 2022
Bends Light the Way The
Books in verse
Always pique my interest.
There's something so
Fragile,
Something so heavy
Within the pages of poetry.
Words with power by divine right.
This story is no different
And yet
The characters stood out as
Warrior girls
Normal girls
Scared girls
Girls maybe a little like me,
A little like all of us.
3.5/5
Books in verse
Always pique my interest.
There's something so
Fragile,
Something so heavy
Within the pages of poetry.
Words with power by divine right.
This story is no different
And yet
The characters stood out as
Warrior girls
Normal girls
Scared girls
Girls maybe a little like me,
A little like all of us.
3.5/5
Read
March 24, 2019Beautiful story, beautifully told. Full review to come.
--
Full review:
Do you love electric, heartrending stories about the bonds that bind families? Do you enjoy stories told in carefully-cracked lines of free-verse poetry? Do you long to travel to New York through vividly-woven world-building?
If so, you HAVE to give Cordelia's Jensen's work a try. Keep reading to find out why you should pick up The Way the Light Bends (or click here if you're interested in Skyscraping, her debut novel centered around the NYC AIDS crisis), but whichever book you start with, I know you'll be a fan.
Three reasons to read it
1. The family dynamic
I'm a firm believer that YA needs more families, more present parents, more sibling relationships—and when I say all of this, I mean YA needs more families like Cordelia Jensen writes them. In both her debut and her upcoming novel, she creates bittersweet family bonds that feel emotional and true-to-life. Whether you're cheering for Linc to convince her parents that her artistic pursuits are worthwhile or racing to uncover the family's shrouded, storied past, you'll be completely absorbed in this family's strained-yet-somehow-loving home.
Best of all, though, is Linc's relationship with her twin, Holly. The pair used to be inseparable, but lately their lives have diverged due to differing interests, Holly's boyfriend, and more—leaving Linc feeling lonely and left-behind. The result is a relatable, uncomfortable, FASCINATING dynamic perfect for The Upside of Unrequited fans who related to Molly's struggle to come to terms with the fact that she and HER twin might not always be each other's #1 person.
2. Linc's academic struggles
One of this story's key interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts is Linc's perceived inability to succeed in school; her academic struggles create immense tension between her and her parents and deeply impact her self-worth. These conflicts provide plenty of room for character growth—on the part of the protagonist AND her parents—but best of all, seeing a protagonist with average academics is refreshing in and of itself. The Way the Light Bends reflects the reality, as so many contemporary YA books do not, that not every teen has a 4.0 GPA, that not every teen feels stereotypically book-smart—and most importantly, that straight As in high school are not a prerequisite for a successful life. I loved watching Linc pursue her dreams despite her confusion in geometry class, and I want to cheer for more characters with an academic standing like hers.
3. The exhilarating verse
I'll admit it: I'm not USUALLY a fan of the in-verse storytelling style. It's not a deal-breaker by any means, but verse writing has to truly captivate me to have me as invested as classic prose. That's why Jensen's stunning ability to tell rich, deeply-felt stories using sparse wording impresses me all the more.
In my review of Skyscraping, I wrote that Jensen's broken free verse creates an emotional, breathless voice, as if the narrator is bursting with a vital story but is too emotional to tell her tale in anything more than short explosions of words. A similar analysis can be applied to The Way the Light Bends; while Jensen's upcoming novel isn't QUITE as much of a tearjerker as her debut, its verse still conveys a breathlessness, an inability to tell the whole truth. But this time, the breathlessness comes from Linc's passion for her art; the brokenness from her fear to share her true self with her family. The result is a fast-paced, captivating story that reads like the staccato clicks of a camera shutter—but manages to create an image as cinematic as a Pulitzer-winning photograph.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.
--
Full review:
Do you love electric, heartrending stories about the bonds that bind families? Do you enjoy stories told in carefully-cracked lines of free-verse poetry? Do you long to travel to New York through vividly-woven world-building?
If so, you HAVE to give Cordelia's Jensen's work a try. Keep reading to find out why you should pick up The Way the Light Bends (or click here if you're interested in Skyscraping, her debut novel centered around the NYC AIDS crisis), but whichever book you start with, I know you'll be a fan.
Three reasons to read it
1. The family dynamic
I'm a firm believer that YA needs more families, more present parents, more sibling relationships—and when I say all of this, I mean YA needs more families like Cordelia Jensen writes them. In both her debut and her upcoming novel, she creates bittersweet family bonds that feel emotional and true-to-life. Whether you're cheering for Linc to convince her parents that her artistic pursuits are worthwhile or racing to uncover the family's shrouded, storied past, you'll be completely absorbed in this family's strained-yet-somehow-loving home.
Best of all, though, is Linc's relationship with her twin, Holly. The pair used to be inseparable, but lately their lives have diverged due to differing interests, Holly's boyfriend, and more—leaving Linc feeling lonely and left-behind. The result is a relatable, uncomfortable, FASCINATING dynamic perfect for The Upside of Unrequited fans who related to Molly's struggle to come to terms with the fact that she and HER twin might not always be each other's #1 person.
2. Linc's academic struggles
One of this story's key interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts is Linc's perceived inability to succeed in school; her academic struggles create immense tension between her and her parents and deeply impact her self-worth. These conflicts provide plenty of room for character growth—on the part of the protagonist AND her parents—but best of all, seeing a protagonist with average academics is refreshing in and of itself. The Way the Light Bends reflects the reality, as so many contemporary YA books do not, that not every teen has a 4.0 GPA, that not every teen feels stereotypically book-smart—and most importantly, that straight As in high school are not a prerequisite for a successful life. I loved watching Linc pursue her dreams despite her confusion in geometry class, and I want to cheer for more characters with an academic standing like hers.
3. The exhilarating verse
I'll admit it: I'm not USUALLY a fan of the in-verse storytelling style. It's not a deal-breaker by any means, but verse writing has to truly captivate me to have me as invested as classic prose. That's why Jensen's stunning ability to tell rich, deeply-felt stories using sparse wording impresses me all the more.
In my review of Skyscraping, I wrote that Jensen's broken free verse creates an emotional, breathless voice, as if the narrator is bursting with a vital story but is too emotional to tell her tale in anything more than short explosions of words. A similar analysis can be applied to The Way the Light Bends; while Jensen's upcoming novel isn't QUITE as much of a tearjerker as her debut, its verse still conveys a breathlessness, an inability to tell the whole truth. But this time, the breathlessness comes from Linc's passion for her art; the brokenness from her fear to share her true self with her family. The result is a fast-paced, captivating story that reads like the staccato clicks of a camera shutter—but manages to create an image as cinematic as a Pulitzer-winning photograph.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.
January 21, 2018
I was intrigued by the fact that this novel was writen in verse. I wasn't sure I would like it as I'm not much of a poetry reader.
I found that the farther the book progressed the better I liked it and enjoyed this style, I really liked the character of Linc and her artistic abilitiy as a photographer.
I found that the farther the book progressed the better I liked it and enjoyed this style, I really liked the character of Linc and her artistic abilitiy as a photographer.
August 5, 2020
Perhaps the most fitting word to describe this book is fine. It's fine. There are things it does well; it shows how a struggling student may genuinely need additional support, not just condemnation. Too many books go for the easy way out and show that a character can absolutely get straight-A's if they just have a Good Attitude(tm)! So I applaud the depiction of a character whose mind genuinely works a little differently. Its inclusion of Seneca Village, a little-known historical place, was also nice, and Linc's ties to history highlighted her sense of disconnectedness from her present in a poignant way.
What really bugs me, though, is how easily the narrative forgives Linc's mom. Look: you can't show me someone belittling their child on a weekly basis for failing to meet the standards she herself set, and say, "Well, I've struggled." So what? Literally so what? This is someone who *adopted a child*--actively sought out the opportunity to be a parent. (And that felt... a little weird, in truth, but I'm not really qualified to speak on that subject.) The point is, she wanted to be a parent, and showed that she could be understanding... if her child was acceptable to her. You cannot show me a character who never has a single kind word to say to her own child, and throw in a Freudian excuse.
What really bugs me, though, is how easily the narrative forgives Linc's mom. Look: you can't show me someone belittling their child on a weekly basis for failing to meet the standards she herself set, and say, "Well, I've struggled." So what? Literally so what? This is someone who *adopted a child*--actively sought out the opportunity to be a parent. (And that felt... a little weird, in truth, but I'm not really qualified to speak on that subject.) The point is, she wanted to be a parent, and showed that she could be understanding... if her child was acceptable to her. You cannot show me a character who never has a single kind word to say to her own child, and throw in a Freudian excuse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2020
A short read, but powerful and intense...
May 29, 2018
THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS by Cordelia Jensen centers on Lincoln, a high school student at a prestigious private high school in New York City. Throughout her childhood, Lincoln was overshadowed by her adopted sister, Holly, and her numerous achievements that emulated their accomplished mother’s success. Lincoln and Holly were inseparable when they were younger, until their mother realized Holly’s potential and qualities that paralleled her own and suddenly placed more importance on Holly’s life. Both girls were accepted into a competitive private high school, however Lincoln is on academic probation because of her failing grades.
Meanwhile, Holly is the “picture perfect” daughter, being the starting goalie of their high school’s soccer team, invested in her school work (particularly sciences, as her mother is a doctor) and thriving socially with her friends and a boyfriend. Additionally, Holly exemplifies their family’s standard for high achieving academic success by achieving straight As. While Lincoln is not as academically oriented as Holly, she has an eye for photography and the arts, which is appreciated by her best friend and occasionally by her father. As the novel unfolds, Holly and Lincoln are able to reconnect and rekindle their close relationship, and Lincoln and her mother find an appreciation for one another.
As a reader, I felt Lincoln’s pain as she tried to obtain her mother’s approval and love, but constantly falls short with her academics, social life and as the perfect daughter her parents yearn for. Jensen is able to paint a clear picture of the struggles Lincoln faces in her household and school environment with her vivid, vibrant writing.
Written as a series of poems, THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS perfectly captures Lincoln’s artistic side, as each poem is abstract and emphasizes certain lines or phrases. I thought this was a very creative way of portraying the storyline in this novel, an aspect not typically seen in YA novels. The story itself was right to the point as each word, phrase and line mattered to the plot, which I personally enjoyed as a reader.
As for the storyline, I enjoyed the relationships Lincoln had with her family members, best friend and boyfriend. Lincoln maintained a solid relationship with her best friend throughout the story, often supporting Lincoln with her artistic side and providing support, as well as humor, to many dynamics. There was a small LGBTQ presence in the plot, with Lincoln’s best friend dating a girl at their high school, which I found important and relevant to today’s society. I also enjoyed that as the story line progressed, the reader was able to obtain a glimpse into the mother’s childhood, and find the cause behind her disdain for Lincoln’s passions. While the mother’s harsh behavior made it difficult to like her as a character, I welcomed her becoming more vulnerable with Lincoln, and felt sympathetic regarding her past.
Jensen's novel is a powerful one for young adults to read about Lincoln’s ability to find herself, and how she is better off afterwards. I would highly recommend to any teen looking for a quick, yet dynamic read in the contemporary genre.
Reviewed by Ryan H., Teen Board Member
Meanwhile, Holly is the “picture perfect” daughter, being the starting goalie of their high school’s soccer team, invested in her school work (particularly sciences, as her mother is a doctor) and thriving socially with her friends and a boyfriend. Additionally, Holly exemplifies their family’s standard for high achieving academic success by achieving straight As. While Lincoln is not as academically oriented as Holly, she has an eye for photography and the arts, which is appreciated by her best friend and occasionally by her father. As the novel unfolds, Holly and Lincoln are able to reconnect and rekindle their close relationship, and Lincoln and her mother find an appreciation for one another.
As a reader, I felt Lincoln’s pain as she tried to obtain her mother’s approval and love, but constantly falls short with her academics, social life and as the perfect daughter her parents yearn for. Jensen is able to paint a clear picture of the struggles Lincoln faces in her household and school environment with her vivid, vibrant writing.
Written as a series of poems, THE WAY THE LIGHT BENDS perfectly captures Lincoln’s artistic side, as each poem is abstract and emphasizes certain lines or phrases. I thought this was a very creative way of portraying the storyline in this novel, an aspect not typically seen in YA novels. The story itself was right to the point as each word, phrase and line mattered to the plot, which I personally enjoyed as a reader.
As for the storyline, I enjoyed the relationships Lincoln had with her family members, best friend and boyfriend. Lincoln maintained a solid relationship with her best friend throughout the story, often supporting Lincoln with her artistic side and providing support, as well as humor, to many dynamics. There was a small LGBTQ presence in the plot, with Lincoln’s best friend dating a girl at their high school, which I found important and relevant to today’s society. I also enjoyed that as the story line progressed, the reader was able to obtain a glimpse into the mother’s childhood, and find the cause behind her disdain for Lincoln’s passions. While the mother’s harsh behavior made it difficult to like her as a character, I welcomed her becoming more vulnerable with Lincoln, and felt sympathetic regarding her past.
Jensen's novel is a powerful one for young adults to read about Lincoln’s ability to find herself, and how she is better off afterwards. I would highly recommend to any teen looking for a quick, yet dynamic read in the contemporary genre.
Reviewed by Ryan H., Teen Board Member
April 20, 2018
So, I'm not big on books about art students. The problem starts because art student characters tend to have this pretentiousness that other characters don't and I've never seen an art student character thats different from the rest of them. Despite that, the adoption factor of this story really made me want to read it so I picked it up anyway.
I usually don't like the writing in poetry-poetry novels but this as an exception. Jensen is an amazing writer and I was engrossed in her words (if not the plot) as soon as I started. Everything smoothly transitioned from one place to another and I didn't find it choppy like I usually do with books like these.
As for the characters, I didn't like them. Linc was your cookie cutter art student who wasn't good enough for her family and constantly berated them for not liking her art. Here's the thing, Linc was in a very rigorous school. Rigorous schools have a rigorous academic program. Her parent didn't hate her photography, she was just bad at all her other classes which are needed to do to graduate high school. I don't really know why it was such a big deal about her dropping out because she definitely wasn't flourishing in her academic space. Holly and the mother were very interesting characters but weren't as fleshed out as I'd like them to be. I spent a lot of this book being discontent with Linc.
As for the plot, it was initially intriguing but the narration threw me off. Linc made a lot of poor decisions that were not at all justified so I truly felt no pity for her. The book tried to introduce some racial tension but most of the time it was weird and unrealistic. The way the book talked about race sort of felt like it was being explained to a kindergartener. The love story was forced and unnecessary. There were a lot of plot twists but they were so overshadowed with Linc's perpetual angst that I couldn't give them the attention they needed. This novel could have had a better execution.
Final Thoughts: Read for the nice prose.
(This review was originally published on https://willreadanything.wordpress.com )
I usually don't like the writing in poetry-poetry novels but this as an exception. Jensen is an amazing writer and I was engrossed in her words (if not the plot) as soon as I started. Everything smoothly transitioned from one place to another and I didn't find it choppy like I usually do with books like these.
As for the characters, I didn't like them. Linc was your cookie cutter art student who wasn't good enough for her family and constantly berated them for not liking her art. Here's the thing, Linc was in a very rigorous school. Rigorous schools have a rigorous academic program. Her parent didn't hate her photography, she was just bad at all her other classes which are needed to do to graduate high school. I don't really know why it was such a big deal about her dropping out because she definitely wasn't flourishing in her academic space. Holly and the mother were very interesting characters but weren't as fleshed out as I'd like them to be. I spent a lot of this book being discontent with Linc.
As for the plot, it was initially intriguing but the narration threw me off. Linc made a lot of poor decisions that were not at all justified so I truly felt no pity for her. The book tried to introduce some racial tension but most of the time it was weird and unrealistic. The way the book talked about race sort of felt like it was being explained to a kindergartener. The love story was forced and unnecessary. There were a lot of plot twists but they were so overshadowed with Linc's perpetual angst that I couldn't give them the attention they needed. This novel could have had a better execution.
Final Thoughts: Read for the nice prose.
(This review was originally published on https://willreadanything.wordpress.com )
December 9, 2019
The Way the Light Bends by Cordelia Jensen tells a story of Linc, a teenager trying to navigate the teenage life with parents with high expectations. While her twin sister Holly is smart and popular, Linc struggles to pass school and to relate to her peers. She feels like she doesn’t really fit in amongst her school and how they learn, and she has always felt that her true talents lie in photography and arts. She wants her talent in photography to be acknowledged. However, her mom hyper focuses on her schoolwork and won’t let her pursue photography. Throughout the story, she finds ways to pursue photography, and has growing discontent for her school and Holly’s success and her moms pushing of her. It shows Linc’s journey of realizing and embracing her own talents, and realizing her individuality.
What made her journey feel real is the style and craft of the story. The structure of the book in multiple instances helps emphasize the differences between Linc and her school, Holly and her mom. The book takes a poetic style, with smaller fragments of words instead of full sentences. Typically, there are only full sentences when other characters, usually her mom, are speaking to her. Which helps show that Linc doesn’t think the same as her family. Much of the story’s meaning comes locations of words, or fonts or the shape words make. This was a great and creative way to show Lincs perspective in a way that all readers can pick up on. Another piece of the authors craft that makes the story feel real is the cohesiveness of the photography analogies. Photography concepts are frequently used throughout the book the portray parts of the story and character conflicts. The meaning of this book is found through the analogies with art it makes, and that’s a great way to portray the books message, and show Lincs struggle. Overall, I really loved this book because of the message it sends, but more importantly how it sends it. It makes you have to relate to linc and read into her perspective to understand her choices.
What made her journey feel real is the style and craft of the story. The structure of the book in multiple instances helps emphasize the differences between Linc and her school, Holly and her mom. The book takes a poetic style, with smaller fragments of words instead of full sentences. Typically, there are only full sentences when other characters, usually her mom, are speaking to her. Which helps show that Linc doesn’t think the same as her family. Much of the story’s meaning comes locations of words, or fonts or the shape words make. This was a great and creative way to show Lincs perspective in a way that all readers can pick up on. Another piece of the authors craft that makes the story feel real is the cohesiveness of the photography analogies. Photography concepts are frequently used throughout the book the portray parts of the story and character conflicts. The meaning of this book is found through the analogies with art it makes, and that’s a great way to portray the books message, and show Lincs struggle. Overall, I really loved this book because of the message it sends, but more importantly how it sends it. It makes you have to relate to linc and read into her perspective to understand her choices.
October 4, 2018
The Way Light Bends by Cordelia Jensen. 396 pages. Philomel (Penguin), 2018. $16.
Language: Mature content: PG (LGBT) Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
This is the story of Holly and Linc. Two sisters. One adopted (Holly) and one born to the parents shortly after Holly was adopted. The two girls are just months apart in age and think of themselves as twins. The family focus is on academic achievement and Holly can do no wrong. Linc is creative and artistic and loves photography. She is gifted with photography and in her artistic approach to everything. The more she focuses on the artistic the more she perceives her parents’ displeasure. Her mother is especially hard on her, and especially disproving of what Linc excels at.
This was a fast read, written all in verse. Linc’s feelings shine through, with few words. I could not help but feel for Linc and my heart ached for her. One day she overhears a conversation between her parents and she is crushed.
Linc’s story will stay with you for a long time, as will the way her family finally face their problems and deal with and work out their issues. It shows how it is possible for a family to right wrongs and work through their problems and accept one another for who they are. New York City is vividly described and I learned so much about Central Park, things that I did not know and had not heard of. Fascinating.
I highly recommend this book, especially to students and parents that have a hard time appreciating one another. I will recommend this book to students who feel that they are not appreciated and valued, as well as do a lot of book talks with this book. I will give a copy of this book to my counseling department, too.
Reviewer: Ellen-Anita – Library Teacher.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Language: Mature content: PG (LGBT) Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
This is the story of Holly and Linc. Two sisters. One adopted (Holly) and one born to the parents shortly after Holly was adopted. The two girls are just months apart in age and think of themselves as twins. The family focus is on academic achievement and Holly can do no wrong. Linc is creative and artistic and loves photography. She is gifted with photography and in her artistic approach to everything. The more she focuses on the artistic the more she perceives her parents’ displeasure. Her mother is especially hard on her, and especially disproving of what Linc excels at.
This was a fast read, written all in verse. Linc’s feelings shine through, with few words. I could not help but feel for Linc and my heart ached for her. One day she overhears a conversation between her parents and she is crushed.
Linc’s story will stay with you for a long time, as will the way her family finally face their problems and deal with and work out their issues. It shows how it is possible for a family to right wrongs and work through their problems and accept one another for who they are. New York City is vividly described and I learned so much about Central Park, things that I did not know and had not heard of. Fascinating.
I highly recommend this book, especially to students and parents that have a hard time appreciating one another. I will recommend this book to students who feel that they are not appreciated and valued, as well as do a lot of book talks with this book. I will give a copy of this book to my counseling department, too.
Reviewer: Ellen-Anita – Library Teacher.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
May 17, 2022
I had never read a book like this before (outside of college, anyway)--a short novel in poetic verse. Such a thing is always a matter of whether the poetic style clicks with my brain or not, and this definitely did! It was artistic in a way that conveyed emotions and moments with new perspective, new feeling. I like that the main character--and our narrator--was into photography, because in some ways, this book felt like meaningful moments caught in photos, just visualized as words instead. That's not to say the moments and scenes didn't flow well into each other; I thought they very much did.
If there were downsides, it might be that there wasn't a lot of depth to the characters, including her love interest and how she felt about him--I wanted more of that. Some things felt a little cliché, but again, were presented more creatively than I'm used to, so I still enjoyed them. My big and mighty gripe has to do with the ending.
Besides that, I really liked this poetic story!
If there were downsides, it might be that there wasn't a lot of depth to the characters, including her love interest and how she felt about him--I wanted more of that. Some things felt a little cliché, but again, were presented more creatively than I'm used to, so I still enjoyed them. My big and mighty gripe has to do with the ending.
Besides that, I really liked this poetic story!
May 25, 2022
**SPOILERS**
Linc is an artistic teenager in a family of scientists and athletes. Her mother, Cynthia, is unforgiving and impatient with Linc's difficulty to learn. Determined to ultimately win her mother's approval, she sneaks into a photography class and steals money from her parents to apply to an art school. After a series of events, Cynthia finds out and has a heart-to-heart with Linc. The two agree to work on themselves and work out their differences more efficiently in the future.
I loved the style of this book. "The Way the Light Bends" makes use of free verse poetry to tell its story. Words are molded and shaped artistically to put a visual emphasis on important thoughts and phrases. I've never seen anything like this book before. I was able to relate to a lot of the topics discussed in the book, which made it even more interesting. Cordelia Jensen used bright and descriptive words to paint specific images in her readers' minds. This concept blends perfectly with the narrator's personality.
While I greatly enjoyed the structure of the book, and the ending was simple and sweet with a happy family reunion, I was left feeling unsatisfied. Whether that's due to the occasionally slow plot line, or the minimal contrast between Linc's thoughts and her interactions with other characters, something was missing. Further development of characters would have been a possible improvement. Although the narrator's point of view was limited, there were several characters that were close to Linc, and not much was known about them. At times, the plot was slow and uneventful, until it wasn't. By the end of "The Way the Light Bends," the plot feels rushed and somewhat overwhelmed. Overall, this book was interesting and I don't regret reading it, as it expanded my view of what literature can be.
Linc is an artistic teenager in a family of scientists and athletes. Her mother, Cynthia, is unforgiving and impatient with Linc's difficulty to learn. Determined to ultimately win her mother's approval, she sneaks into a photography class and steals money from her parents to apply to an art school. After a series of events, Cynthia finds out and has a heart-to-heart with Linc. The two agree to work on themselves and work out their differences more efficiently in the future.
I loved the style of this book. "The Way the Light Bends" makes use of free verse poetry to tell its story. Words are molded and shaped artistically to put a visual emphasis on important thoughts and phrases. I've never seen anything like this book before. I was able to relate to a lot of the topics discussed in the book, which made it even more interesting. Cordelia Jensen used bright and descriptive words to paint specific images in her readers' minds. This concept blends perfectly with the narrator's personality.
While I greatly enjoyed the structure of the book, and the ending was simple and sweet with a happy family reunion, I was left feeling unsatisfied. Whether that's due to the occasionally slow plot line, or the minimal contrast between Linc's thoughts and her interactions with other characters, something was missing. Further development of characters would have been a possible improvement. Although the narrator's point of view was limited, there were several characters that were close to Linc, and not much was known about them. At times, the plot was slow and uneventful, until it wasn't. By the end of "The Way the Light Bends," the plot feels rushed and somewhat overwhelmed. Overall, this book was interesting and I don't regret reading it, as it expanded my view of what literature can be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2018
We are considering using this book in Room 407 with the students enrolled in English 11 during the 2018-2019 school year. Allusions to and treatment of Seneca Village invites "ladders" with Marilyn Nelson's MY SENECA VILLAGE (this is the early look at our approach with the book).
Two sisters separated by only a few months and one large sea are finding their way to their own interests in a home that demands academic excellence from its daughters. Ghana-born Holly is able to meet these demands and take on the role of the family favorite while Linc struggles with her coursework, seeing the world in visuals before verse.
A deep family secret quietly divides the family over the course of Jensen's novel-in-verse. And more than the secret that lies underneath the family are the secrets living in the hearts of two sisters, each with their eyes upon a singular vision for what their life might be when it is theirs to live.
Jensen works in the world of photography throughout the verse and creates a nice look at extended metaphor through Linc. The book centers upon an extended project wherein Linc explores and documents images from Seneca Village which will make the book familiar to those readers who have extended projects and sometimes miss the mark of intent for their own interests.
Jensen does a nice job of working in friends and potential boyfriends without busying the narrative with the asides. The poetry is tight and memorable with a lot of lines ready for annotating, quoting, and using as prompts.
Two sisters separated by only a few months and one large sea are finding their way to their own interests in a home that demands academic excellence from its daughters. Ghana-born Holly is able to meet these demands and take on the role of the family favorite while Linc struggles with her coursework, seeing the world in visuals before verse.
A deep family secret quietly divides the family over the course of Jensen's novel-in-verse. And more than the secret that lies underneath the family are the secrets living in the hearts of two sisters, each with their eyes upon a singular vision for what their life might be when it is theirs to live.
Jensen works in the world of photography throughout the verse and creates a nice look at extended metaphor through Linc. The book centers upon an extended project wherein Linc explores and documents images from Seneca Village which will make the book familiar to those readers who have extended projects and sometimes miss the mark of intent for their own interests.
Jensen does a nice job of working in friends and potential boyfriends without busying the narrative with the asides. The poetry is tight and memorable with a lot of lines ready for annotating, quoting, and using as prompts.
May 6, 2018
Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of this book from @KidLitExchange #partner in exchange for my honest review. Thanks again to @KidLitExchange #partner for access to review a free copy of this book! The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or KidLitExchange. The copy used in this review is an uncorrected unfinished copy.
Overall this book reads like a contemporary young adult realistic fiction. The family dynamics in this novel felt relatable, and I felt like I could connect with the turmoil between family members. The author did a great job portraying the challenges faced by parents of an adopted child. Holly struggles to figure out who she is and wants to connect more with her past. While their mother strives to treat both girls equally while simultaneously being harder on Linc, her birth daughter. I recommend this book to any teen looking for a read that focuses on family, love, sibling rivalry, trust, and forgiveness. Each member must learn to trust each other and communicate better. Secrets are what will tear this family about, but those same secrets are what will mend the broken ties.
You can view the full review on my blog, link in my profile.
Overall this book reads like a contemporary young adult realistic fiction. The family dynamics in this novel felt relatable, and I felt like I could connect with the turmoil between family members. The author did a great job portraying the challenges faced by parents of an adopted child. Holly struggles to figure out who she is and wants to connect more with her past. While their mother strives to treat both girls equally while simultaneously being harder on Linc, her birth daughter. I recommend this book to any teen looking for a read that focuses on family, love, sibling rivalry, trust, and forgiveness. Each member must learn to trust each other and communicate better. Secrets are what will tear this family about, but those same secrets are what will mend the broken ties.
You can view the full review on my blog, link in my profile.
May 27, 2018
I received a copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway.
What can I say about this book? That it drew me in? That I couldn't put it down and finished it in the early hours of the following day after I got it in the mail? Yes and yes! I loved it. The Way the Light Bends tells the story of Linc, a young teen trying to find where she fits in in a family where academic achievement is valued but isn't where her talents lie. Her adopted sister can do no wrong but biological and artistically minded Linc fails to meet expectation. It puts distance between her and her sister when once they were inseparable. And though she tries, Linc can't seem to see the world in any other way than color, light and contrast. Everyone in her life seems to have found direction but her. She doesn't fit anywhere.
This is a story many of us can relate to, because we all have been misfits and felt lost because of it at some point in our lives. Aside from the story this novel drew me in also with its artistic printing style. It is formatted in a similar way to poetry (though it isn't) making the words themselves visually artistic in a manner you don't see in a novel.
To sum up: I loved it, I connected with it, I would read it again, and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
What can I say about this book? That it drew me in? That I couldn't put it down and finished it in the early hours of the following day after I got it in the mail? Yes and yes! I loved it. The Way the Light Bends tells the story of Linc, a young teen trying to find where she fits in in a family where academic achievement is valued but isn't where her talents lie. Her adopted sister can do no wrong but biological and artistically minded Linc fails to meet expectation. It puts distance between her and her sister when once they were inseparable. And though she tries, Linc can't seem to see the world in any other way than color, light and contrast. Everyone in her life seems to have found direction but her. She doesn't fit anywhere.
This is a story many of us can relate to, because we all have been misfits and felt lost because of it at some point in our lives. Aside from the story this novel drew me in also with its artistic printing style. It is formatted in a similar way to poetry (though it isn't) making the words themselves visually artistic in a manner you don't see in a novel.
To sum up: I loved it, I connected with it, I would read it again, and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
February 4, 2018
Cordelia Jensen's verse novel, like Skyscraping, is the story of relationships and the ways "the composition of a relationship changes as we change individually." (p.380) Though they used to be "in tempo/ in time" (p. 4), sisters Linc and Holly in their sophomore year are following "two paths/ one in light/ one in shadow/ diverging." (p. 5) They have different skills and talents—and different dreams. Holly, though adopted, appears to fit more easily into the family and consistently wins her parents approval; she is academically gifted, athletic, and a school leader. Linc is artistic, creative, a photographer.
As the narrator of the story, I intensely felt Linc's pain as she tries to be a better student and daughter while following her passion but she constantly fails—at academics, at love, and, it seems, at being the daughter her parents want. As her photography improves, the rest of her life falls apart—and she makes some wrong choices and turns. It takes a family secret and truthful sharing to make them all realize that "a family isn't something you're born into as much as it is something you chose to be a part of every day." (p. 370)
As the narrator of the story, I intensely felt Linc's pain as she tries to be a better student and daughter while following her passion but she constantly fails—at academics, at love, and, it seems, at being the daughter her parents want. As her photography improves, the rest of her life falls apart—and she makes some wrong choices and turns. It takes a family secret and truthful sharing to make them all realize that "a family isn't something you're born into as much as it is something you chose to be a part of every day." (p. 370)
July 21, 2018
High school growing up and being a misfit in your school and family. What if you see your life through an artistic lens and the rest of your family is much more academic?
I really hate how Linc's parents thought she just needed to "work harder". On the other hand, she was more motivated in certain situations. It does illustrate the truth that taking away things people love doesn't give them more motivation to do what they dislike.
It's interesting how both Linc and her sister faced boy problems. They were slightly different problems, and boys even caused problems between them for a while, but still boy problems.
I can empathize with the history teacher who wanted more words to go with Linc's photo essay on Seneca Village. I do think that they should have given more guidance, though, on how to transform it into something acceptable.
Interesting take on the adopted vs bio daughter. We're so used to saying that we see the social media version of people and so we only see the sunshine, but you think you know about people in your own family. This book shows how that isn't true.
I really hate how Linc's parents thought she just needed to "work harder". On the other hand, she was more motivated in certain situations. It does illustrate the truth that taking away things people love doesn't give them more motivation to do what they dislike.
It's interesting how both Linc and her sister faced boy problems. They were slightly different problems, and boys even caused problems between them for a while, but still boy problems.
I can empathize with the history teacher who wanted more words to go with Linc's photo essay on Seneca Village. I do think that they should have given more guidance, though, on how to transform it into something acceptable.
Interesting take on the adopted vs bio daughter. We're so used to saying that we see the social media version of people and so we only see the sunshine, but you think you know about people in your own family. This book shows how that isn't true.
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