No Sad Songs

by Frank Morelli

Following a family tragedy, 18-year-old Gabe LoScuda suddenly finds himself thrust into the role of caregiver for his ailing grandfather. Between the shopping trips and the doctor visits with Grandpa, Gabe and his friend John try to salvage their senior year, meet girls, and make the varsity baseball team. It doesn’t take long for Gabe to realize that going to school and looking after a grandfather with Alzheimer’s is more work than he ever imagined. And when long-lost Uncle Nick appears on the scene, Gabe soon finds that living with Nick and Grandpa is like babysitting two grown men. Aside from John, the only person who truly understands Gabe is Sofia, a punk-rocking rebel he meets at the veteran’s hospital. When these three unlikely friends are faced with a serious dilemma, will they do what it takes to save Grandpa? If there’s a chance of preserving the final shreds of Grandpa’s dignity, Gabe may have to make the most gut-wrenching decision of his life—and there’s no way out.

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Fiction, Teen, Realistic Fiction, Family

228 pages, Paperback

Published February 20, 2018

About the author

FRANK MORELLI is the author of the young adult novels ON THE WAY TO BIRDLAND (2021) and NO SAD SONGS (2018), a YALSA Quick Picks nominee and winner of an American Fiction Award for best coming-of-age novel. His latest middle grade novel, BREAKING NEWS, is set to release on April 28, 2022.

A Philadelphia native, Morelli now lives in High Point, NC with his best friend and muse, their obnoxious alley cats, and two hundred pounds worth of dog. Connect with him on Twitter @frankmoewriter and IG @frankmorelliauthor.

Reviews

[Michael Ferro]

With the biting dejection of Holden Caulfield, the witty rambunctiousness of Tom Sawyer, and the tender heart of Harry Potter, Frank Morelli has created a dynamic new character in his protagonist, Gabe LoScuda. I have to start out this review by stating that I've never read a YA novel before. Before NO SAD SONGS, I just figured that YA stories weren't for me, but Morelli has proven that these stories can be universal and entertaining, as well as informative. Not only is this book an emotional rollercoaster chocked full of hilarious asides, but it's also a wonderful portrayal of love, family, and caregiving.

So often while reading NO SAD SONGS, I was brought back to my many high school nights of hanging out with my nerdy friends, playing video games, and grabbing pizza from the hallowed grounds of my childhood pizza haunt. And yet, Gabe LoScuda is not your average teenager once a family tragedy leaves him in a very precarious situation. The trials and tribulations that follow are a whirlwind of life lessons, humor, and gut-punching soul-searching that results in an exciting and heartwarming story. For anyone on the fence about dipping their toes into YA, this is the novel to do it. Morelli is a voice to be reckoned with in YA literature!

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆]

What a freakin’ fantastic book! When Mr. Morelli contacted me about “No Sad Songs”, I was going to start taking a break from author requests to help myself catch up and what not. Well, I read the synopsis and saw the book cover and was SOLD!

From the very beginning, I was sucked into the story and so invested in Gabe. He made me laugh and my heart wrenched for him at the same time. I enjoyed seeing him grow as the story was told. I LOVED all the characters in this story including Grandpa! He was a bit wild at times…
As a caretaker of someone that I love and see the person that they were diminish because of a severe traumatic brain injury, I could relate in many ways to Gabe. I know every single day is a battle and so hard to see someone you love forget what happened five minutes ago and not be able to remember the past you shared. Different illness, same battle.

Reading this story, you can really see how connected the author was to this book and how much he invested in this story with the fantastic descriptions and real emotions. Mr. Morelli wove the perfect blend of emotions and reality to create a remarkable tale that I won’t soon forget. Also I have to add that I loved Sofia! Of course, I would adore an awesome punk rocker chick!
I’m so glad that I read this story and I highly recommend putting this one on your TBR!

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks]

5 Reasons To Read No Sad Songs: also read this post on my blog


Reason #1. How Can It Be So Funny When It's So Sad?

It's hard to believe it, but No Sad Songs is one of the funniest books I've read this year so far. Its entertainment value is incredible. I will say that sometimes it goes over the top, and maybe the jokes are a little disrespectful, especially when it comes to Gabe's grandfather, but at the same time - isn't this what teen humor is about a lot? So it does paint a pretty convincing picture. And I've got to hand it to Frank Morelli - somehow No Sad Songs manages to be both a book about a hard, heavy topic, and yet - very funny and lighthearted at the same time. How can a book about death be a light, uplifting read? But it can! I truly don't know. Maybe it's in the way the main character deals with everything, but it's just not depressing at all. It's hilarious!


Reason #2. Well-Written And Relatable



The main character Gabe is someone you could be - he's just that kind of down to earth character that's easy to connect with. Even with all the feelings he's dealing with, you won't find overdramatized paragraphs - it's all no nonsense, full of humor and just so natural. Even the wrong decisions sometime feel so right. That's what a good book is all about.


Reason #3. It's The Story Of Growing Up

Ultimately, growing up is heart-breaking for most of us, in one way or another. It was more heart-breaking for Gabe, which is why it's very touching and you can't walk away from this story just like that. And it's pretty natural, too - all the teen mishaps, believing in cheap virtues, what's cool and what's not... Labeling things. Labeling yourself. And finding where the true virtues lie. I found this was very well done in this book - just shown, not told, not overexplained, or even explained at all. Just very natural!


Reason #4. Good Friends Do Tough Things



I loved the friendships in this book. They were realistic! The virtues were good. Good friends sometimes have to do the right thing, even if it's hard, even if it makes you hate them, for a time. Because real friends know what you truly need, and they prioritize that above what you want.


Reason #5. The Importance Of #SelfCare



This is a story about a really, really responsible and kind teen who is dealing with way more than he should have on his plate. And while he's coping, he doesn't know that he can't just keep going like this. The book stresses the importance of not just caring for others, but also caring for yourself, cause one does not run on an infinite battery. And if you don't remember to take care of yourself, you won't be able to care for others for long.


No Sad Songs is a truly wonderful book. I'm incredibly happy I could read it. It's strong, full of humor and compassion. And also, it deals with two tough subjects - dementia and lonely, overworked, abandoned teens. Dementia is an incredibly sad topic, but it's even sadder to think of the teens - their life is only starting. This kind of story may be true for a lot of unfortunate kids - ones without parents, or with parents that are unable to care for them, or even themselves. So if you're lucky to not be one of them - you should read this story to know there are others and value what you have. And also know when to help!


Other Books You Might Like

Read the reasons why on my blog. It’s a bit long for this review.




I thank the author for giving me a copy of the book in exchange to my honest opinion.


Read Post on My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter

[Marie]

It was a lovely, entertaining read filled with great friendships and family ties, a fun read you can get through really quickly. I didn't quite connect with the main character as much as I would have liked to, but I still had a great time reading it :)
Full review coming soon! :)

[Cora Tea Party Princess]

5 Words: Family, responsibility, friendship, loneliness, help.

Check out my stop on the blog tour.

No Sad Songs is quite a difficult book to read, and definitely a difficult book to review. It explores so many hard-hitting issues and situations with nuance, and I've probably rewrote this entire review about five times. It's not all fun, but it's not all doom and gloom. Despite starting with earth-shattering grief, the books still managed to make me laugh.

I loved the exploration of friendship. Honestly, John is the best friend anyone could ever have. He's so supportive and selfless and it broke my heart a little how good he was to Gabe. He's there for him. All of the characters have real depth and it really endeared them to me.

A young boy who only really cares about pizza and his crush is forced to change completely and take on new responsibilities when a terrible tragedy turns his world upside down.

The devastating impact of Alzheimer's on those who suffer from it and their carers really hit home and made me cry a fair few times. But the way Gabe deals with his lot, caring for his grandfather, growing up too fast, is excellently covered.

Grab this book and grab some tissues, cause you'll need them.

[Kristin Lenz]

Lucky me, I got to read an ARC! This story full of humor and heart will be out in February 2018. I was rooting for these endearing, flawed characters until the very end. I'm late writing this review - I read the book last month, but the characters are still with me.

[Alex | | findingmontauk1]

No Sad Songs by Frank Morelli is the story of 18-year-old Gabe who is forced to mature quicker and more suddenly than most people have to. His grandfather has Alzheimer’s and he suddenly assumes the role of primary caretaker for him. He is struggling with his relationship with his best friend, he has normal teen-like troubles with his crush, and his long-lost uncle has returned who is not the most organized and mature person on the planet, to say the least. Then amidst ALL of this, a tragedy happens when there is a hit-and-run and a little boy on a bicycle that further complicates the story. Gabe is going to be forced to make an impossible decision, one that either choice will likely upturn his life even more and change it forever.

First and foremost, I want to thank the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. After reading the synopsis, I have to admit the first and main reason I wanted to pick this up is because of the Alzheimer’s situation in the book. My dad died with Alzheimer’s a little over a year and a half ago and something inside just kept telling me that I need to read this book. While the Alzheimer’s is not the primary focus of the story, how it affects Gabe as a caretaker and caregiver and THEN how his life begins to pan out based on his decisions and actions is.

I loved this book. And I am going to go ahead and say that it made me cry multiple times. It was so sincere, genuine, and full of just… happy-tears-causing-things and then sad things, too! Morelli perfectly blends these emotions into a story that I am thankful I read in my lifetime. There were times where I laughed out loud and then pages later came the opposite emotion. For an author to be able to back and forth, keep you on your toes, and keep you engaged is definitely not something to overlook. Not everyone has that ability in handling multiple emotions.

I fully recommend this book as it is loaded with humor and heart. A five star read!

[Frank Morelli]

I wanted to share a few thoughts here on my debut novel and the motivating factors that ultimately drove me to write it. The Alzheimer's Association estimates almost a quarter of a million people will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia in the next year alone. Currently, more than five million people are living with Alzheimer's and, by 2050, this number could grow to over sixteen million. Alzheimer's disease is actually the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. But it's the only cause of death among the top ten in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. In fact, one out of every three seniors dies with some form of Alzheimer's or dementia.

What many fail to recognize is how their family members (the caretakers) may also have their lives derailed by the disease. Right now, more than fifteen million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias.

I hope young readers will finish No Sad Songs with a new respect for what it takes to be a caregiver, and an understanding of how intertwined these duties become in the lives of people fighting on the front lines of a growing health dilemma that is rapidly approaching epidemic levels. And I want them to be inspired to become champions in the fight against this terrible disease so that future generations will never have to watch their loved ones disappear right before their eyes.

[Jackie Robins]

I'm so glad that I received this book to read from the author. It is such an accurate portrayal of dementia and how it slowly can change people into someone your don't recognize. This book is so well written. It isn't a long book but, it's full. It tells a story of a boy thrown into adulthood with the death of his parents. He becomes a caretaker for his grandfather who was once full of wisdom and is now a confused and disoriented man. This is a story of love, friendship and the fight for dignity

[Jenny in Neverland]

I love YA books – I definitely need to read more of them and this sounded right up my street. It’s about Gabe, a high school student who is a full-time carer for his Grandpa, who has an advanced form of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Gabe’s entire life revolves around his Grandpa and above anything, this book really did make me gain a much higher appreciation of anyone in Gabe’s situation. Anyone who is a carer to someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. I’ve not had a solid experience of knowing someone with the disease in it’s severe and advanced stages so I can’t pretend to even understand what that must be like for the families and friends who take care of them. So before we go any further, I take my metaphorical hat off to you.

Back to the book. Despite the important messages within in – I kinda looked at it as a less-whimsical version of a John Green book (and that’s not a bad thing, John Green is one of my favourite authors) – there was a fair bit going on and the story-line definitely didn’t go where I thought it would. Although I didn’t necessarily agree with a lot of Gabe’s decisions throughout the book, they were certainly admirable. But again, that goes back to the fact that Gabe is in this situation that not many teenage kids find themselves in. If I was in the same scenario, would I have acted the same? It’s hard to say.

I have some negatives, the main one being that there’s an awful lot of talk about Baseball in this book and for someone who knows nothing about the sport (nor particularly cares – I’m from England and we don’t really do Baseball over here), I found these parts a real struggle and admittedly did skim over a good few chunks of text which may as well have been written in Chinese for all I knew. Another similar point was when Gabe and his best friend John were playing a video game. I was lost. Speaking of John, he was a wonderful character. I instantly fell in love with John after a fair early chapter where Gabe has to deal with quite a distressing situation with his Grandpa and John doesn’t say anything, just gets on and helps. It was really admirable and I can only hope I’m that kind of person one day.

The plot itself was good; I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s great. If anything, I would have liked to see more of Grandpa in the book and less of Gabe’s obsession with this girl in his school. Although the high school / romance elements of the book compared to the quite serious aspects were a nice contrast. I would have also liked to see more flashbacks of Gabe’s childhood with his Grandpa and his parents. We do see a few of these throughout and they were all really lovely. I’d probably say the story felt a little scattered sometimes. But overall, was exceptionally readable.

A quick, easy to read book absolutely perfect for young adults. It deals with situations that most of them won’t be familiar with and will certainly give readers who haven’t dealt with Alzheimer’s or Dementia before and insight into what it’s like to be a carer – albeit, a bit of a fictional insight. I think this book holds a lot of clever and meaningful messages and was a fun read, despite the difficult elements of the book.

You can find all my book reviews here: www.jennyinneverland.com

[Alison]

The cover of No Sad Songs was crying out to me to be read. Deciphering the items at first glance I surmised it was a YA book revolving around a group of girls. Yet again I have been proved wrong!

Gabe is a high school senior with a pretty much one/two track mind of a teenager, pizza, video games OH yes the school hottie, there is always one girl that all the guys want, but so often she doesn’t even know they exist or perhaps just doesn’t care, after all she can play the game and have any of them.

So based on this knowledge I felt fairly unattached to Gabe until he showed signs of taking care of Gramps occasionally. Taking him out and suffering the embarrassment of some of Ernie’s antics was easy enough occasionally.

Then tragedy befalls his family which means he is suddenly thrown into the role of 24/7 carer of Gramps, Alzheimer’s and all. Until you have dealt with this disease or seen it’s consequences you can’t possibly understand it.

The story follows the rather grim future of Gabe, Gramps and Uncle Nick who appears out of the woodwork just as Gabe could do with some help! His friend John understood the strain and was an absolute life saver at times, one occasion he deserved a medal but it just demonstrated how much love and care some people can give even when they are not asked for it.

I found No Sad Songs an uplifting, inspiring book, it has the ability to make you laugh or cry on the same page. I particularly liked the Philly references, the accent came through so strongly I was slipping into that hard nasal tone as I read. I’m more used to New York sounds and visions but I have been to Philadelphia and as weird as it seems I think that helped me get into the vocals of the book.

A very well written story full of compassion and an ideal book for any students as a learning experience. Thanks to the author and Jenny at Neverland Blog Tours for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Melissa (thereaderandthechef)]

*This review can also be found on The Reader and the Chef! Huge thanks to the author for the review copy in exchange of my honest opinion.*

The first thing that popped into my mind when I read No Sad Song's synopsis was: this sounds familiar. It's not that I have lived the same experience as the main character, but I found his situation to be relatable to my own with one of my grandparents, which made the read all the more intriguing for me.

The main character of this novel, Gabe LoScuda, finds himself with the difficult task of taking care of his Grandfather who has Alzheimer's, after his parents die in a car accident. Trying to keep the promise he made to his Dad, Gabe swears that no matter how difficult things might get, he will never abandon his grandfather to a facility where he would have to carry his last days alone.

First of all, I cannot get over the fact that Gabe is only 18 and already has such a huge responsibility on his shoulders. His grandfather is a war veteran, and while his mind is not as it used to be, his body still remembers his warring days, making it extremely difficult for Gabe to keep up with him. I felt for him, for every punch and tantrum he took on behalf of his grandfather. I admired his willingness to help him and to keep what little of the family he had left together, including the long lost uncle who showed up at his parent's funeral.

However, Gabe is still a young person with too much on his plate, and some of his decisions lead him to more trouble for the sake of keeping his grandfather close. I understand the sentiment, but when you can't control everything, it's okay to reach out for help. At least when it comes to mental health!

Luckily, Gabe has supporting friends, like John and Sofia, who have his back. I liked this pair of friends! They were good allies with sound advice, and that's something I will always appreciate in books. I specially liked Sofia because she's Mexican. :)

Also, in-between chapters we get to read Gabe's journal entries where he describes moments in the past about his parents when they were alive, and when his Grandfather had yet to develop Alzheimer's. They were interesting bits that worked as a small, happy respite from Gabe's current situation, but they would always end with a tint of melancholy. Still, they may have been my favorite parts of the story!

What didn't do it for me:

This was perhaps a mistake from the ARC or lack of research, but Sofia mentions how she has a tattoo of the Virgen of Guadalupe, who is the Mexican Virgin Mary. It is described that she is wearing a purple robe, when in fact, the Virgen of Guadalupe wears green robes. They are NOT interchangeable and, well, it bugs me that she wasn't described how she truly is. I believe the Virgin described was the Immaculate Conception Virgin Mary.

Final Verdict:

No Sad Songs is a heartbreaking tale about dealing with Alzheimer's Disease in the family and keeping your loved ones close as much as you can. It brings awareness of what it means to be a caregiver to a person with this disease, and it is truly something very much needed. It's a book definitely worth to pass around so others can understand the struggle!

[Karen]

Read this review and more on my blog. The Book Return BlogI received this book for free from Author (via YA Books Central) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Gabe is used to helping care for his ailing grandfather. Then tragedy strikes and thrusts eighteen-year-old Gabe into the position of primary care giver for his grandfather with dementia.
 

They're so many things to love about, 'No Sad Songs'. The thing I love most is that the book is set in the 1990's.  This is a time period I haven't seen a lot of in YA fiction ( or really fiction in general). The nineties are such a nostalgic time period. It is the last decade were our lives were not totally run by cell phones and computers. The simple things in the life of a teenager was very evident in this story. Gabe's main worries are eating pizza and attracting girls.

 

The most important theme in, 'No Sad Songs,' is caring for someone with dementia. This novel really highlights the divesting situation or a child or grandchild caring for a parent or grandparent with this disease. The dementia sufferers often don't know who they are or where they are anymore. For example, Gabe's grandfather constantly relives his time fighting in WWII. Game's flashbacks also really highlight Gabe's pain as he remembers the wonderful times with his grandfather. I have read other books centering on dementia  ('Still Alice') but these novels did not highlight the struggles of caregivers as 'No Sad Songs' did.

 

I really enjoyed the characters and their unique personalities. Gabe and his best friend John's dynamic is amazing. My favorite character has to be John's mother Lilly. I loved how fierce and intimidating she was to keep John and Gabe on the straight and narrow. Lilly really provided for some much-needed comedy relief in the story.

I did find the scene in the courtroom later in the book to be a little farfetched. It seemed to workout a little too convenient. I really did love the story though and was happy with the ending so I can overlook such a minor thing.

 

'No Sad Songs' is just an amazing read. I would definitely say this is something that would appeal to someone who is a caregiver. It also is something everyone one should read to help spread the message of elder care in our communities.

This review was originally posted on The Book return...

[Amy]

When I first was offered to read a copy of No Sad Songs I was excited. I didn't really know what it was about except that it was a YA with a male protagonist set it in the 1990s. I, therefore, went in with low expectations, after all, I didn't know what it was about but No Sad Songs was an example of how to write an amazing YA book that everyone should read.

So one of the high points of this book is definitely the writing, it was very well written and there were elements that just really added to the overall story. This was especially well illustrated with the personal essays in the book which were a great touch and allowed the reader to explore Gabe's character even more than we previously would have. As someone who really loves reading essays, Gabe's were really good at exploring his history. The book is also really short so to fit a story of this length and for it to be amazing is great in itself.

I think that this is definitely a great thing about Gabe. As someone who reads a lot of YA, the male characters are normally real douchebags and don't tend to be good characters but this was completely the opposite with No Sad Songs. Gabe wears his heart on his sleeve and is a character that you want to root for as his past is rocky and you want him to do well in life. He came alive from the page and I just wanted to give him a massive hug.

Gabe's story is based on his family which is so well done in this book. Morelli does an amazing job of exploring the family relationship between Gabe and his grandfather in this book that is heartbreaking and so great. This is especially fantastic in the grand scheme of the book as Gabe gives everything to his grandfather so seen his evolve in the plot is heartwrenching. The book also focuses on Alzheimer's and was done really well and I would love to see his being tackled in the book. With this family relationship being the core this was different to most other YAs and I want to see this done more. This book was just so good!

The Verdict:

No Sad Songs is an excellent YA book that will have you hooked emotionally on the characters and the journeys that they take.

[Paige]

This book hit me where it hurt. I have a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s, so I knew it was always going to hit me hard…. But.. WOW.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster and I loved it. Because when you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, it really is a roller coaster. You can be crying with laughter one minute when they say something SO inappropriate. And then you’ll realise that they’re slipping away from you.

Honestly, my heart went out to Gabe. One minute he’s a normal kid, hanging out with his friends and playing computer games. And the next minute his whole life has changed, and he’s had to step up and take on some serious responsibilities. And yet, he rarely complains. I admired Gabe so much. A lot of people assume that when people have Alzheimer’s, their body weakens as well as their mind. This isn’t the case. So, Gabe has to put up with punches and tantrums from his physically strong ex-vet Grandad, whilst trying to get through high school and trying to maintain a normal life.

You can tell that Frank Morelli has invested a lot of time into this book. It shows the ugly, heart-breaking side of dementia, whilst also offering you some heart-warming moments. The balance of emotions have been blended in a way that doesn’t make it feel like you’re just reading a story. It feels like you’re a fly on the wall, watching real people deal with everyday struggles. To produce a comical book that focuses on Alzheimer’s….. that’s a huge achievement.

I really do think that this book will help to shed light on dementia and/or Alzheimer’s. It’s not just a case of ‘Oh, Grandma’s forgotten my name again. Oh, Grandad has left the TV remote in the fridge again’. It’s SO much more than that. If this book helps just one person have a better understanding of dementia, then Frank Morelli has produced something so much more than an amazing book.

[Katrina Rose]

When I saw the blurb for No Sad Songs, I hesitated. When the author, Frank Morelli, offered to send an arc, I hesitated. And when I read the first page, again I hesitated. Then I thought about, truly thought about it. Didn't I owe it to the author AND myself to actually read this book?

This book...full of heavy hitting material that follows a high school boy who has to care for his ailing grandfather cursed with Alzheimer's. This book, which tells of a boy who lost his parents and has a long lost uncle just show up to the funeral after years of being out of the picture. And this book, which hits so damn close to home I want to scream.

But I read, I hesitated and I then I kept reading. No Sad Songs shows the reality of Alzheimer's and just how difficult it can be for the family members who care for one that's been inflicted with this awful disease. Frank Morelli portrays the raw, gut-wrenching truth of what caregivers experience, as well as what they sacrifice. There is nothing funny about this disease but there were a few moments that I chuckled, being able to look back at what we experience within my own family.

You see, my nana has Alzheimer's and it is so God-dammned unfair. This woman has always been at the peak of physical health and quick witted and we are watching her disappear. My mother is her sole caregiver, bless her heart, especially on the days my nana calls her daughter "mamma". I may also have a POS family member in the picture that fits the MC's uncle to a "T".

Even if you are not directly affected by Alzheimer's or dementia...I encourage you to pick this book up, it may help you empathize with someone in your life. Or maybe you are up close and personal with the disease and have kids ... young people could really learn from this story...there is compassion to be learned within the depths of this book.

[Beyondthebookends]

This book is the the story about an 18 boy who is thrown into adulthood with the unexpected death of his parents. Gabe becomes the primary caretaker of his grandfather who has Alzheimer's disease. His grandfather who is a veteran and is physically strong has been transformed into a confused and disoriented man. He often doesn't know where he is and Gabe is forced to treat him like a child. This book provides such an accurate portrayal of the difficulties in taking care of someone who is no longer the person that you once knew. It is not a long book but it is full- emotionally. I felt so strongly for Gabe, his friends who try to help, and his grandfather. I wanted to reach in and help. The story is one of friendship, love and the fight to maintain dignity. What a powerful and moving story.
I want to thank Mr. Morelli for giving me a copy of this book.

[Aitana]

3.5 stars
No Sad Songs is a heartwarming story about family connections and friendship which gives people an eye into the lives of the family of people with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Reading this book was very enjoyable, even with a couple problems I found with the writing style, which I go into more in my full review at https://aitanareads.wordpress.com/201...
Big thank you to Frank Morelli for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!

[Jennifer]

This was my bookclub book for April and it was my turn to pick. I am really happy that I chose this book. This book caught my eye because of the cover as many of my reads do. I liked the artwork and that made me want to read the story. After reading the synopsis then I knew I wanted to read it. All in all I liked the story and the characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Christopher Macnevin]

i read this instead of playing minecraft so u know its good

[Patrick]

A short book that packs a punch. Great book that gives you a new appreciation for caregivers and their loved ones.

[Natalie Petrella]

I absolutely loved this book. I really connected with this book. Plus the writing style was awesome. All in all a great read.

[Steph Post]

One of the best YA novels I've read. Funny, sad, but mostly absolutely authentic. Bravo.

[Joana Bookneeders]

When I first read the synopsis, I was super excited. I've been loving books that feature any type of diseases or disorders. I just find them extremely interesting, informative and important. And this book was definitely incredible showing how Alzheimer can diminish a family's life in general.

Dementia is something that changes from person to person, but it's regardless of it an awful disease for everyone involved. It's unfortunately very common and sadly there's no cure. I've only had one person with Alzheimer in my family before, and it was just not a nice situation, and I can't imagine if I had to take care of him alone... But that's not all this book touches. It also includes loss of loved ones and cancer. I guess you can tell already that this book is gonna hit hard, right?!

This was one of the most emotional books I've read. It took me quite some time to read it to be honest, because I couldn't stop crying. It's an incredibly emotional book, full of friendship, family, love and a lot of sadness. But it does have its happy moments! 

I loved Gabe's friendship with John and Sofia and all the teenagery stuff in it. It made it lighter, which was most definitely needed. It's definitely a friendship worth reading about! There's some really tough love in here and for sure some friendship goals.

The books writing was not the easiest for me at first, but it grew on me. The story is accompanied by Gabe's English essays, where we get to know more about him and his past and I think they added quite a lot to the story. Plus there's an incredible life-changing plot that I really don't want to mention here, but it's definitely worth it!

There were however, some parts I wasn't the biggest fan of. This book plays a lot with humor and sometimes it hits right. Other times it was a total miss for me... I could see that the idea was to make it a bit lighter, which I appreciate, but I think some parts weren't needed and made me uncomfortable. I love the humor and how much uplifting it was. Gabe is an amazing kid that always tries his best and tries to find the good side of things, which I admire to no end. 

I also understand that Gabe was in a situation that no one would like to be in. I thankfully have never been in that situation, but I could see and imagine how difficult it would be. To see someone you love somewhat "disappear"? To be completely alone out of nowhere? Words can't describe the feeling, although heartbreaking is probably pretty close. It made me cry my eyes out over and over again. 

Gabe, although not prepared, did his best and definitely succeeded in trying to care for his grandfather. He felt obliged to it. Which I do understand, but I still wasn't a fan of some of the moments in the end. I understand that at the beginning he was frustrated - he did have to do a lot more than a teen should at that age -, but at the end, it just felt wrong the way things were said (not done). It might be just me, but that's what I felt like. 

Overall this was a really great book, full of important messages and awareness. It's an incredibly emotional and realistic story about growing up in some tough situations. It totally stole my heart and I would recommend it. 

[Alex (Bri's Book Nook)]

18-year-old Gabe LoScuda was a normal high school student with two happy parents and an ailing grandfather. When his parents die in a car crash, he is put in charge of taking care of his ailing grandfather. However, his grandfather isn't suffering from something like bad arthritis. His grandfather suffers from Alzheimer's and is losing more memories by the day. Sometimes he seems to be acting normally, but then he starts shouting random things from his memories of the war. Gabe wants to have a normal high school senior year, but he doesn't want his grandfather to lose whatever shreds of dignity he has left by putting him into a nursing home. Together with his unreliable Uncle Nick, his best friend John, and his new friend Sofia, he is determined to take care of his grandfather and make the best of the situation. 

Very few books are written that discuss Alzheimer's with teens and children, but it is a topic that needs to be discussed. More and more people are being diagnosed with the disease by the day, and it is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Some teens even have to take care of their parents that suffer from the disease in their 40s to early 50s. Books need to be written so that the disease is understood by these teens, and so these teens don't feel isolated, as if they have some dirty secret. 

Gabe was a very relatable main character. He doesn't have all the keys to navigating high school, and when his life is turned upside down, he doesn't know what to do at all. Throughout the book we see him grow from a scared teen who just lost his parents to a man determined to help the last immediate member of his family who has been there for him throughout his childhood. In fact, the character development of both Sophia and John was also very well-written. I think that Morelli really understands the personal growth of teens in their senior year of high school, as they transition from kids to (at least partially) adults. 

The pacing of the story is good. It is split up into chapters and 9 essays that he writes for his English class that reflect what is going on in his life by talking about his past. The story ended up feeling short, but it was a fairly long read at around 200 long physical pages. There were no story inconsistencies or any ends that didn't feel tied up by the end of the story. 

There's really nothing bad to say about this book. It was an inspirational, relatable, unique, and addicting read. I would definitely read it again, and I hope that more people take the time to do so. 

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new contemporary YA novel that discusses modern issues such as Alzheimer's.

I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. 

[Camillea Camillea]

No Sad Songs is a coming of age story about a young man and his ailing grandfather; it touches on the hardships of families and the promises one keeps. It tackles loss, identity, and family values. While reading this book, the words felt both soft and humorous.

Gabriel LoScuda is your typical eighteen year old just trying to get through high school, maybe get a girl, succeed in baseball, but above all he’s driven by the thought of keeping his grandfather safe. The book delivered well in portraying Gabe’s conflicting emotions. I can’t say that he was completely likable, in fact, there were times I found his character to be quite annoying and immature. His drive for popularity, at first, made me wonder why I should care about this character. But as I followed Gabe’s story it occurred to me that maybe all his life Gabe has had this certain expectation to live upto, a certain life he had to achieve in order to feel right in himself. He does make a lot of bad choices, sure, but he owns up to them. For me that was the heart of the story; to watch this character struggle with his inner emotions.

I’m especially soft for John and Gabe’s relationship. John is the absolute sweetest; his actions reminded me of J.K. Rowling’s quote, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” (Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone)

John is portrayed as the quieter and mild mannered of the two, and the more practical. His character acts as a substitute for Gabe’s parents; Gabe’s friendship with John is probably the only stable foundation, or a better way to put is, John is the only emotional fallback Gabe has. I’m in awe of John’s patience with Gabe and Gabe’s strong sense of loyalty. In spite of the unpredictability of his family structure, Gabe pushes himself to take on the responsibility of two adults.

No Sad Songs is such an honest potrayal of the tribulations, and it really does not shy away from showing how young caretakers are affected. Gabe is not shown as the selfless and humble young man but as a typical teenager who gets frustrated and lashes out. I was really worried for his character, to be honest.

No Sad Songs is a lovely and comforting read with laugh out loud moments. I greatly appreciated the author’s inspiration for this book and I believe this is a book that people would benefit from reading.

I'd like to thank the author for sending me a review copy of No Sad Songs in exchange for an honest review

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[˚₊‧☾ space case ✩‧₊˚]

This book was received from the author for review. All opinions are my own.

Let’s get right to the point: I really liked this book! I’m not really the biggest fan of contemporary and tend to only reach for it when I feel like reading it, but this was far from the usual lovey/romance/girl-meets-boy kind of contemporary that I tend to lean away from that I was way more invested in it than I usually would be.

I want to first start off this review by touching on my absolute favorite part of the whole book (because I want to), and that is the writing style. Morelli’s writing style is fantastic. It’s entertaining and descriptive and captures your attention without overwhelming you or boring the hell out of you, usually by the way he throws in commentary via Gabe, our main character we see out of, for comic relief or visual representation or whatnot. I really loved it. I want to read more of his work for this reason alone.

(He doesn’t have any other books yet, according to Goodreads, though! I’ll be keeping an eye out.)

Now, the story itself is a little jarring, I would think, for those not aware of how dementia and Alzheimer’s can affect those diagnosed with it, along with the families that often have to care for them. I do have a little bit of familiarity with this subject — my grandmother had dementia just before she passed, but had already chosen to live in a nursing home long before it had set it. She was taken care of there. Gabe’s grandfather, however, only has Gabe, and then his son Nick when Nick shows up to help.

Yeah, I can only imagine the struggle, and a lot of that imagination is fueled by the extremely realistic representation Morelli gives us in No Sad Songs. At some points, it was almost too real for me! Without Gabe to break some of the scenes with humor or a snarky comment (or John for that matter, who really should be given all of the best friend awards because he was such a good guy about so many things in the book), the whole endeavor probably would have been a struggle for me to get through.

Honestly, between the story we’re given in the form of Gabe, Nick, and co. and the absolutely wonderful writing style it’s fed to us in, this really is a very good book, despite being a genre I’m not usually quick to pick up, and I highly recommend giving it a go regardless of what you know about Alzheimer’s. It’s a very good window to take a peek into, and you may just learn something.

[Tasha]

Gabe, an 18 year old high school student finds himself in the difficult position of becoming the main carer for his Grandpa who suffers from Picks disease, a form of Alzheimer’s.

Told from Gabe’s point of view we are given a glimpse of what life as a young carer is like for many people, juggling school, a part time job and friendship with the heavy responsibility of caring for someone who used to care for you. It is a real eye opener and I was so proud of Gabe by the end of the book, he doesn’t always make the right decision but everything he does is based on the love he has for his Grandpa and not wanting to break his Dad’s promise to him.

The story is told in the present day with flashbacks from Gabe’s memory given to us in the form of personal essays which I loved. It gave us a little more back story and a chance to get to know Grandpa as the man he was before this terrible illness took a hold of him.

Gabe’s relationship with his best friend John is beautiful. There is one stand out moment where John really stepped up with a maturity unexpected from a young man and throughout the story he tries to get Gabe to see reason and make the right choices. For Gabe, burdened by grief and responsibility to his parents, its harder to see what the right thing to do is and he comes close to throwing his whole life away for his family.

All the characters in this book stand out and have their own issues. Uncle Nick appears unannounced after years of no contact, to help look after Grandpa though he ends up needing looking after a lot more than actually helping Gabe. Sofia, the tattooed punk rocker Gabe meets in the hospital waiting room, proves herself to be a good friend despite going through her own family problems.

Being a YA novel this book has it’s fair share of teenage angst and drama. As a 31 year old woman I doubt I am this books target audience and I did find some of Gabe’s actions frustrating at times. Despite the many baseball references which went slightly over my head, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it provides a real insight to how an illness like Alzheimer’s affects a whole family

I give this book 4/5 stars.
I was gifted this book as part of the book blog tour, all views are my own.

[Debbie Lesley]

Truly Living with Alzheimer’s

This book was recommended to me after I included Still Alice on a list of books to read for an organization of which I am a part. We support the Alzheimer’s Association as one of our major projects so since we are teachers, this book was recommended because the main character is a young teenage boy who suddenly finds himself the caretaker of his grandfather who suffers from a form of dementia.

Having promised his father that he would always take care of his grandfather, Gabe feels he must do this at all costs, even if it could man a jail sentence for him. This reminds me that, even though we sometimes think kids aren’t listening, they often re,ember our words and hold true to them. Gabe was not really prepared to be the sole caretaker for his grandfather yet he felt he had to do this no matter what.

We see, in addition to a young man holding on to a promise, a teenager struggling through teen years.....girls, friends, popularity, sports, dealing with the “big people on campus,”etc. imagine being a teen with the nor,al struggles the. Add, on top of that, a grandfather with dementia.

Worth the read....if you have someone in the family with dementia...consider how,your teens ( or younger children or young adults) might be affected with this surrounding them.

[Joe Ponepinto]

Something we don’t always remember when thinking about Alzheimer’s sufferers is that the disease affects many more people than the patient. In Frank Morelli’s No Sad Songs we get to see just how far that reach extends when Gabe LoScuda, all of eighteen years old, is tasked with caring for his ailing grandfather, who was diagnosed several years before with Pick’s Disease, an especially virulent strain of the Alzheimer family. As you can imagine, he is ill-prepared to deal with the unpredictability of Grandpa Ernie’s behavior.

But the severity of the problems the grandfather causes serves to show just how deep family ties can go as well. Gabe lost his parents, and partly to honor his father he renews the parent’s vow not to abandon the old man. With a promise like that to live up to, Gabe’s trials provide motivation for his transition from boy to man, and create a powerful and poignant bond among the generations. And that’s what separates this book from the admittedly many written on the subject.

The book is described as being for young adults, but grownups will also get a lot out of the family dynamic that holds this novel together.