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The Life of Glass
Before he died, Melissa's father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren't always the most beautiful—that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn't only skin deep, the people around her don't seem to feel that way. There's her gorgeous sister, Ashley, who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school; there's her best friend, Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney; and there's Melissa's mother, who's dating someone new, someone Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.
To make sure she doesn't lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and finishing a journal he began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.
This is a lyrical tale of love, loss, and self-discovery from the author of The September Sisters.
To make sure she doesn't lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and finishing a journal he began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.
This is a lyrical tale of love, loss, and self-discovery from the author of The September Sisters.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2010
20 people are currently reading
1858 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Cantor
15 books1,591 followersJillian Cantor is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of fifteen novels for teens and adults, which have been chosen for LibraryReads, Indie Next, Amazon Best of the Month, and have been translated into 15 languages. Born and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia, Cantor currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
June 3, 2010
You guys, this is seriously from the book:
Um. I think this is the first time I've ever read a size 2 being justified as thin (in a book at least, I do live in L.A. after all). Holy crap. This is so what girls reading a book about a fourteen-year-old need to be reading. /sarcasm
This book is about a million years too long. It drags all over, including at the beginning, and is chock full of dialogue that doesn't ring true. There's so much girl-on-girl hate it frustrates me, but of course some of that is unfortunately a reality of life at fourteen.
Here and there Cantor really nails some beautiful details and emotions. But mostly this is an overdrawn mess of a book with so many stock characters, like the bitchy and beautiful and size 00 pageant winner older sister, the womanizing jocks, the Coke-bottle glasses nerd.
Also I don't really think fourteen-year-olds should pledge their lives to one another or feel girls should apologize for going to college away from their men.
(read: 79)
I was trying on dresses in size 2, which Ashley looked at in disdain [Ashley is a size 00.:] but that my mother said most other girls would kill to wear. But I didn't care all that much about sizes the way Ashley did.
Um. I think this is the first time I've ever read a size 2 being justified as thin (in a book at least, I do live in L.A. after all). Holy crap. This is so what girls reading a book about a fourteen-year-old need to be reading. /sarcasm
This book is about a million years too long. It drags all over, including at the beginning, and is chock full of dialogue that doesn't ring true. There's so much girl-on-girl hate it frustrates me, but of course some of that is unfortunately a reality of life at fourteen.
Here and there Cantor really nails some beautiful details and emotions. But mostly this is an overdrawn mess of a book with so many stock characters, like the bitchy and beautiful and size 00 pageant winner older sister, the womanizing jocks, the Coke-bottle glasses nerd.
Also I don't really think fourteen-year-olds should pledge their lives to one another or feel girls should apologize for going to college away from their men.
(read: 79)
November 21, 2015
Review copy provided by author
The Life of Glass is a coming of age novel about a 14-year old girl, Melissa. Her father died from lung cancer which came as a surprise since he was not a smoker. For Melissa, it was like losing half of herself. She was closest to her father whereas her mom and sister were two beauty queens in a pod. Melissa's best friend is Ryan, the boy who lives down the street. They are pretty inseparable until Courtney, the new girl in town, starts crushing on Ryan. Ryan and Courtney become a couple and that leaves Melissa alone to think about life and what she wants from it.
I related to Melissa quite a bit. Like her, I wasn't part of the pretty or popular crowd. I didn't have a large group of friends; I had two close friends and still I was quite a loner. And I, too, lost my father as a teenager. A loss like that, like that of a parent especially during your adolescence, gives you a lot to ponder about. Life takes on a whole new meaning and you start to discover what really matters in life, even at such a young age. The Life of Glass gives you Melissa's journey to her self-discovery and most importantly, her discovering her self worth.
Cantor's writing flows fluidity and captured me from page one. She has a knack for writing emotions from the heart as if this was a story from the heart, equipped with first-hand experiences. I felt for Melissa as she was going through her grief and found myself wanting to give her a big hug.
Review originally posted on The Book Vixen.
The Life of Glass is a coming of age novel about a 14-year old girl, Melissa. Her father died from lung cancer which came as a surprise since he was not a smoker. For Melissa, it was like losing half of herself. She was closest to her father whereas her mom and sister were two beauty queens in a pod. Melissa's best friend is Ryan, the boy who lives down the street. They are pretty inseparable until Courtney, the new girl in town, starts crushing on Ryan. Ryan and Courtney become a couple and that leaves Melissa alone to think about life and what she wants from it.
I related to Melissa quite a bit. Like her, I wasn't part of the pretty or popular crowd. I didn't have a large group of friends; I had two close friends and still I was quite a loner. And I, too, lost my father as a teenager. A loss like that, like that of a parent especially during your adolescence, gives you a lot to ponder about. Life takes on a whole new meaning and you start to discover what really matters in life, even at such a young age. The Life of Glass gives you Melissa's journey to her self-discovery and most importantly, her discovering her self worth.
Cantor's writing flows fluidity and captured me from page one. She has a knack for writing emotions from the heart as if this was a story from the heart, equipped with first-hand experiences. I felt for Melissa as she was going through her grief and found myself wanting to give her a big hug.
Review originally posted on The Book Vixen.
February 10, 2010
The Life of Glass is one of those books, one of those books that encompasses the whole high school/growing up experience and in my opinion the author does it beautifully.
At first glance I thought the book was going to be mostly about Melissa dealing with her dad's death and all the other things being sort of secondary plots but turns out her father's death was sort of the map that she experienced everything else on and it came together so perfectly. Melissa reads from her father's journal when she needs to feel close to him or just needs something, and one of my favorite parts of the book is inside that journal. Her father (and also Melissa) write these wonderful little stories of how couples met and got together (her parents, her parent's parents etc) and they were just so touching.
So as I mentioned the focus of the book is not just on Melissa and dealing with her grief but it's also about her family and how they move on, her friends (new and old in school) and finding love for the first time. I hated the way that Melissa's sister Ashley treated her and even her mother sometimes, they were sort of off in their own little world but what was really impressive was that Melissa didn't really care that she was not like them and did her own thing. Yes she grows and changes and finds more in common with them but she still remains her own person and I think that's one of the most important messages in the book.
And probably my favorite plot involved Melissa and her friend Ryan, they have been friends forever never thinking about anything more than hanging out and riding the wash and then new girl Courtney jumps in the middle of their friendship and turns everything upside down.
The Life of Glass is a wonderful book that covers so much and I definitely will be checking out Jillian's previous release and any other books she has to come!
At first glance I thought the book was going to be mostly about Melissa dealing with her dad's death and all the other things being sort of secondary plots but turns out her father's death was sort of the map that she experienced everything else on and it came together so perfectly. Melissa reads from her father's journal when she needs to feel close to him or just needs something, and one of my favorite parts of the book is inside that journal. Her father (and also Melissa) write these wonderful little stories of how couples met and got together (her parents, her parent's parents etc) and they were just so touching.
So as I mentioned the focus of the book is not just on Melissa and dealing with her grief but it's also about her family and how they move on, her friends (new and old in school) and finding love for the first time. I hated the way that Melissa's sister Ashley treated her and even her mother sometimes, they were sort of off in their own little world but what was really impressive was that Melissa didn't really care that she was not like them and did her own thing. Yes she grows and changes and finds more in common with them but she still remains her own person and I think that's one of the most important messages in the book.
And probably my favorite plot involved Melissa and her friend Ryan, they have been friends forever never thinking about anything more than hanging out and riding the wash and then new girl Courtney jumps in the middle of their friendship and turns everything upside down.
The Life of Glass is a wonderful book that covers so much and I definitely will be checking out Jillian's previous release and any other books she has to come!
March 20, 2010
The Life Of Glass is an emotional novel that takes readers on a journey, not different from that of glass. Glass is fragile, much like this emotive and powerful novel. The Life of Glass is--both literally and metaphorically--truly forever.
Jillian Cantor instills words and unforgettable metaphors that ultimately help the novel grow as the plot is gently unraveled. The plot is smooth and fluent, and not at all lacking in vital detail. It enhances the utter importance of Melissa's turbulent, yet discovery-filled journey.
The pacing of The Life of Glass is completely perfect and just right. Cantor infuses many things into the novel without overwhelming the reader. Cantor's narration from Melissa's point of view flawlessly captures the essence of the subtle lessons in this touching novel.
In this moving book, Cantor demonstrates, through flawless prose and meaningful and deep characters, that The Life of Glass is truly a novel that will break through the toughest of shells.
The Life of Glass triggers epiphanies and revelations through its extremely powerful words.
February 9, 2010
I enjoyed this book. It was written beautifully; the words just dance across the page and it slowly tells the story of a girl, Melissa, who has lost her father to cancer. It tells us of how she deals, or doesn't deal with his death, and how she maintains friendships with those around her. A few things fell flat for me though. I can't imagine her mother would be dating so soon after losing her husband--she's dating a year later. The author never expands on how it really impacts Melissa and Ashley, it never goes into detail on how upset the girls are or should be. There doesn't seem to be any depth to their emotions concerning her dating. I know that people handle grief differently, but this just seemed slightly false. There should have been some reaction vocalized between the two girls and their mother. (A fight or two, at least something.)
Other than that, and the semester long frog dissections, I enjoyed it. Melissa comes into her own, and discovers that life can and will go on without her father, but that she can keep his essence alive through her memories of him. She pores over his journal, and savours it because it brings him back vividly to her through those few pages. All in all, this is a coming of age novel, wherein Melissa finds herself, and learns to look to the future, instead of living in the past. An enjoyable read; I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something heartfelt to read.
Other than that, and the semester long frog dissections, I enjoyed it. Melissa comes into her own, and discovers that life can and will go on without her father, but that she can keep his essence alive through her memories of him. She pores over his journal, and savours it because it brings him back vividly to her through those few pages. All in all, this is a coming of age novel, wherein Melissa finds herself, and learns to look to the future, instead of living in the past. An enjoyable read; I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something heartfelt to read.
December 31, 2009
Last year a little debut called The September Sisters took a place in my heart and The Life of Glass continued to do the same.
I can't even begin to describe how much I absolutely loved this book of love, loss, and moving on, because I don't think my words could ever do it enough justice.
The one thing I absolutely love about Jillian Cantor's books is that she takes a topic so simple that you worry for a moment that it'll provide to be dull, but instead proves to be complex and enjoyable with her smooth, lyrical like writing ,and her characters who always earn my respect with their realness.
I liked how Melissa could be any teen because of the fact she was dealing with a loss of the loved one, worried about fitting in while staying true to herself and coming to term with several issues that I bet any teen or even adult, possibly, can find relatable. And talking about relatable-ness, I give props to Jillian for addressing toxic friendships with Courtney and Melissa. Further more, I loved how sweet Ryan was most of the time to Melissa and how Jillian once again have siblings take part in the plot of her book. Though, this time in a happier way, thankfully.
In all, The Life of Glass once again shows of Jillian Cantor's story telling talent making it a book I'll definitely be suggesting come February.
Grade: A+
I can't even begin to describe how much I absolutely loved this book of love, loss, and moving on, because I don't think my words could ever do it enough justice.
The one thing I absolutely love about Jillian Cantor's books is that she takes a topic so simple that you worry for a moment that it'll provide to be dull, but instead proves to be complex and enjoyable with her smooth, lyrical like writing ,and her characters who always earn my respect with their realness.
I liked how Melissa could be any teen because of the fact she was dealing with a loss of the loved one, worried about fitting in while staying true to herself and coming to term with several issues that I bet any teen or even adult, possibly, can find relatable. And talking about relatable-ness, I give props to Jillian for addressing toxic friendships with Courtney and Melissa. Further more, I loved how sweet Ryan was most of the time to Melissa and how Jillian once again have siblings take part in the plot of her book. Though, this time in a happier way, thankfully.
In all, The Life of Glass once again shows of Jillian Cantor's story telling talent making it a book I'll definitely be suggesting come February.
Grade: A+
March 7, 2010
Jillian Cantor has a way of capturing the voice of teens and adults alike. Real experiences, heartbreak, survival, and tons of fascinating facts in this journey of life, death, love, family, and friendship. The characters in this novel will stay with you long after you finish the last page. They could be your neighbors, friends, sisters, mother, or father. I highly commend Jillian for doing an outstanding job portraying a-year-in-the-life in such a vivid, heartfelt manner! This novel leaves you hopeful and cheering for good things to come for these characters. Well done.
January 10, 2013
I don't know what exactly I was expecting from this book. It read very slow, and I nearly gave up on it about halfway through. It just seemed like nothing was really happening, and I still don't know what exactly I'm supposed to take from it. I think that I expected the story to include more of the main character: Melissa, figuring out more about her father and his secrets. While there was a bit of that, it just seemed like we followed a very clueless Melissa through her drab and boring life. I felt hardly any emotion from this book, as it just seemed to bleed together into this blah kind of story.
The only interesting point that I'll most likely take from it is the actual life of glass; a million years.
The plot centered around Melissa beginning high school and wanting to unravel her dead father's journal of facts and ideas. We definitely see the drab bits of high school through her eyes, and we even get a bit of the unraveling, however, by the end I was beginning to wonder what she was actually learning. She finds a name in the journal and spends the whole novel trying to find this person and their connection to her father. By the end, she doesn't care in the least and makes something up for her own comfort. Maybe this is just her being able to move on? I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to meet this person and find out why their name was written in the journal.
I didn't really care for the plot or how it played out. None of the characters really stood out to me or made me feel anything for them. Not a one, which I find very strange. The writing wasn't bad, just a tad too boring and laggy for my taste. The ending was pretty much a happy one that made me feel both indifferent and happy to just finish it.
☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you're looking for a basic go-between book.
If, for some reason, you like reading about irrational and mean older sisters.
The only interesting point that I'll most likely take from it is the actual life of glass; a million years.
The plot centered around Melissa beginning high school and wanting to unravel her dead father's journal of facts and ideas. We definitely see the drab bits of high school through her eyes, and we even get a bit of the unraveling, however, by the end I was beginning to wonder what she was actually learning. She finds a name in the journal and spends the whole novel trying to find this person and their connection to her father. By the end, she doesn't care in the least and makes something up for her own comfort. Maybe this is just her being able to move on? I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to meet this person and find out why their name was written in the journal.
I didn't really care for the plot or how it played out. None of the characters really stood out to me or made me feel anything for them. Not a one, which I find very strange. The writing wasn't bad, just a tad too boring and laggy for my taste. The ending was pretty much a happy one that made me feel both indifferent and happy to just finish it.
☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you're looking for a basic go-between book.
If, for some reason, you like reading about irrational and mean older sisters.
November 7, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
THE LIFE OF GLASS is a coming-of-age story of a high school freshman dealing with the death of her father and her troubling feelings for her best friend.
Melissa McAllister is the smart one. She spent lots of time with her father, who shared interesting facts and tidbits with her. But her father has died of cancer, leaving behind his journal of thoughts and findings. It's to this journal that Melissa turns to when she needs to keep her father close.
When her best friend, Ryan, discovers a special piece of glass in the wash where they hang out in the dry season, she tells him that a single piece of glass can last a million years. Melissa keeps the glass with her most of the time as her special token.
During the course of her freshman year, Melissa lives in the shadows of her beautiful older sister. Her mom and sister share a bond that she's always been left out of. When a gorgeous new girl arrives at school and befriends Melissa, even her sister is surprised. Courtney is nothing like Melissa. But soon, Courtney is moving in on Melissa's best friend, even when Melissa assures her that she and Ryan are only friends.
Ryan starts spending all of his time with Courtney and Melissa is again alone. When a popular older boy starts paying attention to her, her life starts to change drastically.
Ms. Cantor writes a bittersweet story of a girl trying to deal with the loss of her father, whom she was quite close to. She also touchingly portrays the struggles Melissa faces when she comes to realize that maybe her feelings for her best friend go beyond friendship. Over the course of Melissa's year, she matures and grows in confidence and self-esteem, as those around her come to accept her for who she is - and she learns to accept herself, as well.
THE LIFE OF GLASS is a coming-of-age story of a high school freshman dealing with the death of her father and her troubling feelings for her best friend.
Melissa McAllister is the smart one. She spent lots of time with her father, who shared interesting facts and tidbits with her. But her father has died of cancer, leaving behind his journal of thoughts and findings. It's to this journal that Melissa turns to when she needs to keep her father close.
When her best friend, Ryan, discovers a special piece of glass in the wash where they hang out in the dry season, she tells him that a single piece of glass can last a million years. Melissa keeps the glass with her most of the time as her special token.
During the course of her freshman year, Melissa lives in the shadows of her beautiful older sister. Her mom and sister share a bond that she's always been left out of. When a gorgeous new girl arrives at school and befriends Melissa, even her sister is surprised. Courtney is nothing like Melissa. But soon, Courtney is moving in on Melissa's best friend, even when Melissa assures her that she and Ryan are only friends.
Ryan starts spending all of his time with Courtney and Melissa is again alone. When a popular older boy starts paying attention to her, her life starts to change drastically.
Ms. Cantor writes a bittersweet story of a girl trying to deal with the loss of her father, whom she was quite close to. She also touchingly portrays the struggles Melissa faces when she comes to realize that maybe her feelings for her best friend go beyond friendship. Over the course of Melissa's year, she matures and grows in confidence and self-esteem, as those around her come to accept her for who she is - and she learns to accept herself, as well.
January 27, 2010
Melissa's father died nearly two years ago in April. The last words he spoke were spoken to her and involved a small piece of glass she found in The Wash - a nearby dried up riverbed. Now her life is changing. A new girl moves into town - Courtney and becomes a close friend. The only problem - she likes Melissa's best friend Ryan and he's a bit taken with her as well. Her mother is now dating again and the guy may be younger but her mother seems to be taken with the man. Melissa's older sister Ashley is the same old annoying older sister - never giving her a ride to school and calling her the "imp" whenever talking to her friends. All this and it's her freshman year of high school. But a few different events change the life of Melissa and those around her, will their family work through it in the end?
The Life of Glass is a gorgeously written book about one girl's journey into coming into her own. Melissa is driven by what she enjoys, but she doesn't fully recognize herself for who she is yet. When Ryan gets pulled away from her, she finds that her feelings for him are deeper than friendship but she rather have him by her side in any way possible than not at all. None of the characters are really two-faced. Yes, there's some pettiness involved in the book - her sister being popular and hanging out with the crowd that is snobbish and self-centered. But there's a little more to each of them, a bit of depth.
The point of view of this book is really something else. You get this foggy sense of Melissa's personality and as the novel unfolds, it becomes clearer and clearer - like you are taking the journey with her into realizing who she really is. I like the realism, the interesting characters, and the overall story of this novel and I will definitely be picking up more of Jillian's novels in the future.
The Life of Glass is a gorgeously written book about one girl's journey into coming into her own. Melissa is driven by what she enjoys, but she doesn't fully recognize herself for who she is yet. When Ryan gets pulled away from her, she finds that her feelings for him are deeper than friendship but she rather have him by her side in any way possible than not at all. None of the characters are really two-faced. Yes, there's some pettiness involved in the book - her sister being popular and hanging out with the crowd that is snobbish and self-centered. But there's a little more to each of them, a bit of depth.
The point of view of this book is really something else. You get this foggy sense of Melissa's personality and as the novel unfolds, it becomes clearer and clearer - like you are taking the journey with her into realizing who she really is. I like the realism, the interesting characters, and the overall story of this novel and I will definitely be picking up more of Jillian's novels in the future.
December 16, 2010
I read a book called The Life of Glass by: Cantor, Jillian. The book is about a girl whose father dies of lung cancer. The main character’s name is Mellissa. Mellissa’s father dies but the last thing he tells her is that it takes a million years for glass to decay. In school Mellissa isn’t popular even though her sister is the most populist person in the school. Mellissa only has one friend until a new girl comes to town. When this girl comes to Mellissa’s school Mellissa’s life gets better and worse all at the same time. Mellissa’s life changes so much after her dad dies because she could only talk to him about her problems, and now she has no one. She has a hard time sorting out her feelings. Mellissa struggles a lot just like any teen girl would. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes to read long books because it is a long book. I would also recommend this book to any girl who likes to read books that can relate to life. I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes to read sad stories. I really liked this book because it just spoke to you. I also liked it because it was interesting on finding out how a 14 year old girl can deal with so much stress. Especially after her father dies and ends up losing her best friend. Those are just some of the reasons I liked the book but there are lots more. I also liked this book because it was sad but had a great happy ending. This book made me feel kind of sad at the beginning but happy at the end. I wouldn’t change anything about the book. On a scale one to ten I would rate this book a ten. This book is a page turner. This was a great book!
February 7, 2010
With all the contemporary YA fiction out there, it’s become increasingly harder to find one that stands out. Fortunately, there is one in THE LIFE OF GLASS. Easily readable and touching, Jillian Cantor’s second book is a must-read for fans of Sarah Dessen.
The first thing one notices when reading THE LIFE OF GLASS is the ease and confidence with which Jillian Cantor writes Melissa’s voice. Melissa feels like a completely real high school freshman girl: some situations make her uncomfortable, and when all else fails, she tends to close into herself, but her eyes, ears, and—most importantly, the element that is often missing in realistic YA fiction—brain are constantly open, observing and learning from the world around her. If you ever felt shy, awkward, or confused as a freshman, then you’ll be able to relate to Melissa.
Actually, all of the characters in this book are spectacularly written. All of them run the risk of falling into “types”: Courtney the manipulative and fake new girl, Ashley the bitchy older sister, and so on. Yet not one of them, including the most minor of minor characters, is flat. Each character leaps off the page and confidently takes his or her spot on center stage when it is his or her turn. It made reading THE LIFE OF GLASS hugely enjoyable.
Admittedly the post-death coming-of-age plot is a bit tired, but Jillian’s skills as a writer make sure that readers will never feel the need to put this book down. Don’t underestimate this unassuming book or you’ll regret it!
The first thing one notices when reading THE LIFE OF GLASS is the ease and confidence with which Jillian Cantor writes Melissa’s voice. Melissa feels like a completely real high school freshman girl: some situations make her uncomfortable, and when all else fails, she tends to close into herself, but her eyes, ears, and—most importantly, the element that is often missing in realistic YA fiction—brain are constantly open, observing and learning from the world around her. If you ever felt shy, awkward, or confused as a freshman, then you’ll be able to relate to Melissa.
Actually, all of the characters in this book are spectacularly written. All of them run the risk of falling into “types”: Courtney the manipulative and fake new girl, Ashley the bitchy older sister, and so on. Yet not one of them, including the most minor of minor characters, is flat. Each character leaps off the page and confidently takes his or her spot on center stage when it is his or her turn. It made reading THE LIFE OF GLASS hugely enjoyable.
Admittedly the post-death coming-of-age plot is a bit tired, but Jillian’s skills as a writer make sure that readers will never feel the need to put this book down. Don’t underestimate this unassuming book or you’ll regret it!
March 25, 2010
Melissa’s father died almost two years ago. She has been struggling, but is surviving with the help of her best friend Ryan. But through a series of events, her world gets turned upside down. A new girl comes to school and befriends her immediately, for some unknown reason. Ryan gets a girlfriend. Melissa’s mom is dating some guy. Ashley, her older sister, is… well just being an annoying older sister with problems. And in the middle of it all, Melissa still has unsolved mysteries about her father, her desires, and herself.
The Life of Glass is a fast read—I tore through it in a matter of hours. I wasn’t particularly sure why I couldn’t stop reading it. Maybe it was the easy language, maybe it was the characters, maybe I was just in the mood for a good romance novel and that was what was on my shelf. Either way, I didn’t stop reading until my sister turned the light out on me.
I liked the characters a lot (though some of them I despised) and others remained mysteries until later in the book; they were those “oh I had no idea they were that kind of person” characters, and I liked the mystery of their personalities. They were relatable and likeable.
That being said, there was nothing hugely spectacular about The Life of Glass: nothing that will make it a long lasting fantastic memory or escape for me. I enjoyed it and I won’t forget it, but it won’t be one of those “second reads.”
This was part of the 1 ARC Tours for Bloody Bad.
The Life of Glass is a fast read—I tore through it in a matter of hours. I wasn’t particularly sure why I couldn’t stop reading it. Maybe it was the easy language, maybe it was the characters, maybe I was just in the mood for a good romance novel and that was what was on my shelf. Either way, I didn’t stop reading until my sister turned the light out on me.
I liked the characters a lot (though some of them I despised) and others remained mysteries until later in the book; they were those “oh I had no idea they were that kind of person” characters, and I liked the mystery of their personalities. They were relatable and likeable.
That being said, there was nothing hugely spectacular about The Life of Glass: nothing that will make it a long lasting fantastic memory or escape for me. I enjoyed it and I won’t forget it, but it won’t be one of those “second reads.”
This was part of the 1 ARC Tours for Bloody Bad.
March 2, 2010
Taken from princessbookie.com
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this book! This is such a complex yet simple book, you'll have to read the book to totally understand what I mean. We meet Melissa who is just your average teenage girl. She watched her father wither away day by day and pass away finally. It happened in the beginning of the book so you feel the heartbreak right away. I think I could relate to her in so many ways. My father also passed away when I was 13 years old, so I knew exactly how Melissa felt. We meet the side characters such as Melissa's family, Melissa's best friend and neighbor Ryan. Ryan seemed like a somewhat nerdy guy but he was such a sweetheart. We meet Courtney who is new, so a few of the guys want her and of course she takes an interest in Ryan. At that moment, Melissa realizes her feelings for Ryan may run a little deeper than she thought. I felt like I could really relate to Melissa and I enjoyed reading our Ryan and Courtney's biking adventures. I liked hearing about her father's journal. I liked all the other side characters. I thought this book was sweet. You'll have to read it to find out what happened to Melissa and Ryan's relationship, Courtney and Melissa's friendship, and how she dealt with her father's death. I recommend this book. Have the tissues handy.
Overall: Loved it a lot. It was a sweet and emotional book.
Cover: I like the cover and I like how it really does look like glass. Its a nice cover.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this book! This is such a complex yet simple book, you'll have to read the book to totally understand what I mean. We meet Melissa who is just your average teenage girl. She watched her father wither away day by day and pass away finally. It happened in the beginning of the book so you feel the heartbreak right away. I think I could relate to her in so many ways. My father also passed away when I was 13 years old, so I knew exactly how Melissa felt. We meet the side characters such as Melissa's family, Melissa's best friend and neighbor Ryan. Ryan seemed like a somewhat nerdy guy but he was such a sweetheart. We meet Courtney who is new, so a few of the guys want her and of course she takes an interest in Ryan. At that moment, Melissa realizes her feelings for Ryan may run a little deeper than she thought. I felt like I could really relate to Melissa and I enjoyed reading our Ryan and Courtney's biking adventures. I liked hearing about her father's journal. I liked all the other side characters. I thought this book was sweet. You'll have to read it to find out what happened to Melissa and Ryan's relationship, Courtney and Melissa's friendship, and how she dealt with her father's death. I recommend this book. Have the tissues handy.
Overall: Loved it a lot. It was a sweet and emotional book.
Cover: I like the cover and I like how it really does look like glass. Its a nice cover.
April 1, 2014
This was quite possibly the most boring YA book I've ever read. The MC's dad recently died, and she lives with her mom and her older sister. Yep, that's about it. Mom starts dating, and the girls aren't sure what they think of mom's boyfriend. The girls are both in high school, but apparently the MC doesn't have any emotions, because this book flatlines pretty early on and doesn't revive. Also, the MC's biology class spends AN ENTIRE SEMESTER dissecting on frog. For one class period, their assignment was to cut out the heart of the frog and draw a picture of it. I can't imagine a frog specimen lasting that long. Ever.
Really, nothing happened in this book, and I will not add it to my library's collection or book talk it to my students. I was unpleasantly surprised at how boring it was.
Really, nothing happened in this book, and I will not add it to my library's collection or book talk it to my students. I was unpleasantly surprised at how boring it was.
March 3, 2016
Really impressed with this book. A lot of books try this story, but I think this one got it right. I didn't feel like the story was rushed. It wasn't entirely predictable. The plot had lots of development and twists that kept me interested and believable characters that weren't flat. Rarely are people either good or bad, and I felt this did a good job of representing that. Melissa as a character grows with the people around her. She's realistic. I guess I've just been burnt out on similar stories that are poorly executed that this was very refreshing. It left me satisfied.
April 17, 2010
I really liked this book. Melissa McAllister's father died of cancer two years ago, and she still is having a hard time. Then she starts her first year of high school, and her best friend Ryan gets a new girlfriend. Courtney, the girlfriend, acts like Melissa's friend, but tries to end Melissa's and Ryan's friendship.
This book is great because it has a hint of everything. Romance, comedy, drama, mystery, and more. I liked it more than I expected to. The ending really made me smile though, it was perfect.
This book is great because it has a hint of everything. Romance, comedy, drama, mystery, and more. I liked it more than I expected to. The ending really made me smile though, it was perfect.
March 22, 2010
This book is a rather enjoyable coming of age story. It follows the main character, Melissa, through her first year of high school. As Melissa fumbles her way through high school with no help from her older sister, she looks to her deceased father's journal for guidance. Melissa's journey through the novel has many similarities to the "typical" high school experience, so quite a few people will be able to relate to it.
October 18, 2016
What would you do if all that remained of your father after he passed was a journal that never truly ended? Melissa, the main character in the Life of Glass; faces this task of piecing together the clues from her father’s journal in attempts to keep her father’s presence around. The Life of Glass is a inspiring story and truly captivating. The book deals with the ups and downs of life and the struggles that we all face. The Life of Glass is a realistic fiction novel that can truly relate to the younger teens. The developing story of characters and the mystery will draw you in and you’ll wish it continued more than 352 pages.
The Life of Glass is a touching journey of a teenager that is brilliantly written by Jillian Cantor. Throughout this book, Melissa faces the newly daunting task of trying to deal with life without her father while being suspended into freshman year. While her mom and sister are off doing their own things; Melissa chases the questions left behind when she discovers a hidden note inside her father’s journals. Leading you through the mystery and sorrow left behind her father; The Life of Glass is a good read and makes you feel as if you are there with Melissa in her journey.
The Life of Glass is a title that can be interpreted many ways before reading. It could relate to the characters, the situation, or even just the smallest details. Jillian Cantor did an amazing job at expressing the feelings of characters and making them feel real. The characters all have their own backstories and are very defined. It truly conveys the struggle of a young girl trying to find her place but yet cope at the same time. The book is written in a fashion which is easily read and understandable. Due to the issues presented in the book many early teens face the same ones making it relatable. The book paints a picture with vivid words and strong descriptions. The story provokes emotions and makes people think about their lives or their situation. It is a wonderful read and will provide you with not only a story but an experience.
The story of The Life of Glass will touch you and inspire you like no other. This book is a good read to all ages but connects to younger teens more. This tale of Melissa is a unique story filled with interesting facts her father always harbored. Melissa chases the questions remaining to keep a piece of her dad around like a piece of glass. The bond Melissa has with her father is bound within the seems of a journal and it’s up to her to unravel the mystery through the tale of The Life of Glass.
The Life of Glass is a touching journey of a teenager that is brilliantly written by Jillian Cantor. Throughout this book, Melissa faces the newly daunting task of trying to deal with life without her father while being suspended into freshman year. While her mom and sister are off doing their own things; Melissa chases the questions left behind when she discovers a hidden note inside her father’s journals. Leading you through the mystery and sorrow left behind her father; The Life of Glass is a good read and makes you feel as if you are there with Melissa in her journey.
The Life of Glass is a title that can be interpreted many ways before reading. It could relate to the characters, the situation, or even just the smallest details. Jillian Cantor did an amazing job at expressing the feelings of characters and making them feel real. The characters all have their own backstories and are very defined. It truly conveys the struggle of a young girl trying to find her place but yet cope at the same time. The book is written in a fashion which is easily read and understandable. Due to the issues presented in the book many early teens face the same ones making it relatable. The book paints a picture with vivid words and strong descriptions. The story provokes emotions and makes people think about their lives or their situation. It is a wonderful read and will provide you with not only a story but an experience.
The story of The Life of Glass will touch you and inspire you like no other. This book is a good read to all ages but connects to younger teens more. This tale of Melissa is a unique story filled with interesting facts her father always harbored. Melissa chases the questions remaining to keep a piece of her dad around like a piece of glass. The bond Melissa has with her father is bound within the seems of a journal and it’s up to her to unravel the mystery through the tale of The Life of Glass.
July 6, 2018
I had a hard time falling in love with this book. I was hungover from the last book I read and the characters in this one were a little superficial to start off - I didn't really think about the fact that I was reading a book about a high school freshman...
But this book was really nice. After I sat it down for a day or two, once I picked it up again I kept finding myself retreating into it. Melissa became more and more sympathetic as the story went on and I found myself exactly where I wanted to be pretty quickly, which is to say, on her side. I don't think I'll have quite as much of a hangover with this one, but it was really nice to fall into this world.
But this book was really nice. After I sat it down for a day or two, once I picked it up again I kept finding myself retreating into it. Melissa became more and more sympathetic as the story went on and I found myself exactly where I wanted to be pretty quickly, which is to say, on her side. I don't think I'll have quite as much of a hangover with this one, but it was really nice to fall into this world.
December 16, 2023
Toto je roman o strate a ako sa s nou Melissa, hlavna hrdinka, vysporiadava. Prednedavnom jej zomrel otec, s ktorym mala velmi blizky vztah. Do ich triedy prisla nova ziacka a Melissin najlepsi kamarat sa do nej zamiluje a prestane s Melissou travit cas. Jej mama stretla noveho muza a Melissa ma pocit, ze zradza otca. V otcovych papieroch najde meno neznamej zeny a Melissa patra, co to ma znamenat.
Vysporiadat sa s tymto vsetkym jej pomaha otcov nedokonceny roman ci zbierka pribehov o laske.
Bolo to fajn, dobre sa to citalo.
Vysporiadat sa s tymto vsetkym jej pomaha otcov nedokonceny roman ci zbierka pribehov o laske.
Bolo to fajn, dobre sa to citalo.
March 2, 2018
Melissa is a high school freshman who struggles with the loss of her father and with her beautiful sister Ashley. Her best friend and neighbor Ryan starts seeing a new girl names Courtney, and Melissa starts dating Max, but in the end they realize that all along they only wanted each other. This story rings true in the descriptions of teenage life. It also helps us to understand what true love is.
December 3, 2017
I don't know what to say about this book. It was decent, and I enjoyed it, but it didn't blow me away. Ms. Cantor has a poetic way with words that made it enjoyable, but I think if I had read this when I was little younger I would have had an easier time relating to the teen angst that's rampant throughout the book.
February 24, 2019
So damn boring
This book was so boring. Nothing happened through out the whole thing and the characters were hard to root for. Melissa was a crappy protagonist who never had anything nice to say, her sister Ashely was even worse and a total asshole. Ryan had zero personality and Courtney just made no sense to me. Read something else cause absolutely nothing happens here.
This book was so boring. Nothing happened through out the whole thing and the characters were hard to root for. Melissa was a crappy protagonist who never had anything nice to say, her sister Ashely was even worse and a total asshole. Ryan had zero personality and Courtney just made no sense to me. Read something else cause absolutely nothing happens here.
June 11, 2019
I loved this book! I loved how real it was. One minute life can seem beautiful and perfect, and the next you're desperately trying to make something out of the broken pieces of your life. I loved this book, and I loved the lessons that it taught me. This was an incredible book!
September 5, 2017
This was a good book, and event hough my favorite genre is fantasy, and this is realistic fiction, this was a really good book.
November 16, 2017
Good read
This book reminded me of someone I knew. Compelling story about a dysfunctional family and how the children overcome adversity.
This book reminded me of someone I knew. Compelling story about a dysfunctional family and how the children overcome adversity.
November 20, 2017
Amazing...the analogies are so subtle. Life is as fragile as glass and easily broken. Typical teenager angst and actions amid family setting.
April 17, 2018
I always like a book that is set in Phoenix or Arizona and this one does a lovely job setting up that background.
October 18, 2018
I think that it was a pretty good book. It is kinda just a fun read and its pretty lighthearted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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