Freefall by Mindi Scott

Mar 11, 2010 Mindi Scott added it · (Review from the author)

I'm allowed to give my own book five stars right? Writing it was certainly an amazing experience! :-) ...more

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Oct 15, 2010 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: 27-contemporary-ya, 09-corner-bookclub

Yeah well, this is kind of awkward now...I read all those great reviews my fellow bookers wrote and I can’t really come up with anything to say about this book.

It was a nice and steady read, the characters were all likeable and I flew through the pages. The romance between Rosetta and Seth was cute, I liked that the author gave them time to grow close and get to know each other. It also had a nice touch of humor – it made me laugh out loud several times. Um, yeah...that’s all. *spreads her arms ...more

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Oct 20, 2010 Arlene rated it really liked it

Recommended to Arlene by: Street Corner Bookers

Shelves: ya-contemporary, read-2010, young-adult

How do you come back from a point of no return?

Freefall by Mindi Scott is an absolute brilliant debut novel that’s honest, funny, sad and hopeful all rolled up into one captivating book.

I expected this novel to be depressing and to be honest was a little reserved about diving into it at first. But then Seth started sharing his story, and I couldn’t ignore him even if I tried. There was something about his narrative that had me leaning in and trying to capture every thought and emotion he expres How do you come back from a point of no return?

Freefall by Mindi Scott is an absolute brilliant debut novel that’s honest, funny, sad and hopeful all rolled up into one captivating book.

I expected this novel to be depressing and to be honest was a little reserved about diving into it at first. But then Seth started sharing his story, and I couldn’t ignore him even if I tried. There was something about his narrative that had me leaning in and trying to capture every thought and emotion he expressed. Great character development and style of writing that works perfectly for this story.

About the book:
Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive and come the next morning the first person to find him dead. The struggles Seth faces in the aftermath of this tragedy propel him in a direction that force him to face his new reality and reevaluate his life. There was so much IMHO to admire about this character. As the novel progresses, we witness Seth struggle with choices along the way, but once he sets his mind on something, he faces the consequeses and moves forward. There were parts in the story where he shares his insecurities and disappointments despite the possibility of betrayal, which I found extremely admirable. And most of all I really liked how he tries… tries to make a change…. tries to move on and improve. I thought that was great and it made it so easy for me to feel a ton of compassion for this character.

The secondary characters, including Rosetta and Kendall, that were infused in the storyline demanded their time on stage and wasted not a moment in giving an honest portrayal of themselves that left nothing on the sides lines.

In the end, this book forces the reader to consider that with every choice comes a consequence and when people make decisions they must own those consequences good or bad as a result… no one else but them. Griping themes and solid plot development that serves a purpose and provides closure when the last pages are turned. I highly recommend this book to my fellow avid YA readers. Time well spent indeed!
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Oct 04, 2010 Janina rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, contemporary, death-loss-grief, music

Freefall by Mindi Scott is a great debut novel of 2010. It took me about two chapters to become fully immersed in the story, but then I finished it in one setting. The writing flows effortlessly and I couldn't put the book down until I'd read the last page.

I have to admit, the group of friends Seth hangs out with – and, at least at the beginning, Seth himself – aren't characters I like to read about that much. They drink and do drugs, they don't care at all about school or their future and they Freefall by Mindi Scott is a great debut novel of 2010. It took me about two chapters to become fully immersed in the story, but then I finished it in one setting. The writing flows effortlessly and I couldn't put the book down until I'd read the last page.

I have to admit, the group of friends Seth hangs out with – and, at least at the beginning, Seth himself – aren't characters I like to read about that much. They drink and do drugs, they don't care at all about school or their future and they have no intention of changing their way of life. It's not that these people aren't realistic or authentic; I just can't relate to them that much. They tend to make me furious with their I-don't-care-about-anything attitude.
Nevertheless, I found Seth extremely likeable and you can see from the very beginning that he actually is a good guy who wants to change. His character definitely shows a lot of growth as the story progresses. Additionally, I loved his sense of humour and the loyalty he showed towards his friends and family.
As far as I am concerned, I found his voice authentic and believable. I'm always a little cautious when it comes to books with a male point of view written by a female author, but Seth is a refreshing change from the mostly female narrators in the YA contemporary genre.

Concerning the two female characters in this book, I have to say that I liked both Rosetta and in the end also Kendall immensely. The banter between Kendall and Seth was fun, and I loved how Seth stood up for her in the end.
The chemistry and slow development of the relationship between Rosetta and Seth was extremely well done. I liked the dialogue between them a lot, too. I would have loved to see some more development concerning Rosetta's issue, though, but I understand it's not something to overcome quickly.
(Side note: Seriously, did it have to be Rosetta? That name just sounds so ... ridiculous. Took me some time to get used to.)

The two things that made this book 'only' a four star read for me:

- I would have loved to find out more about Isaac, to see how he really was like. I couldn’t really get a feel for his character.

- This book is dealing with loss and guilt, but I found it to be less intense than other books I read on the topic. It didn’t make me cry or feel all heart-broken about the characters’ grief and sadness.

All things considered, a great read and I'll definitely be checking out the next book Mindi Scott writes, whatever it will be about!

As a conclusion, two quotes I absolutely loved:

"I just love that feeling when things are about to change. Like when you know that in a few seconds you're going to do something and become someone else."

"Maybe it's like free-falling. You feel like you'd rather do anything than face it, but once you do it you realize it's the best feeling you've ever had." ...more

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Oct 20, 2010 Morgan F rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, its-a-boy, own, goodreads-author, music, 2010, ive-got-issues, realistic, read-2010, medium-sized

I am pretty much the last person in my group of friends to review this book, which is ironic because I was the first one to finish it. But I'm lazy so here I am with nothing to say.

Um.....I was expecting more. The writing was good and Seth was funny and real and yada yada yada but I wanted it to be darker. Is that a sick thing to say? That I wanted this kid to be more screwed up? But its true. I kind of felt like this novel was a well-written anti-climax.

description

Do you looooooove it? It's a pony! ...more

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Apr 22, 2010 Kim rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2010, young-adult, contemporary

Um, yeah, some spoilers ahead kids.

This book is about a Seth. The people who know me, know what that means. To say that I'm madly in love with the name is still an understatement. I don't know why, but whenever I hear or see the name I that thing dogs do with their head and their ears whenever somebody mentions words like 'walk' or 'treat' or whatever. You can tell me you've named your mailbox Seth and I'd still be interested.

Random oddball information aside, I liked this book. Seth is pretty mu ...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Reynje rated it liked it

I really liked this.

Freefall is a small book with what seems to be a fairly run-of-the-mill plot: guy’s best friend dies, guy is messed up, guy meets girls, girl has issues of her own… and so forth.

Yet the characterisation in Freefall is excellent, and I found myself invested in the story within pages. Scott captures Seth’s voice so well, the rawness of his emotions, without pushing the book into over-angsty territory. I liked the fact that Seth was a guy who didn’t always do the right thing, I really liked this.

Freefall is a small book with what seems to be a fairly run-of-the-mill plot: guy’s best friend dies, guy is messed up, guy meets girls, girl has issues of her own… and so forth.

Yet the characterisation in Freefall is excellent, and I found myself invested in the story within pages. Scott captures Seth’s voice so well, the rawness of his emotions, without pushing the book into over-angsty territory. I liked the fact that Seth was a guy who didn’t always do the right thing, who often acted selfishly or impulsively, and yet had much more going on under the exterior, while still feeling realistic.

But I’d probably give all of those stars purely on the basis of Kendall, whom I really believe carried this story. I happen to like straight-talking female characters who don’t suffer fools (see also: Mim from All I Ever Wanted), yet also have their own vulnerabilities. Kendall was the highlight of this book for me, a strong, flawed, interesting, brash character that really felt alive and vital in the story. Her dynamic with Seth, and the way it gradually developed over the course of the book, was exceptionally well handled.

On the other hand, as much as I’d like to, I can’t muster the same enthusiasm for Rosetta. I didn’t dislike her, but I felt she faded into the paper up against the unapologetically bold character of Kendall. While Kendall and Seth’s “nonenemy” relationship had a lot of chemistry and spark, Rosetta and Seth’s – while sweet – was less compelling for me. That said, while she definitely a less striking element of the book, I’m glad that Rosetta didn’t fall into completely clichéd territory as I thought she would.

Fans of plot-driven novels might not find a lot to get excited about here, Freefall is very much a character-centric novel that focuses on the repercussions of loss, grief and fear. There’s no major plot twist and even the climax is low-key. However, I found a lot to like and would definitely read Scott’s further work.
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Mar 19, 2010 Nic rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, 2010

Favourite Quote: "But maybe it's like free-falling. You feel like you'd rather do anything than have to face it, but once you do it you realize it's the best feeling you've ever had."

Lately I have been craving contemporary fiction and Freefall filled my need nicely. It had all the things that I look for - good writing, a plot that gets you thinking and most importantly honest characters.

Freefall is not a tear jerker but a book that gets under your skin. My emotional reading experience went a lit ...more

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Oct 10, 2009 Sara Grochowski rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

When I first read through FREEFALL's description I was torn. The cover seemed to call to me, but the description worried me... To be honest, only one seemingly small detail of the description gave me pause: Seth. I often have a difficult time relating to male narrators. In fact, there have only been two such novels that I enjoyed enough to compare to female narrated novels: PAPER TOWNS by John Green and BLACK RABBIT SUMMER by Kevin Brooks. I should never have underestimated author Mindi Scott; I When I first read through FREEFALL's description I was torn. The cover seemed to call to me, but the description worried me... To be honest, only one seemingly small detail of the description gave me pause: Seth. I often have a difficult time relating to male narrators. In fact, there have only been two such novels that I enjoyed enough to compare to female narrated novels: PAPER TOWNS by John Green and BLACK RABBIT SUMMER by Kevin Brooks. I should never have underestimated author Mindi Scott; I found it remarkably easy to emphathize with Seth.

In ways, this novel was horrifying. I'm from a small town where most kids consider a "good time" a weekend of drunken debauchery. I now live in a college town where the weekend starts on Thirsty Thursday ... and there are still people that like to get an early start. So, for this reason, the drinking and subsequent consequences that occur in FREEFALL hit home. Seth's best friend loses his life on one of their many drunken nights. It's terrifying to think how many times the exact same circumstances could have led to the death of someone I actually know... someone real. I must give credit to Scott for portraying underage drinking and partying in such a realistic way. There's no sugar coating, no shiny veneer - and anyone who says that the situations in FREEFALL aren't realistic is terribly naive. I think it takes an honest portrayal for a message like Scott's to have any real impact on teen readers and authors do a disservice to teens if they try to soften those sharp edges.

As an onlooker, Seth's journey towards the acceptance of Isaac's death and the role his actions played invoked various emotions. I was grateful for the minor characters throughout the novel, who not only facilitated Seth's journey, but provided a much needed reprieve from his darker thoughts. Mrs. Dalloway, who teaches Seth's interpersonal communications class, was definitely one of my favorite characters and reminded me of some of the quirky teachers I've had. She provided humorous situations throughout the novel and the tools and guidance Seth needs to reach out to other characters, like Rosetta.

I found Seth's relationship with Rosetta to be completely believable. Scott's representation of many of the firsts Rosetta and Seth share is, at times, painfully realistic. I closely identified with their first real fight; it was so easy to draw parallels between reality and fiction. The accuracy of the depiction renewed the emotions I had felt when I was in the same situation, causing my bond to the characters to strengthen that much more.

FREEFALL is a tremendous debut from an extremely talented author. Not only did Scott write a male narrator that I could easily identify with, her novel imparts an important message about the choices we make and the consequences that follow... and how, afterward, we must pick up the pieces and move on.

Grade: A

Cover Notes:
I love the simplicity of the cover! Sometimes a cover clearly appeals to one gender over another, but, thankfully, FREEFALL's is neutral. ...more

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Dec 09, 2010 Yin Chien 인첸 rated it liked it

Hmm... What should I say about Freefall? I can't say I don't like it, but I can't say I love it either. I guess I have mixed feelings about this book. Let's get to the good things first. Freefall is a portrayal of the modern teenage world - a world filled with wild, recalcitrant [1], obstreperous [2] teens. Most of them love partying, drinking alcohol and do drugs. Though this is clearly a negative interpretation, it also sends a strong message to people about how awful the situation of teenage Hmm... What should I say about Freefall? I can't say I don't like it, but I can't say I love it either. I guess I have mixed feelings about this book. Let's get to the good things first. Freefall is a portrayal of the modern teenage world - a world filled with wild, recalcitrant [1], obstreperous [2] teens. Most of them love partying, drinking alcohol and do drugs. Though this is clearly a negative interpretation, it also sends a strong message to people about how awful the situation of teenage misbehaviours is.

Mindi Scott's writing is undeniably good. She uses her words to effectively craft a realistic fictitious world which encourages the reader to plunge into it. Seth McCoy is a typical sixteen year old boy - he drinks booze and enjoys himself in parties. But the difference between him and his peers are: 1) he doesn't do drugs; 2) he is drowning himself in guilt. Seth blames himself for his friend's accidental death and feels culpable [3] for it. But he soon meets a lovely girl called Rosetta and discovers that he is not the only one with problems.

Well, this sounds great, right?

Except that's one of the main things that I'm a little disappointed in. While it has the potential to be a great story, it seems to be going nowhere - there is not a main plot but only a few subplots. And there's no climax in the story - the ending seems to be quite anti-climatic. I kept hoping to discover a great secret or two - but the secrets (both Seth's and Rosetta's) are lacking of the "shocking" factor.

The characters that I like are Rosetta and Kendall. Rosetta seems to be a pretty troubled girl because of her secrets, but she is likable. Kendall is a gutsy girl whom I learned to understand although I kind of despised her at first. I'm happy that Seth is willing to stand up for Kendall at the end even though Kendall accidentally spilled Rosetta's secrets.

Freefall to appeal to those who are looking for books with some inner depth and emotion. If you like reading If I Stay (If I Stay, #1) by Gayle Forman, you'll most likely enjoy this book.

Rating: 3.5 stars ...more

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Jan 19, 2010 ~Tina~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, read-2010

Seth McCoy was the last person to see his friend alive, and the first person to find him dead. He's been a wreck ever since, convinced that it was his fault. He should haven't made sure Isaac was okay. He should have been there for him. He's been punishing himself ever since.
Ever since, Rosetta walked into his life that is....

Freefall is a wonderful debut about about fears, letting go, moving on and finally finding something in yourself that you want to become.
The concept of taking the issue of ...more

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Oct 03, 2010 Stefanie rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-ya

Damn I really wanted to be different from all the other Bookers and give a different rating(I like to be unique)...and up until the last half of the book I really thought I was going to, with 3 stars. But Mindi Scott turned it around for me!

This book had a subtle complexity to it and I loved the rawness of it. It was gritty and one of the most realistic YA fiction books I've read. I loved that the author wasn't trying to make this a "pretty" read. I never felt like she was tyring to force the bo Damn I really wanted to be different from all the other Bookers and give a different rating(I like to be unique)...and up until the last half of the book I really thought I was going to, with 3 stars. But Mindi Scott turned it around for me!

This book had a subtle complexity to it and I loved the rawness of it. It was gritty and one of the most realistic YA fiction books I've read. I loved that the author wasn't trying to make this a "pretty" read. I never felt like she was tyring to force the book to be anything it wasn't nor force the characters to be anything that they weren't....I could've said that more eloquently, but meh, who has the time???

Okay now to the story..it took me a little while to warm up to Seth. I thought oh great...I used to deal with guys like this in my life in high school. The ones who think they're worthless and self-pity yet blame everyone else for their miserable lives...and I thought Seth was going to be like this but turns out it's his friends who are like this. I felt bad for him, because it was like his friends weren't really his friends. I mean they played in a band together and partied together but it's Seth who didn't seem to get a say in much, he was just along for the ride to either please someone else or make sure his friend didn't kill himself from reckless partying. I felt like he sticked around with Daniel because he was so scared of Daniel making the same stuipd mistake Isaac did. I couldn't tell if he really enjoyed their frienship or not.Maybe near the end I thought he did.

And Kendall grew on me SO much. The weak girl who can't stand up for herself. I was so sympathetic to her situation because I've been there. And it's so hard, especially in high school when all you're looking for is approval and somewhere to fit in. When you get yourself in situations like that it's hard to get out and I was rooting for her the whole time to stop trying to impress whateve dickwad she was hooking up with and to end it. And thank God she does!!
And that fight between the two boys...LOVED IT. I was so happy that someone stood up for Kendall even if she was annoying at times. Everyone needs someone.

Okay I feel like I'm rambling now and am going to stop.

The characters, the ending, the intertwining of characters stories. I loved it. Awesome read.

...more

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Sep 19, 2010 Nomes rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-male-pov, i-thought-i-would-love-this-but, out-of-the-loop, 2010, riding-the-older-ya-vibe

Ahh, I had really psyched myself up to love this book and... it just didn't happen for me.

There were some scenes in there I really liked, and some genuinely funny/sweet/sexy moments. Also, some of the prose was gorgeous - scenes in the rain were well done and atmospheric.

But mostly, I just feel like this didn't go anywhere. I kept hoping it would build towards some great moment but then the storyline started petering out and it all felt like a bit of an anti-climax really.

A lot of mates had LOV ...more

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Sep 13, 2010 Milly rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult

My initial reaction into picking this book up: reluctance. I was reluctant to read it because of initial perception based from the plot. Death and drinking = depressing. So not!

My fellow Street Corner Bookers: Who ever selected this book out for our November reading has good taste or good luck in choosing a book! Wow, we actually all agreed on giving this book a ‘4’. I concur that this is a wonderful debut for Mindi Scott. It felt real and honest. Seth and Rosetta could easily have been student My initial reaction into picking this book up: reluctance. I was reluctant to read it because of initial perception based from the plot. Death and drinking = depressing. So not!

My fellow Street Corner Bookers: Who ever selected this book out for our November reading has good taste or good luck in choosing a book! Wow, we actually all agreed on giving this book a ‘4’. I concur that this is a wonderful debut for Mindi Scott. It felt real and honest. Seth and Rosetta could easily have been students in my high school or for any high school for that matter. Their relationship and the way it developed were believable because it resulted from a more natural consequence due to similar life experiences and personal struggles. Their pairing just felt nice altogether, more natural, like things falling into place.

The story is told in the voice of Seth, a 16-year old musician who lives in trailer park. Though I couldn't relate to Seth in a personal way, it was easy to feel his pain, his anger, and his helplessness. Mindi Scott did a wonderful job describing these emotions in a riveting manner. I cared for Seth and felt so compelled to hope for him each step of the way. He was so broken that you can’t help but wish the best for him so he could put his broken pieces back together: to find a way to heal all his hurts, to move past the grief, and to just live.

Rosetta, the girl from the right side of town, the nerd in a cute sort of way, and a friend of the rich and popular kids in school, find herself attracted to Seth after Seth thoughtlessly handed her a rose one day. I found Rosetta appealing and someone I could relate to, perhaps because I was a nerd myself in high school and the new girl in town. But deep down the likable personae facade lays another broken person. Perchance, this is the reason too why Rosetta was subconsciously drawn to Seth. Though Rosetta is not the protagonist of this story, I still felt that she deserved a better resolution in the end. Yeah, her issues with Seth were, but what about her other personal dilemma? That is probably my one only criticism for this book. Otherwise…

I really took pleasure from reading it. It’s a feel-good book! We could all use one every now and then. And…I know better to judge a book by its plot next time!
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Jan 02, 2011 Aleeeeeza rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011-read

Going into Freefall, I didn't have many pre-conceived notions. I knew it was a somewhat dark YA contemporary told from the point of a dude, and that the voice of this dude was well-done. I'll admit--a major reason I read the book was because I myself am penning a book told through the POV of a teen guy, so I've been trying to read as many well-written boy-books as possible. And...this one did not disappoint!

Yeah, it took me quite a while to fully get into it. The opening chapters focused around ...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Laura rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Laura by: Sarah

Shelves: because-sarah-said-so, love-in-a-book, by-fnl-fans, pacific-northwest-is-the-best

FNL Rating: Vince Howard!!!!!

Okay, the first thing I loved about this book was the voice. It is so rare and refreshing to read a YA book from a male POV. Author Mindi Scott, manages the very difficult task of making me, a 31 year old female adult, relate to a 16 year old teenage boy's POV. It is seriously freaky how Mindi Scott managed to write wrote the male version of me (personality and humor) wise into a book character in Seth McCoy.

Examples: Seth and I both are musically inclined people wit FNL Rating: Vince Howard!!!!!

Okay, the first thing I loved about this book was the voice. It is so rare and refreshing to read a YA book from a male POV. Author Mindi Scott, manages the very difficult task of making me, a 31 year old female adult, relate to a 16 year old teenage boy's POV. It is seriously freaky how Mindi Scott managed to write wrote the male version of me (personality and humor) wise into a book character in Seth McCoy.

Examples: Seth and I both are musically inclined people with horrible stage fright. Seth and I both seem like we are reading off of cue cards when forced into awkward social interaction. Seth and I both think that rooms with fancy furniture and no TVs are silly.

Then we have the characters. Obviously, since Seth seems to be me, I love him. Then we have the object of Seth's affection, Rosetta. Mindi Scott reverses the John Hughes "Pretty in Pink" scenario by making the male, Seth, the poor boy who lives in the trailer park, while privileged Rosetta lives on the upscale "Rich Bitch" hill. Her friends look down on him. But she is nerdy, smart, and witty, with a profound experience in her past that helps her and Seth connect.

And then, Kendall. Kendall is a bridge. She grew up in the trailer park with Seth, but moved to the hills when her mother remarried. She's good friends with Seth's mom, and the ex-girlfriend of Seth's best friend Isaac, whose body Seth discovered a few months prior to the start of the book. She's a thorn in Seth's side in many ways...but also looks out for Seth in many unexpected ways. I started out finding myself annoyed by her, but then firmly ended up on Team Kendall. (Her love of Gilmore Girls doesn't hurt).

I read a review that voiced disappointment that Isaac was not more fully fleshed out, but I personally liked that he was someone that we knew only through the living characters' memories. I liked learning and being surprised about Isaac alongside Seth as different interactions revealed new, but never complete, information about who Isaac was.

Rosetta has the line that sums up the book in the best way: “I just love that feeling when things are about to change. Like when you know that in a few seconds you're going to do something and become someone else.”

I love the idea of loving change and loving the potential control we have to take action and change ourselves.

The end.

...more

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Mar 20, 2010 Kelsey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs

What a debut! Freefall pulled me in from the first page and wouldn't let me go until the very last word. Not only was the plot engaging and original, but Mindi Scott is a fantastic writer. Freefall is definitely going to appeal to a variety of readers and will keep them engaged throughout.

Seth was an original and unique main character who wasn't always relatable to me, but I always could understand his actions. He had been through a lot, especially recently. Seth blamed himself for his best frie What a debut! Freefall pulled me in from the first page and wouldn't let me go until the very last word. Not only was the plot engaging and original, but Mindi Scott is a fantastic writer. Freefall is definitely going to appeal to a variety of readers and will keep them engaged throughout.

Seth was an original and unique main character who wasn't always relatable to me, but I always could understand his actions. He had been through a lot, especially recently. Seth blamed himself for his best friend Isaac's death and was still coming to grips with it even when it seemed so many others had already forgotten it. I felt for him and could understand his grief and pain. Mindi Scott really knows how to get into a teenager's head. Seth was so realistic and well developed. Mindi didn't hold back when describing scenes where Seth is partying and drinking and she definitely proved that there is much more to people than meets the eye.

Other than Seth there were a lot of other great characters. His family was small, but you could tell they cared for each other. Especially his mother. His friends, while sometimes not the nicest people, were interesting characters and I liked watching how Seth grew and changed and finally stood up for himself and what he believed in. His stage fright is a real fear many teenagers have today, and I could relate to his paranoia of going on stage and performing.

A lot was going on in Freefall and I wouldn't have changed a thing. The plot was artfully woven and perfectly written. I especially loved the romance aspect.

Rosetta was sweet, nice, and so understanding of Seth. I loved watching their relationship grow and change until the very last page. The reader really got to know Rosetta and understand her secrets and fears. At first, Seth and Rosetta may not appear similar at all. But in reality, they have much more in common than anyone could ever realize.

The drama, intrigue, and romance was all realistically portrayed and I applaud Mindi Scott for tacking so many issues shied away from in YA lit today. I definitely recommend reading Freefall come October. It's an emotional and fantastic debut that will tug the heart strings of every reader.

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars ...more

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Jan 01, 2011 Skye rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, ya

This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.

How do you come back from the point of no return?

Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend, Isaac, alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time when Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn't wake up.

Convinced that his own actions led to his friend's death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely ...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Amy Jacobs rated it really liked it

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover. Something about the shattered glass and the title gave it the feel of angst, pain and hopefully redemption.

The characters of Seth and Rosetta were amazing. I loved the gradual romance instead of it being immediate. It was a slow build as they both worked through different yet painful history. Rosetta is from the nicer side of the tracks where she is living with her Aunt and Uncle. Her parents died in a car crash that was caused by a d ...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Shannon rated it it was amazing

I'm giving this one 5 stars because 4 just doesn't feel like enough (even though it wasn't without flaws).

*Disclaimer: This book is not for readers that want to think teenagers don't curse, drink and have sex. And along that note, probably not for younger teen readers. Nothing is explicit or handled without class but the reality is present.*

Freefall felt honest and real to me. Seth, our 17 year old narrator, is using everything in his power to distract from the death of his best friend, a deat ...more

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Dec 27, 2015 Jacquelyn rated it liked it

Overall, an enjoyable and quick read. I really enjoyed reading about the communication class and the backstory of both Seth and Rosetta. Boring at times but enjoyable nonetheless.

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May 13, 2020 Emma Joy rated it it was amazing

I picked up this book knowing that it was outside the normal genres I read, and not sure what to expect... over all I loved it, it had characters you relate to and want to root for. It also had a nitty-gritty aspect of life portrayed that made you truly GET IT when the characters struggled, and helped you become more involved with the story.
I would definitely recommend this book if you want to try out a new genre or sub-type, it’s a great one to settle down with over a weekend to get your brain ...more

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Jul 17, 2019 Adam Howell rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed Freefall! You are following pretty much a story about Seth who is a bassist in high school. He doesn't want to perform live shows since his best friend Isaac died. He also is failing in school from missing days he ends up meeting a girl who has a phobia and yeah its a great story! Easy to read in a day or two does not drag. ...more

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Jun 08, 2010 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs-i-own, 2010-100-book-challenge, debut-author-challenge

I don't know if you're like me, but there's been very few times I've found myself bending my own "reading rules" for a book. There's certain things I don't care for when I'm reading and will actually turn me off from a book. Then there's the rare time I find myself reading a book and totally "bending" my own rules for it, as I'm so engrossed with the story that I look over the things that would normal bother me, because they make the story real. Freefall was that book for me.

I was blown away wit I don't know if you're like me, but there's been very few times I've found myself bending my own "reading rules" for a book. There's certain things I don't care for when I'm reading and will actually turn me off from a book. Then there's the rare time I find myself reading a book and totally "bending" my own rules for it, as I'm so engrossed with the story that I look over the things that would normal bother me, because they make the story real. Freefall was that book for me.

I was blown away with Mindi Scott's debut novel, Freefall. Mindi's writing is so engaging, that I had a hard time putting the book down. It's original, real and one I think many YA readers will enjoy. Freefall will capture the most timid reader's attention, as the words flow so well together. Seth McCoy is a character who's fresh voice really pulled me to him. Though I couldn't relate to him, I felt for him. He's so realistic that I times I felt that I was there with him. If that had been the case, I would tried to talk some sense into him from the get go and helped him cope with losing his best friend. In order to drown his sorrows, he turns to binge drinking. Don't let this stop you from reading it, there's so much more to Seth and meets the reader eye. Seth is a brilliant young guy who has dreams and ambitions like the rest of and something else.

Mindi introduces a great cast of characters who all have their struggles and their strengths. Her writing has proven that it doesn't matter if we're from a trailer park or from "the hills", everyone has problems. I totally love his guidance counselor, as she sees through his "tough" guy act and gives Seth the motivation he needs to graduate, even though he's bailed on all her other academic plans. This time, Seth takes hold of what she's offered him and thrives, surprising not only himself, but his counselor and his mom. Seth has few friends, and no one he feels he can turn to to open up to about his grief, until he meets Rosetta.

I really loved Rosetta and Seth's relationship. Their relationship is one of understanding. It's an honest one and both of them are able to open up and share secrets of phobias that hold them back and a profound grief for loved ones and friends lost. Each carries the pain of feeling they were responsible when they weren't. Even though the two are from two different sides of town, they couldn't be more a like.

I liked Seth's mom. Being a single mom she works long hours, and having had both boys when she was in her teens, she admits she doesn't have all the parenting answers, but her love for her boys never waivers. She loves her boys and works hard for them. Living in a trailer park in the rougher part of town doesn't hold Seth back on his dreams. He's apart of his brother's band and until he met Rosetta and offered a chance to graduate from his guidance counselor, Seth was all about the band. Here's what I love about Seth- he realizes he has a shot to change his life. He can break free from his band and what his bandmates are doing-throwing their lives away by partying, drinking and everything else that comes along w/ the band. Though people at school believe Seth is just like them, he's far from it.

Mindi has done a wonderful job at tackling such sensitive issues that plague young adults today. Freefall is all about letting go and realizing the power that lies within you. It's about not judging and taking a chance. It's empowering watching Seth tackle his demons and realize the power that lies within him. When most people wouldn't have given him a shot, he tackles his second chance and wants to make something of himself. He gives school his all, quits the band, and tries to stay away from the influences that can bring him down. For a 16, almost 17 year old, that's far from the easy thing to do. For every step you take in the right direction, can lead a step or two back in the wrong. Seth's the only one who has the power to stand and face it, or free fall and let it consume him.

With all that goes on within the pages of Freefall, the plot flowed perfectly. The characters were great, the romance perfect, and the setting describe perfectly. Being from the NW, I love that it takes place in the state of Washington. If you're looking for a fantastically written debut novel, that carries the good, the bad and the emotional side of growing up through out it pages, than pick up Freefall. A word of caution to sensitive readers, Freefall does deal with real YA situations, and there is partying, drinking, language and a very mild sex scene in the book.
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Aug 23, 2010 Sarah (YA Love) rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2010, young-adult-lit, realistic-fiction, book-club-high-school, contemporary-ya, the-contemps-challenge, 2010-debut-author-challenge, grief

I read Freefall for The Contemps Challenge, but my primary reason was because it deals with a male protagonist struggling in life. Seth is trying to cope with the loss of his best friend Issac, but this story is about more than dealing with loss. Playing in the band isn’t the same for Seth now that Issac isn’t there playing beside him. Trying to get caught up in school is a bigger hindrance than it was before. And to top everything else, the people in Seth’s life appear to be moving on faster th I read Freefall for The Contemps Challenge, but my primary reason was because it deals with a male protagonist struggling in life. Seth is trying to cope with the loss of his best friend Issac, but this story is about more than dealing with loss. Playing in the band isn’t the same for Seth now that Issac isn’t there playing beside him. Trying to get caught up in school is a bigger hindrance than it was before. And to top everything else, the people in Seth’s life appear to be moving on faster than he can. This is a story about coping and discovering who you are.

As one of my students was reading this book he said “Seth seems more real than most characters in other books.” Seth is witty, sarcastic, sometimes awkward, and a tad insecure. His love interest is the beautiful, slightly mysterious Rosetta. Seth thinks she’s out of his league, so whenever he speaks with her- drunk at a party and trying to be suave, or forced to in class- it never goes as smoothly as he pictures it in his head. Isn’t that how it goes for most people? We can visualize a perfect conversation with someone we’re interested in, but when the moment presents itself we find ourselves mumbling and fumbling like morons. This aspect of Seth’s character makes him more human for readers. His witty side often shows itself when he speaking with Daniel. Daniel is an example of the “former Seth”, who partied and didn’t care about school. Daniel also reminds Seth of Issac, and this worries him because he doesn’t want Daniel partying himself to death like Issac did. But Daniel is still Seth’s friend and he doesn’t want to lose him, he just doesn’t want to be like Daniel anymore.

Losing Issac has almost forced Seth into making new friends. Many of these friends come from his Interpersonal Communications (IC) class. The class is designed to teach students how to effectively communicate and empathize with others. Is there anything stated there that Seth doesn’t need? I don’t think so. Seth isn’t communicating with anyone about his grief for Issac. He need someone to empathize with him, and he also needs to learn to empathize with others. This class has opened up his more vulnerable, guarded side to those in class with him. When everyone is in the same situation, you’re bound to make some close friends. Seth is able to build a closer relationship with Kendall, Issac’s former girlfriend, and he’s able to make a new friend in Xander who helps teach Seth about confidence and self-assurance.

This isn’t a book full of action, but it’s a book full of self-discovery and real situations. I know girls will enjoy Freefall because my book club is all girls and we read this together. They couldn’t stop talking about it! I know guys will read this because they’ve told me they enjoyed similar books because they coud relate to the character’s problems. Even if a guy can’t relate to losing his best friend, he can relate to tough situations with friends and wanting a potential relationship to work out. Mindi Scott has a very real novel that teens will pick up and enjoy from beginning to end.

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Dec 27, 2010 Loni Flowers rated it it was amazing

My Thoughts: This book was recommended to me by a fellow blogger after asking what are some books I HAVE to read that came out in 2010. Freefall by Mindi Scott was on the list. I’ve seen the cover countless times and the synopsis sounded amazing but I just never got around to reading it. So after the recommendation, I picked it up. WOW is about I can think to say about this book. For me, it really blew me away. I have never read from a male point of view and it been so clear. It felt like I was My Thoughts: This book was recommended to me by a fellow blogger after asking what are some books I HAVE to read that came out in 2010. Freefall by Mindi Scott was on the list. I’ve seen the cover countless times and the synopsis sounded amazing but I just never got around to reading it. So after the recommendation, I picked it up. WOW is about I can think to say about this book. For me, it really blew me away. I have never read from a male point of view and it been so clear. It felt like I was living in Seth’s brain thinking EVERY possible though a young teenage boy would have. I was amazed that Mindi pulled this off so effortlessly. As you’re reading this you see how messed up Seth is; his partying, drinking, drugs, not caring ways are horrible but as bad as it is you understand why he’s this way. You cheer for him throughout the whole book willing him to turn his life around and make the right choices even when his friends continue to do these things, constantly nagging him to join them. I wanted to yell at them and tell them to leave him alone, let him make his own decisions! Of course they never listened to my yelling. There seems to be only one person who Seth considers listening to, Rosetta. She’s completely opposite from Seth but alike in so many ways. You see their relationship grow and cheer for them to be together because they need each other more than they realize. She has her secrets and he has his and together they are able to trust and confide in each other. They work on helping each other with their phobias. I could completely sympathize with Seth’s stage fright phobia. I am terrified myself of speaking in groups of people. I have my own way to deal with it, though I must confess, I would not deal with it in the way Seth does. I also don’t play in a band with tons of people looking on. So I can completely understand his method of zoning out and not having to deal with it while he was on stage. Rosetta’s phobia sounds a little silly but when you find out what caused her phobia its truly heartbreaking.

This book is raw and real in every aspect. It deals with real issues that face teenagers everyday. Mindi didn’t shy away from any of it for the sake of toning it down. You might not like what the character is doing or how they are acting but its a eye opener to know that people go through this. She laid it all out there for you to experience : despair, desperation, self destruction, learning to cope, breaking out of your own comfort zones; learning to trust and want to change for yourself and be a better person for those you care about that makes this book so powerful.

This was such a fantastic read and I HIGHLY recommend it to you. I hope that everyone will read this book. I look forward to reading more from Mindi Scott in the future. ...more

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Aug 01, 2010 Crystal rated it it was amazing

Why I read this: It sounded like a very intriguing premise and I signed up for it with 1-ARC-Tours.

How is the novel driven: Character-driven, the events that set everything into motion have already happened and the characters growing and developing and learning to deal with what life has dealt them is what the book is all about.

My thoughts: Amazing, simply amazing. See my note below as to why I almost put this book down, but I did not and I'm glad I didn't. This is one powerful YA novel and I fi Why I read this: It sounded like a very intriguing premise and I signed up for it with 1-ARC-Tours.

How is the novel driven: Character-driven, the events that set everything into motion have already happened and the characters growing and developing and learning to deal with what life has dealt them is what the book is all about.

My thoughts: Amazing, simply amazing. See my note below as to why I almost put this book down, but I did not and I'm glad I didn't. This is one powerful YA novel and I finished it over a week ago and it is still staying with me. The book opens with Seth in a downward spiral that seems like it can only end one way, then he meets the lovely Rosetta and he starts searching for a way to make things better. But this does not come overnight - it's not magic - he sees the girl, he falls in love and straightens out his life for her. Nor is the girl perfect in every way, she has her own issues to work through as well. But the book is about working through those issues and little by little, the reason Seth has become the way he is is revealed and that made it a fascinating read. It's hard to like Seth in the beginning, he's binge drinking on the verge of flunking out of school and just generally not easy to like, but through the book I started to like him and then I was cheering for him. It's a great book and one that I would recommend to a lot of teenagers, it has the angst that is so evident in those years, it has cliques and the social workings of high school, it has romance and most of all it has a character who works hard to better himself not only for a girl he falls for, but for himself and those around him.

I don't know what else I can say - the book must be read to be understood and while it's not a happy-go-lucky book, it is amazing. Great job Ms. Scott on your first book - I will be looking forward to more books from you in the future!

Note: Honestly I almost put this book down after the first few pages. The language is rough, there are sexual references, drug use and alcohol use in the form of binge-drinking. However I am glad I did not put it down. For those of you that saw Jerry Maguire - you know how in the beginning, he is crass, has horrible language, horrible values and it's just rough in the beginning, but through the movie he changes and you see the point of the roughness of the beginning to show the journey. That is what the beginning of Freefall is about and it's important to the book and therefore I don't feel it was just put in to titillate or just be gratuitous. We have to be honest with ourselves, teenagers do talk that way so this book is not over the top.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0 ...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Hannah rated it really liked it

Shelves: own-finished-copy, 2011

I really enjoyed this book – it made me feel sad and happy within a few pages. I was expecting it to be very dark, dealing with Isaac’s death and alcohol abuse, and it did portray Seth’s grief and struggle beautifully, but most parts of this book just made me happy – the humor was great and made me laugh out loud. It reminded me a bit of Looking for Alaska by John Green – serious and emotional at times, light and funny at others.

Usually, it’s kind of hard for me to relate to a male main characte I really enjoyed this book – it made me feel sad and happy within a few pages. I was expecting it to be very dark, dealing with Isaac’s death and alcohol abuse, and it did portray Seth’s grief and struggle beautifully, but most parts of this book just made me happy – the humor was great and made me laugh out loud. It reminded me a bit of Looking for Alaska by John Green – serious and emotional at times, light and funny at others.

Usually, it’s kind of hard for me to relate to a male main character, but Mindi Scott’s characters were great, so that wasn’t a problem. Seth was a realistic, likeable character with believable challenges. All of the characters were beautifully written and three-dimensional – especially Rosetta and Kendall were believable, complex characters, and their relationships were realistic as well.

My favorite part of the novel was the romance between Seth and Rosetta – it was just so cute! All of their scenes made me smile. Their relationship evolved very naturally. I particularly appreciated that the author mentioned, but didn’t focus on the rich-girl/poor-guy aspect, because that storyline really annoys me when it’s overdone.

I also enjoyed the scenes during the IC class – I want a class like that!

When I read the description of this book, I thought Isaac’s death would play a much bigger role than it did, and while I enjoyed the other storylines, I think the book could have used a few more flashbacks, etc. – I never felt like I knew him as a character. I enjoyed how Seth worked on his grief with Kendall, but didn’t think it was all that realistic how little everyone else cared about Isaac’s death.

I was a bit disappointed by the ending – it was a good ending and made me smile, but I wanted to know more, especially about Rosetta and her progress with her issues.

I definitely recommend this book! It really makes you feel something – the main character’s good and bad feelings. While some parts were underdeveloped, in my opinion, the characters and writing were great, making this debut definitely worth reading!

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo... ...more

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Jul 21, 2010 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Beautiful. Absolutely and utterly beautiful. This book made my heart sing! It isn't often I stumble upon a book that deals with such a serious concept, and yet come away feeling light and airy once I've completed it. I fell in love with Freefall from the first few pages. It is a book that I know will stay in my heart for a very long time.

I need to profess my adoration with Seth right off the bat. He was a character that I felt I could rally behind, and that allowed me to love the book so much mo Beautiful. Absolutely and utterly beautiful. This book made my heart sing! It isn't often I stumble upon a book that deals with such a serious concept, and yet come away feeling light and airy once I've completed it. I fell in love with Freefall from the first few pages. It is a book that I know will stay in my heart for a very long time.

I need to profess my adoration with Seth right off the bat. He was a character that I felt I could rally behind, and that allowed me to love the book so much more. Coming from an underprivileged family, working while going to school, dealing with the death of his best friend, and yet through it all still doing his absolute best to lead the best kind of life he knows how. Seth is a true hero in my eyes. The fact that he chose to stay sober in the face of so much suffering and peer pressure really made me proud of his character. He was portrayed as such a sympathetic, kind, and loving person. Trust me, it's hard not to feel strong emotions towards him as you read.

The chemistry between Seth and Rosetta also resonated strongly with me. Although Rosetta was from the "other side of the tracks" so to speak, she gave Seth a chance and saw him for what he really was. I liked that their relationship moved at a slower pace, allowing them time to get to know one another and understand one another. When it came to the point where they needed one another for support, I found myself tearing up more than once. Don't we all look for that one person we can rely on in tough times? The person who will support and love us no matter what? Seth and Rosetta had that, and I appreciated it so very much.

Mindi Scott uses Freefall to tell a story that is riddled with angst, guilt and ultimately the trek towards redemption and healing. It is the type of book that will have you both tearing up and smiling happily. The type of book that makes you feel introspective. Freefall is such a gorgeously written and touching book, that I eagerly await the release date so that I can buy a copy for my very own. Amazing debut Mindi Scott. Amazing! ...more

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Jan 22, 2011 Terry rated it liked it

Shelves: guy-books, brought-to-rhs-library

This one hooked me early with Seth's strong voice. He's a type I don't see enough of in YA - the son of a single, working mom who lives in a trailer with his drop-out older brother. Their poverty is palpable. Sure, in that way it is reminiscent of Hinton's The Outsiders, but contemporary and unafraid of the right vulgarity. And drinking. And sex. But I digress: Seth is struggling with his best-friend's death, the expectations of his band mates, a potential rich girlfriend and a neighborhood girl ...more

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