Sorta Like a Rock Star in YA and Beyond

Oct 20, 2012 Cassi aka Snow White Haggard rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-books, read-in-2012

Amber Appleton is the Princess of Hope, despite being homeless, not having enough money for food, having no father and generally a sucky life. But she knows that J.C. (Jesus Christ) is watching out from her and the eternally upbeat girl knows that as long as she's gotta Buddy Big Boy (her dog), her friends and her mom, things are alright.

I can see readers struggling with Amber Appleton in Sorta Like A Rock Star. She seems simply too odd and too happy to be realistic. However, for me, she feels l ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

May 08, 2011 Nancy rated it really liked it

Amber Appleton lives in a bus. Ever since her mom's boyfriend kicked them out, Amber, her mom, and her totally loyal dog, Bobby Big Boy (aka Thrice B) have been camped out in the back of Hello Yellow (the school bus her mom drives). Still, Amber, the self-proclaimed princess of hope and girl of unyielding optimism, refuses to sweat the bad stuff. But when a fatal tragedy threatens Amber's optimism--and her way of life, can Amber continue to be the rock star of hope? With an oddball cast of chara ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 22, 2011 Heidi rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-that-rocks

Blurg! I have been done with this one for days and I still don't know what to rate it. I am not into books that mention religion a lot nor am I into books with a lot of slang (unless it is the Black Dagger series which is pure cheesy goodness). This book has both. Despite my usual misgivings about both of these no-no's I plugged through this book and could not help liking it for all it's quirkiness. Amber Appleton is one crazy protaganist. Do I find her believeable? Hell no. Does it matter? Hell ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2014 Kaylani rated it really liked it

When I first started reading the book, I absolutely loathed the main character, Amber Appleton.

I have never read a book where I do such a complete 360 with the main character. It was a great book, hopeful book, and while there was pain, sadness, and despair. the book showed the fullness of human emotions.

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 13, 2012 Anna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, death-grieve, inspirational, kick-ass-heroine, hilarious, men

  "Maybe I'm a freak - but i'm one hopeful misfit, 
and you could be worst things in this world. True? True."

It's books like this that had me realized how some of YA novels had seriously went downhill. Ever since I had the uber passion for reading, this kind of telling was what I grown fixated and what I have been looking forward to. Sorta Like A Rock Star was the fun and hyped up read that gnawed me to how much I really love young adult realistic fiction. It measures how much entertainment you

  "Maybe I'm a freak - but i'm one hopeful misfit, 
and you could be worst things in this world. True? True."

It's books like this that had me realized how some of YA novels had seriously went downhill. Ever since I had the uber passion for reading, this kind of telling was what I grown fixated and what I have been looking forward to. Sorta Like A Rock Star was the fun and hyped up read that gnawed me to how much I really love young adult realistic fiction. It measures how much entertainment you've enjoyed and roughly missed out on life.

Enough with all the senseless angst and good riddance to blinding love, this right here is the real deal. Amber Appleton is one honest-to-goodness awesome character. How often do you read a kick-ass girl that is not associated with fantasy? Well, here's a first. Or so I think it was. She's a bona fide adventure seeker that does not make her character look contrived. She's like a version of John Green's male leads, only with estrogen. Her overall character is so much fun to read, what with all the stuffs she's into. From a stray dog owner - which she named Bobby Big Boy/Thrice B (cool right?!); a powerhouse entertainer/teacher to the Koreans at a church; a wicked leader to an exclusive federation; a healthy 'yo mama' debater at an elders home; and a likeness to Haikus with the retired Vietnam soldier. Now, how does that not make a her a Rock Star?! BTW, their Haikus are the bomb! Here's a few:

"the sun is not a
ball - it's a endless white streak.
time's an illusion.

"air goes in and out
of my nose, throat, lungs, blood, heart
brain - and so I am"

My fave:

"you may exist in
this world - but I exist too.
and I will not yield."

As much as how awesomesauce and hilariously witty I find this, I had my share of little tears too. How could you evaluate a book to be so amazing without a perplexed emotions thrown in. I truly believe Amber's actions and intentions are pure. She's been through life with good and the bad winning the balance. There's a point in her outgoing personality giving up when things happen drastically with her zoning out every one around her. But she began building everything back together again when those people as awesome as her starts to reach out.
Every single character are so great in their own way. Everybody has something to offer and I admire them so, so much. The badass lawyer, the 4F's misfits, the priest and the Koreans, the elders and, a lot more. Everybody just makes it all worthwhile.

Might I just add that a lot says this needs more readers. I agree! Nobody should pass up a wonderful reading with a psychedelic feeling. A must read from top to bottom.

xx

...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 28, 2012 Mandy rated it it was ok

Well... after reading the many reviews on this book, I'm quite puzzled. I honestly found the book really annoying, and the only reason why I finished it is because I'm a sucker for a happy ending and didn't want to leave myself hanging in depression.

I CANNOT get over the annoying way this book is written. Is it supposed to sound like a 'teen'? True? True... NOT! Actually, this book really reminds of Stargirl, but just written in a much much more annoying fashion. However, I really did like the ...more

Like · see review

May 02, 2011 Emma rated it liked it

Shelves: have-it-at-school-library-or-public, checked-out-from-library, got-from-library-returned

When I first started to read this book, it took me very long to read. But aftet, SPOILER, Ambers mom gets murdered, it gets more interesting and then turned into a quick read. I didn't like the fact that she used "word" in the wrong places, they were annoying. But an interesting story: i emailed the author and he emailed me back saying what his inspirtation was for the book (I asked him that question) and he is said that he was a English teacher i think- and all these kinds of kids with differe ...more

Like · see review

Aug 06, 2013 Holly rated it really liked it

After reading the adult book Silver Linings Playbook I decided this author was worth a go in a YA book he did. It was good. Not Silver Linings good which is by far one of my favorite books ever. But good like a YA good. Short chapters (some literally a sentence long) even if it had a lot of them. Easy to like characters you felt for. A nice interesting story line with a bit of bittersweet sadness he tends to do. And an ending fit for a rock star. Whether you read Silver Linings or not give this ...more

Like · see review