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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
It was the right book at the right time; I was looking for something uplifting. How to Build a Heart delivered. Izzy Crawford is getting by in her mobile home neighborhood, best friends with her neighbor, Roz, who attends the public school while Izzy is a scholarship kid at the local Catholic high school. Great opening chapter where Roz takes Izzy into the nearby richy-rich neighborhood to stalk a cute boy from the public school. They're standing outside his fenced in yard when Hot Sam (yes, like the pretzel) lets our his dog, who catches their scent and they need to make a run for it. High excitement opening that told me so much about Izzy and her life and her world without ever info-dumping. Pulled me in.
Izzy's family (widowed mom and 6-year-old brother) are picked by Habitat for Humanity as a home project, and this story gives a great inside look in that process, from the sweat hours the families must contribute, to the fund-raising which felt like poverty-porn to teenage Izzy, to calling up every last relative and friend to lend a hand. Including her cousin from her dad's side she hasn't spoken to in the six years since her Marine Dad's death.
So much heart and voice in this book. It's the best book I've read so far this year. They have an ugly old couch that is so scratchy, they call it Scrouch because it's as much scratchy as couch. Mother-daughter relationships, best friends, so many great topics to explore.
Izzy's family (widowed mom and 6-year-old brother) are picked by Habitat for Humanity as a home project, and this story gives a great inside look in that process, from the sweat hours the families must contribute, to the fund-raising which felt like poverty-porn to teenage Izzy, to calling up every last relative and friend to lend a hand. Including her cousin from her dad's side she hasn't spoken to in the six years since her Marine Dad's death.
So much heart and voice in this book. It's the best book I've read so far this year. They have an ugly old couch that is so scratchy, they call it Scrouch because it's as much scratchy as couch. Mother-daughter relationships, best friends, so many great topics to explore.
[thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this early!]
trigger warnings: abuse, graphic description of an injury (toward the very end), racism, cyberbullying, alcoholism, drug use - will update if i remember any more
honestly requested this solely because of the cover and the title at first, but its so much more than a pretty cover. this story touches on a lot of different topics including family, friendships, relationships, and so much more. it really touched my heart and i just absolutely loved it.
please go read this book when it comes out!!
trigger warnings: abuse, graphic description of an injury (toward the very end), racism, cyberbullying, alcoholism, drug use - will update if i remember any more
honestly requested this solely because of the cover and the title at first, but its so much more than a pretty cover. this story touches on a lot of different topics including family, friendships, relationships, and so much more. it really touched my heart and i just absolutely loved it.
please go read this book when it comes out!!
2.5 stars. this was... A Lot and not in a good way
Izzy Crawford is a sixteen-year-old whose father was killed in Iraq six years before the book begins. She and her mother have moved several times in the ensuing years. They have finally settled down in Virginia. Izzy is happy as a member of the a Capella group at her new high school to which she has a scholarship. Habitat for Humanity has chosen Izzy and her mother for a house – something neither of them have ever had and never thought they would ever have. Izzy is very happy until her life begins to unravel.
This is a well-written book with likable characters from Izzy and her mother to the minor characters like Izzy’s best friend, Roz. The plot, while a little thin, does have interesting twists and turns to keep the reader interested and reading.
If you enjoy reading young adult books, this may be the book for you.
Thanks to Algonquin and Edelweiss for an eARC.
This is a well-written book with likable characters from Izzy and her mother to the minor characters like Izzy’s best friend, Roz. The plot, while a little thin, does have interesting twists and turns to keep the reader interested and reading.
If you enjoy reading young adult books, this may be the book for you.
Thanks to Algonquin and Edelweiss for an eARC.
There are a lot of good qualities about this book, but none really made me want to rate it higher than a three. I felt like this was a very realistic portrayal of teenagers and the themes were so layered. With that being said, I found it really slow and hard to get through until close to the end where it found a lot of heart. Certainly not a waste of time, but not one I’ll be gushing about either.
I was caught by surprise by this book - I read it thinking it was a nice light YA read that I needed. It was surprisingly emotional and I was more connected to the story than anticipated.
I was hooked from the start. What a well written, emotional novel. I loved the main character, Izzy & of course a happy ending.
Sometimes a well-written, beautifully thematic YA novel is what you want to read, and How to Build A Heart is just that.
The story centres around Izzy Crawford, a 16-year-old whose life has been irrevocably touched by the loss of her Marine father. Through a series of YA-specific elements including a first crush, relationship, friendships, teenage embarrassment and familial relations, the author has created a novel completely worth immersing yourself in.
I absolutely loved the Latina roots that were woven perfectly and intuitively throughout the story. So often inflections of background are awkwardly rammed into novels, but Padian breathed Latina values and language so effortlessly into this book that it left me desperate to read more in the sub-genre. Whilst predictable at parts, Padian also weaved little breadcrumbs and surprises throughout to heart-breaking effect. She wonderfully touches on the emotional turmoil of being bullied, losing a best friend, being at wrath with yourself; it so expertly encapsulated what it means to be a teenager that I wouldn’t hesitate to read this again.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.
The story centres around Izzy Crawford, a 16-year-old whose life has been irrevocably touched by the loss of her Marine father. Through a series of YA-specific elements including a first crush, relationship, friendships, teenage embarrassment and familial relations, the author has created a novel completely worth immersing yourself in.
I absolutely loved the Latina roots that were woven perfectly and intuitively throughout the story. So often inflections of background are awkwardly rammed into novels, but Padian breathed Latina values and language so effortlessly into this book that it left me desperate to read more in the sub-genre. Whilst predictable at parts, Padian also weaved little breadcrumbs and surprises throughout to heart-breaking effect. She wonderfully touches on the emotional turmoil of being bullied, losing a best friend, being at wrath with yourself; it so expertly encapsulated what it means to be a teenager that I wouldn’t hesitate to read this again.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.
"You understand that no one is just a color, like crayon"
-Maria Padian, How to Build a Heart
Nice the passing of her father who was a Marine 6 years ago, Izzy and her family have been moving constantly. Each place being smaller than the last.
Things seem to be going okay. She's going to a good school, she's part of a popular cappella group, and most of all her family has been selected by "Habitat for Humanity" for a new home. They're super excited. Being in the cappella group also comes with some extra perks. She becomes friends with Aubrey, whom is a new recruit. Aubrey is also the sister of the super hunk from school, Sam. The boy Roz, Izzy's friend, has had a total crush on for the longest.
Even though she starts feeling comfy and at home, she doesn't want her friends, school peers, and even Sam to know that she's low incomes and needs a scholarship to continue her studies. And most of all, she doesn't understand why her extended family wants nothing to do with them. Of course, those secrets come out into the light. Follow Izzy on her journey through secrets, jealousy, and friendships. I really enjoyed Maria Padian's writing. Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
-Maria Padian, How to Build a Heart
Nice the passing of her father who was a Marine 6 years ago, Izzy and her family have been moving constantly. Each place being smaller than the last.
Things seem to be going okay. She's going to a good school, she's part of a popular cappella group, and most of all her family has been selected by "Habitat for Humanity" for a new home. They're super excited. Being in the cappella group also comes with some extra perks. She becomes friends with Aubrey, whom is a new recruit. Aubrey is also the sister of the super hunk from school, Sam. The boy Roz, Izzy's friend, has had a total crush on for the longest.
Even though she starts feeling comfy and at home, she doesn't want her friends, school peers, and even Sam to know that she's low incomes and needs a scholarship to continue her studies. And most of all, she doesn't understand why her extended family wants nothing to do with them. Of course, those secrets come out into the light. Follow Izzy on her journey through secrets, jealousy, and friendships. I really enjoyed Maria Padian's writing. Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.