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readwithchar's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Self harm, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child death, and Grief
realmegano's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely LOVE this book. The characters are so likable and flawed, like Kara, Maya, Liam and Adrian. It's a dark and deeply disturbing at parts- at one part Kara describes how Maya killed herself by cutting her wrists up- but it was such a great book. I'd reccomend it to older young adult readers, because of the drug use and violence that happens throughout the story.
The 'ballads' are the stories written by Kara's friends (during high school) about the things that went wrong with their life, and their problems. Kara goes back to Chicago after being away for several years, after she almost died from a heroin overdose. At the end of the book, in present time, Kara finally figures out how to write her ballad.
I'd give it 10/5 stars if I could. It was that amazing.
I reread it yearly. I higly recommend this book.
The 'ballads' are the stories written by Kara's friends (during high school) about the things that went wrong with their life, and their problems. Kara goes back to Chicago after being away for several years, after she almost died from a heroin overdose. At the end of the book, in present time, Kara finally figures out how to write her ballad.
I'd give it 10/5 stars if I could. It was that amazing.
I reread it yearly. I higly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Child death, Death, Addiction, and Self harm
hezann73's review against another edition
4.0
A seriously depressing but very well written story about high school drug abuse in a Chicago suburb. Hard to read, but so well done.
Definitely a High School read.
Definitely a High School read.
audreych's review against another edition
5.0
Ballads of Suburbia is about Kara, who returns to Oak Park after a heroin overdose four years prior. She tells the story, or 'ballad' of her high school years (up to junior year) where she was brought into the the life of drugs, booze, and music while her family fell apart and her old life slipped away. She and her brother, Liam, find themselves hanging out at Scoville Park making new friends and trying new things. Kara writes about her experiences with the bad boy she fell in love with, a boy who hurt her in more ways than once, her crazy impulsive new friend Maya, and of course, her relationship with her family. Through it all, the music is always present, and so are the ballads of various characters integrated beautifully into such a raw book. Kara's gut-wrenching, honest narration will definitely invoke emotions in every reader.
I really loved this book, and for many reasons. Usually I comment on things like character and plot first, but I'm going to jump right in and comment about the writing. Stephanie Kuehnert's sophomore book (first book is I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone) is so beautifully written in such a dramatic manner than you can't help but be sucked in into Kara's life no matter how gruesome (kinda exaggerating) it is. "Ballads", which are basically short stories and confessions relating personally to other characters are integrated so well that it contributes immensely to the novel and to character development. You see the motives behind characters that you can't help but judge. For example, here is a tiny example:
He rolled his eyes and took me straight to the shrink, who recommended more meds, family therapy, institutionalization if need be. But I do what I want.
The one good thing about coming from no one is there's no one to answer to.
The writing is so very impressive and the 'harsh realities' are not sugar-coated, glorified, or handled in a bad way. Kuehnert turned the plot which is dark in itself, into a story that can even be interpreted as hopeful. The (constant) mentions of drugs and alcohol may be a turn-off for some readers, jsyk. Basically, the in-your-face prose that doesn't hide anything makes you do a double take on lives in the suburbia.
Now, the characters. I think I adored Liam the most, for the way he looked up to his big sister but ended up seemingly betrayed by everyone around him. He loses the 'puppy dog' effect though, yet it seems at time he is still soft and just lost. I thought the character of Kara's best friend, Maya, was well written as well. The character development is there, and these wonderful, flawed characters suck you into the story and prevents you from putting the book down.
I was never a big fan of Adrian (maybe it's the hair) probably because of his actions, or maybe just his influence over Kara who was just trying to escape her home and find herself. However, Kara is so well developed through her narration and through the story that I can understand and even accept her motives and her (however much I didn't support) admiration of Adrian. Adrian isn't the only boy in her life though, because there's Christian, the seemingly kind hearted boy who is just caught up in the 'life', but of course, there is more to it than that. Every character has their own flaws, and are extremely three-dimensional and well written. I can't say enough about it.
The plot in itself was interesting enough, but it may be the plot that makes readers dislike the book. It deals with a lot of those stuff that are frowned upon in society like drinking and drugs (lots, btw), and I find some people just dislike books like that in general. Personally, I have never done drugs or illegal things like that, so I probably can't relate personally to the issues shown in the book. I can, however, accept it as part of the plot and read about it without prejudice, while enjoying the book.
The 'scrapbooking' aspect, and the screen writing thing that Kara has going on is unique, and so is the "Ballads of Suburbia" notebook that defined and confessed the heartbreaking realities and moments that changed young, innocent lives. In fact, I think the Ballads were one of my favourite parts.
Lastly, just a heads up, this is more of a "mature" book, and includes things like: drinking, drugs of all kinds, self-mutilation, and abuse. I wouldn't recommend teens under 14-ish to read this book.
9.3/10 - because I basically loved the book. The writing, although the plot dealt with mature themes, was smooth and flowing, with just the right amount of edginess and power. The characters, although they won't necessarily be admired, were very well written and well developed (which is important!). If you want to enter the mind of a girl trying to find her way, fit in, and deal with life, yet not necessarily in the conventional way, try this book. I acknowledge this review isn't very good but I just highly highly recommend this. The dark, desperate writing prevents sugar coating dealing with the problems we have in our society today, and the insight to the mind of a seventeen year old girl is no doubtedly powerful.
I really loved this book, and for many reasons. Usually I comment on things like character and plot first, but I'm going to jump right in and comment about the writing. Stephanie Kuehnert's sophomore book (first book is I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone) is so beautifully written in such a dramatic manner than you can't help but be sucked in into Kara's life no matter how gruesome (kinda exaggerating) it is. "Ballads", which are basically short stories and confessions relating personally to other characters are integrated so well that it contributes immensely to the novel and to character development. You see the motives behind characters that you can't help but judge. For example, here is a tiny example:
He rolled his eyes and took me straight to the shrink, who recommended more meds, family therapy, institutionalization if need be. But I do what I want.
The one good thing about coming from no one is there's no one to answer to.
The writing is so very impressive and the 'harsh realities' are not sugar-coated, glorified, or handled in a bad way. Kuehnert turned the plot which is dark in itself, into a story that can even be interpreted as hopeful. The (constant) mentions of drugs and alcohol may be a turn-off for some readers, jsyk. Basically, the in-your-face prose that doesn't hide anything makes you do a double take on lives in the suburbia.
Now, the characters. I think I adored Liam the most, for the way he looked up to his big sister but ended up seemingly betrayed by everyone around him. He loses the 'puppy dog' effect though, yet it seems at time he is still soft and just lost. I thought the character of Kara's best friend, Maya, was well written as well. The character development is there, and these wonderful, flawed characters suck you into the story and prevents you from putting the book down.
I was never a big fan of Adrian (maybe it's the hair) probably because of his actions, or maybe just his influence over Kara who was just trying to escape her home and find herself. However, Kara is so well developed through her narration and through the story that I can understand and even accept her motives and her (however much I didn't support) admiration of Adrian. Adrian isn't the only boy in her life though, because there's Christian, the seemingly kind hearted boy who is just caught up in the 'life', but of course, there is more to it than that. Every character has their own flaws, and are extremely three-dimensional and well written. I can't say enough about it.
The plot in itself was interesting enough, but it may be the plot that makes readers dislike the book. It deals with a lot of those stuff that are frowned upon in society like drinking and drugs (lots, btw), and I find some people just dislike books like that in general. Personally, I have never done drugs or illegal things like that, so I probably can't relate personally to the issues shown in the book. I can, however, accept it as part of the plot and read about it without prejudice, while enjoying the book.
The 'scrapbooking' aspect, and the screen writing thing that Kara has going on is unique, and so is the "Ballads of Suburbia" notebook that defined and confessed the heartbreaking realities and moments that changed young, innocent lives. In fact, I think the Ballads were one of my favourite parts.
Lastly, just a heads up, this is more of a "mature" book, and includes things like: drinking, drugs of all kinds, self-mutilation, and abuse. I wouldn't recommend teens under 14-ish to read this book.
9.3/10 - because I basically loved the book. The writing, although the plot dealt with mature themes, was smooth and flowing, with just the right amount of edginess and power. The characters, although they won't necessarily be admired, were very well written and well developed (which is important!). If you want to enter the mind of a girl trying to find her way, fit in, and deal with life, yet not necessarily in the conventional way, try this book. I acknowledge this review isn't very good but I just highly highly recommend this. The dark, desperate writing prevents sugar coating dealing with the problems we have in our society today, and the insight to the mind of a seventeen year old girl is no doubtedly powerful.
em_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
This took me right back to high school. Okay, the kids in the story and their drugs and parties are tangential at most to the kids I hung out with, but I recognized them all. They were the angry, self-destructive kids a part of me wished I could be when the quiet of suburbia clashed with the big and confusing emotions of that age. They're kids I knew but didn't understand at the time. They're listening to a lot of the same music.
And I absolutely recognized the characters' determination not to screw up or become complacent like their parents did (without having any idea what that will look like as they get older), and the way small dramas turned into the biggest thing. This is a book about divorce and addiction and self-harm but to me it was much more universal than a Book About Issues.
And I absolutely recognized the characters' determination not to screw up or become complacent like their parents did (without having any idea what that will look like as they get older), and the way small dramas turned into the biggest thing. This is a book about divorce and addiction and self-harm but to me it was much more universal than a Book About Issues.
theteenidol's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I couldn’t finish this book. All the characters were so much the same in characterization and dialogue that it was hard to differentiate who was who. The only character I cared about was Liam because he reminded me of one of my cousins.
I’m kinda disappointed. I love I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, and I was expecting to love this one too, but I didn’t. Oh, well. I’ve read worse.
I’m kinda disappointed. I love I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, and I was expecting to love this one too, but I didn’t. Oh, well. I’ve read worse.
thebooknivore's review against another edition
5.0
There is something about this book that I love but completely haunts me. This book sucks you in like I'm guessing drugs do to addicts. I started this book around New Years but for some reason I couldn't really click to like the idea I had read the epilogue part 1 and the first chapter and the words overdose on heroin I couldn't get further. But then one day I decided I age to face what was coming and I read on. And I got intoxicated by it. I couldn't put it down.
The ballads of all the characters really knew how to pull on the strings of your heart. Every character had a story they had to tell and Kara just couldn't find a way to write hers yet. But what pulled on my heart strings more was Maya and Quentin's deaths. And reading Maya's ballad I couldn't stop tears from rolling down my cheek.
Everything about this story and the real problems that people have to face was eye opening. It haunts me to think that this actually happens to people. That people get abandoned, abused, but more that people resort to alcohol and drugs to life there lives. After reading this I have never felt more grateful for the life I live with parents who love each other and my sister and I. I feel for the people who have to go through so much grief and pain in their lives. I love this book, it makes me think and I am sure it will for a very long too
The ballads of all the characters really knew how to pull on the strings of your heart. Every character had a story they had to tell and Kara just couldn't find a way to write hers yet. But what pulled on my heart strings more was Maya and Quentin's deaths. And reading Maya's ballad I couldn't stop tears from rolling down my cheek.
Everything about this story and the real problems that people have to face was eye opening. It haunts me to think that this actually happens to people. That people get abandoned, abused, but more that people resort to alcohol and drugs to life there lives. After reading this I have never felt more grateful for the life I live with parents who love each other and my sister and I. I feel for the people who have to go through so much grief and pain in their lives. I love this book, it makes me think and I am sure it will for a very long too
anna_reads_too_much's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. That's just one word that describes Ballads of Suburbia. I was hooked from the beginning of this realistic book. I'll admit, reading the summary, I wasn't too sure if the author could pull off such a hard topic without it coming off as not realistic as it should have been. Booooy, was I wrong! This book is so real... you don't even really understand HOW real until you're reading it. The characters could be your best friends standing right next to you, that's how real we're talking.
This book definitely is a great story. It takes you through all the emotions: love, happy, sad, so sad that you cry. (And, yes, a few parts of this book I did cry.) The plotline is pretty original, too. Reading the summary, it's like, ahhh, maybe it's not, it might've been done before. But, really, if it's been done before, it hasn't been done this good. This is a book that I can tell will be one of my favorites of the year.
So. If you haven't read this book yet, please do. If you want a copy of this book, come back later, and I'll be giving one away. =)
If you haven't figured it out yet, I give Ballads of Suburbia five hearts. =)
This book definitely is a great story. It takes you through all the emotions: love, happy, sad, so sad that you cry. (And, yes, a few parts of this book I did cry.) The plotline is pretty original, too. Reading the summary, it's like, ahhh, maybe it's not, it might've been done before. But, really, if it's been done before, it hasn't been done this good. This is a book that I can tell will be one of my favorites of the year.
So. If you haven't read this book yet, please do. If you want a copy of this book, come back later, and I'll be giving one away. =)
If you haven't figured it out yet, I give Ballads of Suburbia five hearts. =)