A Mom's View on Willow!

Willow by Julia Hoban (book review)
http://www.mommyblogreviews.com

I started reading this book and found I could not put it down. It took me six hours to read the 342 pages, and I came away from the experience smiling but feeling vaguely haunted by some of the images the book conjured for me.

This book is as complex as it is simple. It is a character driven story, and the characters are all really robust - you will not find any two-dimentional characters in this book. Even the supporting characters have a depth to them that I have found uncommon in the current genre of teen fiction.

It is no secret from the back cover of the book that the main character is a cutter. If you don’t know what a cutter is you can get more information at this handy-dandy Wikipedia entry on self-injury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-injury) If you do know what a cutter is, either from personal experience or from someone in your family, be warned - some of the scenes in the book are graphic, but in a very authentic, respectful way. Nothing over the top or silly, which makes it even more disturbing in some instances but keeps the book grounded. It makes the fiction feel less like fiction and more like it could be based on a true story, which makes the story more compelling.

There is a love story here, as well as a story about family bonds and growth. It is a snapshot into a time period in a girl’s life - a time right after her parents have died and she feels responsible for the accident that took their lives.

It is a powerful, gripping, emotional story of loss and pain and growth and healing.
While this book is aimed squarely at the teen market, I think that the quality of writing and power of the storyline make it a great read for adults as well.

If you plan to give this book to your teen, talk about it with them when they’re finished. Willow is a book that can open the door between you and your teen to talk about the difference between perception and reality. How a teen can feel the world is perceiving them one way and how that can be vastly different from the reality that acutally surrounds them.

It’s a talk no teen wants to have but every teen could benefit from. Willow is the perfect way to have that talk, to keep the lines of communication open. To maybe use Willow’s story to help your teen through a time of healing he or she may be going through right now - to help them understand pain isn’t forever.

Cyn Balog: Not Alone

Cyn Balog Talks Willow
http://cynbalog.com/
Her book, Fairy Tale, due out in June!
Lyrics in photo from: Saosin "You're Not Alone"

I was excited to find out that Julia Hoban’s new book, Willow, is about mental illness, specifically a girl who cuts herself. I think a lot of people on the outside of this topic might look at it and go, “Why would anyone do that to themselves?” and personally, I get that. I get that from the outside, deliberately hurting yourself because you hurt so bad inside might seem counterproductive. But I also understand the other side, because I was there.

I know the feeling of release that comes with opening up a wound, the feeling of letting out all the pain you have inside. I know of the switch that turns on in your mind, making the feeling of holding a blade in your hand like a drug you’re addicted to. I know that sometimes the pain is so great that there seems like there is no other alternative. I know that nothing, nothing, makes you feel worse than when people see your scars and look at you like you’re an idiot.

On the brighter side, I also know there can be a recovery. There can be healing. I am a young adult author too, and though I have been able to put all that behind me, though the publishing world tells us to “write what we know”, I can’t bring myself to touch this topic. I still can not find a way to write coherently about it. It’s too hard. But it’s a most comforting feeling to know we’re not alone, and I think that this book is important because of that. So thank you, Julia, and best of luck with the release of Willow!

I Bought It, Did You?

That's right! I bought Willow today at the bookstore, and I'm so excited to have my very own finalized version.

Again...I bought it, did you? And if not, what are you waiting for? It's an amazing book and you could enter to win a ton of other prizes if you buy it in April. I don't think there is a downside to this really...I mean, yeah, the book might not be for you in the end...but if that's true then you can pass it along to someone else or simply know that you helped a super awesome author! :)

See that? No downside. Buy the book. ASAP

Reviews and Update: Kelsey and Chelsea

UPDATE: I'm going to add one more day to this party, so come back tomorrow for more posts! There should be one more guest blog by a book reviewer as well as another author post. Also, the contest this week (from commenting on the posts) for Penguin will end on April 10 (next Friday) so that more of you have time to read/comment on everything! Spread the word and buy Willow: Out Now!



Review by: Kelsey
http://justblindedbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Willow was yet another 'dark' novel that, thank god, did not dissapoint me, even with the super high expectations that I had. Julia has written an amazing tale filled with loss, love, and self-journeys. I really hope that I can find words to explain just how much I loved Willow.

Despite all of Willow's faults she's one of those characters that you can look up to, and even if you haven't been through what she has she still comes across as relateable. You really get to see her grow up in this book, she learms to accept and forgive, and also that hurting herself isn't the way to deal with pain. She really becomes her own person and it's so enjoyable to read that transition. The only fault that she had that really bothered me was her paranoia, it seemed as if someone was always out to do mean or hurtful things to her.

One of the things that I really focused on while reading Willow was the relationship between her and her brother, David; it was only of the subjects spotlighted in it. I was never annoyed at the way he acted around or to Willow; it seemd only too natural for his character that he would react in such a way. Though, I must say, when she blew up at him I was surpirsed by how he semi-admitted to feeling about her because I never felt that it was how he did feel about her; I was ecstatic when it turned out that it wasn't like that at all.

Of course, I couldn't write this without gushing about Guy (I couldn't stand his name though). He was the perfect love interest for Willow, but he was also much more than that, he was the perfect everything for her. Those moments that they had together always left me craving for another one between them. Though it wasn't always about steamy scenes between them, they could actually talk to each other about things--like what they were interested in, or their feelings and emotions.

SPOILERSPOILER

When Willow lost her virginity to Guy it almost took my breath away how romantic it was and how right it felt for the two of them.. It was...perfect (again, I'm using that word so much).
I hope that everybody has the common sense to read Willow when it's released.

ENDSPOILERENDSPOILER

~~~~~


Review by: Chelsea
http://www.thepageflipper.blogspot.com/

Today, April 2nd, Willow by Julia Hoban is released. It's one of the best books of 2009. And, okay, there have only been 4 months so far. But it's going to be very, very (almost impossibly!) hard to top this one.We have Willow as our MC - a girl who is grieving terribly hard after a car accident involving the death of her parents. And Willow was driving. The guilt proves to be too much for her, and she releases her pain in self-mutilating cuts all over her body.

Things continue as they are for a while, until Guy comes along and discovers her secret, cropping up an outpouring of emotions.That summary doesn't do Willow any kind of justice. Or Willow, the character, either. Both are so intensely deep and multifaceted that it's difficult to put into words (unless you're Julia Hoban, of course.)

Willow was such an incredible character; her emotions and actions were so natural and true in a completely painstaking way. How she dealt with her grief, family, Guy, life - everything - made her not just a character but a real, live person. She comes out of the pages, grabs you, and lets you peek in on her life story.

This book is packed with meaning and depth, but it's also written in an enjoyable way. I had fun reading it, despite the depressing context (is that morbid?) Hoban mixes dark with light, spinning it into something Rumpelstiltskin would be very proud of. You've made gold, Julia Hoban.

Readers, go out and buy this one. Fast.

Kudos from Shalonda!

Kudos to Julia

As a lover of YA literature, I am often amazed and in awe of the authors. These authors create such inspiring and entertaining stories, and are not afraid to tackle tough issues. I am so glad that Julia Hoban is one of the newest additions to this wonderful group of writers!



Now, I must admit that I have not yet read Willow, though I've heard it's brilliant. I am more so offering praise to the person behind the book and her courage to bring such a heavy topic to surface.



When I was younger, very few authors stepped outside the norm to create a riveting book with an important message behind it. Those who did, like Judy Blume, Robert Cormier, and Nancy Garden, were often challenged and frowned upon by adults due to the content of their novels.

Today, it seems that more authors are fearlessly coming out and addressing the real issues that teens face. Julia Hoban is one of those brave individuals.

What I love most about Julia is that in her interview with Lenore (http://presentinglenore.blogspot.com/2009/03/book-review-and-author-interview-willow.html ) she expressed that Willow is not just a story about cutting, that it is a story about healing.



So today, I am giving kudos to Julia Hoban for daring to bring to light such a heavy topic that many readers can relate to. May her words help lead others through the process of healing and loving oneself.



Much success to Julia in the release of Willow!


~~~
Thanks for partying with us, Shalonda!
http://shalondasblog.blogspot.com/

Willow: The Real Guy

You might have heard me talk about Hollyoaks in the past, but if not, it’s a show in the UK that I found out about last summer. I fell in love with one of the characters and began to follow their storyline as best as I could through youtube videos uploaded on a site. After his story ended, I tried to find other characters I’d come to know and love through youtube on my own, wondering what would come of their new storylines. Now, when I first started watching Hollyoaks, the character I became attached too was one named John Paul McQueen (James Sutton), who was best friends, and eventually even fell in love with, Craig Dean.

The person who plays Craig is who I always think of these days when I see or hear the name Guy. Why? Well, it’s not hard to guess…his real name is Guy Burnet. When I was younger, I wasn’t really a fond of the name, but once I started watching Hollyoaks and learned Craig’s real name, I started getting used too it and became a fan. So, you can imagine, when I first started reading Willow, I’d always think of Guy Burnet in regards to Guy. No, I didn’t picture him in place of my own imagination, but it was something that definitely made me fonder of Guy, just because I was a fan of Guy Burnet’s before.

I thought I’d share this, as I thought it was an amusing story. For those of you who don’t live in the UK or who might not know Guy Burnet, here is a photo:

Reviews: Kristi and Alea

The Story Siren: Kristi
http://www.thestorysiren.com

I’m not even sure where to start this review. I’ve honestly written this review almost five times and haven’t been happy with what I’ve spit out. I’m not sure I can do this book justice. To say that it was spectacular would be an understatement. To say that I had a hard time putting it down, widely understated! Yet, why? Because in all seriousness, reading a story about a ‘cutter’ didn’t really appeal to me. I mean sure it sounded interesting, and I’ve read books about eating disorders, drugs, so why not try cutting. So I did. I totally agree with Hoban’s choice to write this novel in third person.

Had it not been written from Willow’s POV, I know I wouldn’t have found it as impressive as I did. I needed that insight, I needed to know why someone would do that to their self. And I hate to admit it but I understood, I empathized, I accepted it. Hoban doesn’t dance around the fact, there are some shockingly graphic scenes, but instead of grotesque they are honest and revealing.And it’s not only the characterization of Willow that’s impressive.

It’s the disheartening portrayal of Willow’s brother David, and her warped sense of his withdrawal. It’s the eccentric relationship between Willow and Guy. It’s the secondary characters that have some of the smallest parts but remain prominent in your mind. For me I, couldn’t stop thinking about the girl at the restaurant.Willow is about so much more than cutting. It’s about love. Not only first love, but the power of redemption that only love can posses.

Still haven’t done the book justice, but I’ll leave you with this. Yes, cutting is a painful subject to read about. But Willow was skillfully and uniquely told. Essentially the message is uplifting, even the worst of situations can improve.

Glad I did.


Alea-Pop Culture Junkie
http://www.aleapopculture.blogspot.com

Willow is a real, honest, and emotional book. From the moment you pick the book up, you are invested in Willow and her well-being. Not only is this story about grief and guilt, it is about love and never giving up. It's beautiful.

The characters in Willow are real people with complex emotions and personalities. So many books are just full of stereotypes but Willow is full of character's so lifelike it's hard to believe they aren't actual people. I also really love the world that the author has created for these characters. I couldn't help wishing that I was one of the people hanging out in the library that Willow worked at or enjoying the park or a walk through the city. I wanted to be there in that world.

My only initial concern about reading the book was that it would be sad for me to handle or that the cutting would scare me away. None of those things happened, I think having the deep emotional factor that it has only enhanced the reading experience and made it that much more meaningful.

The author's skill is so great that for the first time in my life I feel like I understand the reason that people can do such horrible things to their own body. It's always shocked and saddened me but I had never fully understood it until I heard it through Willow's voice.

I don't want to talk too much about the plot itself because I think this is one that's best discovered as you read, as you let it reveal itself to you. Reading Willow was definitely one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had in a long time. Every time I had to put the book down I daydreamed of picking it back up and re-joining Willow's world.

5/5 Stars