Rating: 3
Description: Written entirely in poetry, this novel follows fifteen-year-old Ruby after her mother dies of cancer. Ruby is sent to live with her father, the movie star and heartthrob Whip Logan, whom she has never seen except on secret trips to the movies with her aunt. Whip goes out of his way to be nice to Ruby, but she refuses to acknowledge his efforts, remembering years of being fatherless. Ruby has to deal with culture shock, moving from Boston to L.A. ("Hell A"), going to a new school that is entirely too hippyish for Ruby's comfort, and long-distance relationships with her best friend and boyfriend. This is a story about love, acceptance, and discovery as Ruby learns more about her father's absence from her life.
Review: This book is incredibly hard to get into because of the strange format, but once the reader is drawn into the story, the poetry isn't quite so bothersome. Ruby is a strong character who reacts maturely and writes with a just-sarcastic-enough voice. The other characters are decent too, but of course, Ruby is the star of this story, and she shines. The plot isn't exciting, but Ruby's adventures in self-discovery are enough to keep the reader interested. The characters and storyline are good, but in my opinion, the poetry format limits the author in just how much can be conveyed. I would've loved this book if it were written in prose - I missed straightforward dialogue, something lacking in this book. Overall, this book is decent enough, but not a must-read by any means, except, possibly, for poetry lovers.