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| Roomies by Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Released: December 24th 2013 Hardcover, 279 pages Reviewed by Angela Rating: 5 Stars |
When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.
As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.
National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful e-mail that assigns your college roommate.
Summery from Goodreads
Review:
AS you can probably figure out from my picture or my naïve and underdeveloped but will be improved upon reviews, I am not very old. I am not at the stage where I go off to college. It's not that far away from now, but still a few years. I've never been in this situation before. Leaving your family, friends. where you grew up and all that. But don't worry, it'll happen. I'm leaving here as soon as I can but I'll come back.
Roomies is such a heartwarming story of change, coming of age and ALL KINDS OF LIFE SHIT. Do I sound like Keyon because I really love him a lot. <3 It made me go "awwwehhhh" like about a few gajillion times. Mostly when Keyon and Mark were there. I mean, asdfghjkl. God, why are the so damn perfect. :3 Though I'm not at the time of life when the story takes place, the writing makes the book so relatable. I sympathized with the characters and man, I was so connected to them. This is so real, and I can't describe it anymore because it's so perfectly amazing.
The reason I want to leave where I am now for university is because of a reason probably lots of people leave for. I like where I live, I really do. There's nothing bad about here and I even love it here. But I can't STAY here for the rest of my life, because if college isn't going to be my big break, I don't really think there are many more opportunities for the rest of my life. Who knows though, I can't tell the future. There are so much MORE out there in the world, and I NEED TO EXPERIENCE IT AND LIVE IT AND DO AMAZING THINGS and I can't if I stay here you know? This is naïve, I know. It's one of those dreams that kinda get lost after a while BUT IM DETERMINED. With this, I can kind of relate to Elizabeth aka EB and Lauren aka Lo. Both want to just get out of there.
It all started with an email...then a microwave. Slowly, the two girls began to email each other back and forth, being even more honest and telling each other more than the people next to them in their lives. From the first email to the latter ones, it felt genuine. That's the word. Genuine. That's this book. The worries, the feelings of what the other will think...they were all so genuine.
Change is inevitable. It is. So that kinda sucks. Especially when you meet and fall in love with this hot guy during summer right before you go off to college. Keyon and Mark were...so utterly great. Yah. Great. They were. They were there when they needed them, and supported them thoroughly through and through. The decision to write about another race different from the main character is something I loved and would like to see more of in the future of YA books. We can't pretend there are no race problems anymore. Because there is and people know it. They don't like believing that there is. I would like to elaborate but as of the moment, I don't want to come off as offensive or racist when trying to explain it.
I loved this so much, and I shed a few tears here and there. There weren't huge amounts of crying but a few *something wet is in my eyes what is this* type of thing. Roomies is absolutely genuine (how many times have I used this words. wow.), relatable, and every little detail is so well written I could've been inside of that world. There are much more I want to say, about their family relationships, friendships, but it's late and I'm kinda woozy. All I can say is that they are portrayed extremely well and realistic while having flaws but hey. We are humans.
P.S. the cover is so nice. I love it so much. the two sides of the room are drawn all according to their personalities and I love all the clues on the cover depicting whose side is which. :)
So should you read this? yes. if you couldn't tell from ALL THE ABOVE, yes. Yes, you should.
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