". . . you can't always tell which camp they are in just by looking at them." (30)
Author: Wendy Brant
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Eva Walker is a seventeen-year-old math genius. And if that doesn’t do wonders for her popularity, there’s another thing that makes it even worse: when she touches another person or anything that belongs to them — from clothes to textbooks to cell phones — she sees a vision of their emotions. She can read a person’s fears and anxieties, their secrets and loves … and what they have yet to learn about calculus. This is helpful for her work as a math tutor, but it means she can never get close to people. Eva avoids touching anyone and everyone. People think it’s because she’s a clean freak — with the emphasis on freak — but it’s all she can do to protect herself from other people’s issues.
Then one day a new student walks into Eva’s life. His jacket gives off so much emotional trauma that she falls to the floor. Eva is instantly drawn to Zenn, a handsome and soulful artist who also has a troubled home life, and her feelings only grow when she realizes that she can touch Zenn’s skin without having visions. But when she discovers the history that links them, the truth threatens to tear the two apart.
Then one day a new student walks into Eva’s life. His jacket gives off so much emotional trauma that she falls to the floor. Eva is instantly drawn to Zenn, a handsome and soulful artist who also has a troubled home life, and her feelings only grow when she realizes that she can touch Zenn’s skin without having visions. But when she discovers the history that links them, the truth threatens to tear the two apart.
I am pleasantly surprised by how much I've enjoyed Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant. The magical realism part about being able to touch something of someone and feel their life, be it sad, happy, healthy or not, is a great premise to a story. I enjoyed the simplicity of every thing else, but keeping focus on the story of touch, of changes and of first love. The ultimate message of giving, but not because of adolescent infatuation, but the actual sacrificial kind not only for the reason of love adds depth to the story, but not overpowering due to its subtlety. As a teen story, some of the minor language is understandable for the some of the characters. The intimacy part was the type that if put into a story, I don't mind as much because it was not explicit or graphic. The added humor was spot on and for this nerdgirl, our "nerdity" of this story hits home. It made me smile on more occasions than expected and definitely on my recommended list.
For my clean readers, there are minor language and intimacy. Not explicit or graphic.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
TO PURCHASE A COPY
So my name alone should give you a clue that I graduated from high school when bangs were big and clothes were baggy. I went to Northwestern University and majored in journalism even though I had no desire to be a journalist. I've been married to a great guy for a whole drinking-aged person's life. I've got two amazing and yet very different (and very tall) teenage kids. I like crappy food, pinning inspirational quotes on Pinterest, have a tendency to start paragraphs with "anyway", and I wish I were funnier. I would love to be one of those really, REALLY funny bloggers (like Insane in the Mom-Brain) that makes you pee yourself a little bit. I am only moderately funny. I admit that. It's one of my great sadnesses in life.
I started writing fiction when I was 10, but tried to be practical with the whole journalism thing. Didn't take. Shortly after college, the fiction-writing desire reared its non-practical head and I've been writing ever since.
Anyway, I'm probably just like you. We'd probably be friends if we met in real life. (Well, let's be honest. It's likely that only my friends are actually reading this blog, so we probably ARE friends in real life.) But whether we are friends in real life, or just virtual friends through cyberspace, I hope you will enjoy your time here.
3 winners
will receive a hardcover of ZENN DIAGRAM, US Only.
Zenn Diagram sounds amazing! I can imagine what a blessing and curse such an ability would be on a person. It's almost like be careful what you wish for. I'd love to read it! Thank you for this amazing chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kay. I really enjoyed it and hope you'll have a chance to read it too!
DeleteThank you for participating in my blog tour, and the lovely review! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeletethanks Wendy for stopping by. I had a great time with Zenn and "Neva Eva!"
DeleteI really liked this book. I loved Eva, Zenn, the quads, the math, and OMG! the ending. I had tears streaming down my face from that ending. This one left me with a big smile.
ReplyDeleteSam @ WLABB
It is great! Thanks for stopping by, Sam!
DeleteThanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemia2009(at)comcast(dot)net