Monday, December 9, 2013

Review: Horse Sense by Lapo Melzi

Released: October 14, 2013
Publisher: Irbis Books
Series: N/A
Star Rating: 2 out of 5
Source: Author
Edition: eBook
Page Amount: 242
Age Group: Middle Grade

There’s nothing easy about being an eleven year old boy, especially for Jamie. As he takes the unsteady steps into adolescence, his days of knowing who his friends are and trusting the adults in his life are numbered. The only thing Jamie can really count on in this changing world is the love of his best friend, a horse named Acorn. Jamie and Acorn’s friendship has a magic that comes once in a lifetime—but the bullies around them want to rip that to shreds. Can their kindred connection survive as Jamie strives to carve out his identity?
"...Jamie has a lovely story, and Lapo brings it out and writes it perfectly. This is a really good book for anyone of any age to read. Since I know people who have been through this, Lapo did a really good job on getting everything put together, without over doing the subject or making it over sensitive for readers. I give the book 5 stars." -- Serenity Sheild on the Lovely Reads Blog
"...Every child that has ever been faced with not fitting in should read this book. The young budding bullies out there could also benefit from a read." -- Jackie Anton, author of the Award Winning Series Backyard Horse Tales.

I will begin with saying that I did receive this novel from the author in exchange for a honest review. When I first read the email from the author asking if I would like to review it, I was immediately drawn to the storyline. Typically, I enjoy reading books about real life experiences, including bullying, because I find it relate able. When I began reading it, though, I was shown that I couldn't relate to this novel as much as I thought I could.

I did not enjoy the characters in this novel. They were one-dimensional, and the only personality they did have were all whiny, clingy, and annoying. I especially found this with Jamie, the protagonist. And, the way that the characters communicated to each other was not believable. They spoke way too formally, when it was an extremely informal conversation. The way they were talking to each other would not be what people would say in real life.

I did enjoy reading about Jamie's relationship with Acorn, his horse. I know first hand what it is like to have such a deep connection with an animal, and I don't read a lot about relationships such as these. It was refreshing to read about their friendship.

I wish I could give this novel a better review, but I simply can't because I just didn't enjoy it.

About the Author

Lapo Melzi is a poet, writer and filmmaker. He grew up in a little town in the north of Italy and went on to study writing and filmmaking in New York. He received his MFA from renowned NYU Tisch School of the Arts and now spends his time between the United States and Italy.

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