Today’s blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours features Sia by Josh Grayson. Sia is a young adult contemporary book that was released November 20, 2013.
About the Book
Sia by Josh Grayson
Pub Date: 11/20/13
Genres: Contemporary, YASynopsis:
When seventeen-year-old Sia wakes up on a park bench, she has no idea who or where she is. Yet after a week of being homeless, she’s reunited with her family.
At school, she’s powerful and popular. At home, she’s wealthy beyond her dreams. But she quickly realizes her perfect life is a lie.
Her family is falling apart and her friends are snobby, cruel and plastic. Worse yet, she discovers she was the cruelest one.
Mortified by her past, she embarks on a journey of redemption and falls for Kyle, the “geek” she once tormented.
Yet all the time she wonders if, when her memories return, she’ll become the bully she was before…and if she’ll lose Kyle.
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My Thoughts
If I were to sum up this book in one word it would be sweet.
There was something about this book that kept me reading. I finished in one sitting. The story was interesting, although the dialogue was awkward and the writing seemed like it was more for a younger YA or middle grade than YA.
The other issue was that everything seemed to work out TOO perfectly. Sure there was conflict, but it seemed contrived. There were some great opportunities to up the tension and make it more realistic that were really missed.
Even though there were a lot of overdone cliches, I felt like this was a fresh story. It wasn’t something I’ve read over and over again. Usually this type of story is told from someone who died and is trying to come to terms with the person they were. Sia got to do that in her own life. A real second chance. The most important thing to me was that I wanted to kept reading. I was interested. And that means something to me. Despite a few minor flaws, the story kept me engaged.
AND the book’s message was great — can you imagine waking up with a blank slate? All the bad things you had done were wiped from your mind and you could become the person you really wanted to be? Sia was able to see herself for who she was and who she wanted to become. She was suddenly on the outside looking in. A lot of us could use that perspective about ourselves. We can easily get focused on ‘me’ and Sia showed us there is more to the world than that. And the book just made me feel light and happy. So, even with the rose-colored glasses, I was entertained.
If you have a younger teen who has been bullied or has conflict (hello, who doesn’t!), this book has a great message. It is a clean, quick read, that will inspire you to become a better you.
Rating
About the Author
Josh Grayson was born in Mexico, raised in Massachusetts, and now lives in Martinsville, Virginia. It was his move to the South that stirred his imagination and gave him the courage to start writing. During his free time, Josh enjoys reading, jogging, swimming, and watching YouTube videos.
Josh currently works as a medical driver, shuttling people all over Virginia and North Carolina. He has also worked as a machinist, film sales rep, administrative assistant, and telemarketer (he apologizes if he called you).
Sia is his debut YA novel.
Connect with Josh
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There is a tour-wide giveaway going on. Winners will receive:
(5) Printed copies of Sia (US Only)
(5) E-book copies of Sia (INTL)
Be sure to follow the directions on each entry, as they will be verified!
To enter, click below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No purchase necessary and void where prohibited. Please read the Rafflecopter Terms & Conditions for more information!
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Check out the rest of the tour at
YA Bound Book Tours
This tour was organized by:
Such A Novel Idea 
Hmmm…I’m not sure if I want to read this one or not. I love the premise, blank slate, not remembering who you are or what you’ve done and having the chance to be a better person. But the way you described the writing, younger YA or middle grade…that doesn’t sound good. Thanks for the honest review!