G602 Book Review of '89 Walls by Katie Pierson
Author: Katie Pierson
ISBN: 978-1-940014-55-5
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Type of book: Multiple sclerosis, abortion, liberal views, conservative, 1989, politics, government policies and rules, euthanasia, Cold War dampening down
Year it was published: 2015
Summary:
College is not in the cards for Seth. He spends his minimum wage on groceries and fakes happiness to distract his mom from the MS they both know will kill her. It’s agony to carry around a frayed love note for a girl who’s both out of his league and beneath his dignity.
Quinn’s finishing high school on top. But that cynical, liberal guy in her social studies class makes her doubt her old assumptions. Challenging the rules now, though, would a) squander her last summer at home, b) antagonize her conservative dad, and c) make her a hypocrite.
Seth and Quinn’s passionate new romance takes them both by surprise. They keep it a secret: it’s too early to make plans and too late not to care. But it’s 1989. As politics suddenly get personal, they find themselves fighting bare-fisted for their beliefs—and each other—in the clear light of day.
Characters:
The main characters include Seth and Quinn. Quinn claims to be a Republican and is more of a conservative, although her family do have liberal views. She is not certain of what she wants to do and comes from a family that used to be farmers and took care of themselves, advocating government that stays away from their business. Seth is a liberal guy who has a mom that has MS and also has a crush on Quinn. In classes he tends to be quiet although he has a very snarky commentary inside his mind.
Theme:
I honestly have no idea what the theme is: how present relates to history perhaps?
Plot:
The story is written in third person narrative from Quinn's and Seth's points of view. While I did appreciate that this time its the boy who seemed new to intimacy and not the girl, I have to say that a lot of politics were over my head and I was very confused about what the message of the story should have been. Politics play a huge role in the book because the characters constantly talk and analyze about them, but it often seems that very little gets done when it comes to politics or trying to make a world better place.
Author Information:
(From Pump Up Your Book Blog)
Katie Pierson freelances for local non-profits, using her background in public policy and grassroots organizing to overthrow the patriarchy one introverted step at a time. When she’s not writing fiction, she returns library books, makes soup, and tries to be cooler than she really is by hip-hopping at the YMCA. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in American History from the University of Pennsylvania (where she dabbled briefly in being a College Republican) and a Master’s in American History from the University of Minnesota. She grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, and now lives with her family in a suburb of Minneapolis. ’89 Walls is her first novel.
For More Information
- Visit Katie Pierson’s website.
- Connect with Katie on Facebook and Twitter.
- Find out more about Katie at Goodreads.
- Visit Katie’s blog.
For More Information
- ’89 Walls is available at Amazon.
- Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Opinion:
From the start, I sensed and thought it would be like Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell because its Nebraska, takes place in 1980's, and the language and the cover reminded me of Eleanor and Park. But its not Eleanor and Park. The cover, while good, doesn't really hint at the turmoil and how controversial issues are brought up and handled. First of all I had no idea that the story would contain abortion and brief description of abortion that someone went through, and I also was confused by the politics that were going on as well as the characters' points of view on them. I also feel that there was way too much for a 240 page book, and I really didn't appreciate the way one of the colored male characters was handled and written. The big thing that killed my rating for the story is abortion. Also as well, the beginning and ending of the book are well written and told, but the middle, on the other hand, dragged on and on. Also, its pretty cool that the characters like pop music instead of rock music. (I love pop songs)
This is for Pump Up Your Book Tours
3 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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