Speak of Me As I Am

by Sonia Belasco Narrated by Erin Spencer, J. D. Jackson

Overview

Melanie and Damon are both living in the shadow of loss. For Melanie, it's the loss of her larger-than-life artist mother, taken by cancer well before her time. For Damon, it's the loss of his best friend, Carlos, who took his own life. Trying to hold on to those loved ones, Damon and Melanie take up hobbies that make them feel close to them: Damon takes pictures with Carlos's camera and Melanie begins painting. But when these activities fail to fill the void, they both end up joining their school's production of Othello, hoping it will serve as a distraction. In the process, they discover that it just might be possible to go on living their lives without completely letting go of what they miss.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Speak of Me As I Am:

"Debut author Belasco adeptly captures the tribulations of high school life while also celebrating art's ability to help clarify and contextualize its joys and sorrows. . . . The novel's most intriguing character . . . is grief itself, which the author illuminates, examines, and dissects with a surgeon's precision and the gentle touch of an artist. A stirring account of the trials of adolescence." —Kirkus Reviews

"This book will undoubtedly be compared to Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park. . . . Teens seeking a quieter but no less moving story will find this book a perfect read." —Booklist

"Never maudlin, always authentic, the portrayal of their struggles to deal with grief and with love will resonate with many teens." —VOYA

"A good purchase for realistic fiction collections and for readers looking for books about survivor’s guilt and healing." —School Library Journal 

"Belasco’s novel sends a powerful message about the complicated nature of grief. . . . This powerful, emotional work should be earmarked to be a favorite with teen readers." —BookPage
 

School Library Journal

02/01/2017
Gr 8 Up—How does one cope with loss? How can a person move on from the death of a mother? Or that of a best friend? These are the issues Melanie and Damon have to confront as they embark on another year of school. Damon's best friend, Carlos, committed suicide, so Damon's family moved to give Damon a fresh start at a new school. Melanie's mom passed away over the summer from cancer, and Melanie and her father have a hard time dealing with the giant hole in their lives. Hoping to keep his connection to Carlos alive, Damon takes pictures with Carlos's camera, while Melanie, who has been avoiding any kind of artistic urge since losing her mom, a larger-than-life artist, is convinced to help paint the sets for the school's play, Othello, in which Damon is playing the lead. Maybe together they can figure out how to live with loss and sadness, instead of trying to ignore it. Chapters that alternate between Damon's and Melanie's perspectives begin by addressing the teens' late loved ones. Readers will come away with a strong sense of not only the protagonists but also the secondary characters, including the departed. In a moving author's note, Belasco includes helpful links to a variety of supportive organizations whose missions link to the story's themes. VERDICT A good purchase for realistic fiction collections and for readers looking for books about survivor's guilt and healing.—Natalie Struecker, Atlantic Public Library, IA

Kirkus Reviews

2017-02-01
Art helps two teenagers cope with unbearable sorrow in this novel of loss and self-discovery.After bumping into each other in the woods and then again in their D.C. high school, Damon, a black photographer, and Melanie, a white painter, find themselves drawn together by grief. Damon is haunted by the suicide of his best friend Carlos and his lingering doubt about how well he knew him, while Melanie feels lost after her mother—a talented artist—succumbs to cancer. Agreeing to participate in their school's production of Othello helps them forge a relationship and begin the journey toward healing. Parallels between the teens and their larger-than-life loved ones are clear, as Melanie fears she is not the painter her mother was, while Damon uses Carlos' camera to metaphorically freeze moments in time. Debut author Belasco adeptly captures the tribulations of high school life while also celebrating art's ability to help clarify and contextualize its joys and sorrows. The dual narration seamlessly transitions between the protagonists' reminiscences and the present, creating portraits of Carlos and Melanie's mother that are as richly detailed as those of the main characters. The novel's most intriguing character, however, is grief itself, which the author illuminates, examines, and dissects with a surgeon's precision and the gentle touch of an artist. A stirring account of the trials of adolescence. (Fiction. 12-18)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175733458
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	04/25/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

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