I'll Be There in Mock Printz 2026

May 22, 2011 Mark rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult-literature, coming-of-age

"'Get in. I packed your stuff. We're out of here.'

It had happened before. Many, many, many times. But never like this.

There were choices. They knew that they could have run. And they knew that they could have refused to go. But it felt, to both boys, as if those choices did not exist.

Because, if you cared about something, it would be taken away. If you stood up for yourself, you would be beaten down. If you spoke out, you would be silenced. They had only learned how to be there for each other. O "'Get in. I packed your stuff. We're out of here.'

It had happened before. Many, many, many times. But never like this.

There were choices. They knew that they could have run. And they knew that they could have refused to go. But it felt, to both boys, as if those choices did not exist.

Because, if you cared about something, it would be taken away. If you stood up for yourself, you would be beaten down. If you spoke out, you would be silenced. They had only learned how to be there for each other. Other people could never be part of the equation.

Clarence had set up the rules of the game that way long ago."

Seventeen year-old Sam, and his twelve year-old brother, Riddle, have been on the run for as long as they can remember. Over a decade before, they were taken by their father, a small-time thief, and in order to maintain their cover, he has moved them from place to place, always keeping the truck packed, to leave at a moment's notice. Sam and Riddle have always relied solely on each other, because their father sees them as more of a burden than anything else. Sam, a music lover and naturally gifted guitarist, wanders into a church one Sunday morning, and hears Emily sing a solo, albeit poorly. Emily focuses on Sam during her song, and the two of them share a quick moment outside the church, before Sam vanishes. But Emily cannot get him out of her mind, and when they meet again, she begins to include him in her life, and is confused by Sam's lack of background information, and Riddle's curious silence. When Clarence, the boy's father, realizes that his sons have endangered his anonymity, he flees with them, setting up a search for the boys that spans several states.

This is definitely a "feel good" book, and while I can appreciate one of those occasionally, this one just didn't grab me like I thought it would. Sloan writes the novel through a variety of third-person omniscient points of view, focusing on the boys, their father, Emily, her parents, and other characters who are both directly and tangentially related to the plot. The idea is that everyone has a path in life, and crossing those paths always holds the power to change us, for good or bad. I get that, and Sloan creates some characters who are memorable. My problem was that, with so much switching between characters, it became difficult to identify with any of them to a great extent, or with their situations. There were also too many "miraculous" coincidences for my taste, which brought characters together, separated them, and then reunited them. I can definitely see the appeal this book will have, but it just didn't do it as much for me, at least this time around. ...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Christina Getrost rated it it was amazing

Shelves: realisticfiction

Coincidences can lead to serendipity which leads to a happy ending. 17 year old Sam lives with his controlling, mentally ill, thieving father, who is always abruptly moving Sam and his 12 year old brother Riddle around from town to town. He kidnapped them from their mother, basically, when the boys were younger, because he was paranoid about being caught at his robberies. Sam has musical talents, and Riddle hardly ever talks but draws detailed electronics schematics in a phone book he totes arou ...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Terri rated it really liked it

I find myself saying, "What a small world!" more and more these days. Technology and transportation have placed the world at our fingertips. Those moments always make me contemplate how the small choices we make millions of times a day lead us to those "What a small world!" consequences and connections and realizations. "I'll Be There" by Holly Goldberg Sloan beautifully captures these ideas.

"I'll Be There" is told from a third person-omniscient point of view. We get the story from the various p I find myself saying, "What a small world!" more and more these days. Technology and transportation have placed the world at our fingertips. Those moments always make me contemplate how the small choices we make millions of times a day lead us to those "What a small world!" consequences and connections and realizations. "I'll Be There" by Holly Goldberg Sloan beautifully captures these ideas.

"I'll Be There" is told from a third person-omniscient point of view. We get the story from the various perspectives of the major players. Sloan meticulously shows the connections that eventually bring these characters together, apart, and then together again. It begins when Emily Bell is persuaded by her music professor father to sing "I'll Be There" in front of the church congregation where he is the music director. On this particular day, Sam Border, the son of an abusive drifter, is drawn to the church because of his love of music. When Emily decides that to get through her performance, which is plain awful, she should just stare at the back of the church, she sees Sam looking right at her. A connection is made. When she runs out of the church after her miserable performance and throws up, he appears at her side and holds her hair while she pukes. Emily can't forget this handsome young man. Days later, while at iHop with Bobby Ellis, Emily sees Sam and a young boy (his brother Riddle) from the window (what a small world!). She chases after them. We find out what each character does and thinks that leads him or her to these connections. Fascinating. Eventually, Emily's family meet Sam and Riddle and find out bits and pieces about the two boys' lives. When Clarence, their father, finds out about the relationship that has developed between his boys and the Bell family, he uproots them again. While the boys begin another adventure, the Bell family mourns their loss.

Sloan's writing is simply beautiful and meticulous. In a few of the reviews I have read, readers state that there were too many unbelievable consequences in the book. I totally disagree. If we were able to look down on our own lives, and all of the players in our lives, we would see that our lives are filled with little "consequences" every day. One then ponders whether these are our destiny or in our control. What if I had just left five minutes earlier for work? Would I have avoided that car accident? What if I hadn't forgotten to get spinach and had to run to the grocery store? Would I have seen Alyssa who told me about the meeting where I would meet my future employer? And on and on. I found this aspect of the book fascinating. Sloan covers all of the bases with exacting detail. The plot offers lots of outdoor adventure which many teen boys will love, as well as a focus on relationships, which may appeal to many teen girls.

In addition, the characters are beautifully rendered. They are real, nuanced, and complex. Sloan takes the reader through a roller-coaster of emotions as we look into the lives of Emily Bell and her family members, as well as Sam, Riddle, and Clarence Border. Sam and Riddle, though they have lived a difficult and hardscrabble existence, are so pure and so good. They are characters whom I will continue to think about for a long time to come.

For those who enjoy first love books like "Eleanor and Park" by Rainbow Rowell, and those who enjoy books that focus on the choices we make in our lives, like "Before I Fall" by Lauren Oliver, this is a MUST read. Highly recommended.

...more

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Mar 14, 2011 Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, socal-author, debut-2011, 2011-clc

I'll will update review after book club tonight. Will say that I need more books like this to get me out of my reading slump. ...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Mary rated it really liked it

After reading tons of YA dystopian fiction, this book full of optimism and the joy of living is a lifesaver. The love story between Sam Border and Emily Bell is precious. The high school scenes are LOL. The brotherly ties between Sam and Riddle are heartwarming. The Bell family is everyone's wish for a perfect family.
The dialogue,humor, suspenseful pacing and characterization are well done. I loved the writing style of this new author, Holly Goldberg Sloan. This is a wonderful Young Adult Novel ...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Ricki rated it liked it

Sam Border has never had a stable home. Every time he gets situated, his abusive, crazy father forces Sam and his little brother Riddle to pick up and move. When he meets Emily Bell, he falls in love with her and her family because they provide comfort. The novel is written in third-person omniscent and bounces between the voices of Sam, Emily, and 12-year-old Riddle who doesn't speak but draws constantly. Additionally, it shifts to the points-of-view of the adults in the story, as well.

This is ...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Faith rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mock-printz-award, young-adult

Think "Marcello in the Real World" mixed with a little "Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "Where the Heart Is" and add some Meg Rosoff and it's easily the best book I've read in a long time. Wonderful prose and an even better story. Just perfect all around. I can't stop smiling since I finished it. ...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Melissa rated it liked it

Shelves: pov, mental-illness

Some o this book was wonderful, but there were times when it dragged terribly.

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Aug 25, 2011 Whitney rated it really liked it

I adored this book.

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Sep 28, 2011 elissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: my_10s_reads, youngadult, survival_stories, 2011favorites

I love the musing about connections, and I love Sam & Riddle and how things turn out for them. They deserve the pain in their lives turning to such hope. Most of the book is absorbing, and I enjoyed the author's voice, but there was a part toward the end that didn't work as well for me, so 3 1/2 stars rounded up. This kicks SHINE off of my 2011favorites list, but only barely. ...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Donalyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-realistic-fiction

While I felt that some plot lines were resolved too quickly and nearly, I fell in love with Sam and Riddle just like Emily did. Even the secondary characters are developed and memorable.

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