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Icarus
Being the ‘new kid’ at school is hard, but for Tess Novak - who’s moved more times than she can remember - it’s a role she knows by heart. Transferring during senior year means yet another place she’ll eventually leave, more classmates she’ll forget.
Fate, it seems, has other plans.
From the moment Tess is introduced to honor student Drew Martinez, she is convinced she has met him before. But when? Confident and attractive, Drew is exactly the type of ‘rich kid’ Tess’s father hates, and Tess avoids. Thrown together by a class project, their tentative friendship sparks a smoldering attraction. Tess tries to keep Drew at arm’s length, but in weeks they are drawn into a scorching romance.
Fearing her father’s volatile reaction, Tess insists on keeping the relationship a secret. Meanwhile, she begins to uncover the mysterious connection which hearkens back to the half-forgotten days of her dark childhood, a past which appears to be connected to Drew. As each new puzzle piece falls into place, and the threat of discovery increases, Tess must decide whether she wants to keep living a lie, or expose the horrific events which tore Drew out of her life so many years before...
Fate, it seems, has other plans.
From the moment Tess is introduced to honor student Drew Martinez, she is convinced she has met him before. But when? Confident and attractive, Drew is exactly the type of ‘rich kid’ Tess’s father hates, and Tess avoids. Thrown together by a class project, their tentative friendship sparks a smoldering attraction. Tess tries to keep Drew at arm’s length, but in weeks they are drawn into a scorching romance.
Fearing her father’s volatile reaction, Tess insists on keeping the relationship a secret. Meanwhile, she begins to uncover the mysterious connection which hearkens back to the half-forgotten days of her dark childhood, a past which appears to be connected to Drew. As each new puzzle piece falls into place, and the threat of discovery increases, Tess must decide whether she wants to keep living a lie, or expose the horrific events which tore Drew out of her life so many years before...
232 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2014
109 people want to read
About the author
Danika Stone
14books335followersDanika Stone is an author, artist, and educator who discovered a passion for writing fiction while in the throes of her Masters thesis. A self-declared bibliophile, Danika now writes novels for both teens (Switchback, All the Feels and Internet Famous) and adults (Inescapable: A Ghost Story, Sip Sip Bang Bang, Edge of Wild, The Dark Divide and Fall of Night). When not writing, Danika can be found hiking in the Rockies, planning grand adventures, and spending far too much time online. She lives with her family and a houseful of imaginary characters in a windy corner of Alberta, Canada.
Ms. Stone is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency.
Ms. Stone is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 15, 2015
This is my second book from this author (after Intaglio) and I really enjoyed this book. The author captures the feels of Tess and Drew well, and doesn't info-dump on what happened in their past - rather she reveals it through hints at first as she solidifies the story and attraction between the couple as well as Tess and Drew's own insecurities and emotions.
I do wish the character of Ross and his relationship with his ex-wife had been explored a bit more. There's no solid reason as to why Tess' mom chose to not return to Ross - was he abusive to her like he was to Tess, or something else? There's a brief glimpse of a gentler Ross (when he sees Tess' science project) as well as regret over one bad thing he does (won't spoil it) and I wish this aspect of the story had been explored further.
The story itself is not a novella, but is a bit brief for a novel (about 235 pages) and I feel that how it ended, in regards to Tess and Drew, were appropriate. Overall a good novel and I would read more from this author.
I do wish the character of Ross and his relationship with his ex-wife had been explored a bit more. There's no solid reason as to why Tess' mom chose to not return to Ross - was he abusive to her like he was to Tess, or something else? There's a brief glimpse of a gentler Ross (when he sees Tess' science project) as well as regret over one bad thing he does (won't spoil it) and I wish this aspect of the story had been explored further.
The story itself is not a novella, but is a bit brief for a novel (about 235 pages) and I feel that how it ended, in regards to Tess and Drew, were appropriate. Overall a good novel and I would read more from this author.
June 3, 2015
Recensione anche sul mio blog:
Ringrazio immensamente Danika Stone per continua a pensare a me, e avermi dato l’occasione di conoscerla e di leggere i suoi scritti. La sua passione e la sua bravura sono certa che la porteranno lontana. Grazie, grazie, grazie.
“Icarus” è il nuovo lavoro firmato da Danika Stone, una delle mie scrittrici preferite, una di quelle donne appassionate che amano il proprio lavoro e ci regalano una storia segnata dal suo sudore e dalle sue lacrime. Come in tutti i suoi libri, i personaggi hanno un passato burrascoso, difficile, pauroso, ma riescono in qualche modo a cavarsela. Non ci sono risposte semplici, finali, definitive e cliché… la Stone sceglie sempre la strada più tortuosa, ma io la adoro per questo.
Essere la ragazza nuova a scuola è difficile, ma per Tess Novak – che si è trasferita più volte di quelle che può ricordare – è un ruolo che conosce a memoria. Trasferirsi durante l’ultimo anno significa un altro luogo che lascerà presto e nuovi compagni di classe che dimenticherà.
Ma il fato sembra avere altri piani.
Dal primo momento in cui Tess viene presentata allo studente modello Drew Martinez, è convinta che lo ha già incontrato. Ma quando? Sicuro di sé ed attraente, Drew è esattamente il tipo di “ragazzo ricco” che il padre di Tess odia e Tess evita. Messi insieme per un progetto scolastico, la loro tentennante amicizia scoppia in un’attrazione irresistibile. Tess cerca di tenere lontano Drew, ma in poche settimane vengono attratti in una bellissima romance.
Temendo la reazione di suo padre, Tess insiste a mantenere la loro relazione un segreto. Nel frattempo inizia a scoprire la connessione misteriosa che sente per Drew e che la riporta a giorni quasi dimenticati della sua oscura infanzia, un passato in cui sembra connessa a Drew. Mentre ogni pezzo del puzzle finisce al suo posto, e la minaccia di essere scoperti cresce, Tess deve decidere se vuole vivere una bugia o esporre i terribili eventi che hanno strappato Drew dalla sua vita tanti anni prima…
È difficile scrivere una recensione coerente di questa storia, prima di tutto perché è terribilmente emozionante e in secondo luogo perché io sono molto affezionata a questo libro e alla sua autrice.
È una storia costruita in più piani che scorrono paralleli ad ampliare una vicenda indimenticabile. La Stone è straordinaria nel rendere unica una storia che potrebbe sembrare, apparentemente, già letta. Studente appena trasferito, romance da high school… quante trame simili avete già letto? Ma la scrittrice fa di più. Accavalla due storie, due percorsi e ce li regala di nuovo intrecciati. Non lo metto in dubbio, la storia è difficile, si parla di violenza, di stress post traumatico, di traumi irrisolti, di depressione e di famiglie spezzate. È una storia di un certo impatto emotivo che lascia il lettore esausto, ma è anche una storia d’amore e di speranza, una storia sulle possibilità di sfuggire al male.
Abbiamo Tess, una ragazza che cerca di scappare alla sua situazione familiare. Quando i normali atti di ribellione adolescenziale non servono a niente, se non a peggiorare le cose, cerca di accontentare tutti, di rifugiarsi in quelle attività extrascolastiche che dovrebbero riempire il curriculum da mandare al college e che diventano un mezzo di sopravvivenza per Tess. Una pallavolista di indiscusso talento, una di quelle ragazze dall’immenso potenziale che non si applica. Ma in cosa si deva applicare Tess se sa che sfuggire è quasi impossibile. È l’indifferenza ciò che fa più male, quelle persone che si voltano dall’altra parte e che ignorano una situazione insostenibile. Quante volte ci rendiamo conto di farci scivolare addosso certe situazioni. Quante volte ci accorgiamo troppo tardi che qualcuno ha bisogno di noi? Tess è una vittima degli eventi e di suo padre, ma in un certo qual modo è la salvatrice di sé stessa. Combatte nell’unico modo che conosce, nascondendosi e schivando tutti, proteggendosi con la solitudine. È straziante leggere la sua storia e rispecchia pericolosamente quella di tantissime altre adolescenti.
Drew in modi diversi anche lui combatte contro la sua stessa famiglia, una famiglia che si impegna per soffocarlo. Al contrario di Tess si impegna in qualunque modo possibile per essere il figlio modello, anche se per anni ha cercato di essere il punto di riferimento per sua madre, vittima di una malattia terribile. La violenza non è solo fisica, è anche psicologica, quel degrado emotivo che spinge a nascondersi e a annichilirsi. Non è facile neanche per Drew, e diventa ancora più difficile quando non può far nulla per aiutare davvero Tess. Due mondi, accomunati dallo stesso grado di sofferenza. E quando il passato diventa una presenza insostenibile, quando il passato è un mostro che rischia di divorare tutto, diventa impossibile ignorarlo.
Capiamo dall’inizio che Tess e Drew, il ragazzo dal cuore d’oro, attento e premuroso, seppur con i suoi difetti, sono legati da un evento comune. Lo capiamo da quegli spazi sterminati in cui osservano gli aerei volare, ma non sappiamo perché sono accadute certe cose, perché non ricordano niente. Ed è impressionante osservare il raggiungimento della consapevolezza.
La Stone non implica risposte, non costruisce una storia “buona”. È crudele nel suo realismo, racconta un impressionante spaccato di vita vera, che mostra i volti di due ragazzi sconvolti. E lo fa benissimo.
L’ambientazione è quella di una sperduta cittadina dell’Ohio ma in un certo qual modo resta senza tempo e senza volto. Le descrizioni sono ridotte all’osso, non è il luogo che importa, ma il tempo e le emozioni che si affastellano.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Un poster per una presentazione di fisica…
Un libro di un verismo impressionante, di una crudezza estrema, ma che lascia intravedere uno speranzoso futuro, perché in fondo da certe situazioni è possibile uscirne, bisogna solo avere coraggio. Una storia che lascia un segno, che invita a riflettere e che rimarrà con voi a lungo. Tess e Drew hanno molto da raccontare… lasciateli parlare.
Buona lettura guys!
Ringrazio immensamente Danika Stone per continua a pensare a me, e avermi dato l’occasione di conoscerla e di leggere i suoi scritti. La sua passione e la sua bravura sono certa che la porteranno lontana. Grazie, grazie, grazie.
“Icarus” è il nuovo lavoro firmato da Danika Stone, una delle mie scrittrici preferite, una di quelle donne appassionate che amano il proprio lavoro e ci regalano una storia segnata dal suo sudore e dalle sue lacrime. Come in tutti i suoi libri, i personaggi hanno un passato burrascoso, difficile, pauroso, ma riescono in qualche modo a cavarsela. Non ci sono risposte semplici, finali, definitive e cliché… la Stone sceglie sempre la strada più tortuosa, ma io la adoro per questo.
Essere la ragazza nuova a scuola è difficile, ma per Tess Novak – che si è trasferita più volte di quelle che può ricordare – è un ruolo che conosce a memoria. Trasferirsi durante l’ultimo anno significa un altro luogo che lascerà presto e nuovi compagni di classe che dimenticherà.
Ma il fato sembra avere altri piani.
Dal primo momento in cui Tess viene presentata allo studente modello Drew Martinez, è convinta che lo ha già incontrato. Ma quando? Sicuro di sé ed attraente, Drew è esattamente il tipo di “ragazzo ricco” che il padre di Tess odia e Tess evita. Messi insieme per un progetto scolastico, la loro tentennante amicizia scoppia in un’attrazione irresistibile. Tess cerca di tenere lontano Drew, ma in poche settimane vengono attratti in una bellissima romance.
Temendo la reazione di suo padre, Tess insiste a mantenere la loro relazione un segreto. Nel frattempo inizia a scoprire la connessione misteriosa che sente per Drew e che la riporta a giorni quasi dimenticati della sua oscura infanzia, un passato in cui sembra connessa a Drew. Mentre ogni pezzo del puzzle finisce al suo posto, e la minaccia di essere scoperti cresce, Tess deve decidere se vuole vivere una bugia o esporre i terribili eventi che hanno strappato Drew dalla sua vita tanti anni prima…
È difficile scrivere una recensione coerente di questa storia, prima di tutto perché è terribilmente emozionante e in secondo luogo perché io sono molto affezionata a questo libro e alla sua autrice.
È una storia costruita in più piani che scorrono paralleli ad ampliare una vicenda indimenticabile. La Stone è straordinaria nel rendere unica una storia che potrebbe sembrare, apparentemente, già letta. Studente appena trasferito, romance da high school… quante trame simili avete già letto? Ma la scrittrice fa di più. Accavalla due storie, due percorsi e ce li regala di nuovo intrecciati. Non lo metto in dubbio, la storia è difficile, si parla di violenza, di stress post traumatico, di traumi irrisolti, di depressione e di famiglie spezzate. È una storia di un certo impatto emotivo che lascia il lettore esausto, ma è anche una storia d’amore e di speranza, una storia sulle possibilità di sfuggire al male.
Abbiamo Tess, una ragazza che cerca di scappare alla sua situazione familiare. Quando i normali atti di ribellione adolescenziale non servono a niente, se non a peggiorare le cose, cerca di accontentare tutti, di rifugiarsi in quelle attività extrascolastiche che dovrebbero riempire il curriculum da mandare al college e che diventano un mezzo di sopravvivenza per Tess. Una pallavolista di indiscusso talento, una di quelle ragazze dall’immenso potenziale che non si applica. Ma in cosa si deva applicare Tess se sa che sfuggire è quasi impossibile. È l’indifferenza ciò che fa più male, quelle persone che si voltano dall’altra parte e che ignorano una situazione insostenibile. Quante volte ci rendiamo conto di farci scivolare addosso certe situazioni. Quante volte ci accorgiamo troppo tardi che qualcuno ha bisogno di noi? Tess è una vittima degli eventi e di suo padre, ma in un certo qual modo è la salvatrice di sé stessa. Combatte nell’unico modo che conosce, nascondendosi e schivando tutti, proteggendosi con la solitudine. È straziante leggere la sua storia e rispecchia pericolosamente quella di tantissime altre adolescenti.
Drew in modi diversi anche lui combatte contro la sua stessa famiglia, una famiglia che si impegna per soffocarlo. Al contrario di Tess si impegna in qualunque modo possibile per essere il figlio modello, anche se per anni ha cercato di essere il punto di riferimento per sua madre, vittima di una malattia terribile. La violenza non è solo fisica, è anche psicologica, quel degrado emotivo che spinge a nascondersi e a annichilirsi. Non è facile neanche per Drew, e diventa ancora più difficile quando non può far nulla per aiutare davvero Tess. Due mondi, accomunati dallo stesso grado di sofferenza. E quando il passato diventa una presenza insostenibile, quando il passato è un mostro che rischia di divorare tutto, diventa impossibile ignorarlo.
Capiamo dall’inizio che Tess e Drew, il ragazzo dal cuore d’oro, attento e premuroso, seppur con i suoi difetti, sono legati da un evento comune. Lo capiamo da quegli spazi sterminati in cui osservano gli aerei volare, ma non sappiamo perché sono accadute certe cose, perché non ricordano niente. Ed è impressionante osservare il raggiungimento della consapevolezza.
La Stone non implica risposte, non costruisce una storia “buona”. È crudele nel suo realismo, racconta un impressionante spaccato di vita vera, che mostra i volti di due ragazzi sconvolti. E lo fa benissimo.
L’ambientazione è quella di una sperduta cittadina dell’Ohio ma in un certo qual modo resta senza tempo e senza volto. Le descrizioni sono ridotte all’osso, non è il luogo che importa, ma il tempo e le emozioni che si affastellano.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Un poster per una presentazione di fisica…
Un libro di un verismo impressionante, di una crudezza estrema, ma che lascia intravedere uno speranzoso futuro, perché in fondo da certe situazioni è possibile uscirne, bisogna solo avere coraggio. Una storia che lascia un segno, che invita a riflettere e che rimarrà con voi a lungo. Tess e Drew hanno molto da raccontare… lasciateli parlare.
Buona lettura guys!
December 18, 2014
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: **
Icarus was a darker book that I have read in a while. Which is good because I like to mix it up and raw books dealing with some of the tougher issues always bring out strong emotions in me. I just like to put that out there so that people can be aware of it up front. Because I know, sometimes I need to be ready for a very emotional book, especially one that deals with abuse. Danika Stone uses very descriptive, sometimes bordering on flowery language.
The way that Icarus starts is interesting. The book starts you off with Tess in real time starting at a new school for her first day. And then it goes into a time lapse through her first few months at the school. It was a really effective technique that Danika Stone used because it allowed the reader to get to know Tess quickly. We picked up on facts about her, her life and her background because each of the "time lapses" stops and focuses on a different aspect of Tess or her life. Once she meets Drew and is partnered up with him in her science class, the book goes back to real time storytelling. The rest of the book is told alternating between real time and flashbacks of when Drew and Tess are children. It was interesting because you can put together kind of quickly that they knew each other as kids and they just each went by different names, but what I didn't get was why neither of them remembered the other. I know Tess has blue hair now but Drew couldn't have changed too much. And even if he did, Drew didn't really remember anything about that time, and I have no idea why. It wasn't really ever explained.
I loved the incorporation of the Greek myths into the story through Tess' English class journal. Seeing her thoughts in her journal entries was really emotional for me. Because it was pretty much the only outlet for her emotions and feelings that she used. She is such a closed off and guarded person. You could really tell that through her relationships with Kyle, her best friend, and Drew. Some of the things with Tess' father were hard to read. You wanted to reach out and help her so badly, but it was all part of the raw-ness and power in Icarus. This is a powerful story. I appreciated that about Danika's writing. She conveyed the power through her words. Icarus definitely affected me as a reader and I can see a lot of people really connecting with this story. It is not your run of the mill young adult story and that is so great about it. I wasn't crazy about the ending and I still have no idea why Drew didn't remember parts of his past, but overall the book as a whole resonated with me.
Icarus was a darker book that I have read in a while. Which is good because I like to mix it up and raw books dealing with some of the tougher issues always bring out strong emotions in me. I just like to put that out there so that people can be aware of it up front. Because I know, sometimes I need to be ready for a very emotional book, especially one that deals with abuse. Danika Stone uses very descriptive, sometimes bordering on flowery language.
The way that Icarus starts is interesting. The book starts you off with Tess in real time starting at a new school for her first day. And then it goes into a time lapse through her first few months at the school. It was a really effective technique that Danika Stone used because it allowed the reader to get to know Tess quickly. We picked up on facts about her, her life and her background because each of the "time lapses" stops and focuses on a different aspect of Tess or her life. Once she meets Drew and is partnered up with him in her science class, the book goes back to real time storytelling. The rest of the book is told alternating between real time and flashbacks of when Drew and Tess are children. It was interesting because you can put together kind of quickly that they knew each other as kids and they just each went by different names, but what I didn't get was why neither of them remembered the other. I know Tess has blue hair now but Drew couldn't have changed too much. And even if he did, Drew didn't really remember anything about that time, and I have no idea why. It wasn't really ever explained.
I loved the incorporation of the Greek myths into the story through Tess' English class journal. Seeing her thoughts in her journal entries was really emotional for me. Because it was pretty much the only outlet for her emotions and feelings that she used. She is such a closed off and guarded person. You could really tell that through her relationships with Kyle, her best friend, and Drew. Some of the things with Tess' father were hard to read. You wanted to reach out and help her so badly, but it was all part of the raw-ness and power in Icarus. This is a powerful story. I appreciated that about Danika's writing. She conveyed the power through her words. Icarus definitely affected me as a reader and I can see a lot of people really connecting with this story. It is not your run of the mill young adult story and that is so great about it. I wasn't crazy about the ending and I still have no idea why Drew didn't remember parts of his past, but overall the book as a whole resonated with me.
August 14, 2014
Danika Stone’s ICARUS is a gripping, deeply moving contemporary YA novel that bridges the gap between romance and realistic drama. As the novel begins, sixteen-year-old Tess Novak is starting over yet again at another high school in another city (her father is former Air Force, and she has moved all of her life). On the first day, she meets Drew Martinez, a fellow Air Force Brat who, for some inexplicable reason, seems strangely familiar to her. Tess has always seen herself as an outsider – she dyes her hair cobalt blue, and her tattoos and piercings suggest a defiance she only partly feels. But Drew sees beyond her hardened exterior, and their relationship grows in spite of Tess’s resistance. They have a lot in common – both have struggled with dysfunctional military families (her father is angry and abusive; his parents are barely able to hold their marriage together). The closer they grow, the harder it is for Tess to keep the secrets she has lived with all her life. And the harder it is for Tess to pretend that what’s going on with her father isn’t tearing her apart.
At the same time Tess and Drew’s story is being told, Stone also introduces us to two other characters – six-year-old AJ and Esther, who also become school friends. They, too, are Air Force kids, battling the bullies in the new school to which both had transferred. They, too, form a close bond, sneaking away in the dark of night to watch the planes take off from the nearby Air Force base, dreaming of flying. AJ’s parents are arguing, and Esther’s father too often becomes enraged and loses control. They find in each other an escape from their fractured lives, and a dream of one day flying away together to a world of their own. But something traumatic happens to these kids, something that changes the course of both their lives.
There is a connection between these two stories, one that isn’t fully revealed until the second half of the novel. But there are plenty of clues, and most readers will probably figure things out long before any of the characters do. Techniques like this can be awkward and cumbersome, but Stone manages to pull it off quite well. I liked all four characters, and although I guessed pretty quickly what was really going on, the connection between them never felt contrived (even though I do think the parents, at least, should have realized the truth from the start). This isn’t one of those “twists for the sake of the twist” that are so popular in fiction today. There is a real point to what is eventually revealed, a point that works beautifully to communicate Stone’s message.
And that message is partly revealed in the novel’s title. “Icarus” refers to the Greek myth in which a young boy and his father attempt to escape from imprisonment with wings made of feathers and wax. Daedalus warns his son not to fly too close to the sun, or his wings will melt. Of course Icarus disobeys (flying high is so much fun!), and he falls to his death in the sea. Tess and Esther both love this story, which they have always seen not so much as a warning against disobedience as the promise of adventure. As Tess writes in her blog, “Yes, Icarus fell, but I bet he had a hell of a view on the way down.” This is really what the novel is all about – Tess and Drew have faced difficult challenges. But their love for each other has given them wings to fly above the trauma. Is there danger that they will fly too high and that their “wings” might melt? Sure. But as Tess says, they’ll have a hell of a ride first! And what’s the point of life if it isn’t to live it to the fullest?
My only real criticism is the novel’s Prologue and Epilogue, which are completely different in style and tone than the rest of the book. In both, Stone, as author, steps outside the story and speaks directly to the reader in a rambling, pseudo-literary dialogue that is both pretentious and off-putting. The effect, intentional or not, is to distance the reader from what is otherwise a wonderful and identifiable story. I loved Tess and Drew’s story (as well as AJ and Esther’s), but I have to admit that the Prologue almost made me change my mind about reading it. Luckily it wasn’t very long, and as soon as I started reading Chapter One I was hooked. But then, at the end, there was the Epilogue, which poured cold water on what was otherwise a really satisfying and hopeful ending. On the last page, Stone writes, “I release your hand. If there’s more, you can imagine it, but as for us, we’ve reached the final moment of our journey.” I get what she’s doing – she, as writer, has guided us (her readers) through a story of her imagining, and now she’s “releasing” us. This just isn’t something writers need to say. And in saying it, Stone risks her story losing a great deal of its immediacy and its power.
Even so, I really loved this story. So forget the Prologue and skip the Epilogue, but read this book! I’ve read a lot of YA novels, and this is one of the best. There are no vampires, no dystopian societies, no convoluted mysteries or battles between good and evil. Instead there are real characters living real lives with the kinds of real challenges all of us have faced. I’m very glad I had a chance to read ICARUS. I recommend it highly.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
At the same time Tess and Drew’s story is being told, Stone also introduces us to two other characters – six-year-old AJ and Esther, who also become school friends. They, too, are Air Force kids, battling the bullies in the new school to which both had transferred. They, too, form a close bond, sneaking away in the dark of night to watch the planes take off from the nearby Air Force base, dreaming of flying. AJ’s parents are arguing, and Esther’s father too often becomes enraged and loses control. They find in each other an escape from their fractured lives, and a dream of one day flying away together to a world of their own. But something traumatic happens to these kids, something that changes the course of both their lives.
There is a connection between these two stories, one that isn’t fully revealed until the second half of the novel. But there are plenty of clues, and most readers will probably figure things out long before any of the characters do. Techniques like this can be awkward and cumbersome, but Stone manages to pull it off quite well. I liked all four characters, and although I guessed pretty quickly what was really going on, the connection between them never felt contrived (even though I do think the parents, at least, should have realized the truth from the start). This isn’t one of those “twists for the sake of the twist” that are so popular in fiction today. There is a real point to what is eventually revealed, a point that works beautifully to communicate Stone’s message.
And that message is partly revealed in the novel’s title. “Icarus” refers to the Greek myth in which a young boy and his father attempt to escape from imprisonment with wings made of feathers and wax. Daedalus warns his son not to fly too close to the sun, or his wings will melt. Of course Icarus disobeys (flying high is so much fun!), and he falls to his death in the sea. Tess and Esther both love this story, which they have always seen not so much as a warning against disobedience as the promise of adventure. As Tess writes in her blog, “Yes, Icarus fell, but I bet he had a hell of a view on the way down.” This is really what the novel is all about – Tess and Drew have faced difficult challenges. But their love for each other has given them wings to fly above the trauma. Is there danger that they will fly too high and that their “wings” might melt? Sure. But as Tess says, they’ll have a hell of a ride first! And what’s the point of life if it isn’t to live it to the fullest?
My only real criticism is the novel’s Prologue and Epilogue, which are completely different in style and tone than the rest of the book. In both, Stone, as author, steps outside the story and speaks directly to the reader in a rambling, pseudo-literary dialogue that is both pretentious and off-putting. The effect, intentional or not, is to distance the reader from what is otherwise a wonderful and identifiable story. I loved Tess and Drew’s story (as well as AJ and Esther’s), but I have to admit that the Prologue almost made me change my mind about reading it. Luckily it wasn’t very long, and as soon as I started reading Chapter One I was hooked. But then, at the end, there was the Epilogue, which poured cold water on what was otherwise a really satisfying and hopeful ending. On the last page, Stone writes, “I release your hand. If there’s more, you can imagine it, but as for us, we’ve reached the final moment of our journey.” I get what she’s doing – she, as writer, has guided us (her readers) through a story of her imagining, and now she’s “releasing” us. This just isn’t something writers need to say. And in saying it, Stone risks her story losing a great deal of its immediacy and its power.
Even so, I really loved this story. So forget the Prologue and skip the Epilogue, but read this book! I’ve read a lot of YA novels, and this is one of the best. There are no vampires, no dystopian societies, no convoluted mysteries or battles between good and evil. Instead there are real characters living real lives with the kinds of real challenges all of us have faced. I’m very glad I had a chance to read ICARUS. I recommend it highly.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
May 7, 2015
*I received this book from the publisher and or author and this is my honest review.
Before getting into this book, I knew nothing about the story of Icarus. I did not even know it was anything until a friend whom I was talking to this book about told me about the story. I probably should have familiarized myself with the mythology before reading, but I was pretty much able to stay with the story even if I had no knowledge of the story of Icarus, even though the prologue and epilogue were a bit confusing.
Icarus is the story of Tess, a teenager stuck in a abusive home with no way out. In a way she believes that she deserves this treatment which is why she stays in this situation instead of getting herself out. Soon she meets Drew a boy that will change her mind about the world in more ways than one.
I want to start by saying it did not take me awhile to read this book because it was bad. I started reading it while I was starting my first year in college, so my life got a little hectic. The book was actually very good, and I am glad I got the opportunity to read it. I loved Tess as a main character. She stood out with her blue hair and the abuse she was taking from her dad. It was not so bad in the beginning but by the end, what he was doing was unbearable and I felt the need to cover my eyes and or cringe even though I was only reading.
Throughout the story were flashbacks, these went back in time to when two children were roaming through an air force base on their own. Being children and just having fun. There were a ton of these throughout the book, and I have to say they were quite confusing at first but by the end of the story I understood completely.
Tess and Drew had a complicated, but in my eyes sweet relationship. The love story in this book was not like the typical love stories, and I think that is one of the reasons why I liked this story so much. When they met Drew knew he was going to like Tess but she was not so sure. Tess did as much as she could to stay away and not fall for him. But in the end she catches herself not being able to not love him.
One other relationship I wanted to talk about is Tess and Kyle. For awhile, I wondered if this was going to turn into a love triangle with Drew. I was kind of hoping that were the case because Kyles character was sweet to Tess too. It was unmistakable that Kyle loved Tess and I wondered how Stone was going to work with that in the story.
Overall I believe this book deserves a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Even though I had to keep putting it down because of school work. When I was able to read it I loved every second. It was a page turner and I could not put it down.
Before getting into this book, I knew nothing about the story of Icarus. I did not even know it was anything until a friend whom I was talking to this book about told me about the story. I probably should have familiarized myself with the mythology before reading, but I was pretty much able to stay with the story even if I had no knowledge of the story of Icarus, even though the prologue and epilogue were a bit confusing.
Icarus is the story of Tess, a teenager stuck in a abusive home with no way out. In a way she believes that she deserves this treatment which is why she stays in this situation instead of getting herself out. Soon she meets Drew a boy that will change her mind about the world in more ways than one.
I want to start by saying it did not take me awhile to read this book because it was bad. I started reading it while I was starting my first year in college, so my life got a little hectic. The book was actually very good, and I am glad I got the opportunity to read it. I loved Tess as a main character. She stood out with her blue hair and the abuse she was taking from her dad. It was not so bad in the beginning but by the end, what he was doing was unbearable and I felt the need to cover my eyes and or cringe even though I was only reading.
Throughout the story were flashbacks, these went back in time to when two children were roaming through an air force base on their own. Being children and just having fun. There were a ton of these throughout the book, and I have to say they were quite confusing at first but by the end of the story I understood completely.
Tess and Drew had a complicated, but in my eyes sweet relationship. The love story in this book was not like the typical love stories, and I think that is one of the reasons why I liked this story so much. When they met Drew knew he was going to like Tess but she was not so sure. Tess did as much as she could to stay away and not fall for him. But in the end she catches herself not being able to not love him.
One other relationship I wanted to talk about is Tess and Kyle. For awhile, I wondered if this was going to turn into a love triangle with Drew. I was kind of hoping that were the case because Kyles character was sweet to Tess too. It was unmistakable that Kyle loved Tess and I wondered how Stone was going to work with that in the story.
Overall I believe this book deserves a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Even though I had to keep putting it down because of school work. When I was able to read it I loved every second. It was a page turner and I could not put it down.
October 11, 2014
I received Icarus from the author in return for an honest review. Tess has just moved to town due to her father decided it was time to move. She’s been the new kid so many times growing up the daughter of a military man. Hopefully it will be her last move since it’s her senior year she just needs to fly under the radar and she will be able to get away. Drew is also the son of a military man and knows what it’s like being forced to move often. When they are teamed up together two unlikely people fine more than just friendship.
Tess’s life is anything but easy after what happened to her father she has to treat him with kid gloves for fear he will react badly. When her best friend’s heads off to basic training for the Air Force Tess is left behind but the more time she spends with Drew the more she finds herself falling for him. They just so happen to have been at another base as children and were even friends but things have changed neither knows if the other remembers. When things turn bad for Tess will Drew be able to help her? Will she let him in enough to give him the chance?
I like both Tess and Drew they each had rough childhoods but have learned to deal with the cards they were dealt. Together they find what they both needed even If Tess isn’t ready to accept the fact. I really liked Drew he didn’t judge Tess and was willing to support her even if it meant keeping their relationship a secret from her Dad. I also liked that we are given an insight into their childhoods as well as both points of view.
This one was a tough for me the wife of a military man my heart went out to both of them. Tess’s story broke my heart her relationship with her father felt so real and I could see it happening. The author has touched on a sensitive subject in Icarus but I felt she did a great job an emotional story. I enjoyed the concept and loved the characters they touched my heart. I had a hard time putting Icarus it just sucked me and didn’t let go till the last page. While the novel does touch on sensitive subjects I think it’s a book mature teens as well as adults will enjoy. The author’s writing style is well done it flows smoothly from start to finish telling a beautiful story. I really enjoyed the novel and look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Tess’s life is anything but easy after what happened to her father she has to treat him with kid gloves for fear he will react badly. When her best friend’s heads off to basic training for the Air Force Tess is left behind but the more time she spends with Drew the more she finds herself falling for him. They just so happen to have been at another base as children and were even friends but things have changed neither knows if the other remembers. When things turn bad for Tess will Drew be able to help her? Will she let him in enough to give him the chance?
I like both Tess and Drew they each had rough childhoods but have learned to deal with the cards they were dealt. Together they find what they both needed even If Tess isn’t ready to accept the fact. I really liked Drew he didn’t judge Tess and was willing to support her even if it meant keeping their relationship a secret from her Dad. I also liked that we are given an insight into their childhoods as well as both points of view.
This one was a tough for me the wife of a military man my heart went out to both of them. Tess’s story broke my heart her relationship with her father felt so real and I could see it happening. The author has touched on a sensitive subject in Icarus but I felt she did a great job an emotional story. I enjoyed the concept and loved the characters they touched my heart. I had a hard time putting Icarus it just sucked me and didn’t let go till the last page. While the novel does touch on sensitive subjects I think it’s a book mature teens as well as adults will enjoy. The author’s writing style is well done it flows smoothly from start to finish telling a beautiful story. I really enjoyed the novel and look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
November 22, 2014
This review is previous post at .
Tess is tired from moving almost every year. In her senior year she must moves again because her father say so, she hopes that this is for last time. Tess parents are divorced; she lives with her father, military veteran with minimal salary. Tess’s mother lives in California with her new family. First day to new school and Tess meets some guy Drew, she doesn’t like to make friendships, but destiny has another plan for her. For the teachers Tess and Drew seams as perfect partner Tess is kind of rebel girl with potential and Drew is great student. Drew will bring some freshness in Tess gray life and forgotten memories also.
I like this book, because I’m not used to read books with violence, I deliberately avoid that kind of book, but this book was different and I’m not regretting that I read it. The author descriptions for events in book is very subtly and pleasant.
Tess is rebel girl, she has her reasons for that, also she has a potential for be better student and girl.
Drew is perfect boy, great student and mannered, kind and supportive. Both of them are confused about their future, about what they want to be, what they want to study. It’s typical for their age, but also that was because their fathers, both of them veterans and demanding and strict.
It was interesting to read about people destiny and how everything it’s going around as perfect circle.
Tess is tired from moving almost every year. In her senior year she must moves again because her father say so, she hopes that this is for last time. Tess parents are divorced; she lives with her father, military veteran with minimal salary. Tess’s mother lives in California with her new family. First day to new school and Tess meets some guy Drew, she doesn’t like to make friendships, but destiny has another plan for her. For the teachers Tess and Drew seams as perfect partner Tess is kind of rebel girl with potential and Drew is great student. Drew will bring some freshness in Tess gray life and forgotten memories also.
I like this book, because I’m not used to read books with violence, I deliberately avoid that kind of book, but this book was different and I’m not regretting that I read it. The author descriptions for events in book is very subtly and pleasant.
Tess is rebel girl, she has her reasons for that, also she has a potential for be better student and girl.
Drew is perfect boy, great student and mannered, kind and supportive. Both of them are confused about their future, about what they want to be, what they want to study. It’s typical for their age, but also that was because their fathers, both of them veterans and demanding and strict.
It was interesting to read about people destiny and how everything it’s going around as perfect circle.
August 27, 2014
Some experiences are shared by all teenagers: pushing at adult boundaries, nursing each crush like a loose tooth. Others are hopefully rare, and yet long sleeves can conceal bruises and straight-laced maturity can be a mask for chaos at home. Tess and Drew arrive at the first pages of Icarus with trauma and loss already behind them, long past innocence and too world-weary to be taken in by the usual teenage melodrama. In perhaps the only mercy of their childhood, they’ve forgotten the worst of it, but in doing so they lost something precious.
Icarus tells two stories at once, or maybe three: first, two innocent children treading closer and closer to understanding too early the things that haunt their parents; second, the connection emerging between two young people in an uncertain world; and finally two characters, age and gender irrelevant, gathering the courage to take a risky, mythical leap. As Stone’s Greek chorus of sorts introduces the prologue, the reader is invited to suspend disbelief for a moment, to believe instead that there’s room in this story and our own to heal wounds that are all too real.
Icarus is a journey to the brink of adulthood, and you’ll hold your breath waiting to see if on the other side of tragedy is joy.
Icarus tells two stories at once, or maybe three: first, two innocent children treading closer and closer to understanding too early the things that haunt their parents; second, the connection emerging between two young people in an uncertain world; and finally two characters, age and gender irrelevant, gathering the courage to take a risky, mythical leap. As Stone’s Greek chorus of sorts introduces the prologue, the reader is invited to suspend disbelief for a moment, to believe instead that there’s room in this story and our own to heal wounds that are all too real.
Icarus is a journey to the brink of adulthood, and you’ll hold your breath waiting to see if on the other side of tragedy is joy.
September 16, 2014
For starters, I just didn't understand that prologue/epilogue - I thought it was really pretentious sounding? It just didn't fit with the rest of the novel, in my opinion, and didn't seem necessary, at all.
And the characters lacked depth and personality. Sure, they had backstories, but I don't think they had much characterisation other than that, if that makes sense? Giving characters a horrible backstory doesn't automatically mean they're three-dimensional and fully formed, and I think this author missed that.
I also thought that the relationship between Tess and Drew progressed too quickly. I mean the first time they went out, and she was suddenly letting him in when apparently she never let people in? I just wanted to see more of a development between the two of them. I mean, the flashback things were really cute, but if we are to believe they didn't remember each other, then they needed to start from scratch again, not act like they'd known each other for years and had run out of things to talk about.
By the end, I was invested in the characters to a certain degree - I was certainly rooting for a happy ending - but I can't particularly say I overly enjoyed reading this novel, hence the two-star rating.
And the characters lacked depth and personality. Sure, they had backstories, but I don't think they had much characterisation other than that, if that makes sense? Giving characters a horrible backstory doesn't automatically mean they're three-dimensional and fully formed, and I think this author missed that.
I also thought that the relationship between Tess and Drew progressed too quickly. I mean the first time they went out, and she was suddenly letting him in when apparently she never let people in? I just wanted to see more of a development between the two of them. I mean, the flashback things were really cute, but if we are to believe they didn't remember each other, then they needed to start from scratch again, not act like they'd known each other for years and had run out of things to talk about.
By the end, I was invested in the characters to a certain degree - I was certainly rooting for a happy ending - but I can't particularly say I overly enjoyed reading this novel, hence the two-star rating.
February 26, 2016
Icarus is my One True Book.
Sometimes, books stick with me after I've read them. This is definitely one of them. It's a perfect storm of fantastic characters, complex stories, and emotional impact, written in a wonderfully easy-to-read style.
If you're on the fence about YA books because they seem too focused on "silly" teenage problems, give Icarus a try. Tess is a complex young woman, a real woman, and getting to know her is a treat. Her story, her issues, are ones I can imagine facing myself, as a woman of almost fifty, even as she also navigates her last year of high school, with much of the angst endemic to that time of our lives.
Tess and Drew and Esther and AJ are delightfully compelling people. I think you'll like them.
Full disclosure: I did a grammar check on this one, in return for which I'm listed as an editor. No money changed hands. Hmm. Technically, that's not true. I bought a copy of the finished book the moment it was out. That's how much I love this.
Sometimes, books stick with me after I've read them. This is definitely one of them. It's a perfect storm of fantastic characters, complex stories, and emotional impact, written in a wonderfully easy-to-read style.
If you're on the fence about YA books because they seem too focused on "silly" teenage problems, give Icarus a try. Tess is a complex young woman, a real woman, and getting to know her is a treat. Her story, her issues, are ones I can imagine facing myself, as a woman of almost fifty, even as she also navigates her last year of high school, with much of the angst endemic to that time of our lives.
Tess and Drew and Esther and AJ are delightfully compelling people. I think you'll like them.
Full disclosure: I did a grammar check on this one, in return for which I'm listed as an editor. No money changed hands. Hmm. Technically, that's not true. I bought a copy of the finished book the moment it was out. That's how much I love this.
October 22, 2014
This book really surprised me! I thought it was going to be a cute fluffy contemporary but it was a lot darker than I thought.
I liked the short chapters and the flash backs to when Tess and Drew were kids.
I'm definitely going to check out more of Danika Stone's books.
I liked the short chapters and the flash backs to when Tess and Drew were kids.
I'm definitely going to check out more of Danika Stone's books.
August 23, 2014
loved it. full review to come
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