Review-Wild Roses by Deb Caletti

Wild Roses by Deb Caletti


Published: September 2005
Publisher: Atheneum
Pages: 320
Source: Library
Series: Standalone book

Rating from A+ to F: A-

-Summary-

You would have never recognized the Dino I lived with in the books that had been written about him before the “incident”. No one had a clue. No one seemed to see what was coming.

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Morgan has a secret: she’s living with a time bomb (A.K.A., her stepfather, Dino Cavalli). To the public, Dino is a world-renowned violin player and composer. To Cassie, he’s an erratic, self-centered bully. Dino has always been difficult, but as he prepares for his comeback concert, something in him begins to shift. He seems more high-strung than ever, set off by any little thing. He stops sleeping, starts chain-smoking. And he grows increasingly paranoid, saying things that Cassie is desperate to make sense of, but can’t. So she does what she thinks she must: she tries to hide his behavior from the outside world. Before, she was angry. Now, she is afraid.

Enter Ian Waters: A brilliant young violinist, and Dino’s first-ever student. The minute Cassie lays eyes on Ian she knows she’s doomed. She tries everything to keep away from him, but is drawn to him in a way she’s never felt before. It should be easy. It should be beautiful. It is not. Cassie thought she understood that love could bring pain. But this union will have consequences she could not have imagined.

As the novel crashes through two irreparable events and speeds toward its powerful end, one thing becomes clear: in the world of insanity, nothing is sacred. Not talent, not spirit, not love.

-Review-

I thought Wild Roses was a pretty good book. I wouldn't say it is the best I've ever read, but it was still a good novel. I would say that the characters in this book were believable by many people, which is a good thing, and are likable by readers. I don't think many people could say they hated any character in the book, except for Dino. Well, at least I did. Not as a character, but as a person. Deb Caletti did a great job showing his true personality, and that was the only thing that I hated about him, his personality: cruel and hateful. I thought that the characters of Cassie and Ian were relatable and true. 

It was a really good story of how Cassie deals with her horrible stepfather, Dino, who doesn't treat people the right way. Another thing I enjoyed about the story was the music and how Deb describes it and what it does to Cassie. Dino is a famous musician who is training Ian, and Cassie learns things about both of them, that surprises her a lot. I liked reading the book when Cassie could be herself around Ian and actually have a great time and not a horrid time with Dino and all of his troubles. That was the best thing about the book, Cassie around Ian and how she can live without always being scared to be around Dino. 

I think this was an enjoyable read, and many people will like it! 

RATING ANALYSIS: 

1. Plot- 18 out of 20 points.

2. Characters- 15 out of 15 points.

3. Writing- 19 out of 20 points. 

4. Creativity- 14 out of 15 points.

5. Originality- 9 out of 10 points.

6. Ending- 14 out of 15 points.

7. Cover- 3 out of 5 points. 

Equals: 92! 90-93 is an A-

PARENTAL REVIEW:

Violence- Small parts of violence with the character of Dino. 

Mild/Excessive Cursing

Mild/Excessive Sexual Content

Drug/Alcohol Use

Recommended for ages 14 and older.