Forte written by JD Spero - Book Review

Forte written by JD Spero

Amazon Link #fortebook

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The story centers around Sami, a young piano prodigy whose world turns upside down after moving to Skenesboro, New York. A place so unlike New York City, Sami isn’t sure how she will fit in. Leaving her two best friends behind, she feels more alone than ever until something miraculous happens. Sami, who has never been much of an athlete suddenly becomes a pro on the volleyball court, taking everyone’s notice. Sami puts aside piano practice for volleyball and slowly, she begins to realize fitting in isn’t necessarily the most important thing in high school.

Piano is Sami McGovern's first love. But when she moves from New York City to her mom's upstate hometown of Skenesboro, she's not only thrust into a new environment, but right onto Skenesboro High's gymnasium floor, for volleyball tryouts. Sami's no athlete. She's a musician. But coach Payne insists she go out for the team. And when she touches Sami on the shoulders, a jolt of magic goes through her, allowing her to hold her own on the court, and make the team. Sami quickly discovers that the school is divided into those who play sports, and those who make art. What she doesn't immediately realize, is the polarity goes way beyond typical rivalry, to a decades old clash between the Goshenite (artists) and Fasha (sports players). And that the sparkling blue sports drink the volleyball players are drinking on the sidelines is Aquamarine (a powerful but dangerous magical substance that enhances performance, but has side effects) including slowly leeching away Sami's ability to play piano. Through her friendship with Brenna, a Goshenite with strange scars on her neck, a romantic interest in Jason, an enigmatic painter and neighbor, and the struggle between her loyalty to them and her volleyball teammates, Sami slowly uncovers what's hiding behind the facade of this sleepy upstate town, and the role she is to play in the unraveling of its long held secrets. 

With an engaging premise, swift pacing, and genuine characters, JD Spero's novel hums along with sweeps and sways one might liken to Sami's piano playing, building to a dramatic crescendo that will leave you unable to put the book down.

What I loved about this book:
- Think Greek mythology meets twenty-first century high school. I love the unique way the story incorporated some familiar figures from Greek mythology. I’ve never seen Hermes and Hephaestus portrayed quite like this, so that was an inventive spin. I also enjoyed the story’s location. Call me a sucker for a canal and creepy old houses in the mountains. There is prophecy, betrayal and some interesting twists and turns. But one thing is clear, Sami’s story reminds me how tough it was growing up during high school.

- Bad blood between two rival factions at school, the Goshenites (artist, painters, musicians, creative types) and the Fashas (athletes) has tragic consequences. It becomes the catalyst; driving Sami to make some realizations about what truly matters and again, the author adds a modern-twist to an age-old story.

- I like how the writer entwines both the groups in the school. To see if Sami can choose the right one. She writes some elements that I didn't see coming, but later you realize what's going on. The only part of the story that I didn't like was the ending. I won't go into details to ruin the story. I also wondered why Sami's mom, who had a big part through most of the story, seem like she was left in bed through half the book, and mysteriously appears in the climatic end. And how Sami had two best friends she had talked about in the beginning, and dreamed about, but not once did they factor into the story line.


What I didn’t love about this book:
- Sami could be a bit one-dimensional at times and while I did feel a bit of frustration with her as a character.

- Frustrating of the poor decision-making. I can understand feeling lonely & wishing to feel accepted. But I have little patience for those who think popularity is worth turning your back on your passions, blatant self-delusion, and either compromising your principles or going flatly against them. The "woe is me" was getting a little annoying.

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