Just Call My Name

I loved this story. This is the sequel to "I'll Be There." Both are terrific.

**I received an egalley from the publisher** I read I'll Be There, the book that introduced these characters, to get up to speed on the story so I could review Just Call My Name, which continues the story. The first book was fine. The characters certainly intrigued me, but I wasn't 100% wowed. Wanting to follow the characters, and especially knowing there was another book hat was going to continue the story kept me reading. This book had a stronger pacing than the first one. Maybe it's just because the scene was set, and I already knew the characters and the situation. The characters each had a lot of growth during this novel, and new characters were introduced as well. The background from the first novel that led into the story is this: Seventeen-year-old Emily is singing a rather unremarkable solo at the church at which her father is working as choir director, when Sam comes in and sits in the back row, as he often does in whatever town they've landed in. He likes the music. He also likes knowing that he's invisible. No one ever notices a guy like him, scruffy. But today, someone did. Emily locked eyes with him, and sang that Jackson 5 song "I'll be there." He left, but she sees him again in a parking lot and chases him down. That's how their story starts. He learns about her family, she learns about his. They are star-crossed lovers to an extent, and this story is about what happens when a misfit boy with an awful father survives and makes sure his younger brother Riddle does as well. So that was the first book, then this book picks up immediately. Riddle and Sam are both proving to be amazingly adaptable and yet challenges are thrown their way which change things. Sam is suddenly confronted by the attention of another girl. This provides an interesting but atypical love triangle kind of setting (throw in the guy who likes Emily, and it's really a love square). The characters are typically Sloan-esque, a little quirky and totally over-the-top in some ways (in which I fell in absolute love when I read Counting by 7s) especially the addition of Destiny, a pixie of a girl whose life has taken many of the twists and turns that Sam's has. I loved getting to know all the characters better and seeing them continue to develop, but what really made this novel work for me was the last 1/3 or so, which was a fast-paced edge-on-your seat ride. I honestly didn't see how it could wrap up in a timely fashion as I flew through the pages, but it did. Fans of suspenseful thrillers who like well-developed characters should definitely check this out.

Very good

A must-read for all young adults, but read the first book first, as this is the second!

Sam, Riddle, and Emily are characters I recently came to know, after reading the first book in this series, I'll Be There. While I felt I'll Be There could stand alone, I was grateful to be able to revisit this now-family to see what came next for them. Just Call My Name takes up exactly where the first book left off with Sam and Riddle living apart from the Bells - due to the nature of Emily and Sam's relationship - but still part of their family. Summer is just starting, and each kid has their own thing going on. Sam is starting school, Emily's started a new job, and Debbie Bell is determined to teach Riddle how to read. Pretty quickly the story takes shape by reintroducing us to the boys father, who is formulating a diabolical plan. There are some new characters introduced in this book. Mainly, Destiny, a beautiful, but slight girl with a big personality. Coming from a background similar to Sam's, Destiny is skilled in the arts of manipulation and getting by. In the beginning I was disappointed that after everything Sam and Emily went through in book one that their relationship had to suffer further testing. There was something about Destiny that I simply didn't trust, and I guess I still feel that way. Alongside the new faces were also some old ones I thought I could live without reading about again. However, Clarence and Bobby served their purpose in this story. In the end, I even warmed up to Bobby a little. And Clarence... What a nightmare. Holly Goldberg Sloan may write in lyrical prose, but that doesn't lessen her villain's venom. I was sickeningly satisfied with the conclusion to Clarence's story. Riddle is still my favorite. I will always root for that kid and kids like him. It killed me that Jared was so jealous of Riddle. However, I understood. If someone came into my home at the tender age of ten and it seemed like everyone, including my dog, liked them better, I would have felt that way, too. Riddle and Jared's relationship was nice to see. It added another element to the story, that thanks to the third person omniscient point of view we got to see. Just Call My Name is a high drama, fast paced read that elicits emotion of all sorts. There were times I wanted to scream and cry simultaneously, and spots that made me gooey inside. While you'll find familiar themes, like the color orange, this book is all its own. Well worth the read. Think there will be a third?

The lovable characters really grow in this sequel to “I’ll Be There”. This book is a quick read—especially since it’s hard to put down!!

I read this book when I was in 6th grade and it was so good that I gave it to my reading teacher so more kids can read the book.

Super Buch!