Girl on The Other Side by Deborah Kerbal

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 17/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 87/100 or B
Tabby Freeman comes from the richest family in town. She is the most popular girl in school, but honestly, no one really cares for her. Lora Froggett is intelligent, shy, and constantly bullier. Every day, she takes care of her little siblings, because her mother has Multiple Sclerosis and most days she can verily walk. Both Tabby and Lora are in their own world of misery. Slowly, secrets are revealed and these two girls will have to decide, if the secrets have changed them.
I feel as though I have met both of the girls before. I found it interesting, how Kerbel show how complex people can be. I also enjoyed the plot. I feel that it ended too quickly and that it could have been paced a bit better. One of my friend's mom has Multiple Sclerosis and I have seen how much of can effect a whole family. It was a bit original, I liked how Kerbel added family issues to both characters, instead of the basic popular girl vs the unpopular girl story. The writing was pretty good, but I felt that it was better in Mackenzie, Lost and Found. I recommend Girl on the Other Side, to those that like a short book with some complex issues.
Here is a book trailer that Deborah made for it:

Contest: Mackenzie, Lost and Found

I have a signed copy of Mackenzie, Lost and Found up for grabs.
The description is:
Fifteen-year-old Mackenzie Hill knows something is up when she arrives home to find her father making a home-cooked dinner, instead of his standard delivery pizza. But nothing prepares her for the bombshell announcement: Mackenzie and her dad, alone since the death of her mother a year ago, are moving to Jerusalem, where her father has taken a position as a visiting professor at a university.
The adjustment from life in Canada to life in Israel is dramatic - though it's eased somewhat when Mackenzie is befriended by an American girl in her new school. The biggest shock of all comes when Mackenzie faces the wrath of her new friends, new community, and even her own father after she begins dating a Muslim boy.
To Enter: Answer the Question: What is the one place that you wouldn't want to move to?
For Extra entries:
Comment on My review of Mackenzie, Lost and Found (+1)
Comment on My Interview with Deborah Kerbel (+1)
Become a follower (+2)
Be a current follower (+4)
Blog about this Contest, sidebar okay (+3)

Contest is open worldwide and ends on April 4th at Noon.
Best of luck, Sarah.

Interview with Deborah Kerbel

Here is an interview with Deborah Kerbel. She is the Author of Mackenzie, Lost and Found.

1. How did you get the idea for Mackenzie, Lost and Found?
A friend of mine lit the spark of the idea in my head one day over lunch, talking about how her parents moved her from Canada to Israel when she was fifteen and how the experience changed her life. I was on the look-out for a new story idea at the time and this concept seemed like one with HUGE potential for drama, high emotion, and forbidden love. I went home and wrote the first chapter that same day.
2. Do you think that you’ll ever revisit Mackenzie or Nasir?
Yes! As far as I’m concerned, their story is not over. I’ve already started a small file and am slowly collecting ideas for the sequel. I’m in between manuscripts right now, so I might start writing it this Spring.
3. What are you currently working on?
My second YA is called Girl on the Other Side and it’s about two girls who go to the same school, but live in totally opposite worlds. Tabby is rich, pretty and the most popular girl in her class. Lora is smart, timid and the constant target of bullies. Although they’ve never been friends, a series of strange events causes their lives to come crashing together in ways neither could have ever imagined.
If all goes well, Girl on the Other Side will be hitting the bookshelves in Fall, 2009 (yay!). And I just finished the final draft of a new YA that is worlds apart from anything else I’ve ever written before. It’s called Bye-Bye, Evil Eye and -- I don’t even know the right way to describe it – it’s kind of a paranomalish mystery, comedy, romance! Lol - did that make any sense? You can read the first chapter on my website.
4. What advice do you have for teenage writers?
Have fun and live your ‘growing-up’ years to the max – because you’ll draw on these memories and experiences for the rest of your writing career.
5. What is easiest/hardest for you as a writer?
The easiest (and best) parts of being a writer are those moments when the characters start to take on an energy of their own and you, as the author, have to take a step back and let yourself get carried away on the arc of the story. That’s really magical.
The hardest parts for me are the revisions. Going back into the story, taking apart all the carefully woven threads, re-writing, and then tying all the threads back up again as seamlessly as possible. It can be painstakingly tedious.
6. What were some of your favorite books as a teenager?
God, that seems like so long ago! Even then, my literary tastes were pretty wide-ranging. Judy Blume was probably my favourite contemporary author back then (in the 80’s) but I loved reading classics too. The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand was a favourite of mine as was Watership Down and The Hobbit. On the trashier side, I adored the whole V.C. Andrews Dollanganger series -- and I’m not at all ashamed to admit it!
7. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Just a big thank you for inviting me to chat on your blog, Sarah! If you want to learn more about me or my books, you can visit my website at: http://www.deborahkerbel.com/. Good luck to all of you with the contest! And definitely write to me after you’ve read Mackenzie, Lost and Found – I love hearing from readers!

Mackenzie, Lost and Found by Deborah Kerbal

Rating:
Characters: 17/20
Setting: 9/10
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 20/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 8/10
Overall: 90/100 or A
Fifteen year old, Mackenzie Hill is still mourning the lost of her mother. Mackenzie is lost in her grief. To make matters worse, her father has decided to leave the only place she ever knew and the memories of her mother, to go to Israel. Her father gave her the deal of having three months in Israel and then she could always go home if she wanted to.
Mackenzie falls in love with the culture. She becomes friends with Marla, an American girl. Mackenzie also finds Nasir, a Muslim... that she finds herself falling for The three months past, Mackenzie decides to stay without a though. She also finds out that someone is selling artifacts at the Souk. Will Mackenzie be able to find the seller, while being able to keep Nasir?
Mackenzie was an amazing character and I liked learning about her. The setting of Jerusalem, was well done. I have had family there and they commented on the craziness, invisible divide between religions, and the culture. I love the whole star-crossed lovers feeling between Nasir and Mackenzie. I wished for a better ending, but the ending was still really good. I also liked how religion wasn't so overpowering, like I though it might be.
Overall, Mackenzie, Lost and Found is a fantastic book and I recommend it. Kerbel creates such a real setting and plot. Her writing style was flowing and makes you want more. I can't wait for more books from her in the future.
Take Care, Sarah.