Book:  Songs For A Teenage Nomad
Author:  Kim Culbertson
Published:  September 7, 2010 from Sourcebooks Fire
My edition/number of pages:  ARC/256

Age group:  Young adult
Source:  Publisher
Series?:  No.

What is the soundtrack of your life?

After living in twelve places in eight years, Calle Smith finds herself in Andreas Bay, California, at the start of ninth grade. Another new home, another new school…Calle knows better than to put down roots. Her song journal keeps her moving to her own soundtrack, bouncing through a world best kept at a distance.

Yet before she knows it, friends creep in-as does an unlikely boy with a secret. Calle is torn over what may be her first chance at love. With all that she’s hiding and all that she wants, can she find something lasting beyond music? And will she ever discover why she and her mother have been running in the first place?

I had very high expectations for Songs For A Teenage Nomad and it sadly did not live up to them.  It was a good book but it seemed lacking at times and I honestly just wanted more from it.

Calle Smith (pronounce Callie) is used to moving.  What she isn’t used to is having friends.  That is only one of many changes to Calle’s life when she moves to Andreas Bay.  Another one is Sam.  He’s not like other guys but he is hiding something.  His family has their share of secrets and he’s not willing to tell.  Add a mysterious letter from Calle’s long gone dad and her whole life is a mess.  What else has been hidden from Calle?

I’m going to start with the good about this book:  the writing.  Kim Culbertson’s writing was amazing.  I felt like I was living Calle’s life.  It was so descriptive and just plain beautiful.  It was definitely the main reason I kept reading.

Now for the not-so-good:  the characters.  This has to be the first book ever where I didn’t like the male love interest.  In fact, I detested him.  He was a wimp with no backbone who couldn’t face telling his friends that he liked a girl outside of their circle.  I felt that he needed to grow up and Calle needed to move on.  She was a great character except for her obsession with Sam.  I honestly did like her, I just couldn’t see why she had feelings for him.

Overall, Songs For A Teenage Nomad is a beautifully written book that could have used a little more character development.  I did enjoy it but this is one I recommend checking out from your library before buying it.

First line:  “My dad named me Calle after a cat he had in college that ran away.”

Writing:  5

Characters:  3

Plot:  4

Ending:  4

Originality:  5

Overall:  21=B

Cover:  4=B-