Review: Zero by Tom Leveen

Title: Zero
Author: Tom Leveen
Release Date: April 24 2012
Publisher: Random House- Net Galley
Genre: YA
Rating: 5 Hoots- Top Pick
Reviewer: Angela

For aspiring artist Amanda Walsh, who only half-jokingly goes by the nickname Zero, the summer before college was supposed to be fun—plain and simple. Hanging out with her best friend Jenn, going to clubs, painting, and counting down the days until her escape. But when must-have scholarship money doesn't materialize, and she has a falling out with Jenn that can only be described as majorly awkward, and Zero's parents relationship goes from tense to relentless fighting, her prospects start looking as bleak and surreal as a painting by her idol Salvador Dali. Will life truly imitate art? Will her new, unexpected relationship with a punk skater boy who seems too good to be real and support from the unlikeliest of sources show Zero that she's so much more than a name.  (Goodreads)

Review:

Zero, by Tom Leveen, is a wonderful story that everyone should experience. I was greatly dumbfounded while reading Zero, especially knowing the author was a man; however Mr. Leveen’s writing skills truly captured the heart and soul of Zero’s character and wrote with such depth and feeling, that he completely blew me away.

Amanda Walsh goes by the nickname Zero and it’s not without irony because that’s exactly how she feels about herself. High school is over and sadly the only friendship Zero has may be over too. The night of graduation, Zero and Jenn’s friendship jumped track and the awkwardness of facing the situation is just too much for Zero to handle...

All her life Zero grew up listening to her father verbally abusing her mother and watched as her mother numbly sulked around ignoring life. Zero’s only solace was through her drawings and the hope of being accepted into the prestigious art school. However, when the scholarship was denied, and now, possibly without a best friend, Zero’s life feels more out of control than ever before.

Not able to handle the constant bickering at home, Zero escapes to a local punk hangout in hopes of drowning her misery in loud music. Sitting at the bar, Jenn shows up and the uneasiness is beyond her minds scope of capacity. Taking the hint, Jenn finally leaves Zero alone in her despair. A hot new band was playing in the club when she arrived and as she waited to leave; not wanting to run into Jenn in the parking lot, she watched the band until they finished their set and made their way to the bar. She noticed him on stage, blue eyes like an endless ocean, and she watched him as he set with ease with the other band members. Completely out of character, Zero sucked up enough courage to speak to the hot band guy… 

Zero is such an emotionally charged book, and quite frankly, that took me by surprise! I looked over this title a few times because I didn’t think reading about the “punk” world would peek or keep my interest but man was I wrong. There are so many emotions throughout this novel: desperation to fit in, first love, realizing self-worth, standing on your own two feet, and the most important, believing in yourself. Zero doesn’t necessarily give readers a happily ever after; it gives you so much more…a realistic end. Tom Leveen is an outstanding author whose written voice should definitely be read. I cannot say enough about this fabulous story!