Friday, April 29, 2011

"So Shelly" by Ty Roth

I love this cover. John Keats and Gordon Byron have little in common. Keats is academic, sensitive and comes from modest means. Bryon is wealthy, suave and his charismatic charm seduces women in abundance. What Keats and Byron share is a friendship with Shelly, a loudspoken, determined and fiesty young woman. Shelly drowns in a sailing "accident" and these two unlikely teens have been called upon to fulfill Shelly's last wishes. Their adventure begins when they steal Shelly's ashes from her memorial service. As they embark on this journey, they each share their stories of Shelly and her lasting impact. A pseudo love triangle is exposed and each guy becomes privy to her secrets she safely guarded. This book's characters are supposedly based on the writers John Keats, Mary & Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron. The book is somber, the characters decently developed, and it has an interesting premise. Abortion, incest and drug references are included, best for mature teens.