The Weak Link: Instrumental Book 1
Children/Young Adult; General Fiction (including literary and historical); (Market)
How do you face the enemy within?
It’s hard to become a professional ballet dancer when you have a serious case of stage fright.
An embarrassing performance has stripped sixteen-year-old Genevieve Larsen of her confidence and dulled her love for dance. It couldn’t have come at a worse time — Gen is deciding whether to leave for dance school or continue at her present studio. As she ramps up her dance program, her entrance into the high school’s prestigious marching band program has unexpectedly further squeezed her time, energy, and focus, turning a formerly fun class into a major complication.
John Vance is also trying to keep his head above water as he and his family grapple with the death of his mom through the first anniversary. That coupled with an imminent departure for school and the development of strong feelings for his sister’s best friend, Gen, leaves him filled with frustration and anxiety.
The stakes are high as Gen considers decisions that could impact her for years if she leaves family, friends, and her hometown behind to immerse herself in dance. They’re even higher for John as he attempts to hold his family together. As Gen and John rise to their challenges, they’ll need to figure out what chains and links to strengthen and which to destroy.
This lesson will be instrumental.
A sweet and clean YA contemporary literary fiction novel
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 8.25 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: The Weak Link is relatable for teens who have struggled with loss and anxiety. Gen's desire for dance to be enjoyable again, paired with John's need for his family to reconnect somehow, will touch readers.
Prose: Both the protagonists' internal dialogues and the conversations between characters feel authentic and will transport readers into the storyline. Johnson's personification of Dance and Fear makes Gen's internal battle come to life.
Originality: The combination of navigating grief, loss, and fear while trying to decide whether to be a professional dancer gives this novel a unique angle. .
Character/Execution: Johnson's characters are genuine, and in them, readers will encounter painful examples of unhealthy ways to handle devastating emotions. The growth of individual characters is beautiful to watch, as is the relationships that are healed throughout the novel. Johnson clearly balances Gen and John's respective storylines while perfectly intertwining them at the same time.
Date Submitted: July 27, 2023
