Spark by Brigid Kemmerer Review

Hello lovely readers!

(Cover photo provided by GoodReads)

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer 
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Publication Date: August 28th, 2012
Source: Both Publisher and Netgallery!!!!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!
Rating: 4.5 OUT OF THIS WORLD STARS!!!!!!
Add To GoodReads!

Today is a special day when I get to share with you all my opinion of a book in a series that I will recommend to anyone I meet. Brigid Kemmerer is one of my favorite authors ever. Spark is as unforgettable predecessor Storm.  I read through this whole book twice and loved every minute. The first time I read it in only three hours.

I always find it hard to read sequels to books I love because I always find myself continuously comparing the two books to each other. I found some similarities between the two books. Both books were about a strong girl falling in love with one of the Merrick’s brother, a party scene and a huge confrontation. I found Spark had a better and more startling confrontation between Gabriel and the villain of this book. 

Spark also earns brownie points because I connected more with Gabriel then I ever had with Chris in Storm. I found myself feeling sorry for Gabriel as he struggled through math, lack of any real friends, besides his brothers, and faced being blamed for starting fires.

I always wanted a twin.  At least, I always wanted a person who could stand by me no matter what and understand me completely. Nick and Gabriel have that desirable connection. In Spark, they fight and face an estranged relationship. I felt Gabriel’s sorrow and understand his stubbornness to apologize and make up.  He struggles controlling his anger and his bluntness to spit out insults. At the same time, he is loyal and passionate. Gabriel is really one of the most dimensional characters I have ever met. 

And so is Nick. I love Nick; truly, He is so compassionate, friendly, good at heart and determined to succeed. I strongly want to read Nick’s point of view. I want to see how he views the world so much.

Layne is the girl who Gabriel falls in love with. She has many good characteristics that I would want in a friend: independent, strong, kind, loving, brave. I liked her unwavering caring nature for her younger brother Simon. Simon is a great character in his own right. He is deaf but he does not let that disability disable him from reaching his goal to play basketball and help Layne find happiness.

What I like most about Spark is how it dwells into two distinct dysfunctional families. One has parents and one does not, but both face problems that anyone can experience in real life. I found myself being disgusted for Layne’s horrible absent mother, understanding Michael and Layne’s father’s struggle between being too strict and caring for their family. Spark is truly a book about the importance of family that I appreciate. It is always good to remember family. A true family will be there during any struggle no matter what disagreement occured before. 

Overall, Spark is a remarkable story about the wondrous  and dangerous nature of fire, the need for love and loyalty and the bond that binds a true family together.

Thanks for reading!