Thursday, July 10, 2014

REPOST: Nicholas Sparks’ latest love story appeals to teen readers

Nicholas Sparks' novels have tugged the heartstrings of largely mature (and later young adult) readers for years. Teens and Twenties' Kristian Whitesell writes about how Sparks' 2011 book “The Best of Me” would fare with teen readers.

Image source: NicholasSparks.com


Nicholas Sparks has done it again. He’s added another novel of romance and tragedy to his already extensive list of novels. “The Best of Me,” released on Oct. 11, is a story about two high school sweethearts, Dawson and Amanda, whose teenage romance was quickly halted because the two were not from the same social status. Amanda was born into a family that was highly respected by others.

Against her family’s wishes, she began seeing a man whose family was in and out of prison. Amanda didn’t judge Dawson because of his family; she didn’t care who his father was.

Image source: NicholasSparks.com

Unfortunately, life doesn’t always let us make our own choices. Dawson cared for Amanda more than himself, so he let her go. Neither of them ever forgot each other, but they created lives for themselves and moved on. Amanda went to college, married a good man and raised a family with him. Dawson’s life changed, too. After another incident with his family that landed him in jail, he determined that he would never go back to that town.

As is everything in life, though, things happen that we don’t expect. When a mentor of Dawson and Amanda passes away, his last request to them brings them back together in the small town in North Carolina where they first met and fell in love.

Image source: moviexclusive.com


Through a series of events afterward, Dawson and Amanda fall in love again and face hard decisions that result from it.

Nicholas Sparks is famous for his use of many emotions in his novels. Gripping everyone’s hearts with its believable characters and tragic events, “The Best of Me” is no different.

For more on the works of Nicholas Sparks, visit this Sheryl Pouls blog.