500 Words or Less

Name: 500 Words or Less
Brand: Penguin Random House
Availability: InStock
Author: Juleah del Rosario
ISBN: 9780593104002

Author: Juleah del Rosario

Narrator: Annie Q

Unabridged: 3 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Listening Library

Published: 04/02/2019

Categories: Young Adult Fiction, Social Themes, Asian American & Pacific Islander, Novels In Verse

Synopsis

A high school senior attempts to salvage her reputation among her Ivy League-obsessed classmates by writing their college admissions essays and in the process learns big truths about herself in this mesmerizing debut novel-in-verse, perfect for fans of Gayle Forman and Sonya Sones.

Nic Chen refuses to spend her senior year branded as the girl who cheated on her charismatic and lovable boyfriend. To redefine her reputation among her Ivy League-obsessed classmates, Nic begins writing their college admissions essays.

But the more essays Nic writes for other people, the less sure she becomes of herself, the kind of person she is, and whether her moral compass even points north anymore.

Provocative, brilliant, and achingly honest, 500 Words or Less explores the heartbreak and hope that marks the search for your truest self.

About The Author

Juleah del Rosario wants you to know that she grew up outside of Seattle on the eastside. She currently lives in a book- and mountain-filled existence as a librarian in Colorado. She is Chamorro and Filipina. Most importantly, she wants you to know that you are loved and you are whole.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Whitney

There was nothing particularly wrong with this book, but it was just so mediocre that I know I won't think about it ever again. I didn't really understand why this book needed to be written in verse because it stunted the delivery of the book, but if the author had chosen to written the whole book o......more

Goodreads review by julianna ➹

the mc's thought process is basically a depiction of all my darkest thoughts on sleepless nights Maybe I was broken inside, with a moral compass that no longer pointed north. Or maybe I just wanted to be wanted, to be heard, to be seen, by someone. Anyone. 500 Words or Less is about a half-Chinese, half-whit......more

Goodreads review by Emma

3.5/5 Stars This book explores the theme of loss on so many levels: the loss of a mother who ran away without looking back, the loss of first love, the loss of the closest friends you ever had, and also in part the loss of yourself. I liked how most of these themes were tackled and I appreciated Nic'......more

Goodreads review by Shealea

The premise is intriguing and quite novel. However, the execution left a lot to be desired. I think this mainly stemmed from the limitations of its format. Frankly, I just could not see why this story had to be told in verse. Honestly, I think the impact of 500 Words or Less would have been more bea......more