I received this for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Sophomore Year Is Greek to Me by Meredith Zeitlin Published by Penguin on April 21st 2015
Pages: 336
Amazon-Indiebound
Goodreads
A laugh-out-loud high school adventure set in Greece, perfect for fans of Meg Cabot
High school sophomore Zona Lowell has lived in New York City her whole life, and plans to follow in the footsteps of her renowned-journalist father. But when he announces they’re moving to Athens for six months so he can work on an important new story, she's devastated— he must have an ulterior motive. See, when Zona's mother married an American, her huge Greek family cut off contact. But Zona never knew her mom, and now she’s supposed to uproot her entire life and meet possibly hostile relatives on their turf? Thanks... but no thanks.
In the vein of Anna and the French Kiss, Zona navigates a series of hilarious escapades, eye-opening revelations, and unexpected reunions in a foreign country—all while documenting the trip through one-of-a-kind commentary.
My Thoughts:
I had so much fun reading Meredith Zeitlin’s first YA book, Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters that I just couldn’t wait for this one! It’s a companion to the first book but follows a completely different character.
One of my favorite parts of Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters was the humor. I was so glad to see it again in Sophomore Year is Greek to Me!! The little “articles” throughout the story and the ways Zona and her dad interact were highlights. What I didn’t expect were the tears! This book deals a lot with family. My heart went out to Zona as we was meeting her deceased mother’s family for the first time. It was just so bittersweet.
I really enjoyed the travel aspect of this book. Zona and her father move to Greece for a few months. Zona is hesitant to leave the world she knows. I loved watching her open up to a new country and seeing Greece through her eyes. It made me feel a little like I was getting to travel too! I love when a book does that!
When I think back over my reading experience the relationships in the story are what stuck with me the most. As I mentioned, there’s the whole thing with Zona meeting a side of her family she’s never met. But also, Zona’s relationship with her father changes and grows. And her friendships… she keeps in touch with her friends from home but is meeting new people. It was interesting to see how these relationships differed. There was certainly some romance as well but it wasn’t the focal point of Zona’s story. I loved how authentic it was!
If you’re looking for a fun contemporary with a side of feels Sophomore Year is Greek to Me is for you!
Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook
I still haven’t read Freshman Year, but I own a copy and keep telling myself I should read it. And I’m glad to hear how much you enjoyed this one.