Spoken
Spoken by Melanie Weiss is a coming-of-age fiction novel published by Rosehip Publishing on March 6, 2019. This 196-page book follows high school freshman Roman Santi, who seemingly has it all—good looks, friends, and a luxurious lifestyle—yet yearns for a meaningful relationship with his father. After a sudden upheaval in his life, Roman moves to his grandparents’ home in the Midwest, where he faces the challenges of a new school and a different way of living.
As Roman navigates this transition, he finds solace and inspiration in the high school’s Spoken Word Club, introduced to him by his friends Zuzu and Claire. Through performance poetry, he begins to explore his identity and the void left by his father’s absence. The narrative delves into themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the impact of diverse perspectives, ultimately leading Roman on a journey toward understanding himself and forging new connections. Spoken offers readers a glimpse into the transformative power of art and community in shaping one’s life.
Official synopsis Publisher
Winner of the 2019 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Bronze Medal in the Young Adult-Social Issues genre.
“While a story of self-discovery, Spoken lends itself to a different curricular option for teachers, a world of possibilities to young readers, and a special inspiration to biological parents. I really enjoyed Spoken.”- Readers’ Favorite Review
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High school freshman High school freshman Roman Santi has everything — good looks, great friends, a mansion with an infinity swimming pool — except the one thing he really wants. A relationship with his father.
When Roman’s life gets turned upside down, (thanks, Mom ?), he is forced to leave his pampered Hollywood lifestyle and move into his grandparents’ Midwestern home. Sleeping on a lumpy pullout sofa and starting at a new high school is the worst, but Roman’s life starts to look up when his pink-haired friend, Zuzu, and his crush, a classmate named Claire, introduce him to performance poetry through the high school’s Spoken Word Club. While his mom is flying back and forth to L.A., trying to return them to the life they had, Roman becomes part of a diverse group of characters who challenge his rather privileged view of the world. Through Spoken Word, Roman recognizes the hole in his own life he needs to fill and discovers his voice. Spoken Word leads Roman on a journey of new friendships, first love, and finding the dad he never knew.
“Spoken” is an uplifting, funny, and heartfelt coming-of-age story that captures how the honesty of performance poetry binds together students from all different walks of life and forever changes Roman’s life.
Melanie Weiss lives and works in Oak Park, Illinois. This is her first novel.
www.melanie-weiss.com
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