Review - The Gifted Ones by Lisa Vaughn

Title and Author: The Gifted Ones by Lisa Vaughn

Publisher: Create Space

Publication Date: April 19th, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 228

Genre: Memoir

Summary:

Lisa was conservatively raised in a Catholic family in no-where middle America, where excitement is scarce and dreams are for sleeping. Little did she know, at age thirteen, she would suddenly find herself on a totally different path. Through an unlikely chance meeting of a fellow classmate, she's surprisingly mesmerized, almost consumed, to befriend a girl who is obviously from the other side of the tracks...the cool side. Lisa does whatever she has to just to be accepted into this small club of coolness. Little did she realize, she was signing up for a lot more than social status. The two best friends find themselves innocently taking their relationship to a foreign level neither had experienced or saw coming. A rollercoaster ride littered with choices and challenges Lisa never fathomed facing, especially in no-where middle America. She will find out what she is made of as she faces the consequences and struggles that come along with going against the grain. Throughout their six year relationship, you will witness a touching story of human nature at it's best...and at it's worst. Showing just how far the human spirit can be challenged and pushed to a point where your “fight or flight” instincts naturally kick in. Struggling just to survive in a world where you are not like everyone else, but at the same time you really are. The daily struggles- both internal and external- are exhausting, yet necessary in their quest for one simple human need....love. Finally breaking through all constraints that hold them back, reaching levels of one-ness that few actually obtain in a lifetime with their partner...only to find once they've reached that special place, it's not quite the right fit...for one of them, at least. This contemporary story will lead the reader through highs and lows, giving insight to the every day challenges of the socially unaccepted, which will no doubt leave them rooting for the underdog. Appealing to a wide variety of audiences, both homosexual and heterosexual, as the true message is not sexually based. A true story of human resilience and the power of love...plain and simple.

Review:

The Gifted Ones is the first memoir I’ve reviewed and I was a little worry about it but ended up being very pleasantly surprised.

Lisa’s the eldest child of a strict and catholic couple, growing up in the 70s and 80s. When Lisa is thirteen she meets Selina, who awakes certain feelings in Lisa she doesn’t fully understand. Explaining those feelings to her parents is a hard task for Lisa, especially considering her parents cannot accept them.

The book follows Lisa and Selina on their journey during the next years as their relationship develops and they struggle to be accepted and make others understand they have the right to be together.

I enjoyed reading about Lisa and Selina’s struggles as a couple, overcoming difficulties. As they grow, their relationship changes and they start to drift apart.

The way Lisa writes makes you feel like you are experiencing everything along with her and Selina. Her writing feels real and the reader is able to identify with what is going on and her feelings.

I would recommend this book to anyone because I think we can all learn a little something from The Gifted Ones. The book is heart-warming and an interesting and quick read. 

Go read this one!

Rating: Somewhere Between Worth Your Time and Must Read (4 ½ Stars)

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