Adios to My Old Life

When she sneaks out to enter a 'Next Latin Star' show, Alegria (Ali) Montero figures it's just a chance to be seen. But when she's selected as a finalist, the Catholic schoolgirl has to confront her old-fashioned father and persuade him that her dreams, while not his, deserve a chance. Ali lives for music and for performance. And she's completely in her element while she's on the stage. Of course, as soon as she's off the stage, she just might be hurling out her guts--she is, after all, a virgin schoolgirl competing with some of the hottest talent in the Latin world. Unfortunately for her, the one other contestant from Miami, sultry Fabiana, will do anything in her power to sabotage Ali and keep her from reaching her dreams. Only one of the finalists will make it all the way to the recording contract, the guaranteed single, the final stardom. Old-fashioned Latin American sponsors insist that Ali have a chaperone since she's under 18, unlike all of the other finalists who get to live in a mansion and enjoy the finest of Miami, but Ali doesn't mind too much since her chaperone is a woman who's had the hots for her father for a long time and who is close to Ali's best friend. She's also not a very strict chaperone and Ali finds she can spend a bit of time with a cute college intern production assistant. But when the pressure is really on, will he be there for Ali--and will Ali be able to cope with the fact that she really is saying adios to her entire old life? Author Caridad Ferrer spins a charming tale of coming of age and young love. With Ferrer's Cuban heritage and bilingual upbringing, the Latin American aspects of the story ring true. The musical elements, too, are completely convincing. I found myself laughing and hoping along with Ali for the right result as she sang her heart out for the crouds, the judges, and for her father. The fan site set up by 14-year-old boys was a laugh, and the overwhelming fan moment scary. ADIOS TO MY OLD LIFE was the surprise winner of Romance Writers of America's top award (the RITA) for best single title romance even though it had been initially entered in the young adult category (because there weren't enough entrants in that category, it was closed and ADIOS was shifted into the adult category). Facing very stiff competition, ADIOS pulled out a deserved win.

If you're a fan of American Idol, like I am, you're going to love this book. If you don't like American Idol, that's okay, too, because you're still going to love this book! ADIOS TO MY OLD LIFE, the debut young adult novel of author Caridad Ferrer, stars seventeen-year-old Ali Montero, a Latino teen who is determined to be a finalist on the reality music show Oye Mi Canto. Ali is a typical teen with a major difference--she has real musical talent. When she's singing and playing her guitar, she can forget about the usual family problems, the crazy friends, the insane school life. When she's inside her own head with only the music, Ali is transformed beyond a normal teenager into a star. The wonderful thing about Ali, though, is that she refuses to let stardom, or even normal trends, change the type of young woman that she is. There's no Jennifer Lopez or Shakira skimpy outfits or butt-shaking in her routines; there's no Ricky Martin or Marc Anthony wannabe groupies worming their way into her life. With fresh and witty dialogue and a heroine that is truly easy to relate to, ADIOS TO MY OLD LIFE is a glimpse into what it means to live your dreams. While Ali lives the life of having her daily highs and lows shown on national television, she's smart enough to know that her music--and not fame and fortune--is what's important. Kudos to Ms. Ferrer for a winning debut novel. This is the perfect story for everyone, whether male or female, young or old, American Idol fan or not.

Read this book. It doesn't matter if you're a guy or a girl, if you're not a fan of Enrique or Shakira, if you're not even an MTV watcher. You'll fall in love with this. Ally is the most liveliest, most likable character I've read in a long time. This is definitely one of the best music themed books I've read. Ferrer's ability to translate music into the written word is magical. I'd give this book ten stars if the option was available!

What a treat! Caridad Ferrer's debut young adult novel "Adios to My Old Life" is a must read for people of all ages who love books as well as music. It has everything starting with a lovable heroine in Ali Montero, a young woman who pursues her artistic dreams but refuses to sell her soul and having a happy (but plausible) ending. Although the story is set in the world of a reality TV show competition for Latino musical artists, Ali's journey deals with issues we all face from the experience of first love to the attempt to individuate from our parents. These elements make the story cozy even as the heroine -- a Cuban American teen who can rock -- is unique. Kudos, Caridad!

While I generally tend to miss the YA category, I found myself loving this one. In her debut, Ferrer hits all the high notes; it's fast-paced, the dialogue has a clear authentic ring to it, and the author has her own distinctive voice. Just as clear is the fact that Ferrer understands and shares her narrator's passion: music, from the musician's perspective. That passion and understanding can be close to impossible to get down on paper; it's a bone-deep instinct, with no halfway point. In Ali, Ferrer has nailed the musician's vibe, writing about it with skill and joy. I'm looking forward to more from her, and would love to see her try her hand at adult fiction, as well.