Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

When I found out that Rainbow Rowell was releasing a short story for World Book Day I might have squealed a little and my heart beat a little faster. I absolutely adore her writing and I imagined a short story would be nothing less than a bite size hug with words. I could not wait!

 

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Novella

Publisher:  Macmillan Children’s Books; World Book Day 2016 ed edition

Publication Date: 25th February 2016

Pages: 96

Summery :  If you broke Elena’s heart, Star Wars would spill out. So when she decides to queue outside her local cinema to see the new movie, she’s expecting a celebration with crowds of people who love Han, Luke and Leia just as much as she does.

What she’s not expecting is to be last in a line of only three people; to have to pee into a collectible Star Wars soda cup behind a dumpster or to meet that unlikely someone who just might truly understand the way she feels.

Kindred Spirits is the story of Elena, a diehard Star Wars obsessed teenager. As the release of The Force Awakens looms she is determined to wait in line for four days to get her ticket. She thought it would be a lot of fun with a hundred Star Wars fans just like her. Instead she got one diehard middle aged fan called Tony and a moody teenager that wouldn’t talk to her.

I didn’t really know what to expect going in to this short story. I love Rainbow Rowell but admittedly know nothing about Star Wars (I don’t even have a mild interest, I’m sorry). So when I found out it was based around the movie, I wasn’t sure I would like it. Turns out I’d probably read a shopping list written by Rainbow Rowell and I’d love it.

The story seemed like much more than just its base around Star Wars. I very quickly fell in love with Elena and Gabe as they got to know each other in the line. Even in fewer than 70 pages Rainbow Rowell manages to create loveable and memorable characters. I definitely swooned over Gabe a little bit.

One of the strongest points about this short story is the ability to create so much joy in such few pages. I have a love/hate relationship with novella’s and short stories because you usually want so much more from it. Whereas I want more of Gabe and Elena’s story (it would seriously make a cute book) I’m so very content with their little blossoming friendship.

If you’ve ever waited in a queue for a movie or a band or anything of the sort, you will definitely relate to this book. You’ll look back with a fondness of all the things you did with those fans that you’d met that day. Not everyone will have the same interpretation of the book but it certainly had a reminiscing feel for me. I absolutely adored it and I still believe that Rainbow Rowell can do no wrong with young adult fiction!