Your eyes are not deceiving you. I really did read and now reviewing Melina Marchetta’s Saving Francesca. It all begins with Steph gushing over the cover of Piper’s Son. It is a very awesome cover. One that you’d gladly flaunt while reading. I found out later that it’s a tie-in novel to Saving Francesca. I was intending to skip Saving Francesca, but Chachic insisted that I should read it first. (Naughty bloggers are naughty!) Marchetta is a renowned Australian author whose third novel, Jellicoe Road, is a Printz Award-winning book so I thought it is safe — not too cheesy, girly, and a cringe-inducing romantic book. Besides, I read and enjoyed Anna and the French Kiss, why not give Francesca a try?
Francesca Spinelli is an outcast in her school. Not really surprising considering her new school, St. Sebastian’s, is previously an all-boys school and only opened for the females by giving them their own comfort room. Francesca would have never choose going to St. Sebastian’s if not only for Mia, her domineering and over-the-top vibrant mum. And then one morning, Francesca discovered Mia bedridden and succumbing to depression. Days passed and Mia is still not showing any sign of returning to her usual vibrant self. Francesca soon realize that without her mum telling her what to do and her former St. Stella friends telling her who she is, she is lost.
The first thing that comes into my mind after finishing this is that the cover is doint the book a great disservice. Many would look at it and dismissed it, thinking that it’s a silly book. And it’s not a silly book. Despite being a very quick read, Saving Francesca has depths some 400+ pages long novels fails to have.
Saving Francesca is about identity, family and friendship. It’s not really a romance novel because for me, this is actually the weakest(or probably the ONLY weak) point of the book, much thanks to Francesca’s underwhelming love interest, Will Trombal. Francesca needed someone sturdy to hold on to and Will is not that. She did not need someone who will snog her and then leave her behind, making her more confused than she already is. To me, Will is as lost as Francesca is. His weak characterization became even more apparent because all the secondary characters are fully fleshed-out. If this is a teen movie, we can consider Will as the token hot guy –only he’s not hot, Francesca said it herself.
Fortunately, what Will’s characterization lacks, the other characters fulfills. I like how Francesca’s father was drawn. Robert is not the perfect parent, nor the completely fucked-up one. His personality is weak in comparison with Mia, but I admire that he’s portrayed as ‘human’ as he can be. Francesca and Robert’s relationship brought the most tender scenes in the book. Francesca’s entourage of colorful group of friends is also one of main attraction of the novel. Each one of them is interesting and I love to know more of their stories. Can Marchetta not stop with Thomas’ story? I particularly love that little scene when all 6 of them are in Francesca’s room after her little expedition to some far-flung place. I love the dynamic of the group established in that scene and it amplifies one of the underlying messages of the book, that through your real friends, you find your way back to who you truly are.
Despite the dark stain that is Will Trombal, Saving Francesca is still a pretty solid contemporary YA novel. It is a charming quick-read that is a great introduction to the works of Melina Marchetta. And if there’s one thing I really learned from this book is to never be taken aback by its silly, girly cover and trust your bookish friends’ judgment insteat. You see, I’m already growing as a reader. You all should be proud of me! 
Great review.
I have this book waiting for me some time when I need a book to pick me up from a slump (which I feel is very soon, but Fforde has a priority). 
And LOL on you growing as a reader. I’m proud.
You should read it soon cause Piper’s son will be released next month! And seriously, just basing from this book, Melina Marchetta can give John Green a run for his money. I only have read one book from her so it’s a little premature to say that they are of the same league.
Wait for it! Judging from what you said, Marchetta may join Green and Dessen in my Contemporary royalty. Haha.
Yay, you read it! Congrats on growing as a reader.
And yes, I don’t mind taking the blame for persuading you to read this.
I felt the same way about the cover, it really doesn’t justify what’s inside. I don’t think I would’ve read this book based on that cover. Good thing I fell in love with Jellicoe Road so I decided to read the rest of Marchetta’s books. I really can’t wait for The Piper’s Son. I’ve heard so many good things about it!
Neither does the Australian cover that features a girl (that looks a lot like Katy Perry ) do the book any justice. And yes, I can’t wait for Piper’s Son either. The amount of temptation to pre-order it is too much as it’s 25 % off at BD!!! OMG!
Funny, because I had a huge crush on Will Trombal when I first read the book back in high school…
Glad you’ve read and enjoyed a Melina Marchetta book!
Maybe his charm doesn’t work male readers? Or perhaps our DNA tells us that he’s a competition?
Will is not a stain, Aaron! I liked Saving Francesca when I first read it but it really stands up to being read over and over again. I love it now. The Piper’s Son is a fitting companion to it – five years later and everything still a mess. I think you may like Will more (possibly less) after reading TPS – regardless you’ll have stronger feelings.
Marchetta is royalty. She’s trying things that Green and Dessen have yet to do – break fully out of their comfort zones. But they all are representative of amazing contemporary work. SF is amazing considering it was her second work, Jellicoe being her third. Cannot wait to hear your reaction to Jellicoe.
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Jellicoe Road was so divine that I’m looking for more of Marchetta’s work. Based on this review, I believe I’ll be picking SF right up.