Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
HarperTeen (2009), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 320 pages
Description
The lives of four very different teenagers become entangled in ways that none of them could have imagined after a short stay at a Caribbean resort.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ericajsc
In theory, this is the kind of book I dream about. It explores the connections between people that they aren’t fully aware of, and I love that idea. However, this book fell a little bit short of my expectations for it. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, but it definitely didn’t captivate me
Let me first say that it was so refreshing to read a book in which some of the main characters were average. Jena and Owen weren’t knockout gorgeous, but neither were they grotesque; they weren’t particularly witty and clever, but they weren’t dull. They were run-of-the-mill teenagers, living life with a small number of good friends and a lot of people who just don’t get them. To me, that’s real, and I applaud Mackler for focusing on those of us who are “normal”, and making it work (because that’s kinda hard to do).
I did enjoy focusing a section of the book on each of the four characters, though I’ll admit that I found it disorienting at the beginning of each section. While I liked watching the characters grow, I found Dakota’s to be a little too quick and easy. I do think that he would eventually come to the place where he ended up, but it seemed to be a bit too soon for him. I almost felt that he hadn’t grappled enough with what he learned. I can concede that it’s possible there was struggling that wasn’t on-page, but I would have bought into his transformation if I’d been able to see some of that.
Because each character had a distinct voice, it was fairly easy to figure out early on in each narrative who the character was. Mackler did a tremendous job with the characterization of both girls, moving Jena from annoyingly whiny and Skye from annoyingly snooty first impressions. Both of them had to go through some pretty disappointing experiences in order to come to a deeper understanding of their true selves. I was left with the impression that they had made permanent, measureable growth by the last page.
I’m not sure exactly what it was about the story, but I closed the book feeling rather indifferent about it. It wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t particularly drawn to it, either. It was okay. I think it lacked the emotional intensity I had wanted to get out of the story, so even though I liked where the characters ended up, I felt a little let down at the same time.
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like I thought it would.Let me first say that it was so refreshing to read a book in which some of the main characters were average. Jena and Owen weren’t knockout gorgeous, but neither were they grotesque; they weren’t particularly witty and clever, but they weren’t dull. They were run-of-the-mill teenagers, living life with a small number of good friends and a lot of people who just don’t get them. To me, that’s real, and I applaud Mackler for focusing on those of us who are “normal”, and making it work (because that’s kinda hard to do).
I did enjoy focusing a section of the book on each of the four characters, though I’ll admit that I found it disorienting at the beginning of each section. While I liked watching the characters grow, I found Dakota’s to be a little too quick and easy. I do think that he would eventually come to the place where he ended up, but it seemed to be a bit too soon for him. I almost felt that he hadn’t grappled enough with what he learned. I can concede that it’s possible there was struggling that wasn’t on-page, but I would have bought into his transformation if I’d been able to see some of that.
Because each character had a distinct voice, it was fairly easy to figure out early on in each narrative who the character was. Mackler did a tremendous job with the characterization of both girls, moving Jena from annoyingly whiny and Skye from annoyingly snooty first impressions. Both of them had to go through some pretty disappointing experiences in order to come to a deeper understanding of their true selves. I was left with the impression that they had made permanent, measureable growth by the last page.
I’m not sure exactly what it was about the story, but I closed the book feeling rather indifferent about it. It wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t particularly drawn to it, either. It was okay. I think it lacked the emotional intensity I had wanted to get out of the story, so even though I liked where the characters ended up, I felt a little let down at the same time.
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LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
Carolyn Mackler does it again in this compulsively readable novel about four teens whose lives become connected after a spring vacation at a Caribbean resort. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen each have their own issues and when their lives briefly touch at Paradise resort, they have no idea how it'll
I'd quickly hand this to fans of Sarah Dessen and Elizabeth Scott. Fans of Carolyn Mackler's previous books will eat it up and Tangled will inspire new fans to pick up her other books as well.
(A more thorough review will appear on my blog close to the pub date.)
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effect their real lives. I found each switch to a new narrator slightly jarring, but I quickly came to love each of them. I'd quickly hand this to fans of Sarah Dessen and Elizabeth Scott. Fans of Carolyn Mackler's previous books will eat it up and Tangled will inspire new fans to pick up her other books as well.
(A more thorough review will appear on my blog close to the pub date.)
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LibraryThing member stephxsu
A one-week spring break vacation at the Caribbean resort Paradise affects the lives of four very different teenagers. Self-conscious Jena learns which guys are and are not worth it; playboy Dakota begins to realize how much of a misogynistic jerk he’s been; teen actress Skye must come to terms
Veteran talent reigns supreme in this intriguing blend of four short stories. Carolyn Mackler shows that she can make any story idea win over her old and new fans with TANGLED.
The four teens’ stories interlap only slightly, but remarkably each one is well defined and strong reads in and of themselves. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all flawed, yet their flaws are endearing and human instead of the consequences of shoddy writing. As a result, we are easily able to delve into the minds of these four.
I was surprised at, but not put off by, how little the four stories were actually interconnected. The first three stories end rather abruptly and incompletely, and it’s not until reading the final story (Owen’s) that we realize how these four characters are supposed to have been affected by one another. The “tangles” are tentative at best, but overall TANGLED is still appealing due to its masterful writing.
Longtime Carolyn Mackler fans like me should not hesitate to pick this one up, while those new to Mackler’s works will be able to appreciate her talent. TANGLED is good for a sweet and lighthearted read.
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with her past and the fact that it may all be an act for her; and reclusive Owen may at least be ready to come out from behind his computer and meet the girl who’s changed his life.Veteran talent reigns supreme in this intriguing blend of four short stories. Carolyn Mackler shows that she can make any story idea win over her old and new fans with TANGLED.
The four teens’ stories interlap only slightly, but remarkably each one is well defined and strong reads in and of themselves. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all flawed, yet their flaws are endearing and human instead of the consequences of shoddy writing. As a result, we are easily able to delve into the minds of these four.
I was surprised at, but not put off by, how little the four stories were actually interconnected. The first three stories end rather abruptly and incompletely, and it’s not until reading the final story (Owen’s) that we realize how these four characters are supposed to have been affected by one another. The “tangles” are tentative at best, but overall TANGLED is still appealing due to its masterful writing.
Longtime Carolyn Mackler fans like me should not hesitate to pick this one up, while those new to Mackler’s works will be able to appreciate her talent. TANGLED is good for a sweet and lighthearted read.
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LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Far from Mackler's best work.
The cast:
Luce and Paula, moms who have been friends since college.
Skye and Jena, daughters, respectively of above moms, who don't like each other all that much. Skye is an actress/model and drop-dead gorgeous. Jena has curves, if you catch my drift.
Dakota and Owen,
The four women take a vacation to Paradise in the Caribbean. The brothers are there with their mother. Jena and Dakota hook up. However, he's a player and drops Jena for Skye.
Owen is a blogger, spending most of his time in front of the computer. He's blogging on vacation and Jena notices the name of his blog. She starts commenting, after they return home. That's enough of the set-up...too much actually.
The book has four sections: April-Jena, May-Dakota, June-Skye, July-Owen. It runs through each person's insecurities, changes in their behavior as a result of some event and their road to ultimate happiness. Unfortunately, while the characters were somewhat fleshed out, the story was not all that compelling. I expected a whole lot more from Ms. Mackler.
The book is told in four sections
The cast:
Luce and Paula, moms who have been friends since college.
Skye and Jena, daughters, respectively of above moms, who don't like each other all that much. Skye is an actress/model and drop-dead gorgeous. Jena has curves, if you catch my drift.
Dakota and Owen,
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brothers, unrelated to above characters. Their parents are divorced and Dakota lives with their father and Owen with their mother.The four women take a vacation to Paradise in the Caribbean. The brothers are there with their mother. Jena and Dakota hook up. However, he's a player and drops Jena for Skye.
Owen is a blogger, spending most of his time in front of the computer. He's blogging on vacation and Jena notices the name of his blog. She starts commenting, after they return home. That's enough of the set-up...too much actually.
The book has four sections: April-Jena, May-Dakota, June-Skye, July-Owen. It runs through each person's insecurities, changes in their behavior as a result of some event and their road to ultimate happiness. Unfortunately, while the characters were somewhat fleshed out, the story was not all that compelling. I expected a whole lot more from Ms. Mackler.
The book is told in four sections
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LibraryThing member GRgenius
This was just what I needed after reading a rather heavy fantasy novel. A lighter tale yet filled with deep issues and conversations, TANGLED provides a moving story about four teenagers, their chance first encounters and the paths their lives take afterwards. You see them grow in ways both hoped
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for and not, all while watching them come full circle in their relationships with each other. Definitely recommended reading....though for the younger set, I would give a caution as to the language and content (serious issues dealt with and sexual situations as well)....happy reading! Show Less
LibraryThing member kariannalysis
Spring has sprung and in just 4 short months, 4 teenage lives will change.
Jena is the bubbly Jewish girl with lots of curves. She loves quotes and will learn a lot on a spring break trip to Paradise. Skye is an actress, curly dark hair, body of a goddess and a lot more problems than is willing to
Now to the boys. Dakota is having some major teen drama. He may look like a heart throb, but a broken heart and a death have put him in a dark place where he isn’t really thinking with his head or heart if you know what I mean. His complete opposite brother Owen is backwards to say the least. He hides behind his blog, Loser on a Laptop, because he doesn’t feel comfortable expressing himself in the flesh.
The lives of these four are about to change. From lust to love to death and suicide, I am glad to not be a teenager in this book.
I have been adoring the cover of this since I first saw it and at the book sale over the weekend, I saw it on the shelf, brand-new and beautiful. Even though I bought 15 books, I had to grab this one as well.
Mackler brings us a quick read, I read it in less than 24 hours. She did a great job of making me remember what it felt like to be a teen, in the midst of high school relationships and learning about myself.
She starts with Jena and each quarter of the book is told from a different character. I love how the writing changed to match the personality and life of each character. But I feel like I was just getting to know the character when the narrator changed.
One thing I didn’t like about this book was although the loose ends were wrapped up, I didn’t feel like I had closure. I guess I was just wanting a little more.
I give Tangled 3 stars.
Jena is the bubbly Jewish girl with lots of curves. She loves quotes and will learn a lot on a spring break trip to Paradise. Skye is an actress, curly dark hair, body of a goddess and a lot more problems than is willing to
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tell everyone. That is until she learns a little about her father and everything starts to make sense.Now to the boys. Dakota is having some major teen drama. He may look like a heart throb, but a broken heart and a death have put him in a dark place where he isn’t really thinking with his head or heart if you know what I mean. His complete opposite brother Owen is backwards to say the least. He hides behind his blog, Loser on a Laptop, because he doesn’t feel comfortable expressing himself in the flesh.
The lives of these four are about to change. From lust to love to death and suicide, I am glad to not be a teenager in this book.
I have been adoring the cover of this since I first saw it and at the book sale over the weekend, I saw it on the shelf, brand-new and beautiful. Even though I bought 15 books, I had to grab this one as well.
Mackler brings us a quick read, I read it in less than 24 hours. She did a great job of making me remember what it felt like to be a teen, in the midst of high school relationships and learning about myself.
She starts with Jena and each quarter of the book is told from a different character. I love how the writing changed to match the personality and life of each character. But I feel like I was just getting to know the character when the narrator changed.
One thing I didn’t like about this book was although the loose ends were wrapped up, I didn’t feel like I had closure. I guess I was just wanting a little more.
I give Tangled 3 stars.
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LibraryThing member gubry
Tangled is a book with 4 different point of views, each one connecting to a spring break vacation at the Caribbean. It shows the life of four different teenagers, each with their own distinct voice. So in a whole, I enjoyed reading this book.
Jena tells the story of the vacation so it was slow at
Dakota, in general, was a very difficult character. Despite this, he was one of my favorite characters to read from in this book. You'd find him very difficult from his attitude and behavior, but as you read further, find that there is more to him than that and it shows more character to him once you discover what he is going through and his changes as a character.
Skye at first, when you see her, is a cold character. From Jena, she thinks that Skye has a perfect life, although it's completely opposite from that. Once you get to her part in June, you understand why. She has problems that are difficult to deal with, especially with her acting career, and her mother. She is a very complex character whose story was one of the most unique.
Owen was my favorite to read from. His is the last part of the book, so you see what happened to each and every character from him. His mom sends him to a camp for Facebook addicts, and it is certainly amusing.
Jena tells the story of the vacation so it was slow at
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times. She is a bubbly girl who likes quotes and keeps a 'book of everything' in it. It reminds me of moleskines. Although she did bug me at times in the beginning because she was whiny, I grew to like her as she eventually changed as a character throughout the different perspectives. So, she's a character that you can relate to easily. Dakota, in general, was a very difficult character. Despite this, he was one of my favorite characters to read from in this book. You'd find him very difficult from his attitude and behavior, but as you read further, find that there is more to him than that and it shows more character to him once you discover what he is going through and his changes as a character.
Skye at first, when you see her, is a cold character. From Jena, she thinks that Skye has a perfect life, although it's completely opposite from that. Once you get to her part in June, you understand why. She has problems that are difficult to deal with, especially with her acting career, and her mother. She is a very complex character whose story was one of the most unique.
Owen was my favorite to read from. His is the last part of the book, so you see what happened to each and every character from him. His mom sends him to a camp for Facebook addicts, and it is certainly amusing.
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LibraryThing member ImBookingIt
I liked this book, and I loved the concept.The overall structure is much like that of [b:The House on Fortune Street], 4 overlapping short stories, each focusing on a different character.Each story gives us a portrait of a character, with only that character fully fleshed out. The other characters
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are seen only through the eyes of that teen. And yes, each teen is on the self-centered side when telling their own story. I liked Jena, the bookworm that's stuck on what should be a dream vacation, but it doesn't quite deliver on that promise. She doesn't get along with her mom's best friend's daughter, Skye, a beautiful, stuck up actress. Then Jena meets Dakota. Jena's first romance is the highlight of the trip-- except that he turns out to be a jerk.And this is when the story changes-- a month later and Dakota's turn. And yes, Dakota really and truly is a jerk (bparticularly to his brother, Owen), and during this story he starts to realize it, and think maybe he should do something about it.Before we see where Dakota takes these thoughts, we move on to Skye. Skye isn't as stuck up as she seems to Jena, and she's having a hard time with her outwardly perfect life. It was fun to come back and see here view of Jena, since I felt I knew Jena from her chapter. Skye doesn't give Jena enough credit, either. And now Jena knows Skye's secret.Owen's chapter closes the book, tying up the loose ends. Owen lives on the computer. He's got a blog where he talks about the ins and outs of daily life as a teen. Jena's sighting of Owen on the vacation that started up piques her curiosity, and the two of them get to know each other on-line. Owen steps out into the real world for a non-computer related adverture, and all four stories are wrapped up nicely.Intertwined might be a better title than tangled, since the strings linking the stories are fairly straightforward. All in all, this was an enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member 4sarad
I thought this was a pretty average book. Nothing was surprising or unique. I liked the characters alright, especially Owen. When he was the narrator, I thought he felt authentic... like a real awkward teen. I thought their lives would be more "tangled" but in reality they all just happened to be
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at the same resort at the same time. Pretty average book. Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
First of all, it shows the life of the four main characters in their point of views in four months, since Skye isn’t really friends with Jena; she realizes Jena’s changed when they meet again after Paradise. Jena ignores Skye and choses her own thing. Dakota goes through a rough time after
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dating and champing Jena in paradise. Skye becomes friends with Dakota but then they aren’t. Owen gets sent to a similar then meets Jena. She looked so different than online; her picture. Jena, Skye, Own and Dakota almost know each other by the end of the book. The events bring them together. I stared this book because I like stories that are form different character point of view. Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
It teaches you about people and you never know what they’re going through unless you get to know them; “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I read this book because of the cover and the summary.
LibraryThing member edspicer
This book is really interesting and unique. I would say that each person’s story is gripping and each characters personality is different but interesting. The plot develops in a unique way and you have to keep inferring. It’s a really great book. I read this book because a few of my fiend read
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this book and said it was good. Show Less
LibraryThing member lindap69
another group of real, likeable, struggling teens who cross paths during a vacation in the Caribbean; I like the interweaving of the plot with the technique of each telling their own story
LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
Scratching another book off my own tbr pile, this book took me by surprise.
1. Point of views. This story contain four short point of views of big changes in their lives. Some changes are good while other are good. It’s clear that in the end, they all learn a lesson.
2. Graphic. Since this is YA
3. Tangled. Just like the title, all of their lives crash violently together to come together for something bigger. They all have a part of each other lives that needed to weave so that they can grow and learn.
4. Taking chances. It clears that all of these teens live hard, fast lives. Taking chances on bad things, they all had to learn to take a chance on something good for once. Even if it means making drastic changes.
5. More. At the end of the story, it came together so wonderfully that I wanted more. I loved Jena’s story and I’m glad that she got a happy ending. I’m still interested in learning what happens to the rest of the characters.
Tangled is great book. Raw and exciting, I can’t wait to read more by this author. A great summer read that will leave you wanting more, Tangled is daring.
1. Point of views. This story contain four short point of views of big changes in their lives. Some changes are good while other are good. It’s clear that in the end, they all learn a lesson.
2. Graphic. Since this is YA
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book I didn’t expect it to be so graphic. Still it had some adult humor in it that made me snicker.3. Tangled. Just like the title, all of their lives crash violently together to come together for something bigger. They all have a part of each other lives that needed to weave so that they can grow and learn.
4. Taking chances. It clears that all of these teens live hard, fast lives. Taking chances on bad things, they all had to learn to take a chance on something good for once. Even if it means making drastic changes.
5. More. At the end of the story, it came together so wonderfully that I wanted more. I loved Jena’s story and I’m glad that she got a happy ending. I’m still interested in learning what happens to the rest of the characters.
Tangled is great book. Raw and exciting, I can’t wait to read more by this author. A great summer read that will leave you wanting more, Tangled is daring.
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LibraryThing member edspicer
This was not one of my favorite books, but I don't regret reading it. I like how all of the characters told things from their perspective and about how they all got tangled together. 3/5 ES I chose this book because a friend recommended it to me. AG
LibraryThing member bladechik99
This story was a lot different than I expected, both in good ways and bad. I felt like the book jacket summary made it sound like Paradise was the setting for the story, though only Jena's bit took place there. I also felt like the POV kept switching just as stuff was getting good and deep for a
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character. Specifically Skye, who I had just started to like, and then Poof! It's on to another character. I would have liked more first-hand telling of people's lives, because it sounded awkward for Owen to explain how Jena knew Dakota, and for Jena to explain what happened to Skye to Owen in his section. I don't know, it was on the verge of being a really great story, but it felt really choppy. Show Less
Awards
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2012)
Milwaukee County Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2011)
OYAN Book Rave (2011)
Original publication date
2009-12-29
Physical description
320 p.; 8.52 inches
ISBN
0061731048 / 9780061731044