Sia by Josh Grayson

Sia by Josh Grayson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A very sweet, lovely story with a great deal of predictability.

Sia awakens on a park bench to realize she has lost her memory. The only reason she knows her name is from a playlist on her ipod, which says "Sia's playlist". Instead of going to the police or a hospital to find out either what is wrong with her or if someone is looking for her, she becomes homeless for about a week. She meets Carol, a wise and lovely homeless woman, who helps her maneuver through soup kitchens, getting clothing, and sleeping under a bridge.

When Sia is in an accident, she wakes up in a hospital, still without her memory, but at least with an identity. Sia finds she has fugue amnesia, which is caused by some form of stress. As she tries to return to her normal routine, Sia discovers several family issues which could be the cause for her amnesia. She also finds the person she has been was a cruel fashionista who "ran the school" with her best friend Amber.

The best part of this YA novel is Sia getting a second chance at life. Due to her amnesia, she starts over as a much more loving and giving individual. Her father helps her to see this is more consistent with the young child she was than with the teenager she has become. Even when her memory returns, Sia stays the sweet girl she has become.

What makes the story difficult, is Sia's life now does a 180 due to her amnesia and everything works out amazingly well. All of her family issues, and her personality concerns disappear in the blink of an eye. The new Sia is loved by all and has a totally giving, loving personality. In addition, she is beautiful, confident and able to turn around the lives of her family, her friends and her community.

This is a sweet story with a very interesting premise. It is not difficult to like Sia, the person, but it is difficult to believe Sia, the book. I would recommend this for a very young and innocent preteen as a sweet coming of age story and an opportunity to think about those who are less fortunate. A more savvy, high school teen may just find this a bit too saccharin.



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