Gateway

Issue date: 3/9/10 Section: Entertainment

(Photo courtesy of Grand Central Publishing) [Click to enlarge]

New York Times Best-Selling Author Nicholas Sparks breaks away from his traditional love story style with "The Last Song," which focuses on the love between family members.

The book focuses primarily on 17-year-old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller. She is left bitter and resentful after her father leaves her, along with her brother Jonah and her mother, in New York City and moves to Wilmington, N.C., to live on his own.

Ronnie and her father had shared a love for music, and he had taught at Juilliard. However, when he left, Ronnie vowed never to play the piano again.

Three years later, Ronnie's mother makes the decision to send Ronnie and her brother to spend the summer with their father in Wilmington. While her brother is excited about spending the time with their father, Ronnie is still angry with him for leaving and is sure that her summer will be miserable.

Upon arriving in Wilmington, Ronnie has very little to do with her father, and spends as much time away from the house as possible. As time passes, though, she meets some local people who shed a new light on the situation between her and her father.

During her time in Wilmington, Ronnie learns to slowly let her guard down and opens up her heart. She even finds love with Will, a local boy, which she didn't think was possible.

Will teaches Ronnie about what love really means and stands by her as she faces some hard challenges throughout the summer.

After finally deciding to give her father another chance, Ronnie discovers the truth about why her father really left New York. She also discovers the heartbreaking reason why her mother really sent her and her brother to spend the summer with their father.

Sparks did a wonderful job of weaving together all the pieces of this story into a book that readers won't be able to put down. The book debuted as number one on both the "USA Today" and "New York Times" best-sellers lists.

"The Last Song" will debut in movie form on March 31, and it can be guaranteed that readers will be flocking to the theaters to see it.

The movie features Miley Cyrus as Veronica "Ronnie" Miller, Greg Kinnear as Ronnie's father, Kelly Preston as Ronnie's mother, Bobby Coleman as Ronnie's brother, Jonah, and Liam Hemsworth as Will.

Sparks actually wrote the screenplay for "The Last Song" before writing the book. Because of this, the movie should follow the book fairly closely.

"The Last Song" has something for everyone and is sure to please readers. Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down.

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