YA Crush Tourney: It's Time!

Welcome to Mercy Falls! Grace Brisbane is currently unavailable, so I'll be representing Sam Roth today! I'm Rachel, and you can find me here and here. For more information on Sam and the Shiver trilogy that he stars in by Maggie Stiefvater, click here. And now, my fellow YA readers and lovers, let the weakness in the knees begin!

Samuel K. Roth. 

(Did you hear that sigh all the girls in the world just made? Did you hear the sigh you just made?)

If you haven't read Shiver, Linger, and Forever, then rush to your nearest bookstore or library. But for now, you'll probably want to know a few things, like who's Sam Roth? Or, better yet, what's Sam Roth?

I'll tell you.

His Deep Side.

Sam has two personalities, kind of like Jekyll and Hyde, but he's not evil. And by two personalities (of sorts, really, since he's still Sam in Personality #2) I mean that Sam turns into a wolf. And no, it's not a Jacob Black-esque werewolf--Sam turns into an actual wolf. So he has a human personality and a wolf personality. (You've got to admit that's kind of hot.) For the most part I'll be talking about Sam as one collective personality.

Gorgeous fan art! Click for the link!

While everyone has their opinion on someone, when I think of a word to describe Sam I think of selfless. He's just so caring. (Imagine a wolf taking care of a cute little bunny. That kind of caring.) He really cares for the people he loves, especially Grace. Minor spoiler alert here: He saved Grace. He risked his life for Grace. Everything he does, from resisting turning into a wolf to living his life as a human, he does in part for Grace. With that he's also extremely determined. He fights for what he wants, for his people, for what's right. It could almost be said that his personality is Grace. Whether he's walking on two legs or four, his summer girl is always on his mind. Their love isn't some sappy nonsense: it's real and genuine and you want to have it so bad. Really, you just want Sam. Throughout the books, he's also vulnerable with fear. He's afraid of the cold, of winter. He fears turning into a wolf, transforming from coherent human to misunderstood wolf. He can't stand to lose the people he loves, and he definitely fears losing his world, the point that he revolves around: Grace. Some people look at it as weakness. But for Sam, it's part of what makes him, him.

The Goods.

There's no denying that Sam has howling good looks. As a wolf, he's visually stunning: there's no denying that wolves are gorgeous creatures. His fur is pettable and gray, which works well with winter in Mercy Falls. And to Grace, he's never just a wolf--he's her wolf. When he's human, he's tall and somewhat lanky--in a good way. He's described as having a mop of black hair, but it's wildly attractive. Plus, he turns into a wolf every year; getting to a barber is the least of his concerns. The one thing that human Sam and wolf Sam have in common are his eyes: 

"I held on to those eyes for as long as I could. Yellow. And, up close, flecked brilliantly with every shade of gold and hazel." Shiver (1)

That's how Grace knew that Sam was Sam, how she knows that Sam is still there when she looks into the eyes of her wolf.

"I can't tell you how I knew it was him, but I never doubted it." Shiver (60)

It's hard to put in words the swoon-worthy hotness that is Sam Roth. So, here's one of many pictures that bring him to life.

Alex Turner as Sam Roth. (Stiefvater approved!)

A Music Man.

There are some things about a boy that just scream hottie. One of those is physical attraction, which Sam definitely has. He also writes songs. And sings. And plays the guitar. (You might want to wipe that drool off your chin.) The best part about his musical talent, genius, and artistry? His music is real. It isn't any of that pop-like stuff that people like Cody Simpson and Justin Bieber perform. Sam writes his own music and performs it straight from the heart and the soul. (See music sample at end of post.) It's amazing. He's amazing. And it's more than just a talent or a hobby--it's part of what makes Sam, Sam.

Weak in the Knees Yet?

If you're reading this you probably like books. (If not...well, then, welcome!) Fun fact about Sam: he works at a bookstore. If you're not jealous, you're swooning. Or both. As if it wasn't enough for him to play the guitar, he also works in the land of books. I can imagine Sam quoting famous works: "O Grace, Grace, wherefore art thou Grace?" Admit it: your crush on him just got bigger. And when you read the books you realize something: he's just a really good guy. Plain and simple. Oh, and he folds paper cranes for fun and hangs them from the ceiling. (You're about to go do that to your room, aren't you?)

In the End.

I'm pretty sure that I didn't do Sam much justice. The only way to give him the true justice he deserves is to read the books. And, all bias aside, you really should read the books: they're amazing! I was going through Shiver to find some quotes (I haven't read it an a while) and I became completely engrossed and reread parts all the way to the last page. Yeah, it's one of those books. For now all I (and Sam) can say is "Vote for Sam!" You won't regret it! 

Thanks for coming to Mercy Falls! As you leave (and, maybe, vote), here's a little song from the one and only Samuel K. Roth that he wrote for his summer girl. Enjoy, readers!

"I fell for her in summer, my lovely summer girl

From summer she is made, my lovely summer girl

I'd love to spend a winter with my lovely summer girl

But I'm never warm enough for my lovely summer girl

It's summer when she smiles, I'm laughing like a child

It's the summer of our lives; we'll contain it for a while

She holds the heat, the breeze of summer in the circle of her hand

I'd be happy with this summer if it's all we ever had."

- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (231-232)

Feel free to share the love!

It's a SHIVER that will LINGER with you FOREVER. Vote for Sam! #TeamSam #SamsPack #YACrushTourney http://www.ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com

Click here to vote for Sam!

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THANK YOU!