Blog Tour: Restoring Harmony - Joëlle Anthony - Interview

Yesterday I had the pleasure of reviewing Joëlle Anthony's Restoring Harmony. It was an incredible book, and I absolutely loved it. Today, I have the absolute pleasure of interviewing Joëlle as well, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene. If you would like to follow along with the tour, you can find all of the tour stops and details listed here.

If you were faced with the decisions that Molly had to make, what would you do? Would you do anything differently? If so, why?

I hope I would be strong and brave enough to do what Molly does, but sometimes I wonder! Some of the choices she makes, I could definitely make myself, like working in the garden and taking over the cooking and the chores. I am much more of a rule follower than I like to admit though. The very first thing Molly does, even before the book starts, is sneak into the United States. I would be so freaked out about being caught that I would definitely get caught and then I’d be in a totally different book than Molly.

If Molly had a theme song, what would it be?

Well, Molly does have a theme song. In fact, she has several. There’s Handsome Molly, a very old traditional song that she plays on her fiddle. Also, Hard Times by Stephen Foster. And the tune Brianna’s Reel was a fictional tune I made up for the book, but the wonderful teen fiddler, Sarah Tradewell wrote for me. In fact, you can hear all those tunes on my website (Sarah and my husband, who are both professional musicians, recorded them). There’s a great story about how I met Sarah and how she came to write the tune and star in the book trailer too. http://joelleanthony.com/restoring-harmony-book-trailer/

What would some of Molly's favourite books be? (Granted she had the time to read.)

I think Molly might be interested in the history of music. She’d probably like memoirs and biographies of famous musicians too. She strikes me as a much more nonfiction type of girl than one who reads simply for fun.

What would the front page headline of a newspaper say about you?

Author Spends Her Days Walking on Treadmill While Writing Novels

My husband’s quote would be something like, “My wife is a write-a-holic. I have to hide her computer on the weekends.”

If you were a tree, what tree would you be, and why?

A fir tree because they bend and sway with the wind. I’m pretty easy-going and flexible. Or at least, that’s what I aim for in life.


Thank you so much for being here today, Joëlle. I loved your answers and can't wait to check out the music on your website (linked here). I think that your meeting with Sarah was quite serendipitous, and I absolutely love Handsome Molly! 

Restoring Harmony - Joëlle Anthony - Blog Tour Review

Sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has only ever known a life where she grows her own food, depends on solar panels for electricity, and relies on horse-drawn wagons and bicycles for transportation. Since the Collapse of 2031, her family has fared better than most, thriving on their isolated farming island in Canada--but Molly knows worldwide devastation lurks just beyond the shores of her home. And when calamities strike all at once, Molly is forced to leave the comfort of the island for the very first time, embarking on an impossible rescue mission in the U.S.

The year is 2041. The oil has almost run out, poverty and crime are rampant, and food is in short supply. Armed with only her ingenuity and sheer farming know-how, Molly braves a chaotic world where people are hungry and desperate, and no one is as they seem. But if she ever hopes to get home alive she'll have to make some tough, fast choices about whom to trust, especially after a crime organization sets their sights on Molly. Her only way out may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there's a handsome stranger who's willing to help. 

Set in an all too plausible postapocalyptic world, Restoring Harmony is a fast-paced romantic adventure with a lot of heart. 

Title: Restoring Harmony

Author: Joëlle Anthony
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: May 13, 2010
Source: Bought. This review is part of Teen Book Scene's blog tour for Joëlle Anthony. Tour details can be found here. 
My rating: 4/5


The economy collapsed ten years ago, and devastation reigns. For Molly and her family, things are a little easier as they have been living off of their farm. That is all Molly has known. When her family receives word that Molly's Grandma has suffered a stroke, their worst fears are realized. With no way to get in contact with her grandparents to see how her Grandma is faring, Molly sets off to bring them home. Further disasters solidify her decision to embark on this perilous journey. She doesn't know what to expect when she arrives, and her journey home may be just as dangerous. 
Restoring Harmony is a thought-provoking and challenging read. It strikes a chord all too real, of a possible future looming for us all. Molly has been isolated in her thinking about the worldwide devastation as she has never been out of her farming community. On her travels she sees the debilitating impact of the Collapse on those less fortunate than her. Crime is rampant. While on her way, she meets a young man, Spill. Molly is happy to make a friend, especially because he is someone who knows the area, and has taken an interest in helping her out. 
Molly is such an inspiring character. She sets out boldly, facing the unknown, and does everything within her ability to help out her family. She is dedicated, engaging, responsible, and talented beyond belief. She cherishes her fiddle, and plays many a lilting tune to the absolute delight of those around her. When obstacles are placed in her path, and she gains unwanted attention, it will take ingenuity on her part to bring everyone safely home with her. I enjoyed the care taken with her grandparents, and those around her. Molly is a hardworking, and heartfelt character.
Her counterpart, and newfound friend, Spill, is a charismatic, handsome young man. He has a soft spot for Molly, and has taken her under his wing. I really enjoyed his character, as he brought another perspective to the story. His questionable line of work shows how the system really works, and that the house always wins. He is an engaging and affable character, at odds with his profession. 
 Anthony's writing is impeccable as the words flow effortlessly across the page. Descriptive without inundating the reader with trivial facts, this makes for an inspiring read. It is easy to see that Anthony has poured out her heart onto the pages of this book, and infused her characters with a warmth, and realness not easily replicated. 
All in all an astounding read, with warm, three dimensional characters. The reader will be lost, mesmerized, in the world Anthony has created here. A courageous, and down-to-earth main character will also entice the reader in, and will have us hoping fervently that things turn out for her and her family. A well-established world, enchanting characters, and an epic struggle for survival as the characters embark on their obstacle-laden journey.