'Three Meters above the Sky’ is a moving teen story, not as versatile as I expected, but easy to read and the characters are extremely likable. The story based on a book of the same name, revolves around a couple of teenagers who belong to entirely different worlds.
Babi, a teenage girl from a wealthy family, attends prestigious private school in Rome. Unwittingly, she falls in love with Step, a rebelous temperament boy, who likes motorcycles, racing and often gets involved in fistfights. Babi is an excellent example of the good girl with exemplary conduct. Step, on the other hand, follows the image of a bad boy. He does not have a regular job and steals things to trade them for money. When Babi and Step fell in love, is like two different worlds collide. Something that sooner or later will result in an emotional breakdown.
Curiously, the book was first published in 1992. Back then the writer had to take all the costs for the editing service. Thankfully, once it hit the shelves in bookstores, it became an instant bestseller. When it was re-edited in 2004, its succeess grew bigger, well, bigger enough to inspire Italian movie makers to shoot a film. Now, there are two movies based on the book – an Italian and Spanish version. The second is known to be more successful, probably because the public adored the actors Mario Casas and Maria Valverde, playing Step and Babi. After I finished reading the book, I felt excited and eager to watch the Spanish adaptation. And it blew me away. I think it is better than the book. Positively, fans of the romance genre would enjoy the book more but I suggest not to set your expectations too high. For a teenage read, it is a masterpiece. Although the plot may seem a bit too simple for my taste, it can manage the dynamic and still be engaging. If you want to take a break from the classic thrillers, crime fiction or fantasy literature, this book can be the right choice.
‘Three Meters above the Sky’ deserves to be included in a Top 10 list of best romantic teen books of all time.
