March 2012, Electric Monkey
378 pages, Paperback
Review copy
Themes:
drink/drug intoxication while driving, life-changing event, losing
& regaining confidence, being different to others, bi-polar &
its effects on people, murder, suspicion, police investigations, grief
for people and major change to life, life for a traveller, prejudice,
innocent and cutely annoying little brother, understanding mother, teen
relationships (moderately strong), occasional language, some humour,
tissues needed
Summary from Egmont
Ugly people don't have feelings. They're not like everyone else.
They don't notice if you stare at them and turn away. And if they did
notice, it wouldn't hurt them. They're not like real people. Or that's
what I used to think. Before I learned...
After the car crash that leaves her best friend dead, Jenna is
permanently scarred. She struggles to rebuild her life, but every stare
in the street, every time she looks in the mirror, makes her want to
retreat further from the world. Until she meets Ryan.
Ryan's a traveller. When he and his mother moor their narrow boat on
the outskirts of a village, she tells him this time it will be
different. He doesn't believe her; he can't imagine why this place
shouldn't be as unwelcoming as the rest. Until he meets Jenna.
But as Jenna and Ryan grow closer, repercussions from the crash
continue to reverberate through the community. And then a body is
found...
Nayuleska's thoughts
I
wanted to read this to see how Jenna copes with the consequences of the
tragic accident. I felt every tear and negative thought she had in my
own eyes. I like the way Jenna refers to herself when she puts on a
brave face and says the old Jenna. Using 3rd person is her way of coping
with the strong, frightening emotions. It was such a pleasure to see
her turn her life around enough to help someone who most people ignored.
Jenna had the courage and strength within her all the time - she just
needed Ryan to show her the way, no matter what happens to the two of
them in the future. This 10/10 read kept me gripped long past the final
sentence.
Suggested read
For another who has to deal with temporary disfigurement try a book of the same title Skin Deep by Malaika Rose Stanley (1st on the page)
2 comments:
I loved this book too! Definitely one of my favourites.
I have this book for review. STILL haven't read it! ><" Sounds like such an emotional and powerful book, which is why I wanted to give it a try in the first place. I'm glad you loved (or perhaps more appropriately, the story spoke to you) it!
Post a Comment