March 2014, Mira Ink, 257 pages, Paperback, Review copy
Themes: suspended death, family relations, family
ties, grief, pushing people away, telling the truth, hospitals, other people
have problems, being a rebel, getting back on track
Content: Some moderate teen romance, lots of mixed
emotions, a box of tissues is needed
Summary from Elizabeth's website (Mira Ink website was down at time of writing the review)
Since her mother's sudden death, Emma has existed in a fog of grief,
unable to let go, unable to move forward--because her mother is, in a
way, still there. She's being kept alive on machines for the sake of the
baby growing inside her. Estranged from her stepfather and letting go
of things that no longer seem important--grades, crushes, college
plans--Emma has only her best friend to remind her to breathe. Until she
meets a boy with a bad reputation who sparks something in her--Caleb
Harrison, whose anger and loss might just match Emma's own. Feeling her
own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her
existence. Is there hope for life after death--and maybe,for love?
Nayuleska's thoughts
I raced through this book. Somehow Emma's
plight is captivating. I felt so sorry for all the mixed emotions that she
endured and how she struggled to cope with everything being so abnormal. She
makes a huge effort not to do anything that she did before her mother died to
try and avoid hurting, but that only delays the inevitable breakdown.
How she makes up with Dan is easy to relate to and
ever so realistic. It isn't all happiness and light when their true feelings
are aired-there is an awkwardness that remains but that is what is so real.
People don't instantly forgive one another when they mess up. They still can be
angry/upset with them, just as Emma is. I loved how Olivia was always there for
Emma, even when she was horrid, and how they had the special roof thing.
The
Caleb situation was understandable but not my focus on the story. His truth
was even sadder than Emma's. Grief does funny things to people. With the loss of
my grandfather still very recent (April 2014) I choked up countless times during this
inspiring emotional tale, which I'm not going to be able to read again as it's
intense, but one I recommend to everyone. I didn't dislike anything in
particular, it just wasn't a perfect read for me,
Find out more on Elizabeth's website.
Suggested read
For another teen struggling with grief check
out Dandelion Clocks by Rebecca Westcott (Children's, 11 years +, 10E/10E) - you will need tissues!
No comments:
Post a Comment