Even reluctant readers will anxiously pursue the ending, unable to turn away from the tragedy and in desperate hope for a resolution, knowing there cannot be a happy ending. Strong characterizations capture diversity in gender, race, ability, and sexuality. – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Harrowing first-person narrations reveal the way characters try to understand what is happening, where they are in relation to the emergency, and what they can do to save those they love… readable, gripping, and well balanced. With a thrilling narrative, topical subject matter, and diverse characters, this is a first purchase for libraries serving teens. The starkly chilling realism and themes of abuse, death, and assault, among others, may prove too much for younger or sensitive readers, but the story unquestionably leaves an indelible mark. A highly diverse cast of characters, paired with vivid imagery and close attention to detail, set the stage for an engrossing, unrelenting tale. Love, loyalty, bravery, and loss meld into a chaotic, heart-wrenching mélange of issues that unite some and divide others. This brutal, emotionally charged novel will grip readers and leave them brokenhearted.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |