Wow. It's a tough read, but mesmerizing. It's sad...you're hit with several deaths in the first chapter and then spend the rest of the book sitting with the protagonist, Mia, as she stands vigil over her own body awaiting a choice she isn't even sure how to make.
We watch her attempt to interact with loved ones, and relive memories with her. We do a LOT of crying. But as said, we know in the beginning which characters die. So as she relives memories, they are bittersweet. We don't grow more attached to the characters, we just tear up because we know they're already dead.
That said, it's a powerfully told story. What do you have to live for when you lose everything?
Miraculously enough, Mia discovers (or is called into remembering) quite a bit about the world that she would miss if she chooses to go. But if she stays, life will be eternally different.
I really look forward to the sequel
to be released later this year. I recommend this book for middle and high schoolers; and for adults who want a quick but 'thinking' emotional read.
Content warnings: Death. There's a lot of death involved, obviously. Questions of spirituality may be raised since the protagonist is left in limbo, like a ghost, and questions of what happens after death are left unanswered. Some spiritual families will be intrigued and use this as a discussion starter, some may be shocked and offended.
There is also boyfriend discussion. Mia's a teenager. She has a boyfriend. Nothing graphic happens, but the reader is left to draw their own conclusions about the relationship.
There's a lot of discussion potential in this book, too. Mia is a strong female character, even if she is unconcscious through most of the story, and readers will have a lot to think and talk about. I'd let Penguin read it if she were interested. (Unfortunately...she's on her tenth re-read of the Warriors series...)
0 comments:
Post a Comment