Mia's family was just going for a snow day drive. They were going to visit friends, have dinner with grandparents, and simply spend the day together as a family. All that changed instantly. A car accident on a slick road took the lives of her family members and now, in a coma, Mia must choose--to stay and live without her family or to go and be with them.
This book was fabulous. I'm really at a loss for how to describe this one. The writing and the story are beautiful and thought-provoking. I couldn't put his book down. It really makes you stop and think. Which choice is easier? The characters were very well-developed and dynamic. The memories/recollections are written so vividly and woven into the storyline in such a way that you really get to know all the characters, even Mia's family. It's almost hard to remember at times that the accident killed her family because the characters become so real.
This story reminded me a lot of Lovely Bones, which has topped my favorite books list since high school. I haven't read something so thought-provoking and beautifully written in awhile. This one was definitely worth buying because I know I'll read it again.
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The Sky is Everywhere / Jandy Nelson / 272 p.
I picked this book up (or rather put it on hold) after I saw it on an NPR book list by Gayle Foreman titled "Oh, To Be Young: The Year's Best Teen Reads." It is an interesting view into death and the grieving process of those "left behind." When Lennie's older sister, Bailey, dies unexpectedly, Lennie is tossed into a world unknown--where she is noticed, no longer in the shadow of her vibrant sister. Lennie always considered herself the "companion pony" to Bailey's racehorse, so her grief is explosive, as you might imagine. Nelson presents in a stunningly well-written narrative the emotional process that Lennie experiences--denial, guilt, passion, sorrow--all packaged in a coming-of-age type of story that will touch readers.
This story is truly in a league of its own. In my opinion, it's a must read. The language is beautiful. The main character is incredibly compelling and nuanced (even if other characters seem to fall flat--this one makes up for it). The storyline is realistic. It's beautiful. Read it.
This story is truly in a league of its own. In my opinion, it's a must read. The language is beautiful. The main character is incredibly compelling and nuanced (even if other characters seem to fall flat--this one makes up for it). The storyline is realistic. It's beautiful. Read it.
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