Short-Take Reviews | The YA Edition: Hope and Other Punch Lines and Birthday

HOPE AND OTHER PUNCH LINES
Julie Buxbaum
Publication date: May 7, 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
Format: Hardcover
Source: Gifted by Sam (We Live and Breathe Books)



GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka "Baby Hope") wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.

Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She's psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope.

Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it's a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers? 

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Sixteen-year-old Abbi has lived her life in the shadow of 9/11 – not only as a survivor but as the subject of a famed photograph from that day. She longs to escape the notoriety even as she is dealing with health issues that stem from her exposure to the fall-out on that terrible day. She meets Noah while working as a summer camp counselor and is drawn into his project to track down everyone from the famous photograph. What starts as unwilling participation turns into a genuine friendship – and possibly more – when Noah and Abbi spend more and more time together. Their friendship was so genuine and the dual POV worked so well at showing how they both navigated the new relationship. Noah’s own connection to 9/11 broke my heart and, as truths were revealed, I definitely shed some tears. The secondary characters were stellar – including Abbi’s parents and grandmother, Noah’s friend Jack, and the other survivors from the photograph – and they each added so much depth and realism to the story.

I’m so, so tired of always worrying about our world splitting into a before and an after again.

A book whose narrative focuses heavily on 9/11 can be an emotional look at a tragic and defining moment in U.S. history – or a disrespectful plot device used to play on emotions. Thankfully, Buxbaum’s Hope and Other Punch Lines falls into the former category and she writes about 9/11 and its aftermath with respect and gravitas. This was a moving and unforgettable story. (So many thanks to Sam for sending me her hard copy of this book. A book is always a special gift and this one was truly a stand-out. Thank you, Sam!)

4.5/5 STARS

BIRTHDAY

Meredith Russo

Publication date: May 21, 2019

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library Loan

GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

Two kids, Morgan and Eric, are bonded for life after being born on the same day at the same time. We meet them once a year on their shared birthday as they grow and change: as Eric figures out who he is and how he fits into the world, and as Morgan makes the difficult choice to live as her true self. Over the years, they will drift apart, come together, fight, make up, and break up—and ultimately, realize how inextricably they are a part of each other.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Oh, this book. I think it broke me. I had almost decided not to review it because, to put it bluntly, the story made me sad. And while I’m glad I read it I wasn’t sure I wanted to dwell on it or discuss it. But I can’t quit thinking about it so here we are. Birthday follows Eric and Morgan from the ages 13 through 18. We see their lives only once a year, on their shared birthday. They’ve been best friends since birth, but that friendship is tested as they both deal with changes within their families and within themselves. These two kids went through hell, much of it silently and all alone, and my heart broke over and over again. Morgan was going through the heartbreaking process of coming to terms with her gender identity – struggling with the fact that being a boy did not fit and was an uncomfortable mantle she had to carry. The chapters from Morgan’s point of view were filled with so much emotional pain and anguish that it was actually difficult to read. I wanted so badly to gather Morgan up in a hug and make the pain go away. Living in a small, rural Tennessee town, with a high school football coach for a father only added to her turmoil. Eric had his own troubles and even though his wealthy family looks stable from the outside, inside those walls he lives with a controlling and verbally abusive father.

I don't know if anyone will love me the way that I really am.

Birthday dealt with some serious topics – death of a parent, grief, suicide attempt, homophobia, transphobia – and it is to Russo’s credit that these characters felt so lifelike that I ached for them like I did. Morgan’s journey, in particular, made a real impact and brought me to tears more than once. This is an important book. And while I don’t know that I can say I enjoyed it (because it weighed on me so heavily), I am so glad I read it.

4.5/5 STARS


HAVE YOU READ EITHER OF THESE BOOKS? 

Review: I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST
Mason Deaver
Publication date: May 14, 2019
Genres: YA, Contemporary, LGBT
Format: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla

Narrator: MW Cartozian Wilson
Length: 8 hrs 34 min


GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school.

But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.

At turns heartbreaking and joyous, I Wish You All the Best is both a celebration of life, friendship, and love, and a shining example of hope in the face of adversity.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

This. Was. Wonderful. 

Ben identified as non-binary - and was kicked out of their home because of it. The first couple chapters absolutely broke my heart. This kid, standing outside in January, with no shoes on their feet, trying to call a sister they hadn't seen in ten years to come pick them up. It was like a gut punch. 

Ben was precious. They were so sweet and so loving but their coming out experience had left them fearful and distrustful of possible reactions from others. There were so many times when I was silently begging Ben to speak up, to open up to their sister, to share their fears. But when I thought of myself at that age, and all the times I stayed silent and kept my fears and my worries to myself rather than voice them... I understood and I empathized. Ben struggled with anxiety and depression and panic attacks and my heart hurt that they were traveling such a rocky road on the way to finding solid ground.

There were so many aspects of this story that I loved. Ben's friend Nathan was kind and patient and always so upbeat. Everyone should be so lucky to have a Nathan in their life. Hannah and Thomas, Ben's sister and brother-in-law, were supportive and tried so hard. The story was therapy-positive and presented Ben's experience with their therapist as so worthwhile and affirming.

There were a couple instances where it felt like some character reactions were a little too perfect. They managed to say the exact right thing at the exact right time, and that made it feel a tiny bit inauthentic during those moments, but that was my only quibble. 

There came a point in this story where my heart was breaking for Ben (yet again) for all that they had to deal with. For all the hurt at the hands of the people who were supposed to love them unconditionally. For all the confusion they felt and for the fear of rejection. For their desire to just be accepted for who they were even as they worked to fully understand that themself. I found myself crying for Ben but I reminded myself that this was a work of fiction and there was no need to be so heartsick.

Then I thought about how, even though Ben may be a fictional character, there are so many real-life Ben’s out there, facing the same hurt and confusion and fear. 
And then I cried even harder.

4.5/5 STARS

ABOUT MASON DEAVER

Mason Deaver is a non-binary author who lives in Charlotte, NC, where the word ‘y’all’ is used in abundance. 

Typically, they’re writing incredibly queer stories, but when they decide to take a break, they love gardening and baking.

WWW.MASONDEAVERWRITES.COM

Instagram: @MASON_DEAVER

Twitter: @MASONDEAVER

Short Take Reviews: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, Someone I Used to Know, More Than We Can Tell

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
Mackenzi Lee
Publication date: June 27, 2017
Genres: Young Adult, Historical, LGBT

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores. 

My first thought when finishing The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue? Why did I wait so long to read this?! Because I totally enjoyed this historical tale that reads like an 18th century road trip. In Monty, Lee managed to create a character who was completely self-absorbed, privileged, and a drunken rake, and yet still totally lovable. Monty's flippant wit and sarcasm hid a darker private life and I loved the evolution of his character over the course of the story. And then there was precious Percy who I adored. Percy is thoughtful and sensitive and has his own set of challenges as a biracial young man in 1700's England. There was never a dull moment and how could there be in a story that managed to seamlessly weave together action, adventure, romance, pirates, history, feminism, humor, and so much more. I switched between reading and listening and the audio narration is perfection so you can't go wrong no matter how you choose to enjoy this one. The Gentleman's Guide is a fantastically good time.

4.25/5 STARS

Someone I Used to Know
Patty Blount
Publication date: August 7, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

It's been two years since the night that changed Ashley's life. Two years since she was raped by her brother's teammate. And a year since she sat in a court and watched as he was given a slap on the wrist sentence. But the years have done nothing to stop the pain.

It's been two years of hell for Derek. His family is totally messed up and he and his sister are barely speaking. He knows he handled it all wrong. Now at college, he has to come to terms with what happened, and the rape culture that he was inadvertently a part of that destroyed his sister's life.

When it all comes to a head at Thanksgiving, Derek and Ashley have to decide if their relationship is able to be saved. And if their family can ever be whole again. 

Someone I Used to Know is a powerful story of one girl's fight to move from victim to survivor after being raped by a classmate. What I appreciated most was that Blount chose not to focus solely on Ashley but also told her brother's story. Derek had to come to terms with his own participation in the "game" that was a tradition for the football team and led to his sister's rape. Derek's story was every bit as moving and compelling as Ashley's as he struggled with guilt and his own perceptions and actions. Ashley was a character who was easy to pull for and admire because she refused to be silenced and would not allow her fear to stop her from demanding change. Blount takes a hard look at rape culture without ever becoming preachy. Shining a spotlight on the 'boys will be boys' mentality, victim blaming, locker room talk, and overtly sexual advertising, Someone I Used to Know does an amazing job of showcasing the effects of sexual assault on not just the victim but family, friends, and the community. While not always an easy read (Ashley's memories of the rape interspersed throughout the book are enough to make you heartsick), this is one that should be in every school and every library.

4.25/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

More Than We Can Tell (Letters to the Lost #2)
Brigid Kemmerer
Publication date: March 6, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay...until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.

When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling. 

Rev was a stand-out secondary character when I read Letters to the Lost* so I was thrilled to get his story in More Than We Can Tell. And I was not disappointed. Learning more about Rev's past was heartbreaking but what was equally sad was how his past continued to impact his present. His earlier years with his father were filled with physical and emotional abuse, and twisted interpretations of love and religion. Now his father is contacting him and trying to reassert his control and Rev's life is thrown into turmoil. Despite the amazing support system provided by his adoptive parents, Rev hides how tormented and emotionally fragile he actually is. New friend Emma is able to provide an impartial point of view even while she is dealing with issues of her own. While I didn't connect with Emma as strongly as I did with Rev (her naivete often left me frustrated), I was still drawn into her story and was invested when things took a turn into scary territory. But it's Rev that captured my heart and will stay with me. This kind, introspective, mature, and self-aware young man made a huge impression on me and is without a doubt one of my favorite characters ever.

*More Than We Can Tell takes place in the same universe as Letters to the Lost, and features many of the same characters, but can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

4.5 STARS

Review: Here So Far Away by Hadley Dyer

Here So Far Away by Hadley Dyer

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: March 20, 2018

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library Loan

Find it here: GoodReads

Feisty and fearless George Warren (given name: Frances, but no one calls her that) has never let life get too serious. Now that she’s about to be a senior, her plans include partying with her tight-knit group of friends and then getting the heck out of town after graduation.

But instead of owning her last year of high school, a fight with her best friend puts her on the outs of their social circle.  If that weren’t bad enough, George’s family has been facing hard times since her father, a police sergeant, got injured and might not be able to return to work, which puts George’s college plans in jeopardy.

So when George meets Francis, an older guy who shares her name and her affinity for sarcastic banter, she’s thrown. If she lets herself, she’ll fall recklessly, hopelessly in love. But because of Francis’s age, she tells no one—and ends up losing almost everything, including herself. 

I have such mixed feelings about this one. It's not that I didn't like it, but it's a case of I thought I would like it so much more. I'm just going to hit a few main points instead of a full review.

• I didn't relate to any of the characters. That created a distance between me and the story and I was never fully invested.

• In particular, I could not relate to main character George. She seemed to shun all intimacy and mocked others for any show of genuine emotion. She had this sarcastic veneer and the glimpses beyond that were too infrequent for me. Plus, it started to feel like her life was one bad decision after another.

• I wasn't sold on the romantic relationship. I liked the conversations between George and Francis. I liked that George had someone who challenged her. But I never felt an actual romantic connection, so when 'I love you's' were exchanged I actually stopped and thought Really? Huh... okay. 

• I liked George's friend group. Their interactions, the arguments, the taking sides, the coming back together... it all felt realistic. (Although I'm left wondering what purpose Sid served... ?)

• The family issues. I don't even know what to say. I wanted to smack both her parents most of the time.

• Rupert was a great secondary character. Really liked Rupert and I especially liked how both George and Francis looked out for him (and Shaggy the pig).

• Francis remained an enigma. I never felt I knew him at all. Maybe that was intentional, maybe not. But I never really understood his motivations, his real feelings, or his real intentions.

• Overall, I was left feeling rather underwhelmed. George made plenty of bad/questionable choices (Joshua, the drinking/drug use, Francis, the lying/covering up) and at the end I wasn't sure of how much growth or change had really occurred.

3/5 STARS

Review: Juniper Skies by Lora Richardson

Juniper Skies by Lora Richardson

Series: Juniper Series #3

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: April 17, 2018

Format: Kindle

Source: Author

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon 

Delphine has been traveling in an RV with her grandmother since she was two years old. Abe has never lived anywhere but Juniper.

Delphine has seen America, but life on the road is lonesome for a teen. She’s never had friends her own age, a job, or her first kiss. When her grandmother buys a house in Juniper, it seems like everything Delphine longs for is finally within reach. She quickly makes friends, but Abe, the one friend she wants the most, keeps pushing her away.

When Abe meets Delphine at the Founder’s Day Festival on her first day in town, he can’t deny that she intrigues him. But his life is too complicated to make time for friends. His father is getting out of prison, and Abe doesn’t want him to return to Juniper and undo all the changes of the last four years. But how can he keep that from happening? And can he dare let Delphine be his friend and find out about his past?

Delphine’s life has been a nomadic one, traveling the country with the beloved grandmother who raised her. Now she’s looking forward to settling into life in Juniper the summer before her senior year of high school. She even has a list of things she wants to do – Friday night football games, a lunch table filled with friends, and her first kiss. Again and again she finds herself spending time with quiet and broody Abe, despite warnings about him from her new friends. And working alongside him at a part-time job shows her a much different side to Abe than the boy her friends describe.  

“I liked the way he backed down when I was right. I liked other things about being around him, too. I liked the way he’d look at me, but look away as soon as I noticed. I liked that I didn’t feel the need to be on my best behavior. I could let down my defenses some. It felt safe to be my messy self with Abe.”

Abe has a history in Juniper. And everyone knows about the event four years ago that shattered his family and sent his father to prison. Since then, Abe went through a couple of rough years, getting into trouble, and now he might as well be invisible. He keeps to himself and his former friends keep their distance. And then there’s Delphine – a girl who doesn’t know his past and who ignores his attempts to rebuff her friendship. He’s spent so long living on the fringe he’s not even sure how to talk to her. All he knows is that he wants to, because when he’s around Delphine he finally feels a sense of peace.

A lump rose in Abe’s throat and he clenched his hands into fists beneath the table. He hadn’t said the things he wanted to say in a long time. He hadn’t let anything matter in an even longer time. The things that mattered were the things that could cause pain.

I adored Delphine and Abe, both separately and together. They were both lonely and in need of a true friend who would accept them as they were.  As their friendship developed I often found myself reading with a big smile on my face because they were just so good together. Delphine was friendly and open and just filled with positivity. She practically radiated sunshine. Abe was living with a staggering burden of guilt and self-loathing and my heart broke for him again and again. But it was so rewarding to watch as he started to come out of his shell, learned to open up to Delphine, and began to allow something good back in his life.

People told him he didn’t have anything to be guilty about. But it didn’t matter if that was true. Abe felt the need to atone. So he did. Every day.

Returning to the small town of Juniper was like getting a warm hug. I’m not often drawn to rural settings, but there’s something about Richardson’s bucolic little town that makes me want to pack up and head to Indiana. Sure I want to wander around the park, hang out at the pond, and get some ice cream at the Dream Cone, but it’s the people that really draw me in. I want to hang out and talk to Fay at her tea shop, I want to spend time soaking up Gram’s wisdom and Marigold’s kindness and acceptance, and I want to be friends with Delphine. It’s Richardson’s multi-layered and oh so genuine characters that keep me coming back for more.

"Hey, it's going to be okay." I didn't know what was upsetting him so badly, but I figured it would probably turn out okay.

He didn't look at me but shook his head. "When? When will it be okay?"

I swallowed, the hurt in his voice reaching down through my ears and pinching my own heart.

Juniper Skies has so many of the elements that I love in a YA contemporary: realistic characters and dialogue, loyal friendships (no mean girls in sight), parents and other adults who are present and flawed, and swoony romance that is slow paced and feels completely genuine. I can’t understand why this series does not get more attention because it truly deserves it. Let me put it simply: if you enjoy contemporary YA, you need to read this book. (While you’re at it, do yourself a favor and read the whole trilogy.)  This is likely the final book in the Juniper series and while I will miss these characters, I’m excited to see what comes next from Richardson. Because after three amazing, heartfelt novels, I’ll read whatever Lora Richardson writes.

4/5 STARS

Note: A complimentary copy was provided by the author. This is no way changes my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Review: Far from the Tree by Robin Benway

Far from the Tree by Robin Benway

Series: No

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: October 3, 2017

Format: eARC

Source: Edelweiss/Harper Teen

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

A moving contemporary novel about three adopted siblings who find each other at just the right moment, by acclaimed YA vet Robin Benway.

Being the middle child has its ups and downs.

But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—

Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.

And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.

Robin Benway’s beautiful interweaving story of three very different teenagers connected by blood explores the meaning of family in all its forms—how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it.

Do you ever finish a book and think: Wow, nothing I can say will possibly do this justice? Yeah, that’s how I feel about Far from the Tree. This turned out to be an incredibly moving read for me, not because I have first-hand experience with most of the themes covered here (adoption, teen pregnancy, foster care, alcoholism, racism), but because Robin Benway is a genius at telling a story that elicits an emotional response.

A pregnancy and subsequent adoption prompts sixteen year old Grace to search for her birth mother. What she doesn’t expect is the revelation that she has two siblings. The coming together of Grace, Maya and Joaquin changes their lives in ways they couldn’t have imagined. Grace keeps the birth of her daughter a secret from her new siblings while dealing with loneliness, sadness and guilt. Maya often feels like a stranger in her own home which is made even more difficult when home is no longer a safe haven. And Joaquin has grown up in the foster care system, bouncing from one home to another, feeling unloved and unworthy. 

I loved these characters. They felt completely realistic – their every mood and emotion – and that sucked me right into their lives. There was so much detail Benway added (like Grace referring to her baby as Peach, because that’s the size she was when Grace discovered she was pregnant) that added such realism to the story. Grace was such a likable girl. A girl who went from having a boyfriend and friends to losing all of it after her pregnancy. She was lonely and depressed and mourned not only the loss of her daughter but also the loss of the life she used to have (her return to school after giving birth was so painful that I just ached for her).

“Is it okay that I said that?” Joaquin asked, glancing over at Grace.

She frowned. “Said what?”

“You know. I called you my sister.”

The edges of Grace’s mouth trembled even as she started to smile. “That’s fine,” she said. “That’s what I am, right?”

On his other side, Maya rested her head on his shoulder. “Me, too,” she said quietly.

Looking so different from her parents and her sister was just another reminder that Maya was adopted. (Not to mention the books her parents had on raising an adopted child, even though they had no similar books for their biological child.) Her parents are fighting all the time and she’s finding empty wine bottles that her mother hides. She escapes her house every chance she can get to spend time with her girlfriend, but even with Shay she doesn’t share what’s going on at home and how she’s truly feeling. Maya could have such a prickly exterior that it was sometimes hard for me to connect with her and empathize with her as fully as I did with the Grace and Joaquin. She was falling apart inside, but was determined to put up a tough exterior.

“You think they want to meet me?”

Linda paused. “I’m pretty sure that when someone emails you asking to meet them, that’s a good sign.”

Joaquin just shook his head. “No, I mean, like… meet me.”

Linda paused again, but there was a gentleness between her words. “I think lots of people want to meet you, kiddo,” she said, then put a warm hand on his shoulder. “You just don’t know it yet.”

And then there’s Joaquin – who was never adopted and lived his life in the foster care system. Despite being with foster parents Mark and Linda for the past two years, people he truly cares for, his past doesn’t allow him to accept their love or believe that he truly has a home. Experience has taught him that he could be sent away at any time and he refuses any attachments. It was Joaquin that captured my heart and had me wanting to wrap him up, take away all the hurt and convince him he had so much to offer and was worth of love. My heart broke again and again for this sweet boy that had gone far too long without feeling stability and love and hope.

Far from the Tree grabbed me by the heart and didn’t let go. Benway created complex, multi-layered characters dealing with real-life situations and I was riveted by their journey, individually and together. I feel like I cried my way through half the book (usually at Joaquin’s chapters), sometimes with sadness and heartache but also with joy and hope. Grace and Maya and Joaquin came alive for me and I finished their story feeling so happy that I’d met them. 

Note: I received an advance copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

4.5/5 STARS

Review: We Now Return to Regular Life by Martin Wilson

We Now Return to Regular Life by Martin Wilson

Series: No

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: August 1, 2017

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library Loan

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

A ripped-from-the-headlines novel that explores the power of being an ally—and a friend—when a kidnapped boy returns to his hometown.

Sam Walsh had been missing for three years. His older sister, Beth, thought he was dead. His childhood friend Josh thought it was all his fault. They were the last two people to see him alive.

Until now. Because Sam has been found, and he’s coming home. Beth desperately wants to understand what happened to her brother, but her family refuses to talk about it—even though Sam is clearly still affected by the abuse he faced at the hands of his captor.

And as Sam starts to confide in Josh about his past, Josh can’t admit the truths he’s hidden deep within himself: that he’s gay, and developing feelings for Sam. And, even bigger: that he never told the police everything he saw the day Sam disappeared.

As Beth and Josh struggle with their own issues, their friends and neighbors slowly turn on Sam, until one night when everything explodes. Beth can’t live in silence. Josh can’t live with his secrets. And Sam can’t continue on until the whole truth of what happened to him is out in the open.

For fans of thought-provoking stories like The Face on the Milk Carton, this is a book about learning to be an ally—even when the community around you doesn’t want you to be.

We Now Return to Regular Life is one of those books that didn’t have a lot of feel-good moments. In fact, it was often difficult to read, caused many tears, and generally hurt my heart. But it was also incredibly impactful and one of the better books I’ve read this year.

Sam Walsh (a nod to Adam Walsh?) was abducted three years ago at the age of eleven. Now Sam has been found… alive… and is back at home. The media swarms, there’s a televised interview, and everyone asks, “How is Sam?” But this isn’t completely Sam’s story. It’s Beth’s story, Sam’s older sister. And it’s Josh’s story, Sam’s childhood friend.

We Now Return to Regular Life is narrated from the points of view of Beth and Josh. For the first half of the book I struggled as to whether that was working for me or not. Then I realized that 1) I probably wouldn’t be able to handle the story from Sam’s point of view and 2) the story being told this way drove home the point that Sam’s kidnapping, and the aftermath, had far-reaching effects beyond his own experience.

I turn and look at him and he’s smiling. But something about it is weird. It’s not at all how he used to smile. It hits me that he’s only telling her what she wants to hear. What we all want to hear. That he’s just fine and dandy.

Sam is lying to all of us.

Beth imagined Sam was dead, largely because it was easier than imagining what he might be going through otherwise. The knowledge that Sam is alive, and envisioning what he may have endured, is torturing Beth. It’s obvious Sam is changed. It’s obvious he needs to talk. But Beth finds herself pulling away – unable to bear whatever Sam might share. She views school as her escape, the place where things still feel normal. But that changes quickly when she becomes “the girl with the kidnapped brother” and she pulls away from friends as well, anything to avoid the feelings that are pulling her under.

Josh is riddled with guilt and feels responsible for Sam’s kidnapping. There’s information about that day that he never shared with anyone – not his parent’s, not the police, no one. Suddenly Sam is back and obviously in need of a friend. When Josh’s friends refuse to have anything to do with Sam, he has to decide between doing what’s easy and what’s right.

Get on with our lives. I want to laugh, or scream, something. Because it’s like Mom thinks our lives are like some TV show that got interrupted, like when something big happens and the news cuts in and once they’re done the announcer says, “We now return to regular programming.”

Sam was gone and now he’s back. We now return to regular life.

Like I mentioned previously, this wasn’t a happy-go-lucky tale and didn’t have a lot of feel-good moments. But what it did have was complex characters who were so flawed and human and empathetic. Wilson masterfully crafted a family going through what no family should ever have to – the horror of the abduction, the joy of the reunion, and the slow realization that life does not magically return to normal. Their struggle to come to terms with what happened and create a new normal was heart wrenching. Sam’s desperate need to talk about what happened was in direct conflict with those closest to him who couldn’t bear to hear it. Watching as Sam was haunted by his experience but was unwilling to burden his family with his pain absolutely broke my heart.

We Now Return to Regular Life isn’t always an easy read but it is an unforgettable read. Beautifully written and packed with emotion, it is a story of survival, of family, of friendship, of redemption and of love. I cannot recommend this one highly enough.

4.5/5 STARS

Top Ten Tuesday: Back to School Edition

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme 

created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 

My favorite YA novels with a school setting

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda | Becky Albertalli

Tell Me Three Things | Julie Buxbaum

Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell

Pushing the Limits | Katie McGarry

A List of Cages | Robin Roe

The Sea of Tranquility | Katja Millay

Sloppy Firsts | Megan McCafferty

P.S. I Like You | Kasie West

Slammed | Colleen Hoover

Letters to the Lost | Brigid Kemmerer

Do you have a favorite back to school memory or tradition?