My thoughts:I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.
It’s probably hopeless.
But he has to try.
I knew I was setting myself up when I requested this book. You see, I'm a crier. The girl you see crying on the bus, at Starbucks or wherever else she can sneak in a few more pages. So to read a book about a boy who is dying? Yeah, I was setting myself up, but I am so glad I did.
Never Eighteen is told from a male point of view. I don't have much experience with this in YA outside of John Green's books, but I really came to love Austin's voice. He has come to terms with the fact that he doesn't have long left to live, but instead of trying to make the most out of his time left for his own good, Austin has decided to do his very best to improve the lives of the people he loves. I just loved his noble intentions, and every time he talked to someone new, trying to give them advice or just the little push they needed to change their lives around, my respect for him grew even more.
There is something so simple and real about Megan Bostic's writing. There are no unnecessarily long descriptions, nothing is said if it doesn't improve the story, and I really liked this style of writing. There were times when I wished there had been more, especially in the conversations between Austin and his best friend Kaylee, but at the same time that minimalism made me see how effortless of a friendship they had.
And then comes the ending. I really don't know what to say, other than that I had to take a break from reading to locate a box of Kleenex before continuing. It was so heartbreaking and emotional, but even as I was crying there were things that made me laugh and smile, and it really was the perfect ending.
Never Eighteen is told from a male point of view. I don't have much experience with this in YA outside of John Green's books, but I really came to love Austin's voice. He has come to terms with the fact that he doesn't have long left to live, but instead of trying to make the most out of his time left for his own good, Austin has decided to do his very best to improve the lives of the people he loves. I just loved his noble intentions, and every time he talked to someone new, trying to give them advice or just the little push they needed to change their lives around, my respect for him grew even more.
There is something so simple and real about Megan Bostic's writing. There are no unnecessarily long descriptions, nothing is said if it doesn't improve the story, and I really liked this style of writing. There were times when I wished there had been more, especially in the conversations between Austin and his best friend Kaylee, but at the same time that minimalism made me see how effortless of a friendship they had.
And then comes the ending. I really don't know what to say, other than that I had to take a break from reading to locate a box of Kleenex before continuing. It was so heartbreaking and emotional, but even as I was crying there were things that made me laugh and smile, and it really was the perfect ending.
Cover:
Simple, but I love the colors, especially the different colored letters in the title.
My rating of this book:
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Aaaaaw. Exactly the kind of book I'd like (even though I'm a crier, too). Really. I've been reading a lot of dystopian stuff recently, but I think I might need a break from that and just go on to some awesome YA books. That one will definitely be on my wishlist in only a few minutes. Awesome review!
ReplyDeleteAw, it's seems like it's a beautiful-sad book!
ReplyDeleteOMG...I'm a huge crier too. I fully claim it as my emotion because I cry when I'm happy, when I'm sad, when I'm frustrated...well you get the picture.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book too. Though by the end I couldn't hold it together and had to set down the book and clear my eyes so I could finish it.
This was an emotionally wrenching reading experience; yet it somehow managed to be both tender and romantic at the same time. The author's clear, uncluttered prose is the perfect vehicle to carry the reader through all of Austin and Kaylee's adventures which ultimately becomes something of a quest. Even the minor characters come alive on the page. I would have followed these characters anywhere, and by the end of the book wasn't ready to let them go. A wonderful debut and an author I will eagerly follow.
ReplyDeleteIrene (CashFund)