How to Save a Life
Jill MacSweeney just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends -- everyone who wants to support her. When her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she's somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.
Mandy Kalinowski understands what it's like to grow up unwanted -- to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she's sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It's harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?
As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy -- or as difficult -- as it seems.
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Community Reviews
Me. On the treadmill. Bored because I've decided to walk it out for an hour instead of doing a run in half the time. We have a challenge at work for active minutes, so the total time counts. My cellphone is at 2%, so I can't play Jeopardy anymore. Bookshelf is right behind my treadmill, so I am going to do a catlike maneuver with speed and flexibility I didn't know I possessed and grab the first book I can reach while still moving on said treadmill. Winner: How to Save a Life.
I read it for the rest of the walk. I take it upstairs afterwards and keep reading on the couch. I read it before bed. I read it the moment I wake up the next morning and finish it. I COULDN'T PUT THE DARN THING DOWN.
This is so well written. The characters are so clear. They aren't necessarily likable. Jill is angsty but is aware of being angsty (and actually has a reason to be angsty). Mandy is a mystery. I had a hard time trusting her, which made me "side" with Jill and develop "feelings" for Mandy at the same pace Jill did. The supporting characters are equally great. There are difficult situations that weren't always easy to read about, but they are handled so well. I hesitate to say anything more because I'm glad that I went into this blind and would love for others to have the same experience. This is not roll-your-eyes YA; this is good YA.
4 Stars
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