We love Sara Zarr! She's inside our Circle of Stars. And her latest release, How to Save a Life, is an excellent addition to her life work. You will agree the FIVE starred reviews are spot on.
From two perspectives, two stories are told as two girls find their identity following a crisis. Jill is recovering from the death of her father, while Mandy is pregnant, possibly by her abuser. The two find themselves in the same home as Jill's mother plans to adopt the forthcoming baby. How do you learn to trust when you never could before? Who are you following great loss, and can you ever return to who you were before? Side by side, Jill and Mandy's stories illuminate each other beautifully. Golden threads repeat from one voice into the other.
I was captivated by Mandy's asperger-like frankness, and Jill's journey through her anger. Each created such poignant, palpable moments of discomfort for the reader. This work is honest from page one.
Brava, Sara! We celebrate this story holding your voice so beautifully!
How to Save a Life
by Sara Zarr
Little Brown, 2011
3 comments:
I really liked this book! I was most impressed with how the girls matured over the book, and how subtle the process was. At first, Jill was pretty annoying, but after a handful of chapters I fell in love. And I have no clue how I got from point A to point B - truly, amazing writing.
I loved this one. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
This is obviously recommended. I would give it five gold-stars if possible. I only wish there was a sequel. The ending was a little open-ended, but everything else was honestly perfect. Sara Zarr's characters are so relatable. Book-win.
Mariz
Rogue Jet Boats
Post a Comment