Grade: A+
Recommended for John Green fans and fans of high quality YA lit.
Part love story but mostly coming of age. This is the story of Vera Dietz and her best friend Charlie, who redefine the term best friends. They feel more like soul mates who keep the deepest of secrets for each other, even when one betrays the other. Then Charlie dies. His death is very dark and Vera is determined to find out the truth about the night Charlie died.
This along with Looking for Alaska are some of the finest YA books I have ever read. The love story isn't over the top with romance. It's very subtle the way a kinda sorta romance between best friends can be. The coming of age part is so very real. Vera copes with Charlie's passing in a very real and believable manner. She grieves the way any teenager might except she doesn't drown her sorrows in tantrums of hysterical tears. While Vera grieves for Charlie, she also faces things about herself and her mother's past. The writing is stunning. For those who say they left YA books behind in junior high or high school because they are mostly fluff stories should read this book. This isn't a Sarah Dessen YA story. This is a story with heart and depth. Oh yeah and it won a Printz Honor last year. Believe my praise, this story is incredible. I still think that this should have won the top Printz award. The secrets that unfold will break your heart, maybe because you were lucky enough to have your own Charlie.
I dare you to read this and tell me it is anything less than amazing.
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