jang's review against another edition
4.0
The book is so interesting mainly because of the characters. Idk, that depressive recluse politician's daughter and the manic goth furiosa characters worked for me.
I was a bit confused at first but the infusion of errthing Emily Dickinson into the novel was educational, I liked how her poems represented the mood or the personalities of the two main characters. I wasn't familiar with Dickinson tbh because we didn't really cover her that much in college Lit but from some of the poems of her I've read, I know that she was dark and her poems could only ever really be unleashed by smartass poets and people who have mad passion for those things. But I like how the author interweaved bits or phrases from her poems at the beginning of each chapter.
The characters were the reason I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to say that I understand people with anger management problems but I've never seen one who was breathlessly violent and impulsive that's why Elizabeth's character really got my attention. Which also sucked because I ended up paying more attention to her attitude and her "suicide notes" than to the other heroine Emily, who was more depressive and was actually suicidal.
The thing that irked me about the novel was the parts that remained unexplained. Emily's triggers and her problems were never really specifically revealed, readers only got a sense that it came from her uptight and self-righteous politician father. Because he was a damn perfectionist his kids weren't even allowed to have fun. The root of Elizabeth's temperament issues were never discussed, too. The story only revealed that she attacked her father out of feeling betrayed and pain, and that's where things got out of hand. Am I spoiling too much? Who cares?!!
What I loved most about the book was how deeply it affected me towards the end and how it made me cry. HAHAHA how predictably me, bawling because of a YA book! But seriously, that super tense fight between Emily and Elizabeth and the suicide and their change of hearts.. Oh man. I'm such a cliché I enjoy a resolute hopeful happy endings every once in a while.
I liked the writing. Elizabeth's resolution happened too fast for me. But I liked how Emily admitted that she still wasn't okay because that right there is real life. Things will take a while to heal, that's what happened to Emily and I liked that she's willing to embrace that positive change even if it would take a while.
I was a bit confused at first but the infusion of errthing Emily Dickinson into the novel was educational, I liked how her poems represented the mood or the personalities of the two main characters. I wasn't familiar with Dickinson tbh because we didn't really cover her that much in college Lit but from some of the poems of her I've read, I know that she was dark and her poems could only ever really be unleashed by smartass poets and people who have mad passion for those things. But I like how the author interweaved bits or phrases from her poems at the beginning of each chapter.
The characters were the reason I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to say that I understand people with anger management problems but I've never seen one who was breathlessly violent and impulsive that's why Elizabeth's character really got my attention. Which also sucked because I ended up paying more attention to her attitude and her "suicide notes" than to the other heroine Emily, who was more depressive and was actually suicidal.
The thing that irked me about the novel was the parts that remained unexplained. Emily's triggers and her problems were never really specifically revealed, readers only got a sense that it came from her uptight and self-righteous politician father. Because he was a damn perfectionist his kids weren't even allowed to have fun. The root of Elizabeth's temperament issues were never discussed, too. The story only revealed that she attacked her father out of feeling betrayed and pain, and that's where things got out of hand. Am I spoiling too much? Who cares?!!
What I loved most about the book was how deeply it affected me towards the end and how it made me cry. HAHAHA how predictably me, bawling because of a YA book! But seriously, that super tense fight between Emily and Elizabeth and the suicide and their change of hearts.. Oh man. I'm such a cliché I enjoy a resolute hopeful happy endings every once in a while.
I liked the writing. Elizabeth's resolution happened too fast for me. But I liked how Emily admitted that she still wasn't okay because that right there is real life. Things will take a while to heal, that's what happened to Emily and I liked that she's willing to embrace that positive change even if it would take a while.
steph1225's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pollyroth's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 Stars
I think most of my issues with the book are because I just don't vibe with most YA anymore. Especially at the beginning, the characters were too eye-roll inducing. That being said, I do think this book can be critiqued for its ending. The author wraps everything up too nicely for the subject matter. But it's still an emotional story that gets its message across.
Also...maybe my high school experience was different, but the way these teens used social media was laughable to me. Seemed very out of touch.
I think most of my issues with the book are because I just don't vibe with most YA anymore. Especially at the beginning, the characters were too eye-roll inducing. That being said, I do think this book can be critiqued for its ending. The author wraps everything up too nicely for the subject matter. But it's still an emotional story that gets its message across.
Also...maybe my high school experience was different, but the way these teens used social media was laughable to me. Seemed very out of touch.
erinlynn1989's review against another edition
3.0
Originally reviewed on The Hardcover Lover.
When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez is an ambitious YA novel with a very intriguing concept. As an English teacher and lover of literature, I was immediately drawn to this book at the mention of Emily Dickinson. Then I made the E.D. connection. Two girls - Emily Delgado and Elizabeth Davis - share their initials with Emily Dickinson. Cool, right? Of course it's cool!
I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love this book. I loved the concept, but I felt like there was too much going on for it to be a complete, graspable book. In a way, it makes sense for Rodriguez to do that because Emily Dickinson had quite an interesting and complicated life, but it makes for a very complicated and intricate book. There was one thing that happened in this book that created grief and aggravation for me; Rodriguez spoils her audience at the beginning of the book! She doesn't completely spoil it, but for readers like me, who read in between the lines, the one detail that is given away at the beginning of the book makes it so much easier to figure out what really happens.
I was expecting a little more character development from Rodriguez. In the beginning of the book, I confused Emily and Elizabeth a lot. Differentiating the two becomes easier as the book moves along, but it is annoying to confuse characters. I liked how Emily Delgado was characterized, but boy... I had problems with Elizabeth Davis. From the synopsis, I was expecting someone a little more rough around the edges, but she didn't really appear that way to me. I kind of thought of her anger as fluff instead of real anger. I really thought there would be more to her than what Rodriguez includes.
That being said, there are many great things about this novel, and I applaud Rodriguez for its creation. First of all, there are so many diverse characters in this book. Rodriguez includes Latino characters and culture in this book, which is something I've yet to come across in the YA books I've read. Secondly, I love the integration of Emily Dickinson's poetry. Emily Dickinson is an important piece of American history, and seeing how lines from her poems relate to the plot is awe-inspiring. I can only hope that teens will be more likely to go to the library and read Dickinson's poems after reading this book.
Overall, When Reason Breaks is an enjoyable read, especially if you are a fan of Emily Dickinson or retellings. There are some minor flaws, but there are also some really great moments that overshadow most of the flaws. I hope that readers will take something away from those great moments.
When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez is an ambitious YA novel with a very intriguing concept. As an English teacher and lover of literature, I was immediately drawn to this book at the mention of Emily Dickinson. Then I made the E.D. connection. Two girls - Emily Delgado and Elizabeth Davis - share their initials with Emily Dickinson. Cool, right? Of course it's cool!
I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love this book. I loved the concept, but I felt like there was too much going on for it to be a complete, graspable book. In a way, it makes sense for Rodriguez to do that because Emily Dickinson had quite an interesting and complicated life, but it makes for a very complicated and intricate book. There was one thing that happened in this book that created grief and aggravation for me; Rodriguez spoils her audience at the beginning of the book! She doesn't completely spoil it, but for readers like me, who read in between the lines, the one detail that is given away at the beginning of the book makes it so much easier to figure out what really happens.
I was expecting a little more character development from Rodriguez. In the beginning of the book, I confused Emily and Elizabeth a lot. Differentiating the two becomes easier as the book moves along, but it is annoying to confuse characters. I liked how Emily Delgado was characterized, but boy... I had problems with Elizabeth Davis. From the synopsis, I was expecting someone a little more rough around the edges, but she didn't really appear that way to me. I kind of thought of her anger as fluff instead of real anger. I really thought there would be more to her than what Rodriguez includes.
That being said, there are many great things about this novel, and I applaud Rodriguez for its creation. First of all, there are so many diverse characters in this book. Rodriguez includes Latino characters and culture in this book, which is something I've yet to come across in the YA books I've read. Secondly, I love the integration of Emily Dickinson's poetry. Emily Dickinson is an important piece of American history, and seeing how lines from her poems relate to the plot is awe-inspiring. I can only hope that teens will be more likely to go to the library and read Dickinson's poems after reading this book.
Overall, When Reason Breaks is an enjoyable read, especially if you are a fan of Emily Dickinson or retellings. There are some minor flaws, but there are also some really great moments that overshadow most of the flaws. I hope that readers will take something away from those great moments.
whatsarahread's review against another edition
5.0
Please visit What Sarah Read for this review and more!
I went into this book expecting to be thoroughly depressed and ,to be honest, this kind of story is not normally one I read. But something about the summary spoke to me and I decide to give it a try. I’m so happy that I did because this book was so beautiful. Yes, it was sad and definitely had its moments where I felt so upset for the characters, but when I finished the last page I was left with such a sense of hope. Hope for life, that it can be beautiful, if only we reach out to those around us. When Reason Breaks proves, through such heart-wrenching emotion, that the power of love is unstoppable, if only we allow it.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the relationship between the two main characters. Elizabeth and Emily come from two totally different worlds, but their struggles are so similar, and throughout the story their lives become more and more intertwined. So much so, that sometimes it’s hard to truly know which POV some of the passages are coming from. This is a good thing though, as the vagueness of whose view we’re experiencing only serves to develop the book even further. Both of these girls are hurting and the words could be from either one of them. For the most part the dual POV switches back and forth between the two girls, but every once in a while you get one that isn’t so clearly defined and the mystery deepens.
That’s not to say the two girls aren’t fully developed and distinct characters. They each have their own personalities and their own ways of handling emotion that makes them unique from each other. It’s the way in which the author pulled these two girls together through their shared experiences that was so authentic and moving.
The use of Emily Dickinson’s poetry as a plot device was genius! From using lines of her work as chapter titles to the use of it as a lesson plan in the main character’s classroom, it just mirrored the experiences of Elizabeth and Emily so perfectly. By having these girls connect so deeply to Dickinson’s poetry, allowed me as a reader to connect even deeper to their experiences.
When Reason Breaks is beautiful, suspenseful and thought-provoking. It was an emotional rollercoaster that made me feel a lot of things and by the end of the book I was in tears. If you’re a fan of Gayle Forman’s books If I Stay or I Was Here, then this debut novel by Cindy L. Rodriguez would be a perfect choice for you.
I went into this book expecting to be thoroughly depressed and ,to be honest, this kind of story is not normally one I read. But something about the summary spoke to me and I decide to give it a try. I’m so happy that I did because this book was so beautiful. Yes, it was sad and definitely had its moments where I felt so upset for the characters, but when I finished the last page I was left with such a sense of hope. Hope for life, that it can be beautiful, if only we reach out to those around us. When Reason Breaks proves, through such heart-wrenching emotion, that the power of love is unstoppable, if only we allow it.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the relationship between the two main characters. Elizabeth and Emily come from two totally different worlds, but their struggles are so similar, and throughout the story their lives become more and more intertwined. So much so, that sometimes it’s hard to truly know which POV some of the passages are coming from. This is a good thing though, as the vagueness of whose view we’re experiencing only serves to develop the book even further. Both of these girls are hurting and the words could be from either one of them. For the most part the dual POV switches back and forth between the two girls, but every once in a while you get one that isn’t so clearly defined and the mystery deepens.
That’s not to say the two girls aren’t fully developed and distinct characters. They each have their own personalities and their own ways of handling emotion that makes them unique from each other. It’s the way in which the author pulled these two girls together through their shared experiences that was so authentic and moving.
The use of Emily Dickinson’s poetry as a plot device was genius! From using lines of her work as chapter titles to the use of it as a lesson plan in the main character’s classroom, it just mirrored the experiences of Elizabeth and Emily so perfectly. By having these girls connect so deeply to Dickinson’s poetry, allowed me as a reader to connect even deeper to their experiences.
When Reason Breaks is beautiful, suspenseful and thought-provoking. It was an emotional rollercoaster that made me feel a lot of things and by the end of the book I was in tears. If you’re a fan of Gayle Forman’s books If I Stay or I Was Here, then this debut novel by Cindy L. Rodriguez would be a perfect choice for you.
allisonsroses's review against another edition
2.0
2019- I don’t remember reading this whatsoever so I changed the rating to 2 stars
booksandbark's review against another edition
4.0
Source: ARC from the publisher :D
Hello blogglings! I know I haven’t been present in the blogosphere for the past couple weeks, and I PROMISE it is for good reason! But now that I have a little more time, I am back. I was recently out with the flu and couldn’t even bring myself to check Goodreads because the light hurt my eyes so much (quelle horreur!), but when I finally did check it I realized that When Reason Breaks came out on February 10th!
Because it is FABULOUS in this book. I think a lot of people push for “diversity” in YA, because it is so influential over the lives of young people… but sometimes that only focuses on having black or Asian or LGBTQ+ characters. I found WRB quite different from the traditional “diverse book” because it featured a group that is often overlooked in English literature: people of Mexican descent. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. Emily’s father is the MAYOR. Emily gets good grades. I think that there are a lot of stereotypes about Hispanics, at least in the area in which I live. There are lots of stereotypes along the vein of “Mexicans aren’t good at school” and “All Hispanics are gang members,” but WRB goes to show that that is simply not true. Emily is arguably the character with the best grades in the entirety of this novel. Which is great. It sends a hugely empowering message to young Hispanic girls in America: they can do it. Diversity doesn’t stop there, either. Emily’s boyfriend’s parents are gay, meaning that he has two dads. And what’s fantastic is that Emily doesn’t treat them any differently than she would treat her boyfriend’s parents if they were straight. The two dads were not portrayed as “overly feminine,” as many gay men in media are, but were just presented as people, without their orientation defining them.
While both of the girls had different, relatable traits, I overall liked Elizabeth better than Emily simply because I feel she was more fleshed-out. Her psychology and reasoning behind why she would do something or the other was so much clearer. Plus, she liked Abby from NCIS. And Caf-Pow. I appreciate this greatly.
While in some aspects this is a very empowering book, in other aspects, it is not. Kevin, Emily’s boyfriend, is not very well characterized at all. I felt that he was really flat and two-dimensional, and Emily risking her father’s “terrifying wrath” to be with him was simply not realistic. Abby… was just not a great friend. A good friend is supposed to be there for you, point you in the right direction when you go astray, and help you through your issues—not make you terrified and depressed like Abby makes Emily. Throughout the book, Abby just pushes Emily to date Kevin against her father’s wishes, drink, go to parties, and basically do anything and everything her father forbids. She wants to dictate Emily’s life so that they’re practically the same person, which would've been okay if that was resolved. What frustrated me was that even though Emily realized this and acknowledged it openly, she just states that she hopes they can be really good friends again. Like, really?
I loved Ms. Diaz. She had her own character growth, and although she was a side character, she was still important in her own right. For example, although we see much of the book from Emily’s and Elizabeth’s perspectives, we get to see the “mystery” of who will attempt suicide through Ms. Diaz’s eyes. Ms. Diaz, Emily, and Elizabeth each represented a separate part of Emily Dickinson. In fact, every single character in the book corresponded to a significant part of Dickinson’s life, and her poetry is used a lot. (There’s a really cool author’s note at the back of the book which explains who represents what.)
Okay, well, I’ll admit it—you have a 50/50 chance of guessing who’s going to commit suicide before you even read the first page. BUT STILL. It sort of took some of the thrill out of the book, and the idea behind it. I still liked how the suicidal thoughts were treated as a process, or a monster: ED (whichever one committed the suicide) had a slowly-developing thought process that kept going from bad to worse. And we never really get to see her get over that at all, which, from what I’ve heard from those who are suicidal, is a pretty accurate depiction.
Overall, I think this is a great diverse book, and it has some really nice themes. I liked the incorporation of Emily Dickinson's poetry, but some of the writing style got to me, as a lot of it was told and not shown, and I didn't like how Emily treats her unhealthy relationships in the book. I really loved Elizabeth's characterization throughout the book, but I felt that Emily and her boyfriend Kevin were both a little two-dimensional.
Read more awesome book reviews at Books and Bark
Hello blogglings! I know I haven’t been present in the blogosphere for the past couple weeks, and I PROMISE it is for good reason! But now that I have a little more time, I am back. I was recently out with the flu and couldn’t even bring myself to check Goodreads because the light hurt my eyes so much (quelle horreur!), but when I finally did check it I realized that When Reason Breaks came out on February 10th!
HAS ANYONE TALKED ABOUT DIVERSITY LATELY??
Because it is FABULOUS in this book. I think a lot of people push for “diversity” in YA, because it is so influential over the lives of young people… but sometimes that only focuses on having black or Asian or LGBTQ+ characters. I found WRB quite different from the traditional “diverse book” because it featured a group that is often overlooked in English literature: people of Mexican descent. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. Emily’s father is the MAYOR. Emily gets good grades. I think that there are a lot of stereotypes about Hispanics, at least in the area in which I live. There are lots of stereotypes along the vein of “Mexicans aren’t good at school” and “All Hispanics are gang members,” but WRB goes to show that that is simply not true. Emily is arguably the character with the best grades in the entirety of this novel. Which is great. It sends a hugely empowering message to young Hispanic girls in America: they can do it. Diversity doesn’t stop there, either. Emily’s boyfriend’s parents are gay, meaning that he has two dads. And what’s fantastic is that Emily doesn’t treat them any differently than she would treat her boyfriend’s parents if they were straight. The two dads were not portrayed as “overly feminine,” as many gay men in media are, but were just presented as people, without their orientation defining them.
Overall, I think I connected with Elizabeth better than Emily.
While both of the girls had different, relatable traits, I overall liked Elizabeth better than Emily simply because I feel she was more fleshed-out. Her psychology and reasoning behind why she would do something or the other was so much clearer. Plus, she liked Abby from NCIS. And Caf-Pow. I appreciate this greatly.
All of that being said, I really didn’t like Emily’s relationship with her boyfriend and friends.
While in some aspects this is a very empowering book, in other aspects, it is not. Kevin, Emily’s boyfriend, is not very well characterized at all. I felt that he was really flat and two-dimensional, and Emily risking her father’s “terrifying wrath” to be with him was simply not realistic. Abby… was just not a great friend. A good friend is supposed to be there for you, point you in the right direction when you go astray, and help you through your issues—not make you terrified and depressed like Abby makes Emily. Throughout the book, Abby just pushes Emily to date Kevin against her father’s wishes, drink, go to parties, and basically do anything and everything her father forbids. She wants to dictate Emily’s life so that they’re practically the same person, which would've been okay if that was resolved. What frustrated me was that even though Emily realized this and acknowledged it openly, she just states that she hopes they can be really good friends again. Like, really?
The teacher.
I loved Ms. Diaz. She had her own character growth, and although she was a side character, she was still important in her own right. For example, although we see much of the book from Emily’s and Elizabeth’s perspectives, we get to see the “mystery” of who will attempt suicide through Ms. Diaz’s eyes. Ms. Diaz, Emily, and Elizabeth each represented a separate part of Emily Dickinson. In fact, every single character in the book corresponded to a significant part of Dickinson’s life, and her poetry is used a lot. (There’s a really cool author’s note at the back of the book which explains who represents what.)
Also… I guessed the ending.
Okay, well, I’ll admit it—you have a 50/50 chance of guessing who’s going to commit suicide before you even read the first page. BUT STILL. It sort of took some of the thrill out of the book, and the idea behind it. I still liked how the suicidal thoughts were treated as a process, or a monster: ED (whichever one committed the suicide) had a slowly-developing thought process that kept going from bad to worse. And we never really get to see her get over that at all, which, from what I’ve heard from those who are suicidal, is a pretty accurate depiction.
Overall, I think this is a great diverse book, and it has some really nice themes. I liked the incorporation of Emily Dickinson's poetry, but some of the writing style got to me, as a lot of it was told and not shown, and I didn't like how Emily treats her unhealthy relationships in the book. I really loved Elizabeth's characterization throughout the book, but I felt that Emily and her boyfriend Kevin were both a little two-dimensional.
3.5/5 Wagging Tails
Read more awesome book reviews at Books and Bark
wrenlee's review against another edition
4.0
22032788
Amazon / Goodreads
13 Reasons Why meets the poetry of Emily Dickinson in this gripping debut novel perfect for fans of Sara Zarr or Jennifer Brown.
A Goth girl with an attitude problem, Elizabeth Davis must learn to control her anger before it destroys her. Emily Delgado appears to be a smart, sweet girl, with a normal life, but as depression clutches at her, she struggles to feel normal. Both girls are in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they connect to the words of Emily Dickinson. Both are hovering on the edge of an emotional precipice. One of them will attempt suicide. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy.
In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control.
I liked the two characters.
Emily was very interesting. I spent a good part of the time between when I finished the book and when I started this review thinking. Why did she do it? Why do people do it in general? She is interesting. A kind brother. A wealthy family. Smarts. She has a guy who likes it. But I feel for her. There's something under her smile. Something terrible. She blames it on her dad and her family. But it's not that. Her story is almost hidden. The true version at least. It is interesting. She is.
And Elizabeth. Anger issues is terrible. Anger is hard to reel in. It can lead to terrible things. Anger and sadness, both strong emotions, can cause terrible things to happen. You don't know. You don't ever know. In happy she saw past it, though. I feel like we didn't get her backstory... We didn't get a lot about her father. The attack? What happened there?
I feel for both of them. I do see a piece of myself in both. I am a writer. But I'm quick to anger. (Internally really.) And I do feel shitty sometimes. It all depends. I do see myself in both of them. I also see myself in Ms. Diaz. She was trying to help. With my many friends who feel like Emily or Elizabeth, I am also Ms. Diaz.
The portrayal of teenage life...is pretty good. It shows the dark side. The girl who smiles but is dying inside. The girl who fights everything until there is nothing left. It shows humanity's dark side. There are so many people out there committing suicide or attempting. So many who don't want to live. It shows people. It shows the world. Books like these make me smile. Because more people know. And they know how they can try to help.
Anyone can be another Emily or another Elizabeth. Sister. Brother. Friend. And you want to help. Books like these show ways to help.
As you can tell, this is a topic I'm very passionate about. It's close to my heart. I see my friends in Emily and Elizabeth. I see them in me. And in other people. People who hurt and rage. People who cry and fight. That is life. That is humanity.
The ending ends on a high note. Which is good. Things seem to look up for the two girls. That's great. They need it. (Even if they think otherwise.) I'm happy they got their happy ending.
They needed it.
The story was wrapped up. There were no questions. Emily was recovering. She had friends. She had a future. Elizabeth was accepting her life. And her dad. And her family. Which is great.
I'm so happy Ms. Diaz found the journal writer. Really. You don't know what you leave behind when you commit suicide. You leave friends and family. People who loved. And you will have to be dressed in a tux or something. (Sorry. Trying to lighten things up...)
This is a diverse book. We have two girls with psychological problems. (No offense.) And a Latino family. It shows different people. That's great. We are a diverse world.
I liked that we got a Latino family. It could have been expanded on, though. We had Spanish phrases. (And those weren't translated. Which is a problem for me.) But we didn't get too much culture. (I know they're Americanized...) We did have the Day of the Dead. (Remember? Candy skulls? Yup. That's the Day of the Dead.) It could have been better with more culture. That would be amazing.
We don't seem to get enough of either girl. So it seems like we don't get their full personality. We get pieces. And Emily is supposed to have depression. But we don't get to see her full history. We have only half the story. It seems to lack some part of the story.
We get Elizabeth's anger. And her family life. And we get Emily's parents. But we don't get too much information. We get only a minimal. I wanted more. More on Emily's breakdown. I wanted more on Elizabeth fighting her dad. And her dad in general. There didn't seem to be details on certain things. Things we got hints of. (Going back to the Elizabeth-dad thing. Really. What happened?)
The romance isn't the best... I don't hate it or love it. It just wasn't...amazing. (There is a minor spoiler ahead...)
Elizabeth did seem to deserve someone. But not necessarily a boyfriend. Nor did I enjoy the matchup. She needed someone to calm her down. And the guy? Not much. Where is the chemistry? I don't see it. Nor do I like the guy. Elizabeth could have been better off alone.
And Kevin and Emily? (Don't worry. You're told this early on. It's hinted at least.) Don't think that will work out. Really. But Kevin seems changed around Emily. Like he's a new guy. I'm not sure. They do have something. But it seems weak. Like a cute crush. But it will fall apart. High school relationship do that. And I feel like Emily needs to trust Kevin more. Kevin seems like a good guy. Trust him. Just a bit. Then, things might be better. I feel like there is something. But it really isn't chemistry. And I want some history. It's a secret relationship. But tell me more. I want!
And the Spanish! As someone trying to learn the language, some parts were easy to understand. But. Not everyone knows the language. So it might be confusing to what they are saying. There is an important phrase. And it isn't translated. Not in the back. Not in the story itself.
This might be a big setback. I do want to know what it means now...
Weather:
Sunny with a thin layer of fog
4/5
Amazon / Goodreads
13 Reasons Why meets the poetry of Emily Dickinson in this gripping debut novel perfect for fans of Sara Zarr or Jennifer Brown.
A Goth girl with an attitude problem, Elizabeth Davis must learn to control her anger before it destroys her. Emily Delgado appears to be a smart, sweet girl, with a normal life, but as depression clutches at her, she struggles to feel normal. Both girls are in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they connect to the words of Emily Dickinson. Both are hovering on the edge of an emotional precipice. One of them will attempt suicide. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy.
In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control.
I liked the two characters.
Emily was very interesting. I spent a good part of the time between when I finished the book and when I started this review thinking. Why did she do it? Why do people do it in general? She is interesting. A kind brother. A wealthy family. Smarts. She has a guy who likes it. But I feel for her. There's something under her smile. Something terrible. She blames it on her dad and her family. But it's not that. Her story is almost hidden. The true version at least. It is interesting. She is.
And Elizabeth. Anger issues is terrible. Anger is hard to reel in. It can lead to terrible things. Anger and sadness, both strong emotions, can cause terrible things to happen. You don't know. You don't ever know. In happy she saw past it, though. I feel like we didn't get her backstory... We didn't get a lot about her father. The attack? What happened there?
I feel for both of them. I do see a piece of myself in both. I am a writer. But I'm quick to anger. (Internally really.) And I do feel shitty sometimes. It all depends. I do see myself in both of them. I also see myself in Ms. Diaz. She was trying to help. With my many friends who feel like Emily or Elizabeth, I am also Ms. Diaz.
The portrayal of teenage life...is pretty good. It shows the dark side. The girl who smiles but is dying inside. The girl who fights everything until there is nothing left. It shows humanity's dark side. There are so many people out there committing suicide or attempting. So many who don't want to live. It shows people. It shows the world. Books like these make me smile. Because more people know. And they know how they can try to help.
Anyone can be another Emily or another Elizabeth. Sister. Brother. Friend. And you want to help. Books like these show ways to help.
As you can tell, this is a topic I'm very passionate about. It's close to my heart. I see my friends in Emily and Elizabeth. I see them in me. And in other people. People who hurt and rage. People who cry and fight. That is life. That is humanity.
The ending ends on a high note. Which is good. Things seem to look up for the two girls. That's great. They need it. (Even if they think otherwise.) I'm happy they got their happy ending.
They needed it.
The story was wrapped up. There were no questions. Emily was recovering. She had friends. She had a future. Elizabeth was accepting her life. And her dad. And her family. Which is great.
I'm so happy Ms. Diaz found the journal writer. Really. You don't know what you leave behind when you commit suicide. You leave friends and family. People who loved. And you will have to be dressed in a tux or something. (Sorry. Trying to lighten things up...)
This is a diverse book. We have two girls with psychological problems. (No offense.) And a Latino family. It shows different people. That's great. We are a diverse world.
I liked that we got a Latino family. It could have been expanded on, though. We had Spanish phrases. (And those weren't translated. Which is a problem for me.) But we didn't get too much culture. (I know they're Americanized...) We did have the Day of the Dead. (Remember? Candy skulls? Yup. That's the Day of the Dead.) It could have been better with more culture. That would be amazing.
We don't seem to get enough of either girl. So it seems like we don't get their full personality. We get pieces. And Emily is supposed to have depression. But we don't get to see her full history. We have only half the story. It seems to lack some part of the story.
We get Elizabeth's anger. And her family life. And we get Emily's parents. But we don't get too much information. We get only a minimal. I wanted more. More on Emily's breakdown. I wanted more on Elizabeth fighting her dad. And her dad in general. There didn't seem to be details on certain things. Things we got hints of. (Going back to the Elizabeth-dad thing. Really. What happened?)
The romance isn't the best... I don't hate it or love it. It just wasn't...amazing. (There is a minor spoiler ahead...)
Elizabeth did seem to deserve someone. But not necessarily a boyfriend. Nor did I enjoy the matchup. She needed someone to calm her down. And the guy? Not much. Where is the chemistry? I don't see it. Nor do I like the guy. Elizabeth could have been better off alone.
And Kevin and Emily? (Don't worry. You're told this early on. It's hinted at least.) Don't think that will work out. Really. But Kevin seems changed around Emily. Like he's a new guy. I'm not sure. They do have something. But it seems weak. Like a cute crush. But it will fall apart. High school relationship do that. And I feel like Emily needs to trust Kevin more. Kevin seems like a good guy. Trust him. Just a bit. Then, things might be better. I feel like there is something. But it really isn't chemistry. And I want some history. It's a secret relationship. But tell me more. I want!
And the Spanish! As someone trying to learn the language, some parts were easy to understand. But. Not everyone knows the language. So it might be confusing to what they are saying. There is an important phrase. And it isn't translated. Not in the back. Not in the story itself.
This might be a big setback. I do want to know what it means now...
Weather:
Sunny with a thin layer of fog
4/5
islandgeekgirl's review against another edition
3.0
Elizabeth Davis has an attitude problem. She has a lot of anger inside her that she must learn to control before it breaks her. Emily Delgado is a sweet, obedient girl on the outside but inside her depression is consuming her. Both girls are in Ms Diaz's literature class and through the poetry of Emily Dickinson, they find themselves connecting to their assignments. Both are struggling and before the end of the school year, one will attempt suicide.
I knew going in to this book that there would be a suicide attempt. It was right there in the synopsis. I wasn't expecting the book to start with a nameless girl making that attempt and then flashing back to the beginning of the year. I really liked all the references to Emily Dickinson, her poetry, and the mentions of other literary greats. It was also nice to see actual assignments getting done while the characters were in school.
Both Emily and Elizabeth were characters I really liked. Elizabeth seemed angry at life and held everyone at arm's length. She did have friends and they seemed like really good friends who would listen to her if given the chance, but she just couldn't bring herself to do that. The relationship she had with her little sister was great and her sister was adorable. Emily was under a lot of pressure from her father being a public figure so she had to make sure not to cause trouble, which made it hard to be a regular teen. She hid her depression from everyone.
Their teacher, Ms Diaz, was also a great character. She was passionate about teaching and she really cared for her students. She could engage them and make them think.
I thought Elizabeth's anger and trust issues and Emily's depression were handled really well. It was done in a way so that I was pretty sure I knew which girl was in the beginning but there was lingering doubt in the back of my mind. It was painful to see how the two girls were isolating themselves from everyone but also hopeful when they started talking to each other.
I also thought the author did a great job showing how other people can react and not understand the depth of how hard it can be to live with a mental illness like depression. It's not something you can just snap out of and what can seem like 'no big deal' to most people is actually a huge deal to them.
One thing that did take me out of the story a little bit was that there was at times, some of the characters would say something in Spanish. I don't know Spanish and it was hit or miss if I could decipher what they were saying without looking it up.
Overall, I thought the subject matter was handled sensitively and that the poetry connection was used very well. The book definitely evoked some strong emotions while reading: anger and sadness being the main two.
I knew going in to this book that there would be a suicide attempt. It was right there in the synopsis. I wasn't expecting the book to start with a nameless girl making that attempt and then flashing back to the beginning of the year. I really liked all the references to Emily Dickinson, her poetry, and the mentions of other literary greats. It was also nice to see actual assignments getting done while the characters were in school.
Both Emily and Elizabeth were characters I really liked. Elizabeth seemed angry at life and held everyone at arm's length. She did have friends and they seemed like really good friends who would listen to her if given the chance, but she just couldn't bring herself to do that. The relationship she had with her little sister was great and her sister was adorable. Emily was under a lot of pressure from her father being a public figure so she had to make sure not to cause trouble, which made it hard to be a regular teen. She hid her depression from everyone.
Their teacher, Ms Diaz, was also a great character. She was passionate about teaching and she really cared for her students. She could engage them and make them think.
I thought Elizabeth's anger and trust issues and Emily's depression were handled really well. It was done in a way so that I was pretty sure I knew which girl was in the beginning but there was lingering doubt in the back of my mind. It was painful to see how the two girls were isolating themselves from everyone but also hopeful when they started talking to each other.
I also thought the author did a great job showing how other people can react and not understand the depth of how hard it can be to live with a mental illness like depression. It's not something you can just snap out of and what can seem like 'no big deal' to most people is actually a huge deal to them.
One thing that did take me out of the story a little bit was that there was at times, some of the characters would say something in Spanish. I don't know Spanish and it was hit or miss if I could decipher what they were saying without looking it up.
Overall, I thought the subject matter was handled sensitively and that the poetry connection was used very well. The book definitely evoked some strong emotions while reading: anger and sadness being the main two.