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A review by beccaj2180
Fracture by Megan Miranda
4.0
Warning: This review attempts to unravel my weird death related issues and definitely contains spoilers as a result
I couldn't give this book five stars because I don't really do that. And the whole time I was reading this book I was thinking, "Wow, I hate this book so much." The irony is that I cried and felt my heart tearing into pieces the whole time. Don't ask me why I know how this girl felt, even though she had a ridiculous name and no discernible personality. Don't ask me why I feel like I just had some kind of weird life changing experience - actually I'll just tell you why: I didn't sleep last night, I drank way too much coffee, and books about death do something mind-shredding to me.
Sometimes I don't write reviews because the reason I liked a book is so obvious. But, seriously, until the very last chapter, I had no idea why anyone would like this book. Somehow, the author brought everything to this beautiful end.
I'm probably going to have to say that this review is going to be full of spoilers, because I haven't been able to think of a way to describe why this book amazed me without them. So, that's my warning.
I'm not sure why books about death tend to mess with me so much, but the first time I read a YA book primarily about death ([b:If I Stay|4374400|If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)|Gayle Forman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347462970s/4374400.jpg|4422413]) and the second time ([b:Before I Fall|6482837|Before I Fall|Lauren Oliver|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361044695s/6482837.jpg|6674135]) - both books that were mentioned in the publisher's synopsis - the story and the character stayed with me - are still with me. Now, if I'm honest, Delaney was not my favorite character in the whole world. She spends most of her time reacting to what's happening, wishing she could do something but admitting she is more of a "flight" person rather than "fight" person. She spends so much time reflecting on how she isn't human anymore that she doesn't actually appreciate her life or the love of the people around her - she wallows. But I kind of understand. I think her relationship with Troy could have used a little more of the "he gets me" and a lot less of the "he's stalking me". You hate him by the end of the book - or feel ridiculously sorry for him - so her attempt to save him seems kind of stupid. He's delusional and dangerous, but she follows him out onto that ice anyway...? You know, I think the best way to put it is that the book should have been an extra hundred pages longer - and it definitely shouldn't have a sequel, but I haven't read it so I guess I can't really judge.
What got to me the most - besides the whole inexplicable living/should have been dead thing - was the change in her relationship with her parents. I have a feeling that a lot of people that read this book think that such a dramatic change in her mother makes no sense, but I've seen it first hand. It happens that way. Parents act weird when their kids do things that can kill them. They feel helpless and latch onto whatever will take that feeling away. That's my theory, at least. And the way her mother becomes incredibly detached - that makes sense to me as well, because outside of the whole "I've got to protect my child from absolutely everything" there's also a need to be far away from the thing/person that is causing you overwhelming anxiety. Avoidance. One hundred percent. And it was painful to see.
Decker. Hm. I don't know. But he was amazing and beautiful.
I'm kind of impressed that the argument in the story didn't feel more political to me, since it is kind of a political issue - a.k.a. euthanasia. Way to avoid that stupidity. YA books should never have politics - the authors always dumb them down so much that it feels like they're soapboxing. So, kudos to you, Megan.
Okay, I think essentially I feel like this book was incredible in enough ways that I loved it as much as I hated it. An extra hundred pages would have made it feel more complete, but I also read it in three hours because I couldn't bear the torture. I'm going to end with something I never do: a quote from the book, because it saved the entire thing for me.
Funny how everything can change in an instant. From death to life. From empty to full. From darkness to light. Or maybe I just wasn't looking. I hadn't known that a light could be a feeling and a sound could be a color and a kiss could be both a question and an answer. And that heaven could be the ocean or a person or this moment or something else entirely.
Side note: While I was reading the above portion of the book, a song was playing that seemed to draw something out of my shriveling heart and I want to share that with you as well: Exhibition by Falling Up.
I couldn't give this book five stars because I don't really do that. And the whole time I was reading this book I was thinking, "Wow, I hate this book so much." The irony is that I cried and felt my heart tearing into pieces the whole time. Don't ask me why I know how this girl felt, even though she had a ridiculous name and no discernible personality. Don't ask me why I feel like I just had some kind of weird life changing experience - actually I'll just tell you why: I didn't sleep last night, I drank way too much coffee, and books about death do something mind-shredding to me.
Sometimes I don't write reviews because the reason I liked a book is so obvious. But, seriously, until the very last chapter, I had no idea why anyone would like this book. Somehow, the author brought everything to this beautiful end.
I'm probably going to have to say that this review is going to be full of spoilers, because I haven't been able to think of a way to describe why this book amazed me without them. So, that's my warning.
I'm not sure why books about death tend to mess with me so much, but the first time I read a YA book primarily about death ([b:If I Stay|4374400|If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)|Gayle Forman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347462970s/4374400.jpg|4422413]) and the second time ([b:Before I Fall|6482837|Before I Fall|Lauren Oliver|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361044695s/6482837.jpg|6674135]) - both books that were mentioned in the publisher's synopsis - the story and the character stayed with me - are still with me. Now, if I'm honest, Delaney was not my favorite character in the whole world. She spends most of her time reacting to what's happening, wishing she could do something but admitting she is more of a "flight" person rather than "fight" person. She spends so much time reflecting on how she isn't human anymore that she doesn't actually appreciate her life or the love of the people around her - she wallows. But I kind of understand. I think her relationship with Troy could have used a little more of the "he gets me" and a lot less of the "he's stalking me". You hate him by the end of the book - or feel ridiculously sorry for him - so her attempt to save him seems kind of stupid. He's delusional and dangerous, but she follows him out onto that ice anyway...? You know, I think the best way to put it is that the book should have been an extra hundred pages longer - and it definitely shouldn't have a sequel, but I haven't read it so I guess I can't really judge.
What got to me the most - besides the whole inexplicable living/should have been dead thing - was the change in her relationship with her parents. I have a feeling that a lot of people that read this book think that such a dramatic change in her mother makes no sense, but I've seen it first hand. It happens that way. Parents act weird when their kids do things that can kill them. They feel helpless and latch onto whatever will take that feeling away. That's my theory, at least. And the way her mother becomes incredibly detached - that makes sense to me as well, because outside of the whole "I've got to protect my child from absolutely everything" there's also a need to be far away from the thing/person that is causing you overwhelming anxiety. Avoidance. One hundred percent. And it was painful to see.
Decker. Hm. I don't know. But he was amazing and beautiful.
I'm kind of impressed that the argument in the story didn't feel more political to me, since it is kind of a political issue - a.k.a. euthanasia. Way to avoid that stupidity. YA books should never have politics - the authors always dumb them down so much that it feels like they're soapboxing. So, kudos to you, Megan.
Okay, I think essentially I feel like this book was incredible in enough ways that I loved it as much as I hated it. An extra hundred pages would have made it feel more complete, but I also read it in three hours because I couldn't bear the torture. I'm going to end with something I never do: a quote from the book, because it saved the entire thing for me.
Funny how everything can change in an instant. From death to life. From empty to full. From darkness to light. Or maybe I just wasn't looking. I hadn't known that a light could be a feeling and a sound could be a color and a kiss could be both a question and an answer. And that heaven could be the ocean or a person or this moment or something else entirely.
Side note: While I was reading the above portion of the book, a song was playing that seemed to draw something out of my shriveling heart and I want to share that with you as well: Exhibition by Falling Up.