“The Good Stuff
Damn you Green, you kept me up till 1:30 am and my eyes were still bloodshot in the morning from crying
Realistic teens and I know its very hard to believe for a YA book but the parents are not assholes -- I know so very rare
Brilliant dark humour thrown in exactly where it is needed
If you don't love these characters there is something seriously wrong with you
Tough read as a Mom - cannot even imagine watching my child die
Hazel is tough and funny and caring and well quite frankly someone to admire
Hopeful - I know that sounds weird, but there is just something hopeful and reaffirming about the whole story
Never saccharine or unrealistic
Hate writing reviews for books I loved because I feel like I cannot express the right words to convey their brilliance
Will be buying the rest of Green's books with my next paycheck
Even the secondary characters are well developed
Could not put it down - even-though I knew someone might not make it and it deals with kids suffering and have hard time reading that sort of story
Everything just flows perfectly
The Not So Good Stuff
Did I mention how red my eyes were when I woke up the next day
Favorite Quotes/Passages
" I hated hurting him. Most of the time I could forget about it, but the inexorable truth is this. They might be glad to have me around, but I was the alpha and omega of my parent's suffering."
"That's why I like you. Do you realize how rare it is to come across a hot girl who creates an adjectival version of the word pedophile? You are so busy being you that you have no idea how utterly unprecedented you are?"
"Our city has a rich history, even though many tourists are only wanting to see the Red Light District" He paused. "Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
This one is pretty much for everyone. There is a sex scene but it is tasteful - just an FYI in terms of audience
Tough read for parents especially those whose children have had/have cancer
5 Dewey's
I received a copy of this at the Children's Breakfast at BEA 2012”
Jennifer Rayment wrote this review Sunday, December 30, 2012.
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