Thank you Usborne books for this book in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:

Jill MacSweeney just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she’s been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends—everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she’s somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.

Mandy Kalinowski understands what it’s like to grow up unwanted—to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she’s sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It’s harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy—or as difficult—as it seems.

Review:

How to Save a Life is set with two narrations. Both young teenagers with high emotions and difficult life choices but at the same time relatable in some aspects, which is mainly what you want in a YA contemporary.

The first character Amanda finds out she is pregnant and opts to put her unborn child up for adoption, after all she is only a teenager and barely has the means or income to care for the child let alone herself. There isn’t a stable home for Amanda to raise the child so she tries to find the perfect home for the child instead. Reasonable and logical.

While searching for the perfect family, Amanda comes across a family who had recently lost their father and husband. The mother is desperate to replace the loss of her husband while the daughter, Jill, doesn’t think this is a good idea. Jill, our second character, is open and honest to Amanda about how crazy she believes this adoption is.

I have to admit, the characters where alright, I didn’t feel myself liking them immensely or bonding with them. There was just something about them that I just didn’t like. That and they were both a little too whingy for me. I am sorry I am not a fan of whingy characters, I much prefer characters that rise above the drama and set themselves up for life instead of mostly whinging about it. Strive for life don’t whine about it.

Don’t think too much about me not liking the characters, because the story is stronger and overrides the characters and their voices. Zarr had a unique tone of the story and she rode with it and throughout the book, Zarr writing didn’t falter but kept the pace which was wonderful. The way the characters interacted with each other was short, direct and precise. Usually with contemporary’s you find teenagers having long winded dialogue about nothing important at all. Teenagers only really talk when it is important and they have something to say. Otherwise its moans and groans with a few words in there.

Over all I loved the journey that Amanda and Jill took together and their transition from enemies to friends was great to see and I found the process genuine and well written. The book was written and wrapped up nicely and beautifully.

Rating: 4.5

Publisher: Usborne Books

ISBN:  9781474958677