Where She Went by Gayle Forman
It’s no secret that I read a good amount of YA lit. Where She Went is the sequel to the novel, If I Stay, which is also a major motion picture. If I Stay was everything I enjoy about YA lit, even leaving me teary eyed at my desk during LMS Loves To Read Day. In a unique twist, Where She Went is told from the perspective of Adam a few years after the crash. The accident, for those of you who are not up to speed, killed Mia’s parents and younger brother. Mia teetered on the edge of death, trying to decide whether to join her family or fight for life to be with her boyfriend, Adam. He has become a bonafide rock star, and, Mia, an accomplished cellist. One night in New York City, they are unexpectedly reunited, leading to an outpouring of pent up emotions that kept me turning the page. I will admit that I thought the book was a bit cheesy at the beginning, but as I kept reading, I really did like it. I would recommend to teen girls and women who enjoy YA. Oh, and you kind of need to read If I Stay first. Not necessarily to see what she decides (I mean, hello, there’s a sequel), but to understand the character dynamics and fully invest in their story.
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
What I like about Jodi Picoult is that whenever I read one of her novels, I finish feeling completely satisfied. Her books have engaging plot lines, and they are so well researched, that I feel as though I’ve learned something. Leaving Time was no exception. The story centers around young Jenna, who is searching for her mother, Alice, who disappeared after a trampling death at the elephant sanctuary they called home. Jenna enlists the help of an alcoholic ex-cop and a washed up celebrity psychic to help her on her quest. As is typical of Picoult’s novels, the point of view shifts between Jenna, her mother, and Serenity (the psychic). Their stories are interwoven and layered with Alice’s extensive knowledge of elephant grief. I realize that probably sounds weird, but it was an entertaining read with a surprise ending that, even though I’m not sure I love, left me thinking.
