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abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
two girls from two very different worlds are brought together because of one's mother, and the other one's baby. Kill is suffering the sudden loss of her beloved father when her mother springs the news on her that she's adopting a baby, without lawyers, social workers, etc. The young mother, Mandy, comes to stay with them a few weeks before her due date. She brings a lot of emotional baggage that she doesn't share, but she also brings a core of strength that has kept her afloat during all her hard times.
Over the weeks, Jill and Mandy get to know more about each other and themselves, bringing up questions they never thought of asking, and the answers turn out to be pretty amazing and life-changing.
Heart-wrenching and heart-warming by turns, this is a story of catharsis and the pain and relief of going through it, in any form.
Over the weeks, Jill and Mandy get to know more about each other and themselves, bringing up questions they never thought of asking, and the answers turn out to be pretty amazing and life-changing.
Heart-wrenching and heart-warming by turns, this is a story of catharsis and the pain and relief of going through it, in any form.
suedd's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed both Jill's and Mandy's voices/perspectives. I could fully relate to Jill, as my father died when I was 15. Her anger, lack of self-control, purposely ruining relationships are all understandable. Add to this that her mother wants to adopt a baby...and under unconventional circumstances! Mandy's home life is (luckily) foreign to me, so I was very interested to learn about it and her coping methods.
I think many students will identify with parts of the story and appreciate all of it.
I think many students will identify with parts of the story and appreciate all of it.
stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
I’m kind of ashamed to admit that, when it comes to Sara Zarr’s novels, I appreciate them as good literary examples, but otherwise don’t often connect with them as much as I feel I should. HOW TO SAVE A LIFE is no exception. Once again, Sara Zarr elevates the writing of a common yet controversial topic to a literary level, but falls short of the emotional connection I need to consider books and authors my favorites.
HOW TO SAVE A LIFE’s strength lies not in a flowing plot, but rather in the inner thoughts of the characters. Thus, this book will work better for you if you like character-driven novels. Just to make it straight, I like strong and well-developed characters as much as anyone, but I admit to being disappointed when character-driven novels come at the expense of real plot. And this book has a lot of inner monologue, but not much plot. Jill and Mandy are fine main characters if you like ‘em passively angsty and full of inner monologue. But really, the plot—or the lack thereof—really drags. Jill goes to school and angst with her faux-friends, and Mandy stays at home and angsts. Fun times.
The truth of the matter is that I feel like HOW TO SAVE A LIFE attempts to do so much more than it actually ends up doing. There’s a POC love interest, an unusual family situation, teen pregnancy, abuse, the ending of a relationship…but I never felt the full power or emotions that each one of these deserves. In short, I felt like this book tackles YA clichés without much oomph behind it.
Some character-driven novels with little to no plot can make me climb on top of tables and blast-sing its praises (see: Melina Marchetta); HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, however, kind of just made me hum a little, under my breath. I recognize that my appreciation-but-not-love for this book is totally a personal thing, because the majority of people have loved and probably will love this book. Just putting another point of view out there, for any fishies who want to bite.
HOW TO SAVE A LIFE’s strength lies not in a flowing plot, but rather in the inner thoughts of the characters. Thus, this book will work better for you if you like character-driven novels. Just to make it straight, I like strong and well-developed characters as much as anyone, but I admit to being disappointed when character-driven novels come at the expense of real plot. And this book has a lot of inner monologue, but not much plot. Jill and Mandy are fine main characters if you like ‘em passively angsty and full of inner monologue. But really, the plot—or the lack thereof—really drags. Jill goes to school and angst with her faux-friends, and Mandy stays at home and angsts. Fun times.
The truth of the matter is that I feel like HOW TO SAVE A LIFE attempts to do so much more than it actually ends up doing. There’s a POC love interest, an unusual family situation, teen pregnancy, abuse, the ending of a relationship…but I never felt the full power or emotions that each one of these deserves. In short, I felt like this book tackles YA clichés without much oomph behind it.
Some character-driven novels with little to no plot can make me climb on top of tables and blast-sing its praises (see: Melina Marchetta); HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, however, kind of just made me hum a little, under my breath. I recognize that my appreciation-but-not-love for this book is totally a personal thing, because the majority of people have loved and probably will love this book. Just putting another point of view out there, for any fishies who want to bite.
mollywetta's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a favorite for many, but for very personal reasons, didn't work very well for me. Full review at wrapped up in books.
shirleymak's review against another edition
3.0
so this was okay. the girl's kind of annoying; both of them. buuuut yeah.
cburgbennett's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. I really liked this story. It was sad and happy and somewhat funny (in some spots) all at once. Very bittersweet.
I liked that there were two viewpoints throughout the book, it helped me to better understand the two main characters, and how they view themselves and how they view each other. I liked the changes that happened to them as the book went on. They became more aware of each other and the problems that different people face. The two main characters lived completely different lives, but were somehow similar in the end. They just wanted someone to understand them and to feel loved, which is something I'm pretty sure everyone wants.
(There was some swearing.)
I liked that there were two viewpoints throughout the book, it helped me to better understand the two main characters, and how they view themselves and how they view each other. I liked the changes that happened to them as the book went on. They became more aware of each other and the problems that different people face. The two main characters lived completely different lives, but were somehow similar in the end. They just wanted someone to understand them and to feel loved, which is something I'm pretty sure everyone wants.
(There was some swearing.)
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
4.0
Told from the point of view of Mandy, an expectant teen mother, and Jane a high school senior still grieving the loss of her father in a car accident almost a year ago. Their lives are brought together when Jane's mom decides to adopt Mandy's baby in an open adoption and Mandy comes to stay with them as her due date approaches. Watching the two girls deal with their problems and learn to communicate with each other despite their dissimilar backgrounds was at first uncomfortable, but ultimately rewarding.
michalice's review against another edition
4.0
I have had my eye on How To Save A Life since I first heard about its release in USA. When I found out it had been picked up by a UK publisher I was very excited, and even more so when I got a copy in the post.
The synopsis says as much as you need to know about the book without going into detail, so I am just going to jump straight in with my review.
When I began reading How To Save A Life I was hooked straight away, and although it's quite a big book I managed to read it within two days worth of reading around work and sleep. I personally think what Jill's Mum did at that moment in time was the wrong thing to do. Getting a baby not long after losing her husband is an irrational way to fill the gap he left behind, and I don't think she thought about the consequences it would have on her life and on Jills life, I think she was selfish for doing this and should had discussed and planned it with Jill, either with or without previous discussions with her husband.
I felt sorry for Jill. Losing someone is hard on anyone, but to lose the person who raised you is even worse, and she copes the only way she knows how, withdrawing into herself and keeping those close to her at arms reach. When she find out about the baby she is against the idea and finds anyway she can to put a stop to the plan. As a character I thought she was incredibly strong, being able to still function the ways she does just amazes me. She has also been brought up to be independent and not have to rely on anyone for help, even if that help is just changing a tyre. We get glimpses into the relationship she had with her Dad and from them alone you can see how close they were with each other.
Mandy, the pregnant teenager who is giving her baby up for Jill, was an enigma at first. There are two sides to her story and reason for doing what she does which I am not going to go into, you have to read it yourself to find out more. As the truth finally comes out I did begin to feel sorry for her and for how she had grown up.
As the book nears to an end, the situation is resolved in a way that I never expected. How To Save A Life is an emotional book that deals with family, love, loss, and shows the real meaning of what 'family' means. I enjoyed it from page one and intend to check out more books by the author.
The synopsis says as much as you need to know about the book without going into detail, so I am just going to jump straight in with my review.
When I began reading How To Save A Life I was hooked straight away, and although it's quite a big book I managed to read it within two days worth of reading around work and sleep. I personally think what Jill's Mum did at that moment in time was the wrong thing to do. Getting a baby not long after losing her husband is an irrational way to fill the gap he left behind, and I don't think she thought about the consequences it would have on her life and on Jills life, I think she was selfish for doing this and should had discussed and planned it with Jill, either with or without previous discussions with her husband.
I felt sorry for Jill. Losing someone is hard on anyone, but to lose the person who raised you is even worse, and she copes the only way she knows how, withdrawing into herself and keeping those close to her at arms reach. When she find out about the baby she is against the idea and finds anyway she can to put a stop to the plan. As a character I thought she was incredibly strong, being able to still function the ways she does just amazes me. She has also been brought up to be independent and not have to rely on anyone for help, even if that help is just changing a tyre. We get glimpses into the relationship she had with her Dad and from them alone you can see how close they were with each other.
Mandy, the pregnant teenager who is giving her baby up for Jill, was an enigma at first. There are two sides to her story and reason for doing what she does which I am not going to go into, you have to read it yourself to find out more. As the truth finally comes out I did begin to feel sorry for her and for how she had grown up.
As the book nears to an end, the situation is resolved in a way that I never expected. How To Save A Life is an emotional book that deals with family, love, loss, and shows the real meaning of what 'family' means. I enjoyed it from page one and intend to check out more books by the author.
janina_reads's review against another edition
5.0
German Kindle owners, the ebook is only 2.57€ at the moment! http://www.amazon.de/How-To-Save-Life-ebook/dp/B0089OE712/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353233689&sr=8-2 (18/11/2012)