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A review by aelynreads
Unboxed by Non Pratt
4.0
My eyes are still leaking from this book. THIS IS WHY I STAY AWAY FROM CONTEMPORARIES. Unboxed is a whirlwind of emotion packed into a short story of friendship, loss and what you're left with when friends grow apart.
The book focuses on a group of childhood friends, Alix, Ben, Dean and Zara, who haven't seen each other in 5 years since they each moved away from their home town. Now at eighteen, they're meeting up at their old school to unpack a memory box that they made together when they were thirteen. Only they're missing the fifth member of their group, Millie, who died three months ago of stomach cancer. As they go through the contents of the box, the now-strangers relive their old memories, grieve for their lost friend and try to figure out what is left of their friendships.
This book knocked me for six. I was not expecting such a raw punch of emotion from such a short story. What struck me most was how realistic this book felt. It's written how teenagers talk. The pieces from the past were written exactly how thirteen year olds talk. I felt fully immersed in the lives of these realistic and relatable characters, which is quite an achievement for such a short book. As always with short stories, you do miss out on some of the character development that a longer book facilitates, but Non Pratt did a brilliant job of ensuring the reader still understands and feels connected to each character. I even feel like I know Millie, who was only present in the book as a memory. The awkward reunion and reclaiming of lost friendships was fantastically written, and the characters coming together and re-bonding in shared grief was emotional to read.
I would say this short story about friendship and grief packs a real emotional punch that will leave me reeling for days. I would highly recommend this book to any YA readers.
"I know why we all fell apart, that's just what happens. But things that fall apart can be put back together, right? Even if there's a piece missing."
The book focuses on a group of childhood friends, Alix, Ben, Dean and Zara, who haven't seen each other in 5 years since they each moved away from their home town. Now at eighteen, they're meeting up at their old school to unpack a memory box that they made together when they were thirteen. Only they're missing the fifth member of their group, Millie, who died three months ago of stomach cancer. As they go through the contents of the box, the now-strangers relive their old memories, grieve for their lost friend and try to figure out what is left of their friendships.
"I'm regretting giving away my lesbian napkins."
This book knocked me for six. I was not expecting such a raw punch of emotion from such a short story. What struck me most was how realistic this book felt. It's written how teenagers talk. The pieces from the past were written exactly how thirteen year olds talk. I felt fully immersed in the lives of these realistic and relatable characters, which is quite an achievement for such a short book. As always with short stories, you do miss out on some of the character development that a longer book facilitates, but Non Pratt did a brilliant job of ensuring the reader still understands and feels connected to each character. I even feel like I know Millie, who was only present in the book as a memory. The awkward reunion and reclaiming of lost friendships was fantastically written, and the characters coming together and re-bonding in shared grief was emotional to read.
"I finally know that Zara and Dean and Ben have always been the people I hoped they were."
I would say this short story about friendship and grief packs a real emotional punch that will leave me reeling for days. I would highly recommend this book to any YA readers.