To Lose a Friend

The Chaos of Standing Still was again one of those books written so well that I just think the author, Jessica Brody, had to have had the soul-crushing experience of losing a best friend.  Having had this soul-crushing experience, I feel that way.  The thing is, the main character here lost her best friend in drunk driving accident (the other guy walked away without a scratch-- and I am STILL the only one who thinks Prohibition is a good idea?!?)
There is survivor guilt at play here.  Ryn dealing with the divorce of her parents, and falling in love.  Great, great book.  Also, it was neat to have this set in the Denver Airport.  Which is quite the place!  And Blucifer IS SCARY!  I agree!! 

One of the Best I've Read in a Long Time!

Unbound was really, really good!  I mean, typical Stone, of course!  But I found it to move really quickly.  Dino and Herbie (or Herbert as we call him now that he is all grown up and has a real job) aren't in it, but Peter and Ben are a wee bit and Teddy Fay and Ed Eagle.  Which makes me think that I should start to read those!

First Book of the New Year!

Saint Anything is by Sarah Dessen and I know so many people from whom Sarah Dessen is one of their most favorite authors.  I really did like Saint Anything very much and I will seek to read another from Dessen this year, but I can't say it was really my kind of book, just a little too much romance for me.  Still,  I really liked the fact that it avoided some stereotypical stuff by (SPOILER HERE:  when Sydney and her best friend's brother get together the best friend doesn't hold this massively long terrible grudge and/or bad feelings and it moves along quickly).  Good book! 

Short Series

Tears of a Tiger and Forged by Fire are two of the three books in the Hazelwood High series by Sharon M. Draper.
Tears of a Tiger was a challenge for me.  I am militant in my disgust for drunk drivers.  I admit that I have no compassion or understanding about it at all.  Yes, I judge completely when it comes to this.  To me, one makes a choice to get behind the wheel when drunk.  And that is like taking a gun and shooting it into a crowd.  Only even more dangerous because one stray bullet can most likely only kill or hurt one person, whereas a vehicle out on the road, driven by a drunk driver?  Many people can die or be injured for life.
As I have mentioned here, I call the police when I see someone driving as though they might be drunk.
In TOAT, Andy is drunk.  And he is driving and he wrecks the car and his best friend dies.  Andy's life is over, too, pretty much, as he can't live with what he has done.  I was surprised that I found myself feeling compassion for him.  And also guilt for feeling compassion.  And also guilt for not feeling compassion.  And surprise and shock and anger at the teachers and coaches and friends and counselors who did have compassion for Andy.
I really like this guy's article.   How does it work with being a Christian though?  It's so hard!!!!!!!!  But these were really, really good books.  Love Sharon Draper.  Love her.

It Only Takes a Second

In an instant life can change.  For the good and the bad.  Of course, as quickly as things can change in an instant, I am not a believer in the idea that things are then set in stone.  The story is never over. Every Single Second is a good example of that.  Here are two instances in which lives were changed in an instant.  But it wasn't the end of the story in either case.  Tricia Springstubb is a new author for me and I want to read another book by her because I really thought this was super well written, I just really didn't like the main character and I really didn't like how the book ended!  Which probably means that it was a super great book because it made me think a lot. This is a very timely book and I think it is well done, I just REALLY didn't like how it ended!  I also like that it is about Roman Catholic schools.  There just aren't a lot of books written about Roman Catholic schools.  I gave it three stars at first, but I am moving it to four, now that I have had a day to think about it.  And I would 100% recommend it.