Review: An unusual tale of a troubled teen
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 11, 2014
Having read several of Dodd's other books, I knew this would be equally well-written and it would have some very realistic characters. I definitely wasn't disappointed.I wasn't prepared for the gritty realism of teenage Nicky, though. She exhibited all the moody, self-centred, short-sighted behaviour of a teenager - but in a very different way to most teenage protagonists. She's not trying to fit in at her old or her new school; nor is she trying to ingratiate herself with a particularly stereotypical group of students.I'd compare her to Katniss Everdeen, from the Hunger Games franchise, without the constant need to question or reflect on her actions. Nicky acts and regrets it later, as she seems unable to see consequences or the parts of her life that are worth living, both before and after her brother's death. While I would call her self-centred, I wouldn't call her selfish - for Nicky also works hard, helping to run her parents' hotel. So, even for this troubled teenager, there's some glimmer of hope.Dodd doesn't gloss over details - Nicky is hardly a clean-cut teenager and, despite a teenage protagonist, it explores adult issues too deeply to be simply teen or YA fiction.