Review: This book really hits the mark
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 8, 2012
Six Degrees of Lost is a perfect coming-of-age story. It's compelling, believable, and quietly powerful. It held my attention from the very first page, and when I finished one chapter, I just had to dive into the next, and the next. There's plenty of dialogue, which is what YA readers love, and there's just enough description so you get a good sense of your surroundings. I could actually feel the dampness of a Pacific Northwest summer; I rejoiced when the sun came out.The author, Linda Benson, has her finger firmly on the pulse of young teens. She made me care about the two main characters, Olive and David, who form an unlikely friendship that's sparked by a stray dog. These are ordinary and likeable kids and they have all the rollercoaster teenage emotions. They're sometimes selfish, thoughtless, and rude; they're also sensitive and funny and quietly brave. They make mistakes, but own up to them, and the author handles this with just the right touch.While this is a solid YA book, I feel it's also ideal for that often hard-to-fill gap between middle-grade and YA readers. Both age groups will enoy this well-written story, as will the adults in their lives.This is the second book by Linda Benson that I've thoroughly enjoyed and I hope she's hard at work on her next one.