Review: A raw story about family and friendship and high school
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2014
The Struggle of Me is a Write to Read Project by a number of talented writers and editors. I picked up this book because I had enjoyed a short story written by one of the authors, Wanda Hartzenberg. I was hoping for an equally moving and gripping story and I was not disappointed. The Struggle of Me is a powerful and beautiful tale about family and friendship and pulling together to overcome the worst case scenario. Derrick and his younger sister Arriane are new kids at a high school in a town where they used to live.They’ve been shuffled back there to live with their older brother after their parents are killed in a car accident and a brief hiatus with their aunt in a different city. Derrick isn’t happy to be back, and the older brother, Lucas, isn’t very happy to have to take charge of his siblings either.The Struggle of Me is written from four different perspectives, and each one is written in a distinctive and clear voice. In addition to Derrick and Lucas, there are chapters written from the point of view of young and heartbreakingly upbeat Arriane who just wants to start a new life with her brothers and to make new friends at the high school. We also meet Skylar, a popular cheerleader who defies all stereotypes no  matter how much Derrick wants to pin them on her. It turns out that Skylar and Derrick have a history from when they were in elementary school together, and they both have some growing up to do before they can move on from their past. Events take place that challenge both of them to do just that.The Struggle of Me gives the reader insight into the perspective of four different young characters, each of them hurting and looking for relief in one form or another. This quick read is both enlightening and page-turning. I look forward to reading other works by this creative group. I would like to read more about these characters, too, so perhaps there is a sequel in the works!