Review: I just love it!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2012
Ok, I will start off with this is a fantastic book. I think I will classify it as a dark fantasy thriller. Yes, Joe has this supernatural power, but a lot of the book is not based on fantasy. So let me ask, if you had the ability to see a terrible event in the future, would you stop it, even if you knew you would most likely die in the process, or would you save yourself and let a whole lot of other people die? Trust me it's a hard thought, and this is not a happily ever after kinda book. I will tell you that there is death, and not all are saved. But you should expect this just from the blurb.I will tell you that this is not a typically styled written book. It's got multiple point of views. This of the movie crash. There are like 8 different POVs and they all intersect somehow. Now heads up, I'm gunna get slightly spoilerish. Not bad just a little. There are a few classmates, each with depressing type lives, a few classmate not so bad, a teacher, a killer and Joe, as Joe is the only POV in first person. It makes for the most unique type of story I've ever read. You see all these people's life stories as the countdown goes until the shooting. A good 80% of this story is this. That didn't make it boring, it made it suspenseful. At the literally almost end, the time has finally come and you get to see how everything plays out from each one of this character's choices.Joe is a unique character. I felt like I actually knew her in real life and to see how the others perceive her makes it seem more real. And she is so believable. She states in one of the first sentences that she is NOT brave or a hero, or even courageous, she's just strange. And she's ok with that. She's ok with who she is. I love that about her.And Michael, well think of a hot BUT SMART jock! Oh and he's nice those don't usually exist hahaha I love his character and his outlook.To each of the other characters, in my rule I don't give away spoilers, I would like to say that I loved you in here. Even if I didn't like you as a character, I liked having the insight into your brain and thought, and it also makes you think about others in life. For example, the pretty, popular girl is not always as pretty on the inside, and the very young man who went to jail for some bad choices isn't always the horrible criminal you think. There is one character I'm very sad they died, and 2 characters I'm happy that lived. As for the other 6 characters, you'll have to read on to find out what happens and who lives and dies and why I'm happy/sad about the end.I'd like to say that this story wasn't just a story for me. It was an insightful look at to just what is right and wrong and how you look at life and others is important. Try not to judge so easily. Try to make choices that are right, but maybe not so easy. I know that there weren't any fireball throwing, spell casting, shape shifting, blood sucking fantasy delights in here, but that didn't make the story any less heartfelt and completely enjoyable. Yes it's dark, and sad, and very real, but I still think its a great book. I will recommend it to everyone over 13, as I think even kids should learn of the consequences of their choices. You get another 5 PAWS from me, Ms Gordon! Well done!