Review: A powerful, emotional story!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 30, 2014
WOW.The feelings.Those way down deep inside, dark and horrifying feelings you didn’t know lived inside of you… they’re ripped from your core through this riveting tale. Stay is a powerful whirlwind of a story that had me more anxious than a fish next to a fillet knife.Adeline Miller is your typical nineteen year old girl with good friends, a successful blog, and the desire to have a relaxing summer after her first year of college. She heads off to the Pride Parade with her best friend, Lynn, and her little sister, Arianna. She calls her dad when they arrive, like the respectful daughter she is, and the three of them proceed to find a place to sit. Addie witnesses something suspicious happening in the alley and, being the good-natured person she is, tries to help out a fellow human being. What happens next is unspeakable, but I’m glad this author had the balls to speak about it.I realized something while reading this book. I usually imagine myself in various situations when I’m reading, as I’m sure most people do — a young girl falling in love for the first time, or the dead rising and coming after me and everyone I love. I did the same thing with this book too — at first. It was difficult enough to put myself in Addie’s shoes, imagining myself as a nineteen year old girl being taken off the street and forced to do all these horrible things. But then I started thinking about my little girls and my stomach began to roil and I feared I might hurl. While this story is fictional, it also brings the dark truth of the world we live in to light and that, my friends, is more terrifying than an entire planet full of zombies.Addie is a strong character, determined to make it out the other side of this nightmare. She provides hope and light in the darkest of dark places, which is simply amazing. I love strong female characters, and her tenacity in the midst of such a horrific situation wrenched my insides and brought tears to my eyes. It’s hard to believe that people can be so resilient, but I do know it’s possible.There are some of the most vile characters I’ve ever read before in this story. Obviously, there would have to be. The name Zane, which I just heard someone say in an episode of Goosebumps my daughter is watching, throws me into instant panic mode now. I may always associate that name with pure evil. I might have to ban this particular episode of Goosebumps. So sorry, R.L. Stine.I highly recommend Stay to fans of dark contemporary fiction that touches on very real issues. I’m going to tell you something now: this is not an easy topic to read about, and I’m having a hard time putting my thoughts into words through this cloud of feelings, but I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this book.