Genre: Young Adult, Social Issues
Order Online: Amazon.com
Review for previous book in series: here
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 3 stars
Borrowed this book from the library.
In A Nutshell:
This book surprised me in so many ways--from a change in narrator to a change in the focus and feel of the story, but in the end I came to love it. I do not know what more could be told of the story of Mia and Adam, but I really want to have them return because I am not ready to let them go.
Review:
It took me longer than I initially anticipated to finish this series. The first book had hit me so strongly that I just knew I was not emotionally prepared to finish Mia's story yet. And in some ways, I am glad I waited. But in some ways I felt this story lacked some of the power and emotional punch of the first.
A big part of the change was the complete change in narrator. Instead of following Mia, we (the readers) are now following Adam. This took me by surprise and took me a little bit to get used to--particularly since the title of the book was Where SHE Went. Eventually we learn where she went, but in reality this book seemed to focus a lot more on what happened with Adam after the end of If I Stay.
The change in narrator also affected the feel of the story. Where Mia as narrator had a strong focus on her feelings and emotions--Adam as narrator had a stronger focus on actions. He was so confused by emotions (both his and Mia's) that he kept his focus on the actions. What Mia did. What he did. What his bandmates did. This is not a bad thing--but it was unexpected after reading the first story where Mia was very focused on her own emotions and feelings about the accident.
But the end worked for me. It made all of my confusion about the change in narrator and the change in focus work for me. It made me glad I read this book and this series. It made me hope that there was more to the story of Mia and Adam because I am just not ready to give them up.
Recommendations:
I was looking to see what else Gayle Forman had written, when I found a book I want to read because it reminds me a little of a book I had to read for school that really impacted the way I see globalization and its effect on the world:
I really loved If I Stay, it was beautifully written and I agree, Mia's POV was simply sweet and breathtaking. And after I read the description, I saw Adam and her were very different. I cannot wait to read this book,
ReplyDeleteGreat review
Slight Spoiler Alert!
DeleteI agree her and Adam are very different but I will say that the more I think about it the more I see the way they compliment each other.
The first time I read Where She Went, it was hard for me to shift from Mia's narration and I agree that the difference between the two was stark. Then I re-read it later and decided that it was a great sequel!
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