Sunday, January 23, 2011

I Will Save You by Matt de la Pena

I Will Save You
De La Peña, Matt, I Will Save You. Random House Children’s Books, 2010. Language: PG-13 (20 swears, no “f”s. , Violence: PG-13, Sexual Content: PG-13

Running away from his group home, therapy, and past, Kidd is spending the summer working for Mr. Red, an eccentric man who owns a campsite near the beach. While working there, he meets Olivia, a local, and starts dating her. She seems to be hiding something from him, however. When a man named Devon from Kidd’s past shows up on the scene, he starts breaking the law and trying to get Kidd to do so as well. A man with a death wish, Devon refused to leave until he teaches Kidd a few things about life and Olivia. When his interactions become dangerous and he threatens to kill Olivia, Kidd must find a way to defeat Devon, confront his past, and save Olivia. Will he succeed?

A confusing book to follow. The plot is splotchy and leaves questions unanswered. The characters are wishy-washy. The ending is unfulfilling and doesn’t quite fit the book. Readers who like books about mental problems, and unrequited love may enjoy reading this book, but would not recommend to most people. MS. OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Jessica M, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.

2 comments:

The Wolf Who Walks Alone said...

I strongly disagree. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I understand. However, the characters were by no means "wishy-washy". The character had flaws and were unpredictable at times, like REAL people, which altogether made the characters more realistic.

Most good books leave a few doors left open and questions unanswers, leaving some parts of the character's fate up to the imagination of the reader. Unfortunately, many readers nowadays lack the capacity to imagine what happens after the pages end. Just because the book didn't end by saying "and they all lived happily ever after" doesn't make the ending unfufilling, it makes it again, more realistic, because that's just life. The books may not describe in vivid detail every character's life from birth to death, but it was an adept ending, where the main character is at peace. It's unfortunate that you may not have liked the book, I truly pity that, but readers who are capable of reading between the lines and long after the lines have ended will enjoy the book. If you let it, it could widen your narrow perspectives a little.

Cindy Mitchell said...

Thank you "Wolf Who Walks Alone" for your very thoughtful counter comments - I appreciate a second opinion very much! --Cindy