The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab - OPTIONAL

Jarzab, Anna The Opposite of Hallelujah, 449 pgs.  Delacorte Press, 2012.  $16.99  Content: Language: R (41 swears; 3 “F”); Mature Content: PG-13 (underage drinking); Violence: PG. 

Caro has always considered herself an only child, even though she has a sister.  Her sister, Hannah, is eleven years older than her and has lived the last eight years of her life in a convent as a nun.  When Caro finds out that her sister is moving back home she is mortified.  Caro likes her life the way she is and she is mad at her sister for leaving in the first place.  As Caro tries to hide Hannah’s past from her two best friends and her new boyfriends she finds herself lying and her lies don’t just hurt Hannah they hurt Caro too.  Caro learns to care for others feelings and in the process she gets to know herself as well. 

In the beginning I thought this book was kind of slow, but I cared enough to find out what happened to the characters even though Caro’s selfishness made her hard to like at first.  But as the author develops the story and the characters it becomes a deep look at facing our pasts and helping those around us.  It also discusses believing in God and how people do that differently.  I found myself underlining parts and talking about them with my husband because they were so interesting.  It is a good book, but it does seem long and slow at times. 

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.