Language: R (117 swears 74 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (debilitating grief after the death of a loved one); Violence: PG-13 (fatal traffic accident including decapitation and burning up, brief description of movie scene involving killing a Nazi with a baseball bat).
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL - HIGH
17yo Asher is stuck in his all-consuming grief over the death of his mother. She was hit by a drunk driver in a semi while going to the mall to buy Asher some new soccer cleats, and thus Asher is sure that her death is his fault. His dad drops him off at a grief group that meets in the hospital, and there Asher meets new friends who are grieving their own losses. Asher convinces these new friends to join him on a road trip. Little do they know that Asher has stolen his dad’s car and credit card, and his one and only goal for the trip is to kill the man who killed his mother.
Anyone who has dealt with grief will find tremendous healing and comfort in Asher and his friends’ experiences. Watching all four of these wounded hearts begin the first steps toward healing from their losses is so emotional. Through smiles and through tears the message is that grief is heavy, healing can feel impossible, and it’s okay to be as sad as you want to be - just don’t let that sorrow destroy you. Another important theme is that nobody is alone, there are always people who care and want to help, and our actions affect those who love us. Ethnicity isn’t really discussed, but all characters on the cover are white.
Tammie H, Librarian
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