Language: R (68 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (frequent references to underage usage of drugs and alcohol, several references to teenage sexuality (making out, clothed); Violence: PG (some parental fighting/neglect of a secondary character)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
17yo Jewish Hannah Klein used to be singularly focused on Olympic soccer dreams, but that dream was shattered, along with her ankle, in one horrifying accident on the soccer field. In addition to losing her future dreams, her beloved grandmother Bubbie passed away unexpectedly from complications due to cancer. As a result, Hannah goes into a self-destructive spiral of partying, drinking, and sabotaging her relationships with friends and family. Now Hannah returns a year later, from an expensive boarding school/treatment center, ready to make amends. She gets a job at a local entertainment multiplex, Bonanza, for the summer with her younger brother and a host of quirky coworkers, to slowly start rebuilding her life after the disaster of a year.
Hannah wasn't an entirely likable character for me. I've never been so invested in something that I wanted to completely destroy my life as a result when it doesn't work out. Granted, she had a lot of stuff to deal with, but I would have liked to see her work with a mental health professional instead of resorting to boys, drinking, and drugs to escape her problems. However, I did like the "found family" aspect of the Bonanza crew and how Hannah works to repair her many broken relationships from her self-destructive phase. I could see this book being the right book for a certain kind of student, but it doesn’t really have broad appeal.
Kiera, ELA Teacher
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