Don't Breathe a Word by Holly CupalaPublisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: January 3, 2012
Paperback, 299 pages
Fiction, Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0061766695
Fiction, Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0061766695
What can I say about this book? Don't Breathe a Word is amazing is so many different ways. It's not an easy read in the way that it deals with tough subjects. But it is an easy read in the way that the page just about turn themselves. I found myself right there with Joy. I had asthma as a child/teenager so I could definitely relate to her in that way. The rest, wow, I just felt for her and hoped for her and cheered for her. I wanted things to work out for her and for Creed.
It's defnitely a gritty book. It deals with abuse, it deals with teen runaways and teens living on the streets. It dealt with so much that my sheltered life did not let me know was out there, but my eyes are opened now and even though my small town probably does not have many homeless teens, I do know abuse is out there. The thing is, Ms. Cupala could have made this a totally depressing book, but it's not. It's sad and it takes the right tone with the tough situations, but you can feel the hope as well. Hope between Joy and Creed even in the toughest times.
Ms. Cupala's writing was amazing, I was immediately transported to the streets of Seattle, somewhere I have never been and have only seen in Grey's Anatomy and that doesn't show the street life, just mainly hospital and bar life. She does magic with her words, making me a part of the story. Making me care about the main characters, and making me afraid of the ones I am supposed to be afraid of. I felt all of Joy's emotions. It was really amazing.
I honestly read this book several months ago and it has stuck with me. I read over 200 books a year and often details blur together in my mind. Nothing about this book has blurred. That is the mark of a great book in my mind. I can remember the details, the story and the characters. Ms. Cupala has written a story that you won't soon forget with Don't Breathe a Word. It's a story to make us as readers aware, but it's a story of hope as well. I loved it and I think if you enjoy contemporary young adult novels that deal with issues you will as well. This is one that can't be missed.
My Rating: 5.0/5.0
Parental guidance: Due to the subject matter I recommend this for 14+ (abuse, runaways, teenagers living on the street). The language/sexual content is blurry after a few months, but I do know the subject matter is better suited for the older teenagers or if you want to use it as a book to discuss with younger teenagers it would be great for that. I know I would do that if I had daughters, and I may do it with my sons when they get older, mainly as a way they are not to treat girls (though I think they already understand that).
About the Book:
Joy Delamere is suffocating...
From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.
Joy can take his words - tender words, cruel words - until the night they go too far.
Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe... if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.
Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.
About the Author (from Goodreads.com):
Website
GIVEAWAY Details
Harper has been kind enough to give Holly enough copies of DBaW to do a prize per day of the tour! And trust me when I say you want this book - my review will be coming next week - I read this months ago and it still sticks with me. It's amazing!
Here is the details of how this is going to work:
*There will be one book given per day, drawn weekly. Everything entered by Saturday night will be put into a drawing on Sunday.*The points DO accumulate, meaning entries put in for week one are still going to count for the drawings in weeks 2 and 3. (This is to reward those who follow/enter from the start, and doesn't punish them later because their entries are more spread out)
ENTRIES:
*There is one automatic entry
*For every post you comment on, it is one entry. You must enter the link to the post you commented on in the entry form below. (So make sure you comment here for an entry!) Then check out the rest of the tour stops and comment and enter them on the form below)
*There is an extra entry if you tweet, facebook, do a blog post or somehow include on your blog. It is one for each of these, but only 1 per type (meaning you can't tweet every day and get points for it... its just one tweet)
*You need to fill out the form EACH time you do something to enter. If there is no link, the entry does not count (beyond the first initial entry, that you can just enter to win from)
There will be ONE international winner a week, assuming an international person gets drawn. If the winner is international, they will be getting a copy from The Book Depository. US/Canada copies will be mailed from Holly and the copies will be signed.
The final drawing will held Sunday, January 15, and will include all entries through midnight CST Sat, Jan 14.
Here is the form to enter from: https://docs.google.com/
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