Friday, January 13, 2012

Book Review: Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala + Giveaway

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: January 3, 2012
Paperback, 299 pages 
Fiction, Young Adult
 ISBN: 978-0061766695






buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery
My Review:
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): 
Holly Cupala wrote teen romance novels before she ever actually experienced teen romance. When she did, it became all about tragic poetry and slightly less tragic novels. When she isn't making art and writing, she spends time with her husband and daughter in Seattle, Washington. These days, her writing is less about tragedy and more about hope.

Part of the author's proceeds from this book will go toward helping sexually exploited girls around the globe. TELL ME A SECRET is her first novel.


Website 
Twitter
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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.


FTC Information: I received this book through Teen Book Scene for an honest review.  I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.




Epic Kindle Giveaway Day #3: 4 Kindle Fires, $200 in Gift Cards, 45 free books #epickindlegiveaway

Want to win a Kindle Fire? Authors Aiden James, Scott Nicholson, J. R. Rain, and H.T. Night are teaming up Jan. 11-13 to give away $1,000 in prizes, including four Kindle Fires, $200 in Amazon gift cards, and 45 free Kindle books.

There are four ways to enter during Jan. 12-13:
  • Share this blog link on facebook or twitter using the share buttons at the bottom of this post, if you do this, make sure you comment with links to your tweets or facebook posts and your email address on this post.  
  • Share our free books and event from http://epickindlegiveaway.blogspot.com
  • Spread the news about our contest on your favorite Internet hangouts and the Kindle Fairy is searching and putting names in her Magic Hat

TODAY’S FREE KINDLE BOOKS

Scott Nicholson
Drummer Boy (supernatural thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Red Church (supernatural thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
As I Die Lying (psychological thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Creative Spirit (haunted house thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Disintegration (suspense thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Zombie Bits (zombie stories) Amazon US Amazon UK; Amazon US Amazon UK;
Speed Dating with the Dead Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Skull Ring Amazon US Amazon UK;
Scott Nicholson Library, Vol. 4 Amazon US Amazon UK;
October Girls (YA paranormal) Amazon US Amazon UK

H.T. Night
A Boy's Life (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK;  
Boy Meets Girl (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK;  
Everlasting Love (Poetry) Amazon US Amazon UK;  
Getting Yours (Romantic Comedy) Amazon US Amazon UK;  
Paranormal Love Stories (Vampire/Werewolf Love Story) Amazon US Amazon UK;  
The Werewolf Whisperer (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;  
Vampire Love Story (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;  
Winning Sarah’s Heart: Back to School (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Winning Sarah’s Heart: Boys Being boys (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK

J.R. Rain
BAD BLOOD - A Vampire Thriller Amazon US Amazon UK;
BLACK RAIN: 15 Short Stories Amazon US Amazon UK;
ELVIS HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING - A murder mystery Amazon US Amazon UK;
JUDAS SILVER - An adventure screenplay Amazon US Amazon UK;
LOST EDEN - An adventure screenplay Amazon US Amazon UK;
THE BODY DEPARTED - A ghost story Amazon US Amazon UK;
THE VAMPIRE CLUB - supernatural fantasy comedy Amazon US Amazon UK;
THE VAMPIRE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO -mystery novella Amazon US Amazon UK

Aiden James
Aiden James Vampires (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Cursed Immortals (Supernatural Thriller/Vampires) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Raven Mocker (Horror/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Deadly Night (Murder mystery/Supernatural) Amazon US Amazon UK;
The Forgotten Eden (Supernatural Thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK;
Twice Bitten (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK

If one of the four authors hits #1 on the Kindle Free list, they will give away another Kindle Fire. If at any time during the event, the four authors hold all the Top 10 slots on the Kindle Free list, they will give away a sixth kindle. Kindle Fire winners will be selected by the Watauga County (NC) Public Library staff using random.org.