Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 99 votes)
5 stars
31(31%)
4 stars
35(35%)
3 stars
33(33%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
99 reviews
July 15,2025
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Jenna Abbott's life was shattered when she lost her mother in a tragic car accident on the Zappan Tee Bridge. She was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she spent a significant portion of her recovery

in a state she called in the blue. This was a place that seemed almost heaven-like, where her mother was still alive, and she could watch the geese fly freely.

However, as time passed, Jenna slowly found herself emerging from this drugged state and falling into the raw. In this new state, every thought was sharp and painful, as if cut by a razor. Every word seemed to pierce her heart. Demerol, the drug that had kept her in that in the blue state, had made her weeks of recovery feel almost unreal.

After being discharged from the hospital, Jenna refused to live with her father. Instead, she moved in with her aunt and uncle in New Hampshire. Just a couple of days after settling in, she met Gabriel “Crow” Saint-Croix, the very boy who had saved her.

Now, it's important not to jump to conclusions about Crow. He wasn't at all what one might expect. He was two years older than Jenna, a biker with piercings and a tattoo. And yet, by the second time they met, Jenna was convinced that she was in love with him. With Crow's help, she began to face her deepest fears - her fear of bridges and of death. She also found the courage to admit the truth about the accident that had changed her life forever.

I came across this story in a review on Amazon, where someone had written: Joyce Carol Oates's new book for teens has a long title and it really does sort of give away the ending. Although, the ending is probably not the most important, rather the journey and its twists and turns. This couldn't be more true, and I just had to share it.
July 15,2025
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I randomly came across this book in my local library just recently. At first glance, it seemed interesting and quite unusual. And indeed, it turned out to be just that. Although the writing style was a bit strange on some occasions, overall, it wasn't overly bad.

In my opinion, this book can be ranked somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. It doesn't make it into my list of absolute favourites, but it is definitely worth a read. It offers a unique perspective and some engaging storylines that keep the reader hooked.

The characters are well-developed, and the plot has its twists and turns that add to the overall charm of the book. Despite its flaws, it has enough redeeming qualities to make it a worthwhile addition to any bookshelf.

July 15,2025
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Weird abstract beginning that gradually settled into an engaging narrative. It's about a girl who is striving to find herself following a terrible accident where she lost her mother.

She flirts with the destructive friend and has a bad-boy crush. These are both relevant characters in every teenage girl's coming-of-age story.

My teenage girl self desired more narrative focus on the bad-boy crush and less time being wasted with the self-centered destructive friend. However, perhaps that's the way life truly is.

The bad-boy crush often hovers on the border of being untouchable, while the destructive friend is like a sucking vortex that consumes the teenage girl's time.

This leaves very little time remaining for the exploration of that border, which is a crucial part of her journey of self-discovery.

Despite my personal preference for a different narrative balance, this story realistically portrays the complex and often chaotic experiences of a teenage girl trying to find her place in the world after a significant loss.

It makes me reflect on my own teenage years and the choices and distractions that influenced my own path of growth and self-understanding.

Overall, it's a story that manages to capture the essence of the teenage experience in a unique and thought-provoking way.

July 15,2025
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Much better than Freaky Green Eyes, this drama offers a truly engaging and emotional read.

Fifteen-year-old Jenna is burdened with self-blame for the tragic car accident on the Tappan Zee Bridge that took her mother's life.

The story follows her arduous physical and emotional recovery process.

We witness her struggle with the pain and guilt, as she tries to come to terms with the loss.

Jenna's journey is filled with challenges and setbacks, but also with moments of hope and strength.

The author does an excellent job of描绘 Jenna's inner turmoil and the complex emotions she experiences.

As readers, we are drawn into her world and root for her as she battles to heal both physically and emotionally.

This drama is a must-read for those who enjoy stories that explore the depths of human emotion and the power of resilience.

It will leave you with a profound sense of empathy and a newfound appreciation for the strength of the human spirit.

July 15,2025
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So good!

I read it twice. This simple sentence holds a lot of meaning. It implies that the thing being referred to is of great quality or interest.

Maybe it's a book, an article, a speech, or even a work of art.

When we find something so captivating that we feel the need to read it again, it shows that it has made a significant impact on us.

It could have presented new ideas, touched our emotions, or simply entertained us in a way that left a lasting impression.

Re-reading something gives us the opportunity to discover new details, gain a deeper understanding, and appreciate it even more.

It's like uncovering hidden treasures within the words or images.

So, the next time you come across something that makes you say "So good, I read it twice," take a moment to savor it and let it enrich your life.

July 15,2025
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A young adult novel that was truly captivating. Jen experiences the tragic loss of her mother in an accident.

After the wreck, her world is turned upside down. She endures not only physical injuries but also deep emotional scars. Losing a parent at such a young age is devastating, and she struggles to cope.

There are numerous problems that she has to face. At times, I found myself so invested in her story that I wanted to reach into the book and physically shake her, hoping to jolt her out of her pain and confusion. However, I knew that everything had to unfold in its own time. She had to embark on her own journey of healing.

This is undoubtedly a book that I will highly recommend to students at school this Fall. It's also a great read for adults who are seeking a good book that delves into the complex emotions and challenges of dealing with loss.

It's a story that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a sense of hope and resilience.
July 15,2025
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Jenna Abbott wakes up (sort of) in the hospital after a terrible car accident on the Tappan Zee bridge. Her mother was killed, and she was terribly injured. She is on so much medication that she seems to drift up out of herself and “into the blue” – a phrase she keeps repeating. That's where she wants to stay, so she doesn't have to face what's coming.

But despite her wishes, Jenna has to come down and make decisions. With her mother gone, she can't bear to live with her father, who left them for a new family and doesn't understand her. So, she chooses to live with her aunt and uncle. It's a difficult transition. She leaves behind her friends, home, and everything important. She's prickly with her new family and slow to make friends.

The one person who seems to understand is Crow, an older guy from school. But Jenna is too hurt, angry, and embarrassed to open up to him. The only friend she makes is Trina, who is trouble. She's reckless, drinks, does drugs, and parties. During a party, some older guys get rough with them. Jenna escapes injury by getting sick, but Trina is severely beaten. She refuses to speak to Jenna, and her mother moves her away. No charges are pressed. Jenna gets flak from the guys still in school, but Crow defends her.

There's no romantic ending for Jenna and Crow. We learn that Crow is more complicated than he seems. He has a daughter and will move to another city after graduating. Jenna discovers her strength and desire to live. Once she wants to live, things start to fall into place.

This short story with short sentences will keep readers engaged. It's appealing to those who like gritty teen fiction. While Jenna's issues didn't resonate with me, I was intrigued by Crow. I would have liked to hear his story. Overall, it's a decent story that should be appreciated by a wide audience. I'm glad it didn't have a romantic ending – it's more realistic.
July 15,2025
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I really enjoyed this story, although it didn't quite reach the level of 'Freaky Green Eyes' for me.

The account of Jenna's recovery was truly inspiring and deeply moving. Her struggles were palpable and tugged at my heartstrings. I could vividly understand the depth of her anger and frustration.

However, I felt that the story could have been more developed. It seemed a bit short, as if there was more potential that wasn't fully explored.

The resolution of the story, in my opinion, came a little too effortlessly and swiftly. I found it hard to believe that Jenna could so easily change her thinking and feelings regarding the accident and all that she had done in its aftermath.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the story still had its charm and managed to engage me. It made me reflect on the power of recovery and the challenges that come with it.

I would have liked to see more details about Jenna's journey and perhaps a more gradual transformation in her mindset.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but it left me craving for a bit more substance.

July 15,2025
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16/20 - https://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/2...

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The link provided, https://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/2..., leads to a specific web page. It is likely that this page contains relevant information related to the topic at hand. Maybe it is an article, a review, or a discussion about a particular subject, perhaps related to Joyce Carol Oates and her work "Dans le Bleu".



By clicking on the link, one can explore and discover more details about the mentioned topic. It could provide insights, interpretations, and analyses that enhance our understanding. The website "leslecturesdemylene.com" might be a platform dedicated to literary discussions, book reviews, or other related content. Overall, the combination of the fraction 16/20 and the link offers an opportunity for further exploration and learning.

July 15,2025
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This story seemed to me to be much too slow. I wasn't touched by the story that I read until page 130 and then in 20-line increments just to still find out how the end was going to turn out... It happens and it will happen again! That's okay!

Sometimes, when we read a book, we expect it to grip us from the very beginning. However, this particular story failed to do so for me. The pace was so sluggish that it took a long time for anything interesting to occur. I had to force myself to keep reading, hoping that something would finally happen to make the story more engaging.

But even as I reached page 130, I still wasn't fully invested in the characters or the plot. I found myself skimming through the pages in 20-line increments, just to get to the end and see how it all wrapped up. It was a bit of a disappointment, really.

Nevertheless, I know that this kind of thing happens. Not every book is going to be a page-turner, and that's okay. There are still many other great books out there waiting for me to discover. So, even though this particular story didn't meet my expectations, I'm not going to let it stop me from reading and exploring new literary works.
July 15,2025
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I initially believed that Jenna's reactions were a true reflection of someone who had endured the experiences she had gone through. Her emotions and responses seemed genuine and relatable.

However, as I continued to read, I found myself gradually losing interest in the story. The writing style, unfortunately, did not engage me as much as I had hoped. It lacked the vividness and creativity that would have made the narrative more captivating.

Interestingly, this piece was highly recommended to me by an eighth grade student. I was quite surprised by this recommendation, as I would have expected a work with a more sophisticated writing style to be favored by an older reader.

Nonetheless, I am grateful for the recommendation as it has given me the opportunity to explore different types of writing and expand my literary horizons.
July 15,2025
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I suppose I should have anticipated that a teen novel centered around recovery would, without a doubt, involve drugs. And this, in turn, implies that it would inevitably incorporate a rape scene. If you weren't expecting this, then consider this a trigger warning. It's not overly graphic, but it is present.

Anyway, aside from the PTSD that I will now have to grapple with for the next few days, I actually rather relished this book. The title is highly poetic, and the remainder of the novel adheres to that theme. It cleverly employs words, punctuation, sentence structure, and at times, even poor grammar to vividly illustrate a depth of feeling that is almost palpable. It was extremely easy to empathize with the main character, even as she makes unhealthy choices. This is because as the reader, I am granted an intimate peek into the brokenness within her brain. This isn't a romantic tale either. I truly appreciate the departure from the cliché "love fixes everything" rhetoric. While romance does play a role in this story, it is neither the focal point of the book nor the resolution to the conflicts within it. I don't have a great deal more to say about this book. It's a raw and genuine book, yet beautiful in its very brokenness.
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