After reading Joyce Carol Oates’s We Were The Mulvaneys, I found myself eager to explore more of her literary works. With a plethora of options at my disposal, I chose this particular book as it was aimed at Young Adults. Lately, I have been increasingly drawn to YA books, and I had also heard that this one moved at an astonishing pace. Just because it is a quick read, however, does not mean it is a superficial one.

I was impressed by the way Jenna’s emotions were depicted. The guilt she felt for being alive, the contemplation of having to live with her estranged father and his new family, and the thoughts of leaving the home she shared with her mother and the security she once felt before the wreck that seemed to be fading away. Jenna’s inner voice was truly unique. She was aware of what lay ahead and was also resolute in her choices, a quality not often seen in teenagers, especially those who had endured such a traumatic accident.

The portrayal of Jenna’s attraction towards Crow was handled with great maturity. Her initial mistrust of everyone else and her eventual transformation into learning to trust and open up to Crow made this book highly recommendable to all YA enthusiasts.

I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the way Oates concluded the book. It was not what I had anticipated, yet it was incredibly honest and real. I am now eagerly awaiting the opportunity to read another masterpiece by Joyce Carol Oates.

Highly recommended.

This is a truly touching and poignant book.

It tells the story of a girl who endures a harrowing car crash and wrongly believes it is her fault. This sense of guilt plagues her and leads her to make some poor choices in friendships. She constantly tries to be "in the blue," which is her way of expressing being high all the time.

However, her life takes a turn when she meets a boy named Crow. Crow offers her a glimmer of hope and helps her through her darkest times. Since her mom's death, she has felt completely alone and has developed a deep hatred for her dad.

The book is a beautiful exploration of grief, redemption, and the power of human connection. It is very well-written and engaging from start to finish. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a sad book that ultimately has a happy ending. It will touch your heart and leave you with a sense of hope and inspiration.

Jenna has just endured the tragic loss of her mother in a car accident. After recuperating from her own injuries, she makes the difficult decision to move in with her aunt and uncle instead of living with her father in CA. Although they love her deeply, Jenna is consumed by grief and feels an overwhelming sense of responsibility for her mother's death. She finds it impossible to love them back and can't help but long for the state she was in while in the hospital, "in the blue."

Soon, Jenna discovers that drugs and alcohol provide temporary relief from her mental anguish, and she begins to abuse them. In her new school, she has only made one friend, Trina, who is more of a negative influence than a help. Crow, an older member of the same rough group, has a bit more wisdom due to his life experiences. Secretly, Jenna has feelings for him as he has always been kind to her, but she has to hide her emotions because Trina also likes Crow.

The situation takes a turn for the worse when the two girls sneak out to a party with much older guys and find themselves in a dangerous situation. It is in this moment that Jenna realizes who her true friend is. Thankfully, in the end, Jenna doesn't end up with the boy she cares about but instead finds the peace she needs to move forward and learn to love her new family.