Review: Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Title: Don't Breathe A Word

Author: Holly  Cupala

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 304

Published: October 18, 2011 by HarperTeen

ISBN: 9780061766695

Source: Teen Book Scene

Description: 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.

I Give This ...
  

I was really looking forward to Holly Cupala's sophomore effort.   I loved Tell Me A Secret.  I was hoping that she had a knack for tacking tough subjects and turning them into something real.  For the most part, I wasn't disappointed with this book.

I liked the story set up.  We know something horrible has happened to Joy and we know that involved Asher.  We're just not sure exactly what it was.   I enjoyed the drastic opening we get.  Joy is running away and she's making it her mission to make it look like a kidnapping.  At first I couldn't figure out what this distinction was important.  We gradually get the idea of why Joy goes to such extremes.  I liked this slow build up.  We get small flashbacks of what Joy's relationship with Asher was like.  I have to admit (and maybe it's because we know from the start), I didn't like him from the start.

I also enjoyed Joy's journey with the homeless teens on the streets.  It gives the book a distinct difference form others I've read.  I can imagine what life must have been like for someone of Joy's background.  Can you imagine scrounging for food, never bathing, and sleeping basically in the open?  I can't and this story made me appreciate what I have.  It also made me fully realize how bad things were that Joy never gave up.  She knew she could go home at any time, but was determined to fade away.

I also liked the new friendships she forms.  They don't know her background or were she's from.  For the most part the accept her for what she is.  Although, I think sometimes they feel she's just a runaway teen with no idea of the true hardships she might face.  They have no idea what's she running from.  She does learn that just like in regular life, life on the streets is filled with people who are just trying to get ahead.  Your best friend might stab you in back and you may fall in love.  The battle can just be a lot more dangerous.

My only issues with the story was the idea of becoming homeless to begin with.  Joy was scared of Asher, but not just for her own safety.  I get why she did, just not the extremes she went to.  Becoming a homeless teen seems so farfetched for the circumstance.  And I felt like the trouble with being homeless are glossed over a little bit.  Joy had it hafd but nearly as hard as she could have.  I think it would have been a lot worse had she not found Creed.  I wonder how quickly she might have given up them.  Her asthma was also an interesting addition to the story.  For someone who lived in a spotless house to ward off attacks, had countless emergency inhalers, and almost dies because of it manage to live the way she did and not get sick until the end. 

Those drawbacks really didn't effect my thoughts on the story overall.  I enjoyed it and look forward to Holly's next book!

 

Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala

Title: Tell Me A Secret

Author: Holly Cupala

Published: June 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 304

ISBN: 9780061766664

Source: ARC from Around The World Tours

 

Description: Tell me a secret, and I'll tell you one…
In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own. Then two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears. Stripped of her former life, Miranda must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister’s demons and her own. In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her own future .

I Give This Book 4.5 Stars!

 

I'm beginning to collect a list of must reads for teens and their parents.   I think this would be one of them.  While I do think its a fantastic read for teens, I think it's also a great example for parents.  Everything the parents did (well maybe up until the end) would be prime example of what not to do when you either lose a child or your teen comes to you with the news that they are pregnant.  The mother made me cringe every time she came up with a new idea.  It was amazing that Miranda had the strength to do what she did.  She had absolutely no support at home.  Even going as far to having to go to the doctor by herself.  Not that her home life was much better before she found out she was pregnant.  Her social life was also completely shattered by her so called friends.  It was amazing to watch her discover who she really was in this journey.  And in doing so, I think she came to terms with her sisters death.  In the end, I think she may have been able to help her family piece a little bit of their life back together.  The only part the bothered me a little was after the baby was born.  I found it hard to believe that the hospital would allow her to stay for 3 weeks and then basically live in the hospital for another 2 months or so without being noticed except by the occasional guard.

On a side note, the target audience won't get much out of the reference to the BabyCenter birth boards.  But, as an adult with 2 children, I spent lots of time on those very same birth boards.  I found it touching that the author was able to work that into the story.  I understand how important those online friendships can be!