Review - In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Title and Author: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Publication Date: May 8th , 2012

Paperback/Hardcover: 240

Genre: Young Adult

 

Summary:
Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it.Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences.

Review:

I really enjoyed Jessi Kirby’s previous book Moonglass so when I learned about In Honor I knew I had to read it. The book did not dissapoint me at all. In fact, In Honor is one of the more touching books I’ve read in a long time.

Honor received a letter from her military brother after learning he has died in action. On the day of his funeral she finally decides to open that letter. The letter includes a surprise and a request. The surprise is that Honor’s brother somehow managed to get two tickets to see her favorite singer in concert. The request is for Honor to tell the singer about her handsome older brother.

In the spur of the moment Honor decides she’ll do exactly that. She’ll go on a road trip to the concert and tell the singer about her brother.

Her plans immediately don’t got according to plan, though. Rusty, her brother’s former best friend ends up joining her on her road trip despite the fact he’s the last person she wants to travel with.

Honor and Rausty were both great and interesting main characters. It’s Finn’s death has affected Honor deeply. He was the last member of her immediate family and someone she could always count on so she’s devastated. She’s trying to be strong and go on, though. The road trip she plans is the perfect way to honor her brother and do something fun and icnredible – something he would aprove. Honor’s emotions seemed real and I found it easy to like her.

Rusty also has a lot to deal with. Before Finn left, Rusty was incredibly mad at him and he now has to deal with the fact his best friend is gone for good. Rusty can be a jerk sometimes. He’s unpredicatble and a little wild. He’s a good person, though and it’s obvious he really cares for Honor and wants to make sure she is okay, despite eveything.

I knew this was going to be a touching story but I didn’t expect it to be quite so deep and emotional. I could almost feel Honor and Rusty’s pain and I couldn’t help feeling bad and wishing things worked out for them. Their road trip had fun, sad, emotional and sweet moments. They met a lot of intereting people along the way, had some adventures and learn a lot about each other and Finn as well.

I thought the end of the book was perfect. I might not have thought the book would end the way it did but I really enjoyed it.

In Honor is a wonderful book about loss, family, friendship and learning how to move on. The book is well-written, fast paced and able to make the reader feel connected with the characters and what they are going trhough. In Honor is an emotional story full of great moments.

I would definitely recommend this book to any Young Adult fan.

Rating: Somewhere Between Worth Your Time and Must Read (4 ½ Stars)

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Review - Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Title and Author: Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 232

Genre: Young Adult

Summary:

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Review:

Once I read the summary of this book, I immediately wanted to read it and I have to say I enjoyed it quite a lot. The characters, the ocean and the almost overwhelming feeling of loss drew me in completely.

Moonglass is the story of Anna, a teenager haunted by the night of her mother’s death. When her father decides to move because of his job, Anna leaves her grandmother and friends behind and moves with him. While making new friends, Anna discovers there’s a lot she doesn’t know about her parents and, most of all, she starts learning about life itself.

I liked Anna and I think it was easy to relate to her and understand why she felt like she did. As the plot developed Anna learned accept and make peace with things she already knew but couldn’t admit.

The friends Anna makes are great as well. Ashley, Jillian and Taylor all bring something to the story. They are all very different from one another and it was nice reading about their developing relationships with Anna. I have to say I especially liked Taylor and his relationship with Anna. He was a nice guy and, even though his relationship with Anna never takes central stage in the book, I liked reading about them together. They fit well together.

The ocean plays a big part in this book, which I appreciate. The ocean is an extremely strong force.

Moonglass is well-written and a captivating read. This book can be happy and sad almost at the same time. It is emotional, mysterious and funny at times as well.

I think anyone will be able to relate to Anna and want to read about her struggle to deal with all her feelings of loss and blame and with the changes in her life.

All in all, Moonglass is a wonderful book. It is a fast, entertaining and captivating read. It made me want to be able to walk the beach in search of sea glass and, of course, moonglass. :)

If you like YA and the beach, you will definitely en joy this book. If you have suffered a loss, I think you will be able to relate to Anna and her feelings as well. Either way, I would recommend this book to everyone out there.

Rating: Somewhere Between Worth Your Time and Must Read (4 ½ Stars)

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