YA Book Review: Interrupted

About the Book:

"Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn’t shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother. She is dealt another blow when, a few hours later, she is sent from Tennessee to Maine to become the daughter of Miss Beatrice Lovell, a prim woman with a faith Allie cannot accept. Poetry and letters written to her mother become the only things keeping Allie’s heart from hardening completely. But then Sam arrives for the summer, and with him comes many confusing emotions, both toward him and the people around her. As World War II looms, Allie will be forced to decide whether hanging on to the past is worth losing her chance to be loved."

Amber's Review:

With lovely imagery and a running theme of the power of poetry, Interrupted has a lot of heart! The story offers a journey through grief and difficult questions - starting with the intensely individual and then broadening out to some of the issues surrounding World War II.

Allie is a frustrating character - one who is wonderful for displaying the necessity and beauty of grace. In her sorrow over the loss of her mother and her home she lashes out at others around her, constantly withdrawing from their offers of love and acceptance. It's difficult to read about the way she hurts those who care about her, but at the same time her stubbornness shows the reality of the often long and rocky grieving process.

Sam is a frustrating character for an entirely different reason: he's a bit too much of a puppy dog. He's persistent, yet he's portrayed as rather annoying and not very strong in personality or temperament. His kindness to Allie and their slow-to-blossom relationship is sweet, but still immature.

Overall, Coker's debut is enjoyable. The dialogue and circumstances don't always ring true, but the emotions - the raw pain, the isolation, and the ultimate hope - are present. The perspective might especially appeal to younger readers who can relate to Allie's doubts and trials, although any fan of Young Adult/Historical literature should find this to be a unique take on grief and grace.

*With thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

About the Author:

"Rachel Coker is a homeschool student who lives in Virginia with her parents and two sisters. She has a passion for great books and has been surrounded by them all her life. In fact, as a young child, Rachel helped her parents in a family-run Christian book business. Her gift for writing became apparent at the age of eleven, at which time her parents signed her up for a year of lessons with a professional writing coach. When she is not writing or playing the piano, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends."

Extras!

• Visit with Rachel on her blog!

• Buy Interrupted on Amazon.com!

• Check out the book trailer below: