How to resolve AdBlock issue?
X
Review Detail
What Beauty There Is
Featured
Young Adult Fiction
379
captivating and consuming YA thriller read
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
WHAT BEAUTY THERE IS is a consuming and compelling YA thriller. The book is told from several points-of-view, but primarily the beginning of each chapter from Ava's perspective and within mostly from Jack's. The two teens are captured in something bigger and more dangerous than is easily handled. Jack's father is in prison for a theft from which the money was never recovered. Many parties are watching to see where it could be hidden, and they believe Jack could be key.
After his mother dies, Jack is determined to keep his brother safe. A task that is impossible without money. It starts with a visit and snowballs from there, with Jack and his brother in danger at every turn. Ava gets pulled in to their lives, and with her help, their slim chances improve marginally. With the whole world seemingly against them, the race is on.
What I loved: The writing is absolutely gripping and poetic in a way that makes the real world seem blurry. This book completely captivated me from start to finish - it was impossible to put down. All the characters came to life off the page, and I appreciated the other perspectives sprinkled throughout, in addition to Ava and Jack. The story is dark and full of danger, and this definitely made my heart pound (and breakdown in tears at a couple scenes).
Despite the darkness and danger, one of the major themes was the beauty and power in caring about the people you let into your heart. While there was not really a romance per se, there was a deep caring between the characters that had its own power and beauty, and I loved watching them interact. As they became beloved to each other, so they do to the reader. This was a book with real, three-dimensional characters that leapt off the page.
I would add warnings for suicide, murder, animal cruelty, abuse, homelessness, and (on a lighter note) a somewhat open ending.
Final verdict: Consuming, captivating, and compelling, WHAT BEAUTY THERE IS is a stunning and dark YA thriller that will leave readers reeling. Highly recommend for fans of SADIE, RULES FOR VANISHING, and TRULY DEVIOUS.
After his mother dies, Jack is determined to keep his brother safe. A task that is impossible without money. It starts with a visit and snowballs from there, with Jack and his brother in danger at every turn. Ava gets pulled in to their lives, and with her help, their slim chances improve marginally. With the whole world seemingly against them, the race is on.
What I loved: The writing is absolutely gripping and poetic in a way that makes the real world seem blurry. This book completely captivated me from start to finish - it was impossible to put down. All the characters came to life off the page, and I appreciated the other perspectives sprinkled throughout, in addition to Ava and Jack. The story is dark and full of danger, and this definitely made my heart pound (and breakdown in tears at a couple scenes).
Despite the darkness and danger, one of the major themes was the beauty and power in caring about the people you let into your heart. While there was not really a romance per se, there was a deep caring between the characters that had its own power and beauty, and I loved watching them interact. As they became beloved to each other, so they do to the reader. This was a book with real, three-dimensional characters that leapt off the page.
I would add warnings for suicide, murder, animal cruelty, abuse, homelessness, and (on a lighter note) a somewhat open ending.
Final verdict: Consuming, captivating, and compelling, WHAT BEAUTY THERE IS is a stunning and dark YA thriller that will leave readers reeling. Highly recommend for fans of SADIE, RULES FOR VANISHING, and TRULY DEVIOUS.
Comments
Already have an account? Log in now or Create an account
Powered by JReviews
How to resolve AdBlock issue?
X
FEATURED GIVEAWAYS
Giveaway: Golden Dreg Boy Series (D.K. Dailey) ~ (US Only)
Golden Dreg Boy Series (US Only) by: D.K. Dailey Release Date: July 2nd, 2020 Publisher: Tillable Ground Dreams About The Book 2 Prequels: Golden Dreg Boy, Prequel, T...
Posted in News & Updates
Giveaway: The Meanest of Meanies (Kristin Hensley & Jen Smedley) ~ (US Only)
The Meanest of Meanies (US Only) by: Kristin Hensley & Jen Smedley Release Date: March 23rd, 2021 Publisher: Harpercollins About the Book From the beloved New York Times bests...
Posted in News & Updates
Top 5 Things To Love About Chicago! + Win a Copy of The Losers at the Center of the Galaxy (Mary Winn Heider) ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to spotlight The Losers at the Center of the Galaxy by Mary Winn Heider. Read on for more about Mary and her book, an guest post, plus an giveaway! ...
Posted in News & Updates
Author Chat with Mark Crilley (My Last Summer With Cass), Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to chat with Mark Crilley author of My Last Summer With Cass. Read on for more about Mark, his book, plus an giveaway! Meet Mark Cril...
Posted in News & Updates
Spotlight on Bloom (Nicola Skinner), Excerpt, Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to spotlight Bloom by Nicola Skinner. Read on for more about Nicola and her book, an excerpt, plus an giveaway! Meet Nicola Skinner ! ...
Posted in News & Updates
Author Chat with John Peragine (Max and the Spice Thieves), Plus Giveaway! ~ (US/Can Only)
Today we're excited to chat with John Peragine Read on for more about John, his book, plus a giveaway! Meet John Peragine ! John Peragine is ...
Posted in News & Updates
Latest Book Listings Added
Bite-sized facts about bodies of water from around the globe,...
Magnificent, hand-painted illustrations by a rising star of Czech watercolor...
It's Mouse's first day of school. It's Dinosaur's first day...
In this sparkling and romantic YA debut, a reserved Bangladeshi...
From hot dogs and hamburgers to ice cream and pizza,...
As their communities were being destroyed, groups of Jewish women...
Blast off into outer space with this mess-free sticker craft!...
When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are...
Brave young Pedro faces monsters and greedy guards when he...
Latest Member Reviews
"TAKE ME HOME: WATERS OF THE WORLD is an engaging nonfiction picture book that teaches basics and fun facts about..."
"WHAT I LOVED: Tracy's family is an outsider in multiple ways in their Texas town: they're one of the..."
"COLORS IN NATURE is a beautifully illustrated book of art that features animals and plants. The book walks through each..."
"WELCOME TO ARIZONA is a simple, fun travel guide picture book for children about the state. The book covers fun..."
"I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL features Dinosaur and Mouse, who are both scared of their first day of..."
"COUNTING DOWN WITH YOU is a heart-wrenching and visceral YA contemporary read. Karina (Myra is her familial name) is a..."
"What worked: This is one gut-wrenching, powerful collection of stories of young Jewish women Resistance fighters in Hitler's Ghettos. The..."
"While I was familiar with most of the information in the book, due to apparently all too frequent deep..."
"Fate Calling by Lindsay Grace is a beautifully written fae fantasy about a young human girl named Aislinn and a..."
"What worked: The magical aspect of this book had me turning pages quickly. It was easy to read and..."
"IN DEEPER WATERS is an intriguing and fast-paced YA fantasy. Tal is the fourth of five royal children in a..."
"PAINT BY STICKER KIDS: OUTER SPACE is another fun collection of paint-by-sticker images with an outer space theme. The book..."
"THESE FEATHERED FLAMES is an enchanting YA fantasy about sisterhood, power, and destiny. When twins are born in the royal..."
"‘The Mother of Monsters’ by Fran Parnell, illustrated by Sophie Fatus, tells the story of Ntombi, the chief's daughter. She..."
"‘Grim, Grunt and Grizzle-Tail’ by Fran Parnell, illustrated by Sophie Fatus, is great for younger elementary readers and anyone who..."
"BASEBALL BABY is a delightful board book about baseball. The book begins with heading to the park to play baseball..."
"I AM NOT A PENGUIN is a silly picture book that manages to teach young readers about pangolins. A pangolin..."
"SAM CAN'T SLEEP is a fun picture book read that introduces the concept of nocturnal animals. It's nighttime, and all..."
"WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA is a fun picture book of facts about the state. It covers topics from the state capitol..."
"THE OTHER SIDE OF PERFECT is an engrossing YA contemporary about loss, grief, moving on, friendship, and sisterhood. Alina has..."