Review Detail

What worked: Unique coming-of-age story that tackles grief and tragedy. Told through the eyes of six teens, this story starts with a horrific tragedy and later with those who remain trying to make sense of what happened.

What happened that fateful day is a mystery to those who thought they knew the teens that died. There's Izzy, the twin of Israel, who refuses to accept his death. Janie, who has a secret and blames herself for what happened. Cass, who's recent breakup causes her to also blame herself.

The story goes back in time to show readers the complex relationships between all of the friends and then jumps into the future with those who did remain behind trying to make sense of it all. Add to the mix is a conspiracy theory and an online group that believes in a sort of reincarnation in which people have lived various different lives. The Remembered Souls forum is the place where Israel goes when he tries to make sense of a nightmare that has haunted him his whole life. Then there's the topic of depression after Nate's whole dream of getting a soccer scholarship is dashed after an injury.

At times the story is confusing with all the jumping back and forth into not only time, but into different points of view. It's when the conspiracy theory and the Remembered Souls forum is mentioned that the story moves quickly. The leader of the forum is similar to an online troll with his way of 'helping' people deal with their dreams of previous lives. The girls who are left behind try to make sense of the tragic in their own ways. The tension builds until the final climax.

Some sensitive topics are woven throughout--depression, suicide, grief, conspiracy theories, and online trolling. At the end of the book is a list of resources for those who need help.

Haunting at times coming-of-age thriller where teens come to grips with a horrific tragedy and with their grief.