Review Detail

4.8 12

Willow

Young Adult Fiction 623

Amazing

April 10, 2010

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

N/A

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by The Library Lurker

Willow is that book that you can't
put down, but you don't know why. It's not full of action and suspense,
there's not great mystery to solve, but something compels you to keep
reading. And reading. And reading. I think that something that kept me
reading was the honesty of the story. The way Julia Hoban took such a
hard subject, cutting, and told it so honestly and unflinchingly was
amazing. Not to mention grief and sadness Willow faces after her
parent's death. That someone could write these things so well amazes me.

I'll admit, I've never understood why people are compelled to physically
harm themselves. It just seems so...illogical to me. But by reading
this novel I have a bit more of an understanding and can empathize with
those people a bit more. Willow is smart, she's grown up the daughter of
two professors, but when they're killed in a car accident where she was
driving, the only way she can handle her grief is to cut herself. Take
her emotional pain and turn it in physical pain.

Then she meets Guy, who finds out
her secret. She convinces him to not tell her brother, who she's living with
now, but he doesn't go away. Now that he knows he feels that it's his
responsibility to look after Willow. It's this way that they get to know
and trust each other, slowly falling in love. I really liked Guy. I
definitely have a new imaginary crush. Who wouldn't like a guy who
reads? He's also just so sweet. He's always there for Willow, no matter
what. I love them together.

This book was amazing. I think that
everyone needs to read it. You won't be disappointed.