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Never Eighteen Review

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Title: Never Eighteen
Author: Megan Bostic
Publication date: January 17th 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 204
ISBN: 9780547550763


Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.
But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

"Life doesn't wait. If we stand still it passes us by and by the time we understand that, it may be too late".

In this book we are introduced to Austin Parker a 17 year old boy who's never going to see his eighteenth birthday, he has leukemia. This, however, does not stop him from trying to find meaning in his life. The book is narrated in first person and we get to know all the emotions the main character is feeling.

With the help of his best friend ( and secret love) Kaylee, he visits every person around him that needs to appreciate life and not take anything for granted, Austin speaks in a voice that is honest, funny and unusually eloquent. His relationship with Kaylee is amazing, I loved how they cared for each other, you can't help but feel for them. If anything I would have loved to had more backstory to their relationship.

While Austin is burdened with his own feelings he's still trying to live the rest of his live to the fullest, he is determined to confront his fears and help all the people around him. The waterfall scene was perfect, every detail made you feel right there with them. There's some language and sexual content. I would suggest the book for a young adult 14 and up.

Overall Never eighteen is a powerful novel. I'm not going to lie, you may need a box of tissues, the ending did make me tear up and that is not an easy task for a book to make me feel so much. I found myself absorbed in his journey. Megan Bostic manages to bring all these emotions to life and makes you feel them along with the characters. This is a great debut novel and can't wait for more from this author.


Review based on an Advanced Reader's Copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

5 comments:

  1. Sound so inspirational! But also very emotional. I really enjoy books that are powerful like this one! Awesome review, I've got to read this.

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  2. This sounds powerful but I'm not sure if I'm ready to cry. I'm intrigued.

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  3. I loved this book! I did my review on it yesterday! Great review!

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  4. Oh, I have to read this one. I tearing up from your review already.

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  5. @ Emidy: I'm so glad you're thinking about reading this book. :) Thanks for the comment

    @ Alexis: Let me know if you read it :)

    @ The Sagacity Quest: Thank you!! Glad enjoyed it

    @ Michelle: You should definitely check it out :)

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Thank you for taking the time to comment. It makes my day and I read every one of them. ♥