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pantsreads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
I'm impressed with the way this book treated grief and spirituality without crossing over into Issues territory. Plus, who doesn't love a good fictional mystery based in historical fact?
Check out my full review on FYA.
I'm impressed with the way this book treated grief and spirituality without crossing over into Issues territory. Plus, who doesn't love a good fictional mystery based in historical fact?
Check out my full review on FYA.
readtome_sheri's review against another edition
2.0
Started off promising, veered into woo-woo, then ended abruptly.
buffalojenn's review against another edition
5.0
So few YA novels stray into any area of religiosity, so I was pleased to see a book that explored this area. In the aftermath of her mother's death, Riley has forged close friendships with Jay, Kate, and Noah, all part of her school's Back on Track program (basically for teens whose high school success was derailed by a tragedy at home). But when Riley puts on a relic necklace, which Jay's father discovered before his untimely death that supposedly belonged to Ignatius of Loyola, something unexpected happens. She sees her mother, in the flesh, while out grocery shopping. What is going on? Is she losing her mind? Is anyone seeing their dearly beloveds, too?
France does such a great job with setting up the mystery of this story (which in less skilled hands could come off as too cuckoo), and making me completely believe these characters. Jake and Noah and Kate are just as well-developed as Riley, and they're all wrestling with some pretty heady issues.
There are so many novels about grief that it can be tough to find a a fresh angle into the subject matter, but this feels more than unique -- it's deeply meaningful. Sometimes teens don't get enough credit for their intelligence and range of interests, and I love how this book just goes there. Why not go off on a research trip and decipher an ancient text in foreign languages? The literal journey of discovery felt entirely appropriate for the metaphorical journey these four teenagers are on. A uniquely compelling debut.
France does such a great job with setting up the mystery of this story (which in less skilled hands could come off as too cuckoo), and making me completely believe these characters. Jake and Noah and Kate are just as well-developed as Riley, and they're all wrestling with some pretty heady issues.
There are so many novels about grief that it can be tough to find a a fresh angle into the subject matter, but this feels more than unique -- it's deeply meaningful. Sometimes teens don't get enough credit for their intelligence and range of interests, and I love how this book just goes there. Why not go off on a research trip and decipher an ancient text in foreign languages? The literal journey of discovery felt entirely appropriate for the metaphorical journey these four teenagers are on. A uniquely compelling debut.
burstnwithbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, so I really loved this.
Maybe it was partly circumstance based on my recent life events and whatever else, but this book was so beautiful and moving to me. I really didn't expect the paranormal (spiritual?) elements, but they were so intriguing and I became incredibly invested in the resolution of it all. I think a lot of good, important messages and life lessons can be taken out of this book, and it doesn't try to fix any of the characters. It just creates a discussion about their grief and the choices that they can make at this point in their lives.
Anyway, I completely recommend it and cannot wait to check out more from this author.
Maybe it was partly circumstance based on my recent life events and whatever else, but this book was so beautiful and moving to me. I really didn't expect the paranormal (spiritual?) elements, but they were so intriguing and I became incredibly invested in the resolution of it all. I think a lot of good, important messages and life lessons can be taken out of this book, and it doesn't try to fix any of the characters. It just creates a discussion about their grief and the choices that they can make at this point in their lives.
Anyway, I completely recommend it and cannot wait to check out more from this author.
zptdoda's review against another edition
3.0
This is a young adult book and it is one that is truly for young adults.
ktamen's review against another edition
4.0
This was an excellent book. I highly recommend it. I read it in two days, which is unusual for me lately. It's a cool kind of spooky, gothic teen tale.
bookishmomx3's review against another edition
4.0
I breezed right through this book because I found it so intriguing. It definitely makes you think. :)
talya_'s review against another edition
1.0
So the blurb is kind of misleading. When I saw that Noah disappeared, I thought the guy was kidnapped or something. But no, he just left for like, a day to run off and do something. I honestly couldn't tell you what he was doing because it was just
So.
Damn.
Boring.
There's all this stuff about a Catholic cross or something- I don't know. All I know is I was bored to tears and skimmed a lot. I thought this book was going to be completely different, and I thought the paranormal aspect was going to be interesting or captivating or something besides completely boring and bland. It was all so underwhelming.
Also, the blurb talks about Riley being stuck between her feelings for Noah and Jay-- now that's a straight up lie. Throughout the whole book, she drools over Jay and thinks she's in love with him. Then when she finds out Jay doesn't like her back, she walks outside, sees Noah, and they make out. Oh, and some spirits go to heaven.
What the hell.
First of all, the Noah+Riley romance literally came out of nowhere. There were hints that Noah liked Riley, but nothing about the feelings being returned. Then some spirits make them kiss and then boom-- happily ever after. Um, why would spirits want to make them kiss? Did I miss something?
I won't even go into the severe lack of depth these characters possess. Nor will I go into the detatched feeling this book has. The four of them are supposed to be best friends? Didn't buy it. Hell, Kate's only purpose in the book was to google things and cry about everything being too overwhelming. Funny, I feel like crying because everything was so underwhelming.
Ugh. This book was a waste of time.
So.
Damn.
Boring.
There's all this stuff about a Catholic cross or something- I don't know. All I know is I was bored to tears and skimmed a lot. I thought this book was going to be completely different, and I thought the paranormal aspect was going to be interesting or captivating or something besides completely boring and bland. It was all so underwhelming.
Also, the blurb talks about Riley being stuck between her feelings for Noah and Jay-- now that's a straight up lie. Throughout the whole book, she drools over Jay and thinks she's in love with him. Then when she finds out Jay doesn't like her back, she walks outside, sees Noah, and they make out. Oh, and some spirits go to heaven.
What the hell.
First of all, the Noah+Riley romance literally came out of nowhere. There were hints that Noah liked Riley, but nothing about the feelings being returned. Then some spirits make them kiss and then boom-- happily ever after. Um, why would spirits want to make them kiss? Did I miss something?
I won't even go into the severe lack of depth these characters possess. Nor will I go into the detatched feeling this book has. The four of them are supposed to be best friends? Didn't buy it. Hell, Kate's only purpose in the book was to google things and cry about everything being too overwhelming. Funny, I feel like crying because everything was so underwhelming.
Ugh. This book was a waste of time.
kimching232's review against another edition
4.0
To be honest, I did not know whether or not I wanted to read this at first. However, there was just something about the synopsis that called to me, and the high Goodreads rating definitely factored in as well. When I started reading this book, I was taken by surprise because I didn't know that religion (St. Ignatius of Loyola) would be involved, and I don't read books that involve religion as a general rule. But as I said, there's just something about this book that's compelling, and I couldn't help but read on.
I can't believe I'll ever say this about a book that has religion for a pretty big part but I really loved how everything was connected to each other. The way the author merged the aspects of religion, grief, acceptance and romance is seamless, and the way that they were connected makes this book really, really amazing. This book is such a creative brilliance written by an author that I would surely be looking out for!
This book is about a group of four teens who have one thing in common - they each have lost a loved one. When Riley saw her dead mother in a supermarket, she begins to think that she is crazy. But then Kate and Jay also saw their loved ones, and so began their quest to uncover the mystery of Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Lost Cross.
Although I couldn't connect with the characters fully, I really did enjoy reading this book in the weirdest sense. It's not the kind of happy enjoyment, but the kind of enjoyment that says I'm glad I read this book. In a way, this book is heavy because it deals with grief. It also deals with good and bad spirits, which gave me literal chills multiple times while reading it, by the way.
I think that this book is really special. There's so many amazing things here about moving on and finally accepting certain things, but also getting that you can both move on and still be sad from time to time as well. I love how Riley dealt with her grief, how it was a long and vigorous process but she did the best she can to do it anyway.
Overall, this book is a really special book, in my opinion. It's impactful, full of lessons and 100% unique. I don't think that this will be everyone's cup of tea, but if this sounds interesting to you, I urge you to give it a shot.
I can't believe I'll ever say this about a book that has religion for a pretty big part but I really loved how everything was connected to each other. The way the author merged the aspects of religion, grief, acceptance and romance is seamless, and the way that they were connected makes this book really, really amazing. This book is such a creative brilliance written by an author that I would surely be looking out for!
This book is about a group of four teens who have one thing in common - they each have lost a loved one. When Riley saw her dead mother in a supermarket, she begins to think that she is crazy. But then Kate and Jay also saw their loved ones, and so began their quest to uncover the mystery of Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Lost Cross.
Although I couldn't connect with the characters fully, I really did enjoy reading this book in the weirdest sense. It's not the kind of happy enjoyment, but the kind of enjoyment that says I'm glad I read this book. In a way, this book is heavy because it deals with grief. It also deals with good and bad spirits, which gave me literal chills multiple times while reading it, by the way.
I think that this book is really special. There's so many amazing things here about moving on and finally accepting certain things, but also getting that you can both move on and still be sad from time to time as well. I love how Riley dealt with her grief, how it was a long and vigorous process but she did the best she can to do it anyway.
Overall, this book is a really special book, in my opinion. It's impactful, full of lessons and 100% unique. I don't think that this will be everyone's cup of tea, but if this sounds interesting to you, I urge you to give it a shot.