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nklosty's review
5.0
Quite an original topic for a young adult novel. Both Gretchen and Phoenix are compelling characters. The story is timely and engaging. 95
cschaepe84's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was such an intensely, moving, emotional read, and I'm surprised it's not more popular and recognized. I enjoyed this story about two people, each going through their own trauma, but also trying to help and heal each other through the fierce love they share. Great story about perseverance, braving and conquering your fears to help the ones you love, and how strong love in many different forms, can be, and can be found in the most unlikely of places from people you would never expect. This book has captured my heart in so many ways.
We start off with two relatively broken souls. Gretchen, still healing from intense trauma, sees a boy who she thinks is her attacker from several months ago, and flees the scene after having a major panic attack. The boy she sees, Phoenix, happens to be another one trying to pick up the pieces of his own fractured life, having gone through major trauma of his own. He's jarred and disheartened by the girl's reaction of him, but thinks nothing of it until he sees her again, where she explains her situation to him. Instantly, there's a connection between them, that both can feel, but neither can ignore or explain.
It's complicated for them. Gretchen has a boyfriend, although she's not feeling the same way about him anymore, and Phoenix has to have perfect behavior and cannot afford distractions in order to be able to get his asylum case passed and see his little brother again. Nevertheless, it doesn't stop the force of gravity that pulls the two together, especially when they talk about each of their traumas. With each other, they have found a sanctuary.
But, things get more complicated as the feeling deepen. The trauma that Gretchen experienced is tied to Phoenix's trauma, and he has secrets that he'd rather keep hidden, as those secrets can hurt and destroy her. It's this secret that keeps him from fully letting her in.
The love in this story of course is not only limited to Gretchen and Phoenix. There's Sally and Amanda, a couple who took Phoenix under their wings to rescue him from a fate that can only result in him getting killed. There's Bo and Barbie, a couple Phoenix meets at a tattoo parlor. They couldn't possibly be more different from him, and yet, they were able to find a commonality and form a deep friendship that transcended those differences. It was so heartwarming to read about all these people who have been rooting behind Phoenix all along, showing him to the be person who is very deserving of love.
I also was very intrigued by Gretchen. She falls for a boy who looks like the boy who attacked her that one fateful night, and then watched that same boy get killed, adding to her terror and trauma. She's able to set aside her own feeling and focus on Phoenix, and helping him, however, she herself had a lot to work on, and she was never fully open to working on her feelings of terror and anxiety. When Phoenix's secret comes out, it opens her eyes to this, and she is able to fully heal, or at least get on the right path to doing so. As a therapist in the story pointed out, trauma touches many in different ways. Doesn't mean you're not a solider with battle scars, doesn't mean your trauma doesn't matter or matters less. I truly enjoyed the mental health aspect of the story, which is not very often since it usually comes off as kind of preachy or reads like it comes off a pamphlet. This was very well written and woven into the story of Gretchen and Phoenix.
I also really enjoyed how Marquardt gives perspective of a group of people not normally seen. That of asylum seekers. I enjoyed reading the journey Phoenix and Ari went through, which was very well detailed, and leads to to believe that either Marquardt did a lot of research on the process or is personally involved herself somehow. What's more incredible is that the story remained entertaining and that she was able to incorporate it into characters that you find yourself really caring about. This was a perfectly crafted and told story all around, and is one that will certainly stick with me for a long time.
We start off with two relatively broken souls. Gretchen, still healing from intense trauma, sees a boy who she thinks is her attacker from several months ago, and flees the scene after having a major panic attack. The boy she sees, Phoenix, happens to be another one trying to pick up the pieces of his own fractured life, having gone through major trauma of his own. He's jarred and disheartened by the girl's reaction of him, but thinks nothing of it until he sees her again, where she explains her situation to him. Instantly, there's a connection between them, that both can feel, but neither can ignore or explain.
It's complicated for them. Gretchen has a boyfriend, although she's not feeling the same way about him anymore, and Phoenix has to have perfect behavior and cannot afford distractions in order to be able to get his asylum case passed and see his little brother again. Nevertheless, it doesn't stop the force of gravity that pulls the two together, especially when they talk about each of their traumas. With each other, they have found a sanctuary.
But, things get more complicated as the feeling deepen. The trauma that Gretchen experienced is tied to Phoenix's trauma, and he has secrets that he'd rather keep hidden, as those secrets can hurt and destroy her. It's this secret that keeps him from fully letting her in.
The love in this story of course is not only limited to Gretchen and Phoenix. There's Sally and Amanda, a couple who took Phoenix under their wings to rescue him from a fate that can only result in him getting killed. There's Bo and Barbie, a couple Phoenix meets at a tattoo parlor. They couldn't possibly be more different from him, and yet, they were able to find a commonality and form a deep friendship that transcended those differences. It was so heartwarming to read about all these people who have been rooting behind Phoenix all along, showing him to the be person who is very deserving of love.
I also was very intrigued by Gretchen. She falls for a boy who looks like the boy who attacked her that one fateful night, and then watched that same boy get killed, adding to her terror and trauma. She's able to set aside her own feeling and focus on Phoenix, and helping him, however, she herself had a lot to work on, and she was never fully open to working on her feelings of terror and anxiety. When Phoenix's secret comes out, it opens her eyes to this, and she is able to fully heal, or at least get on the right path to doing so. As a therapist in the story pointed out, trauma touches many in different ways. Doesn't mean you're not a solider with battle scars, doesn't mean your trauma doesn't matter or matters less. I truly enjoyed the mental health aspect of the story, which is not very often since it usually comes off as kind of preachy or reads like it comes off a pamphlet. This was very well written and woven into the story of Gretchen and Phoenix.
I also really enjoyed how Marquardt gives perspective of a group of people not normally seen. That of asylum seekers. I enjoyed reading the journey Phoenix and Ari went through, which was very well detailed, and leads to to believe that either Marquardt did a lot of research on the process or is personally involved herself somehow. What's more incredible is that the story remained entertaining and that she was able to incorporate it into characters that you find yourself really caring about. This was a perfectly crafted and told story all around, and is one that will certainly stick with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Trafficking, Confinement, Deportation, Violence, and Slavery
lyrareadsbooks's review
4.0
A sweet YA romance on the surface with a lot to say about refugees, fear, overcoming trauma, and family. I was particularly struck by the different character voices in the alternating chapters. Gretchen overlooks details in her environment whereas Phoenix, who is in outsider in myriad ways, notices things like how the Georgia dirt smells. Lovely writing.
spinstah's review against another edition
3.0
This was great story, though at times pieces felt a little unlikely.
rebecca_m08's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
laura_m_j's review
5.0
The 5 stars are a thank you to the author for opening my eyes to the teen age asylum seekers from El Salvador - and to asylum seekers from all over the world. All immigrant children that I have met see America as a refuge from the terrors of their home country - and I wish we could really be that for them.
sandlerpage's review
4.0
3.5 stars. This was so close to being really good, but just didn’t quite get there.
bluebeereads's review against another edition
DNF at 16%
Nothing against the book, the writing style is just really not my thing. It happens, sadly. Please, do check it out for yourself though!
Nothing against the book, the writing style is just really not my thing. It happens, sadly. Please, do check it out for yourself though!
carolynaugustyn's review against another edition
4.0
2017 Book Challenge- Read a book with at least 2 perspectives; BookRiot's 2017 Read Harder Challenge- Read a book with an immigration narrative
Note: I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
*3.5 stars*
This was an original and interesting read! I haven't read many books with immigrant characters (something I absolutely need to work on) and with the current political climate (ie: AHHHH), it certainly is helpful to read books about the immigrant experience. The chapters from Phoenix's POV were really well done and I found them to be interesting. Gretchen was more of a typical YA novel character so I was less impressed by her but she still offered some good perspective into the world of PTSD and other mental health issues. I found parts of this book to be kind of cheesy or overdone and the romance bordered on instalove which, ugh. But overall this was a fun and interesting read and definitely challenged me to seek out more immigrant reads- which we should all be doing to further our understanding and empathy.
Note: I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
*3.5 stars*
This was an original and interesting read! I haven't read many books with immigrant characters (something I absolutely need to work on) and with the current political climate (ie: AHHHH), it certainly is helpful to read books about the immigrant experience. The chapters from Phoenix's POV were really well done and I found them to be interesting. Gretchen was more of a typical YA novel character so I was less impressed by her but she still offered some good perspective into the world of PTSD and other mental health issues. I found parts of this book to be kind of cheesy or overdone and the romance bordered on instalove which, ugh. But overall this was a fun and interesting read and definitely challenged me to seek out more immigrant reads- which we should all be doing to further our understanding and empathy.