A review by ac223
Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan

4.0

You have got to be kidding me... Why would Donovan end it like that! I can understand if it were apart of a series, but that's it, no idea what happens next! Reason to Breathe was still an awesome book, but I'm a little disappointed with the ending. Emily lost her father at a very young age, and her mother chose alcohol and men over her. She went to live with her fathers brother George, his wife Carol, and their two small children. Apparantly Carol couldn't deal with any interruption to their life, and made Emily's a living nightmare. She was the triple threat, physically, mentally, and emotionally abusive. Sara, the only girl in school she was friends with, knew a little of her situation, but not all of it. Emily never befriended anyone else, because there wasn't a way to hide her life from them. She couldn't turn her in, for fear that her little cousins lives would be turned upside down. She remained focused in school, had a 4.0, and was the star player on at least three of the schools sports. Receiving scholarships was her only way to get out of her situation. When Evan showed up, the new kid in school, he tried to force his way behind her walls. She did fall for him, but could only let him so far in. I don't understand how anyone could be abusive to children. Her mother was a drunk, but when she started coming around I hoped that she would leave with her. Of course it wouldn't be the ideal situation, but surely it would be better than what she had then. She refused to tell anyone about the abuse, because she didn't want to be the reason her small cousins lives were torn apart. Carol was good to her own children, but wouldn't she get angry at one of them when they got older? Wouldn't she be saving them? I understand this happens all too frequently, and most of the time the victims blame themselves, or aren't able to tell the truth. Just when she decides she is leaving, she and Evan are running away together, her uncle says he wants her to go to the school with him for the conference. If she decides to leave after that, he won't stop her. Then flip to the next chapter, and psycho has her tied to the bed choking her to death. Evan, her reason to breathe gives her the ability to fight, but then it ends. Did she win? Did she die? What the hell happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess I'll never know.