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brealkr 's review for:
Keep Holding on
by Susane Colasanti
Noelle is ... Pathetic. Both in the way that she's supposed to be as a poverty stricken, bullied kid, and in the way she's not supposed to be. Noelle uses her best friend Sherae for money, things, and emotional support, even when Sherae is going through awful things on her own - that the narrative never treats as awful even though it definitely is. Noelle whines about the way things are but never fusses to do anything about it until she turns into a walking PSA about how having the right attitude will just change everything that's wrong in your life!
Don't get me wrong, she's not entirely wrong. When she starts trying to connect with people and doing things outside of her routine, it makes a positive impact. But Noelle isn't able to put 2 and 2 together to figure out that's a big cause of the change.
Also, the writing is bland and removed. There are moments that do hit extremely hard because, no matter what, you as a reader can't forget that this is someone's reality out there. But, even when Noelle is taking control of the narrative, we don't really feel anything as readers. It's like she's reading from a laundry list most of the time.
Trigger warnings for this book: suicide and rape.
Don't get me wrong, she's not entirely wrong. When she starts trying to connect with people and doing things outside of her routine, it makes a positive impact. But Noelle isn't able to put 2 and 2 together to figure out that's a big cause of the change.
Also, the writing is bland and removed. There are moments that do hit extremely hard because, no matter what, you as a reader can't forget that this is someone's reality out there. But, even when Noelle is taking control of the narrative, we don't really feel anything as readers. It's like she's reading from a laundry list most of the time.
Trigger warnings for this book: suicide and rape.