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A review by bibliofiendlm
Never Ending by Martyn Bedford
4.0
Rating: 4.5/5
The plot: Set in the UK with flashbacks occurring in Greece, this novel tells the story of 15 year old Shiv and the tragic unraveling of her family after the loss of her younger brother, Declan. Through a sea of pain, readers learn that her parents' marriage is in trouble, her mother depressed, her father trying to navigate the legal drama surrounding Declan's death. Furthermore, Shiv is acting out and generally unstable since she blames herself for her brother's death. The majority of the book takes place at a clinic where Shiv must complete 60 days of treatment.
The characters: The author succeeds in beautiful, realistic character building. The trauma and emotions portrayed not only by Shiv but the other clinic residents is authentic. The flashbacks leading up to Declan's death make the emotional pain more tangible not only for Shiv but the reader.
Overall, this is an emotional, elegantly written YA debut for Bedford. The story is thoughtful and tactfully explores the grief and anger associated with severe trauma. I recommend this for a mature teen reader not so much for the content but for the writing style and sequencing. While there is finality to the ending, readers will certainly be left wanting more.
The plot: Set in the UK with flashbacks occurring in Greece, this novel tells the story of 15 year old Shiv and the tragic unraveling of her family after the loss of her younger brother, Declan. Through a sea of pain, readers learn that her parents' marriage is in trouble, her mother depressed, her father trying to navigate the legal drama surrounding Declan's death. Furthermore, Shiv is acting out and generally unstable since she blames herself for her brother's death. The majority of the book takes place at a clinic where Shiv must complete 60 days of treatment.
The characters: The author succeeds in beautiful, realistic character building. The trauma and emotions portrayed not only by Shiv but the other clinic residents is authentic. The flashbacks leading up to Declan's death make the emotional pain more tangible not only for Shiv but the reader.
Overall, this is an emotional, elegantly written YA debut for Bedford. The story is thoughtful and tactfully explores the grief and anger associated with severe trauma. I recommend this for a mature teen reader not so much for the content but for the writing style and sequencing. While there is finality to the ending, readers will certainly be left wanting more.