Title: Imperfect
Spiral
Author: Debbie
Levy
Publisher: Walker
Children’s
Publication Date:
7.16.2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Contemporary
Series: No
Source: ARC
from publisher
Rating: B+
Summary (from Goodreads):
Danielle Snyder's summer job as a babysitter takes a tragic turn when
Humphrey, the five-year-old boy she's watching, runs in front of oncoming
traffic to chase down his football. Immediately Danielle is caught up in the
machinery of tragedy: police investigations, neighborhood squabbling, and, when
the driver of the car that struck Humphrey turns out to be an undocumented
alien, outsiders use the accident to further a politically charged immigration
debate. Wanting only to mourn Humphrey, the sweet kid she had a surprisingly
strong friendship with, Danielle tries to avoid the world around her. Through a
new relationship with Justin, a boy she meets at the park, she begins to work
through her grief, but as details of the accident emerge, much is not as it seems.
It's time for Danielle to face reality, but when the truth brings so much pain,
can she find a way to do right by Humphrey's memory and forgive herself for his
death?
Review:
Heartbreaking,
poignant, and utterly sweet, Imperfect
Spiral is a quiet book that showcases the subtle awesomeness of debut
author Debbie Levy. I was hooked from beginning to end as I wandered down the
path with Danielle as she struggled to grow up and find herself in the face of
an unthinkable tragedy and the fallout that resulted.
As
someone who frequently babysat neighborhood kids growing up, what happens to
Danielle is easily worst-case scenario. I think that’s why I was able to so
quickly identify with her—what she went through is something I could have
easily experienced. There was something so beautifully raw and exposed about
the way Levy writes Danielle in the beginning stages of the book, which picks
up after the accident. There’s a numbness and confusion that is so
heartbreaking and made me want to protect this fictional girl that could have
been my best friend growing up.
The
added layer of dealing with illegal immigration was something I was admittedly
worried about. Thankfully I never once felt like Levy was preaching in support
of one side or the other. But she also did a phenomenal job of showing that
there is more than one side to every story. Imperfect
Spiral is a book that made me think and really evaluate some of my beliefs.
Yes,
Imperfect Spiral is an emotion book.
I was exhausted by the end of it because it’s very heavy, but I also feel like
it’s an extremely important book. There’s a lot going on—the accident, illegal
aliens, romance, coming of age … Maybe, at times, there was even a little too much going on, but I can honestly
say this is a book I wouldn’t want to miss for the world. It’s a discussion
sparking book that I will love sharing with friends. As soon as I finished this
book, I immediately passed it on. Get your own copy and be ready to share.
I'm so scared to read this one Hannah! My biggest fear when I was younger and did a lot of babysitting was something happening to one of the kids in my care (as it likely is for anyone who babysits). I would always check on them 139458209348 times when they went to bed to make sure they were still breathing. I couldn't help it! I so feel for Danielle, and I just want to reach out and hug her. I think I'll need to be in the mood for such an emotional read, but knowing you loved it makes me want to pick it up:)
ReplyDeleteRight?! Babysitting is one of the most stressful jobs ever.
DeleteOkay, even though this is one that I probably won't read because I'm shallow and don't usually pick up books that make me, yanno, *feel* stuff, it does sound amazing. I'll pass this review along to my librarian friend, who's always on the prowl for books like this for our high schoolers (who are drama incarnate and LOVE to read it!).
ReplyDeleteThat's OK, Mary! :) Thanks for passing the title along to your friend!
DeleteOMG this book sounds so good! I had not heard of it before and I am not sure how I missed this one, Hannah, but it totally sounds like a contemporary I would enjoy so I am adding this to my wishlist STAT.
ReplyDeleteIt shocked me by how good it was, Kara! I think you'll really enjoy it!
DeleteThis sounds like a book you need to read with a box of tissues!
ReplyDelete