Books are like Air ...

04/23/2013 – Overall Rating = 5 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb = 4 / 4 = 4 StarsWriter’s Voice = 5 StarsCharacter Development = 5 StarsStory Appreciation = 5 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars [$3.99 on Amazon]This book would never have made it on my radar if not for this website. I would have missed reading this lovely story, would have missed knowing about this author. For me, this would have been an absolute shame. This is a lovely book. It is the story of one girls struggle to figure it all out. Her road down a troubled path and then the journey towards Redemption. Sounds really deep, but it is told in such a way that it just pulls you.There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t NOT like about this book, so let me tell you about a few things I LOVED in this story:1 – Blue Echohawk. Don’t you just love this name? I live in Native America and I can appreciate this handle. We’ve all read those books about kids who have a difficult time of it. So, what makes this one different? Blue. She is that girl who wants to get “bad” attention. She wears too much makeup and tight revealing clothes with the sneer on her face. She is that girl. She’s the one on the train or the bus stop you don’t want to catch her eye. Beneath it all she really is just a little girl wanting to be loved. Wanting someone to care. What she doesn’t realize is that they do. She has many people in her corner but she is too busy pushing them away to figure it all out. Until she meets someone who isn’t responsive to her pushing back. Who challenges her at her core.2 – This author is brilliant. Her voice throughout this story is so intimate. She grabs you immediately and never lets you go. She takes her story and meanders through developing the characters, building the backstory, she then brings you back to the beginning and you want more, more, more… 3 – The message of Redemption. I don’t read Christian books. Never have. I find no enjoyment in the average story of trials, tribulations and redemption through Grace. You have to look really hard, but this author gives it to you. It is very, very subtle, but it is there. This tells me this author has believes at her very core. It isn’t something she shouts in the streets about, but it is a part of her DNA. You will almost miss it is so subtle. I hope me mentioning this won’t keep you from reading this book. It shouldn’t. Not at all.4 – The use of art in various forms of media. Blue saved herself, but she had help along the way. At every step art was there. Whether it was Jimmy reaching out to her in the only way he knew how to; through his wood carving. Wilson through his magnificent cello playing or his application of poetry like Dickenson or Poe. At many places in this tale the author reaches you and pulls you along with history, literature and an art form you appreciate, you visualize. You can tell she knows this or has performed sufficient research to paint this believable picture for you.5 – There wasn’t a single character in this book you didn’t get to know intimately. You may have only caught a glimpse of them, but you know them. She told you through words, a richly painted backdrop or through words left unspoken about these characters. You loved them or not, but you definitely appreciated them. They helped Blue come full circle. Mason, for me, was probably the most interesting. He was a guy like any guy at 21 or so. He was all caught up in himself, with little planning of a future. It was just going to happen a day at a time. Until SMACK, life hit him dead center. He rose above himself and did the absolute right thing and you just wanted to cry. He was only in this story for a short time, but you know in your heart of hearts he will regret this decision for the rest of his life. You just know it. He knew it. In the end, he knew it was right for the person that mattered. This author gave this to you.I could go on and on and on. I’ve probably already bored you to tears. The funny thing? GoodReads crapped out on me and this review twice already. I’ve written this darned thing three times now. Why? I want you to read this book. If something I’ve said make you think twice about it or maybe buy it and put it on the top of your pile or maybe you start reading it THIS VERY MOMENT, then my time has been well spent. You owe it to you to read this book. It is a joy.Happy Reading!Note: If you liked Colleen Hoover’s SLAMMED, you’ll love this because it is BETTER THAN!