ARC Review - Dont Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

From Publisher  HarperTeen on January 3, 2012

 

Joy Delamere is suffocating.   From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words . . . until the night they go too far.  To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love—a world she won’t easily let go. Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala’s power­ful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength.

My thoughts: 

Holly Cupala writes an intensely emotional story about a young girl trying escape her very controlled world. She has overprotective parents and a boyfriend that suffocated me as I read it.

Sadly, I found Don't Breathe A Word unrelatable. Not because the writing wasn't good, because it was excellent. I just could not connect with Joy. She is my opposite in every way and I cannot imagine having anyone in my life that would harm me, further more I wouldn't allow it. Don't Breathe A Word caused me a wee bit of anxiety as I read it because I wanted to smack some sense into Joy AND her parents.

As I read Don't Breathe A Word my eyes were opened to a world that I would never have been able to imagine. I felt emotions that I would not normally feel and I am grateful for the opportunity to read this book because of  this experience. For that reason I believe that Don't Breathe A Word has the potential to positively affect a YA fan that may be in similar situations by inspiring hope, forgiveness and self worth.

For these reasons I am giving Don't Breath A Word 3 Skullies - it's a well written story - just not for me.