In Honor

Jun 04, 2012 Emily May rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, 2012, romance

You know, I really only have myself to blame for this. I knew it was a bad idea to take on a novel that is both a contemporary romance and a road trip story. Normally, I tend to do my best to avoid either, but there was just something in me that hoped this book would be the exception, that I would fall in love with Rusty as most girls undoubtedly will. But I found everything about this overly simplistic and just rather boring.

Honor's brother died in Iraq and she has received a late letter from...more

You know, I really only have myself to blame for this. I knew it was a bad idea to take on a novel that is both a contemporary romance and a road trip story. Normally, I tend to do my best to avoid either, but there was just something in me that hoped this book would be the exception, that I would fall in love with Rusty as most girls undoubtedly will. But I found everything about this overly simplistic and just rather boring.

Honor's brother died in Iraq and she has received a late letter from him with two tickets to a Kyra Kelley concert (her favourite singer) and his final wish that she decides to take literally - tell Kyra all about her brother. So Honor sets out on a road trip from Texas to California with an unexpected tag-a-long in the form of her brother's ex-best friend, Rusty. Frankly, nothing that much seems to happen. So they're in this car, they face car troubles, a storm, and a touch of lust that naturally comes when two extremely good-looking people spend days together in a hot car and are forced to remove their clothing as a result. It's a very simplistic romance story that will appeal to fans of very simplistic romance stories. And Tim Riggins fans, apparently.

This could be my main problem, I actually had to google Tim Riggins to see what kind of hotness I was missing out on - and yup, he's definitely cute. But I've heard that Rusty actually is Tim Riggins and, beyond the very pleasant visuals this gave me, this meant very little to me. I felt like I was missing something from Rusty and I suspect that something may be love for Tim Riggins, but who knows how I would feel if I'd loved the real life man? I also can't help thinking that this is just one thing in a long line of unoriginality. For a start, it's all a bit cheesy and cliche: the road trip, the romantic development, Rusty's typical smirky arrogance... and Honor is a bland protagonist. Two pretty people get in a car and flirt, that's pretty much the story as I see it.

Furthermore, I cannot be the only one to think that Tim Riggins isn't the only celebrity that the author borrowed for this book. Kyra Kelley is described in this way:

She was sweet and earnest and wrote her own songs. Songs about getting her heart broken by boys who didn't know she existed or who were in love with girls all wrong for them. I followed in magazines her transformation from country girl to pop crossover, to graceful twenty-something singer-turned-model-turned-actress... who was singing a song about wishing she'd never have to grow up.

I mean, come on, that is so obviously Taylor Swift - right?

This whole book was just a little too cute, a bit like one big Taylor Swift song with an ending that is so perfect, it's practically a cheesefest. Also, I would think that seeing as both Honor and Rusty are so quick to strip down to their underwear in the heat, there could've been a little bit more action. Not just one mediocre kiss. Perhaps I'm way too much of a hussy for young adult romance... ah well.(less)

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Jun 08, 2012 Ariana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: road-trip, 2012, death-and-dying, emotional, great-books, favorites, sweet-romance

Heartbreakingly beautiful..

Oh, sometimes I think that I’m so done with tragic books.
They break me in a way nothing else does. They tear my heart apart, splitting it into a million pieces for the wind to blow away. I love them and hate them with the power of hurricanes because they get to me in such whay that they are even able to make me cry, but I can seem to be able to stay away from them and it all comes down to me finding another wonderful story to lock into my heart forever.

"There’s a big...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Shanyn (Chick Loves Lit) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: wow, ccc, src

TIM. RIGGINS.

Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/02/revi...

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Jul 09, 2012 Melannie :) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: completely-contemp-challenge-2012, read-2012, stand-alone, summer-2012

Someone just steal MY idea of the PERFECT book!
And wrote it and published it.
And it's gonna be in my hands in May next year (or sooner if I manage to get an ARC, I'm ready to sell my kidney!)

All I have to say to this book is:
description

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May 14, 2012 Noelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rusty's last name is Riggins and you can't convince me otherwise. And at first--believe it or not--I wasn't sure if that was a good thing. (Sacrilege, I know!) In the beginning Rusty was so close to Tim Riggins of Friday Night Lights fame that I found myself subconsciously gifting Rusty with all of Tim's backstory and hard-earned character development. About a third into the book I realized that Rusty had hardly any of his own. Let's just say I had a crisis of Rusty faith. Was Rusty just a Tim R...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Cara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, sibilings, realistic-fiction

I fully expected to fall head over heels for this book. I mean a road trip with a crazy destination? Two people who are trying to work out their grief with the background of southwest America? Sounds golden and it was in some aspects. But I'm sorry guys there was some stuff I couldn't ignore.

Ok so what's this book about? Honor's brother has passed away. He enlisted in the Marine Corp fresh out of high school and a year later he dies in the Iraq war. Honor is getting ready to go to the college of...more I fully expected to fall head over heels for this book. I mean a road trip with a crazy destination? Two people who are trying to work out their grief with the background of southwest America? Sounds golden and it was in some aspects. But I'm sorry guys there was some stuff I couldn't ignore.

Ok so what's this book about? Honor's brother has passed away. He enlisted in the Marine Corp fresh out of high school and a year later he dies in the Iraq war. Honor is getting ready to go to the college of her dreams and try to move on. But it's going to be difficult. Her brother, Finn, was basically the person who could always make her feel safe. Their parents died in a car crash when they were really young and since then they were taken care of by their aunt. So the last link to her old life and the person who has always been there for her is gone, but he had one last request. One that was a joke really but Honor clings onto it and decides to go take on a road trip in his old Chevy Impala, from Texas to California, to fulfill his request. There is a wrinkle in her plan though, Rusty. Rusty was Finn's ex-best friend but he passes out in the car, so Honor has to bring him along. It will be interesting to say the least but also enlightening.

After that way too long synopsis (sorry about that) it sounds like it would be awesome right? Well I had some problems with it. The first is Rusty. He has this charisma and by the end of the book you know he is a good guy. But he has a drinking problem. Now I know this is the way some people deal with grief but from what I gathered he has always been a heavy drinker. While they are on the trip (if I remember correctly) he drinks every day and at various times. The issue that this is extremely unhealthy wasn't explored and I think that's not right or fair to the character. It actually appears normal in the book, and I know it's not. Then some of the transitions to different scenes didn't seem smooth. I actually felt jostled around but this may because on the road trip things can change drastically. Unfortunately there is one more thing and it happens towards the end. It's the big reveal and I can't go into it without spoiling it for others, but from the information I know it would not be very possible. Not impossible but highly unlikely. That being said I liked the spirit of the gesture.

I know it seems like I didn't like it, but there were some things that were done beautifully. I loved the places they visit, and some of the people they meet. It was nice to see Honor and Rusty share memories of Finn too. From what you hear about Finn, he is the perfect older brother and best friend. For some reason I didn't always believe the chemistry between Honor and Rusty, but I did always believe they cared about each other. I still think Kirby is great at writing, and I was invested enough to want to finish the book. One thing I do want to stress is that I am almost positive that there are other readers out there that will love this book and be able to see past the things that bothered me. Even though I didn't love it I will still read more from Jessi Kirby.

Oh and I think the cover is fabulous and fits the story perfectly.(less)

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May 16, 2012 Tânia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: road-trip, read-2012

Am I the only one who made the connection to the TV Show Supernatural? For starters, the author lets us know about these two inseparable friends that are like brothers who enjoy riding in the shiny black 1967 Chevy Impala that Finn worked so hard to put together, and I couldn’t help but associate them with Sam & Dean. And then around chapter nine, Rusty’s driving the car when he pumps up the radio volume and starts singing Wayward Son by Kansas… I know, right?

But moving on, since the similar...more Am I the only one who made the connection to the TV Show Supernatural? For starters, the author lets us know about these two inseparable friends that are like brothers who enjoy riding in the shiny black 1967 Chevy Impala that Finn worked so hard to put together, and I couldn’t help but associate them with Sam & Dean. And then around chapter nine, Rusty’s driving the car when he pumps up the radio volume and starts singing Wayward Son by Kansas… I know, right?

But moving on, since the similarities end here, and this book has nothing supernatural and it’s very much human. I was trying to put together some words to write a review when I realized that the reason I couldn’t was because I was speechless. Why? First, this is a beautiful book that deals with feelings of loss, grief and sadness as opposed to feelings of happiness and freedom, which is what these two main characters are looking for through the vast deserted roads, with a heat so unbearable that makes our hot (pun intended) Rusty take his clothes off and drive in his underwear, daring Honor (weird name, I know) who’s hesitant but determined to stand up against him and do the same… so, there they go, along the road, almost completely naked… you get the picture, right?

Along the way they live adventures and misadventures ---- watch the sun come up from the bottom of the Blue Hole, treacherous storms, amazing lakes, tequilla night ----, and during this time they find themselves, even though they’ve met all their lives. But there is always that connection between them, Honor’s brother Finn who died tragically in service and the reason they’re headed toward Kyra Kelly’s concert.

And here’s the second reason for why I’m speechless. So, second, because there was something missing in this journey of discovery. I think after a strong beginning, I felt a bit disappointed with the course of the narrative. I didn’t feel too close to the characters, even though I really enjoyed reading about them. I expected a little more expression from Rusty, I mean, I don’t think he ever stands out, more determination from Honor, and… I don’t know… more.

But there's no denying the beauty of the story. The ending was absolutely beautiful, stupid and funny at the same time. Beautiful way to release Finn, stupid moment between Rusty and Honor, because the guy is like a statue, a person tells him she loves him, and he just stands there, tomb like. Speak man! And it’s funny because that last moment alone only in the movies, where everything is wrapped up in a very incongruent but still beautiful way, leaving us with a silly smile on our faces, and going like, Awww, that’s so unbelievably sweet!

And now, let’s take a moment to admire this relic…

description

Who wouldn’t want to go on a road trip with this beauty? And I mean both of them… this is what power of suggestion does, now I can’t stop picturing Dean in his underwear behind the wheel… resolution of the year, go on a road trip!(less)

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Jun 02, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2012

This was a sweet story about friendship and about loss and grief, but it took quite a while for me to be fully invested in either Honor or Rusty. Much of the beginning and middle of the journey felt like they took too long, whereas parts of the second half of the book sped by (particularly when they get to California). (view spoiler)...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Arlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, ya-contemporary, reviews-with-music, military-war, young-adult

During the Summer Luvin' Tour, Kirby read an excerpt of this novel and upon hearing that it involved a road trip I was all sorts of excited. However, I was quickly grounded when I discovered why Honor, the protag, embarks on this road trip in the first place. See, Honor should be planning for the most exciting time of her life… her freshmen year in college; however she is dealt a devastating blow when she learns that her brother is killed while fighting in Iraq. Hours after her brother’s funeral...more During the Summer Luvin' Tour, Kirby read an excerpt of this novel and upon hearing that it involved a road trip I was all sorts of excited. However, I was quickly grounded when I discovered why Honor, the protag, embarks on this road trip in the first place. See, Honor should be planning for the most exciting time of her life… her freshmen year in college; however she is dealt a devastating blow when she learns that her brother is killed while fighting in Iraq. Hours after her brother’s funeral, she opens a letter that Finn sent to her before he died. In the letter she finds two tickets to a farewell concert for one of her favorite musicians and his wish to her is that she have the time of her life. So, she takes off from Texas to California with the unwanted company of Finn’s best friend Rusty. Along the way, they attempt to find a way to move passed the pain of losing Finn and mending their once close friendship while they journey toward a new chapter in their lives.

In Honor is my first experience with Kirby’s writing; and I have to say it had a quiet strength about it that I really enjoyed. The characters weren’t over the top, the plot was engaging yet surreal, and the flow was constantly moving. Gather these elements in one novel and I’d like to call that impactful. One thing I liked about Kirby is that she doesn’t use excessive descriptors and long flowing paragraphs to get her point across. She keeps her story short and to the point which adds that element of a brief but powerful journey with her characters. Where this novel is light on the romance, it is heavy on self discovery and true heart, which worked perfectly for In Honor.

I have to say I love road trips but more importantly, it was the military service theme that provided the emotional punch I was hoping for. I commend Kirby for taking on this topic that surprisingly not many YA authors attempt. To remind us that there are men and women sacrificing their time and lives to protect our freedom and the luxuries I often take for granted, is a topic I hope more writers incorporate into their contemporary works. So I applaud Kirby enthusiastically for her well written novel that does a great job tackling this topic along with the subjects of friendship, loss, and self-discovery… to do so in such a succinct novel was impressive. Great job!

Song Choice:
In My Remains - Linkin Park

**This review can be found at WinterHaven Books.**(less)

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May 13, 2012 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5/5

I liked the combination of the knowing and the not knowing as well as the sweet and the sad in this one. It’s put me in the right mood enough so that I cannot even find it in myself to roll my eyes when things were highly improbable, slightly too convenient, and sometimes too new agey/hokey. See, if one were to combine a pair of people who truly had a history with each other WITH the fact that these people actually knew little of each other and the truths they carried… Well, color me curiou...more 3.5/5

I liked the combination of the knowing and the not knowing as well as the sweet and the sad in this one. It’s put me in the right mood enough so that I cannot even find it in myself to roll my eyes when things were highly improbable, slightly too convenient, and sometimes too new agey/hokey. See, if one were to combine a pair of people who truly had a history with each other WITH the fact that these people actually knew little of each other and the truths they carried… Well, color me curious.

It was the road trip plus sibling loyalty and the dealing with a thereafter that had me curious. It struck close to Saving June. Though Saving June, this was not. The pair involved are both sweet and sexy and assume so much of the other. It’s the latter combined with both of them keeping so many things in, that leads to so many encounters that were sometimes tense, sometimes explosive, and sometimes, yes… sexy.

It’s that they assumed to know so much about the other that had them less likely to open up about certain things BUT it’s also that same thing that had them willing to be vulnerable in other areas. I liked the contrary way they were with each other. Familiar then not familiar… comforted with how right some things felt; then surprised by how different the other could be. It was a sweet thing to see, but also sometimes frustrating:

The girl, for you see, she truly is a girl in the young sense could be so set in what she thought the other had done wrong but also blind to what really was. Through out the book, she paints a picture of her brother Finn that’s so good and so solid. At times, I found myself saying he was too good to be true. Yet, it’s her telling stories of him and Rusty that made the guy a little bit more real; a solid guy, a really great brother. So whatever was going through her head when she decided on doing what she did seemed more plausible if not over the top and theatrical. That whole going on a road trip to do that one last thing for her brother, read likely with grief and loss that mixes people up in what’s rational and irrational. Then of course is Rusty. It’s the closed off way that had me wondering and waiting… but his easy confidence and presence already had me aware that there was more to him than what Honor thought, even when the guy could be so purposefully annoying.

Yet, between their starting point to that end, there’s this slow change… in both. She opens her eyes, no, has her eyes opened. And he softens a little. It’s a sweet story… and even with an ending that almost had me changing my mind.

(less)

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Jun 30, 2012 Keertana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-the-hype

In Honor is one of those confusing books that you’re not sure whether or not to read simply because of all the mixed reviews. You do know for sure though that you’ll either wind up being one of those people who love it or one of those people who hate it. Unfortunately, I find myself in the latter position. For some reason, I expected In Honor to be very similar to Saving June. Both novels were centered around a road trip and at the core of their stories was a girl who had just lost a sibli...more

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May 13, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: road-trip

Honor has just buried her older brother Finn. He was killed in action while on duty in Iraq. After a long day at the funereal, Honor comes home to find a letter waiting for her from him. She had always been nagging him to write her a "real" letter instead of sending emails. She finally got her wish but ironically, this would be Finn's last communication with Honor. In the letter, he sends a gift of tickets of a favorite singer, Kyra Kelley's farewell concert. The concert is in California, severa...more

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May 14, 2012 Janina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: road-trip, death-loss-grief, contemporary, young-adult-fiction, on-my-kindle, covers-i-love, let-me-down, made-me-cry, read-in-2012, nothing-special

Seriously, I am convinced In Honor is the love child of Trish Doller's Something Like Normal and Morgan Matson's Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. Then tell me please – why did I not love it? Have I actually outgrown my favourite brand of contemporaries? I refuse to believe it ...

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May 22, 2012 Sarah (YA Love) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-ya, realistic-fiction, 2012-release, young-adult-lit, road-trips, may-release, read-in-2012, sophomore-reading-challenge, grief, recommended-summer-reading-2012, favorites, ncte-alan12

Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

Have you ever started reading a book and knew right away that you were going to love every single page? That’s how I felt when I started reading In Honor by Jessi Kirby. I can’t explain what about a book wins me over when I have this experience, but I’m happy about it nonetheless. I felt similarly when I read Jessi Kirby’s debut Moonglass as well. Her writing draws me in and doesn’t let go until I’ve finished her book.

I love that In Honor starts with Honor de...more Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

Have you ever started reading a book and knew right away that you were going to love every single page? That’s how I felt when I started reading In Honor by Jessi Kirby. I can’t explain what about a book wins me over when I have this experience, but I’m happy about it nonetheless. I felt similarly when I read Jessi Kirby’s debut Moonglass as well. Her writing draws me in and doesn’t let go until I’ve finished her book.

I love that In Honor starts with Honor describing taps being played and the 21-gun salute. If you’ve been to a funeral when taps has been played and the salute is given, then it’s easy to relive it while reading someone’s experience. It’s an emotional experience which becomes an emotional reading experience. I don’t have an immediate family member serving, but I have former students serving, I have cousins serving, I’ve had friends serving. I may not know what it feels like to lose a brother in the war, but I can certainly empathize with Honor and Rusty as they navigate through their grief. In Honor is an emotional read, but it’s balanced with love, hope, and humor that many readers will appreciate.

The road trip setting gives In Honor a lighter mood despite the circumstances which I really appreciated because it made the emotional scenes even more powerful. Road trip books are entertaining because characters are forced to interact with one another, given the close quarters, which provides more character development and insight. Honor pretty much wears her heart on her sleeve, but Rusty is harder to read. Honor and Rusty don’t get along very well and the tension is palpable, but there’s something just beneath the surface that lets the reader know that there’s more to Rusty than meets the eye. Besides the fact that I had a character crush on him, I really enjoyed watching his character grow and discovering his secrets as their journey to California progressed. He and Honor are learning more about each other, but they’re also learning about themselves through this entire ordeal.

I don’t know if this makes sense, but reading In Honor made me wish I could either live in Texas or at least visit Texas. I love living in Michigan, so maybe I just wish I could have gone to Texas years ago and met a cute guy like Rusty? I don’t know, but the whole southern atmosphere described was alluring. I have been to Sedona (a pit stop Honor and Rusty have to make), so I know how beautiful it is and really want to make a return visit. More than anything, I think this awkward paragraph just goes to show how well Jessi Kirby created the atmosphere and setting of In Honor. So many elements of this book won me over and made me feel like I was there with Honor and Rusty.

If you take anything from this review, know this: In Honor is a book that will resonate with readers. The characters are dynamic and true and ones you’ll wish you could meet in real life. Jessi Kirby wrote a wonderful debut, but her sophomore novel, In Honor, is even better. Without a doubt, In Honor will be extremely popular in my classroom and I really hope you read it.(less)

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May 15, 2013 Amanda Svensson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is incredibly touching from page one. The sorrow in this book is huge and it is heart breaking. It all feels very real and I feel like everything that hurts Honor (main character) hurts me. The plot is fantastic.

One thing I really liked is that there isn't a single character in this book that isn't flawed, but you still care for them deeply. Not even Honor's brother Daniel, who appears to have been an angel, turns out to have been perfect.

SPOILERS:
The only thing that bothered me was...more

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May 08, 2013 The Three Bookateers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: lina

Taken from our book blog: The Three Bookateers

In Honor is a story of growing up, grieving and a good ol’ road trip. Honor, a young girl who had already lost so much, her parents when she was barely old enough to understand and now she loses her brother whom she absolutely adored.

She travels thousands of miles across the deserts of North America to relive her brothers last wish – to see the famed Kyra Kelley live in concert and tell her all about her brother. What was supposed to be a solo journ...more Taken from our book blog: The Three Bookateers

In Honor is a story of growing up, grieving and a good ol’ road trip. Honor, a young girl who had already lost so much, her parents when she was barely old enough to understand and now she loses her brother whom she absolutely adored.

She travels thousands of miles across the deserts of North America to relive her brothers last wish – to see the famed Kyra Kelley live in concert and tell her all about her brother. What was supposed to be a solo journey quickly turns in a trip for two. Rusty, her brothers best friend, spontaneously joins Honor on her travels to reach the oceanside of sunny California.

Along the way, they travel in the Pala which happens to be not completely road-worthy. They reminisce, bicker and fight and all in memory of her brother and his best friend. They face storms, desert views (along with the desert heat) all in a car with no air-conditioning. Things get pretty interesting, there’s stripping down, one over-dramatic car crash and a jail arrest which really test their ability to reach their end goal.

Jessi Kirby, the author, writes a story of a girl simply trying to find her place in this earth after the sudden death of her brother. A scenario that many people will experience once in their life. There were no moments where I wanted to crawl up in my blanket and cry or any moments where I was jumping for joy. But it was a well written story that I personally enjoyed. It wasn’t too predictable with the ending really surprising me and completely overturning my predictions. I mean don’t get me wrong this book was good but not mind-numbingly amazing. It’s a book I would recommend if you’ve got some time to kill. It didn’t take too long to read and was a nice change from the typical YA novels about love and romance (although there is still a hint of romance for all those love-birds out there!).

I was disappointed that some characters weren’t really developed extensively, Rusty for example is a heavy drinker (alcoholic?) and we don’t really know why other than the fact his father is an alcoholic. Honor’s Aunt, Gina, is a character that is mentioned repeatedly but not really discussed or given any insight into. I feel that this let down the overall depth of the story. But in saying that, Jessi Kirby writes well, and may be an author I will be seeking more of.(less)

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Feb 18, 2013 Annabel Maghirang Parado rated it 3 of 5 stars

The story plot of this book was a bit painful, a story of a teenager being left alone in the world, no I mean felt left alone. This awkward feeling is not new with the YA books written in the entire world. There is nothing special with the story, but the characters are lovely enough to let you stay awake at night accompanied with this book.
Fast-paced story, no boring moments; when I say no boring moments it means romantically. Two people who was able to get together with their own agony and lear...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: alcohol, death, families, friendship, music, road-trip, romance, war, writing

Honor has always idolized her older brother Finn and felt close to his best friend Rusty. But Finn and Rusty have been estranged ever since Finn rejected his college football scholarship in order to serve his country. Sadly, the book begins with Finn's funeral. Killed in the line of duty, he leaves behind a confused sister in Texas who becomes even more confused when she receives a letter he had written before his death along with a ticket to a concert. She sets off for California in his beloved...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Siew Ee rated it 4 of 5 stars

A teenage literature about a 17-year-old girl named Honor who skipped college orientation to go on a road trip to fulfil her late brother’s (Finn) last wish. Finn’s best friend, Rusty, joined her impromptu mission at the last minute in a drunken stupor.

This road trip brought together two individuals who, through their close bond with Finn, began to understand each other better and come to terms with their loss. There’s romance of course, but I’m glad it was used just as a necessary condiment to...more

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Jul 07, 2012 K rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

Footloose …has nothing to do with this book. But you toss around the name ‘Rusty’, good ol’ boys, and cowboy boots and I go to a Footloose place.

The book opens with Honor’s brother Finn’s burial. He was killed fighting a war, something he volunteered for and something that Honor still can’t wrap her brain around. It was just the two of them, their parents died when Honor was too young to remember much. It’s the end of summer and Honor is supposed to be headed to UT Austin. Instead she’s driving...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-adult-challenge, contemporary, new-adult

3.5^up

Instead of getting ready for freshmen orientation at UTA, Honor has just buried her brother Finn, a casualty of the war in Iraq. In his last letter to her, he enclosed a pair of tickets to her favorite pop singer’s concert in California, jokingly telling her to tell the star all about him. Instead of just continuing her grieving process and going on to college, she thinks this all is a sign – Finn never wrote letters, only emails, and concerts with this pop singer have been something of a...more 3.5^up

Instead of getting ready for freshmen orientation at UTA, Honor has just buried her brother Finn, a casualty of the war in Iraq. In his last letter to her, he enclosed a pair of tickets to her favorite pop singer’s concert in California, jokingly telling her to tell the star all about him. Instead of just continuing her grieving process and going on to college, she thinks this all is a sign – Finn never wrote letters, only emails, and concerts with this pop singer have been something of a tradition between them. Honor does the only reasonable thing – lies to her best friend and aunt who raised her and gets her brother’s beloved Impala ready to hit the road to California to make the concert. She has one problem. Her brother’s bitter, drunk, jackass of a former best friend has suddenly appeared back in town and after laughing at her for wanting to take the trip, passes out in the passenger seat. Of course, she takes him along. Rusty might be useful.

On Honor and Rusty’s trip to California, it seemed that (as one character says later) she’s exactly where she’s supposed to be and sometimes Rusty is even part of it. There were a lot of fateful meetings, signs from above and spiritual moments for Honor as she feels like she’s doing something that Finn would have wanted her to do or find. For every silly one, like Honor finding a gum-snapping gas station attendant in the middle of nowhere willing to hand over her personal copy of a gossip magazine with a giant feature of the pop star, there was a more spiritual one that was less hokey. Stargazing was used over and over in different ways. I felt a little beaten by the symbolism of it by the end of the story but there were a couple of lovely sections where I could imagine Honor connecting with Finn.

Rusty’s participation with Honor on the drive was not always easy to read because he was just such a pig so often. He was mocking, smirking or piss-drunk and insulting. Having him with her was part of Honor’s journey to figure out her brother, but he’s a college sophomore and his attitude was ridiculous. I wanted to pull a Cher from Moonlighting, slap him and tell him to snap out of it.*** After their big confrontation, their secrets about Finn and what broke them all up when he decided to enlist finally comes out, I wanted to beat him with his own arm (Rusty, that is). When I cried (and I always do), it wasn’t for him or Honor. I was sniffling away for Finn – damn, I wanted to read his story.

I liked Honor a lot, even when she annoyed me with her naïveté. I felt like she wanted to believe that what she was doing was the right thing so much that sometimes I’d feel sad at the oddest moments. I know what it’s like to feel guilty over something that’s not your fault but you still feel impotent, like there had to have been a way you could have been God for a moment and taken care of things and my heart hurt sometimes for her, that this concert was the thing she’d focused on to “make it right” for her and Finn. It made her do stupid things though, messed up her perspective and for a girl of her age, irritated me sometimes. If she’d had more support in the story, I probably would have respected a lot of her decisions more and it would have made some of her choices more believable. There just weren’t more than two main characters.

I didn’t think anyone except Honor – and part of Rusty – had much depth. They had their roles in her quest to the coast but that was it and for the most part, they were so frothy and unmemorable, it didn’t matter. I felt a little cheated that Honor’s best friend Lilah didn’t get more than one silent hug and a few fleeting thoughts. This was Honor’s most solid remaining relationship and she was out of the picture. I wouldn’t normally have picked a girl/girl-on-the-road type story, but in this case, I would rather have read about Honor and Lilah than Honor and Rusty.

I’m not going to spoil the ending, but since I said I would prefer Honor and Lilah to Honor and Rusty, it’s the reason why and I at least wanted to say something. I thought it was all over the map – part forced ridiculousness to get to a confrontation, more ridiculousness, apologies when they weren’t deserved, false acceptance and a final deus ex machina that was really dorky. It was cute, sweet and another one of those fateful moments but it was so dorky that it was painful. Lilah, we needed you, girl. I can’t lie, I had a few Kleenex in a pile next to me by the time I closed the Kindle book, but it wasn’t a huge pile.

This is less a book about a road trip than it is a story about a girl figuring out how to accept her brother’s death. Is it a little cheesy? Well, yeah. But even though I’m a Wisconsin woman and by birth am required to love the good stuff, once in a while, I sneak some Velveeta in and enjoy its gooey goodness. This was’t the most complicated or relationship-driven book I’ve read recently but it played on my emotions fairly strongly and I had a pleasant couple of hours with it.

***Apparently I’ve been deprived because I’ve never watched the television show Friday Night Lights (sorry!). I hear that Rusty is nearly a replica of a character named Tim Riggins – since I have no idea who that is, I couldn’t tell you, but for those of you who do know, you can fill in whatever character information for Rusty you want to.(less)

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Jun 26, 2012 Plots & Page rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Honor has been on my to-read list since last fall and it was worth the wait. It was a great YA Contemporary with heartbreak, self discovery and closure.

Plenty of reviewers have compared Rusty to Tim Riggins and the comparison is perfect. Rusty is the Tim Riggins of the book world. (If you haven't seen Friday Night Lights (the television show), you're missing out and need to watch it ASAP!)

The rode trip in "Paula" was the most enjoyable part of the book. The situations Rusty and Honor became...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Hpitcher rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-teen-romances, road-trip

This book had such great moments and also a pretty good story too it but when I finished the book I felt as if there should have been more. Just 10 more pages or so and I get that all books can't give us the happy endings that we want but I felt like it didn't really have an ending... It was more like it finished and it was done. Sure I guess Honor's purpose for the trip was fulfilled but where was the either goodbye or hope for something with her and Rusty?
Rusty and Honor were both kind of mix...more

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May 31, 2012 Whitney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Surprised that I gave this 4 stars? Well . . .

(Simon & Schuster review) In a nutshell, this book was a surprising departure from some of the cliches of its genre, due to it's realistic way that grief was dealt with and the realistic characters and their relationship. Not a big fan of the cover, but that wasn't a huge distraction.

The best thing about this book is that it is realistic. I feel like a lot of books of this genre that deal with this type of issue have too many unrealistic element...more Surprised that I gave this 4 stars? Well . . .

(Simon & Schuster review) In a nutshell, this book was a surprising departure from some of the cliches of its genre, due to it's realistic way that grief was dealt with and the realistic characters and their relationship. Not a big fan of the cover, but that wasn't a huge distraction.

The best thing about this book is that it is realistic. I feel like a lot of books of this genre that deal with this type of issue have too many unrealistic elements. This one had a few, perhaps, but not enough that it distracted me from the message and story of the book.

It's realistic in the way that it deals with grief. The whirlwind road trip and unexpected companion seemed real in that they were the slightly crazy way that Honor was dealing with her grief. Her actions throughout rang true to someone who has just experienced an incredible loss and is trying their best to deal with it, and the youthfulness of her character gave some credibility to the fact that she wanted to keep moving forward in life. I also think Honor's character was well written because although she did some silly, irrational things, she was still a bright, positive character dealing with a hard time. I think that's almost refreshing; so many characters in contemporary YA deal with their problems by being severely depressed or turning to drugs or other similar things. This was a nice departure from that. Rusty's character was more along those lines, though still realistic at the same time as he dealt with it by dropping out of school, drinking, etc. The grief was still real with him.

The relationship between the two was also well done. Can I just say how glad I am that it wasn't "instalove" like you see in countless others? But rather they changed and grew together as they dealt with their loss. Perhaps it was a bit cliche, loss bringing two people together and all, but they didn't instantly fall on each other. It was nice to begin with the sister/brother's friend banter, and to realize with Honor that yes, you know your siblings friends, but how much do you really know them?

This unknown with Rusty's character made me doubt him a little sometimes, but was all the more wonderful when little bits of his story were revealed. A well crafted suspenseful aspect to the narrative.

A final note on the characters: So wonderful that the car was also a character in the book. A great one too.

The story ended perfectly with leaving the relationship where it was. Credit to the author for resisting the temptation to take the relationship farther. The reader was left with the perfect amount of suspense there. The little twist with Kyra Kelley at the end seemed a bit hokey, but also made the story fun, which was fine--because narratives like this need those (somewhat) surprising coincidental elements to keep it light.

Have to say, I wasn't a huge fan of the cover. It turns the focus towards the relationship between Honor and Rusty, when I felt like this book was centered more on dealing with grief and the relationship was more of a natural byproduct. It was a little cutesy and fun for that, but maybe that's what young girl readers of this genre would be attracted to in a cover and want for the content.

Overall was interesting, could have used more action but I don't see how you could have done that without it becoming more unrealistic. I got bored a couple of times when they were road tripping or when they were stopping at the mom's house, but overall not too much.

Definitely will recommend this to my students. Probably the girl students.
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May 16, 2012 Belle (Little Paper Rose) rated it 3 of 5 stars

- Review taken from my YA book blog Little Paper Rose

I like road trip novels, I like how characters have a chance of connecting with each other on that special level that couldn't have been explored through a different way other than being trapped in a car together for days straight and only having an endless road ahead of you.

I was drawn to 'In Honor' all due to the part of "the last wish," of going out of your way to grant someone you've lost they're last wish.

I rarely cry when reading, and mo...more - Review taken from my YA book blog Little Paper Rose

I like road trip novels, I like how characters have a chance of connecting with each other on that special level that couldn't have been explored through a different way other than being trapped in a car together for days straight and only having an endless road ahead of you.

I was drawn to 'In Honor' all due to the part of "the last wish," of going out of your way to grant someone you've lost they're last wish.

I rarely cry when reading, and more often find books about loss to be poignant or serene rather than sad. 'In Honor' wasn't necessarily emotional to me. However, that does not mean I wasn't moved by it, or more correctly and specifically.. by Finn.

I loved Finn. I really did. I loved that he came alive through the pages even though you never got to meet him, and that he was in fact always thought of and never forgotten in the midst of the adventure Honor and Rusty found themselves on.
All that Finn did for Honor was beautiful and powerful and touching. I would even say a part of me fell in love with him which I have Kirby's exceptional skill of making the thought and theory of a character be so real.

Finn's "last wish" wasn't really his last wish. He'd sent Honor a letter that arrived months late with his last words being that he wanted her to tell Kyra Kelly about him. Now, this Kyra Kelly is a singer and Finn had sent two tickets to her last concert to Honor.
Of course Honor interpreted this as a wish of his she needed to grant to honor him. This, you'll find out within the ten pages or so and I was, frankly, disappointed that Kyra wasn't a girl Finn, perhaps, had had a crush on. At the moment I felt like that would've been a beautiful addition.

Now, let's talk about Rusty; he was meant to be this drop-dead gorgeous, bad boy type. I have to say it took a lot for me to warm up to him. It wasn't that I didn't like him, it was more that the impression of him being this rude, drunken mistake, stuck with me. I kept wondering what he was doing on the trip and why Honor would let him join her.

And oh, Wyatt. I want to ask Kirby more about Wyatt. I want to know her purpose of introducing Honor to sweet, adorable Wyatt and then giving the reader too little of him.

'In Honor' was a nicely realistic, sunset-filled read about coping, letting go, and finding that peace after having lost someone. 'In Honor' isn't a romance but I wanted to put it in that category because of all the nice, affectionate aspects in the book.(less)

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May 14, 2012 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

So, I read this book in give or take 7 hours. Today was my first real day off in about two weeks and that is about what I intended to do with today. (I also ran some errands in there). Point is, I loved it.

The book opens with a funeral. The worst sort of funeral, a funeral for someone who wasn't even 20 yet. Honor's borther, Finn, gave up a full ride football scholarship to join the Marines. 9 months after deploying, Honor receives the news no one with a loved one in active duty wants to hear....more

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May 10, 2012 Rebecca Alora rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-loved, books-i-own, books-read-in-2012

Wow this was just..just when I thought I might be hitting a bit of a reading slump, something in the universe shifts and I'll get a gold streak like the last three books I've read.

I don't know what I can say about this book that will do it any kind of justice. If you're looking for a book with heartwrenching romance and promised forevers? You can look somewhere else. This isn't that kind of book and the romance isn't the kind that inspires fluffy bunnies to hop around in your stomach. It's a boo...more

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May 01, 2013 Brandi Kosiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Even the subject matter screamed to me: read me. I am a sucker for emotional books like this, and the road trip is an added bonus. It is so important that it talks about the death of a marine, and how the family feels after the loss from the one they loved that made such a sacrifice. I know this is fiction, but there are so many true stories, and feeling the emotion and getting inside Honor's head--if it makes me understand even a little bit, then it has done an important service.
Being inside...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Tricia Villanueva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

First of all, let's address the obvious. Kyra Kelly is totally Taylor Swift! I have no idea why I felt like I had to say that, but now that it's out of the way, let's get on with the review. This has got to be the first book that had me teary eyed as early as the first chapter. The story opens with Honor at her brother's funeral, and it is quite literally one of the most heartbreaking scenes I've read in a while. Their parents died when they were little and all they had since then were each othe...more First of all, let's address the obvious. Kyra Kelly is totally Taylor Swift! I have no idea why I felt like I had to say that, but now that it's out of the way, let's get on with the review. This has got to be the first book that had me teary eyed as early as the first chapter. The story opens with Honor at her brother's funeral, and it is quite literally one of the most heartbreaking scenes I've read in a while. Their parents died when they were little and all they had since then were each other (they had Rusty too, but we'll get to that later). Honor depended on her brother, Finn, for pretty much everything. We never really get to "meet" Finn, but from the way that Honor (and Rusty) talked about him, he seemed like a real stand up kind of guy (sometimes he sounded a little too good to be true, IMO). He was her rock, her guiding light and the one person who she thought would never ever leave her. Until the day that he did.

After Finn's funeral, Honor opens the last letter her brother sent her before he died. With the letter came two concert tickets. This was just too heart breaking to read.

"There's a big world out there and I'm seeing it now-the good
and the bad.And you will too. Have a few adventures while
you're out there. Put your feet in the ocean. Watch the
stars disappear into morning. Then when I get back we'll
compare notes.

PS - Do me a favor- next time you see Kyra Kelly, make
sure you tell her all about your handsome older
brother."

The idea seemed far fetched, but Honor was determined to do it. It was the one thing that her brother had asked her to do, and by God, she was gonna do it. She decided that she was gonna go to California to see Kyra Kelly's last concert, and she was going to tell her about Finn. Enter, Rusty, Finn's best friend and also close friend to Honor, once upon a time. The three of them used to be inseparable until they grew up and Honor started to feel excluded. Honor and Rusty had not seen each other ever since Finn left and the two boys had a sort of falling out. But right before Honor left for California, Rusty showed up drunk at her doorstep and declared that he was going with her. What follows is a road trip that brings Honor and Rusty closer. They find comfort in each other through their shared loss. Through their journey, Honor discovered things about herself, Rusty, and her brother and somewhere along the way, between endless roads and rocky mountains, Honor found herself falling for her older brother's best friend.

In Honor is a bittersweet telling of a story about loss, self discovery, acceptance, and the speed bumps along the way. The first one third of the book seemed as endless as the road ahead of Honor and Rusty. Some parts just felt a little too long and dragging. On the other hand, things sped up a little too much around the time they left Rusty's mom's place. I don't know. The pacing just seemed a little off for me. By the time they finally got to California, I felt exhausted for me and for them. But despite that, their time in California was actually my favorite part. It was here that Honor finally got to understand her brother's decision to enlist and after that discovery she would never be the same again. I felt so bad for Honor at this point that I decided to forgive every annoying things she did throughout the book. Their memorial for Finn was beautiful. I was in actual tears at this point. At the end of their journey, Honor and Rusty had pretty much come to terms with Finn's death. He was really gone but they still had each other, and through them, his memory will live on.

Aside from the pacing, the other thing I didn't like about the story was the romance between Honor and Rusty. It was unnecessary and it jut felt awkward to me for some reason. And what about that ending? It seemed a little (well, maybe a lot) too contrived, but what the heck, right? I still loved it! Honor has had a rough couple of days. She deserved a break.

All in all, I really liked the book. Didn't love it, but REALLY liked it. It made me tear up, cry, smile, laugh, and then cry all over again (yeah, sorry I'm such a crybaby).

Favorite Lines:

"He stood there looking at me the way you look at something you wish you could have but know you really can't. He smiled at me, sad, in the warm morning light, and we were one of those songs that talk about a missed moment or chance that you go back and think about over and over, wondering, What if?"

"So much could change or be lost, and still, the rest of the world went on like it was nothing. It didn't seem wrong, but it didn't seem right either."

"Standing there together like that felt right as rain, and I knew that after everything, we'd somehow end up exactly where we were supposed to be. There was no telling where we might find ourselves down the road, but for the moment it didn't matter."
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Aug 09, 2012 Karla Mae rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, contemporary, death-suicide-tragedy, e-books, inspirational, published-2012, young-adult, soldier-army-guys

And here I am reading again about an army guy who died in action. Gah! My fascination with soldiers, will it ever stop? Anyways, this is my first book by Jessi Kirby and I've read nice comments and reviews about her first book but this one is what really capture s my attention. And there’s a road trip involved here, so that has been the pushing factor for me to definitely read this one!

Honor's life was good. It has been better since the death of her parents and since then it’s been just her and...more

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