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85th out of 429 books
—
387 voters
One Breath Away
by
Heather Gudenkauf (Goodreads Author)
In her most emotionally charged novel to date, New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf explores the unspoken events that shape a community, the ties between parents and their children and how the fragile normalcy of our everyday life is so easily shattered.In the midst of a sudden spring snowstorm, an unknown man armed with a gun walks into an elementary school...more
Paperback, 370 pages
Published
June 26th 2012
by Harlequin MIRA
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This is the second book I've read by Heather Gudenkauf and it is absolutely outstanding! This is an extremely well-written, fast-paced novel with well-drawn out characters, each one had their issues and their flaws, yet all of them were likeable. The plot is gripping and full of action and suspense. The story is told from the perspective of five characters involved in the school hostage situation; Augie (a student in the school), Mrs Oliver (a teacher), Holly (the mother of Augie who is in hospi...more
This is my first Heather Gudenkauf book and oooooh - what a dandy. The story is fast paced and hooked me from the very first page. I like the way the story unfolded from five different viewpoints: Augie, Will, Mrs. Oliver, Meg and Holly. Not only did we move forward with each charcter, but also backwards to get an understanding of each individual and what lead them to this fateful day.
Ms. Gundenkauf writes a well organized, fast paced story. I always like that I have to get to the very end befor...more
Ms. Gundenkauf writes a well organized, fast paced story. I always like that I have to get to the very end befor...more
17 likes · like · see review
One Breath Away is a great example of why Heather Gudenkauf has quickly become a must-read author for me. She is a master storyteller, and I loved every second that I spent reading this book. The author was able to rachet the tension so high that I felt like I was on pins and needles, breathless, throughout the entire story. Gudenkauf created characters that I quickly cared about, and I sympathized with them and hoped for a positive outcome to their situation. Telling the story from different vi...more
I can't believe it!
Heather Gudenkauf has done it again!!
With a story that could be ripped straight from the headlines this book revolves around a gunman and a school.
Told in 5 points of view we get to hear straight from a child, a teacher, a grandfather, a mother/police officer, and another mother.
This story is intense. How would you feel if your child was trapped in a school in a hostage situation? What about your grandchild? What if you were the teacher who was being held hostage? What if the...more
Heather Gudenkauf has done it again!!
With a story that could be ripped straight from the headlines this book revolves around a gunman and a school.
Told in 5 points of view we get to hear straight from a child, a teacher, a grandfather, a mother/police officer, and another mother.
This story is intense. How would you feel if your child was trapped in a school in a hostage situation? What about your grandchild? What if you were the teacher who was being held hostage? What if the...more
7 likes · like · see review
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The story is based on an act of school violence but also deals with family relationships and life in a small town. It was as suspenseful as anything that I,have ever read and I was hooked from the first page; in fact, my intrigue started from the cover. I just discovers Gudenkauf's books a few weeks ago and so wish there were more of them! In the meantime I plan to revisit all of them, especially this one. I read it so fast that now I want to go back and really ta...more
4 likes · like · see review
A real page turner, kept me guessing who was the intruder. I loved that it was told from various viewpoints, some in first person and some in third. Could have done without Holly, the mom's, viewpoint as I didn't feel her thoughts added one bit to the story. She was so against her parents and where she grew up, but it seems to be that she was just born trampy with little explanation for why she snuck out with boys/men from the age of thirteen. Even though she wants to blame her fahter, she says...more
2 likes · like · see review
I would really rate this book as a 3.5. Gudenkauf has way a of weaving a thrilling narrative from the perspective of 5 different characters in the novel. Since the plot is based on a mystery of who is holding the 3rd grade class hostage in a small Iowa town, I waited in anticipation of the reveal. While there were clues as to who-dun-it, I didn't feel the tie was strong enough to the narrators who were sharing their views the events as they unfolded throughout the book. As result, while I breath...more
This is my second book by Heather Gudenkauf (I still need to read her first novel) and this one is just phenomenal. I think it's hard to balance multiple narratives and make each one equally compelling (and a unique voice) and she manages to pull off five narrators in this book (Holly, her father and her daughter, plus a teacher at the school---the gunman is actually in her class---and a police officer investigating the case). Obviously I cared the most about Augie and Mrs. Oliver (the ones most...more
“We’re always one breath away from something, living or dying, sometimes it just can’t be helped”
The town of Broken Branch, in Iowa, is a small town with a big heart. In the midst of a snowstorm, a man with a gun walks into the town’s only school, and takes a classroom of children hostage. The identity of the gunman is unknown, but as this appalling news reaches the wider community, people start to gather outside the school, and as the snow continues to fall, they are powerless to do anything bu...more
I have not read anything by the author, but from the blogging world, I know that her books are popular. And I consider her as one of the authors that I will always be on the look out for.
Holly, Augie, Will, Meg, and Mrs.Oliver's lives change drastically when a gunman enters the school, one cold day. Mrs. Oliver will do anything to keep her little students safe and sound from the gunman. Meg will go to extreme measures to do her duty and find out who the gunman in the local school is. Will will...more
Holly, Augie, Will, Meg, and Mrs.Oliver's lives change drastically when a gunman enters the school, one cold day. Mrs. Oliver will do anything to keep her little students safe and sound from the gunman. Meg will go to extreme measures to do her duty and find out who the gunman in the local school is. Will will...more
In the small town of Broken Branch, Iowa, everyone knows each other. There is a routine to life in Broken Branch. For Will Thwaite it's running his farm and looking after his grandchildren, Augie and P.J. For Meg Barrett it's a career as a police officer and a life as a single mom to her daughter Maria. For Evelyn Oliver it's a career as a third-grade teacher. But in an instant, life will change for the entire town in One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf.
In the midst of a snowstorm, a lone gunma...more
In the midst of a snowstorm, a lone gunma...more
One Breath Away gets a 5 star review from me. I was given this ARC via net galley and here's what I have to say.
This is an extremely riveting novel, based on a very dangerous and chaotic day at the school in Broken Branch .A crazy man with a gun takes charge of a classroom in the school on the last day before spring break and wreaks havoc in the lives of the children, teachers, parents and good folks and police of the area.
Through jumping POV's we get a very 3 dimensional( if I may say so) look...more
This is an extremely riveting novel, based on a very dangerous and chaotic day at the school in Broken Branch .A crazy man with a gun takes charge of a classroom in the school on the last day before spring break and wreaks havoc in the lives of the children, teachers, parents and good folks and police of the area.
Through jumping POV's we get a very 3 dimensional( if I may say so) look...more
A school in the middle of Iowa, on its' last day before spring break.
A woman in bad shape with third degrees burns all over her body, in a hospital in Arizona. Her two children are in Iowa staying with their grandparents and attending this school.
A grandfather terrified that he's not only let his grandchildren down, but also his daughter.
A police detective whose daughter attends the school, but isn't there on this day. The detective is torn between her duties as a police officer and a worried p...more
A woman in bad shape with third degrees burns all over her body, in a hospital in Arizona. Her two children are in Iowa staying with their grandparents and attending this school.
A grandfather terrified that he's not only let his grandchildren down, but also his daughter.
A police detective whose daughter attends the school, but isn't there on this day. The detective is torn between her duties as a police officer and a worried p...more
1 like · like · see review
I don't think Heather Gudenkauf can do anything wron when it comes to creating a story with rich characters, page-turning plot, in-depth situations...I loved every page. Imaging being in a hospital miles away from your children and they are being held in a 'hostage' situation at their school. Imagine you are the 'grandfather' hoping to do better with your grandchildren and you can't get any information from the police on why your grandchildren are still being held when other children are escapin...more
I am reading this now and cannot put it down. Gudenkauf, has it it out of the ballpark yet again as she did with THESE THINGS HIDDEN and A BREATH OF SILENCE. ONE BREATH AWAY is a story ripped from the headlines: A gunman is holding children hostage at their school in a small town in Iowa. Who is he? And what is his motive? Through the voices of a female police officer, a third-grade teacher just about to retire, the grandfather of two of the students -- and his daughter lying in a hospital a tho...more
The publisher requested United Kingdom reviewers. After reading the blurb, I was interested enough to sign up. I soon received a seven-week e-book loan. The text is written in American English.
The narrative is delivered in short sections from the perspective of each character in turn. Conveniently, section titles reveal the narrator of each section. The narrative follows the spread of news and events when an unknown gunman walks into a school, holding pupils and staff hostage. Prose written in a...more
The narrative is delivered in short sections from the perspective of each character in turn. Conveniently, section titles reveal the narrator of each section. The narrative follows the spread of news and events when an unknown gunman walks into a school, holding pupils and staff hostage. Prose written in a...more
Good book that I couldn't put down. It reminded me a lot of a Jodi Piccoult book told from the different characters' point of view. I was frustrated that Augie had so many chances to escape from the building but chose to stay inside with a crazed gunman in order to save her brother. I think she could have helped on the outside too by telling the police where the guy was at in the buildling. I have to say that I figured out who the gun man was about half way through the book - what a creep!
Funny...more
Funny...more
What is interesting about this book is that it is told from the point of view of 5 different people. The characters are so different from each other that the reader is never confused about which character the chapter is about. The reader gets the perspective of a teacher and student inside the school with the gunman, a policeman, grandfather and mother outside the school. The story is very compelling and the author does a great job of giving only part of the story through each character because...more
Most amazing first chapter I’ve read in a very long time – The kind of hook that sends barbs in several directions of the jaws of the fish that after twisting and turning it for several minutes, you have to succumb to cutting the fishing line and leaving the hook right where it’s embedded.
And I thoroughly enjoyed how the author allowed readers to get the clues as the characters did...and to see how the clues were followed up...and the way in which a small town police force handles such a situati...more
And I thoroughly enjoyed how the author allowed readers to get the clues as the characters did...and to see how the clues were followed up...and the way in which a small town police force handles such a situati...more
2 likes · like · see review
Another riveting book from Gudenkauf! This one has such depth, suspense and fascinating characters.
Life in rural Broken Branch, Iowa is simple; lots of good people trying to make a living from farming the land and raising cattle and milk cows. However, everything changes when a sudden spring snowstorm makes outside travel treacherous while an unknown man enters the local elementary school with a gun and evil intentions. This story unfolds from five different characters’ point of view who are eac...more
Life in rural Broken Branch, Iowa is simple; lots of good people trying to make a living from farming the land and raising cattle and milk cows. However, everything changes when a sudden spring snowstorm makes outside travel treacherous while an unknown man enters the local elementary school with a gun and evil intentions. This story unfolds from five different characters’ point of view who are eac...more
I love this author's other two books & can hardly wait for this one to be available! I'm sure it will be amazing! As a 2nd grade teacher, I find the plot extremely interesting! I hope all my friends will read it with me!
As a mother and an elementary school teacher, I am always horrified when I hear of school shootings. This topic was extremely interesting to me.
I was immediately hooked when I began this book. It was so mesmerizing that it was difficult to find stopping places.
You are able to...more
As a mother and an elementary school teacher, I am always horrified when I hear of school shootings. This topic was extremely interesting to me.
I was immediately hooked when I began this book. It was so mesmerizing that it was difficult to find stopping places.
You are able to...more
Jul 22, 2012
Gina
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2012-book-releases,
book-club,
books-i-own-read,
ccc-club,
challenges-2012,
female-detectives,
suspense,
women-of-mystery-club,
2012,
abuse,
child-abandonment,
contemporary-fiction,
divorce,
family,
family-dysfunction,
fathers,
kindle,
hostage-situation,
literary-fiction,
love,
mothers,
mystery,
mystery-crime,
mystery-detective,
police-procedural,
psychology,
relationships,
reporters,
sociology,
teen-issues,
5-00-rating
MY COMPUTER IS DOWN AND CANNOT FINISH REVIEW UNTIL IT IS BACK UP-6/20/12
Goodreads Description- On a bitter March day, as a sudden snowstorm envelops the small town of Broken Branch, Iowa, an unknown man with a gun enters the town’s only school and takes a classroom of children hostage. As awareness of the situation spreads, the panicked community is ready to do anything to protect their children, but can only watch and wait.
As a teacher with a long career behind her, Evelyn Oliver is ready to en...more
Goodreads Description- On a bitter March day, as a sudden snowstorm envelops the small town of Broken Branch, Iowa, an unknown man with a gun enters the town’s only school and takes a classroom of children hostage. As awareness of the situation spreads, the panicked community is ready to do anything to protect their children, but can only watch and wait.
As a teacher with a long career behind her, Evelyn Oliver is ready to en...more
2 likes · like · see review
This was the first book I have read by Heather Gudenkauf and it definitely will not be the last. I really enjoyed the way the author wrote this book from 5 very different perspectives. Each character's voice was unique and provided a different insight into the story. I do think this would be a good choice for a book club to discuss. I thought that I had the ending figured out, but I was quite surprised to find that I certainly was wrong. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Another great book by Heather Gudenkauf. this story could happen anywhere at any time. I like how her books are told in the different perspectives of various characters. I couldn't put this book down and i couldn't guess who the person was in the classroom w/ the gun. It's definetly not the same old story that you've read a dozen times and can predict by the end of the first chapter.
I loved this book! The characters were all so different each with thier own story with so much going on in thier lives but Heather managed to keep it all together & unlike some authors, did not stray away from the main story. The short chapters based on the characters kept me from putting the book down!
1 like · like · see review
Finished it in two and a half days (could have finished sooner if I didnt have to stop for work!)
Gripping from the start. Follows 5 different peoples perspective. Clever littler twist at the end, always has you thinking. Loved it!
Gripping from the start. Follows 5 different peoples perspective. Clever littler twist at the end, always has you thinking. Loved it!
Good summer read, short chapters flip from character to character giving you glimpses into the past from a present day crisis they're all facing. It's hard to put down at night...just one more chapter??
2 likes · like · see review
Only just started this and am already traumatised....but only because it's my sister's book and she is a spine/crease fascist! Book has caught my interest though...
Ok. ..book is a little on the slow side and feels a little rushed in the twist ending. It's no Jodi Piccoult but it's ok.
Ok. ..book is a little on the slow side and feels a little rushed in the twist ending. It's no Jodi Piccoult but it's ok.
2 likes · like · see review
Such a tension filled book that had me captivated from the very first page! The different character perspectives just made the book even more interesting! I especially loved the suspense of not knowing who the gunman was until the last few pages! Such a well written book, hats off to Heather Gudenkauf.
This book is so real sounding that you feel like you are in the classroom with the gunman. The plot is very complicated and keeps you guessing. The author uses lots of different perspectives to make the story more real and help you understand all the different relationships in the small town.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heather Gudenkauf | 5 | 98 | Mar 21, 2013 01:40pm | |
| Little Falls High...: One Breath Away | 2 | 11 | Jan 18, 2013 01:15pm | |
| Readers Delight: August 2012 - One Breath Away | 2 | 18 | Aug 23, 2012 09:36pm |
Heather is the NYT and USA Today Bestselling author of THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE and THESE THINGS HIDDEN.
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“We're always one breath away from something, living or dying, sometimes it just can't be helped.”
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“That's the wonderful thing about the human heart, there's room enough for all kinds of love.”
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