Wow, what a story. When beginning Surrender I thought it was sort of predictable, but the intense nature and the vivid descriptions kept me reading. I believe the story is realistic fiction made for advanced readers. Anwell, also known as Gabriel, is sick and dying and reflecting back on his short 20 years of life. In recalling his past, he describes the humiliating, uneventful life he has had. Friendless, he was more than happy to become friends with the wild child Finnigan. Finnigan is certainly a bad friend and has a negative outlook on life. As the friends struggle to see each other’s views and understand the meaning of life, events spiral out of control to lead Gabriel to the room he lays in now, dying and killing. I found the story to be very interesting and enjoyed each and every page of Hartnett's beautiful writing. I think every person will take different things from this book, as the author leaves things open to how you interpret them. Overall, I think everyone will understand and see the strong theme of good versus evil. Other evident themes include love, trust, and betrayal. This book is appealing to young readers because of its mysterious nature and the relevant struggles they may face in their early lives. It is important for children to realize how to deal with certain struggles in life and I think Anwell and Finnigan convey the importance of choosing friends carefully.