Willow in Penguin's Point of View Books

Mar 18, 2009 Nely rated it it was amazing

On a stormy night, Willow takes the wheel and her whole life is forever changed. Both her parents are killed in the accident and Willow has to move in with her older brother, his wife and their young daughter. She feels the weight of the world is on her shoulders - she's emotionally overwrought, heavily grieving and feels guilt towards her part in the accident. To top it off, she also feels that her brother secretly blames her for their parents’ death and no longer loves her.

She finds that the o On a stormy night, Willow takes the wheel and her whole life is forever changed. Both her parents are killed in the accident and Willow has to move in with her older brother, his wife and their young daughter. She feels the weight of the world is on her shoulders - she's emotionally overwrought, heavily grieving and feels guilt towards her part in the accident. To top it off, she also feels that her brother secretly blames her for their parents’ death and no longer loves her.

She finds that the only way to relieve herself when her emotions just become too much is to "cut" herself with a razor. But she is eventually found out by a classmate named Guy. Although Guy promises not to tell on her - he also can't just walk away from her. Instead he tries to get closer to her to find out what leads a person to hurt themself in such a way and to try to help her out of the dark place she's in.

This is the first time that I read about "cutting" in such detail and although a bit on the descriptive side, it was not overdone or gory. On the other hand, Willow's pain is so real that you can actually understand why she would feel the urge to cut herself... even if you don't actually agree with it, you almost feel as if it is acceptable. It's as if her pain will consume her if she does not find an outlet to let it out. From the moment you start reading this book you become so emotionally attached to these characters (i.e. Willow; her brother, David; Guy) that you fly through the pages just to see what happens. If they can forgive each other? If they can forgive themselves?

The book is written in the third person, and I really commend Ms. Hoban for having written it this way. It somewhat gives you a detached feeling but at the same time you feel as if you are looking at Willow and Guy from above. Catching a glimpse into a painful part of a young woman's life.

This novel is not just about cutting - it is about love, hope and forgiveness. Although it touches on such a heavy subject, it is not overwhelming, instead it is told in a very unique and graceful voice.

Willow is a beautiful story, compellingly told and is by far one of the best YA novels I've read in quite some time. It is a very powerful piece that I highly recommend to older teens as well as adults. ...more

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May 10, 2010 Kelly Hager rated it really liked it

I had the hardest time trying to find this book. Jen and I went to probably at least six bookstores and none of them had it.

Willow is a hard book to read, but not as hard as I thought it would be (if that makes any sense). Willow is a teenage girl who used to focus on boys and shoes and college. Then, one night, she drives her parents home (she has a learner's permit but not a license). It's raining really hard and she loses control of the car and both parents die. She has to go live with her b ...more

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Jan 28, 2010 Sarah Holmen rated it really liked it

Shelves: own

This book is so amazing.
It is about seventeen year old Willow seven months after she was in a accident that killed both her parents,and to deal with the pain she starts cutting her self.
When I first started Willow I thought I would just like it but not love it. Even though its about a subject i never really read it was amazing.
and I did get a bit teary eyed.

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Nov 22, 2009 Jenny rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, 2009

I’ve heard about this book before and what I knew about it was that the story would be intense as it deals with some serious issues. I knew what cutting was but had never read about it or had any personal experience with it before.

The story was amazing. The characters are so well developed. It felt like I was reading something that could happen in the real world.

Willow turned out to be one of the most emotionally charged books that I’ve read ever. I got to a point in the story where I started c ...more

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Aug 21, 2009 Sab H. (YA Bliss) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, dark-contemp, psychology

What a powerful book! I had heard wonders about this one, and when that happens, you usually expect too much. Thankfully, in this case, I was not disappointed at all. When I pick up a book at the library its normally something that I've seen 5-star reviews all around. No surprise that my reviews end up being 5-star too. Plus, I have to say right now there are so many amazing young adult books and so many more coming it's hard to keep track.

The plot was incredible. The story felt absolutely real ...more

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Dec 18, 2008 Lauren rated it really liked it

Shelves: own

Summary:

It only takes one night to loose everything you have.

Willow's life was going great. She had trustworthy friends, loving parents, and cool older brother who lives in the city. Though, one rainy night, her life changes dramatically.

Suddenly, her parents are dead and she has to move in with her brother and his wife who has just had a baby. Now, Willow's life isn't going perfect. Since, for one, it seems like no one understands what she is going through or sees the pain she suffers from eve Summary:

It only takes one night to loose everything you have.

Willow's life was going great. She had trustworthy friends, loving parents, and cool older brother who lives in the city. Though, one rainy night, her life changes dramatically.

Suddenly, her parents are dead and she has to move in with her brother and his wife who has just had a baby. Now, Willow's life isn't going perfect. Since, for one, it seems like no one understands what she is going through or sees the pain she suffers from every day. So, she begins to take out of all the frustration she holds in with cutting. Though, when a boy comes along who finds out her darkest secret. Will he be able to change everything or make it worse?

Review:

I'm kind of torn over this book. Since, on one side I loved it, but on the other side I kind of disliked it.

First off, Willow was a great character, one that you could completely understand her story and why she did what she did. Plus, she had all the feelings that a teen girl who has lost her parents has: anger, loneliness, frustration, ex. Though, I just couldn't relate to her in the cutting area of her life. Possibly because I have never cut and have never had friends that have cut. Or maybe because I can never quite comprehend why someone would want to inflict that kind of pain on themselves. Also, as a result of her cutting, she was sometimes so painfully awkward with what she said to the situations she got herself into. Some I could understand, but with others I felt like screaming, " Willow, just don't say that! You are making yourself look like a weirdo." Though, as the novel progressed she began to get more comfortable with herself, leaving the awkwardness to happen less frequently. Overall, she was still an extremely well developed character even if she did have a few flaws.

Guy was just an all around wow. I loved how he was so careful with Willow and how he always acted like a big shield that wanted to protect Willow from cutting and the world. Plus, he was just so gentle with her. Guy was just that kind of prince charming type of guy that all girls want, especially me! :)

The one thing that truly got me hooked on this was the story Julia created and the writing she used to present it. Both were descriptive and always kept you entwined in the story. Plus, I loved the ending.

Even with with the faults Willow had, it was still an extremely well written debut, that teen girls (and possibly guys) will come to love. I truly look forward to reading more by Julia.

Grade: B+/ A- ...more

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Apr 22, 2009 Ashley rated it really liked it

Shelves: own

I'm a little disappointed that Hoban didn't include resources for people who cut at the end of this one...

Also, I thought the story was VERY well written, VERY well done and Willow was, to me, wholly believable and definitely a character I felt for. I cannot IMAGINE how difficult things must be for her, how HORRIBLE things must be. Living through something like that?! It's unimaginable to me, completely.

BUT- I don't know how realistic this book was... From what I understand of cutting and why y ...more

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Jul 05, 2010 Mariana rated it it was amazing

Willow lost her parents, she lost the in an car accident, she was driving, she´s guilty.
Adding pain to her situation there´s the fact that she had to move out qith her brother, the one that can´t even look at her they way he used to, the one he barely speaks to her.
New house, new high school, but al her fears remain the same, everything that happened that fatal day keep coming back to her mind, making her suffer.
She doesnt want to feel that, she cant let herself feel it, she has found a way to d ...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Brandi rated it it was ok

Shelves: teen, 2011

While the plot was interesting, the writing and the flow of the story really turned me off. It was too much in Willow's own head. There wasn't enough development for the rest of the characters and a lot of the book, which was written in third person, was devoted to internal battles within Willow's mind. If the book was written in first person, in Willow's perspective, the author's actions would have been more acceptable. ...more

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