Saving Red, by Sonya Sones → Start Date: February 3, 2017

[Vicki]

Join Trisha and me when we read this book in verse!

[Vicki]

Trisha, have you started this one? I haven't, but I'm trying to see what I can read and when. I'm behind and have some books due sooner than others, so just wondering how to proceed to make the most of my buddy reads. LOL

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I'm open
I'm behind too but really hopefully I can catch up
I hope to start this one tomorrow

[Vicki]

I'm good starting this tomorrow too. : )

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

no chapters or "sections" on this one, since it's in Verse
so I have the hardcover copy. I plan to come back every 100 pages...

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

100 pages
Last page read title: Red Tears Her T-shirt off
Stopped at: The Guys Are Chanting Faster Now

Molly(view spoiler)[ I wonder what happened.
Kidnapping and hidden in house/room/hole?
in the mall with a shooter?
fallen and stuck somewhere? (hide spoiler)]

Red(view spoiler)[ I feel for Molly. of course she wants to help Red
but not everyone wants to be "saved." As bad as a home is, some kids can't go home or won't go home. (hide spoiler)]

cute boy(view spoiler)[I hope he's a good guy so far (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Can't we convince authors to use chapter numbers? lol

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I know, right? If only they knew the struggle of no chapter numbers lol

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

201 pages

Red(view spoiler)[ yes, I figured she had mental illness. I truly think she chooses to live on the streets rather than take the medication and be someone she doesn't feel is her. it's a sad truth sometimes (hide spoiler)]

cute boy(view spoiler)[ i'm glad that they are hitting it off in the midst of all this (hide spoiler)]

Molly(view spoiler)[ she really made a tough choice to try to "save" red. I don't think Red wants to be "saved". I think she's perfectly content with her life.
we know more about her brother too. did he just go missing? or is there more? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

and I"m done

I liked this one but I'm torn a little

on one hand(view spoiler)[ I think it's good for others to know and see that mental illness isn't something to be completely afraid of. Like Molly said, it was part of why she liked Red
but also, Molly was struggling with mental illness just like her brother was - so it was like three different faucets of struggling mentally and I liked that part (hide spoiler)]

but(view spoiler)[ not all schizophrenics see things, hear voices, etc. that is actually more rare than books portray it and isn't it more likely to happen to boys?
anyway, I know my teen would be mad that the mental illness they chose to fixate on is the one they always do and I just know my oldest would be disappointed that Red couldn't just be manic depressive and teach more about that
at least there was PTSD in there, if only slightly (hide spoiler)]

and(view spoiler)[ I did love that her brother sent that text right at the end.

I also think that I would have liked this story more and I think it would have had a stronger punch if it wasn't in verse but told like your typical novel (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

and Hey! I picked up by Ellen Hopkins

interested in scheduling a buddy read??

[Vicki]

Yes! I'd love to read her book. I've read a lot of her verse books and loved them!

I' m sorry I'm so behind on all my buddy reads. I have so many "good" reasons, but I'll spare you. LOL

When would you like to schedule Hopkins' book?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I'm open to dates! How quickly do you think you can get it?

Maybe 2/26? or 3/8?

[Vicki]

Let's go with 2/26 :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Vicki wrote: "Let's go with 2/26 :)"

thread is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Vicki]

60% finished page 255

Red (view spoiler)[definitely falls into the category of those that don't want to be saved. I know quite a few people who have needed medication but refuse to take it. I have a very close friend who is bipolar and she does take it now, but the problem with some people is that when they feel better they go off. I like Red but I feel bad for her. (hide spoiler)]

Molly (view spoiler)[has such a good little heart. I love how she wants to "save" Red and find her family and all, but like you said sometimes people don't want to be "saved." I don't like how she has lied to her parents because she could be in a perilous situation. (hide spoiler)]

cute boy (view spoiler)[ and Molly's text messages are so cute. They are funny together. I like that he is supportive. (hide spoiler)]

Her brother (view spoiler)[ is still a mystery. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished

I really liked this one. Part of the reason is that the homeless population/problem is near to my heart. Secondly, I live near or have been to everywhere that was mentioned in the book. But I loved the story in general.

Molly (view spoiler)[finally got Red some help and that was awesome. Plus her parents both are at least trying to change AND their apologies were so important! I'm glad they had their talks and things are looking up.

Noah (view spoiler)[I'm so glad he's okay! (hide spoiler)]

Red (view spoiler)[is truly representative of a large part of the homeless population, making it even more sad. People who need mental help often don't realize it. I'm glad she is getting help. (hide spoiler)]

Cute boy (view spoiler)[name starts with a C (forgot...omg) anyway I'm glad he had no way of getting in touch with Molly and that he was a good guy all the way! (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Yay!! I'm so glad you liked this one too!!

[Vicki]

Thanks, Trisha. :o)