I really enjoyed reading this, there were times that I was chuckling to myself in public while reading. I have already recommended it to a few of my co-workers.

It's from the point of view of an English high school boy, who is very likely on the autism spectrum because he displays numerous behaviors: few friends, not understanding how other people react, obsessive interest, over-stimulation, etc., who (pretty hilariously) gets in trouble with the law. As part of his parole, he has to keep a journal (which is how the book is organized), make it right by doing community service for a person he wronged in the crime, and better himself by taking a community college course. His dad teaches a mechanic's course, his crush's mom teaches a pottery course, and a teacher he likes teaches a knitting course...he chooses knitting because he doesn't like cars and he doesn't want his crush to know he got in trouble. Unfortunately for him, there was an error in the course listing, so his crush's mom is his knitting instructor.

He turns out to have a gift for knitting, but he thinks his dad and friends would be upset that he's learning an "old lady skill," so hijinks ensue.

This book hurt me in all the best ways. I love that we don't find out exactly what the traumatic event that sets the action of the book in motion is until the very end of the story. I feel that the characters seemed very distinct, realistic, and loveable (except for the Bad Guy), and I liked the structure of the book itself.

In the very last few pages, Bella, the main character, comes to terms with her emotions about the event and it was very moving.

Be careful if you are likely to be triggered by description of trauma, reaction to trauma, or description of violence and domestic abuse.

This book has everything! Plague, missing parents, a man-eating panther on the loose, and someone bricking someone else into a basement during a party for revenge. How you do. This book is best described as Poe meets Tiger King. I have really enjoyed every book that I have read by this author, maybe she'll become one of your favorites, too. (Note: This book is part 1 of 2, ends on a cliff-hanger, and book 2 is not out yet! Be prepared to wait for the conclusion, I know I am!)

So good! The story is one character POV (YES!), unfortunately, she's an unreliable narrator, due to the trauma she endured in a German death camp during the Holocaust. She knows the rest of her family is dead because there were two lines into the trains, she and her younger brother were put in the line to the right, which went to a work camp, the rest of her family were placed in the lines to the left. They were immediately murdered because they were old/unhealthy.

The story begins with her leaving a hospital after liberation, desperate to return home because that was the plan she and her brother had made when they were separated. She makes it home, but he's not there and the neighborhood is...not welcoming to her return, so she goes on a quest.

This book is SO GOOD and SO HEARTBREAKING. There are 2 complete left turns in the plot, which make total sense, but were still unexpected. If you liked Ruta Sepetys' Ashes on Snow or Salt to the Sea, you will enjoy this book very much, too.