Thu, September 20, 2012
34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues Review
34 Pieces of You
By Carmen Rodrigues
Publication date: Sept. 4, 2012
Simon Pulse, 352 pages
Source: Publisher
A dark and moving novel—reminiscent of Thirteen Reasons Why—about the mystery surrounding a teenage girl’s fatal overdose.
There was something about Ellie…Something dangerous. Charismatic. Broken. Jake looked out for her. Sarah followed her lead. And Jess kept her distance—and kept watch.
Now Ellie’s dead, and Jake, Sarah, and Jess are left to pick up the pieces. All they have are thirty-four clues she left behind. Thirty-four strips of paper hidden in a box beneath her bed. Thirty-four secrets of a brief and painful life.
Jake, Sarah, and Jess all feel responsible for what happened to Ellie, and all three have secrets of their own. As they confront the past, they will discover not only the darkest truths about themselves, but also what Ellie herself had been hiding all along…
— Goodreads.com description
Oh, glory, “dark” is right! I’ve met Carmen Rodrigues, and she seems just so kind and full of light. So when I read this I was just like…“Carmen! What!?”
For those who like their YA dark and twisty, 34 Pieces of You is a must. With every chapter, we realize just how very broken these characters are. The layers grow and grow as the main characters’ stories twist together, their mistakes and regrets and sorrow filling each page.
The issues tackled here are huge: suicide, drug use, sexuality, abuse. It’s easy for things to go wrong when a book tackles so many issues at once, but it was truly very well done.
So, clearly, what I’m saying is that you have to be in the right mood for 34 Pieces of You. If you want kissing and fluff, save it for later. But when you’re ready for something serious, you know what to pick up.
7 Comments
Leave a comment
About Me
I read. A lot. Mostly whatever YA novels the library has on hold for me that week. Sometimes grown-up books if my book club makes me.
Currently Reading
Jessica Darling's It List #1: The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Popularity, Prettiness & PerfectionBy Megan McCafferty
OMGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!
jen said:
i’ve heard good things about this. like that this is a cry book. i’m not sure i can handle the crying, but i do like GOOD BOOKS. hmmm… would i like this?
jen recently posted..Carla’s Thoughts – The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, September 20, 2012
Lori said:
I really enjoyed this one! I am a fan of dark twisty contemps, though.
Lori recently posted..Audiobook Review: The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, September 20, 2012
Carla said:
aw man this sounds so good! I like me some dark and twisty books as you very well know so this sounds definitely like a Carla book.
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, September 20, 2012
Juhina said:
Oh wow you are right, you need to be in the right mood for this novel. I am not a fan of over the top dark novels so I will pass on this but great review!
- Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf
Juhina recently posted..Cover Reveal: Abandon by Elana Johnson
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, September 20, 2012
Estelle said:
I love this last line — “If you want kissing and fluff, save it for later. But when you’re ready for something serious, you know what to pick up.” Something I try to say but don’t say nearly as nicely sometimes.
This book is on THE LIST.
Estelle recently posted..Factoring In the Price Tag: A New Rating
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, September 20, 2012
Kait said:
I’ve been wanting to read this. I liked 13 Reasons Why, so the comparison intrigues me. I’ve been in one of those “dark” moods lately where all I gravitate towards are these disturbing types of books.
Thanks for sharing!
Kait recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday #8
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, September 20, 2012
Cass (Words on Paper) said:
Great review. I now know what book to pick up when I’m next in the mood for something dark and gritty, complex and intense. Like you couldn’t guess from the cover, am I right?
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, September 20, 2012