Author: C.K. Kelly Martin (Canada!)
Age group in store: 14+
Briefly, it's about:
A dual-narrative exploring death, grief, healing, friendship, love and family bonds. Ashlyn is trapped somewhere in the afterlife and, for reasons unknown to her, can only orbit between absolute nothingness and the world of a boy named Breckon. Breckon is swiftly downward spiralling and, try as he might, he just can't seem to pull himself together enough to allow his family and friends' love and support to keep him grounded. The only being that can truly see the incredible pain and loss in Breckon is Ashlyn, but she doesn't know how to reach him, how to bridge that space between life and death to keep Breckon from the absolute nothingness she knows. What is keeping Ashlyn so intimately tied to Breckon? And why is she being allowed to witness his slow and painful withering if there's nothing she seems to be able to do so stop it?
Shanti's Rave:
C.K. Kelly Martin has been a considerable part of my Canadian experience for my entire time here (just under 6 years). I discovered her when I was sent an ARC of her second book One Lonely Degree and found myself completely destroyed and rebuilt by the reading experience. Her stories are searing and powerful, presenting adolescence in one of the most authentic and heartfelt ways I've ever come across. She quietly tackles some very topical and controversial subjects with thoughtful observations and discussions, and challenging attitudes which often stymie and re-envision an individual's capacity for self-discovery and self-realization, particularly a teenager's.
My Beating Teenage Heart has just become my favourite of all her books so far. She has transcended to a whole new level stylistically and the themes she chooses to explore, in addition to the manner in which she does it, makes this her most sophisticated book yet. It was such a powerful read. I carefully broke apart and reassembled all my beliefs, prejudices and worldviews. And that's the mark of an exceptional book - it changes you. It marks you, in a very significant way.
My Beating Teenage Heart has just become my favourite of all her books so far. She has transcended to a whole new level stylistically and the themes she chooses to explore, in addition to the manner in which she does it, makes this her most sophisticated book yet. It was such a powerful read. I carefully broke apart and reassembled all my beliefs, prejudices and worldviews. And that's the mark of an exceptional book - it changes you. It marks you, in a very significant way.
(Melissa also read and loved this book!)
It's perfect for:
Fans of the author, fans of Melvin Burgess, Melina Marchetta, Courtney Summers, Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson; Readers of reality-based fiction that challenges and questions.
# of stars:***** (Heart-wrenching, but perfect)
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