Natalie LundBesprekingen

CW: loss of loved ones, terminal cancer, homophobia, sexual assault, disordered eating

Well I appreciate that this book was tackling some fairly challenging topics however, it was incredibly slow.

I didn't connect with the characters so didn't get the 'feels' that this book seems to have given many Readers. I loved the concept but the pacing was way off for me. The writing was lovely in parts and there were some eerie moments. I'm not going to write much more because I think this was simply a case of 'just not for me'.

This debut was terrific! Fifty years ago, a tornado tore through rural Illinois, killing fifty teenagers in a small town. The memories of that day haunt the town, and local lore talks of ghosts who haven’t yet moved on. Fifty years later, another tornado comes. This is an interesting tale that’s perfect for a cool fall day, part ghost story, part a story of growing up and not fitting in. It chronicles the story of three teens who are dealing with complex, painful struggles in their lives and at school. Some really good emotional writing, and I liked the way the pov shifts and glimpses back to the past slowly tie everything together.

Trigger Warnings: cancer, death of a parent, sexual assault

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

Reading this is like watching an approaching storm from an emotional standpoint. When you open it, you find half the main characters, Izzy, Cass and Janie on a beach amidst classmates and the aftermath of an end of school party. Suddenly the sky above is rent with the sound, then the sight, of a low flying plane. Right after it passes overhead, it starts a steep climb, stalls and plunges, nose first into the ocean. It's not long before the three girls begin to suspect the worst, that Izzy's twin brother, Israel, Cass' ex-boyfriend, Shane and Janie's next door neighbor Nate, who's given her mixed messages forever, are in the plane and most likely dead.
How did three high school kids manage to get a plane and why did they fly it? Those, along with the dynamics of all six teens, plus their parents, are what you the reader discovers as the book moves along. Told in alternate viewpoint and time lines, each chapter takes you ever deeper into the mind of each teen, peeling away layers of secrets and pain until you, and the three girls are left with an answer. It's a masterfully done revelation and a book many public and school libraries should have on their shelves.

I can confidently say that this is the best book I've read in the past couple of years. Natalie Lund did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life, along with the story itself. When I grabbed this book, I wasn't really that excited for it, seeing as it didn't sound nor look like any book I've ever read and enjoyed. However, from the very first page, I couldn't put it down.

The way Lund worked with grief and bullying was phenomenal. The entire plot stayed steady, not rushing nor being drawn out. My only issue with the book was Callie. Although I now understand why she acted the way she did with her mother while she was dying, when I was reading the book it stressed me out. Having lost my own mother without warning or time to prepare, I hated the way she kept shying away from her mother, avoiding her as often as possible. Of course, I wasn't thinking about what it would be like to watch your mother slowly dying, but the only thing I could focus on while reading was her behavior. When I finished the book, after thinking about it, I did understand.

Other than that, I loved the characters - the ones that were meant to be loved, of course. I've recommended this book to anyone who's asked for a book to read, and I'll continue doing so.

n achingly beautiful story of heartbreak and loss.

When three teen girls witness a plane crash on a beach after a party, it shatters their lives. Not only do they know the victims, but it’s the people who are most important to them. Izzy lost her twin, Israel. Cass lost her ex-boyfriend, Shane. And Janie lost her best friend Nate, who’d only hang out with her when no one from school could see.

Israel had been interested in past lives, but when Izzy swears their souls have moved into three dolphins, her friends think she's losing it. The other girls agree to help her find out why the tragedy occurred to help her cope. Each one is searching for a sense of meaning. What led three teen boys to steal a plane and take it for a spin? The answer to that question will test the three girls’ friendship.

These characters are vivid, unique and feel like real people. The book alternates between past and present, giving you glimpses into each teen's heart. I especially enjoyed Janie gaining confidence and becoming an even larger part of the friend group as the time went on.

I would describe this book as an emotional thriller. You needed to know the answers to "why" just as much as the girls did, so it kept me turning pages. I read this in one sitting.

Even though this book dealt with some tough topics - depression, suicide - I loved the note of hope. The bittersweet ending will leave you with tears in your eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the advance review copy of this book.

A beautifully written story of how important it is to not only find yourself..but even more important to find friends worth fighting for. The book was filled with very descriptive text that easily let the reader form pictures of a small mid-west town...a deadly tornado... three very different and diverse main characters...ghosts...bonds of friendship... grief, and regret. I know without a doubt that this book will reach and touch teen readers but it also has the ability to appeal to the adults in the reading world.

Two generations back, a tornado tore through the drive-in theater in Mercer, Illinois, and killed some fifty of the town’s teenagers. On the anniversary of the storm, another tornado touches down in the same spot, leaving nothing like the previous twister’s devastation but appearing to resurrect some of those killed by the first storm. These ghosts have arrived to help three present-day teenagers, all of whom echo in some way the struggles the older generation was dealing with themselves. I love the premise of this book, but in execution it just didn’t do that much for me. I liked what Lund was doing a lot more than I liked watching her do it. The characters never really came fully alive for me, and I was expecting the book to be a little spookier and a little less depressing. YMMV.½