Review Detail

I picked up this book because, of all the hyped books that came out earlier this year, this one seemed like one I would actually like. I have a thing for realistic YA fiction, and, after the success of Amy Efaw’s After and Amy Reed’s Beautiful, I was in for another go. And while Don’t Breathe a Word was a good book, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

I divide this book into three phases. The first hundred words were okay, boring but okay—I wasn’t hooked but I liked what I read. The second hundred words were amazing—I was totally into this story of Joy trying to survive on the streets. The third hundred words were awful—disaster after disaster with a corny cliché ending on top.

Joy’s story just didn’t stand out for me, I guess. I didn’t feel anything for her, I guess. I mean, it’s awful that she had an abusive, controlling freak of a boyfriend, and while I’m glad that she ran away from him, I don’t think she handled it very well. Yes, he was blackmailing her, but running away like that? Melodramatic, almost. I don’t know, for me this felt like a standard cut-paste “get over your hurts and stand up for yourself” type novel.

And the thing that usually works for me in novels like these is the prose. Sadly, though, Cupala’s prose was flat and standard YA fare for me, unlike Amy Reed’s mesmerizing lyricism.

Altogether, I liked this book, but I don’t think it was the best that this genre has to offer.