Review Detail

Echo is a fairly typical fifteen-year-old with typical teenager issues (boy trouble, friend drama-rama, and the ever present high school tensions). But on top of that, shes dealing with the murder of her older sister, Zoë. It has been over a year since it happened, but Echo is still dealing with the consequences of the tragedy (and if you pay attention to her name, you can see early on what one of the points of the book might be).

When Marc, Zoës old boyfriend (who was a suspect originally in her murder, but was proven innocent when her real killer was caught), gives Echo her sisters diary, Echo is initially reluctant to read it and open old wounds. But once she starts reading it, it almost seems as if her life and Zoës begin to blur together.

She becomes immersed in the secret life that Zoë was living (and after all, every teen has one, to some extent&no one tells their family everything) and in her hopes and dreams. She finds herself falling for Marc, and also developing friendships (some real, some not) with people shed never thought shed hang with.

She also begins to uncover the truth of her own life and begins to find herself as she investigates her sisters life.

Theres a lot going on in this book that Im not mentioning, but I think it best to leave the discovery up to you. This is one of Alyson Noëls stronger books, with lots of emotion and depth. Theres heartbreak here, but also humor, and strength. For anyone with a sibling (older or younger, male or female), it will make you wonder how much of what you think you know is true.

Recommended for readers aged 14 and up.