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A Heart in a Body in the World
When everything has been taken from you, what else is there to do but run?
So that’s what Annabelle does—she runs from Seattle to Washington, DC, through mountain passes and suburban landscapes, from long lonely roads to college towns. She’s not ready to think about the why yet, just the how—muscles burning, heart pumping, feet pounding the earth. But no matter how hard she tries, she can’t outrun the tragedy from the past year, or the person—The Taker—that haunts her.
Followed by Grandpa Ed in his RV and backed by her brother and two friends (her self-appointed publicity team), Annabelle becomes a reluctant activist as people connect her journey to the trauma from her past. Her cross-country run gains media attention and she is cheered on as she crosses state borders, and is even thrown a block party and given gifts. The support would be nice, if Annabelle could escape the guilt and the shame from what happened back home. They say it isn’t her fault, but she can’t feel the truth of that.
Through welcome and unwelcome distractions, she just keeps running, to the destination that awaits her. There, she’ll finally face what lies behind her—the miles and love and loss…and what is to come.
So that’s what Annabelle does—she runs from Seattle to Washington, DC, through mountain passes and suburban landscapes, from long lonely roads to college towns. She’s not ready to think about the why yet, just the how—muscles burning, heart pumping, feet pounding the earth. But no matter how hard she tries, she can’t outrun the tragedy from the past year, or the person—The Taker—that haunts her.
Followed by Grandpa Ed in his RV and backed by her brother and two friends (her self-appointed publicity team), Annabelle becomes a reluctant activist as people connect her journey to the trauma from her past. Her cross-country run gains media attention and she is cheered on as she crosses state borders, and is even thrown a block party and given gifts. The support would be nice, if Annabelle could escape the guilt and the shame from what happened back home. They say it isn’t her fault, but she can’t feel the truth of that.
Through welcome and unwelcome distractions, she just keeps running, to the destination that awaits her. There, she’ll finally face what lies behind her—the miles and love and loss…and what is to come.
358 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2018
About the author
Deb Caletti
29 books2,276 followersDeb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over twenty books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award. She lives with her family in Seattle.
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April 14, 2019
“She survived something big, and when you survive something big, you are always, always aware that next time you might not.”
I can truly say, with every single ounce of my heart, that this is one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life. It’s so quiet, but so loud. It’s so heartbreaking, but so healing. It’s so impactful, it’s so powerful, and it’s completely and utterly unforgettable. I truly recommend this story with my entire soul. A Heart in a Body in the World is now one of my favorite books of all time.
On the very surface, this is a story about a girl who is feeling the astronomical weight of guilt and grief. She lives in Seattle, and one day while she is feeling particularly powerless over something that happened nine months ago, she decides to run to Washington D.C. regardless of how long it will take. Her family is a little shocked, but very supportive, so she begins her healing journey the only way her body and heart knows how; by running and pushing her body to the limits that her mind is forced to relive every single free moment. And watching her reclaim what was taken from her is one of the most powerful things I’ve ever read in my entire existence.
Okay, so I went into this story knowing what the main theme was, and it did not hinder my enjoyment whatsoever. Yet, I have seen so many reviewers say that this story is best to consume not knowing, and that they consider the central plot to be a big spoiler. So, please use caution reading the rest of this review, because I am going to talk about what this book is about, and I don’t want to spoil you if you believe that it could be a potential spoiler! But regardless, this is one of the best books I’ve ever had the privilege of reading, and I implore you all to pick this up when you are able to, especially if you are a woman living in the United States.
“Danger can seem far away until the sky grows dark, and a bolt of fury heads straight toward you.”
A Heart in a Body in the World is a story about toxic masculinity and gun violence, and how that can be one of the most dangerous combinations that American women can ever face. Especially when we live in a country where it is easier to buy a gun than to vote. Especially when we live in a country that normalizes teaching young kids to hide under desks in the event of a school shooter. Especially when our country proves over and over that it doesn’t think we are worth protecting and that our safety isn’t worth more than an assault rifle. And especially when we live in a world that conditions girls to be scared to say no to boys, and that internalization is passed down every single generation, to both girls and boys, to truly create the most evil and most scary cycle.
This is the best depiction of grief and guilt I’ve ever read in my entire life. I could feel the weight Annabelle’s grief, and it constantly felt like it was going to bury me. This book took so much out of me, but in the best way possible; in the realest way possible. And violence took everything from Annabelle because we live in a world where it can be deadly to reject men.
Annabelle did everything right. She reached out. She asked for help. She told people. And it didn’t help, and these kinds of stories prove over and over again that it won’t help. But we live in a world where proving your masculinity and power will always be louder than a teenage girl asking for help. Being nice and being kind can potentially lead to someone taking absolutely everything from you.
Okay, I know this is a really heavy review, and I’m sorry for that, but this book honestly just does such an amazing job depicting so many young women’s realities. But to end on a sweeter note, the family dynamic in this novel is also a damn masterpiece. You all know that strong sibling bonds (especially with little brothers) is my favorite thing in books! And also, the relationship that Annabelle has with her Italian grandfather, and the unconditional love he shows her over and over again, made me so damn soft.
Overall, this is one of the most important, meaningful, and impactful pieces of literature I’ve ever read in my entire life, and probably ever will read in my entire life. I recommend it with every single fiber of my being. And I will truly carry this book in my heart forever. Also, if you want to see me cry over the perfection of this story, and how sad I feel to live in a country that doesn’t protect me, watch my day seven contemporayathon vlog!
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Content and trigger warnings for PTSD depiction, panic attacks, grief depiction, loss of a loved one, death, murder, stalking, mention of cancer, self-induced harm via running, and any and everything surrounding the gun violence in America.
Buddy Read with Lea from Drums of Autumn! ❤
❤ I also read this for Contemporary-a-thon!
April 12, 2019
*steps out of my house and immediately hears booing*
This was just….ok? I always grapple with how to rate books which I think bring up very relevant and timely topics--however much they fail to explore them in a satisfying way--but which don't exactly land on the reader with a sound of impact. A Heart in a Body in the World is such a novel. The plot plods on endlessly and the boredom of it all almost bled my brain front to back. It also felt like the third-person narrative holds the reader at arm's length from the main character and I just couldn't really connect to the story. This seems to be an unpopular opinion, though, so I am honestly almost loathe to discourage anyone from reading this book.
This was just….ok? I always grapple with how to rate books which I think bring up very relevant and timely topics--however much they fail to explore them in a satisfying way--but which don't exactly land on the reader with a sound of impact. A Heart in a Body in the World is such a novel. The plot plods on endlessly and the boredom of it all almost bled my brain front to back. It also felt like the third-person narrative holds the reader at arm's length from the main character and I just couldn't really connect to the story. This seems to be an unpopular opinion, though, so I am honestly almost loathe to discourage anyone from reading this book.
July 28, 2020
Re-read 7/28/20: This book is just as powerful on re-read as it was the first time. My heart is aching. This is such a hard read, but I love this book so, so much.
Original read 10/9/18: This book is beautiful and haunting and powerful and I’m just 😭😭😭 maybe I’ll come back to write a more coherent review when I stop crying but tonight is not that night. EVERYONE needs to read this book.
TW: ptsd, sexual assault, emotional manipulation, gun violence, death of a loved one
Original read 10/9/18: This book is beautiful and haunting and powerful and I’m just 😭😭😭 maybe I’ll come back to write a more coherent review when I stop crying but tonight is not that night. EVERYONE needs to read this book.
TW: ptsd, sexual assault, emotional manipulation, gun violence, death of a loved one
September 30, 2019
4.5 stars
This is one of the most powerful and important books I’ve read all year. It’s truly one of those books that I think is a must-read for all readers.
A Heart in a Body in the World is a story about tragedy, but also, surviving and fighting to overcome tragedy. It’s Annabelle’s story. Annabelle is a high school senior who has suffered something horrific. Her life was changed so drastically and she knows no matter what, she will never be the same.
There are many ups and downs to her journey. As her story unfolds, you get to know the build up of the tragedy, and watch everything come together. This story was heartbreaking and unfortunately something that could be tomorrows news here in the US. That is why this story is important. It felt real because it could very well be reality for anyone. That is why people need to read this book.
Annabelle is a survivor and she’s got determination and strength unlike any character I’ve read about. She was only able to do what she did with the help of others, mainly her family. Her brother, mom, and a few close friends behind the scenes, along with her Grandpa, which made me so soft. I loved how he always had her back and supported her 100% along the way.
A Heart in a Body in the World is a book I would highly recommend. It’s relevant, momentous, and a truly phenomenal read.
She can't truly outrun her future, but you can't tell her body that.
This is one of the most powerful and important books I’ve read all year. It’s truly one of those books that I think is a must-read for all readers.
A Heart in a Body in the World is a story about tragedy, but also, surviving and fighting to overcome tragedy. It’s Annabelle’s story. Annabelle is a high school senior who has suffered something horrific. Her life was changed so drastically and she knows no matter what, she will never be the same.
She survived something big, and when you survive something big, you are always, always aware that next time you might not.Annabelle doesn’t know how to handle or cope with this grief. The only thing that she can think to do, the only thing that helps, is to run. So she does. She decides to run a half-marathon every day until she crosses the country. She is running from Seattle all the way to Washington DC and nothing can hold her back.
There are many ups and downs to her journey. As her story unfolds, you get to know the build up of the tragedy, and watch everything come together. This story was heartbreaking and unfortunately something that could be tomorrows news here in the US. That is why this story is important. It felt real because it could very well be reality for anyone. That is why people need to read this book.
Annabelle is a survivor and she’s got determination and strength unlike any character I’ve read about. She was only able to do what she did with the help of others, mainly her family. Her brother, mom, and a few close friends behind the scenes, along with her Grandpa, which made me so soft. I loved how he always had her back and supported her 100% along the way.
A Heart in a Body in the World is a book I would highly recommend. It’s relevant, momentous, and a truly phenomenal read.
“It's the people who know you and love you that save you.”
September 3, 2022
***Recommended reads for the tough times!
Uplifting and beautiful.
Regarding the theme it handled, this book came out as nurturing and hopeful. This is the kind of book which makes you feel like you have just met a stranger out of nowhere but you need to know this stranger bit by bit, slow and meaningful. You would wait with all the patience in the entire world for this stranger to open up to you. You will want to make this stranger have his own moments of quiet and bad timings and then open up to you again whenever the stranger is ready.
The book is so real that it will make you feel like you are watching the characters right in front of you and you will want to join their banter. Anabelle runs. Everyone knows the reason behind. But you will be left in the dark for so many chapters with hints of trauma and anxiety issues of our main character. You will never come to know what exactly happened. You will. Trust me, have patience. Please do not ruin the book by trying to know what happened before picking it up. And it's so damn important and will break your heart.
The side characters are so warm and supportive. They are so real and optimistic. I love the unexpected humour in their dialogues. The whole book is so comforting. It feels like I am getting to know people better. And I feel like they will get to know me too somehow.
Whatever the book is trying to convey is so important especially for the young generation. It represented well some disturbing characters, some characters who will never let you down, some characters who will be there through thick and thin, who will be always there for you : your own family and found family.
The story is heartbreaking but you will see rainbows peeking out, summer sun and warm, sweet spring flowers when you close it.
And yes, the grandpa found a new love on the road.
(Oops! Don't kill me!)
Uplifting and beautiful.
Regarding the theme it handled, this book came out as nurturing and hopeful. This is the kind of book which makes you feel like you have just met a stranger out of nowhere but you need to know this stranger bit by bit, slow and meaningful. You would wait with all the patience in the entire world for this stranger to open up to you. You will want to make this stranger have his own moments of quiet and bad timings and then open up to you again whenever the stranger is ready.
The book is so real that it will make you feel like you are watching the characters right in front of you and you will want to join their banter. Anabelle runs. Everyone knows the reason behind. But you will be left in the dark for so many chapters with hints of trauma and anxiety issues of our main character. You will never come to know what exactly happened. You will. Trust me, have patience. Please do not ruin the book by trying to know what happened before picking it up. And it's so damn important and will break your heart.
The side characters are so warm and supportive. They are so real and optimistic. I love the unexpected humour in their dialogues. The whole book is so comforting. It feels like I am getting to know people better. And I feel like they will get to know me too somehow.
Whatever the book is trying to convey is so important especially for the young generation. It represented well some disturbing characters, some characters who will never let you down, some characters who will be there through thick and thin, who will be always there for you : your own family and found family.
The story is heartbreaking but you will see rainbows peeking out, summer sun and warm, sweet spring flowers when you close it.
And yes, the grandpa found a new love on the road.
(Oops! Don't kill me!)
February 24, 2020
Deb Caletti's tale of a girl navigating grief and anxiey in the wake of a school trauma by jogging across the United States plods along at an agonizing, slow pace. However, Caletti brings it together in the final chapters, delivering a hard-hitting, emotionally resonant conclusion. Well worth pushing through to cross the finish line.
Waiting is tricky, because any sort of empty time in her head fills with you-know-what and you-know-who. She will not say his name. He shouldn't get to have a name. She calls him The Taker. She calls him this becuase it is the essential truth, that he is the most evil sort of thief, and she calls him this because the words are tall and slender like The Taker himself, and because the name is shorter than Motherfucking Asshole, which is what Gina calls him. The problem is - well, there are lots of problems, but this one problem is - he is not just evil incarnate, not just the most vile and viscious monster, but a human who breathed and talked and ate lunch and took notes and held her hand, even. This makes her shudder, but it is also true.
January 4, 2019
This review originally appeared on Novel Ink.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
CONTENT WARNINGS: intimacy, stalking, grief, PTSD, depression, gun violence, murder, death of loved ones, self-harm (pushing oneself past physical boundaries)
As a voracious reader, I’ve read many stories over the course of my lifetime that have resonated with me deeply. But books like A Heart in a Body in the World, books that strike you in your very soul— those are much fewer and far between. This book contains one of the most important stories I’ve ever read.
In A Heart in a Body in the World, we follow a runner named Annabelle who, after undergoing a terrible tragedy, decides to run from her home city of Seattle, WA across the country to Washington, DC. It’s a story about grief, about guilt, about toxic masculinity and how it breeds violence, about what it means to be a person. Every single element is masterfully woven into this gorgeous narrative.
I don’t know how to fully articulate the emotional impact this book had on me. It’s brutally painful to read, but that just makes the moments of hope in this story all the more joyful and triumphant. Annabelle’s physical journey mirrors a personal one. I felt for Annabelle during every panic attack, every guilty feeling, every memory, and every triumph. Unfortunately, her story is one that will be all too familiar to women everywhere.
A huge thread in the story revolves around what it’s like to exist as a woman in a world where, all too often, we are still viewed as objects, as prizes, as possessions. It examines the real, horrific repercussions of toxic masculinity. Women are socialized to never, ever come across as impolite or unfriendly, and too often, that puts our safety at risk. So much violence we see in this country stems back to toxic masculinity, to this sense of entitlement toward women, and I really appreciate Caletti tackling these subjects in tandem in this book.
Over the course of the story, Annabelle runs 2,700 miles. I’m not a runner, so the idea of running 16 miles a day for five months straight is just… mind-boggling to me. Though Annabelle originally embarks on this journey alone to process her trauma, her family and friends form the support system that keeps her going. I LOVED every single one of Annabelle’s friends and family so, so much. From her mother, Gina, who calls her three times a day to check in; to her brother, Malcolm, who, along with two of her friends, sets up a GoFundMe to fund Annabelle’s run; to her grandfather, who drives the trip along with her in his RV, watching over her every step of the way… their support brought tears to my eyes. They were always there to pick her up when the journey seemed impossible. Some of my favorite scenes in the book involved Annabelle running into people along her route who heard about her run and showed up to support her in ways both large and small. The kindness of these strangers was one of the most hopeful parts of the story– it reinforces the fact that, while the world is terrible and dark and contains some awful people, there are also so many good people. What are we even doing on this earth if we don’t look out for one another, anyway?
This was, somehow, my first Deb Caletti novel, and her writing was stunning. I was put off at the beginning of the story due to the use of third-person present tense, but after reading a few chapters, this tense did not detract from my enjoyment of the story whatsoever. There are stunning, poignant passages about womanhood, violence, grief, and kindness throughout the novel. Every few pages, I would read a paragraph that left me breathless, which hasn’t happened in to me in quite a while. The care Caletti put into writing this story is evident on every page.
Okay, now that I’ve cried three times while writing this review… I could go on and on about A Heart in a Body in the World and why it’s exactly the timely, important story that everyone needs to read, but honestly? I think this is a reading experience you have to have for yourself. I recommend this story to absolutely everyone. It instantly became my favorite book of the year, and I think it’ll be damn near impossible to top it.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
CONTENT WARNINGS: intimacy, stalking, grief, PTSD, depression, gun violence, murder, death of loved ones, self-harm (pushing oneself past physical boundaries)
As a voracious reader, I’ve read many stories over the course of my lifetime that have resonated with me deeply. But books like A Heart in a Body in the World, books that strike you in your very soul— those are much fewer and far between. This book contains one of the most important stories I’ve ever read.
In A Heart in a Body in the World, we follow a runner named Annabelle who, after undergoing a terrible tragedy, decides to run from her home city of Seattle, WA across the country to Washington, DC. It’s a story about grief, about guilt, about toxic masculinity and how it breeds violence, about what it means to be a person. Every single element is masterfully woven into this gorgeous narrative.
I don’t know how to fully articulate the emotional impact this book had on me. It’s brutally painful to read, but that just makes the moments of hope in this story all the more joyful and triumphant. Annabelle’s physical journey mirrors a personal one. I felt for Annabelle during every panic attack, every guilty feeling, every memory, and every triumph. Unfortunately, her story is one that will be all too familiar to women everywhere.
A huge thread in the story revolves around what it’s like to exist as a woman in a world where, all too often, we are still viewed as objects, as prizes, as possessions. It examines the real, horrific repercussions of toxic masculinity. Women are socialized to never, ever come across as impolite or unfriendly, and too often, that puts our safety at risk. So much violence we see in this country stems back to toxic masculinity, to this sense of entitlement toward women, and I really appreciate Caletti tackling these subjects in tandem in this book.
Over the course of the story, Annabelle runs 2,700 miles. I’m not a runner, so the idea of running 16 miles a day for five months straight is just… mind-boggling to me. Though Annabelle originally embarks on this journey alone to process her trauma, her family and friends form the support system that keeps her going. I LOVED every single one of Annabelle’s friends and family so, so much. From her mother, Gina, who calls her three times a day to check in; to her brother, Malcolm, who, along with two of her friends, sets up a GoFundMe to fund Annabelle’s run; to her grandfather, who drives the trip along with her in his RV, watching over her every step of the way… their support brought tears to my eyes. They were always there to pick her up when the journey seemed impossible. Some of my favorite scenes in the book involved Annabelle running into people along her route who heard about her run and showed up to support her in ways both large and small. The kindness of these strangers was one of the most hopeful parts of the story– it reinforces the fact that, while the world is terrible and dark and contains some awful people, there are also so many good people. What are we even doing on this earth if we don’t look out for one another, anyway?
This was, somehow, my first Deb Caletti novel, and her writing was stunning. I was put off at the beginning of the story due to the use of third-person present tense, but after reading a few chapters, this tense did not detract from my enjoyment of the story whatsoever. There are stunning, poignant passages about womanhood, violence, grief, and kindness throughout the novel. Every few pages, I would read a paragraph that left me breathless, which hasn’t happened in to me in quite a while. The care Caletti put into writing this story is evident on every page.
Okay, now that I’ve cried three times while writing this review… I could go on and on about A Heart in a Body in the World and why it’s exactly the timely, important story that everyone needs to read, but honestly? I think this is a reading experience you have to have for yourself. I recommend this story to absolutely everyone. It instantly became my favorite book of the year, and I think it’ll be damn near impossible to top it.
March 26, 2022
“Every person is a book with chapters. Some are glorious and some are dark and ugly. Every person survives something.”
This story is so beautiful and real and so relevant that it's terrifying. This books is about I'm blocking it out because it's kind of a spoiler, but it's also a trigger warning so I think some people might like to know what it is about going in. But wow this story could not be more relevant right now in America, and I think this is so important and something everyone should read. This book follows a young girl named Annabelle, who experiences something absolutely awful and decides she is going to run from Seattle to Washington DC.
The main reason I knocked off a star is because there are a lot of repetitive scenes in this book of Annabelle running, and the first 100 pages of this book are so boring I almost wanted to DNF. But I pushed through it and I'm glad I did because they ending is great, but it is a really slow start for this book. Also, I wasn't a huge fan of the 3rd person POV in this book, I just typically like books better that are written in first person.
But wow Annabelle is relatable as shit. Probably one of the most relatable characters I've ever read about. She is so afraid of making other people upset that she puts their feelings before hers, and she doesn't want to seem mean so she constantly does things she doesn't want to do. That was SO ME in high school, when I still gave a fuck. She has some really great quotes like: "She has always been burdened by what she owes people. She worries if she's inconveniencing them. She's supposed to give and not take." and this quote too: "This is Annabelle as she used to be: anxious, careful, responsible, but with moments of confidence, twinkles of flirtation. Love of life, a bright smile, a snort of laughter, a sense of belonging with her friends." I also relate to how she's cautious and afraid of men, and how as a female in this country she's not really sure if she's protected by the law.
Overall, I just really loved this and related to it and I think it's incredibly important.
This story is so beautiful and real and so relevant that it's terrifying. This books is about I'm blocking it out because it's kind of a spoiler, but it's also a trigger warning so I think some people might like to know what it is about going in. But wow this story could not be more relevant right now in America, and I think this is so important and something everyone should read. This book follows a young girl named Annabelle, who experiences something absolutely awful and decides she is going to run from Seattle to Washington DC.
The main reason I knocked off a star is because there are a lot of repetitive scenes in this book of Annabelle running, and the first 100 pages of this book are so boring I almost wanted to DNF. But I pushed through it and I'm glad I did because they ending is great, but it is a really slow start for this book. Also, I wasn't a huge fan of the 3rd person POV in this book, I just typically like books better that are written in first person.
But wow Annabelle is relatable as shit. Probably one of the most relatable characters I've ever read about. She is so afraid of making other people upset that she puts their feelings before hers, and she doesn't want to seem mean so she constantly does things she doesn't want to do. That was SO ME in high school, when I still gave a fuck. She has some really great quotes like: "She has always been burdened by what she owes people. She worries if she's inconveniencing them. She's supposed to give and not take." and this quote too: "This is Annabelle as she used to be: anxious, careful, responsible, but with moments of confidence, twinkles of flirtation. Love of life, a bright smile, a snort of laughter, a sense of belonging with her friends." I also relate to how she's cautious and afraid of men, and how as a female in this country she's not really sure if she's protected by the law.
Overall, I just really loved this and related to it and I think it's incredibly important.
January 28, 2019
Printz Honor 2019
I get it.
Original review
A book for our time, and a well written one. Gun violence, violence against women, activism. I can see it capturing Printz committee's attention, even though I failed to love it.
What I found the most compelling was the main character's grappling with her feelings about getting involved with a guy she never really felt comfortable with and always putting her self-imposed rule to be nice and kind to him before her discomfort. How much is one responsible for other person's expectations and assumptions, even more, that person's emotional well-being? Is it wrong to flirt with someone just to feel attractive for a moment, while being not romantically interested in him?Are you leading a guy on if you can’t bring yourself to set boundaries and make your disinterest known? - these are some of the questions the novel asks. I am not sure they were answered entirely to my satisfaction, but nevertheless these are interesting issues to ponder on.
The main reason this novel didn't work for me is definitely the 3rd person voice. Maybe I am now conditioned to relate to 1st person stories better, but Annabelle seemed so remote, and it was hard to feel completely absorbed by her story.
I see other readers being heartened by the ending, but if these past years taught me anything, it is that Annabelle's reluctant crusade is, unfortunately, futile.
I get it.
Original review
A book for our time, and a well written one. Gun violence, violence against women, activism. I can see it capturing Printz committee's attention, even though I failed to love it.
What I found the most compelling was the main character's grappling with her feelings about getting involved with a guy she never really felt comfortable with and always putting her self-imposed rule to be nice and kind to him before her discomfort. How much is one responsible for other person's expectations and assumptions, even more, that person's emotional well-being? Is it wrong to flirt with someone just to feel attractive for a moment, while being not romantically interested in him?Are you leading a guy on if you can’t bring yourself to set boundaries and make your disinterest known? - these are some of the questions the novel asks. I am not sure they were answered entirely to my satisfaction, but nevertheless these are interesting issues to ponder on.
The main reason this novel didn't work for me is definitely the 3rd person voice. Maybe I am now conditioned to relate to 1st person stories better, but Annabelle seemed so remote, and it was hard to feel completely absorbed by her story.
I see other readers being heartened by the ending, but if these past years taught me anything, it is that Annabelle's reluctant crusade is, unfortunately, futile.
February 13, 2019
Wow, I have a lot to say about this one. I'll either write a review or film one and when I do, I'll post it here. But for now, SLEEP BECKONS.
June 4, 2019
This book is heartbreaking and heart mending and beautiful.
July 5, 2020
If you really don't want to know what the traumatic event at the heart of this book involves, don't read this review. There aren't any plot spoilers, and I don't think knowing what you are reading about "ruins" anything, but your mileage may vary.
This is a young adult contemporary novel about a girl that decides to run from Seattle to Washington, D.C., primarily as a way to deal with her grief and guilt concerning a traumatic event she experienced not a year before. This book has content warnings for: gun violence, murder, loss of a loved one, grief, PTSD, panic attacks, and self-harm.
As I read back through reviews for this book, I notice how many people in the last two years have called it timely and necessary, and that's just the heartbreak and kicker of this book, right? That a book about gun violence in the US is always timely, and the people with the most power to change things don't. Annabelle feels so helpless and guilty and overcome with grief that one day, she just starts running. A plan forms while she runs, and her runs morph into a cause, and she relives her past trauma and tries to carve out her future.
This was heartbreakingly beautiful and will certainly be one of the best things I read this year. Caletti writes in the third person present, giving us a voice that is both intimate and able to create urgency. I felt that I was both understanding what happened to Annabelle specifically and through a lens that put larger things about misogyny and violence into context.
Part of the reason why people treat what has happened to Annabelle as a spoiler is because Caletti writes it vaguely on purpose and for most of the book. At first, I thought we were dealing with sexual assault and again, that feels purposeful. We are invited again and again to consider the role that misogyny has in gun violence. I don't know what it means to be a survivor of a shooting, but anytime Annabelle spoke about how unsafe she felt in the world, I felt that deeply. In the process of finding her voice about what happened to her, in asserting her "here" after surviving, she also has to contend with how she's been socialized-- to be nice, to be quiet, to accept everything gracefully, to worry about her safety always, to take on so much responsibility for the actions of others, to manage what some men think they are owed from women.
My best friend and I always joke because she's a runner and I DON'T GET IT. Truly, I think running is horrible and people who enjoy it are a different breed. Reading this book, though, I felt like I understood some portion of what it must feel like to accomplish that? To get places on only your own strength with your own body. The escape it can provide, but also the intense feelings of being with yourself and by yourself. That said, I included self-harm in the content warning, because at her darkest times, it felt like Annabelle was using running to hurt herself and hurt her body. It isn't as simple as running through pain or injury-- you get a sense that even if she doesn't know it exactly, she uses running to punish herself. Proceed with caution.
I loved grandpa, I loved her supportive friends, I love everyone she meets along the way. I loved that Annabelle talks about avoiding books and music because of the way they confront her with feelings, but how she ultimately uses books and music as part of the healing process. I LOVED that therapy was portrayed in such a positive light and that Annabelle's therapist actively helps her.
I’m sure I'm forgetting more, but the point is that I loved it. It's a beautiful portrait of grief, a stunning commentary on violence and why we let it keep happening. And ultimately, it's about resilience and how even when no one should have to survive something like this, somehow they can and somehow they do.
This is a young adult contemporary novel about a girl that decides to run from Seattle to Washington, D.C., primarily as a way to deal with her grief and guilt concerning a traumatic event she experienced not a year before. This book has content warnings for: gun violence, murder, loss of a loved one, grief, PTSD, panic attacks, and self-harm.
As I read back through reviews for this book, I notice how many people in the last two years have called it timely and necessary, and that's just the heartbreak and kicker of this book, right? That a book about gun violence in the US is always timely, and the people with the most power to change things don't. Annabelle feels so helpless and guilty and overcome with grief that one day, she just starts running. A plan forms while she runs, and her runs morph into a cause, and she relives her past trauma and tries to carve out her future.
This was heartbreakingly beautiful and will certainly be one of the best things I read this year. Caletti writes in the third person present, giving us a voice that is both intimate and able to create urgency. I felt that I was both understanding what happened to Annabelle specifically and through a lens that put larger things about misogyny and violence into context.
Part of the reason why people treat what has happened to Annabelle as a spoiler is because Caletti writes it vaguely on purpose and for most of the book. At first, I thought we were dealing with sexual assault and again, that feels purposeful. We are invited again and again to consider the role that misogyny has in gun violence. I don't know what it means to be a survivor of a shooting, but anytime Annabelle spoke about how unsafe she felt in the world, I felt that deeply. In the process of finding her voice about what happened to her, in asserting her "here" after surviving, she also has to contend with how she's been socialized-- to be nice, to be quiet, to accept everything gracefully, to worry about her safety always, to take on so much responsibility for the actions of others, to manage what some men think they are owed from women.
My best friend and I always joke because she's a runner and I DON'T GET IT. Truly, I think running is horrible and people who enjoy it are a different breed. Reading this book, though, I felt like I understood some portion of what it must feel like to accomplish that? To get places on only your own strength with your own body. The escape it can provide, but also the intense feelings of being with yourself and by yourself. That said, I included self-harm in the content warning, because at her darkest times, it felt like Annabelle was using running to hurt herself and hurt her body. It isn't as simple as running through pain or injury-- you get a sense that even if she doesn't know it exactly, she uses running to punish herself. Proceed with caution.
I loved grandpa, I loved her supportive friends, I love everyone she meets along the way. I loved that Annabelle talks about avoiding books and music because of the way they confront her with feelings, but how she ultimately uses books and music as part of the healing process. I LOVED that therapy was portrayed in such a positive light and that Annabelle's therapist actively helps her.
I’m sure I'm forgetting more, but the point is that I loved it. It's a beautiful portrait of grief, a stunning commentary on violence and why we let it keep happening. And ultimately, it's about resilience and how even when no one should have to survive something like this, somehow they can and somehow they do.
September 18, 2018
I don’t even have words for how vital and heartbreaking and inspiring this book is. This is probably one of the strongest, most well-crafted books I’ve read in such a long time. This was just incredible.
September 13, 2019
Phenomenal!!! I’m not sure why I started reading this book or how I came across it but I’m so glad I did. The writing was great, the story unique. I wasn’t expecting the “reveal” to be so brutal. A VERY good read indeed!!
April 29, 2019
Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.
“Oh, every person is a book with chapters. Some are glorious and some are dark and ugly. Every person survives something.”
“Oh, every person is a book with chapters. Some are glorious and some are dark and ugly. Every person survives something.”
April 23, 2019
If I could recommend one book to read this year, it would be this. I loved it so so much, and it will stick with me for a very long time.
Things start out a little vague but slowly picks up as we begin to learn so many things about Annabelle and her past. Due to a very traumatic experience, Annabelle decides to pursue a daunting task: running cross country from Seattle, Washington to Washington, DC. It is a five-month journey with her running from town to town, with her grandfather following her in an RV, and she meets many supporters along the way. But the reason isn’t instantaneously clear to us, the reader. All we know is that she is doing this out of many emotions: grief, guilt, remorse, and with the hope to heal.
I don’t usually gravitate toward books where, from just reading the description, sounds like a “journeying” story. But oh my god, I am so glad I did. This is so much more than journeying from point A to point B. You see, we also learn that Annabelle is trying so hard to move on from the pain created by a nameless individual called The Taker, and as she continues, mile after mile, she slowly begins to shed the feelings of guilt. She wants to make a change. She has to do something.
I also want to mention that it is addressed in the book that the type of long distance running Annabelle is doing isn’t recommended. It puts way too much stress on your body, no matter how well trained you are at long distance running. So, while it may not be truly realistic, it is mentioned several times she doesn’t push herself to run too long, and she gets lots of food/drinks via local supporters and her grandfather in their RV. Plus, her brother and friends are just THE BEST, and they plan out safe routes for her and arrange any sort of accommodations she needs.
I know I am being rather vague but I don’t want to give any hints of spoilers, because I think this book will be so much more impactful if you jump right into it. But it does deal with a lot of heavy themes such as toxic masculinity, especially how much women have to be so cautious when we are nice to someone or fear we are giving mixed signals. And also the importance of taking someone’s pleas for help seriously. Y’all, my copy of this book is so heavily tabbed because I could not relate to it more! So many times me and my friends went through similar experiences in high school (and this was back in the early 2000’s) and just seeing Annabelle go through the same things made me so angry and exhausted. It just makes me so sad this is something we still have to deal with today.
Alright, I know I wasn’t extremely detailed in my review but if I could recommend any book to read RIGHT NOW it would be this. Yes, the topics are heavy, but I promise you it is so worth it. It is a story about healing and how running not only helped heal Annabelle, but also brought a whole community, a whole nation, together.
Read further for minor spoilers and trigger warnings:
And, honestly… in light of some recent tragic news in the US in association with gun violence… I just feel this book is so important now more than ever.
Trigger warnings: Unwanted touching, stalking, gun violence, murder, PTSD.
Buddy read with Sophie!
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March 20, 2019
I'm furious. I'm heartbroken. But more than anything else, I'm so grateful that this book exists. One of the best books I've ever read. It's so important to talk about gun violence, and A Heart in a Body in the World did such an incredible job. Forever in awe of it.
April 24, 2020
Read for O.W.L.s Magical Readathon 2020, Ancient Runes: Heartrune; a book with “Heart” in the title.
5/5 stars
I’m not a book-cryer. I’m not much of a cryer of any sort to be honest, although I sometimes wish I was… It has been about 3 years since my last physical book-tears (it was A Monster Calls, for those of you curious). Until today...
It’s April 7th 2020. Life is a mess, the world is a mess, but I’m sitting in my windowsill in the late afternoon sun, clutching this book and crying the best book-tears that exist…
5/5 stars
I’m not a book-cryer. I’m not much of a cryer of any sort to be honest, although I sometimes wish I was… It has been about 3 years since my last physical book-tears (it was A Monster Calls, for those of you curious). Until today...
It’s April 7th 2020. Life is a mess, the world is a mess, but I’m sitting in my windowsill in the late afternoon sun, clutching this book and crying the best book-tears that exist…
February 15, 2020
5/5 HOLY FORKING SHIRT STARS
Instagram | review on youtube
Instagram | review on youtube
February 17, 2019
Incredible. Incredible, incredible, incredible. I don't think I'll ever be able write a review for this one.
Buddy read with Melanie from meltotheany ✨
Buddy read with Melanie from meltotheany ✨
September 4, 2018
This is one of the strongest YA contemporaries I've read in a LONG time.
Caletti's writing is lovely and accessible, but it never feels dumbed down. I think she's particularly strong at using language to convey how trauma affects Annabelle's (the MC) mental health/mental state.
This is a book examines how women and girls are so often are reduced to objects to be controlled by another. I was incredibly impressed with how Caletti dives into the nuances of this. When girls are ceaselessly conditioned to derive value in relation to the male gaze, what happens when that becomes internalized? Caletti digs into the vulnerability of wanting to feel pretty, to be perceived as desirable, and how that DOES NOT mean you are inviting toxic behavior, despite the fact that society always tells us otherwise.
The use of extreme distance running as a reclamation of agency is just so well done. I loved Annabelle, loved her family, her friends, the people she meets on the road. All of it.
I can imagine some people might be frustrated by the fact that we don't learn what happened to cause Annabelle this much pain. But by prioritizing the effects that an act of violence had on Annabelle, on her friends and family, rather than prioritizing the act itself, Caletti avoids sensationalizing it. If you really want to know what happened, it's not that hard to look up. But I would recommend going in without doing so.
Cannot recommend this enough.
Caletti's writing is lovely and accessible, but it never feels dumbed down. I think she's particularly strong at using language to convey how trauma affects Annabelle's (the MC) mental health/mental state.
This is a book examines how women and girls are so often are reduced to objects to be controlled by another. I was incredibly impressed with how Caletti dives into the nuances of this. When girls are ceaselessly conditioned to derive value in relation to the male gaze, what happens when that becomes internalized? Caletti digs into the vulnerability of wanting to feel pretty, to be perceived as desirable, and how that DOES NOT mean you are inviting toxic behavior, despite the fact that society always tells us otherwise.
The use of extreme distance running as a reclamation of agency is just so well done. I loved Annabelle, loved her family, her friends, the people she meets on the road. All of it.
I can imagine some people might be frustrated by the fact that we don't learn what happened to cause Annabelle this much pain. But by prioritizing the effects that an act of violence had on Annabelle, on her friends and family, rather than prioritizing the act itself, Caletti avoids sensationalizing it. If you really want to know what happened, it's not that hard to look up. But I would recommend going in without doing so.
Cannot recommend this enough.
December 15, 2018
This is a devastating book that I want to give to every young girl who has experienced any kind of violence because of their gender. I love how layered this is, how it has audience-appropriate use of metaphors and motifs, how it understands that it didn't need to make the protagonist "not like other girls" or heap a bunch of side issues onto her (she really had plenty to deal with as it was), how it is a book about a teen girl navigating her own sexual & political power, how it deals with family... just all of it. Absolutely loved this & want everyone to read
September 22, 2018
Annabelle was running away from her problems, literally running away from the issues that bothers her. So she sets foot to Washington D.C. despite the pain on her heels. It had been heavily emphasized that running was a great distraction for Annabelle. While reading this book, I wasn't sure what she had been talking about because Annabelle was thinking about many different things. The author didn't reveal what the premise referred to as the "tragedy" so the reader had to stick till the end for the reveal. Hence, it was difficult to gauge what this book was essentially about besides running long distance for distraction.
In a way, I wasn't sure how running helped Annabelle except to get her mind off the things that had been bothering her. I thought that counseling would've greatly helped her a lot more than running to Washington DC. This could also mean that I did not connect with this book as much as I wanted to. Most of the time, I get the urge to skim the pages because it felt like nothing was happening. The novel's pacing was slow and other times I felt that I couldn't see the "big picture" or what I thought I should be getting out of this story. Even if this had been the case, relatable topics had been addressed in this novel.
There seemed to be a gap/bridge/disconnect between the mc and its reader. I felt that I was supposed to connect with the main character especially when the topic/s addressed in this novel were meant to pull one's heartstrings (or it was supposed to be relatable). The problem was that the narrative style or prose wasn't my cup of tea. The writing was in third person but it was as if the narrator was speaking to the reader. I thought it seemed unnatural and the timeline was kind of choppy. Also, the flashbacks were in the same page (or chapter) with the present story timeline. It's a shame because I liked the premise of this book, however this book just wasn't for me.
***Huge thanks to the publisher and Rockstar Book Tours for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In a way, I wasn't sure how running helped Annabelle except to get her mind off the things that had been bothering her. I thought that counseling would've greatly helped her a lot more than running to Washington DC. This could also mean that I did not connect with this book as much as I wanted to. Most of the time, I get the urge to skim the pages because it felt like nothing was happening. The novel's pacing was slow and other times I felt that I couldn't see the "big picture" or what I thought I should be getting out of this story. Even if this had been the case, relatable topics had been addressed in this novel.
There seemed to be a gap/bridge/disconnect between the mc and its reader. I felt that I was supposed to connect with the main character especially when the topic/s addressed in this novel were meant to pull one's heartstrings (or it was supposed to be relatable). The problem was that the narrative style or prose wasn't my cup of tea. The writing was in third person but it was as if the narrator was speaking to the reader. I thought it seemed unnatural and the timeline was kind of choppy. Also, the flashbacks were in the same page (or chapter) with the present story timeline. It's a shame because I liked the premise of this book, however this book just wasn't for me.
***Huge thanks to the publisher and Rockstar Book Tours for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
October 27, 2018An all-too-timely feminist YA novel about the ways toxic masculinity harms each and every one of us. Annabelle has been victim of . To clear her head and try to do something, she begins to run. And suddenly, she decides her goal is to run from Seattle to Washington, DC. She has no real plan but knows this is deeply what she needs and what she wants.
Along the way, Annabelle connects deeply with her grandfather, who follows along in an RV. She connects deeply with the country and the people populating it. There's a fantastic scene in Marengo, Illinois, just minutes from where I live, and the love and heart there was so palpable.
This is a tough-to-read book because it's too real. Caletti populates the book with such authentic, well-rounded characters, even the smallest ones throughout. It's a book that girls today will relate to deeply and intensely. They shouldn't have to.
As much as this is a book about tough things and real life and how awful the world is, it's also a book complete with hope and humanity.
I just attended a Florence and the Machine concert, and one of the things Florence said during the show was that hope is an action. I couldn't stop thinking about that line throughout this. Annabelle takes action on a physical, spiritual, and mental level. But her actions, as small as she feels they are (she doesn't think her run is a big deal or anything special), have this massive ripple effect on the world around her. She takes back her power.
A great look at mental health, too, including anxiety and PTSD. There is no resolution. There is only working your way through, day by day.
Along the way, Annabelle connects deeply with her grandfather, who follows along in an RV. She connects deeply with the country and the people populating it. There's a fantastic scene in Marengo, Illinois, just minutes from where I live, and the love and heart there was so palpable.
This is a tough-to-read book because it's too real. Caletti populates the book with such authentic, well-rounded characters, even the smallest ones throughout. It's a book that girls today will relate to deeply and intensely. They shouldn't have to.
As much as this is a book about tough things and real life and how awful the world is, it's also a book complete with hope and humanity.
I just attended a Florence and the Machine concert, and one of the things Florence said during the show was that hope is an action. I couldn't stop thinking about that line throughout this. Annabelle takes action on a physical, spiritual, and mental level. But her actions, as small as she feels they are (she doesn't think her run is a big deal or anything special), have this massive ripple effect on the world around her. She takes back her power.
A great look at mental health, too, including anxiety and PTSD. There is no resolution. There is only working your way through, day by day.
September 20, 2018
If you need me, I’ll be over here in a puddle for the rest of eternity.
August 11, 2022
4.5 stars
AH no words, this was so uplifting and inspiring, def recommend but check triggers first!
Only thing is that it was a little slow at times but for the most part it was like BEING Annabelle and feeling and seeing her journey. So emotional and I loved it sm <3
AH no words, this was so uplifting and inspiring, def recommend but check triggers first!
Only thing is that it was a little slow at times but for the most part it was like BEING Annabelle and feeling and seeing her journey. So emotional and I loved it sm <3
March 15, 2019
I read this and devoured it in one sitting, and I’m wrecked y’all 😭
“𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚛 𝚞𝚙 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚔, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘, 𝚝𝚘𝚘.”
.
.
Oh this book was so good! I can’t give away too much without revealing spoilers, but Annabelle Agnelli is trying to deal with the aftermath of something that has happened. She doesn’t even think before she takes off and starts running. From Seattle to Washington D.C, Annabelle just wants to feel her muscles burning and her heart pumping. She’s not ready to think about the “why” just yet. This book holds so much emotion. I laughed out loud with her hilarious Italian grandfather, who I adored. I cried, and I’m still left with so much emotion from it, even today. I guess you could say I have a bad case of book hangover. This book is just that good and it’s a book for everyone. .
“𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚛 𝚞𝚙 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚔, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘, 𝚝𝚘𝚘.”
.
.
Oh this book was so good! I can’t give away too much without revealing spoilers, but Annabelle Agnelli is trying to deal with the aftermath of something that has happened. She doesn’t even think before she takes off and starts running. From Seattle to Washington D.C, Annabelle just wants to feel her muscles burning and her heart pumping. She’s not ready to think about the “why” just yet. This book holds so much emotion. I laughed out loud with her hilarious Italian grandfather, who I adored. I cried, and I’m still left with so much emotion from it, even today. I guess you could say I have a bad case of book hangover. This book is just that good and it’s a book for everyone. .
January 31, 2019
The thing about this book is that it's hard. It's emotional and dark and it left me feeling raw. But it's also important. And it's necessary. And I think that what this book is doing and saying is what we need to be hearing right now. It's not an easy read by any means. But it's so so so necessary and I can't recommend it highly enough.
It's hard for me to talk about even think about this book because it gave me a lot of anxiety. I had to read it in short bursts because long periods of reading really stressed me out. But I'd give it 6 stars if I could because I think it's just that good. Not only in the ways it's written or the themes it portrays, but just in how it affected me and how it made me think and feel.
This isn't a coherent review and it's not going to be a coherent review ever because I don't think I can officially write one. All I can say is that everyone needs to go and pick this book up. Because if and when you do, you absolutely will not regret it.
It's hard for me to talk about even think about this book because it gave me a lot of anxiety. I had to read it in short bursts because long periods of reading really stressed me out. But I'd give it 6 stars if I could because I think it's just that good. Not only in the ways it's written or the themes it portrays, but just in how it affected me and how it made me think and feel.
This isn't a coherent review and it's not going to be a coherent review ever because I don't think I can officially write one. All I can say is that everyone needs to go and pick this book up. Because if and when you do, you absolutely will not regret it.
November 29, 2018
You never know what a day will bring, which is both the good news and bad news of life. She has decided to keep going, as anyone could tell by her closed eyes and calm expression. She realizes that all big decisions are ones that must be decided and decided again.
She imagines that when you fall in love, you must decide to be in love a million times or more. When you are a human being, you must decide and decide again to go forward. You must, or you don’t move from the worst that life offers. Crawl, walk, or run: forward.
Annabelle loves calm plus sense, because in her life, that is like a rare desert flower that blossoms only once a year.
“I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do.”
Only the zebra fish, though, can do the truly necessary thing: if his heart is broken or damaged or destroyed, he can grow a new one. Deer cannot. Humans cannot.
Your only job—and it’s a big one—is to try to speak and live your own honest truth. That truth might shift. You might need more to even understand what that truth is. That’s it. That’s the job. Trying to manage or control everyone else? Not the job. Impossible, besides.
She imagines that when you fall in love, you must decide to be in love a million times or more. When you are a human being, you must decide and decide again to go forward. You must, or you don’t move from the worst that life offers. Crawl, walk, or run: forward.
Annabelle loves calm plus sense, because in her life, that is like a rare desert flower that blossoms only once a year.
“I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do.”
Only the zebra fish, though, can do the truly necessary thing: if his heart is broken or damaged or destroyed, he can grow a new one. Deer cannot. Humans cannot.
Your only job—and it’s a big one—is to try to speak and live your own honest truth. That truth might shift. You might need more to even understand what that truth is. That’s it. That’s the job. Trying to manage or control everyone else? Not the job. Impossible, besides.
April 17, 2019
OUTSTANDING YA. A perfect fit for teens and adults alike, and while it tackles incredibly hard topics, there is only one graphic scene (aftermath of violent crime). I adored the running journey and was turning pages as fast as I could to figure out what actually happened with the Taker. If you read this book, PLEASE make sure not to read any spoiler reviews first.
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