WILD AWAKE by Hilary T. Smith
Publication Date: May 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Summary:
Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:
1. You will remember to water the azaleas.
2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.
3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.
4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.
5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.
Things that actually happen:
1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.
2. He says he has her stuff.
3. What stuff? Her stuff.
4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—
5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—
6. You pick up a pen.
7. You scribble down the address.
8. You get on your bike and go.
9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*
*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.
Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.
Review:
This book was a riveting emotional journey from page one! Kiri Byrd is an exceptional character in that she is honestly flawed. She’s confused about life and love and determined to find answers. She has a tormented relationship with her best friend/bandmate/boyfriend and a distant relationship with her parents and brother. Essentially, Kiri is alone. Her sister died years before and Kiri is haunted by questions surrounding her sister’s death.
We meet Kiri just as she is about to embark on an extended period of alone time. Her parents are on vacation and have left her alone (questionable decision by parents of a teen, right?) and she is determined to make Lukas see her as perfect girlfriend material. I love that Smith doesn’t slow the story down by spending too much time focusing on unrequited love. Instead, she picks Kiri up and throws her into a new world of artists, druggies, freaks, and poets. In this new world, Kiri makes discoveries about her sister that change her perception of life. She also meets someone who challenges everything she has ever believed and opens her eyes to love and fear, mistakes and courage.
I really loved the fact that this was such a strong story of self-discovery. It was confusing and complicated and sometimes you felt lost with all that was going on in Kiri’s world, but that made it feel more honest than any other book I’ve read about this particular stage in life. Hands down, a great read!
