I really wanted to like this book way more than I actually did. I could see the potential there: Kelly Loy Gilbert is a talented writer, Danny is a relatable and sympathetic narrator, the storyline about the sister was terrible and shocking. However, there was too much going on here to really feel the impact: the mystery with Danny's parents, what happened to Sandra, the relationship with Harry, the mystery of the sister, Danny's struggle with his art, etc. Any one of these (or even a couple) could've been a powerful storyline, but they all got overwhelmed in the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink soup.
The one thing that really did shock me was the ending - what Danny's parents did to him - I actually said out loud: "What the f*@k?!" And then the epilogue, where it seems like Danny isn't bothered in the slightest? What the f*@k, indeed. It was a strange ending to an overly ambitious YA book.
The one thing that really did shock me was the ending - what Danny's parents did to him - I actually said out loud: "What the f*@k?!" And then the epilogue, where it seems like Danny isn't bothered in the slightest? What the f*@k, indeed. It was a strange ending to an overly ambitious YA book.