Review: Never Eighteen
Jan •
14 •
2012
Title: Never Eighteen
Series: No
Genre: Young Adult- Contemporary
Author: Megan Bostic
Publisher: HMH Children’s Books
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Book: Netgalley
“Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.”
Tears were falling down my face as I read this book. I loved the whole concept of it. It gave my heart and eyes a whole new outlook on life. That we only have one life to live. And its not who you know or what you done. It’s how you lived it.
If you have just a few months to live what would you do? I find myself asking this question and the first thing that always comes in to my mind is forgiveness. I would make amends with everyone I wronged. I would do my best to set things right again, no matter what the cost. Austin did just that. With a few months left, Austin sets out to make things right. His journey of his life and what went wrong in it, Austin just wants everything to be okay for when he leaves.
Now, the people Austin visited all struggled in life themselves. He ask small favors to call the person, or just to say I’m sorry. Austin’s courageous visit to each person set my heart on path that I never been on. Watching Austin used his last days to help others is simple amazing. Austin has come to terms with what is happening in his body and to see how selfless he is in his actions made me fall in love with him.
And now the part that really made the water works flow. All this time, Austin has been in love. He has loved her from afar and never said a word. What Austins leaves behind is so much more than a memory but a legacy. Austin himself changes everyone’s point of view and to see them come around because of what Austin did made my heart cry out. The final letter that Austin left not only made me cry harder, but had me laughing and smiling. By the end of the book, I knew Austin. To see him go with his last wishes will only be right for him.
Such an amazing and compelling story, Ms. Bostic’s writing leaves no eyes dry. At the end of the book, with Austin’s last line, I knew what I had to do. Open the book again and start from page one.
I give it 5 BITES!
Happy Reading!
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Wow this sounds emotional! I just noticed this book last week while doing my new release post. I want to read it but I feel like I’ll have to be ready for it!
Giselle
Xpresso Reads
It was. I never cried so much! Seriously, the letter. It made me laugh and cry 🙂
I have wanted to read this book from the first time I read a small blurb about it, I love your review too! It makes me want to read it even more! Sometimes I just need a book that’s going to give me a good cry and appreciate all that I have in life and this sounds like it could be that type of book!
Jac, I hope you read it. It really put things in a whole new perspective for me.
WOW it does sounds like an emotional read but definitely one well-worth reading. Can’t wait to read it. Great review.
So emotional! Read it 🙂
Sounds like a moving book….but I do not wanna cry….alas…seems like I need to read it anyway.
I tired not to cry but the emotions got me. I hope you do get to read it!
This does sound emotional but one that I would really enjoy! Thanks for the awesome review!
Shellie, every emotional but so good!