Publisher:
Margaret
K. McElderry Books
Genre:
Young
Adult
Pages:
431
Publication
Date: April, 2006
Rating:
5/5
Summary
(From Goodreads):
“It all started
with a dream. Nothing exceptional, just a typical fantasy about a boy, the kind
of dream that most teen girls experience. But Pattyn Von Stratten is not like
most teen girls. Raised in a religious -- yet abusive -- family, a simple dream
may not be exactly a sin, but it could be the first step toward hell and
eternal damnation.
This dream is a first
step for Pattyn. But is it to hell or to a better life? For the first time
Pattyn starts asking questions. Questions seemingly without answers -- about
God, a woman's role, sex, love -- mostly love. What is it? Where is it? Will
she ever experience it? Is she deserving of it?
It's with a real boy that
Pattyn gets into real trouble. After Pattyn's father catches her in a
compromising position, events spiral out of control until Pattyn ends up
suspended from school and sent to live with an aunt she doesn't know.
Pattyn is supposed to
find salvation and redemption during her exile to the wilds of rural Nevada.
Yet what she finds instead is love and acceptance. And for the first time she
feels worthy of both -- until she realizes her old demons will not let her go.
Pattyn begins down a path that will lead her to a hell -- a hell that may not
be the one she learned about in sacrament meetings, but it is hell all the
same.”
Pros:
· The
format was really unique! I had seen Ellen Hopkins’ books before and had
assumed that it was written in some difficult poem format. That assumption was
completely untrue.
· It
was an interesting premise to see a focus on Mormons. It seems to be an
uncommon religion in popular books.
· The
plot itself was amazing!
Cons:
· I
was not a fan of the open ending; however, I can fill in the pieces by reading
the summary of the next book in the series.
Final
Thoughts:
I wish I had picked up one of Ellen Hopkins’ books
earlier! I really loved this book’s plot and format. I will definitely be
buying more of them.
