Sunday, July 4, 2010

Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams





Summary:

In one moment
it is over.

In one moment

it is gone.

The morning grows

thin, grey

and our lives-

how they were-

have vanished.

Our lives have

changed

when I walk in

on Lizzie

my sister

holding a shotgun.

Twelve year old girl Hope's life is turned upside down when her older sister Lizzie becomes an elective mute and is institutionalized after trying to kill herself. Ever since their dad died Hope and Lizzie have relied on each other from a young age. Their mother is a reluctant and unreliable parent at best, who turns tricks to support the family. Throughout the course of this lyrical and heartbreaking narrative readers and Hope discover that the mother is prostituting Lizzie and it's up to Hope to bring the truth to light to save her sister.


My Review: Glimpse will not only take your breath away, it'll amazed you in so many ways. I've only read a handful of novels in verse (Burned by Ellen Hopkins, Identical by Ellen Hopkins, I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder.). And Glimpse is one of my top favorites.

I was proud to have read her other wonderful novel, The Chosen One, so I knew I had to read this. At first I wasn't sure I would get into it, but after a few pages I was hooked. Because it was written in verse it didn't take long to finish. But either way it was a very enjoyable read. The descriptions were thrillingly clear, each character seemed so alive, and the suspense was incredibly intense. I pretty much knew what the big secret in the end was, but every few moments I doubted my guess and continued on to learn the truth.

I loved everything about Glimpse. There wasn't one thing that turned the whole thing off for me. Not one. To me, it was beautifully written, and frighteningly real. Glimpse will have you sitting on the edge of your seat till the moment you finish reading the last word.

I'm glad to say that, Carol Lynch Williams exceeded all my expectations.

Rating: 10
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing: 10
Originality: 9


Final Rating:



Details:
Published: June 22nd 2010 by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Pages: 496
Author's Website: http://www.carollynchwilliams.com/

1 comment:

  1. From the moment I saw the cover and read the synopsis, I've been wanting to read this. Thanks for the wonderful review! I'm surprised to hear it's written in verse, but it'll make for a unique read, that's for sure.

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