Monday, February 22, 2010

Enchanting Review: Chasing Brooklyn

CHASING BROOKLYN
LISA SCHROEDER
YA contemporary
Simon Pulse
ISBN# 9781416991687
412 pages
$15.99
Hardback—Available Now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Brooklyn’s life comes crashing to a halt after her boyfriend Lucca’s death. It’s been a year now. Lucca’s friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. His ghost haunts her dreams. She doesn’t know what Gabe wants and why he’s bothering her. She can’t sleep.

Nico is Lucca’s brother. His way of dealing with Lucca’s death is by running. Then one day he finds a note telling him to help Brooklyn. He feels that Lucca is haunting him. Even worse, he doesn’t know how to help Brooklyn considering he hasn’t seen her in the year since Lucca’s death.

Brooklyn’s nightmares escalate. So do the notes to Nico. Nico decides to reach out, not knowing what to say to his brother’s girlfriend. Both are being haunted but struggle with telling each other. But until they can trust again, neither Gabe nor Lucca can rest in peace.

I loved this novel! Yes, this story deals with spirits but it doesn’t read like any other paranormal novel out there. Schroeder nailed it right on the dot on what a loved one feels after the tragic death of a loved one. I loved how she was able to weave back and forth two points of view effortlessly. Both voices are unique in showing how Lucca’s death has affected them and how at first they avoid coming to grips with their feelings. Powerful and strong, this novel sweeps the reader into not only the tragic sense of loss but how two individuals are able to reach out to each other.

The free verse in this novel has its own special beauty too. Each beat resonates with the reader on how painful it is to lose someone you love. Schroeder digs deep and shows a range of emotions that come from loss. But it doesn’t stop there. The book also shows how faith and trust can be a healing balm.

A must read for Schroeder fans.

Lisa Schroeder is the author of I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME and FAR FROM YOU. Lisa lives in Oregon with her husband and two sons. Read more on her at her website LisaSchroederBooks.com

Kim Baccellia
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
January 2010

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