How To Save A Life

Summary:

"Jill MacSweeney just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she’s been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends—everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she’s somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.
Mandy Kalinowski understands what it’s like to grow up unwanted—to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she’s sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It’s harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?
As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy—or as difficult—as it seems."

Plot: Told from two teenage girls perspectives we meet Jill, an angsty grunge teen who just lost her father and  quirky,naive Mandy who is pregnant and giving the baby to Jill's Mom. The book has pretty much the typical plot lines of a book with this scenario, minus the ending which seems to come out of left field.

Characters: I felt really none of the characters really grew. I believe Jill's reaction was the most reasonable and she acted exactly how I would have acted. Robin, is just a grieving wife, who makes decisions on a whim and Mandy annoyed the eff out of me. It was almost like she had a disability and had see had one (at least acknowledged in the story) I may have been more sympathetic to her severe naivety and lack of social cues. Then they is Dylan and Rav who are suppose to be the love interests... but really they are just there, nothing overly special or swoonworthy about them

Pros: Not a bad read, has enjoyable moments.

Cons: Lacking in some areas of the story line.

Final Thoughts: When I began reading How To Save A Life, I was interested by where the story was going, then it started to plateau, had a moment of redemption and then threw you a curveball of an ending, that overall left me unhappy. I can't say exactly what it was about this book that I did like.. cause There were moments it was enjoyable, but in general I found that it didn't live up to its title really. With Mandy, there was SO much going on in her past life, that really never got overly explained or resolved. And personally, I think Jill and Her's relationship never felt solid enough for Jill to change her initial opinion and I just got the friend vibe from both boys. So, what I am saying is I just wanted MORE and I didn't get that and I feel that is a common theme in the books I have read lately.