The Opposite of Hallelujah

by Anna Jarzab

Caro Mitchell considers herself an only child — and she likes it that way. After all, her much older sister, Hannah, left home eight years ago, and Caro barely remembers her. So when Caro’s parents drop the bombshell news that Hannah is returning to live with them, Caro feels as if an interloper is crashing her family. To her, Hannah’s a total stranger, someone who haunts their home with her meek and withdrawn presence, and who refuses to talk about her life and why she went away. Caro can’t understand why her parents cut her sister so much slack, and why they’re not pushing for answers.

Unable to understand Hannah, Caro resorts to telling lies about her mysterious reappearance. But when those lies alienate Caro’s new boyfriend and put her on the outs with her friends and her parents, she seeks solace from an unexpected source. And when she unearths a clue about Hannah’s past — one that could save Hannah from the dark secret that possesses her — Caro begins to see her sister in a whole new light.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Religion, Family

452 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2012

About the author

Anna Jarzab is the author of All Unquiet Things, The Opposite of Hallelujah, Tandem, Tether, Red Dirt, and Breath Like Water. She lives in New York City and works in children's book publishing. Visit her online at www.annajarzab.com and connect with her on Twitter and Instagram @ajarzab.

Reviews

[Reynje · Rating 4 out of 5]

But sister, it's the opposite of hallelujah
It's the opposite of being you
You don't know 'cause it just passes right through you
You don't know what I'm going through

So goes the title track of Jens Leckman’s 2005 EP, The Opposite of Hallelujah. It’s also one of two epigraphs that appear in Anna Jarzab’s sophomore novel, which shares the name. The song is deceptively upbeat, almost perky, yet the lyrics beautifully fit Jarzab’s contemplative and sincere novel about faith, grief and familial relationships.

Unfortunately, my copy of The Opposite of Hallelujah had been left to languish on a stack of books I routinely pass over, mostly because my interest in reading it had waned due to my fairly lukewarm reaction to All Unquiet Things. Then Kelly’s thoughtful review over at Stacked prompted me to pick it up, which feels serendipitous in hindsight because (and I realise this is a big call to make in January) this may well be one of my favourite books of the year.

This is a story about a teenage girl who’s sister returns home from a convent after eight years. Caro barely remembers her older sister living at the family home (there’s an eleven year age difference) and reacts with unsurprising apathy towards Hannah’s return. Virtually strangers now, Hannah’s vocation has been a source of confusion to Caro, and it’s compounded by Hannah’s unwillingness to explain why she has left the convent. When it becomes evident that Hannah is not coping and Caro begins to uncover a long buried secret, relationships are tested and Caro is compelled to address her own doubts about faith and religious belief.

Granted, a book that deals substantially with questions of God, the universe and redemption is not everyone’s cup of tea, yet never did I feel that Jarzab’s novel was heavy-handed or didactic. The themes are complex yet well-explored, handled accessibly through Caro’s sharp and authentic voice. As a counter-balance to Hannah, who was a deeply religious child with an apparently natural inclination to piety, Caro is agnostic and favours a scientific approach to questions and reasoning. She has complicated feelings towards Hannah’s belief in her vocation, which results in her poor handling direct questions about her sister, to the point of effectively denying her existence.

The Opposite of Hallelujah is a well written book; Jarzab’s confident and eloquent prose lends the novel a literary feel, while the realistic rendering of Caro’s voice serves as an effective medium for the profound subject matter. Caro’s characterisation is authentic and relatable: she’s sixteen, argues with her parents, behaves selfishly at times. While she’s a sympathetic character with a lot to deal with, Jarzab allows Caro to be flawed and make mistakes, to act insensitively. Jarzab’s dedication to portraying Caro as a realistic teen, and choosing to tell this story through the lens of Caro’s limited life-experience, makes for a strong arc in her character development. Caro’s progression throughout the novel is entirely believable, as she moves from a place of disinterest in her sister to an desire to understand and try to alleviate her pain.

That relationship between Hannah and Caro is the crux of the novel: it’s a complicated and tense dynamic, frustrated by prolonged absence and wide disparity in viewpoints. Compounded by the fact that Hannah won’t talk about her sudden homecoming, and their parent’s well-meaning attempts to allow Hannah to adjust on her own terms without talking about anything, this relationship (or initial lack thereof) is the catalyst for Caro beginning to question her own belief system, and her subsequent emotional growth. On the other hand, Hannah’s descent into illness (physically, mentally and arguably spiritually) is depicted with painful honesty. While the reader experiences Hannah’s anguish secondhand through Caro, this makes it no less compelling, and Jarzab manages to convey her internal suffering both insightfully and powerfully – regardless of whether the reader can relate to her emotions.

Interestingly, while it appears on the surface of things that this novel is about the conflict between science and spirituality, it’s actually more about their coexistence, and the way we internalise and deal with grief through various means. Jarzab subtly explores this idea through her use of art and science in the story, referencing the works of graphic artist M C Escher and noted cleric-scientists (Nicolaus Copernicus, Gregor Mendel etc). Framing much of this information in the context of conversations between Caro and Father Bob, a priest she is acquainted with, Jarzab allows Caro to express and explore her doubts and issues with the concepts of guilt, forgiveness and faith. Art is also used as a point of connection between Hannah and Caro, a tentatively extended invitation to rebuild their relationship.

Similarly, Jarzab uses Caro’s interest and academic performance in science to investigate the idea of creation as a therapeutic act. Compelled to participate in a science fair, Caro – for complicated reasons – takes on an advanced project, one that pushes her beyond her realm of knowledge. This portrayal of Caro as a logical, driven young woman with a desire to succeed at what she sets out to do speaks to her characterisation throughout the story as a whole. While she is occasionally perceived as acting out, the petulant little sister, Caro is also a person with a great deal of determination, using what coping mechanisms she has to work through her difficult situation.

The Opposite of Hallelujah’s supporting characters are strong and fully-realised, fleshing out the novel and Caro’s internal journey. Jarzab presents a refreshingly frank parent/child dynamic that develops as Caro herself matures and grows emotionally. Her relationship with her parents is pivotal in the story, and it’s especially pleasing to read two characters that have clearly distinct personalities, flaws and voices. It’s this attention to detail and careful construction of the secondary cast that give the novel a feeling of authenticity; they exist as part of the novel, rather than mere plot devices. There’s also a very nuanced portrayal of female friendship in the triumvirate of Caro, Reb and Erin. I particularly enjoyed the fact that while the girls were very different with a delicate balance of trust, and despite the natural tensions that emerged from time to time, it was a healthy and supportive network. And yes, there’s romance too. Jarzab handles this subplot well, it’s sweet and realistic and the complications are entirely believable as opposed to manufactured angst for the sake of drama. There’s a very cute moment with some Rube Goldberg machines (yes, really) which builds on the continued physics/science motif used throughout the novel.

This is a solid contemporary novel with considerable depth of subject matter, without being overwhelmingly heavy in its execution. Definitely recommended if you’re looking for a well-written and balanced exploration of grief and faith from a slightly unusual angle.

I still never told you about unstoppable sorrow
You still think I'm someone to look up to
I still don't know anything about you
Is it in you too?

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously I think this book is amazing because I wrote it, but it's not like you're looking to me for an objective opinion about it or anything. Five stars!

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into The Opposite of Hallelujah, I had mildly high expectations, knowing that my friend Katie of Blook Girl loved it. Still, I wasn't so sure about the subject matter, and just really didn't know that much about it, since I pretty scrupulously avoid reviews of books I plan to read, even from my favorite reviewers. Katie was completely right about this book. The Opposite of Hallelujah gave me so many feels: sadness, awkwardness, hope, and fangirling happiness.

My very favorite thing about The Opposite of Hallelujah, what makes it stand out so incredibly fresh and original to me, is that it centers around a family. Yes, there's romance and school and all of that, but Caro's relationship with her family members comes first, primarily that with her much older sister Hannah. Caro scarcely knew Hannah (eleven years her senior) when she went away to live in a convent when Caro was just eight years old. Caro didn't know how to deal with this, what it all meant, so she simplified things and told people her sister was dead. This came out, as such things tend to, earning Caro the nickname "Caroliar," which also gave Caro another grudge to hold against her sister, added to the sense of abandonment she already felt.

Fast forward a few years to the summer before Caro's junior year of high school. News comes to the Mitchell family that Hannah is coming home from the convent. Caro's parents, who have missed their daughter and been deeply hurt that she left them, even for a vocation, are thrilled to have her back. Caro, on the other hand, wishes Hannah, and the whole big, confusing, mess of resulting emotions had never come back.

That sounds mean, but Caro doesn't know this woman who appears off the train. Caro feels like an only child, and she doesn't appreciate her parents' orders that she behave a certain way to Hannah. Honestly, Caro does not feel that Hannah deserves to be so easily accepted back into the family, since she abandoned them so utterly. Immediately, Caro falls back into her old pattern, lying to people at school about her sister. She does not even tell her best friends or boyfriend that Hannah's back from the convent. Later, when it's outed that Hannah is back, she lies about where Hannah was.

When I first started reading, I was momentarily put off by the writing (not personally my favorite style) and the formatting (obnoxiously large font to make the book seem longer than it is), but I soon stopped noticing or caring about any of that, because Caro's character is so powerful. She has such a strong, authentic teen voice. All of the stupid things she does make a messed up sort of sense, because you're seeing through her eyes and you know how her mind works. Besides, aside from the lying, she's such a funny, clever, strong-spirited girl that you just root for her so hard to work through her issues.

The Mitchell family feels so much like a real family: they have awkward moments, they fight, they love. It's just so beautiful, and so rarely depicted in young adult fiction, because so much of it needs the heroine to be accomplishing some gargantuan feat, not living through daily life. Her parents love both of them so much. They make mistakes, of course, because that's what parents do, but they're always there to help or to punish as needed. Jarzab includes some very typical parent-child fights that totally had me flashing back to my teen years.

At the beginning of the book, Caro has a boyfriend (or, at least, she thinks that's what he is), Derek, who has been gone at camp. When he gets back, he doesn't call, and she does what any self-respecting girl would do: freaks out and calls her best friends for advice. Reb and Erin agree: this is bad news, and that she should probably dump him before he dumps her. She decides to do that, and goes to his house, where he beats her to the draw. I share this to illustrate how high school and realistically awkward it is. There are so many scenes that struck a perfect chord.

Anyway, stupid Derek dumping her cleared the way for a wonderful, adorable guy. Pawel is, stereotypically, the new guy at school. Yes, I rolled my eyes at this, but he's so damn adorable, that I got over that really quickly. For one thing, he's Polish and has an impossible to pronounce name (Caro's friends just call him Polish), and, for another, he is one of the most sweet, caring guys I've encountered in YA. He and Caro have an immediate connection, but don't declare it right off the bat. You guys, I totally said awwwww out loud so many times reading about them.

Another well-drawn character is that of Pastor Bob. Religion is, obviously, a huge theme in this book, what with Hannah's return from a convent and everything. I can be a bit touchy about this subject, but it was handled marvelously here. Pastor Bob does not force anything on anyone, and he's a genuinely caring, helpful guy. The discussions of religion are more theological than specifically Christian in nature. He and Caro develop a real friendship that I found very touching.

This review is approaching epic proportions, so I'll wrap things up. In short, if you are a reader who bemoans the lack of real family interaction in YA, you should probably get your hands on it right now. Anna Jarzab has just joined my list of authors whose books I must stalk.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rarely say this, but after 450 pages of this book, I actually wanted about 100 or 150 more. Jarzab's story had me hooked and her writing was well-paced and engaging but there were a few things that felt like they could have used a little more development to take this from a good book to a great book.

Also, this is one of the most misleading book descriptions I've read in a long time.

Caro has pretended her sister doesn't exist for 12 years. She never mentions Hannah because the one time she did, way back in elementary school, it was to mention that she was dead (she's not) and it got her in huge trouble at home. Caro's sister is actually at a convent because she wants to be a nun. I don't know if this is even a spoiler, but the book's description would lead readers to believe Hannah's gone on some mysterious reason. She's not. We know almost immediately where she is. The mystery is WHY she's chosen that life, but the only reason that's even a mystery is because Caro makes it a much bigger deal than it is. Fast forward to today and Hannah's decided to come home. Caro hasn't seen her in a few years, by choice, but even she can see that Hannah is changed. She's quiet, isolating, and she looks terrible.

But enough about Hannah. There's also the hot transfer student who comes to Caro's school, Pawal, and of course he's interested in her. Usually this is where I get annoyed, but I didn't mind their relationship nor the romance in this story as much as I thought I would. He's a total plot device, since it's the way in which Caro has to reveal the truth about her sister (after an oops moment at dinner with her parents and Pawal). The thing is, he is a NECESSARY part of Caro coming to grips with herself, and the romance itself isn't instantaneous but something that has to be worked toward. It was refreshing.

This is an interesting story about grief, in that it's at once an exploration of Hannah's grief and portrait of her grieving process that is in a way in our face and also really far removed from the reader because of how far removed it is from Caro. It's also a story about Caro's coming to terms with a bit of grief, too, but in a much different way. Maybe one of the more interesting things about the story was how insistent all of the characters were that Caro was selfish and self-involved. As a reader, I sympathized with her pretty hard because I didn't think she was this at all -- she was grieving a lot in her life, too. She was losing the peace she had in being who she was in the family, and she was losing the sense of closure she'd had in having her sister not living with her. Caro was grieving the stability that she'd come to find over the last 12 years. She then has to come to terms with her feelings on faith and God and religion, and while they're not a part of her grieving process per se, these are huge things to contemplate, let alone have to confront head on and so quickly. Caro's flawed, definitely, and she acts impulsively on more than one occasion, but I didn't see it as anything more than DEALING with stuff.

So I found the faith/religious aspect of the story to have been a little under developed, when it could have gone even harder. For all that Caro was hiding in terms of her sister's decision to attend a convent, I thought this was going to be a much bigger deal in the story than it ended up being. But more than that, I felt like because so much of this story was second-hand -- we are getting Hannah's story via Caro, rather than Caro's own story -- there'd be more on the part of Caro confronting this. And she does, but it wasn't as powerful nor as full of impact as I'd hoped. What her sister did in choosing to pack away the grief of being witness to her friend dying so young through following God was huge. It was a huge, huge thing. But instead of delving into that topic more, Caro's story spends more time unraveling the mystery of Hannah's friend's death. So really, the biggest challenge for me was that this book was much more about Hannah than it was about Caro. And I found myself much more interested in Hannah than in Caro, which made me wonder if this story should have been told through Hannah's perspective, rather than Caro's because Caro DOESN'T really have that moment. She ends up discovering her sister and her sister's grief while getting away without much growth in herself. Even at the end, I felt like Caro was still mid-way through her own grieving/acceptance process, and I wanted to see her have a full arc. I thought had those threads been fleshed out more with Caro, even devoting more pages to them, it'd have taken the story up a little more.

The other moment I thought there could have been more was when Caro approaches Sarba's still-living brother at Loyola. Obviously, he's hurting over the loss of his sister, too, but I was surprised that his response would be that he blamed Hannah for his sister's death. We don't get to know the brother nor the way he'd react to anything. Since Hannah's entire plot was about how much she blamed herself for Sarba's death, I had a hard time buying into another character doing the same thing. In the end, he chooses to be in touch with Hannah, but I think he needed more development in the story. He's a late comer in the plot and he plays a huge role in the resolution, both for Caro and for Hannah, and so his response/belief in Hannah's role for Sarba's death was jarring. Especially for a 25-year-old. And I didn't necessarily think the reveal of the death/self-blame Hannah had for Sarba's death warranted his response, either. Hannah'd gone for help, not abandoned Sarba. Hannah's self-blame made sense, but how would Sarba's brother even know that? Because Hannah shut herself off, there was no way he'd know this or blame her for it. There was more back story needed. And I think I'd have been more than happy to read it, even with the length of the book! I do have to say that I am so glad we did NOT see the letter he sent Hannah and that we only got to see the letter sent for Caro and her parents. This helped anchor the story back to Caro, rather than her sister.

Jarzab's book isn't really a mystery. It's a pretty solid contemporary that has an unraveling of big back story. Despite being lengthy, it's a quicker read, and covers plenty of hefty topics and does so well. I'd be comfortable giving this book to younger teens, as well as older ones, as there's little to worry about content wise. There's a LOT to digest in terms of understanding grief and faith, but in a good way. Jarzab does a great job of bringing many of these ideas into tangible elements in the story: MC Esher, science and physics, reading and reading choice (and high five to the nicely played moment with The Bell Jar, too).

I'll be honest in saying this, too: as much as I liked a lot of what this book did, a lot of it also felt convenient. The gap of time, the never questioning Hannah's choice in the mean time, the fact that Caro's parents communicate for beans left and right. But because Jarzab does such a good job with her writing itself, with her character development, and with broaching a number of big topics, I let these things go. I think most readers will, too, because the story itself is bigger than those relatively minor missteps.

Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/10/t...

[Isamlq · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

What’s interesting is how absolutely unlikeable Caro started out to be, yet I continued hoping that there was something more to the girl. Seeing herself as an only child is what starts it all: she’s spoiled, whiny and all the flaws pointed out in her were accurate. From lying to being self unwilling to bend, I was seriously hard pressed in finding anything to like in her. Bit by bit though I could see a little into her why’s.

The interaction with her family, her sister and mother especially, had me wondering as she did. Why the different treatment between sisters? And it’s this that amplified the drama even more. It started out normally too. You have a trio of girls each with her own quirks, one in particular dealing with boy troubles. But what would have been the usual drama of girl dealing with ex boyfriends and new boys and best friends and what not, well, we’re dealt with a girl sisters a family that’s not quite up to the task of dealing with their issues. They all were so unable to deal! Where the parents tiptoe around; Caro wants to go on as she usually did… even though everything had changed, with her not knowing why things had changed.

The reveals though left me feeling like I’d been given the short end of the stick. I simply wanted more. Her sister’s own story is basically the root of what Caro has to deal with. And while the sadness felt right, and while Hanna’s response(s) felt on the spot too. I just couldn’t quite connect to it all. The only time I truly felt more engaged by the story was how Caro chose to respond. It’s not that she turns to faith for answers because her position on that was quite clear from the get but that she turns to certain people who’re not quite how she thought them to be.

While I didn’t like her parents methods and I didn’t quite buy into Caro turning to the person that she did, I did like the normal in between's of her dealing with the consequences of her actions. The girl was flawed (and sure, she had her reasons) so there were repercussions (definite plus on that account.) I really do wish I felt more for both Caro and Hannah; still, the Opposite of Hallelujah’s did have some interesting moments.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a family member who knows that I like stories of personal spiritual growth and also that I sometimes enjoy YA novels. She thought I would like this, and though I have decided to give this book a 3 star rating, I'm going to quantify that rating by saying that if you are older than 17 (as I am), go for meatier stuff. The questions posed by Father Bob in his discussions with Caro, the young girl who gives voice to this story, would have given my long-ago teen-age self much food for thought, but after a life-time of experience and soul-searching, I find I am more interested in reading the books listed in the author's "acknowledgments" page at the end of the book. (Some of those are even waiting for me on my "to read" list.) So, the take-away is this: The Opposite of Hallelujah is a good novel for thoughtful teen-age girls, but it does not challenge a more mature reader.

[Lexie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but I was kind of disappointed with this. I was so looking forward to it, but it fell flat. Caro wasn't likable enough, Hannah's issues seemed both convoluted and spread too thin, and many of the characters reacted how the author needed them to react rather than a more realistic reaction.

Caro didn't need two best friends because of the slim role they both played. A lot of little bits and pieces included were wasted, as they were never mentioned again. The science project came out of nowhere, really. We needed more set up for Caro's discovery of it.

Luckily, the religious aspect is treated respectfully and doesn't feel too much like preaching. The story telling was technically fine, but again, the characters needed more depth and the details needed to be removed or wrapped up.

An interesting concept that seemed both rushed and not substantial enough to sustain the entire book.

[Cambria Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The story centers around sixteen year old Caro, whose life as an only child is interrupted by the return of her much older sister, Hannah, who has moved home after suddenly leaving a convent and life as a nun. As Caro struggles to deal with her changing family dynamic, she must also navigate the rest of her teenage life – friends, school, and of course, boys.

One of my favorite things about this book is the way it shifts back and forth between Caro's two worlds. On one hand is the seriousness of Caro's home life. Hannah's return brings up many questions about why she left in the first place and why she has returned now. This causes a lot of tension in the family, largely centered around outspoken Caro. The tension in these scenes is very real, enough to make the reader cringe at times with familiar discomfort. But the family feels authentic at all times and early tension and anger make the emotional scenes nearer the end of the book all that much more affecting.

On the other hand is Caro's life outside of her home, her social life. This too felt 100% authentic. Sometimes with YA, I have found that you can really feel that story is being told by an adult – the author – affecting a teenager's voice. Dialogue can be forced, trying too hard to be young and clever. But there is none of that with The Opposite of Hallelujah, quite the contrary. The conversations between Caro and her friends (Reb, Pawel, etc.) feel totally authentic and real. The dialogue is witty, and often funny, because the characters themselves are quick and smart. This humor is also a nice balance to some of the tension and emotion at home. A highlight for me in Caro's social world is Pawel, her love interest (I love him too, Caro!). I found him to be so endearing in every scene he was in

And then what makes this book really special is that beyond dealing with Caro's home life and Caro's social life, it also deals with her spiritual and intellectual life. Specifically, the book deals with issues of faith and the cross-section between science and religion. The book does not put science and religion at odds with each other and it isn't arguing for one side over the other. There is a lot of discussion about God, but not specifically a Christian God, more like “the Universe”, as Caro sometimes prefers to call it. The point is that Caro's mentor Father Bob, a scientist priest, is constantly challenging her to think about the world and her place in it. Some of the concepts are pretty sophisticated, but the back-and-forth between Caro and Father Bob keeps everything accessible. I'll include my favorite example of this below.* This a great way to get readers thinking and I found myself reading these scenes more than once and thinking about them later.

Overall, I highly recommend! This book is definitely special and a great read!

Here is one of my favorite passages...not exactly a spoiler, but you have been warned all the same. Also be warned, I haven't owned an MLA Handbook in years, and I've forgotten how to quote properly :)


I thought of Father Bob, and the God he believed was beside us in every moment of our lives. If he really wanted us to be happy, why all the tragedy in the world? Father Bob would say something sensible about duality, about joy not existing without pain to illuminate it.
“Think about light,” he has said once. “White light is pure and beautiful, but a world full of it would make us all blind – not just blind, but also invisible. It's when you subtract that you see all the colors of the rainbow. Subtraction shows us what's there, and what's there is beautiful too. Pain is like subtraction. Suffering teaches us how to experience and appreciate joy.” It struck me now as total bullshit, and also as the truest thing in the world.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the cover of this book and the font on the front was calling me. Something about having your sister move away to be a nun and then suddenly moving back home because she has decided that was not “her calling”, it got me to thinking. What would cause someone to finally decide to switch gears and move back home after 8 years of being in a convent and how would that be for everyone involved? There had to be a deeper mystery involved and I was ready to spend a few days with my nose inside this book discovering this mystery. Caro felt like an only child as she doesn’t remember much about her sister when she lived with them. Hannah left to be a nun when she was 19, and with Caro only being 8 at the time she grew up basically having her parents to herself. When Hannah shows up, her parents baby her and there is some resentment and Caro is quite vocal in this regard. Hannah sticks to her room and her quiet temperament and bony figure start to have an effect on the whole family but her parents sweep it under the rug. How can she get away with this behavior? Caro feels there is something else being avoided but no one will let her know until she discovers some of Hannah’s old high school items out in the garage. What Caro uncovers next is not what she expected from her older sister but it does bring to light some of the mystery behind the behaviors that are occurring in the house since her sister’s arrival. All the drama in the house is not the only thing that Caro has to deal with, she also has her own high school drama with friends including boyfriends. She has some terrific girlfriends which she can rely on and their relationship with Caro makes you remember what it was like to be a teen and deal with life. Two boys in the book are Caro’s brus and as she deals with her family in the book, you see she matures in her relationship with them. The relationship with Pawel is not all fun and games but I just loved to read about it. They seemed to be feeding off each other when they weren’t trying to avoid each other and it’s that girl-boy relationship that you remember oh so well. It’s all about family, relationships, forgiveness, moving on, being happy and loving yourself.
I thought the beginning of the book was a bit slow for me but when the book took off, I was all in. A nice combination of characters and the mother, wow. She was a very typical mother- so protective and stern and then the change. I felt as if I was watching this unfold before me. A book that deals with many issues including religion and does it so well. This book is for mature readers as it mentions drinking in the book, some petting and mental illness.

“Things were changing fast……I liked things clearly defined; it was how I made sense of the world. People were either this thing or that thing. Gray areas made me nervous; ambiguity was to be avoided at all costs.”

[Lalitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Jarzab writes eloquently about the sometimes enigmatic nature of sisterhood (blood isn't always thicker than water), and discusses spirituality and Catholicism in such a way that makes readers want to know more, rather than less. And that's no easy feat, especially when it comes to including religious themes in a YA book (unless, of course, the reader is specifically seeking inspirational literature--this book doesn't fall into that genre, I don't think).

It's been several years since Carolina 'Caro' Mitchell last saw her older sister, Hannah. She left home when Caro was just a little girl to live as a contemplative nun. There is an 11-year age difference between the two, and Caro regards her sister as a virtual stranger. Rather than explain her sister's absence (something she doesn't quite understand herself), Caro resorts to lying to her friends (not even admitting that she has a sister). When Hannah decides to leave the convent and move back home, Caro's lies come tumbling down. Hannah also has a secret weighing on her...

Featuring poignant discussions about faith, forgiveness, and sisterhood, THE OPPOSITE OF HALLELUJAH was unlike any YA book I had read before. I had no idea that Catholicism would play such a major part of the book - the coverage of spirituality and religion was handled sensitively and I feel the story (regardless of the reader's personal beliefs) would resonate with a wide audience.


***Further Thoughts - minimal Plot Spoilers***





Things I loved:

*Caro isn't a likeable character - she's a real jerk through most of the novel, but her character evolution was surprising, and it felt believable to me.

*Father Robert - I loved his conversations with Caro re: faith and science. I wish more of the book had been devoted to him.

Things that could've been improved:

*Pawel - since OoH was mainly Caro's story, I felt that his story got lost in the mix. I wish their relationship had been explored more (I felt that it was significant that he was Catholic, too, and clearly had high regard for his beliefs - but that story didn't go anywhere).

*Hannah - probably the biggest disappointment for me. While her secret is heartbreaking, I never felt there was a whole lot of depth in her character development. Why was she so devout? What happened inside the convent?

*Byrne Griffin's letter - why don't we get to know what's in it?!

[Liviania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Jarzab's sophomore novel is a contemporary that doesn't resemble most of the others I've been reading lately. For one thing, the romantic plotline isn't the focus. Protagonist Caro Mitchell's relationship with her sister and her parents is much more important to the story. But it's also about Caro and her relationship to herself, who she wants to be and what she believes.

Caro isn't always the most likeable character. She lies, a lot, and like most habitual liars she does it for stupid reasons. She can also be very self centered. But inside her head it's easy to see how confused she is and how she can barely articulate why she doesn't want to talk to people about the reality of her sister. THE OPPOSITE OF HALLELUJAH kicks off when Caro's much older sister Hannah, now in her late twenties, returns home from the convent where she failed as a novitiate. Caro barely knows her sister and doesn't know how to relate to someone who is quite a bit older, obviously in some kind of pain, and whom she's expected to immediately treat like a close relative. I did like how Hannah's story trickled out in bits and pieces.

Caro's parents were intriguing characters. Few young adult novels really bring the parents to the forefront like THE OPPOSITE OF HALLELUJAH. I thought they were weirdly strict at first, although they seemed somewhat more mellow by the end of the novel. But they were realistic parents, making mistakes but trying to do their best for their daughter.

Although it's nice to read a book that isn't all about the romance, I could've used more Pawel. He's the new kid in school and exactly who Caro needs in her life after a bad break up. He's a great guy who isn't afraid to call Caro out on her behavior when she treats him badly. The final important character is Father Bob, the priest Caro likes to talk to despite her personal lack of religion. Religion is one of the themes of THE OPPOSITE OF HALLELUJAH, and Bob and Caro's conversations are very interesting. (Readers need not be afraid of being preached at.)

THE OPPOSITE OF HALLELUJAH is a wonderful novel that stands out nicely from the crowd. It made me want to track down Jarzab's first novel, ALL UNQUIET THINGS. THE OPPOSITE OF HALLELUJAH is an intelligent coming-of-age novel that will appeal to lovers of character-driven stories.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

BlookGirl's Summary: The Opposite of Hallelujah is a thought-provoking contemporary novel for young adults that addresses real issues, such as grief, forgiveness, faith, and self-discovery. Using familiar and comfortable subjects, such as art and science, The Opposite of Hallelujah is accessible to a wide audience, no matter their religious persuasion. I would highly recommend this novel to any teen, and believe that it will give them a great starting point to thinking critically about life and its meaning.

Full review to come on GoodReads and BlookGirl YA Book Blog & Reviews on September 18, 2012, at publisher's request.

[Ira · Rating 4 out of 5]

450 pages ... *gulp* .. Not that it's a big deal, I'll be done with this in less than one and a half day, but still .. I've been avoiding this book, telling myself, one more quick light hearted read over and over again.. because I get this vibe from the book that it's gonna be sad if not down right depressing. I mean, even the cover makes my mind slump it's shoulders in part grief feeling the sadness this book will give me and part resignition since it knows I will really read this now ..

_______________________

Don't know why I was so worried, this book was so awesome!

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars.

I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. Some chapters were so incredibly boring, but this book was okay. I didn't feel like there was anything interesting that happened until the book was almost over. This book could have been shortened. A lot. I couldn't connect to the characters, and felt they lacked in development.

I honestly don't know if I would recommend this book. Probably not.

[Kim Gerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book.

[Wandering Librarians · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Caro was eight, her 19 year-old sister joined a convent, and Caro has hardly seen her since. But now, eight years later, Hannah is returning home. No one knows what happened or why Hannah left the convent. Now it feels like a stranger is living in Caro's house. Something happened to Hannah, something that Caro has no memory of, that is still haunting Hannah today, and won't let her move on.

I didn't like this when I first started reading it, but then I ended up liking it a lot. I wasn't enjoying it at first because I felt like the book was giving nuns a bad name. The convent Hannah joined sounded incredibly dated. She was part of an order that still wore a full habit, never left the convent, wasn't allowed to visit her family, couldn't even visit them without being separated by bars like she was in a prison. She never left her convent, but spent all eight years she was there in pray. And I thought, "What kind of nunnery is this?" Nuns are incredibly active with community. They are strongly focused on social justice, doing work in education, with those who are sick or living in poverty. Sometimes, they even disobey direct orders from the Vatican, when they feel there is too much focus on issues like abortion and not enough on helping those in poverty. Nuns are kind of kickass.

A bit further into the story, this was clarified and the difference between contemplative orders and active orders. Active orders are the ones who are focused on social justice. Contemplative orders are focused on prayer, and there is still a number or contemplative orders in the US, although from poking about on their websites I don't know if they would actually prohibit you from seeing your family. But maybe. Anyway, after we got that all straightened out and I didn't have to feel so defensive of the nuns (What? I just think nuns are kind of cool), I was able to enjoy the story much more.
Some of the language also threw me at first. Caro would go from sounding like a typical teenager to saying something like, "In the flickering nickelodeon of my early-childhood..." Whoa, where did that come from? Pick what you want your character to sound like.

Everyone is kind of horrible to everyone at the beginning of the book. This bothered me a lot, but as I got more involved with the characters and story, I could see how realistic this was. Caro was incredibly hurt by her sister leaving, which is something she is not willing to admit and is not something she even really understands. She is angry and resentful of Hannah, and the changes she brings to her family. Caro sometimes goes out of her way to hurt Hannah, because Hannah has hurt her.

Caro's parents don't really know what to do. They don't know this daughter who has come home. Hannah is depressed and starving herself, and they don't know how to handle it, and unfortunately, they handle it by ignoring it for longer than they should, babying Hannah and "letting her adjust to being home" and in some ways taking out their frustrating on Caro, because they can't bring themselves to chastise Hannah.

Hannah is a total emotional mess, eaten up by guilt and doesn't know how to ask for help, or even feels like she deserves help. She occasionally tries to reach out to Caro, but Caro, in her anger, shoots her down, which only makes Hannah retreat even further.

So it's a really sucky situation, made worse by all the things this family isn't saying to each other. It of course finally all blows up and they have to start dealing with it, and this allows them to start healing.

There's a side plot between Caro and the relationships with her friends and her boyfriend. Of course, everything that is happening at home affects the rest of her life. Caro has never talked about Hannah to her friends, they don't even know she has a sister. So when Hannah comes home, Caro lies about where she's been. Caro doesn't understand herself why Hannah joined the convent, so she can't really be expected to explain it to others, so she hides. This causes a rift between her and her boyfriend, who feels like he can't trust her. Of course, this only makes Caro feel like Hannah is ruining her life all the more, rather than try to figure out why she lied in the first place.

There are some thought reflections on religion and its meaning in people's lives. Caro ends up talking a lot to Father Bob, who tries to help her to understand why Hannah left and what she might be going through now. Caro has a chance to ask questions and vent her frustrations to someone removed from the situation that can look at the big picture in a thoughtful way. It does not help right away, but over time it does give Caro a better perspective on what's happened to her sister, and help her figure out what's really going on.

The Opposite of Hallelujah is a longer book, but once I got into it it went really fast. Definitely recommended.

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just don't know about The Opposite of Hallelujah. Good writing, decent characters, interesting premise. But, it was so looooooong, and really nothing happens until the last 1/4 of the book.

Caro's sister, who has been in a convent for over 10 years (and left when Caro was 8 years old) is leaving the convent and coming back home to live. Caro doesn't know her sister, Hannah, who is now 27, and doesn't feel any great attachment to her.

When Hannah comes home, there is obviously something wrong. She doesn't eat. She sleeps all the time and barely comes out of her room. (Can you say "depression?")

There are things from Hannah's past that Caro figures out -- at least parts of it -- from reading what Hannah wrote when she was young. Caro's parents won't tell her anything. Caro wants to solve the mystery and figure out what's up with Hannah.

There's a romance. A new boy at school who Hannah starts seeing. It's a rocky relationship, with ups and downs, and I guess it was OK. But it didn't really add much to the story. Caro has friends, but she keeps them so far from her family problems that they really don't mean anything in the novel -- except when it comes to the partying (more about that in a minute.)

The best part of the story is that Caro decides to confide in Father Dan, a priest at their church. Neither Caro or her parents are devout. I really liked the discussions that they had. It was the best part of The Opposite of Hallelujah for me -- a lot of philosophizing and talking about beliefs. I love all the references to M.C. Escher. It wasn't preachy, but there is some discussion of belief in God, so if that turns you off, stay away from The Opposite of Hallelujah.

I am happy that Caro's parents were very involved in their children's lives and tried to do what was right. I really didn't like that they were so stupid. They didn't understand why Caro wasn't all excited about Hannah's return. They were so stupid about the relationship between the sisters. They didn't really do anything (except talk) for Hannah, when she was obviously having serious problems.

It took 350 pages for the problem to get serious enough that something actually happened. The last 100 pages were the entire story. I almost gave up on The Opposite of Hallelujah, but I got through it, even though I KNEW what was likely to happen. Entirely predictable. I guess I was hoping for a surprise or twist. Nope.

I rarely give content warnings about books. I live with teens every day. I know they drink, swear, and have sex. And guess what? THEY know it too. So, there's a lot of casual, no big deal, "drinking on the weekends" kind of partying in The Opposite of Hallelujah. Cara is a "straight A" student. No one ever drives when they are drunk. But they pretty much get drunk on the weekends. *gets on soapbox* By the time a kid is in high school, most of them have decided whether they are going to drink or not. If they haven't decided, they will succumb to peer pressure, NOT what's in a book! If teens don't drink, they still know that a lot of teens DO drink. They have chosen not to. And reading about teen drinking in a book isn't going to change their minds. It's just a realistic story about teens. Not all teens, but some teens. And they all know that. Give them some credit. So, I wouldn't keep this book from teens because of the drinking. *steps off soapbox.*

However, I will have a hard time recommending this book to teens because of its length. The Opposite of Hallelujah just never grabbed me, or made me feel any kind of anticipation or emotion. This is an ARC, so my only hope is that there is some severe editing in the final copy, but I know that isn't likely.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when a book just completely takes me by surprise! I wasn't expecting much from The Opposite of Hallelujah, but I ended up loving it. It's the kind of book that sneaks up on you - there wasn't one special moment where I found myself going 'wow', and only after finishing it did I notice how amazing the book had been. The Opposite of Hallelujah is subtle in all the right ways.

Caro is such a fun MC! I didn't like her or agree with her a lot of the time, but I didn't mind, because it was just so much fun to read from her POV. Even when she's being whiny or melodramatic or isn't making any sense, it works, because she knows. She knows that what she's saying is rude, bratty or uncalled-for, but she says it anyways. And that's how real people are. (Well, I don't know whether everyone does that. But I know I definitely do.) I love how Caro is quirky and into science. Her voice is real and honest - and when the voice is good, it's almost guaranteed I'll love the book.

Then there's Hannah. That whole storyline is so complex and unique. I don't want to say too much because I liked watching it unfold without knowing much beforehand, but the whole set-up is original and very intriguing.

The writing is great. It's very descriptive, but I liked it - gives the whole book a nice tone. The Opposite of Hallelujah is 450 pages long, which is very long for contemporary YA, but I like how the author took her time developing plot and characters.

I love how religion is handled in The Opposite of Hallelujah. Religion is a tough subject, at least for me - I've ranted about preachy books on this blog more times than I can count. But I really, really like how the topic is dealt with in The Opposite of Hallelujah. It's always there, but it's subtle - there's no shoving an opinion down the reader's throat, there's just a hint of a message, and the reader can decide what to do with it. Casual doesn't exactly fit, but it's the word that comes to mind when I think of how religion is portrayed in The Opposite of Hallelujah - it shows religion doesn't have to be something strange and old and out there; it can be a part of your normal life. It's a part of life that everyone has to form an opinion on. The message is subtle, and for me, that made it much more powerful.

I did have some complaints, though. I think the characters of the love interest and the two best friends were a little underdeveloped, and I would have liked to see some more depth to Caro's relationship with her parents. Considering the length of the book, I think it should have been possible to make those secondary characters and relationships a little more complex.

Still, I loved this book. It's perfect for anyone who wants to give a relgious book a try but is afraid of a preachy message. But even if you aren't interested in the religious aspect, I recommend The Opposite of Hallelujah, since it's a great sister story and realistic coming-of-age book. With subtle but evocative prose and a main character who's so real, The Opposite of Hallelujah is dark but ultimately satisfying.

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...

[Danna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly selected The Opposite of Hallelujah from the Young Adult shelf at the library, and I am so grateful I did. Caro Mitchell is a 16-year-old high school student living in a typical self-centered bubble: she spends hours with her friends each day, comes home to talk on the phone, and then sneaks out to spend more time with them. She is also an exceptional student who studies hard and excels in her honors courses. Caro has just one secret, which is devastating to her: her sister Hannah is a nun who has lived in a convent since Caro was 8 years old. This secret is so difficult for her that Caro told her elementary school classmates that Hannah was dead. Now, 11 years later, Hannah has turned up back home and Caro has no idea how to handle it. She finds herself lying to her closest friends, and fighting with Hannah and her parents. Caro's perfectly constructed high school bubble has been upended, and The Opposite of Hallelujah is the result.

You might be wondering, what is so devastating about your sister joining a convent? Is it really so devastating you would tell people she's dead? 8-year-old Caro felt abandoned when Hannah made the choice to join a convent after high school. Hannah, also very young, had no words or ways to explain to Caro why she was leaving and made no effort to maintain their relationship once she reached the convent. Hannah cut ties to her life and the material world as she desperately sought absolution from her sins, both real and imagined. Caro felt unloved, unimportant, and now her world is thrown off by Hannah's sudden return. She is no longer the sole planet in her parents' universe, and Hannah has demons that still need to be fought and put to rest. Because it is a young adult novel that takes place in high school, there is, of course, a sweet romance that unfolds along the way.

This book moved me in a very real way because this happened to my family. When I was a tween, my older sister joined an ashram, similar to a convent, with no explanation (or at least none that made sense to me at that age). Most of the time, like Caro, I don't acknowledge her existence. This sort of abandonment is a pain in your soul, as a child, it made me wonder what I could have done to make my sister not love me enough to stick around. Then, as I got older, it developed into anger (as did Caro's), as I wondered why my sister didn't provide a better explanation. When people ask me how many siblings I have, I don't include her. However, every once in a while, something comes up that forces me to admit I have another sister, and it is a painfully enormous disruption. All I can say is, for me, Jarzab nails it: there are conversations between Caro and Hannah that have been nearly verbatim to the ones we've had in my family. This book broke my heart, but in a very lovely way. It is witty and well-written, and a fast read. Recommended.

Favorite quote:

"The world belongs to those who stick around and tough it out" (389).

[Just a person · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the heart of The Opposite of Hallelujah, I think the message is that your actions don't just effect yourself. A lie, a decision to leave, hiding from your problems, and pain can't be isolated to just you, it creates a wave to the people you love and that love you.
Caro is a very relatable narrator. I could relate with her anger, pain and doubt about what was going on in the world around her as well as her curiosity whether related to learning or uncovering the past of her prodigal sister. She is a bit spoiled at times, but aren't we all. Thinking of ourselves is our natural state, but I love how she feels regret when she treats others badly, and at the end of the day I think that she strives to put others before herself.
Pawel, Caro's friend and love interest is great as well. I loved his sense of humor, his sensitivity and the closeness that was featured in his family as well.
The Opposite of Hallelujah definitily has something that is missing from a lot of teen novels, involved parents. It doesn't mean that they are perfect, but I love the relationship and the conversations that are in this book. I like that they are involved in school work, try to enforce a family dinner, and how they try to cultivate a relationship between Caro and Hannah.
Anna Jarzab did a wonderful job writing the emotions of the characters. It got me to feel something for them, especially with Hannah. Even when I did not know what was the root of her pain and confusion, I still felt for her. I could see that she was trying to hard to reform a relationship with Caro as she sorted through her feelings.
I guess one thing that should be mentioned in case you can't tell from the description, there is a lot of religious discussion in this novel, but I think that it all felt authentic. Caro was questioning what she really believed, if there was a God, her anger with him, and confusion at what made her sister join the convent and ultimately what led her to leave. Father Bob is a great presence in this novel too. I don't think that he ever tried to force his beliefs on anyone, but rather he was a listening ear to Caro, and tried to lead her on the path to discovering herself, and what she can do for her sister.

For more of my reviews, check out Blkosiner’s YA and Teen Book Blog: http://blkosiner.blogspot.com

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Anna Jarzab
Published by: Delacorte Books For Young Readers
Age Recommend: 12 YA
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: GMTA


Review:


"The Opposite of Hallelujah" by Anna Jarzab was truly one wonderful enjoyable read. The author Anna Jarzab was able to let us see how faith, forgiveness and above all sisterhood in the wonderful read of "The Opposite Of Hallelujah" could really be a exciting book for any YA. Yes, it deals with spirituality and Catholicism but in a very inspiring way.... not coming across as 'preachy or overbearing.'


Although "The Opposite of Hallelujah" was a lengthy....it still was a quick dialogue read that covers a well packed topics presenting a lots of ideas to digest in terms of understanding grief and faith.... also this author brings in great elements in this story.... using, MC Escher and physics and science. Well done!


The characters: I can't say enough about were quick and smart....Carolina, Hannah, Father Bob, Reb, Erin, Derek, Pawel, Sabra and Byrne Griffin. Truly these people made this story a worth read being so full of being sometimes witty and even funny.


Even though their was much tension and anger that was felt in this read ...... you must
pick up "The Opposite of Hallelujah" to see how this all works out. The story centers around sixteen year old Caro, whose life as an only child is interrupted by the return of her much older sister, Hannah, who has moved home after suddenly leaving a convent and life as a nun....and the story really takes off. Truly this novel was a story of a family that needed healing....and in the end...just pick up this read to see how this happens.


If you are in for a special wonderful YA read ... I would recommend "The Opposite of Hallelujah" for you.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a big book filled with big ideas. What does it mean to be sisters? How do you deal with grief? What about jealousy? What do you think about faith and God? How do you handle change?

Caro is just about to start her junior year in high school when the sister who left to join a convent when Caro was eight comes home. Hannah comes home sick and depressed and without a plan for her life. Caro doesn't know how to cope. When she was younger she got the name Caroliar for telling her school friends that Hannah was dead. She has rebuilt her life in high school without mentioning that she even has an older sister. Naturally, her first reaction is to lie again. This time she tells her new boyfriend that Hannah was in the Peace Corps. This lie blows up when he is at the "meet the family" dinner that is a part of early dating losing her his esteem and making her parents very angry with her.

I found it hard to like Caro much of the time. She was so angry - with her parents, with her sister, with life. She seemed so self-absorbed and so self-centered. I could see flashes of caring that grew in frequency as the story continued. She seemed really young in her search for some kind of magic bullet that would make everything right for her sister Hannah. But it did fit with her rational scientist sort of personality. I was particularly intrigued with her whole relationship with God through the story. I thought that her frequent conversations with Father Bob helped us as readers think about our own relationship with God while she was clarifying her own.

I liked seeing Caro's growth through the story. I also liked seeing how the relationship between the two sisters changed for the better. This was a very moving and thought-provoking story that should appeal to older young adults.

[Anna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Jarzab, author of All Unquiet Things, writes a passionate mystery in her novel The Opposite of Hallelujah. In this novel Caro, the sixteen year old main character, has lived most of her life as an only child. Her only sister is eleven years older than her and has been absent most of Caro's life. When Caro was still in elementary school her sister, Hannah, left home and moved into a convent to become a nun. Caro never understood why, but as the years past she thought less and less of her sister. Now Caro's life is turned upside down when her parents make the announcement that Hannah is coming home. Caro's initial response to her sister's return is that of resistance. Caro strives to balance her home life, school, and her new boyfriend. But when it becomes clear that Hannah is very sick, and Caro's lies get her into trouble, she begins looking for answers in an unexpected source.

For me, one way I can tell whether or not a book is good, is if I can easily picture the setting and the characters. When reading The Opposite of Hallelujah, I had no problem imagining the novel's world. Although Caro was very irritating at times, I really liked her character because by the end of the novel, she admits she was in the wrong for the way she acted. I loved watching her mature as she learned to accept and embrace change and her family. Even though this book was not as action-packed as most of the books on the new YABA list are, something about it was totally captivating to me. This novel was a lot different from what I had expected it to be, but I still loved it and recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking read.

[Cresta McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, when I started this novel I wasn't a fan. Carolina - the protagonist - screamed "quintessential grouchy teenager." I hated her. I even told some of my students that "the struggle was real" to get through this. But, in the end, I was wrong. Carolina isn't abnormal in her behavior; in fact, she's spot on.

Jarzab has created a witty, sharp tongued female lead that is struggling with the sudden return of her sister, Hannah. Hannah left at nineteen to become a nun at Sisters of Grace. Her family grappled with this decision, and will continue to remain in the dark about her choice to leave the convent. Except Caro. She, through a series of truly wrong turns, finally understands and appreciates the struggles of her older sister (not to mention uncovers the true reasons for her pious choice) and makes it her plight to help her. But in helping her, Caro also helps herself to become a stronger, more confident, more focused young person. I like the message this sends - focus on someone else's needs sometimes to truly benefit the soul.

Of course no YA novel is complete without some love-story-drama, but Jarzab handles this nicely. The romance that Caro finds herself involved in blooms from friendship (well, first from lust, then from lessons, and then from friendship - but teens always have to try everything the hard way). I thought the overall context of the relationship presented was nicely done and I really liked Pavel, Caro's main squeeze; most of the time.

Overall, the novel paints a solid picture about what it takes to truly be there for someone else; and how allowing God to speak through you brings about the change you want to see in the world.

[Melodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another Netgalley ARC which I chose for the slight mystery element mentioned in the blurb. I loved the way the author wove discussion of religion and belief through her narrative - it never came across as preachy or overbearing. I wish more YA would address these deeper questions, because teens are SO searching for meaning/answers at this stage of life.

Anyway, the main conflict in the story is between Caro and her recently returned sister, Hannah, who has renounced the convent and is at loose ends. Something is seriously wrong with Hannah but at first, Caro is too self-involved to notice. I struggled with liking Caro through the first half of the book - she's a snotty brat - but knew this was part of her character arc. Caro is also forming and breaking boy relationships like crazy (very teen) but it gradually dawns on her that Hannah is going downhill fast. Her family's attempts to heal this broken young woman consume the back half of the story, and ultimately result in a resolution that bumps Caro's maturity level a few notches.

Except for that early snarkiness, Caro is a great MC. She's brilliant, and Jarzab comes up with a terrific way for her to show the boy she likes how much she likes him. The author also integrates a love of MC Escher's work into her story, which I found to be a unique and believable twist. I love it when writers expand their readers' knowledge base.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caro hasn't seen her sister for years, and for a while told people that she was dead, since it was easier to explain than the truth: that Hannah was in a nunnery. But when Hannah returns after 8 years in the nunnery, Caro discovers that the truth is never all that easy to explain, or even to understand.

This books starts like a fairly typical teenage coming-of-age story, distinguished by the extremely strong and well-done voice and by the hint of mysteries buried in the past. But while it goes through the getting-dumped, finding a new guy, parties and best friends circuit, the book delves much deeper than that, intelligently exploring issues like guilt, family, and religion (so rare to see this well-done in YA, and it was REALLY well-done here). Yet it manages fairly deep philosophical discussion without every losing sight of the fact that it's telling one girl's story.

There was one little piece of information that was never revealed, and I was expecting a slightly more twisty end to the mystery (I thought there was a character who was going to admit to being partly responsible), but that probably reflects my own preference as a writer for plot-driven stories. This is very much a character novel, and an excellent one. There's one paragraph where a character describes what it's like to lose faith that is pretty much worth the entire price of the book. Highly recommended.

[Michael Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The “voice” of Caro was beautifully done! The author had an amazing ability to use Caro’s POV to:
1. express what she is really feeling
2. give huge insights into many family dynamics
3. give huge insights into many school and relationship dynamics.

Bravo!

This book shows a way out for families who are struggling through something dark (in this case really dark) in the past. It was beautiful in that Caro needed all the support of her family, friends, teachers and (which was very nice for me to see) a minister.
This will be a great read for my older teenage daughter. The worldview choices in the book are certainly not mine in every case, but the author navigated quite well through religious and highschool waters.
Some things that happen to us in life are so dark and difficult-- but a father and mother who really TRY to understand, combined with some friends and church people can help to unravel a world of hurt.

Thanks Anna for giving me insight to TRY to understand my young ladies!

[Shannel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is geared toward young adults, but I loved it: Strong and well-developed plot, interesting characters, not predictable, very true to life & dare I say that I learned a few things that I never knew about.

Enjoyed that the writing was so well done that I became completely immersed in the Caro's (the main character's) emotions.

It's one of those books that I could relate to indirectly, so many of the lines spoke to me & things I'm going through in my late 20's & as a new parent... is that weird? or is it just really cool to find a book that can do that to me? Definitely recommend -- though the main character is in high school, the plot & characters will appeal to readers who are older too.

[Kelly Jeanne mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caro has grown up as an only child, with her sister Hannah away in a convent. When Hannah decides to leave the convent and return home, Caro's world is turned upside down. Caro has never told her friends about her sister and even worse, she has lied and said Hannah was dead or in the Peace Corps. Conversations with the local priest help Caro navigate through her new world as well as helping her figure out what she feels about religion and herself. A riveting read that includes sister relationships, religious beliefs and how they can coexist with scientific beliefs, and parent child relationships are all woven into this well written book. A good bit of romance is inserted for fun, too.

[Joe Pfeiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down and finished it in 2 days! Caro, the main character, was a little insufferable at first since it bugged me how she treated her sister so badly but you get glimpses of her trying to be a better person. Her evolution throughout the book was amazing to watch and is what kept me hooked.

Also, I loved the relationship between Caro and the Priest. It was so reassuring every time they spoke together and reminded me of important people that guided me while growing up.

Definitely a great read!