Undone

by Brooke Taylor

When Kori Kitlzer, the "dark angel" of the 8th grade, tells Serena Moore that they are more alike than she thinks, Serena is instantly intrigued. As their friendship solidifies and their lives entwine, Serena tries to become more like the fearless, outspoken, and ambitious Kori. Soon Serena doesn't know where she begins and Kori ends. But when a twist of fate yanks Kori away from Serena, she will need to find a way to complete her best friend's life left undone. Undone is a striking debut novel about friendship, family, and the secrets we keep from the people to whom we are closest.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Teen, Fiction, Friendship, Mystery

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 22, 2008

About the author

Brooke Taylor lives and writes from her country home in Oklahoma where her pets are a constant, but happy, distraction. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys horseback riding, going to the lake, and traveling. Brooke has worked extensively in the travel industry, from dude ranches to ski resorts to cruise lines. Her many overseas adventures include sky diving in New Zealand, scuba diving with sharks, sailing through hurricanes, and having her tent attacked by wild animals in the Mara game reserve in Kenya. Due to current health insurance rates, Brooke is letting her characters do most of the risk-taking from now on.

Brooke has been previously published in Young Adult. Her novel UNDONE (Bloomsbury) made the ALA's Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, was nominated for ALA's Best Books, and was a finalist for the National Reader's Choice Award.

Reviews

[Steph (Reviewer X) · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say this is a novel about finding yourself is to simultaneously hit the mark and to sell it short, because while that is precisely what it is, when I finished reading it, I felt it accomplished much more than the "finding yourself" bit. Thing is, it’s hard to define Undone, if only because it fits so many categories and themes of self-discovery: mothers and daughters, best friends, first loves, first temptations, missing fathers, so on, so forth. The truth of the matter is, it touches on many topics worthy of exploration, such as parental abandonment, confusing relationships, friendships you feel are extraneous until you find out they’re not, drunken hookups, and many more I won’t go into detail here because it would ruin your reading experience.

Added to all of this, is ultimately what makes a sane person keep turning pages the most—a mystery. The plot is very clever (and, admittedly, sneaky) this way, filled with intricacies, and with hints right there in front of you all throughout, but that you don’t take notice until the very, very end.

But all of what I have said so far doesn’t even touch what struck me most about this novel, and that is its accessibility. Sure, it’s crammed with lessons, messages, and morals which the reader can’t help but at least consider while reading. However, the tone of Brooke Taylor’s writing never wavers from that of a witty, realistic teen, one who taps into your emotions, making you laugh, cry (yes, I did, literally), and feel what she’s feeling, in the purest, most pristine manner.

This book spoke very personally to me, and I’m sure it also will to many other girls (or boys, if they may be so bold as to read it) out there. I’d recommend it to anyone, but especially to reluctant readers, who are not going to be disappointed with Brooke Taylor’s voice.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a hard time with young adult novels where a character (often a girl) is depicted as so badass and cool and amazing and of course something bad happens to her. That's actually not a spoiler. I couldn't really see why Kori was so great. I also found all of the twists predictable and didn't like that everything wrapped together neatly in the end. Still, it was an enjoyable read and I'm willing to suspend my disbelief of those sorts of things.

The one unforgiveable thing to me is the constant pop culture reference. This book is slated to come out in August 2008, and some of the references are already dated! A boy playing guitar at a party plays "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol for no other reason than for the author to show she's IN TOUCH! Half of the class lost their virginity to Nickelback (UGH) and the choir sings a Nickelback song at one point. There's also mention of a blog called "Postcard Secrets". I think many young adults would dislike that sort of patronizing thing.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kori Kitzler is different - to say the least. She is beautiful, mysterious, the subject of rumors, and has quite a reputation with the guys. One fateful day in eighth grade, average girl Serena Moore walks into the bathroom and runs into Kori. Serena is shocked when Kori tells her they are more alike then she thinks, but instead of turning around and running out of the bathroom Serena stays. This marks the beginning a deep and powerful friendship between the girls. Since that fateful day the girls have been joined at the hip and share everything with each other.
Now it’s the girls sophomore year in high school and their friendship has grown even more. When Serena’s favorite teacher, Doc, assigns the class the task to create a list of five things they would never do- a way to tempt fate, Serena doesn’t take it seriously at all since she doesn’t trust fate. Serena and Kori continue on with their lives leaving the list forgotten until tragedy strikes Kori. Serena is devastated and one of the only things she has left is Kori’s list. In a way to commemorate Kori, Serena decides to take Kori’s list and do everything on it. While the list puzzles Serena she knows that she can’t leave anything undone. While she tries to finish Kori’s last wishes, Serena ends up learning more about herself than she ever would have been able to if life had just stayed the same.

This is another amazing book from a debut Class of 2k8 author. Undone was completely spell binding. While I am nothing like Kori or Serena I felt so connected to them and wished they were my friends. The loyalty they had for each other was so real that it made me think how lucky they were to be friends, and how lucky I am to have friends. I also really liked the writer’s style. To me it was a tad different which made the whole book a refreshing read. Now the story itself was also mesmerizing. It totally grabbed me in and wouldn’t release its grasp until the very last page. The story took twists and turns that I never suspected in the least. I think that half the time I was reading my mouth was hanging open in shock of what had just happened. My only complaint is the book ended! I seriously didn’t want this book to end, it was just that good. I seriously cannot wait for more from Brooke Taylor, as I expect they will be just as amazing. I definitely recommend this book to everyone and anyone. It’s a bright light that just can’t be put out, that reminds us all of how valuable friendship is and how much we should treasure it.

[YA Reads Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first picked up this book, the description led me to believe it’d be about Kori. But really, only a small part is about Kori. Undone is Serena’s story; it’s a story of tempting fate, testing the bonds of friendship, discovering one’s identity, overcoming grief, growing up. Undone is Serena’s journey, but it also offers the reader a journey, one that, if you allow it, can reach the deepest part of your heart and possibly change your outlook on life.

Serena doesn’t know what made Kori decide to abandon her spot in the “popular crowd” all those years ago, but she’s grateful Kori chose her as her new best friend. Serena idolizes Kori to the point where she dyes and styles her hair so that the two are often mistaken for sisters. Kori is brash and bold and fearless, everything Serena wishes she could be. And Serena can’t imagine life without Kori, until she’s suddenly forced the face that reality.

Serena is an extremely relatable character. She’s so blinded by her envy of Kori that she fails to notice her own strong qualities. It isn’t until she has to live without Kori that Serena realizes she’s her own person and that perhaps Kori isn’t as perfect as Serena always thought.

In an effort to cope with the loss of her best friend, Serena embarks on a mission to complete Kori’s list of fate-tempting tasks. Serena thinks completing the list will bring her closer to Kori, but it actually ends up teaching her more about herself. For so long, Serena had been so wrapped up in Kori’s identity that she forgot she had one of her own. Brooke Taylor beautifully expresses the emotions of a young girl trying to find herself while managing feelings of sorrow, suspicion, and isolation. Taylor’s prose is hauntingly honest and realistic. Her story is innovative, at times romantic, and always gripping. It’s one of those books you’ll want to read again and again just to learn something new.

[Fae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undone absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. This book crawled under my skin and has stayed with me long after I turned the last page. The characters feel painfully real, flawed, and human, and the emotional depth of this story is unreal. It explores friendship, grief, identity, and the messy, beautiful parts of being a teenager with so much honesty that it hurts. I laughed, I cried, I stopped to breathe, and then I kept reading because I had to know what happened next. Brooke Taylor’s writing is lyrical without ever feeling forced, and the twists hit hard in exactly the right places. This isn’t just a book you read it’s a book you feel. This is, without question, one of my favorite books of all time, and I wish I could experience it again for the first time. If you’re even thinking about reading it, do it. You won’t forget it.

[*Michelle* · Rating 5 out of 5]

i completely loved this book!! it starts out with how kori and serena's friendship starts, which starts with kori saying that "we're more alike than you think". Soon in a class that both kori and serena have, the teacher says that everyone has to write 5 things to tempt fate with. Serena's list is:
1.Be on the front page of the Kismet Courier. Heh.
2.Sing in front of an audience. Without puking.
3.Become BFFs with a cheerleader. Again-without puking.
4.Fall for a high school guy. Um... yeah, don't think so.
5.Find my father. A girl can dream, can't she?
Kori's list is:
1.Sing with Bleeder Valve.
2.Get a tattoo.
3.Work things out with Shay.
4.Confront D.
5.Tell Serena.
Soon, Serena bumps into Anthony Beck. She soon crushes on him. After school, Kori and Serena meet up at a place that they always go to. Serena dares Kori to go skinny-dipping in the reservoir and jump off the cliff to do so. Kori dares Serena to do the same but as usual Serena doesn't so Kori dares Serena to make-out with Anthony the next night. Anthony and Adrian show up at the cliff and take them to the party. The next night before Serena is about to go to another party she goes to her mothers bedroom and sees that her mom snuck out too, so she goes. While Serena was checking, Kori went online as Serena and told Shay to meet her at a hotel to see someone. At the party that night, Serena met up with Anthony and they started talking, and then they started makin out. Kori came over there and said," Take care of her Becks, then take my kitten home." After that, Kori went to Parker Walsh's car and rode off. The next morning, Kori was found dead in Parker's car in front of the school. Serena got all Kori's stuff in her locker and looked in one of the notebooks and found Kori's list and made it a priority to finish things for Kori. Soon Serena is on the Kismet Courier because she was involved in the Mini Mart "attack". Once Serena was friends with Shay, she told him to bring her to get a tatoo.After that, Serena uses Kori's fake id to get to the club(LoDo) and to sing with Bleader Valve. At school, Marci Mancini(cheerleader) drops a sonogram pic that is her baby. One time, Serena went to confront Parker and saw that he couldn't move his legs and so Serena accused him and got him to belive in himself. Serena finds it and confronts her about it and starts bringing her extra food because the other cheerleaders don't let her eat a lot. One day that Serena brings her food, Marci says that Serena is her new bff. Soon, she works things out with shay and they become really good friends. Parker sends Serena a text telling her to meet him and so he tries to walk and kinda can now. Serena throws a flour bag at the new statue of a fake Kori to confront D(dad). At the same time, Serena finds out that Kori is her step-sister and finds out her dad is Kori's dad. Also Serena knows what Tell Serena means is tell her that they are sisters. At the end, Anthony and Serena are boyfriend and girlfriend.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am glad I checked this out of the library instead of buying it! This is one of those books where the characters are all so unlikable that I didn't want to keep reading about them, but the plot was decent enough to make me finish the book. The main character, Serena, finds a list of five things her best friend, Kori, wanted to do, and so she decides to take on the items herself and complete the list, even though they're kind of cryptic and she doesn't know exactly what they all mean. Kori is supposed to be a kickass bad girl, but I was kinda underwhelmed by her; she was too "I don't care what anyone thinks!" and "I'm so above this all!" to actually be cool (or truly believed). Serena's constant "Kori is the BEST!" refrain got tiring as well, and Serena herself was no less irritating, as her narration was grating and trying to be all too trendy and flippant. The secondary characters didn't feel especially real either, and I had a hard time believing everyone's actions. Also, there is a lot of smoking, drinking, and drug use in this, which is fine - I've enjoyed plenty of books containing these things - but it's written as if this behavior is so standard and normal that a teen book simply has to include them!

Although the end of the book was a little predictable, some of the thoughts imparted from Serena's teachers were quite interesting, like how we all carry burdens for other people without questioning and/or realizing it. I suppose I'm giving this 2 stars mainly because parts seemed quite thought-provoking. Overall, however, I think the whole book was supposed to be like that and simply wasn't (at least for me).

[Jessie Knite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually stumbled onto this book by mistake. After art class one Wednesday, I walked to the library to wait for my mom to pick me up. I was already reading like 10 books at once at this time, but I went browsing around anyway.
While browsing through a pile of books I found Undone. The copy looked new-ish, as if it was barely opened. Now, I usually don’t like covers with people’s faces on them, but I just LOVED this cover!!! I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but that’s exactly what I did. I read the summary and I knew I just had to read it.
Brooke Taylor brings strong characters to the frontlines. Serena is a sophomore in high school and self-described closet gaming geek. She is saved from social exile when she forms a friendship with Kori, a rebel and the class slut. I won’t being giving anything away when I say this: when Kori dies, Serena puts her own identity aside and “finishes” Kori’s undone list.
What makes this book truly unique and thrilling is the numerous plotlines that intertwine to create an underlying mystery that unfolds to become Serena's self-actualization. Fast pace, it keeps you on your toes until the very end. It gets right to the point and keeps you entertained all the way through. I could not put down this book!
The girls do experiment with drugs, drinking, etc. basically what most teenagers do, but it does not endorse that teens should do it. This might be a complaint for some people, but it made the story that much closer to relating to teenagers.
A must read!

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book had me and my sister crying by the end of the book. the characters reminded me a lot of people i know, knew of and always wondered about. the overall message and the symbolism through out the book is what stays with you. i recommend this to all women.

[Ginny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of dull. The cover pulled me in big time, but was just a lackluster read. Parts of the middle and the end were the only real entertaining bits. I am glad to be finished with this book.

[Jumana · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book I've learned not to take life for advantage. It was really sad when her friend died and then she found out it was her real sister. Live life the way you want to live it and never use it.

[Sierra Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

words have failed me

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Taylor, Brooke Undone, 320 p (app.). Walker (Bloomsbury), August 2008.

Serena isn't sure why bad girl Kori befriended her that day in eighth grade, but the two have been inseparable since. She knows that Kori has secrets and issues, and a drinking problem, but Serena has never been one to pry. Now, however, Serena is only left with questions and grabs onto the idea of fulfilling one of Kori's English assignments - a list of 5 ways in which Kori wanted to tempt fate - as a way to connect with her friend and hopefully find some closure. As with most secrets, however, the answers Serena finds may not be anything that she actually wants to hear.

For all the interesting dark potential this book had, it is all wasted, at least for school libraries, on massive amounts of swearing (23 'f" and more than 50 other swears) and sexual references.

NO. Cindy, Library Teacher

[Latasha Woodral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! It’s a awesome book ,

[K.Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start, but unexpected twists bring it home in the end.

[Afton Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this as an edgy teenager and loving it

[Alisha Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, I tend to read reviews AFTER I finish a book because I like to read what other people think of a book and whether or not my opinion is so far off...And when I read some of the glowing reviews for Undone, I thought "Huh, maybe I should bump up my rating to at least 2 stars cause clearly I missed something..." and then I kept thinking about the book and realized that I didn't find anything redeeming about this book. Frankly, I think Undone was pretty terrible.

Here's the thing about YA books: for me, they have to start being semi-intriguing immediately...or at least in the first twenty pages or so. Undone didn't start getting even remotely interesting until I hit the 100 page mark. And even then, it was just dragging along at a tepid pace. As a matter of fact, it wasn't even all that tepid. It was mostly cold. It wasn't absolute torture the way the first 100 pages were, but by no means was it a page turner...at all.

I think the reason for me not finding Undone to be a page-turner can be tied to the fact that I just didn't see this great, amazing, life-affirming friendship between the two main characters. We're told from the beginning that Kori and Serena are best friends, but I never felt it. I'm sure they were fond of each other, but considering that this book didn't even get remotely intriguing until a hundred pages in, I would've preferred if the author spent those pages showing why Kori and Serena were such great friends.

Serena's actions after the tragedy made me skeptical towards the "BFF" label. Serena spends most of Undone using Kori's list to flirt with numerous guys. Chicks who constantly need attention from guys to reaffirm their existence have always annoyed me and unfortunately, Serena falls into this trap. She likes Anthony, oh but she likes Shay, too. She doesn't like Josh, but she wants Josh to continue to be in awe of her despite the fact that she's both used him and blown him off. She just wants the attention. And Kori's list is just her excuse to continue to interact with Shay. Her "I'm doing this for Kori" reason falls flat when she spends more time obsessing over these guys than grieving her supposed "BFF"'s death.

And the big twist at the end was completely cliche. In fact, all of Undone was a huge cliche. You could see all of the events that happened from a mile away. Oh, and all of the pop culture references that the author infused in this book to try to make herself seem hip and cool were aggravating. And this is coming from someone who continuously watches Gilmore Girls and tends to love pop culture references. However, they fell completely flat in Undone. It's like the author was trying a little too hard to make the book seem relevant.

Overall, I found Undone to be a dud. It wasn't engaging, nor beautifully written. None of the relationships in this book were well-developed and neither were any of the characters, for that matter. The only reason I even finshed this book was because it was part of a reading challenge. Otherwise I would've put it down before I hit the 100 page mark since it was so boring. I say skip it...and read 13 Reasons Why. Now there's a book that can resonate emotinally with people...Undone...not even a little bit.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

What five ways would you tempt fate if given the chance?
I found myself asking this upon the completion of Undone. It's difficult to describe such a book, dark, emotional but above all else I believe that compelling stands to be the best word I can use to describe it. Many people argue that the characters are unbelievable in books such as this, but there was a certain quality to each of Taylor's carefully constructed characters which seemed to give them a life all of their own. I instantly fell in love with two characters in particular, Serena and Kori, there is something so wonderful about their relationship, reminding me of my own relationship with my best friend. That trust, love and above all else the friendship that binds them together.

Kori is the fallen cheerleader, dark, mysterious and seemingly fearless. She has her moments of utter insanity, too high, drunk or just plain strong minded to see sense. Although I could not relate to this there was something about her that seemed to be so human, so real to me. Her personality too reminds me somewhat of a very close friend of mine. Despite her faults Serena is able to love her for who she is until her untimely death. At times Serena seemed to almost become Kori in an attempt to bring her friend back, and in all honesty, what would any of us do? Unable to forget, barely able to move on how would I deal with this situation? - That's what I found myself thinking, and in the end I decided that this factor was the most compelling aspect of this novel. That ability to make you treasure what you have while you still have it, and to accept who you and let nothing define or change you.

This book really tugs at your heartstrings, I was teary and I was angry for Serena. However, I loved the author's writing style, the way in which all the elements of the story tied so easily together, dangling right there in front of you. I loved Serena's friendship with Shay and Parker, they were an element in the story that just seemed to add to it. The book would not have been what it was without either of them. Aside fromt he story I loved the lists - These five ways to tempt fate. I decided upon completion of the novel to make my own, seal it within an envelope and hide it away for a year. I will open it again on this day next year, a reminder set in my phone to remind me. I'll be back to put my results and share my five ways I've decided to tempt fate in a year.

In the mean time, I suggest you read this novel. Heartbreaking, moving and compelling it has believable characters, beautiful writing that connects well with teenagers and it is a book that makes you wonder what you'd do, how'd you'd cope and to what extent you would go to ensure that a friends last wishes were fulfilled. A wonderful and moving read for older teenagers and above.

5 Stars.

[Liviania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serena Moore is, for the most part, your average high school student. A couple of years ago her relationship with her mom deteriorated and she doesn't know why or how to repair it. She loves her best friend Kori Kitzler who is both a good and a bad influence. She's a gamer, finding refuge in the programming she can control. Although she wishes fellow computer geek Josh didn't have a crush on her. And that she could talk to Anthony Beck normally.

Brooke Taylor swiftly sets up this high school atmosphere. Serena and her three closest friends are fringe popular, though they think of themselves as outcast, and are somewhere between being good girls or bad girls. Kori's angry and wild and confident. She drinks, she does light drugs, and she sleeps around. But she's got a good heart and works to help Serena find herself even as Serena resists finding herself by simply following Kori. But things change when Kori dies.

Serena thought the only secret in her life was her father's identity. But now she's about to find out how many things Kori kept hidden - the least of which is the attractive shaym. Every revelation allows Serena to understand her more, even as her heart breaks further.

Reading UNDONE reminded me of the first time I read LOOKING FOR ALASKA. I cried, less during UNDONE, but I had errands my mom made me run during a crucial part of the novel. I think it calmed me. But the author slowly made it better, soothing the wound as the characters healed. It's the kind of book that's a little difficult to read in parts because it gets the emotions so right.

Serena, like any teenager, is self-centered. But Taylor fleshes out her world and you can catch glimpses of the journeys other characters are going on - Parker, Marci, Cole, and Lexi especially. All of them are going through difficult times as well. Their peripheral stories interact well with Serena's, allowing the secondary characters to have depth without stealing the show.

Serena and Kori wrote five things to tempt fate in class with their favorite teacher, Kori with thought and Serena carelessly. But in a town called Kismet with a mother named Destiny, fate just might respond. Serena struggles to complete Kori's list but her own haunts her as well. UNDONE is an engrossing tale of relationships, secrets, and self-discovery.

[Maelstrom Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review has been smuggled from Maelstrom to Indonesia to this posting computer. Here you may view it for a bare minimum of your soul:
--------
Serena and Kori have one of those friendships; one of those, you-are-everything-to-me-sisters-forevah kind of friendships. And to think that it started with a chance encounter in the eighth grade in a school bathroom.

Serena is quiet and subtly rebelling against her distant, Stepford-esque mother. Kori is the one with the guts and the voice. Serena is convinced that her friend can do absolutely anything, including tempt fate. This is where the list is born- a list of five things that Kori must do to tempt fate. But when something completely unexpected happens and tears the girls apart, it is up to Serena to fulfill the five simple goals of her best friend, all alone.


This was pretty much amazing. I was so excited when it came in to the library that I returned two unread books, JUST to circumvent my current five-books-at-a-time ban *sob* and take it out. I loved the characters from the beginning, their multilayered fexcellence and attitudes. They felt like my friends, just more tragic. Serena was such a familiar person, in that “Wow-this-author-is-freakishly-accurate-when-it-comes-to-writing-real-people” way. Her insecurities were completely believable and you root for her the entire book.



Plus plot. I liked the unexpected intersections of the character’s lives as they work through trauma. Plenty of unexpected “WOAH” moments and bitter surprises along the way. I don't think I've been so invovled in a realistic fiction since Chasing Windmills. And despite the sadness and darkness of the story, there was a great deal of humor involved as well. Snarky and very adolescent, which gave me even more proof that the author has that unique talent where she doesn’t lose her view of teenagerdom along the way to adultdom. Don’t you love that?



So, definitely 7 out of 7 Pearl Jam songs. Highly recommended! Also, don’t forget about the contest. That is the post directly beneath this one. There are six days left!

Fond-of-hyphens,
Aella

[Rachel Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book that I felt very drawn into(and not just because of the name of the author). It is the story of Serena, a 15 year old extremely screwed-up teenage girl, and her best friend Kori, who is both Serena's roll-model and even more screwed-up.

Although the girls are fifteen, I would not recommend this book to the younger teenage group. The girls are into all the things that most parents want to protect their kids from (smoking, drugs, alcohol, foul language, and sex - although there is no graphic sex). However, none of these things are gratuitous - but rather part of the make-up of how messed-up the kids are and some of the obstacles they must overcome.

Essentially, the story is about how Serena figures out who she and Kori really are and why they each have followed such a destructive course (and once I understood, I *understood*). Serena struggles with the choices she has made, her idolizing of Kori, her dreams of the father who abandoned her, and her relationship with a mother who is having an affair with a married man (and it gets worse).

My biggest complaint (other than the age-appropriateness of the book) is that the ending is too pat. The adults / roll models in Serena's life have done things with hugely negative consequences for Serena. There is an undercurrent of anger in the story (probably why I liked it so much), but as the secrets unfold, Serena forgives (and overcomes her screwed-uped-ness) rather than expressing her anger. I wanted to see the blow up - particularly at her parents who deserved it.

My second complaint is that Serena has a number of `lightbulb moments' that change her view of the world. The problem is the quantity of these, as the importance of each one became diluted and muddled. At the end of the day, I'm not clear which was the true message of the author.

Still, the book appealed to me. The reality is that a lot of kids make the same choices as Serena and Kori if not for the exact same reasons, then similar ones.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Brooke Taylor
Pages: 320
Source: Purchased at Barnes and Noble
Series or Standalone?: Standalone

When Kori Kitlzer, the “dark angel” of the 8th grade, tells Serena Moore that they are more alike than she thinks, Serena is instantly intrigued. As their friendship solidifies and their lives entwine, Serena tries to become more like the fearless, outspoken, and ambitious Kori. Soon Serena doesn’t know where she begins and Kori ends. But when a twist of fate yanks Kori away from Serena, she will need to find a way to complete her best friend’s life left undone.

* * *


This book is one of those novels that really makes you think. It deals with so many important issues such as drugs, sex, teenage pregnancy, parenthood, growing up without a parent, and the true tests of friendship.

Kori was outrageous and a risk-taker. She did everything without fear, but that also included doing some unhealthy, illegal things. But she loved Serena, and deep down she only wanted the best for her. Of course, all the characters in the book do drugs and smoke and drink, and that was the only thing I didn’t like.

I guess I don’t like books like that, because, as a teenager myself attending high school, I think it’s pretty unrealistic. Honestly, I do know people who do drugs, but it’s a very severe minority, and they absolutely don’t do it as openly as the characters in this book. The drug use is so casual. It gives an image that high school kids are all like that.

But I did love the message the story gave. Serena had spent her whole life wishing she had a father, and that played a major role in shaping her personality. And then to lose her best friend, who seemed to be the only thing anchoring her down to earth, it really tore her apart. She then had to rebuild her own life, and find herself as opposed to what she was trying to make herself be.

The writing was fine. It was written more in the tone of a teenager, which was good because it helped get into Serena’s head. Also, the cover is alright.


Plot: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 3/5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 2.5/5

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you're fifteen and feeling lost, what do you do? In Serena's case, she holds on to her friendship with Kori, who did a complete 180 degree change two years ago. She went from being a blonde cheerleader type to what other kids call a 'dark angel.' Despite their friendship, Kori won't tell Serena what happened to flip the switch, but then Serena has some secrets and unanswered questions of her own. Why does she look like Kori? Who is her father? What's the deal with her mother avoiding meaningful conversations, but leaving post-it notes that say 'let's talk' every time Serena does something that rocks the boat.
When one of their teachers gives them an assignment that asks them to think about ways they might change in the next six months and to list five things they could do that might tempt fate. Kori's always pushing Serena to stop being so timid and as they create their lists, the secrets begin to mount. Who is the guy that's instant messaging Serena, but thinks she's Kori? What do some of the veiled references Kori makes mean? Suddenly it's too late for Serena to get direct answers from her best friend. Kori dies in a horrific car crash in front of the high school just as Serena and Anthony, her new maybe boyfriend, arrive for class.
Serena is completely devastated, pushing her other friends away and trying to hide under the covers. Her mind can't accept that Kori is really dead. When she does finally let reality back into her life, she decides she must complete Kori's list of five, not only to honor her, but to get some answers that she desperately needs if she'll ever have any hope of moving on.
How she completes them and what she discovers along the way pulled me in so much that the world around me seemed to fade and I was inside the story. That's high praise for a first book. This one is gritty, sad and at times painful to read, but teens, particularly those who have experienced loss of a friend or who love an intricate plot with interesting characters will eat this book up in one sitting.

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I guess I have to say that I kind of hated this book. While at the same time I LOVED it. You may know from the book jacket (if you read it) that Kori dies. Though it doesn't exactly happen that way. First off, the book starts off with the start of Kori and Serena's friendship, how it started, where, etc. It then quickly continues to where Serena develops a HUGE crush on Anthony Beck. Kori tells her to go for it!! I mean, what best friend wouldn't?? This happens shortly after Serena gets a random IM from someone thinking she's Kori. The same night when Serena first kisses Anthony Beck, Kori goes off with a guy named Parker to do something Serena has no idea about. It's about a third of the way through the book and then it hits. You know that it was going to happen but it still brought tears to my eyes. Kori gets in a fatal car crash, and Parker, the driver, is left paralyzed...even though the doctor's can find nothing wrong with him they know it's a guilt injury. Kori left a list, a list of five things to tempt fate. 1. Sing with Bleeder Valve. 2. Get a tattoo. 3. Work things out with Shay. 4. Confront D. 5. Tell Serena. Serena finds this list and begins trying to work out who Shay and D are, as well as what Kori wanted to tell her. Then Serena starts finishing her own list. 1.Be on the front page of the Kismet Courier. Heh. 2.Sing in front of an audience. Without puking. 3.Become BFFs with a cheerleader. Again-without puking. 4.Fall for a high school guy. Um... yeah, don't think so. 5.Find my father. A girl can dream, can't she? Throughout the rest of the book Serena starts doing all that Kori couldn't. The question still remains though...can she get through these lists on her own?? Without her sister separated at birth to help her through it?? This is a wonderful debut novel of friendship, finding yourself, forgiveness, and best of all...the secrets we keep from the people whom we are closet too.

[Kiona (Books & Cafes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on http://www.yareads.com

When I first picked up this book, the description led me to believe it’d be about Kori. But really, only a small part is about Kori. Undone is Serena’s story; it’s a story of tempting fate, testing the bonds of friendship, discovering one’s identity, overcoming grief, growing up. Undone is Serena’s journey, but it also offers the reader a journey, one that, if you allow it, can reach the deepest part of your heart and possibly change your outlook on life.

Serena doesn’t know what made Kori decide to abandon her spot in the “popular crowd” all those years ago, but she’s grateful Kori chose her as her new best friend. Serena idolizes Kori to the point where she dyes and styles her hair so that the two are often mistaken for sisters. Kori is brash and bold and fearless, everything Serena wishes she could be. And Serena can’t imagine life without Kori, until she’s suddenly forced the face that reality.

Serena is an extremely relatable character. She’s so blinded by her envy of Kori that she fails to notice her own strong qualities. It isn’t until she has to live without Kori that Serena realizes she’s her own person and that perhaps Kori isn’t as perfect as Serena always thought.

In an effort to cope with the loss of her best friend, Serena embarks on a mission to complete Kori’s list of fate-tempting tasks. Serena thinks completing the list will bring her closer to Kori, but it actually ends up teaching her more about herself. For so long, Serena had been so wrapped up in Kori’s identity that she forgot she had one of her own. Brooke Taylor beautifully expresses the emotions of a young girl trying to find herself while managing feelings of sorrow, suspicion, and isolation. Taylor’s prose is hauntingly honest and realistic. Her story is innovative, at times romantic, and always gripping. It’s one of those books you’ll want to read again and again just to learn something new.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

What happens when the only person you think understands you is gone? It happened to Serena when she lost her friend Kori.

Her friendship with Kori started just a short time ago, but the two have come to almost define each other. Serena not only adopted Kori's look and style, but also gained her protection and support. Both girls struggle with family issues, but life seemed a bit easier when they could escape together.

Kori brought out the wild side of Serena. There were late night rendezvous, smoking, tongue piercings, and plans of a tattoo. Serena became more of a risk-taker and more sure of herself when Kori was there. Serena had other friends, but everyone took a step back when the two girls were together because their connection was special. The already rocky relationship Serena had with her mother became even edgier when her mother demanded that the two girls not see each other.

The accident was a shock to everyone. The ride Kori accepted with Parker became her last, and it left Serena with a feeling of responsibility to complete the tasks left undone by her friend. It was obvious from the funeral and memorial tribute that Kori's family didn't know her like Serena did, which meant that only Serena knew what to do to honor her memory. But when Serena began to check off the tasks on Kori's list, she began to uncover secrets about her own life.

Brooke Taylor is a YA author to keep an eye on. She realistically captures the frustration of teens trying to deal with family issues, school pressure, and finding a place to fit in. Readers from all backgrounds will be able to find themselves in Taylor's characters. The teen world of insecurities, impulsive decisions, and shifting emotions is well-developed in the storyline of UNDONE. I look forward to Ms. Taylor's next book.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undone is just what I expected, and a little more. The cover was dark and spooky looking with the girl’s cold blue eyes and burgundy lipstick standing out against her dark hair and pale skin I knew there was something about this girl that wasn’t what she seemed. Kori was not really a character I could relate to, she was confident, edgy, fearless, and dark. Serena on the other hand, seemed like someone I could talk to. The problem was Serena was completely under Kori’s influence. Smoke a cigarette? Sure. Go skinny dipping? Why not? Sneak out at night and hang out by the dam? Of course! Serena’s life revolved around Kori, but that was part of what made the book good. Their lives really connect when they have to write down five ways they would test fate. This adds a whole new twist in the plot that will completely change their lives in the future…

Fate plays a big role in this book. I never really thought about fate before, so this book made me actually think about what had happened in my life and why it might have happened. Even so, I don’t really believe in fate, but this book did make me consider it. That was one of my favorite parts in the book, especially having to try and figure out what some of the things on Kori’s list mean:

Sing with Bleeder Valve
Get a tattoo.
Work things out with Shay.
Confront D.
Tell Serena.
The auther did a great job of revealing what some of Kori's twists of fate meant. This book was part mystery, suspense, and romance. I really enjoyed reading it, although I think some parts could have been left out. All in all though I really liked it, and thought it was a great first novel. I think the ending was perfect and everything that happened was what should have happened. I hope I can read other things by this author in the future!


Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Undone is a story of friendship and grief. Kori and Serena are best friends. Though when they first met they appeared to come from very different worlds. Now, after several years of close friendship, the girls are inseparable. In fact, the girls are becoming more difficult to tell apart. Serena, our narrator, could never imagine a day could come where she'd be separated from Kori. But Kori's tragic death hits Serena hard. Serena decides one way for her to deal, to cope with her friend's death is to complete her friend's list. A list which started as a school assignment--to list five things they would never dream could really happen--takes on a whole new meaning. What's on Kori's list? 1. Sing with Bleeder Valve. 2. Get a tattoo. 3. Work things out with Shay. 4. Confront D. 5. Tell Serena. The list doesn't make a whole lot of sense to Serena--there are mysteries to be solved, secrets to be discovered. Serena is not alone--although she may feel it at times. There are a few people--two guys especially--who become rather important to Serena on her journey. Then, of course, there is the friction between Serena and her mother, Destiny.

First sentence: There they were--the worst words in all of the English language, scribbled in my mother's perky handwriting. "Let's Talk." I snatched the Post-it off the refrigerator door and glared at it. It didn't matter who said them--parent, teacher, or police officer--nothing good ever came of those words. (5)

Undone is well written. And it's a good book--a very good book even. A fact which is neither here nor there is that this one is set in Colorado. I seem to have stumbled across a few books this year set in Colorado--just something odd that I've noticed with this years reading.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

[Carole Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Undone" is a story about highschool student Serena Moore and her best friend, Kori. Serena and Kori met in the eigthth grade, and have been best friends ever since. However, they have their differences; Serena is shy and a closet gaming fanatic, while Kori is a risk-taker who is afraid of nothing. Depite these differences, Kori has always looked after Serena like an older sister, and Serena learned to depend on Kori for protection and answers; they were always together. After several late-night parties and fun, the girls believe that they can do anything possible as long as they are together. In one class, the assignment is to create a list of things each person wants to do or finish, what they want the most. Soon after the assignment, however, Kori is killed in a car accident. Serena is torn by the accident, and is hurting for several days and weeks. She goes to the funeral only to see that the daredevil Kori she knew with clean fingernails, no dark make up, and clothes not suited for her person. When she sees this, Serena takes it into her own hands to finish Koriʻs list. As she works down the list, Serena begins to realize that she can live without the protection of her friend, and on the way she makes new friends and discovers new things and ideas; she learns to live.

I liked this book and gave it four stars because I liked the story line and the idea of having a friend finish her best friendʻs list or wants and wishes. Also, the ending gave the story a twist that I personally enjoyed because it was so unexpected. I loved the characters and the character change that serena goes through throughout the story, where she learns to live on her own without the guidance of a best friend and sister.

[Eva Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic read, and I'm very glad that I bought this book for a few dollars from Whitcoulls along with a lot of others a year ago. Whitcoulls in Gisborne, New Zealand always had good cheepies from 3 dollars to about 15 dollars, and I looked through them for good sounding books. Hell, they even had books for one dollar, anyway. I really enjoyed this book and I the ending was VERY Unexpected by me. I think that Kori sounded like a really cool person, and I liked that they had the same hair and looked similar. I liked the quotes spread out through this book like "Wait until it is night before saying that it has been a fine day." - French Proverb
"There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out." - Russian Proverb
and
"A lie runs until it is overtaken by truth." - Cuban Proverb
I was on team Shay originally for who was going to be with Serena, but I like Anthony better now. I also admire Serena's will power to complete the list Kori wrote for her class project, after Kori died, to show how much they both cared about each other and how close they were. I don't think this review makes any sense, but whatever. I hope someone laughs.
Anyway, "The more I pretend to be shiny and bright, the darker I feel inside." - Page 272, Chapter 28.
This quote is true, from this book, because it's how I used to portray myself, "Shiny and Bright" meaning happy. I always used to feel sad inside. I then stopped pretending and became shy and sensitive again, and as of today after taking a remedy that my old step mum made me, I just feel less sensitive. This quote is now my new favourite quote!!