What do you think?
Drift
Jess's big brother Seb has killed himself and Jess isn't talking. Her parents are angry, her teachers are worried and her best friend Lexi is looking around for a new best friend. And then there's the business with fit, pushy Tris. Jess needs to find her voice and start to make her life feel better again, but where does she begin?
192 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 1, 2016
Originally posted at Marta's Bookshelf: http://martasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2...
I want to start this review with a massive thank you to Jenny Alexander, author of Drift, for sending me a PDF ARC of this unforgettable book.
SUMMARY AND SPOILER-FREE REVIEW:
Jess doesn't talk ever since her brother committed suicide. She is drifting away from people. Her best friend is already looking for someone else to spend time with. Her mum isn't the same and her dad only drinks and complains.
Jess is stuck in her silent world and doesn't know how to move on from Sebastian's death.
She doesn't talk, so she writes.
If I had to summarise this book with just one word, it would be beautiful.
Drift is a very simple yet whole story. It tells the journey of a teenager whose world crashes down. The writing style is flawless and the structure of the story is absolutely captivating.
The story is perfectly explained and distributed and it's great that we get to know the whole story, past and present.
I enjoyed so much reading the "before" part because I got to know the characters and I grew fond of some of them. I think the thing I liked the most about that part of the story was seeing Jess' fear of her brother Sebastian committing suicide and the way he tried to hide and cover every evidence of helplessness he left.
On the other hand, Jess' journey as just a teenager and her adventure with her friend Lexi was nice to read, though Lexi herself annoyed me sometimes. That side of Jess' life was reckless and it made me go "wow, the amount of things you are not aware of as you go on with your life are overwhelming".
The part where Sebastian actually dies was painfully beautiful because even though the characters were utterly devastated I saw how much they all cared for him.
I could relate to the situation since my older sister and I are around Seb's an Jess' ages and it made me see how lucky I am to have her in my life. Losing a sibling must be terrifying, and moving on one of the hardest things to do.
Jess and her family trying to move on was hard to read and Jess' silence was totally understandable as well as heartbreaking.
Romeo and Juliet's mention is already a great enough reason to read this book. I absolutely loved the discussion over the classic.
I really don't know what else I can say without going into details other than this is one of the most beautiful books I've read in a while.
This story is absolutely emotional and beautiful. You all seriously need to give it a try. You won't regret it.
I want to start this review with a massive thank you to Jenny Alexander, author of Drift, for sending me a PDF ARC of this unforgettable book.
SUMMARY AND SPOILER-FREE REVIEW:
Jess doesn't talk ever since her brother committed suicide. She is drifting away from people. Her best friend is already looking for someone else to spend time with. Her mum isn't the same and her dad only drinks and complains.
Jess is stuck in her silent world and doesn't know how to move on from Sebastian's death.
She doesn't talk, so she writes.
If I had to summarise this book with just one word, it would be beautiful.
Drift is a very simple yet whole story. It tells the journey of a teenager whose world crashes down. The writing style is flawless and the structure of the story is absolutely captivating.
The story is perfectly explained and distributed and it's great that we get to know the whole story, past and present.
I enjoyed so much reading the "before" part because I got to know the characters and I grew fond of some of them. I think the thing I liked the most about that part of the story was seeing Jess' fear of her brother Sebastian committing suicide and the way he tried to hide and cover every evidence of helplessness he left.
On the other hand, Jess' journey as just a teenager and her adventure with her friend Lexi was nice to read, though Lexi herself annoyed me sometimes. That side of Jess' life was reckless and it made me go "wow, the amount of things you are not aware of as you go on with your life are overwhelming".
The part where Sebastian actually dies was painfully beautiful because even though the characters were utterly devastated I saw how much they all cared for him.
I could relate to the situation since my older sister and I are around Seb's an Jess' ages and it made me see how lucky I am to have her in my life. Losing a sibling must be terrifying, and moving on one of the hardest things to do.
Jess and her family trying to move on was hard to read and Jess' silence was totally understandable as well as heartbreaking.
Romeo and Juliet's mention is already a great enough reason to read this book. I absolutely loved the discussion over the classic.
I really don't know what else I can say without going into details other than this is one of the most beautiful books I've read in a while.
This story is absolutely emotional and beautiful. You all seriously need to give it a try. You won't regret it.
August 26, 2026
Jess has stopped talking since her big brother, Sebastian, took his own life.
Her counsellor encourages her to write to Sebastian about how she feels and the story is mainly told in the form of what she writes.
It is heart-wrenching and unbearably sad but ultimately hopeful as Jess begins to slowly heal.
As someone who has been up close and personal with suicide this felt very authentic and I recognised so many of the reactions and emotions of the characters from my own experience.
I can absolutely see why Drift is recommended by Cruse Bereavement Care.
This is Young Adult fiction at it's best, beautifully written and so relatable.
Her counsellor encourages her to write to Sebastian about how she feels and the story is mainly told in the form of what she writes.
It is heart-wrenching and unbearably sad but ultimately hopeful as Jess begins to slowly heal.
As someone who has been up close and personal with suicide this felt very authentic and I recognised so many of the reactions and emotions of the characters from my own experience.
I can absolutely see why Drift is recommended by Cruse Bereavement Care.
This is Young Adult fiction at it's best, beautifully written and so relatable.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews