Wreck

by Kirstin Cronn-Mills

Sometimes loss has its own timetable.

Set on the shores of Lake Superior, Wreck follows high school junior Tobin Oliver as she navigates her father’s diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

Steve’s life as a paramedic and a runner comes to an abrupt halt just as Tobin is preparing her application for a scholarship to art school. With the help of Steve’s personal care assistant (and family friend) Ike, Tobin attends to both her photography and to Steve as his brain unexpectedly fails right along with his body.

Tobin struggles to find a “normal” life, especially as Steve makes choices about how his own will end, and though she fights hard, Tobin comes to realize that respecting her father’s decision is the ultimate act of love.

Genres: Contemporary, Family, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Teen

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2019

Reviews

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 STARS

Tobin’s father is rapidly decompensating from ALS and her asks for her help to end his life.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I thought, “It could be worse, at least I don’t have ALS.” Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is the scariest condition I can think of as patients slowly lose control of their muscles and ability to move, while their brain functioning remains intact and they understand everything happening to them. Eventually they become unable speak, eat or even swallow. Steven Hawking lived for years, immobilized but still able to contribute. Most people die within a few years.

WRECK is a premise filled with potential that fell flat. Kirstin Cronn Mills style of telling rather than showing lacked the heart and emotion that connected me to Tobin or her journey. Because I had cancer, I contemplated being in the position of Tobin’s father, though I cannot comprehend seeking assistance from one’s minor child, even one about to turn eighteen. That feels selfish.

I loathe the trope of the character who’s upset, pushes people away and treats them unkindly, but it’s all okay because s/he was going through a Big Thing. WRECK lacked character development and personality and the writing lacked voice.

WRECK is a poorly executed story with a great premise.

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

Wreck by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, 280 pages. Sky Pony Press, 2019. $17.

Language: R (100+swears, 20+ “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (dick pics mentioned, assisted suicide); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

It’s been Tobin and her dad since she was 5 and her mother walked out on them. Both of their worlds are ripped apart when Dad is diagnosed with ALS. First they think he could have years as the disease takes hold, like some do, but his symptoms quickly take a quick downhill turn. Dad is determined to take control of his own end and Tobin struggles to be supportive while dealing with her own heartache over her dad, her best friend’s, death.

Two hours is all it took to read this, because I couldn’t put it down once I started. Tobin’s anguish, her dad’s tragedy, is gripping. Cronin-Mills lays their hearts bare for us and fills her tale with tears, laughter, love.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...

[Amrita Srikanth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised more people haven't read this book! I learnt about ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and the great lakes, and about the beautiful song tribute to the ship Edmund Fitzgerald. It was written so realistically I thought it was a true story.
Prepare to keep tissues handy, and try not to read this book in public places in case the waterworks begin.

[J.S. Nelson]

DNF

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yafict...

WRECK is a heart-wrenching story about a teenage girl on the brink of college as she discovers her father's life-altering diagnosis and the subsequent fallout. Tobin dreams of being a photographer and following her creative passions- much like her father did when he was young, writing a couple books before becoming a paramedic and settling down in Duluth. It has been just Tobin and her father, Steve, for a long time after her mother left when she was five.

After her father breaks a wrist, Tobin finds out there is something bigger going on- Steve has ALS and will die. The question is really when. Tobin has a lot of difficulty accepting this about her father, and that he will not be around forever, or even for her college graduation, wedding, or grandkids. However, she must. The story follows her along this journey from diagnosis until his death with lots of heartfelt discussions and every bit as wrecking as the title suggests.

What I loved: Tobin and her father have a fantastic relationship, and I loved watching them together and seeing how they deal with ALS. The portrayal of the disease- both physical and mental- and the ramifications for family was also really beautifully conveyed. The book also includes discussions about euthanasia that can be quite powerful. The addition of Tobin's writing and photography only adds to the overall beauty of the book, allowing us to get even deeper into her mind. And, I must say, I loved the dad jokes.

Final verdict: This is not an easy read, but it is certainly heartfelt and powerful. The ending is quite sad but beautiful at the same time. I would recommend for anyone looking for a unique read about death, major illness/ALS, and father-daughter relationships.

[Lisa N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this book would be gut wrenching, but I had to read it. ALS took my brother who was a father of 5, so I wanted to read a child’s perspective of dealing with this horrific disease. I have to say that I didn’t like Steve. I compared him to my brother who lived with ALS for 3 years with such courage and grace, and Steve paled in comparison. However, I did like Tobin and Ike. The continuing symbolism of Tobin removing her heart throughout the book touched me. Ike was an angel of a caretaker and every ALS patient needs one. A sad but realistic look at dealing with a terminal illness - the anger, the loss, the grief, the love. What I thought would be a hard read ended up being an emotional page turner for me - read it in 2 days.

[Lorry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. It started really slow for me but once it picked up I just wanted to keep reading it. I love the “dad jokes” sprinkled throughout and getting to know the characters.

[Erin Ericson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one day and sobbed for 90% of it. An ode to grief, love, and compassion ♥️

[Forever Young Adult]

Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Gitchee Gumee
Drinking Buddy: Yes
Testosterone Estrogen Level: Subdued
Talky Talk: Sigh
Bonus Factors: Assisted Suicide, Lake Superior
Bromance Status: There With You At the End

Read the full book report here.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My full review can be found on the Epilie Aspie Chick blog! 

Thank you to Skyhorse Publishing for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story about father and daughter is an emotional sledgehammer that I was sad to see end. Between the devastating news of Steve's diagnosis and the daughter who could never be ready at such a young age to be gone - many would think this would be a sad and serious read. The reality couldn't be farther from the truth! Most of this read is lighthearted, funny, and joyful reminders of what life is all about. Beyond that, the story also tells such a beautiful picture of what it's like to get through a trauma with a supportive community. 

[Amber Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wreck by Kirstin Cronin-Mills

Oh my god this book is so wonderfully written I am absolutely in love! It gave a real glimpse into the world of ALS. I cried so much with this book but I loved it!!!
5 stars

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted to www.rebeccasravereviews.com

I received a copy of Wreck in exchange for an honest review, so thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing/Sky Pony Press.

Wreck is a story about the worst day of Tobin's life - the day her dad tells her he has ALS and, soon, will die from it. Then ensues so many worse days, days Tobin never thought she would experience, as she has to put on a brave face, pretend she's okay, and worst of all, pretend she understands why her dad wants to take his own life - to be in control of one little thing that's happening to him and his body and his mind deteriorate with the disease.

I spent the first half of this novel thinking it seriously lacked emotion. As somebody with a dead dad, books about dead, or dying, dads always hit me hard. And while the premise of Wreck was sure to pull at the heartstrings... the execution left a lot to be desired. From the minute Tobin's dad told her about his diagnosis, to his carer moving in with them, to Tobin considering what part her dad would play in her origin story she has to make up for her photography portfolio for college, there was so much room for emotion. All of the emotions - anger, frustration, fear, grief, sadness - but the novel stayed pretty static. I could appreciate that Tobin was going through some stuff, but it never left the page and into my head that much.

And then we hit around 60%..

And that’s when I started to sob. I don’t know if the writing style changed, or if it was just the change in events, if it some external factor that made this whole situation seem more real to me, or if it was a change in the story itself, but something definitely shifted. I had to stop reading it for fear of crying on the bus, and it was only at this point I felt a connection to the story.

But I don’t think that makes up for the beginning of the novel, where I nearly gave up on it.

Some other points… Gracie was a bit of a non-character. As a best friend, she served very little purpose. I understood their distance, that Tobin found it hard to be around her, but the novel would have been very much the same without her. Actually… a lot of the characters were of little importance. They were flat, emotionless - Alison left a lot to be desired and Ike was the only real one who had some personality to him.

It also could have covered so much more. I’m not saying it needed to be a totally different book altogether, but you’re bringing up the topic of euthanasia, the right to die, absent mothers, illegal drugs, ALS - this could have been such a deeper book but it just brushed over a lot of topics.

And so, I give Wreck 3 out of 5 stars. The end emotion, for me, doesn’t make up for what else the book lacked, and I walked away feeling disappointed.

[Alyssa Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out this review and others at my blog Too Many Books!

A special thank you to Netgalley and Skyhorse Press for providing a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much and it absolutely destroyed me. It follows the story of Tobin, starting when her dad is diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease. It is was a really intense read but also really good and I loved reading it.

The buildup was really good because the whole book you know that Steve is going to die but the way that everything slowly goes down is just absolutely amazing and I definitely got more invested than I initially expected to be, especially because of some of the really heartbreaking moments that occur. These unexpected moments made me cry and made the ending even more intense.

It wasn't just all sad either. I know that I personally would not be able to deal with that but even the lighthearted moments made sure to have hints and mentions of how what lay ahead was not going to be so pleasant. The dad jokes particularly were great, both as characterization and to keep the mood from becoming too dark with everything else that was going on. I loved Tobin's interactions with her friends, particularly Sid as no one really does know what to do. But that's life and the not knowing how to act is part of what made everything more realistic. The brother/sister relationship with Ike and Tobin was awesome because it was super healthy and at first I was afraid that it was going to be romantic which would have been creepy with the major age gap but I was thrilled with how this ended up developing.

The beginning just took a little bit too long to get into. I thought I wasn't going to like this book at first, but as soon as things got rolling, I really ended up enjoying it. If you can push through the beginning, the rest is definitely worth it. During later events in the story the pacing was excellent but it just did not fit right with some of the beginning events in the story. Also, Gracie's texting really annoyed me. Like, to the point were I was about to text my best friend who is more savvy and ask if anyone actually uses hashtags in texts. Because every single text annoyed me.

Seriously though, I loved this book and thought it was really powerful. It felt realistic and I cried a lot. I love how everyone doesn't know how to act and the choices that they end up making. There was so much to love about this book and I easily recommend that people should read it. Just make sure you're prepared to cry first.

[(Ellie) ReadtoRamble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so, so hard to read, but it was so worth it. I lost my dad nearly two years ago to cancer so I know exactly what the main character Tobin goes through. This book follows Tobin when she learns about her dad's diagnosis of ALS and the 6 months she has left with him.
This is such a heartwrenching but also heartwarming book about illness, suffering, grief, death and life carrying on after the loss of a loved one. It took me a long time to read and I had to put it down for quite a while multiple times because it was just SO REAL, and I praise the author for her novel. I had never read a book like this one, obviously we see films all the time about parents dying and everyone cries during these films because it's sad, but I have never felt so understood in a book. Even though it is a really hard book to read because of its subject and the ending, I think everybody should read it, whether you have lost no one or whether you have because for me it is an ode to life and how to deal with grief. The first half of the book was quite light and a bit lacking in emotion but it makes up for it in the second half, I think I cried my eyes out right up until the end because I saw myself and just wanted to tell Tobin that everything would be okay. Grief is a hard process, the pain and anger overwhelm you and it never goes away, but it gets easier to smile at people who ask you how you are and to say that you have lost someone, this book is the proof that life goes on.
I gave it 5 out of 5 stars because it was brilliant and I loved it, even though it really made me cry a lot.

[Olivia Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

***ARC provided by NetGalley***

Much like the title states, this book wrecked me. It was very difficult to read due to the content & some of the stylistic choices. I thought the book was very slow until the last like 40% of the novel....at that point, it took everything inside of me not to cry my eyes out the entire time.

I don't have a lot of experience with ALS, but I thought this novel did a really good job of showing what it's like to live with the disease, as well as what it's like to be around someone who is suffering. The emotions throughout the book were raw, and I truly appreciated that.

On the flip side, I thought there were a few pointless characters (like Tobins best friend Gracie) that literally added nothing to the plot. I wish there would've been more to the meat of the story rather than saving everything until the very end.

Overall, this was a slow read for me, but I did end up enjoying it. 3/5 stars.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is still breaking from this book. It's one of the most emotional stories I have read in a long time.
Tobin is a 17 year old girl who has just found out her father has ALS. They are realistic and know that it is a death sentence for him. Her father (Steve) is an EMT, he has run marathons, and he lives life to the fullest but the disease slowly cripples him and eventually he decides he wants to make the decision of when to end it. He doesn't want the disease to decide for him.
Tobin is forced to deal with watching her father lose himself which is something no 17 years old to have to worry about. Her mother isn't even around to help her cope as she left them years earlier.
The book is beautifully written, I don't remember ever highlighting so many sentences in a book since Stephen King's Different Season.
My full review is up on my blog at https://wordpress.com/view/cozybookno...

Its a beautiful and heartbreaking book all at the same time.

[Janice Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had I known how sad this book is, I would have waited to read it at some other time; it’s been a tough couple months with too many deaths - three colleagues, one whom I knew very well and then two close friends of my husband - one to cancer and one from a heart attack. Five deaths in less than two months means my heart was already pretty fragile and then to read the anguish and anger experienced by Tobin as she navigates the perilous waters of her dads battle with ALS.... it was a tough read. I don’t know much about the end stages of the disease so I don’t know if the descriptions of behaviour were authentic, but I felt for both Tobin and Ike as they supported Steve in his struggle. Strange as this sounds for a story about death, I did feel that it was a beautiful book.

[Laurah Quayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope this is allowed here if not I understand. My husband was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) when he was 63 years old 4 years ago. The Rilutek (riluzole) did very little to help him. The medical team did even less. His decline was rapid and devastating. His arms weakened first, then his hands and legs. He resorted to a wheelchair (Perbombil C300). A year ago, I began to do a lot of research and came across www Health Herbs Clinic com, I decided to start him on the ALS herbal protocol as I had nothing else to turn to; 2 months into treatment he improved dramatically. At the end of the full treatment course, the disease is totally under control. No case of dementia, hallucination, weakness, muscle pain and he is even learning to Walk again. visit healthherbsclinic com

[Grace Nathan'S · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband was diagnosed August 2022. It was hard and I cry daily but not in front of him unless we cry together. He couldn’t find anything to give him happiness or hope. We have been focusing on our faith. He was only losing his voice before we made the decision to try different medications, which significantly enhanced his condition. He received the ALS/MND treatment for his ALS approximately four months ago; since then, he has stopped using a feeding tube, speech is getting better by the day, sleeps well, works out frequently. I’m surprised a lot of CALs, and their PALS haven’t heard of it, google uinehealthcentre. com. My husband has become very active

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great and it broke my heart. The way it illustrates the whole family and friends of the family dealing with Tobin's dad's diagnosis of ALS as well as his decision to die on his own terms was so emotionally and realistically portrayed. It didn't brush over realities of both the physical as well as mental illness and grief. It was absolutely fantastic.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so well written. It is a touching story about family, grief and overcoming struggles that life throws at you.

This story is about Tobin Oliver, a high school junior whose father just got diagnosed with ALS. You watch her struggle with balancing her art and taking care of her father. When her father makes some decisions on how he wants his own life to end, Tobin learns that she must respect her father's decisions and just love him for his choices.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was beautiful in a very unexpected way. I cried very hard at many parts and laughed at loud every time I read one of the dad jokes. reading books like Wreck help show you different ways of living, dying, and ultimately grieving. There isn't necessarily a right or wrong way to grieve, just don't shut yourself off.

[Tas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.

A compelling fast paced story about family, coping with loss, grief and the little bright things on the way to starting over.

Full review coming soon.

[Jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god this book. Such a strong tale, so heart wrenching and such well written characters. This was so much to read. I balled my eyes out and had to flag so many quotes I don’t ever want to forget. Definitely holding onto this title forever. Wow.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Wreck. You will want to have a box of tissues handy with this raw, emotional read.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah. Such a sad and intense book. My long review is at my blog Trish Talks Texts now.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will wreck your heart.

[Hunglun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like in this book perspectives on Relationship, Jokes, quotations of wisdom and cooking recipes.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and heartbreaking!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. The first book in a long time to make me ugly cry