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De scherven
Brengen scherven elkaar geluk? 'De scherven' van Amy Giles is een aangrijpende YA-plus over de nasleep van een schietpartij.
De buurt waar Jessica en Lucas wonen wordt in 'De scherven' van Amy Giles opgeschrikt door een tragedie. In het jaar na de schietpartij, waarbij ze allebei hun broer verloren, begint Lucas met kickboksen en probeert hij de wereld mooier te maken met random acts of kindness. Jess zorgt voor haar depressieve moeder en doet haar best om rond te komen. Als Jess en Lucas elkaar ontmoeten, herkennen ze iets in elkaar. Ze ontdekken dat twee scherven elkaar misschien wel geluk kunnen brengen. Zolang ze elkaar geen pijn doen. Deze aangrijpende YA+ is het tweede boek van Amy Giles dat in het Nederlands verschijnt, na het goed ontvangen 'Alles is nu'.
De buurt waar Jessica en Lucas wonen wordt in 'De scherven' van Amy Giles opgeschrikt door een tragedie. In het jaar na de schietpartij, waarbij ze allebei hun broer verloren, begint Lucas met kickboksen en probeert hij de wereld mooier te maken met random acts of kindness. Jess zorgt voor haar depressieve moeder en doet haar best om rond te komen. Als Jess en Lucas elkaar ontmoeten, herkennen ze iets in elkaar. Ze ontdekken dat twee scherven elkaar misschien wel geluk kunnen brengen. Zolang ze elkaar geen pijn doen. Deze aangrijpende YA+ is het tweede boek van Amy Giles dat in het Nederlands verschijnt, na het goed ontvangen 'Alles is nu'.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2018
40 people are currently reading
4881 people want to read
About the author
Amy Giles
3 books220 followersAmy Giles is a young adult author. Her debut novel, Now Is Everything, was the 2018 winner of the prestigious Buxtehude Bulle award (Jetzt ist alles, was wir haben), a Bank Street Best Children's Book of 2017, and a Georgia Peach Book Award Nominee. Her sophomore novel, That Night, was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard award. She lives on an Island that is Long with her husband, two daughters, and rescue dog.
Praise for NOW IS EVERYTHING
“Powerful and haunting, Now Is Everything explores the complexities of family and abuse, as we follow one girl on her courageous journey to choose love over hate and hope over fear.” —Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be
“Hadley is living the hidden, complex life that so many young people know - a teenager trapped inside her dysfunctional family. This beautiful and sad book will push you toward an unexpected conclusion. You won’t be able to put this novel down.” —Peter Brown Hoffmeister, author of Too Shattered For Mending
“An incredibly powerful and moving debut that is not to be missed, Now Is Everything tackles the tragic reality and heartbreak of familial abuse that will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page. This book is a must read and Hadley’s story is way too important to not be shared; I cannot sing enough praise for Amy Giles and her gorgeous debut.” —Erin L. Schneider, author of Summer of Sloane
“Now Is Everything is equal parts heartbreaking, unflinching, and hopeful. Hadley’s story will no doubt reach readers who need it.” —Kara Thomas, author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters
Praise for NOW IS EVERYTHING
“Powerful and haunting, Now Is Everything explores the complexities of family and abuse, as we follow one girl on her courageous journey to choose love over hate and hope over fear.” —Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be
“Hadley is living the hidden, complex life that so many young people know - a teenager trapped inside her dysfunctional family. This beautiful and sad book will push you toward an unexpected conclusion. You won’t be able to put this novel down.” —Peter Brown Hoffmeister, author of Too Shattered For Mending
“An incredibly powerful and moving debut that is not to be missed, Now Is Everything tackles the tragic reality and heartbreak of familial abuse that will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page. This book is a must read and Hadley’s story is way too important to not be shared; I cannot sing enough praise for Amy Giles and her gorgeous debut.” —Erin L. Schneider, author of Summer of Sloane
“Now Is Everything is equal parts heartbreaking, unflinching, and hopeful. Hadley’s story will no doubt reach readers who need it.” —Kara Thomas, author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters
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November 15, 2018
You might have noticed I have a very specific “type” when it comes to YA contemporary: if it isn’t tragic, I probably won’t like it, but if it can yank at my heart strings and make me cry (and maybe rage) a few times? Well, that’s my idea of a good time. Given how Amy’s last release
Now is Everything
destroyed my entire life for days after I finished it, I had high hopes for this story, and wow, did it deliver. Amy Giles is flawless when it comes to these gut-punch, heart-wrenching contemporaries that I can’t help but carry with me long after they end.
That Night picks up a year after a shooting in Queens, where we follow two protagonists—Jess and Lucas, both teens who each lost a big brother in the tragic event. Their similarities basically stop there, though; besides their grief, their reactions and the ways their lives have changed since that terrible night couldn’t be more different.
What we really see a difference in is how each teen’s families have reacted: for Jess, her father had exited her life before her brother’s death, and now it’s just her and her mother. Her mother suffers from such extreme grief and depression that it’s a fight to convince her to even eat or get out of bed, and Jess finds herself being forced to keep the household going while attending school. We watch Jess function as this pragmatist who’s doing everything on her own, doesn’t know how to accept help from anyone, and honestly, it’s a wonder the poor girl can even stay afloat.
On the other side of the coin, there’s Lucas, whose loving parents take care of him, keeping him in therapy and even encouraging his newfound love of boxing to work through his stress and grief. His mother has become this helicopter parent who feels the need to do everything for him and expend all of her energy on keeping him as safe as humanly possible, and when you compare her to Jess’ absent family, it depicts this juxtaposition that is actually devastating. There’s a scene in which Jess is interacting with Lucas’ mother that has me literally choking up while writing this review, because it’s just so painful to watch Jess go through life alone, and I know I’ve said it a million times, but Amy Giles is so good at breaking my heart, I swear.
Honestly, what else can I even say? It’s one of those stories that’s really character-driven, and you have to read it for yourself to experience it. Watching these teens and their families slowly heal, knowing that there’s an empty space in their lives now that can never be filled, but might be soothed, at least, by this sweet, timid relationship blossoming between Jess and Lucas—it’s heavy, it’s impactful, and it’s wonderful.
One last thing, though—trust me when I say that the grief in this book is drastic, and heavy, and tangible. I cried so many times while reading this because my heart was breaking for these poor families. What killed me the most, besides how badly Jess needed her mother, was her mother’s behavior in the first place. As a mother myself, I can only imagine how easily the loss of a child could put someone into a tunnel so dark, they couldn’t fathom finding a light at the end of it. It’s not okay that she checks out and leaves Jess all alone, but I can’t say that I don’t understand it.
This is one of those stories that I know I will carry with me for such a long time. There are shootings here in the US so often, and we’ve lost so many young lives in recent years. It can be easy to think of those numbers as statistics, but Amy Giles’ storytelling reminds me that each person lost had a family who’s been left to mourn them. I only hope that I’ve somehow managed to find the right combination of words to convince anyone reading this review to pick up a copy of this book, because Amy’s stories are worth it. I hope she never tires of writing these tragic, beautiful contemporaries, because I will never tire of reading them.
Content warnings for grief, depression, PTSD, anxiety, drug abuse, attempted suicide
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to HarperTeen for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I have to wonder if other people find some measure of comfort in being around survivors of a shared tragedy. Because I sure as hell don’t.
That Night picks up a year after a shooting in Queens, where we follow two protagonists—Jess and Lucas, both teens who each lost a big brother in the tragic event. Their similarities basically stop there, though; besides their grief, their reactions and the ways their lives have changed since that terrible night couldn’t be more different.
I miss my mother as much as I miss Ethan, if not more.
What we really see a difference in is how each teen’s families have reacted: for Jess, her father had exited her life before her brother’s death, and now it’s just her and her mother. Her mother suffers from such extreme grief and depression that it’s a fight to convince her to even eat or get out of bed, and Jess finds herself being forced to keep the household going while attending school. We watch Jess function as this pragmatist who’s doing everything on her own, doesn’t know how to accept help from anyone, and honestly, it’s a wonder the poor girl can even stay afloat.
“I was always in his shadow, but it wasn’t bad. Now, though… it’s like I’m always standing in the shadow of his ghost.”
On the other side of the coin, there’s Lucas, whose loving parents take care of him, keeping him in therapy and even encouraging his newfound love of boxing to work through his stress and grief. His mother has become this helicopter parent who feels the need to do everything for him and expend all of her energy on keeping him as safe as humanly possible, and when you compare her to Jess’ absent family, it depicts this juxtaposition that is actually devastating. There’s a scene in which Jess is interacting with Lucas’ mother that has me literally choking up while writing this review, because it’s just so painful to watch Jess go through life alone, and I know I’ve said it a million times, but Amy Giles is so good at breaking my heart, I swear.
But what if we’re just that, two broken pieces that end up jabbing and hurting each other and everyone around us?
Honestly, what else can I even say? It’s one of those stories that’s really character-driven, and you have to read it for yourself to experience it. Watching these teens and their families slowly heal, knowing that there’s an empty space in their lives now that can never be filled, but might be soothed, at least, by this sweet, timid relationship blossoming between Jess and Lucas—it’s heavy, it’s impactful, and it’s wonderful.
My mother’s words ring in my ears. “I don’t know how—”
I can only imagine how she was going to finish her thought.
‘I don’t know how to make this awfulness go away. I don’t know how to keep on living. I don’t know how to love you without him.’
One last thing, though—trust me when I say that the grief in this book is drastic, and heavy, and tangible. I cried so many times while reading this because my heart was breaking for these poor families. What killed me the most, besides how badly Jess needed her mother, was her mother’s behavior in the first place. As a mother myself, I can only imagine how easily the loss of a child could put someone into a tunnel so dark, they couldn’t fathom finding a light at the end of it. It’s not okay that she checks out and leaves Jess all alone, but I can’t say that I don’t understand it.
“You’re both so young. The world shouldn’t be this hard for you yet.”
This is one of those stories that I know I will carry with me for such a long time. There are shootings here in the US so often, and we’ve lost so many young lives in recent years. It can be easy to think of those numbers as statistics, but Amy Giles’ storytelling reminds me that each person lost had a family who’s been left to mourn them. I only hope that I’ve somehow managed to find the right combination of words to convince anyone reading this review to pick up a copy of this book, because Amy’s stories are worth it. I hope she never tires of writing these tragic, beautiful contemporaries, because I will never tire of reading them.
Content warnings for grief, depression, PTSD, anxiety, drug abuse, attempted suicide
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to HarperTeen for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 23, 2019
It's been a year since the shooting in their town changed everything, and Jessica Nolan and Lucas Rossi are each trying to manage in their own way. Jess is trying to care for her severely depressed mom, who can barely get out of bed. That means helping pay the bills, cook the meals, and generally take care of everything. She misses her best friend desperately, but Marissa is across the country at a school for those suffering post traumatic stress. Meanwhile, Lucas is coping by taking up boxing. It helps relieve some of his stress and anxiety--and get him away from the watchful eye of his newly overprotective mom. When Jess and Lucas meet at their after-school job, they realize they have one big thing in common: their shared tragedy. It's not exactly something they want to share. But slowly the two become friends. Can they help each other move forward from some of the horrors they've been through?
Oh this book. This beautiful, sad, lovely book. It's such an immersive, amazing read. Giles gives such a great voice to her characters; even though the book has a sad topic at its core, it's also hopeful and touching, and you want to keep reading it. You know how some books seem to go out of their way to have unlikeable characters and you have to like the book in spite of them? This book is the opposite. I dare you to not fall in love with Jess and Lucas. And, oh my goodness, my heart just went out to these kids. Poor Jess. She has so much to deal with it, and so does Lucas, too. The guilt these kids feel at being alive--Giles does such an amazing job at portraying their feelings and emotions. They come across so realistically and starkly. It also portrays mental illness very well: real, without embarrassment and shame; I was impressed and heartened. What a great thing for teens to read.
I really enjoyed the fact that this novel featured a sweet romance, but not a typical one. Jess and Lucas clearly like each other, but don't immediately "meet cute" or fall for each other the second they meet. You can see they need each other, but it takes them time to get there, which I appreciated. Their relationship is really well-done, and it was lovely to read about.
As you've probably read, Giles made the deliberate decision not to write about the actual shooting in the book--it's just the background event that has shaped so much of our characters' lives. We don't even hear about who the shooter was. I really like this decision, because we get to see the horror that a mass shooting can leave behind, without going into the sensational details. Instead we see, close-up, the humanity behind it--the real people affected and how much their lives have changed. There are sad moments mixed in with sweet and funny in such a beautiful way. It's incredibly well-written and I thought it was a very smart way to frame a shooting: it's almost more profound this way, honestly.
The depth of emotion in this book--the sadness, the unhappiness--and even sometimes the hope--is staggering. Honestly, this book left me in tears, and I don't cry easily when I read. As I said, I fell in love with Jess and Lucas. They were real people to me, and it takes an excellent writer to bring your characters to such detailed life as Giles did in this novel. I waited to read this book--after absolutely loving Giles' novel NOW IS EVERYTHING (which also made me cry!)--until my library got in my copy, which I had them order. I'm proud to say my lovely library system now has three copies of this book now, but I'll also be purchasing my own copy, because it's that good.
Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough, for teens and adults alike. This novel made me cry, and it made me laugh. I loved its characters and their supporting cast. It offers such a powerful way to look at the aftermath of a mass shooting. It's profound and poignant, and the way it conveys the terror, sadness, and hope of its characters cannot be praised enough. 4.5+ stars.
(Also, this book is full of Young Frankenstein references, as if I could not love Giles or her characters more.)
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Oh this book. This beautiful, sad, lovely book. It's such an immersive, amazing read. Giles gives such a great voice to her characters; even though the book has a sad topic at its core, it's also hopeful and touching, and you want to keep reading it. You know how some books seem to go out of their way to have unlikeable characters and you have to like the book in spite of them? This book is the opposite. I dare you to not fall in love with Jess and Lucas. And, oh my goodness, my heart just went out to these kids. Poor Jess. She has so much to deal with it, and so does Lucas, too. The guilt these kids feel at being alive--Giles does such an amazing job at portraying their feelings and emotions. They come across so realistically and starkly. It also portrays mental illness very well: real, without embarrassment and shame; I was impressed and heartened. What a great thing for teens to read.
I really enjoyed the fact that this novel featured a sweet romance, but not a typical one. Jess and Lucas clearly like each other, but don't immediately "meet cute" or fall for each other the second they meet. You can see they need each other, but it takes them time to get there, which I appreciated. Their relationship is really well-done, and it was lovely to read about.
As you've probably read, Giles made the deliberate decision not to write about the actual shooting in the book--it's just the background event that has shaped so much of our characters' lives. We don't even hear about who the shooter was. I really like this decision, because we get to see the horror that a mass shooting can leave behind, without going into the sensational details. Instead we see, close-up, the humanity behind it--the real people affected and how much their lives have changed. There are sad moments mixed in with sweet and funny in such a beautiful way. It's incredibly well-written and I thought it was a very smart way to frame a shooting: it's almost more profound this way, honestly.
The depth of emotion in this book--the sadness, the unhappiness--and even sometimes the hope--is staggering. Honestly, this book left me in tears, and I don't cry easily when I read. As I said, I fell in love with Jess and Lucas. They were real people to me, and it takes an excellent writer to bring your characters to such detailed life as Giles did in this novel. I waited to read this book--after absolutely loving Giles' novel NOW IS EVERYTHING (which also made me cry!)--until my library got in my copy, which I had them order. I'm proud to say my lovely library system now has three copies of this book now, but I'll also be purchasing my own copy, because it's that good.
Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough, for teens and adults alike. This novel made me cry, and it made me laugh. I loved its characters and their supporting cast. It offers such a powerful way to look at the aftermath of a mass shooting. It's profound and poignant, and the way it conveys the terror, sadness, and hope of its characters cannot be praised enough. 4.5+ stars.
(Also, this book is full of Young Frankenstein references, as if I could not love Giles or her characters more.)
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September 6, 2018
5 stars.
I think Giles is a new favorite author. I read NOW IS EVERYTHING by her last year and absolutely loved it, and this the same. She's one of the few authors that you can tell cares immensely about the necessary research that needs to be done when handling tough topics, and it definitely helped because as far as I can tell, the representation was stunning.
Gun violence is *sadly* something happens more often than not, therefore, a lot of books are written about it, THAT NIGHT will forever stand out from the bunch.
I think Giles is a new favorite author. I read NOW IS EVERYTHING by her last year and absolutely loved it, and this the same. She's one of the few authors that you can tell cares immensely about the necessary research that needs to be done when handling tough topics, and it definitely helped because as far as I can tell, the representation was stunning.
Gun violence is *sadly* something happens more often than not, therefore, a lot of books are written about it, THAT NIGHT will forever stand out from the bunch.
December 8, 2018
I loved this so much more than I expected. I loved that it wasn't meet a person and boom! everyone is fixed.
Instead this was real. It felt like it was something that we could all relate to. Whether in losing someone in tragedy or learning how to move on and forgive. It was a beautifully raw written story and I adored both Lucas and Jess.
Instead this was real. It felt like it was something that we could all relate to. Whether in losing someone in tragedy or learning how to move on and forgive. It was a beautifully raw written story and I adored both Lucas and Jess.
March 17, 2023
Yes, this a book about a mass shooting, but the author puts a different twist to the plot. The focus is on the grieving friends and family members that were left behind.
It’s been a year since a mass shooting took place at a theater called The Balcony. Lucas is still missing his older brother, whom he and everyone else adored. At times the “Survivor’s Guilt” and the memories of that night overwhelm him to the point of panic attacks. At the suggestion of his best friend, Lucas wants to take up the sport of boxing, hoping to relieve the pain of loss. However, he knows his parents, who are now the most overprotective people on the planet, will never let him engage in a violent sport. He has to do something, though, or the pain will rip him apart…
Jess is dealing with the loss of everyone she loved going away. Her older brother was killed, her best friend witnessed it and had to be taken away for mental illness, and Jess’s mother has basically checked out of living. Her physical body is here, but since Ethan died, bills don’t get paid, food isn’t bought or cooked, and she doesn’t rise from her bed to even shower anymore. Jess is only seventeen, doesn’t know what to do, and doesn’t think she’ll make it if her mom dies also…
In alternating chapters, the voices of Jess and Lucas describe what it’s like to live with the aftermath of a mass shooting, and its effects on everyone involved, whether they were physically present or not.
Wow… just, wow…
As the author states in her end notes, the final draft of this book was ready in 2014. It never occurred to her that she would have to update her notes in 2018, after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas
High School on February 14th.
Sadly, since the book’s publication, many other mass shootings have occurred, in schools, churches, supermarkets, etc.; places where people assume they will be safe.
Trigger Warnings:
Very few details are given about the shooting itself, but the PTSD it caused afterwards was crushing for many characters in the story. Suicide attempts, panic attacks, and drug use are some of the results described.
Red Flags:
There is some teen sex, though not detailed graphically, and drug use. Some vulgar language is present. A teenage boy attempts to physically assault a girl.
Those things being pointed out, because it is geared toward young adults, this was a beautifully written book. Every single character, present in the story or not, is one you want hug, cry with, and help out. (Except maybe the assaulting boy; him you just want to smack.)
The end notes were also a nice touch, with the author explaining how the book came to be written, and the list of numbers/places where people in traumatic situations can turn to for assistance.
Kudos to the author for her well-written book on such a (sadly) timely subject.
It’s been a year since a mass shooting took place at a theater called The Balcony. Lucas is still missing his older brother, whom he and everyone else adored. At times the “Survivor’s Guilt” and the memories of that night overwhelm him to the point of panic attacks. At the suggestion of his best friend, Lucas wants to take up the sport of boxing, hoping to relieve the pain of loss. However, he knows his parents, who are now the most overprotective people on the planet, will never let him engage in a violent sport. He has to do something, though, or the pain will rip him apart…
Jess is dealing with the loss of everyone she loved going away. Her older brother was killed, her best friend witnessed it and had to be taken away for mental illness, and Jess’s mother has basically checked out of living. Her physical body is here, but since Ethan died, bills don’t get paid, food isn’t bought or cooked, and she doesn’t rise from her bed to even shower anymore. Jess is only seventeen, doesn’t know what to do, and doesn’t think she’ll make it if her mom dies also…
In alternating chapters, the voices of Jess and Lucas describe what it’s like to live with the aftermath of a mass shooting, and its effects on everyone involved, whether they were physically present or not.
Wow… just, wow…
As the author states in her end notes, the final draft of this book was ready in 2014. It never occurred to her that she would have to update her notes in 2018, after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas
High School on February 14th.
Sadly, since the book’s publication, many other mass shootings have occurred, in schools, churches, supermarkets, etc.; places where people assume they will be safe.
Trigger Warnings:
Very few details are given about the shooting itself, but the PTSD it caused afterwards was crushing for many characters in the story. Suicide attempts, panic attacks, and drug use are some of the results described.
Red Flags:
There is some teen sex, though not detailed graphically, and drug use. Some vulgar language is present. A teenage boy attempts to physically assault a girl.
Those things being pointed out, because it is geared toward young adults, this was a beautifully written book. Every single character, present in the story or not, is one you want hug, cry with, and help out. (Except maybe the assaulting boy; him you just want to smack.)
The end notes were also a nice touch, with the author explaining how the book came to be written, and the list of numbers/places where people in traumatic situations can turn to for assistance.
Kudos to the author for her well-written book on such a (sadly) timely subject.
August 17, 2018
Where to start on this review? This book is so deep and so relevant to today's society that I cried while I was reading this book because young adult shootings are happening more often. Kills killing kids for no reason. This is a senseless act that needs to stop.
In this story we meet Lucas and Jess. They have been involved in a shooting and they have both lost loved ones. They are dealing with it differently and both know what pain and loss is but they don't know how to deal with it.
Lucas loses his brother in the shooting. He is totally devastated because his brother is his best friend and he needs him in his life right now. Jess also losses her brother and she can't think about living without him. He was her world.
When Jess and Lucas come together and become friends they find more then friendship there. They find that together they just might survive this tragedy and be able to move on. This is a must read book for all kids. This is a story about love, loss to gun violence, and healing.
***** I received this ARC from Edelweiss*****
In this story we meet Lucas and Jess. They have been involved in a shooting and they have both lost loved ones. They are dealing with it differently and both know what pain and loss is but they don't know how to deal with it.
Lucas loses his brother in the shooting. He is totally devastated because his brother is his best friend and he needs him in his life right now. Jess also losses her brother and she can't think about living without him. He was her world.
When Jess and Lucas come together and become friends they find more then friendship there. They find that together they just might survive this tragedy and be able to move on. This is a must read book for all kids. This is a story about love, loss to gun violence, and healing.
***** I received this ARC from Edelweiss*****
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September 26, 2018This was a really lovely, quiet YA about grief, love, survivor's guilt, and moving on. I'm usually really iffy on books where people "recover" thanks to a romantic relationship, but especially for Lucas, this book is so heavy on coping mechanisms, therapy, medication, etc. that I don't think it ever gives the impression that love alone will "save" you. In truth, I didn't get quite as much of a character arc from Jess, but having a male main character in YA who openly cries, is in therapy, is on meds, and has no shame about it was a really cool thing to see. I liked this book a lot and I'm definitely interested in going back to check out her last one now. There's just one thing that seemed like it was going to be a huge plot point and then was actually nothing and I am SO CURIOUS about that choice, but nothing that's a big deal; just wondering if anyone else who read it will know what I'm talking about!
November 29, 2018
3.85/5 Stars.
Life is either about moving forward or looking back. We're moving forward again, but we'll never forget what's back there behind us. We can't. Because if we forget, it could happen again.
I wasn't prepared to experience different kinds of emotions from this book. It is filled with grief, guilt, heartbreak, losss and mental health, in the mean time, it also proves that always living in the past or looking back won't change anything, instead always stepping forward and be hopeful.
I finished this book in just one sitting and I don't regret it at all. The whole book was an emotional rollercoaster in a good way.
Life is either about moving forward or looking back. We're moving forward again, but we'll never forget what's back there behind us. We can't. Because if we forget, it could happen again.
I wasn't prepared to experience different kinds of emotions from this book. It is filled with grief, guilt, heartbreak, losss and mental health, in the mean time, it also proves that always living in the past or looking back won't change anything, instead always stepping forward and be hopeful.
I finished this book in just one sitting and I don't regret it at all. The whole book was an emotional rollercoaster in a good way.
August 21, 2018
I was a huge fan of Amy's first book, NOW IS EVERYTHING, and I love this one even more! It was one of those books where I found myself thinking about Jess and Lucas even when I wasn't reading. They just felt so real, and my emotions for them were real too. Amy Giles has such a powerful, authentic voice -- I am in awe!
September 27, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
That night everything changed. That night they both lost their brothers, but that wasn't all they lost. Jess and Lucas were struggling to heal in the aftermath, and maybe their best bet was each other.
• Pro: This story was about the aftermath. How a community was broken, and how they were trying to pick up the pieces and move on. There are so many different ways a tragedy can affect people, and Giles explored many of them in a thoughtful and sensitive way.
• Pro: With this book, Giles proves to be a master with grief stories. Like her debut, this one delivered an emotional gut punch. My heart cracked in half for these people, and their pain just emanated from the page.
• Pro: Watching Lucas and Jess grow, change, and heal together filled my heart with joy. They were able to slowly break through the protective walls they both erected, and the more they opened up to each other, the more they began to reconnect with other people as well, which was a big part of their healing process.
• Pro: Two side characters I adored and wished we spent more time with were Pete and Mrs. Alvarez. Pete seemed very happy-go-lucky, but his love and concern for Lucas ran deep. There were these little things he did, which only confirmed his dedication to his friend, and I loved him for that. Mrs. Alvarez was the best surrogate grandmother Jess could ask for. She did what she could to help Jess, and filled that grown-up sized void in Jess' life. Nothing but *heart-eyes* for these two.
• Pro: This book was pro therapy, and the mental health issues were handled well.
• Pro: The romance was gooey and sweet and I loved it! Lucas and Jess were precious together, and they made me smile until my face split in two.
• Pro: Endings like this one are what my dreams are made of. It was so touching and hopeful. Seriously, I just re-read it, and I am in tears. It made me so happy!
Overall: A heartwarming, touching, and emotional survival story, which focused on the aftermath, the healing process, and the connections that can help people get through great losses.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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That night everything changed. That night they both lost their brothers, but that wasn't all they lost. Jess and Lucas were struggling to heal in the aftermath, and maybe their best bet was each other.
• Pro: This story was about the aftermath. How a community was broken, and how they were trying to pick up the pieces and move on. There are so many different ways a tragedy can affect people, and Giles explored many of them in a thoughtful and sensitive way.
• Pro: With this book, Giles proves to be a master with grief stories. Like her debut, this one delivered an emotional gut punch. My heart cracked in half for these people, and their pain just emanated from the page.
• Pro: Watching Lucas and Jess grow, change, and heal together filled my heart with joy. They were able to slowly break through the protective walls they both erected, and the more they opened up to each other, the more they began to reconnect with other people as well, which was a big part of their healing process.
• Pro: Two side characters I adored and wished we spent more time with were Pete and Mrs. Alvarez. Pete seemed very happy-go-lucky, but his love and concern for Lucas ran deep. There were these little things he did, which only confirmed his dedication to his friend, and I loved him for that. Mrs. Alvarez was the best surrogate grandmother Jess could ask for. She did what she could to help Jess, and filled that grown-up sized void in Jess' life. Nothing but *heart-eyes* for these two.
• Pro: This book was pro therapy, and the mental health issues were handled well.
• Pro: The romance was gooey and sweet and I loved it! Lucas and Jess were precious together, and they made me smile until my face split in two.
• Pro: Endings like this one are what my dreams are made of. It was so touching and hopeful. Seriously, I just re-read it, and I am in tears. It made me so happy!
Overall: A heartwarming, touching, and emotional survival story, which focused on the aftermath, the healing process, and the connections that can help people get through great losses.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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October 13, 2020
Rouw kent vele vormen
Met een Hebban Leesclub lees ik De Scherven van Amy Giles. Een young adult verhaal over hoe het leven doorgaat nadat Jessica en Lucas beiden hun broer verloren tijdens een schietpartij. Het prachtige omslagontwerp is van Studio Jan de Boer, een grafisch ontwerpbureau voor het boekenvak in Utrecht. 4 ontwerpers maken alles voor boeken van omslagen tot websites. Ze bestaan inmiddels ruim 30 jaar. Ze maakten ook de boekomslag voor De macht van K van Jens Vern, Jaloezie van Sofie Sarenbrant en Sneeuwblind van Ragnar Jónasson.
De vertaling is van Els Brevink. Deze Nijmeegse vertaalde ook haar eerdere boek Alles is nu, Als morgen niet bestaat van Jennifer L. Armentrout en De laatste brief van Rebecca Yarros.
Jessica Nolen verliest tijdens een schietpartij in een bioscoop haar broer Ethan. Tijdens hetzelfde drama verliest Lucas Rossi ook zijn broer Jason. Hoe gaan zij en hun families om met dit verlies en hoe pakken zij de draad weer op?
De meeste YA boeken bespreken veel emoties. Daar is deze geen uitzondering op. Verdriet, rouw, boosheid, onmacht, schuldgevoel, liefde, onzekerheid, humor, blijheid en opluchting. Alles komt voorbij. Amy Giles schetst ons een prachtig portret van de verschillende manieren waarop mensen rouwen en een verlies beleven. Het laat zien dat er geen handleiding is. Geen beginpunt en geen eind. Iedereen doet het op zijn of haar eigen manier in zijn of haar eigen tempo. En dat elke manier goed is.
Met een Hebban Leesclub lees ik De Scherven van Amy Giles. Een young adult verhaal over hoe het leven doorgaat nadat Jessica en Lucas beiden hun broer verloren tijdens een schietpartij. Het prachtige omslagontwerp is van Studio Jan de Boer, een grafisch ontwerpbureau voor het boekenvak in Utrecht. 4 ontwerpers maken alles voor boeken van omslagen tot websites. Ze bestaan inmiddels ruim 30 jaar. Ze maakten ook de boekomslag voor De macht van K van Jens Vern, Jaloezie van Sofie Sarenbrant en Sneeuwblind van Ragnar Jónasson.
De vertaling is van Els Brevink. Deze Nijmeegse vertaalde ook haar eerdere boek Alles is nu, Als morgen niet bestaat van Jennifer L. Armentrout en De laatste brief van Rebecca Yarros.
Jessica Nolen verliest tijdens een schietpartij in een bioscoop haar broer Ethan. Tijdens hetzelfde drama verliest Lucas Rossi ook zijn broer Jason. Hoe gaan zij en hun families om met dit verlies en hoe pakken zij de draad weer op?
De meeste YA boeken bespreken veel emoties. Daar is deze geen uitzondering op. Verdriet, rouw, boosheid, onmacht, schuldgevoel, liefde, onzekerheid, humor, blijheid en opluchting. Alles komt voorbij. Amy Giles schetst ons een prachtig portret van de verschillende manieren waarop mensen rouwen en een verlies beleven. Het laat zien dat er geen handleiding is. Geen beginpunt en geen eind. Iedereen doet het op zijn of haar eigen manier in zijn of haar eigen tempo. En dat elke manier goed is.
June 8, 2022
3/5
This was in no means groundbreaking or the best book i’ve ever read but it was beautiful. I appreciate the way Amy Giles depicts grief, especially anxiety in Lucas specifically. I thought the characters were sweet and they were definitely made for one another, Jess deserves everything wonderful in life.
While I don’t think it’s the most interesting book, it was worth my time and I enjoyed reading about these characters.
The setting was nicely described and I really liked the side characters as well.
I think the main subject could’ve been brought up more and I wish we got to see more of Jess’s best friend when she returned.
This was in no means groundbreaking or the best book i’ve ever read but it was beautiful. I appreciate the way Amy Giles depicts grief, especially anxiety in Lucas specifically. I thought the characters were sweet and they were definitely made for one another, Jess deserves everything wonderful in life.
While I don’t think it’s the most interesting book, it was worth my time and I enjoyed reading about these characters.
The setting was nicely described and I really liked the side characters as well.
I think the main subject could’ve been brought up more and I wish we got to see more of Jess’s best friend when she returned.
October 23, 2018
Oh, wow, this book.
I loved Giles's debut, NOW IS EVERYTHING, so I was really looking forward to this one. And it did not disappoint. The book begins a year after the tragedy, so we see how things have changed for Jess and Lucas and everyone around them, how grief has twisted a tight hold. The characters are so richly imagined, so true to life. I felt so many things for them, wanted to wrap them in a hug, tell them, "I know, I know."
The book is filled with poignant moments of tiny heartbreak. At the same time, there are just as many hopeful, significant moments of small joy. THAT NIGHT is a beautiful exploration of guilt and grief and what happens when you're the one left behind.
I loved Giles's debut, NOW IS EVERYTHING, so I was really looking forward to this one. And it did not disappoint. The book begins a year after the tragedy, so we see how things have changed for Jess and Lucas and everyone around them, how grief has twisted a tight hold. The characters are so richly imagined, so true to life. I felt so many things for them, wanted to wrap them in a hug, tell them, "I know, I know."
The book is filled with poignant moments of tiny heartbreak. At the same time, there are just as many hopeful, significant moments of small joy. THAT NIGHT is a beautiful exploration of guilt and grief and what happens when you're the one left behind.
December 23, 2018
I love this book for its honest portrayal of teens in the aftermath of tragedy. Jess and Lucas are wonderfully written, the story will make you ache and hope for them. I think this would be an excellent book for discussion in classrooms and teen book groups.
January 21, 2019
• Find my reviews here: Literary Meanderings
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I was wowed by this book. I went into it without any expectations, really, because I haven't read Amy's other book (her debut from 2017). I was hooked immediately upon starting this one. This book is told from two perspectives; Jess and Lucas. Both of these teens lost a brother in a mass shooting a year prior. Both of them are coping in different ways; both were effected in different ways. Jess' mother is gravely depressed and barely leaves her bed—effectively neglecting and isolating the only child she has left. This leaves Jess feeling as if she must pick up the slack as far as caring for the home as well as her mother. She is desperate for a job. She is also missing her best friend, who is away at a different school with therapeutic benefits for her PTSD from the shooting. And Lucas? He boxes to deal with the stress and cope with his loss. Though, this is only when he can dodge his mom, who has turned into a helicopter mom post-shooting. Lucas also sees a therapist and takes meds.
The two come together when Jess gets a job at the hardware store Lucas works at. Working alongside Lucas is tough at first, but the two tentatively become friends and then much much more.
Now, before you jump to conclusions, DON'T WORRY! There is no instalove and this book does not promote throwing yourself into a relationship to get over your loss. No; this book promotes so much more than that. Lucas is very open about being in therapy and taking medication for anxiety. He also sheds some tears in the book, which is nice to see. Stigmas be damned! I love the positivity toward therapies of many kinds—talking to someone, medication, physical exercise, etc.—that were present in this story. This book also covers the topic of suicide and it is done well and respectfully.
We live our lives like survivors, weaker in some places, but stronger in others. Scarred, but healing.The romance is truly just a bonus in this book. It has a realistic build-up and the chemistry between Lucas and Jess was fantastic. They made me laugh with their banter and cry with their emotional healing, both together and apart.
Another thing I feel is important about this book is that the shooting, as well as the shooter himself, wasn't a highlight of this book; it wasn't sensationalized in any way. It was something that happened, but the book was about the way people cope with grief and how they move on afterward, not the terror of the actual shooting.
Life is either about moving forward or looking back. We're moving forward again, but we'll never forget what's back there behind us.Overall, this was one of my top ten books of 2018! I loved every moment of reading it. The character arcs were great and the way everything from therapy to mental illness was portrayed was just perfect. The romance enhanced the story, but didn't serve as a stand-in for true grief counseling and management. This book left me in tears, but it also gave me comedic relief and had me laughing out loud. I cannot recommend this one enough!
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Book source: From the publisher for review
Publisher: HarperTeen
• For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
September 19, 2018
What happens when you survived but your brother didn’t? What do you do when your family is falling apart or panic grips you by the throat, when you are not sure why you were the one who survived? That Night by Amy Giles presents a unique perspective on gun violence, focusing entirely on the survivors and the emotional fallout from the loss. That Night is romantic and a powerful, emotional story of surviving and learning to live again.
Everything changed that night. Families. The way people looked at and treated you. You. A year ago Jess lost her brother in a shooting that shattered her world. Now her mother hardly gets out of bed and Jess needs to find a job to pay the bills. Lucas took up boxing after his brother sacrificed himself to save Lucas. But the boxing sometimes can’t control his panic attacks that seem to be increasing in frequency or the consuming guilt. Lucas and Jess are now tied together by tragedy, but when they start working together they find that shared memories might make for a wonderful friendship and even romance.
I adored Amy Giles’ debut, Now Is Everything. The clever use of tension, suspense and big reveals coupled with dramatic family breakdown and emotions to tug on your heart was superb. That Night is just as powerful and craftily written. Yet, That Night uses quiet realisations rather big moments; using the little things in life to demonstrate the biggest impact.
The focus of That Night remains on Jess and Lucas, on the survivors of that night and how that night impacts so many people in so many different ways. Few details about the events of that night are shared. Readers know almost from that start of the novel what happened that night and the vague events, but the details are never really fleshed out. This book isn’t about who did the shooting, why or how. Instead, everything is about the survivors and their journey through grief, depression, and the ways they try to cope, to continue to survive every day - whether through therapy, substance abuse, sport or relationships.
That Night is also very much focused on Jess and Lucus’ romance. The story celebrates relationships and how connections with another person, especially someone who understands exactly what you are going through, is so important. That Night is told in alternating perspectives of Jess and Lucas. Both were dramatically impacted by the events of that night. Both are grieving and reeling from the changes it brought. Both find comfort in each other as well as learning to cope with the situations in their families.
That Night combines romance and the power of relationships to provide a story about survival and resilience. A story that champions the voices of survivors.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Everything changed that night. Families. The way people looked at and treated you. You. A year ago Jess lost her brother in a shooting that shattered her world. Now her mother hardly gets out of bed and Jess needs to find a job to pay the bills. Lucas took up boxing after his brother sacrificed himself to save Lucas. But the boxing sometimes can’t control his panic attacks that seem to be increasing in frequency or the consuming guilt. Lucas and Jess are now tied together by tragedy, but when they start working together they find that shared memories might make for a wonderful friendship and even romance.
I adored Amy Giles’ debut, Now Is Everything. The clever use of tension, suspense and big reveals coupled with dramatic family breakdown and emotions to tug on your heart was superb. That Night is just as powerful and craftily written. Yet, That Night uses quiet realisations rather big moments; using the little things in life to demonstrate the biggest impact.
The focus of That Night remains on Jess and Lucas, on the survivors of that night and how that night impacts so many people in so many different ways. Few details about the events of that night are shared. Readers know almost from that start of the novel what happened that night and the vague events, but the details are never really fleshed out. This book isn’t about who did the shooting, why or how. Instead, everything is about the survivors and their journey through grief, depression, and the ways they try to cope, to continue to survive every day - whether through therapy, substance abuse, sport or relationships.
That Night is also very much focused on Jess and Lucus’ romance. The story celebrates relationships and how connections with another person, especially someone who understands exactly what you are going through, is so important. That Night is told in alternating perspectives of Jess and Lucas. Both were dramatically impacted by the events of that night. Both are grieving and reeling from the changes it brought. Both find comfort in each other as well as learning to cope with the situations in their families.
That Night combines romance and the power of relationships to provide a story about survival and resilience. A story that champions the voices of survivors.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
June 12, 2018
That Night is great book that gives us a look at the grief process and how it is handled by different people.
I was a little confused at the start and I actually thought that 'That Night' was a sequel, I wasn't quite sure what had happened as we only get bits and pieces throughout the book of the tragedy that happened on that fateful night.
Our main characters are Jessica Nolan and Lucas Rossi, both have experienced great loss and are dealing with it in different ways; we also see how their families are coping with the loss of their children. It was emotional and hard to imagine what each were going through.
I enjoyed the friendship and eventual relationship between Jess and Lucas, it wasn't easy initially but the bond that they came to share was wonderful.
Amy Giles writing was engaging, the storyline kept me interested from the very beginning and she wrote characters that were likable and interacted well.
I am definitely keen to read more books by Amy Giles.
Thank you to HarperTeen for the opportunity to read and review this title.
I was a little confused at the start and I actually thought that 'That Night' was a sequel, I wasn't quite sure what had happened as we only get bits and pieces throughout the book of the tragedy that happened on that fateful night.
Our main characters are Jessica Nolan and Lucas Rossi, both have experienced great loss and are dealing with it in different ways; we also see how their families are coping with the loss of their children. It was emotional and hard to imagine what each were going through.
I enjoyed the friendship and eventual relationship between Jess and Lucas, it wasn't easy initially but the bond that they came to share was wonderful.
Amy Giles writing was engaging, the storyline kept me interested from the very beginning and she wrote characters that were likable and interacted well.
I am definitely keen to read more books by Amy Giles.
Thank you to HarperTeen for the opportunity to read and review this title.
May 25, 2018
"That Night" by Amy Giles is an intriguing book! This is very powerful and moving with the main characters points of view! This book deals with grief of losing a sibling and the parents grief of losing a child. This book also deals with them trying to take control of their life after their loss and tragic event! Amy Giles writes beautifully about grief and how the parents and child handle grief on different levels. The way Amy Giles writes about family dynamics is captivating! The type of topics that Amy Giles writes about in this book and her other book "Now is Everything" are phenomenal! This is the type of book that will stick with you after you read it, because it teaches you the different ways that a parent and child grieves!
March 28, 2018
A heartbreakingly real look at how grief unfolds over the course of time, crafted with nuance, depth and tenderness. Jess and Lucas both lose their siblings to random, senseless gun violence. That Night doesn't focus on the single dramatic episode of violence, but rather much more difficult terrain that follows a loss. Family dynamics shift, as do the characters sense of self. Because the shooting affected so many in the community, everyone knows about it, but each character wants to be be seen as more than a victim. As they move forward, Jess and Lucas slowly recover hope. Both timely and timeless, That Night is a story that will stay with you long after you close the cover.
May 13, 2018
Amy Giles writes about grief like it's a punch to the gut... Powerfully and all-encompassing. Her characters in That Night are singed with grief and it shows... In their relationships, in their actions, in their words. That Night will change the way you think about how a person grieves and the different ways family members cope with the most difficult loss...how a person can also get through such immense loss. Not an easy topic but an important one, and Amy Giles follow-up to Now is Everything is a promising and ultimately uplifting book about love, loss, friendship, remembering, and recovery.
March 14, 2020
A must read book! It's about surviving after tragedy, living after accident. The life of Jess and Lucas is painful and tough. How both confront the painful life by being together despite mentally, emotionally crushed is penned in absolute brilliance.
August 18, 2020
Mijn. Hart. Recensie komt online in de blogtour voor dit boek op 10 september op mijn blog uiteraard.
October 2, 2020
Ik doe mee aan de blogtour van De scherven. Mijn recensie zal op 16/9 verschijnen op mijn blog.
January 8, 2019
This started much stronger than it finished. I was really excited about the "boxing as an outlet for anxiety" storyline but felt it took a backseat to the romance.
Pros:
-Lucas and his struggle with anxiety. I'm going through my own struggle with anxiety right now, so I could relate.
-Boxing. The training scenes were a lot of fun because I know enough about boxing from my own martial arts classes to understand what was going on.
-Jess's home life/her mom's struggle with depression. It was easy to empathize with what Jess and her mom were going through.
-Mrs. Alvarez.
Cons:
-I hate to say it, but the romance. Normally, I love romance in books, but I had a hard time getting invested in this one.
-Casual attitude toward underage drug and alcohol use, despite what I would consider positive dialogue about the dangers of both in certain circumstances.
-Not enough boxing. :(
-What felt like some uneven character development with Jess especially.
Bottom line: Good but not great.
Pros:
-Lucas and his struggle with anxiety. I'm going through my own struggle with anxiety right now, so I could relate.
-Boxing. The training scenes were a lot of fun because I know enough about boxing from my own martial arts classes to understand what was going on.
-Jess's home life/her mom's struggle with depression. It was easy to empathize with what Jess and her mom were going through.
-Mrs. Alvarez.
Cons:
-I hate to say it, but the romance. Normally, I love romance in books, but I had a hard time getting invested in this one.
-Casual attitude toward underage drug and alcohol use, despite what I would consider positive dialogue about the dangers of both in certain circumstances.
-Not enough boxing. :(
-What felt like some uneven character development with Jess especially.
Bottom line: Good but not great.
May 16, 2021
Vor etwa zweieinhalb Jahren habe ich den Debütroman von Amy Giles gelesen, der ein absolutes Highlight für mich war. Als ich nun hörte, dass dieses Jahr endlich ein neues Jugendbuch von ihr im cbj Verlag erscheinen wird, stand für mich natürlich sofort fest, dass ich es unbedingt lesen muss.
Es ist inzwischen ein Jahr her, dass Jess‘ Bruder Ethan bei einer Massenschießerei im Kino getötet wurde. Das Leben der 17-jährigen hat sich seitdem komplett verändert. Ihre beste Freundin Marissa besucht mittlerweile eine andere Schule und meldet sich nicht mehr bei ihr und von ihrer Mutter, die in eine tiefe Depression verfallen ist, fühlt sich Jess vollkommen allein und im Stich gelassen. Ihre Mom kann sich zu nichts mehr aufraffen, das Geld wird immer knapper und der Stapel an unbezahlten Rechnungen wird stetig größer. Es ist nun an Jess für den Lebensunterhalt zu sorgen. Sie ergattert einen Aushilfsjob in einem Baumarkt, weiß zu dem Zeitpunkt allerdings noch nicht, dass der 18-jährige Lucas ebenfalls dort arbeitet. Auch Lucas war damals in jener Nacht im Kino und hat seinen großen Bruder bei der Schießerei verloren. Lucas hat seitdem mit Panikattacken zu kämpfen, ihn plagen große Schuldgefühle, da er überlebt hat und von seiner überbehütenden Mutter fühlt er sich regelrecht erdrückt.
Aufgrund der schmerzhaften Erinnerungen möchte Lucas Jess zunächst nicht um sich haben. Als er ihr aber begegnet und näher kennenlernt, merkt er schnell, dass sie die Einzige ist, die ihn wirklich versteht. Die beiden verbringen immer mehr Zeit miteinander und aus freundschaftlichen Gefühlen wird innerhalb kurzer Zeit mehr werden...
Da mich Amy Giles mit „Jetzt ist alles, was wir haben“ damals so dermaßen vom Hocker hauen konnte und der Klappentext von „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ so gut klang, habe ich mir von dem Buch natürlich ziemlich viel erhofft. Hinzu kam der interessante Aspekt, dass der Text von Isabel Abedi übersetzt wurde – eine deutsche Autorin, deren Bücher ich wahnsinnig gerne mag.
Um es kurz zu machen: An das vorherige Werk von Amy Giles reicht ihr neues Buch für mich nicht ganz heran, aber begeistert bin ich dennoch, auf jeden Fall. Amy Giles hat auch mit „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ eine eindrucksvolle Geschichte über eine sehr schwere Thematik aufs Papier gebracht, mit welcher sie mich auf ganzer Linie überzeugen und ein äußerst intensives Leseerlebnis bescheren konnte. Mich hat die Handlung in ein wahres Wechselbad der Gefühle gestürzt und obwohl sie insgesamt recht ruhig erzählt wird, hat sie mich von Anfang bis Ende an die Seiten fesseln können, sodass ich das Buch so richtig weggatmet habe.
„Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ erzählt eine ungemein bewegende und schmerzliche Geschichte über Verlust, Trauerbewältigung und die Liebe. Mit ganz viel Feingefühl, Authentizität und schonungsloser Ehrlichkeit führt uns Amy Giles vor Augen, wie unterschiedlich die Folgen eines tragischen Verlustes in Familien sein können. Depressionen, Schuldgefühle, Panikattacken, Drogen, Suizidgedanken – mit all diesen Dingen setzt sich die Autorin in „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ auseinander und zeigt uns damit, wie herausfordernd, qualvoll und nahezu unmöglich es für Betroffene sein kann, nach einem schrecklichen Todesfall normal weiterzuleben.
Erzählt wird die Handlung im Wechsel von Jess und Lucas, jeweils in der Ich-Form. Mir hat die gewählte Erzählform extrem gut gefallen, da wir dank dieser von beiden Hauptprotagonisten einen sehr genauen Einblick in ihre Gefühlswelten erhalten und hautnah dran sind an ihren Empfindungen und Gedanken.
Jess und Lucas waren mir auf Anhieb sympathisch und da sie beide erstklassig ausgearbeitet wurden, ist es mir jederzeit mühelos gelungen mich in die Zwei hineinzuversetzen und ihr Denken, Fühlen und Handeln nachzuvollziehen.
Ich habe eine unvergessliche Zeit mit Jess und Lucas verbracht. Ich habe mit ihnen mitgefiebert und mitgelitten; ich habe gebangt und gehofft, dass die beiden ihr Glück finden und endlich wieder normaler und sorgenfreier leben können; ich habe mit ihnen gelacht und geschmunzelt und die langsame Annäherung und gefühlvollen Momente der beiden haben mich unheimlich berührt.
Mit der Liebesgeschichte, die sehr sanft und absolut glaubhaft beschrieben wird, konnte mich Amy Giles komplett überzeugen. Ich fand es wundervoll mitzuerleben wie sich Jess und Lucas immer näherkommen, wie es ihnen immer besser gelingt, sich aufeinander einzulassen und gegenseitig zu vertrauen und zu sehen, wie offen und ehrlich sie schließlich miteinander umgehen können, fand ich einfach nur toll.
Auch die Nebenfiguren wurden in meinen Augen vollkommen realistisch skizziert und haben mir überaus gut gefallen. Da hätten wir unter anderem Jess‘ Mom, die den schrecklichen Verlust ihres Sohnes kaum verkraftet und völlig aus der Bahn geworfen wurde; Lucas‘ Eltern, die ihren volljährigen Sohn viel zu sehr bemuttern und Lucas Freund Pete, ein klasse und sehr witziger Typ, der mir öfters Gründe zum Schmunzeln geliefert hat.
Von dem Schreibstil bin ich ebenfalls hellauf begeistert. Er ist mitreißend, eindringlich und leicht und wurde hervorragend von der Isabel Abedi ins Deutsche übertragen. Für mich hat sich der Sprachstil wunderschön und flüssig lesen lassen und da überdies die Kapitel angenehm kurz sind, bin ich nur so durch die Seiten geflogen und habe das Buch innerhalb kurzer Zeit wieder beendet.
Fazit: Fesselnd, tiefgründig, authentisch und ergreifend. Ein beeindruckendes Buch, das unter die Haut und nachhallt.
Nach ihrem Debüt ist Amy Giles mit „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ ein weiterer großartiger und tief berührender Jugendroman geglückt, in welchem sie erneut eine sehr schwere Thematik auf eine einfühlsame, sensible und ehrliche Weise behandelt. Mir hat das Buch unglaublich gut gefallen. Ich konnte es nicht mehr aus der Hand legen und wurde beim Lesen auf die reinste emotionale Achterbahnfahrt der Gefühle mitgenommen. Ich kann „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ jedem nur ans Herz legen und vergebe 5 von 5 Sternen!
Es ist inzwischen ein Jahr her, dass Jess‘ Bruder Ethan bei einer Massenschießerei im Kino getötet wurde. Das Leben der 17-jährigen hat sich seitdem komplett verändert. Ihre beste Freundin Marissa besucht mittlerweile eine andere Schule und meldet sich nicht mehr bei ihr und von ihrer Mutter, die in eine tiefe Depression verfallen ist, fühlt sich Jess vollkommen allein und im Stich gelassen. Ihre Mom kann sich zu nichts mehr aufraffen, das Geld wird immer knapper und der Stapel an unbezahlten Rechnungen wird stetig größer. Es ist nun an Jess für den Lebensunterhalt zu sorgen. Sie ergattert einen Aushilfsjob in einem Baumarkt, weiß zu dem Zeitpunkt allerdings noch nicht, dass der 18-jährige Lucas ebenfalls dort arbeitet. Auch Lucas war damals in jener Nacht im Kino und hat seinen großen Bruder bei der Schießerei verloren. Lucas hat seitdem mit Panikattacken zu kämpfen, ihn plagen große Schuldgefühle, da er überlebt hat und von seiner überbehütenden Mutter fühlt er sich regelrecht erdrückt.
Aufgrund der schmerzhaften Erinnerungen möchte Lucas Jess zunächst nicht um sich haben. Als er ihr aber begegnet und näher kennenlernt, merkt er schnell, dass sie die Einzige ist, die ihn wirklich versteht. Die beiden verbringen immer mehr Zeit miteinander und aus freundschaftlichen Gefühlen wird innerhalb kurzer Zeit mehr werden...
Da mich Amy Giles mit „Jetzt ist alles, was wir haben“ damals so dermaßen vom Hocker hauen konnte und der Klappentext von „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ so gut klang, habe ich mir von dem Buch natürlich ziemlich viel erhofft. Hinzu kam der interessante Aspekt, dass der Text von Isabel Abedi übersetzt wurde – eine deutsche Autorin, deren Bücher ich wahnsinnig gerne mag.
Um es kurz zu machen: An das vorherige Werk von Amy Giles reicht ihr neues Buch für mich nicht ganz heran, aber begeistert bin ich dennoch, auf jeden Fall. Amy Giles hat auch mit „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ eine eindrucksvolle Geschichte über eine sehr schwere Thematik aufs Papier gebracht, mit welcher sie mich auf ganzer Linie überzeugen und ein äußerst intensives Leseerlebnis bescheren konnte. Mich hat die Handlung in ein wahres Wechselbad der Gefühle gestürzt und obwohl sie insgesamt recht ruhig erzählt wird, hat sie mich von Anfang bis Ende an die Seiten fesseln können, sodass ich das Buch so richtig weggatmet habe.
„Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ erzählt eine ungemein bewegende und schmerzliche Geschichte über Verlust, Trauerbewältigung und die Liebe. Mit ganz viel Feingefühl, Authentizität und schonungsloser Ehrlichkeit führt uns Amy Giles vor Augen, wie unterschiedlich die Folgen eines tragischen Verlustes in Familien sein können. Depressionen, Schuldgefühle, Panikattacken, Drogen, Suizidgedanken – mit all diesen Dingen setzt sich die Autorin in „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ auseinander und zeigt uns damit, wie herausfordernd, qualvoll und nahezu unmöglich es für Betroffene sein kann, nach einem schrecklichen Todesfall normal weiterzuleben.
Erzählt wird die Handlung im Wechsel von Jess und Lucas, jeweils in der Ich-Form. Mir hat die gewählte Erzählform extrem gut gefallen, da wir dank dieser von beiden Hauptprotagonisten einen sehr genauen Einblick in ihre Gefühlswelten erhalten und hautnah dran sind an ihren Empfindungen und Gedanken.
Jess und Lucas waren mir auf Anhieb sympathisch und da sie beide erstklassig ausgearbeitet wurden, ist es mir jederzeit mühelos gelungen mich in die Zwei hineinzuversetzen und ihr Denken, Fühlen und Handeln nachzuvollziehen.
Ich habe eine unvergessliche Zeit mit Jess und Lucas verbracht. Ich habe mit ihnen mitgefiebert und mitgelitten; ich habe gebangt und gehofft, dass die beiden ihr Glück finden und endlich wieder normaler und sorgenfreier leben können; ich habe mit ihnen gelacht und geschmunzelt und die langsame Annäherung und gefühlvollen Momente der beiden haben mich unheimlich berührt.
Mit der Liebesgeschichte, die sehr sanft und absolut glaubhaft beschrieben wird, konnte mich Amy Giles komplett überzeugen. Ich fand es wundervoll mitzuerleben wie sich Jess und Lucas immer näherkommen, wie es ihnen immer besser gelingt, sich aufeinander einzulassen und gegenseitig zu vertrauen und zu sehen, wie offen und ehrlich sie schließlich miteinander umgehen können, fand ich einfach nur toll.
Auch die Nebenfiguren wurden in meinen Augen vollkommen realistisch skizziert und haben mir überaus gut gefallen. Da hätten wir unter anderem Jess‘ Mom, die den schrecklichen Verlust ihres Sohnes kaum verkraftet und völlig aus der Bahn geworfen wurde; Lucas‘ Eltern, die ihren volljährigen Sohn viel zu sehr bemuttern und Lucas Freund Pete, ein klasse und sehr witziger Typ, der mir öfters Gründe zum Schmunzeln geliefert hat.
Von dem Schreibstil bin ich ebenfalls hellauf begeistert. Er ist mitreißend, eindringlich und leicht und wurde hervorragend von der Isabel Abedi ins Deutsche übertragen. Für mich hat sich der Sprachstil wunderschön und flüssig lesen lassen und da überdies die Kapitel angenehm kurz sind, bin ich nur so durch die Seiten geflogen und habe das Buch innerhalb kurzer Zeit wieder beendet.
Fazit: Fesselnd, tiefgründig, authentisch und ergreifend. Ein beeindruckendes Buch, das unter die Haut und nachhallt.
Nach ihrem Debüt ist Amy Giles mit „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ ein weiterer großartiger und tief berührender Jugendroman geglückt, in welchem sie erneut eine sehr schwere Thematik auf eine einfühlsame, sensible und ehrliche Weise behandelt. Mir hat das Buch unglaublich gut gefallen. Ich konnte es nicht mehr aus der Hand legen und wurde beim Lesen auf die reinste emotionale Achterbahnfahrt der Gefühle mitgenommen. Ich kann „Jene Nacht ist unser Schatten“ jedem nur ans Herz legen und vergebe 5 von 5 Sternen!
March 30, 2020
This is how you do a romance, ladies and gents. Young adult romance is a pretty rocky genre, often full of problematic messages, controlling, abusive partners, and generally unhealthy relationships that are portrayed as positive. Not here. That Night is a wonderful story about two teenagers who fall in love in the aftermath of a shooting where both of them lost siblings, and together manage to pull their lives back together and overcome their grief. It's heartwarming, wholesome, and makes for some genuinely sad moments.
The book has two protagonists, Jess and Lucas, and I love both of them. They're both very well rounded and likable characters who genuinely feel like real teenagers, and their grief is very excellently shown. They also share a lot of chemistry, and their romance feels very naturally developed and realistic. They actually help each other and mutually benefit from their relationship, which is a depressingly rare thing in YA romance.
I do have one complaint about the book, and that is the ending. It felt like it was a little too rushed, and everything was resolved a little bit too neatly for my taste. Or maybe it's just because I love all of the characters so much and wanted to spend more time with them. I would have liked it if the book was a little bit longer, but it doesn't change the fact that this was an absolutely wonderful story of grief and love. Highly recommended.
The book has two protagonists, Jess and Lucas, and I love both of them. They're both very well rounded and likable characters who genuinely feel like real teenagers, and their grief is very excellently shown. They also share a lot of chemistry, and their romance feels very naturally developed and realistic. They actually help each other and mutually benefit from their relationship, which is a depressingly rare thing in YA romance.
I do have one complaint about the book, and that is the ending. It felt like it was a little too rushed, and everything was resolved a little bit too neatly for my taste. Or maybe it's just because I love all of the characters so much and wanted to spend more time with them. I would have liked it if the book was a little bit longer, but it doesn't change the fact that this was an absolutely wonderful story of grief and love. Highly recommended.
March 25, 2019
This is the best book I have read this year. I didn't want to read it. I thought it was about another shooting, and it was, but it also wasn't. It was about two teens who lost older brothers in a shooting the year before and it was a tender look at the aftermath of trauma in the lives of survivors and their families. The main characters were believable and their modes of survival are realistic. This would be a great book for anyone who has suffered trauma. It doesn't paint a pretty picture, but it does paint a realistic and hopeful one. I highly recommend this book!
February 20, 2019
Shows two different points of view of grief and how to deal with it. I've become OBSESSED with YA realistic fiction about grief for some reason and this one is one of my favorites. I TOTALLY recommend reading.
October 31, 2020
3.5-4⭐️
October 4, 2021
Ein wundervoller, sehr tiefgründiger und emotionaler Roman.
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