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Smoke
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jan 79What lines would you cross to save someone you love? Filled with the kinds of impossible choices that made the TV show Weeds such a hit, this compelling drama asks to what lengths an avid rule-follower will go in order to save her family--and the answer involves "growing" in surprising directions.
Sixteen-year-old Honor Augustine never set out to become a felon. As an academic all-star, avid recycler, and dedicated daughter to her PTSD-afflicted father, she's always been the literal embodiment of her name. Coloring inside the lines is what keeps Honor's chaotic existence orderly.
But when she discovers her father's VA benefits drying up, coupled with a terrifying bank letter threatening the family's greenhouse business--Honor vows to find a solution. She just doesn't expect to spot it on the dry erase board of English lit--"Nature's first green is gold."
The quote by Frost becomes the seed of an idea. An idea that--with patience and care--could germinate into a means of survival. Maybe marijuana could be more than the medicinal plant that helps quiet her father's demons. Maybe, it could save them all.
Sixteen-year-old Honor Augustine never set out to become a felon. As an academic all-star, avid recycler, and dedicated daughter to her PTSD-afflicted father, she's always been the literal embodiment of her name. Coloring inside the lines is what keeps Honor's chaotic existence orderly.
But when she discovers her father's VA benefits drying up, coupled with a terrifying bank letter threatening the family's greenhouse business--Honor vows to find a solution. She just doesn't expect to spot it on the dry erase board of English lit--"Nature's first green is gold."
The quote by Frost becomes the seed of an idea. An idea that--with patience and care--could germinate into a means of survival. Maybe marijuana could be more than the medicinal plant that helps quiet her father's demons. Maybe, it could save them all.
384 pages, Library Binding
First published June 15, 2021
6 people are currently reading
547 people want to read
About the author
Darcy Woods
2 books178 followersAward-winning young adult author Darcy Woods has held an eclectic mix of professions—from refueling helicopters in the U.S. Army to recharging bodies and spirits at a spa—but her most beloved career is being an author. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two tuxedo cats (who overdress for everything).
SUMMER OF SUPERNOVAS is her double RITA®-nominated debut novel and has been translated into five languages. SMOKE is her second novel.
SUMMER OF SUPERNOVAS is her double RITA®-nominated debut novel and has been translated into five languages. SMOKE is her second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 16, 2021
This book is unique, a real thought provoking experience will probably get so many different and mixed reactions! The story telling style is riveting, hooking and intriguing as usual because we have real experienced author on board who also reflects real life stories in this novel!
But there are too many triggering and sensitive issues include in this reading such as PTSD ( the author did a marvelous job at those parts of the book: my spin tingled when I read the parts about Honor’s father and his fight against his struggle day and night. ) , child neglect, a sweet A grader teenage girl’s turning into Heisenberg to make deals with drug lords, betrayal, bribe, lies etc.
Quick summary of the story: Honor is good hearted, sweet 16 years old girl who starts weed growing business to help her family get rid of the bankruptcy. The weed also helps her father’s treatment who deeply suffers from combat related PTSD.
Honor is truly honorable, dedicated girl, an avid reader who can quote from Robert Frost, a recycler, valedictorian. But now she moves to the dark side, changing to deal with criminals to achieve her business.
Some of the readers may think to discuss the author’s MC choice: white privileged girl who already has a brilliant future ahead of her. If the teenagers from different race or backgrounds committed the same crime as she did, their punishment will be harsher and they never get away with it!
But in my opinion the thing that bothered me about this book is beyond races, criminal backgrounds, inequality, injustice verdicts.
I can binge watch Weeds and witness a suburban mother turns into drug lady or a chemistry teacher turns into a vicious man who is not in danger because he’s the danger. But from the beginning witnessing Honor to help her father to deal with his demons by getting into Marijuana breeding and selling business irritated me a lot!
The entire idea truly bothered me! Because it was one of the worst child neglect I’ve ever seen! Why Honor has to take care her father by herself? I think the villain of the book is not drug lords but mother of Honor! You cannot put that kind of burden on your own child that she cannot handle!
Too many times I got more agitated to witness how Honor crossed the lines by putting her friend in danger by asking to commit a felony, meeting with drug dealers at unfamiliarity locations by herself. I found all of these situations so wrong. It was hard to digest and connect with.
There’s nothing wrong with the writing style. I finished this book at one sit. I enjoyed the realistic, heart wrenching depictions of PTSD but author’s subject choice to put an underage girl walks into criminal world was not ethical for me!
I’m giving three stars for the creative writing but I still have problems with character choices.
I have to add this book’s cover was one of the stunning works that I’ve lately seen which earned half more star to its grade.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s / Crown Books for Young Readers for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
But there are too many triggering and sensitive issues include in this reading such as PTSD ( the author did a marvelous job at those parts of the book: my spin tingled when I read the parts about Honor’s father and his fight against his struggle day and night. ) , child neglect, a sweet A grader teenage girl’s turning into Heisenberg to make deals with drug lords, betrayal, bribe, lies etc.
Quick summary of the story: Honor is good hearted, sweet 16 years old girl who starts weed growing business to help her family get rid of the bankruptcy. The weed also helps her father’s treatment who deeply suffers from combat related PTSD.
Honor is truly honorable, dedicated girl, an avid reader who can quote from Robert Frost, a recycler, valedictorian. But now she moves to the dark side, changing to deal with criminals to achieve her business.
Some of the readers may think to discuss the author’s MC choice: white privileged girl who already has a brilliant future ahead of her. If the teenagers from different race or backgrounds committed the same crime as she did, their punishment will be harsher and they never get away with it!
But in my opinion the thing that bothered me about this book is beyond races, criminal backgrounds, inequality, injustice verdicts.
I can binge watch Weeds and witness a suburban mother turns into drug lady or a chemistry teacher turns into a vicious man who is not in danger because he’s the danger. But from the beginning witnessing Honor to help her father to deal with his demons by getting into Marijuana breeding and selling business irritated me a lot!
The entire idea truly bothered me! Because it was one of the worst child neglect I’ve ever seen! Why Honor has to take care her father by herself? I think the villain of the book is not drug lords but mother of Honor! You cannot put that kind of burden on your own child that she cannot handle!
Too many times I got more agitated to witness how Honor crossed the lines by putting her friend in danger by asking to commit a felony, meeting with drug dealers at unfamiliarity locations by herself. I found all of these situations so wrong. It was hard to digest and connect with.
There’s nothing wrong with the writing style. I finished this book at one sit. I enjoyed the realistic, heart wrenching depictions of PTSD but author’s subject choice to put an underage girl walks into criminal world was not ethical for me!
I’m giving three stars for the creative writing but I still have problems with character choices.
I have to add this book’s cover was one of the stunning works that I’ve lately seen which earned half more star to its grade.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s / Crown Books for Young Readers for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
February 15, 2021
A beautifully written story with a main character whose love for her family and good intentions lead her into an illegal situation she never expected to be in. Honor Augustine is used to following the rules and staying within the lines, but when she discovers her family is broke and may lose everything they have, she takes extreme measures to ensure they keep their farm, their home, and their greenhouse business. While trying to keep all those she cares for, including the boy she likes, at arm's length in order to protect them from her actions, Honor enters the weed-growing business, putting her on a rocky path but also one that ultimately shows her what loyalty and love are all about. Like with her first book, SUMMER OF SUPERNOVAS, Woods' writing is fluid and flowing. Her characters are well formed and relatable, and her dialogue is crisp and laugh-out-loud funny at times. SMOKE is well worth the read for anyone who loves YA lit.
January 9, 2021
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of SMOKE by Darcy Woods in exchange for my honest review.***
Honor Augustine lives in fear not of, but for her father due to his out of control, combat related PTSD. Smoking weed helps Honor’s father, to an extent, though it doesn’t prevent his sometimes violent nightmares. When she discovers the VA will limit his benefits, she comes up with a plan to use the family’s gardening business for marijuana.
Sophomore writer Darcy Woods drew upon her own experiences with her dad’s PTSD and as a veteran herself (minus the marijuana farm) to create a realistic portrayal of traumatic PTSD. Woods’ gorgeous, almost poetic writing creates a sympathetic portrayal of Honor and her dad.
SMOKE made me angry for Honor, angry that her mother left her in the care of her father, when his PTSD sometimes made taking care of himself difficult. In my role of child psychologist, I saw many kids who were parentified and took on the responsibility of caring for their parents’ needs. Sometimes children were directly told it was their job, mostly their love made them willingly embrace the task. The unhealthy role reversal creates psychological issues for the children, which if not addressed can affect present and future relationships into adulthood. Reading SMOKE made me angry at Honor’s mom for allowing this.
SMOKE addresses a number of important societal issues, but it’s not an Issue Book where lessons are rammed down readers’ throats under the guise of fiction. Woods weaves the issues into the fabric of the characters and plot in a manner than didn’t seem like lessons until after I finished reading and wrote this review.
SMOKE is an important book that belongs in all libraries and classrooms. It would be a great book for class discussion as many have strong feelings about medical marijuana and legalization for recreational use. I have a few conditions that could benefit from medical marijuana and will probably try some day, though it’s cost prohibited in my state to do so legally.
Honor Augustine lives in fear not of, but for her father due to his out of control, combat related PTSD. Smoking weed helps Honor’s father, to an extent, though it doesn’t prevent his sometimes violent nightmares. When she discovers the VA will limit his benefits, she comes up with a plan to use the family’s gardening business for marijuana.
Sophomore writer Darcy Woods drew upon her own experiences with her dad’s PTSD and as a veteran herself (minus the marijuana farm) to create a realistic portrayal of traumatic PTSD. Woods’ gorgeous, almost poetic writing creates a sympathetic portrayal of Honor and her dad.
SMOKE made me angry for Honor, angry that her mother left her in the care of her father, when his PTSD sometimes made taking care of himself difficult. In my role of child psychologist, I saw many kids who were parentified and took on the responsibility of caring for their parents’ needs. Sometimes children were directly told it was their job, mostly their love made them willingly embrace the task. The unhealthy role reversal creates psychological issues for the children, which if not addressed can affect present and future relationships into adulthood. Reading SMOKE made me angry at Honor’s mom for allowing this.
SMOKE addresses a number of important societal issues, but it’s not an Issue Book where lessons are rammed down readers’ throats under the guise of fiction. Woods weaves the issues into the fabric of the characters and plot in a manner than didn’t seem like lessons until after I finished reading and wrote this review.
SMOKE is an important book that belongs in all libraries and classrooms. It would be a great book for class discussion as many have strong feelings about medical marijuana and legalization for recreational use. I have a few conditions that could benefit from medical marijuana and will probably try some day, though it’s cost prohibited in my state to do so legally.
June 26, 2021
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD! Woods has a true gift. Her characters have incredible depth, the fast-paced plot keeps building, and her writing is phenomenal. I found myself captivated by the sentence structure as much as the story, and I didn't want it to end.
September 4, 2020
I was lucky enough to read SMOKE early, and let me tell you, this one is not to be missed. Darcy's writing brims with emotion and heart, and this story has twists and turns you won't see coming. Bold, nuanced, and brilliantly executed, with a protagonist you'll love and a cast of authentic, fully fleshed out characters. I can't give SMOKE enough stars!
May 14, 2021
I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of this story, and HOLY WOW did I love it! It's brimming with heart, hope, family, and love. Cannot wait for this beautiful book to hit the shelves!
February 12, 2021
A moving, suspenseful story about love, family, trust, and what it means to take care of each other. Honor's father is loving but suffering from severe PTSD, and her mother has essentially abandoned the family, so when Honor learns that her family's in a dire financial situation, she believes she's the only one who can tackle the problem. With her greenhouse experience, growing marijuana seems like a natural choice. She soon gets in over her head, while also dealing with a bullying situation at school. But in the course of trying to go it alone, she discovers allies she didn't know she had, complexities she hadn't counted on, and a boy who gives her some new perspectives on love. The action is suspenseful, but for me, the relationships were the heart of the story, and I found them compelling, convincing, and wise. And for all the trauma in this book, it left me feeling full of hope.
October 11, 2021
It’s currently 2:20 am, my eyes are burning, lashes are straining against gravity and the bags under my eyes could hold a bucket of chocolate.
And I still don’t regret a single hour I willingly tore out of my life span for this book.
And I still don’t regret a single hour I willingly tore out of my life span for this book.
May 12, 2021
I loved this! Honor is such an authentic character, I hated to finish the book, because I didn't want to say good-bye to her. This book packs an emotional punch and is so timely. It's a book about love and loyalty and family. Honor faces adversity that someone so young usually doesn't face, and she makes choices most teenagers don't have to make. It's a gripping read. The depictions of PTSD are real and heart wrenching, but that is part of what makes SMOKE such a good book. No matter where you stand on the use of cannabis, I would recommend this book. It doesn't preach, but it provokes thought and discussion. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys unflinchingly realistic contemporary YA.
March 20, 2021
How far would you go to save your family?
With her mother starting a new life in another city, her veteran dad suffering PTSD, and her brother soon off to college, it’s up to Honor Augustine to dig her family out of a gaping financial hole. In a puff of smoke, the Augustines’ nursery business could go under, and with it their home. Honor comes to the agonising decision to grow a crop of a different kind. Marijuana. Just enough to pay off debts and keep her family safe. Honor doesn’t go bounding into this venture without some internal struggles. There’s so much at risk — her freedom, her friends, her future. But grimly and methodically, Honor goes above and beyond to save her family.
I have highlights all through this book where the words either broke my heart or made me burst out laughing. Darcy Woods impresses with straight-from-the heart, authentic, and lyrical writing. It’s clear meticulous horticultural research went into this book, yet just the perfect amount of detail was woven in to lend authenticity. The PTSD aspect was delicately handled, too. Woods gives us a smart yet vulnerable heroine who’ll do whatever it takes. You’ll be cheering for Honor from the start. Interlacing breathless tension with moments of hilarity and a gorgeous romance, SMOKE will leave you on a high. I loved it!
Thank you to Crown Books for Young Readers, from whom I received an advance copy of SMOKE via NetGalley.
With her mother starting a new life in another city, her veteran dad suffering PTSD, and her brother soon off to college, it’s up to Honor Augustine to dig her family out of a gaping financial hole. In a puff of smoke, the Augustines’ nursery business could go under, and with it their home. Honor comes to the agonising decision to grow a crop of a different kind. Marijuana. Just enough to pay off debts and keep her family safe. Honor doesn’t go bounding into this venture without some internal struggles. There’s so much at risk — her freedom, her friends, her future. But grimly and methodically, Honor goes above and beyond to save her family.
I have highlights all through this book where the words either broke my heart or made me burst out laughing. Darcy Woods impresses with straight-from-the heart, authentic, and lyrical writing. It’s clear meticulous horticultural research went into this book, yet just the perfect amount of detail was woven in to lend authenticity. The PTSD aspect was delicately handled, too. Woods gives us a smart yet vulnerable heroine who’ll do whatever it takes. You’ll be cheering for Honor from the start. Interlacing breathless tension with moments of hilarity and a gorgeous romance, SMOKE will leave you on a high. I loved it!
Thank you to Crown Books for Young Readers, from whom I received an advance copy of SMOKE via NetGalley.
May 30, 2021
I was honored to receive an advanced copy of Smoke and dove in not knowing what to expect. The forward by the author is a MUST read. It really set the tone for the book to know a bit of why she wrote this and where the themes came from.
Smoke uses a family backdrop of trauma and PTSD as a set-up for teenagers establishing a pot farm, aka a marijuana growing business. Honor (that's her name - it's so great), works for her family greenhouse. It's in trouble financially, as is her father who experiences severe reactions to past war trauma. She aims to save the family by secretly growing weed. Credit to the author, she addresses the serious themes with thought, and care. The characters have a lot of personality and quirks with many funny moments and lighter touches to offset the deeper themes.
I loved the sibling relationship between Honor and her brother. Honor has a complicated relationship with her mother, and a fractured friendship that are explored here, as well as a subplot involving bullying. I was at the edge of my seat SEVERAL times not knowing what would come of this business venture and where the story would lead.
Highly recommend this book for older teens with content warnings for bulling and PTSD/mental health.
Smoke uses a family backdrop of trauma and PTSD as a set-up for teenagers establishing a pot farm, aka a marijuana growing business. Honor (that's her name - it's so great), works for her family greenhouse. It's in trouble financially, as is her father who experiences severe reactions to past war trauma. She aims to save the family by secretly growing weed. Credit to the author, she addresses the serious themes with thought, and care. The characters have a lot of personality and quirks with many funny moments and lighter touches to offset the deeper themes.
I loved the sibling relationship between Honor and her brother. Honor has a complicated relationship with her mother, and a fractured friendship that are explored here, as well as a subplot involving bullying. I was at the edge of my seat SEVERAL times not knowing what would come of this business venture and where the story would lead.
Highly recommend this book for older teens with content warnings for bulling and PTSD/mental health.
June 15, 2021
Having grown up in a military family, I connected to Honor's story in many ways. Except maybe the whole pot farm thing, though I would totally do what Honor does in order to save my family's livelihood and protect them. Woods brought to life a family in dire straights and full of love for each other that feels real and is so compelling I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished it. Honor is everything her name means and more. She doesn't break the rules but situations force her to put those values aside. She'd do anything to help those she loves and she bravely faces many challenges to piece together what's left of her broken family after her mother abandons them and her father struggles with ghosts from his past. A heart-warming story of bravery with many laugh-out-loud moments, SMOKE will have you burning through the pages until the end.
April 10, 2022
I LOVED this book. A super unique plot that really sheds light on a benefits of a drug that is very highly debated. Not only that, but it’s written for young adult readers, which allows them to be more informed and entertained.
June 16, 2021
* I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was thrilled I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of SMOKE. This book will pull you in from the first page! I highly recommend it for fans of contemporary YA. Woods' writing is beautifully nuanced, with well drawn characters with journeys you'll want to follow and root for. The premise drew me in right away, and I was increasingly captivated as the story progressed, and I got to see what lengths Honor would go to in order to save her family. Powerful, compelling story.
I was thrilled I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of SMOKE. This book will pull you in from the first page! I highly recommend it for fans of contemporary YA. Woods' writing is beautifully nuanced, with well drawn characters with journeys you'll want to follow and root for. The premise drew me in right away, and I was increasingly captivated as the story progressed, and I got to see what lengths Honor would go to in order to save her family. Powerful, compelling story.
February 22, 2021
So powerful. A suspenseful story with wonderful characters at its core, full of heart. I can't wait for everyone to discover Honor's story!!!
March 25, 2021
Smoke is thought provoking and heart wrenching and I'm still thinking about it, long after finishing the book. The whole time I was reading, I was at the edge of my seat, turning pages as fast as I could and WORRYING about the characters, about the choices they would make. SMOKE reminded me (a little) of a YA version of Breaking Bad, with a cast that I instantly fell in love with. If you like coming-of-age stories with complicated dilemmas and young characters bursting with heart, don't miss this book!
May 6, 2021
Got the opportunity to read an advance copy of Smoke. I loved Smoke's protagonist, Honor. Loved her. Just so realistically go-getting, socially awkward, righteous, caring, whip smart, family-loving, great sense of humor. So perfectly named. You root for her all the way. She's going to capture a lot of reader hearts over the coming years.
February 27, 2021
Full of heart and hope. Woods captures PTSD and the toll on a life and family in such a genuine way. Lovely prose and so many heartfelt, human moments brought it all home.
July 7, 2021
This book is wonderful! The characters, the drama, the family connection - all of it. I can usually guess how a book is going to end or at least figure out the biggest piece of the puzzle early on, not with this one. There were a few surprises and I loved every minute of it!
August 3, 2022
Welcome Back!
It’s been a busy month and somehow we are at the start of August! As far as reading July had some highs and some lows (I believe a DNF or two as well) but it’s a new month and I am looking forward to reading many more stories! I technically finished the Smoke audiobook towards the end of July but I had not yet had the chance to write this review. So without further ado, let’s jump into Smoke!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Honor is an amazing student, great daughter, good sister, and an all-around nice person, however, her family is experiencing some hard times. Honor tries to help out as much as she can by working at the greenhouse with her aunt, however, one day Honor finds out some things she shouldn’t. Honor learns that the VA will be cutting her father’s benefits and they will definitely not have enough every month. On top of that Honor learns that the greenhouse is in massive debt and they are already on their last chance to pay it. Her father is also experiencing awful PTSD that she and her brother try to help him with as much as they can. Honor has her plate absolutely full but she can not let her family lose everything. So she comes up with an idea. She is going to grow and sell marijuana just for a little while to help her family. With a plan in hand, Honor finds two unlikely people to help her and things seem like they could actually work out. But what if this is not as simple as it seems? What if someone is trying to push them out of the market before they are even in it?
I really enjoyed Smoke. I think Honor’s story was very unique. She did not want to do something that was considered a felony or wrong but she felt she needed to slide in and save her family. Her father is already dealing with so much and she knows there is no other way for him to really take care of this problem. Outside of the story, I loved the characters but special mention for Honor, her brother, and their friend who helps them out! (He was my absolute favorite character I think)! I am excited to see what this author writes next!
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
It’s been a busy month and somehow we are at the start of August! As far as reading July had some highs and some lows (I believe a DNF or two as well) but it’s a new month and I am looking forward to reading many more stories! I technically finished the Smoke audiobook towards the end of July but I had not yet had the chance to write this review. So without further ado, let’s jump into Smoke!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Honor is an amazing student, great daughter, good sister, and an all-around nice person, however, her family is experiencing some hard times. Honor tries to help out as much as she can by working at the greenhouse with her aunt, however, one day Honor finds out some things she shouldn’t. Honor learns that the VA will be cutting her father’s benefits and they will definitely not have enough every month. On top of that Honor learns that the greenhouse is in massive debt and they are already on their last chance to pay it. Her father is also experiencing awful PTSD that she and her brother try to help him with as much as they can. Honor has her plate absolutely full but she can not let her family lose everything. So she comes up with an idea. She is going to grow and sell marijuana just for a little while to help her family. With a plan in hand, Honor finds two unlikely people to help her and things seem like they could actually work out. But what if this is not as simple as it seems? What if someone is trying to push them out of the market before they are even in it?
I really enjoyed Smoke. I think Honor’s story was very unique. She did not want to do something that was considered a felony or wrong but she felt she needed to slide in and save her family. Her father is already dealing with so much and she knows there is no other way for him to really take care of this problem. Outside of the story, I loved the characters but special mention for Honor, her brother, and their friend who helps them out! (He was my absolute favorite character I think)! I am excited to see what this author writes next!
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
July 8, 2021
A surprisingly fascinating and complicated YA novel about a studios teenager who decides to grow weed in order to help her family gain financial security. Thought-provoking and rife with mental illness, bullying, young love, and the complexities that come with moral dilemma, this is a refreshing and unique read about growing weed and growing up!
Honor always follows the rules, but when she finds out her former military father with PTSD may lose everything, she gets the bright idea to grow marijuana for profit. With the help of a few friends and family, Honor may just pull off the biggest criminal act of her life.
Going into this one I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with the characters and the writing style as much as I did. There is a lyrical quality to the words. I loved the added sweet romance and the in depth descriptions about growing weed. I felt like I learned from this book and walked away satisfied and enlightened on the relevant and timely topic! A romantic and interesting spin on the classic coming of age story!
Honor always follows the rules, but when she finds out her former military father with PTSD may lose everything, she gets the bright idea to grow marijuana for profit. With the help of a few friends and family, Honor may just pull off the biggest criminal act of her life.
Going into this one I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with the characters and the writing style as much as I did. There is a lyrical quality to the words. I loved the added sweet romance and the in depth descriptions about growing weed. I felt like I learned from this book and walked away satisfied and enlightened on the relevant and timely topic! A romantic and interesting spin on the classic coming of age story!
October 30, 2021
I don't think this book was bad, it just wasn't for me. I think I just got a little bored throughout the book. I also really wanted to like Honor, the main character, but I feel like I didn't get a true sense of her character. She is obviously a smart girl but she just makes such bad decisions! I get that her parents are divorced, her dad was a military man with somewhat severe PTSD, and her mom left to shack up (and eventually marry) another guy with cute twins. So what does Honor feel like should help her Dad--pot of course! Which is fine, pot is helpful for people, especially for those with PTSD. But I guess there was something about the writing that I didn't like....I didn't feel any kind of stakes throughout the book and I just didn't care at all. I gave it a try though.
June 25, 2021
This is a really dramatic story and I love the cinematic air that added to the tale. There was a great edge to the story that keeps you on your toes and the climax was insane. This was well balanced by the heart of the main characters. They still felt like relatively normal teenagers and the drama of their drug business blurred into regular teen drama. The book also had some great unexpected humor that perfectly lightened the tone when needed. This is certainly still a heavy book though and features PTSD, drug use, sexual harassment, and some violent scenes. I do think that and the teens being in the later years of high school puts this firmly in the older end of YA but as long as the reader is prepared for this subject matter I highly recommend this book.
August 6, 2021
Thank you netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. While I did appreciate the author's note in the beginning of the book, detailing the personal connection to this story, I had some problems with "Smoke" by Darcy Woods. The depictions of the "stoners" in the book seem to be overwhelmingly shifty, red-eyed losers, even though her own father uses marijuana for treatment of PTSD. The depiction of pot users as burn-outs seem to be outdated and more people than you think use pot on a recreational basis and are extremely successful. Honor starts off extremely anxious and school focused or problem oriented, then loses sight of all of that when Cole comes into the picture. I just wasn't buying the major personality changes. Or the gang of weed suppliers that came out of nowhere.
May 14, 2022
While I appreciate the predicament that Honor finds her family in, I was not thrilled with the execution of this story or the wrap up. From the author's personal experience and heavily researched marijuana growing process I certainly can't refute the information and nor would I want to. What made it just 'meh' for me was the long lost romance side and the outcome that read more like a grown up Scooby Do episode with a side note of community service ...???? really? I wanted more drama, more hard-core thrill, and yes I realize this is still a YA book, but with adult content and themes like drug production, use, distribution and the long-term effects of war on a family that it would make that leap to feeling heavier than it did.
September 15, 2021
I was a little turned off by the teen wanting to grow cannabis to help this family out of financial problems. I felt like this idea might have come from watching either weed or break bad because it seems to have the same premise but for a younger crowd. Overall the book is decent and a quick and easy read—one of the first endings that I did not imminently know. Trigger warning of committing a crime & PTSD
Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 29, 2020
I received an arc from NetGalley. Read the entire book in one day. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but it was soo good. The author did such a good job really making you feel everything the main character Honor was going through. It really gripped me. I laughed and cried reading this book, it was really a journey. The only thing that threw me was the description of the book mentioned the weeds tv show, but this was nothing like that. This was really a coming of age story about self discovery and mental health. Amazing I hope people will read this!
June 10, 2021
I was really excited for this book. I was a fan of Weeds and was intrigued by the idea of a high schooler growing weed to save her family from bankruptcy. Unfortunately a romance was thrown in which I feel like was unnecessary. Yes, honor deserves love but that's not what this story is about. It's about her relationship with her father and brother. I feel like the book would have been better without the Cole/honor plotline thrown in.
September 1, 2021
Excellent. Whether you’re for or against the use of medical marijuana, this story is a must read. As a firm believer in the use of medical marijuana I was intrigued by this book and I definitely was not disappointed. This is a story of love, loss, secrets and yes a little bit of weed. The protagonist Honor Augustine is an impressive and vibrantly written character and the entire story had me hooked from the beginning.
November 17, 2021
A heartwarming story about the lengths one would go to to protect someone they love. But it was more than just heartwarming, it was pretty action packed and a total nail biter at times. I loved the romantic element, too. I rarely read anything that portrays cannabis as something positive and beneficial, as the medicine that it is, so that was quite excellent. What a great read!
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