What do you think?
Rate this book
Heart to Heart
From Lurlene McDaniel, the bestselling author of young adult inspirational fiction, comes Heart to Heart . This emotionally charged novel explores loss, love, renewal, and the ways in which these complex bonds within families and between friends are tested at life's most challenging moments.
Elowyn Eden and Kassey Messechek are best friends. They share every aspect of their lives. But one thing Elowyn has not yet shared with Kassey is that she checked the organ donor box on her newly acquired driver's license. Kassey only learns of this in a startling and devastating way—when Elowyn's life-giving donor wishes are about to be honored.
Arabeth St. Clair has not had the luck to have a best friend. Due to her diseased heart, she's led a sheltered life. When Arabeth is sixteen, she and her mother receive the call that will change their lives—but they don't know to whom they should be forever grateful.
When the worlds of these three girls and their families intersect, lives are changed in ways never imagined. Most especially, it is Kassey who sees things differently, for she can keep alive the memory of her dear friend by sharing the renewed life of another teenage girl, while helping to ease the pain of the two families involved and coming to terms with her own.
Elowyn Eden and Kassey Messechek are best friends. They share every aspect of their lives. But one thing Elowyn has not yet shared with Kassey is that she checked the organ donor box on her newly acquired driver's license. Kassey only learns of this in a startling and devastating way—when Elowyn's life-giving donor wishes are about to be honored.
Arabeth St. Clair has not had the luck to have a best friend. Due to her diseased heart, she's led a sheltered life. When Arabeth is sixteen, she and her mother receive the call that will change their lives—but they don't know to whom they should be forever grateful.
When the worlds of these three girls and their families intersect, lives are changed in ways never imagined. Most especially, it is Kassey who sees things differently, for she can keep alive the memory of her dear friend by sharing the renewed life of another teenage girl, while helping to ease the pain of the two families involved and coming to terms with her own.
214 pages, Hardcover
First published June 8, 2010
87 people are currently reading
1897 people want to read
About the author
Lurlene McDaniel
138 books2,744 followersLurlene McDaniel (born c. 1948) is an author who has written over 50 young adult books. She is well known for writing about characters struggling with chronic and terminal illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and organ failure.
Other places to find her are...
https://www.facebook.com/lurlenemcdan...
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/aut...
http://www.youtube.com/user/LurleneMc
Other places to find her are...
https://www.facebook.com/lurlenemcdan...
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/aut...
http://www.youtube.com/user/LurleneMc
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
November 5, 2010
Of course, I love it! This young adult novel about a girl who received s heart transplant is dedicated "To Lois, and to Kaitlyn whose heart lives on."
One evening when my friend Lurlene and I were having dinner together,I told her about my daughter, Kaitlyn Arquette, who was chased down in her car and shot in the head in Albuquerque, NM, in 1989 (case is still unsolved). Kait was an organ doner, and, as the recipient of her heart and lungs came out from under the anesthetic, he described to his mother and to a nurse his vivid "dream" of a terrified girl being chased in her car by dark-complexioned men. Apparently Kait's final memories were transplanted along with her organs.
I said to Lurlene, "This could be the plot of one of your novels." And, now, it is.
One evening when my friend Lurlene and I were having dinner together,I told her about my daughter, Kaitlyn Arquette, who was chased down in her car and shot in the head in Albuquerque, NM, in 1989 (case is still unsolved). Kait was an organ doner, and, as the recipient of her heart and lungs came out from under the anesthetic, he described to his mother and to a nurse his vivid "dream" of a terrified girl being chased in her car by dark-complexioned men. Apparently Kait's final memories were transplanted along with her organs.
I said to Lurlene, "This could be the plot of one of your novels." And, now, it is.
March 31, 2016
I've heard before that Lurlene McDaniel is like the the Nicholas Sparks of the YA world... and I wouldn't disagree. Heart to Heart is the first novel I've read of the author's many novels and prepare yourself, you'll need those tissues handy in no time at all.
Within the first 50 pages, I was already crying- not a few tears, but actually crying. The author pulls you in right from the very first page, and although you already know what's going to happen, as the back blurb explains, you can't help but cry or at least have some sort of emotional response. It tugs right at your heart-stings.
There were moments when I had to put the book down and then take a quick breather before plunging right back in because I was so overcome with sadness. On the one hand, I was happy that Arabel was finally receiving the heart she rightfully deserved after waiting so long, but on the other hand, I was also grieving with Kassey, who had just lost her best friend, Elowyn. Two very different emotions for two very different people who would be forever connected by the unfortunate and sudden death of a teenage girl. McDaniel tactfully deals with the heavy subjects of loss and grief, but ultimately, she teaches readers that there is a way to overcome life's obstacles and that road will lead to healing.
Heart to Heart is a realistic and moving novel that will surely touch your own heart.
Within the first 50 pages, I was already crying- not a few tears, but actually crying. The author pulls you in right from the very first page, and although you already know what's going to happen, as the back blurb explains, you can't help but cry or at least have some sort of emotional response. It tugs right at your heart-stings.
There were moments when I had to put the book down and then take a quick breather before plunging right back in because I was so overcome with sadness. On the one hand, I was happy that Arabel was finally receiving the heart she rightfully deserved after waiting so long, but on the other hand, I was also grieving with Kassey, who had just lost her best friend, Elowyn. Two very different emotions for two very different people who would be forever connected by the unfortunate and sudden death of a teenage girl. McDaniel tactfully deals with the heavy subjects of loss and grief, but ultimately, she teaches readers that there is a way to overcome life's obstacles and that road will lead to healing.
Heart to Heart is a realistic and moving novel that will surely touch your own heart.
February 18, 2014
Arabeth doesn’t have a best friend, or really any friends. An Army brat whose father died in Afghanistan, she has always moved from place to place, and her diseased heart has isolated her from other children. At fourteen she should be looking forward to high school, but she is confined to her room, tethered to oxygen. Not far away in another Atlanta suburb, Kassey and Elowyn are best friends. Kassey vacations with Elowyn and her parents, they attend the same school, are both on the varsity volleyball team, and when Elowyn gets a car for her 16th birthday, she gives Kassey the extra set of keys. They share everything … or almost everything. Because Elowyn never tells Kassey she checked the organ donor box on her driver’s license.
This is a simply told story of three girls and how their lives intersect as a result of tragedy. It’s pretty predictable and contains the usual teen drama (first boyfriend, first kiss, first fight, first breakup, etc). I do like that McDaniel portrayed the teens fairly realistically – they were sometimes mean or thoughtless, lacked judgment, worried about what others thought, wanted to be popular, obsessed over “the cute guy,” jumped to conclusions, fought and made-up in the space of a few minutes. She also showed the adults as being caring but enforcing rules (and the teens sometimes ignoring the guidance given). I really hated the names; even my spell-checker didn’t like any of them. One would think there are no longer any kids named Mary or Sam.
One glaring misstatement made me judge the book rather harshly; a cardiologist does NOT perform transplant surgery, a cardiovascular surgeon DOES perform the transplant. But I reminded myself that this is a young-adult novel and tried to judge it based on the intended audience. I think my 13-year-old niece would enjoy the book. It’s a fast read and it fulfilled a couple of challenges for me.
This is a simply told story of three girls and how their lives intersect as a result of tragedy. It’s pretty predictable and contains the usual teen drama (first boyfriend, first kiss, first fight, first breakup, etc). I do like that McDaniel portrayed the teens fairly realistically – they were sometimes mean or thoughtless, lacked judgment, worried about what others thought, wanted to be popular, obsessed over “the cute guy,” jumped to conclusions, fought and made-up in the space of a few minutes. She also showed the adults as being caring but enforcing rules (and the teens sometimes ignoring the guidance given). I really hated the names; even my spell-checker didn’t like any of them. One would think there are no longer any kids named Mary or Sam.
One glaring misstatement made me judge the book rather harshly; a cardiologist does NOT perform transplant surgery, a cardiovascular surgeon DOES perform the transplant. But I reminded myself that this is a young-adult novel and tried to judge it based on the intended audience. I think my 13-year-old niece would enjoy the book. It’s a fast read and it fulfilled a couple of challenges for me.
October 10, 2017
This had potential. A lot of potential.
However, most of that potential was left unexplored. This deals with organ donation and the consequences for both sides. You see, when it comes to organ transplants, it means that, most of the times, someone died, and that death allowed someone to live. There is both mourning and celebration. While there was that in the book, the whole thing just felt rushed and too easy. The theme is too complex to be dealt with in such a short book.
However, most of that potential was left unexplored. This deals with organ donation and the consequences for both sides. You see, when it comes to organ transplants, it means that, most of the times, someone died, and that death allowed someone to live. There is both mourning and celebration. While there was that in the book, the whole thing just felt rushed and too easy. The theme is too complex to be dealt with in such a short book.
August 22, 2016
Sejak membaca Don't Die, My Love aku sudah jatuh hati dengan tulisan Lurlene McDaniel sehingga saat tahu buku ini akhirnya diterjemahkan aku tak ragu memasukkannya ke wishlistku.
Novel remaja yang indah dan membuatku betah membacanya. Ini tentang kisah persahabatan Elowyn dan Kassey yang begitu erat. Mereka berbagi apa saja dan mereka sering menghabiskan liburan bersama. Walau memang kehadiran Wyatt, kekasih Elowyn cukup menyita waktu Elowyn, tetapi persahabatan mereka tetap terjalin dengan baik. Hingga hari itu semua berubah...
Elowyn kecelakaan dan tidak bisa tertolong lagi. Semua alat bantu dan dokter pun sudah angkat tangan, karena secara medis Elowyn sudah meninggal. Tetapi ternyata Elowyn sudah berniat untuk mendonorkan anggota tubuhnya.
Dan disanalah akhirnya Elowyn pun meninggal, dan jantungnya diberikan kepada Arabeth. Disinilah kisah bermula. Kehadiran Arabeth malah membangun kembali segala kenangan tentang Elowyn seakan Elowyn masih hidup dan bersama mereka. Arabeth pun bingung dengan dirinya, karena terkadang Arabeth merasakan seperti bukan dirinya sejak dia menerima transplantasi jantung.
Diceritakan dari sudut pandang Kassey dan Arabeth, sebagai pembaca aku bisa merasakan apa yang dirasakan dan dipikirkan mereka tentang Elowyn. Mengharukan....
Tidak sabar untuk membaca karya Lurlene McDaniel lainnya
Novel remaja yang indah dan membuatku betah membacanya. Ini tentang kisah persahabatan Elowyn dan Kassey yang begitu erat. Mereka berbagi apa saja dan mereka sering menghabiskan liburan bersama. Walau memang kehadiran Wyatt, kekasih Elowyn cukup menyita waktu Elowyn, tetapi persahabatan mereka tetap terjalin dengan baik. Hingga hari itu semua berubah...
Elowyn kecelakaan dan tidak bisa tertolong lagi. Semua alat bantu dan dokter pun sudah angkat tangan, karena secara medis Elowyn sudah meninggal. Tetapi ternyata Elowyn sudah berniat untuk mendonorkan anggota tubuhnya.
Dan disanalah akhirnya Elowyn pun meninggal, dan jantungnya diberikan kepada Arabeth. Disinilah kisah bermula. Kehadiran Arabeth malah membangun kembali segala kenangan tentang Elowyn seakan Elowyn masih hidup dan bersama mereka. Arabeth pun bingung dengan dirinya, karena terkadang Arabeth merasakan seperti bukan dirinya sejak dia menerima transplantasi jantung.
Diceritakan dari sudut pandang Kassey dan Arabeth, sebagai pembaca aku bisa merasakan apa yang dirasakan dan dipikirkan mereka tentang Elowyn. Mengharukan....
Tidak sabar untuk membaca karya Lurlene McDaniel lainnya
June 5, 2023
I thought this was a great book. One I got started it was hard to put down. This book was also very heartbreaking and heart lifting at the same time. I think that both Kassey and Arabeth are two great characters and I like how the story follows those two. Plus Kassey and Elowyn's friendship is a great one. To me they feel like they were truly best friends. How they had their ups and downs.
March 21, 2016
Personal Response:
I thought this book was pretty good. This was a really captivating story that kept me interested the entire time. I liked how you could really connect with the characters in this book. I thought it was a great read.
Plot:
This book was about a girl named Kassey. Kassey was a high schooler with a best friend named Elowyn. Elowyn died in a car accident shortly after her sixteenth birthday. Her heart was donated to a girl named Arabeth. Arabeth was fairly close to death before she had gotten the transplant. A few months after the transplant, Arabeth started to develop a lot of Elowyn's traits. When Kassey met Arabeth, she started to notice that Arabeth liked the same exact things that Elowyn did. She liked the same decor, perfume. Ice cream, and even more of the same things that Elowyn liked. She even knew phrases that Elowyn would say. Towards the end of the book, Kassey and Arabeth became good friends.
Characterization:
Kassey was one of the main characters in this story. Her character grew a lot throughout the book. She started out as a naive teenager without a care in the world. As the book went on, she developed a whole new meaning of life. After her best friend died, she realized that she should appreciate life. She knew that life could end at any given second, so she should make the most of it while she could.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to high schoolers. I think that high schoolers would like this story best because the main characters are high schoolers. I also think that girls would enjoy this story better than guys. I say this because almost all of the main characters are girls.
I thought this book was pretty good. This was a really captivating story that kept me interested the entire time. I liked how you could really connect with the characters in this book. I thought it was a great read.
Plot:
This book was about a girl named Kassey. Kassey was a high schooler with a best friend named Elowyn. Elowyn died in a car accident shortly after her sixteenth birthday. Her heart was donated to a girl named Arabeth. Arabeth was fairly close to death before she had gotten the transplant. A few months after the transplant, Arabeth started to develop a lot of Elowyn's traits. When Kassey met Arabeth, she started to notice that Arabeth liked the same exact things that Elowyn did. She liked the same decor, perfume. Ice cream, and even more of the same things that Elowyn liked. She even knew phrases that Elowyn would say. Towards the end of the book, Kassey and Arabeth became good friends.
Characterization:
Kassey was one of the main characters in this story. Her character grew a lot throughout the book. She started out as a naive teenager without a care in the world. As the book went on, she developed a whole new meaning of life. After her best friend died, she realized that she should appreciate life. She knew that life could end at any given second, so she should make the most of it while she could.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to high schoolers. I think that high schoolers would like this story best because the main characters are high schoolers. I also think that girls would enjoy this story better than guys. I say this because almost all of the main characters are girls.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2020
12/1/2020 It's funny to me how time can change the way you view a book. When I first read this, I was a teenager and I related well to the teenagers. Reading this now, I'm an adult, and I related more to the adults. I thought Elowyn was a pretty awful friend to be honest, and Kassey deserved much better. I also feel like Arabeth came off ungrateful sometimes. It was weird to me that she would be embarrassed by anyone knowing she had a heart transplant. It's because of that attitude that she was spending so much time with Elowyn's loved ones that they became too involved and couldn't separate Arabeth from Elowyn and that she couldn't make new friends at her new school. This was probably a 3 star read for me, but I don't want to change the rating because I really did love this the first time around.
10/20/2016: 4.5. Wow. This was a really powerful read. I read through a lot of reviews, and many people cried while reading this. I also read Lois Duncan's review, which revealed that this book was based loosely around her daughter and their experience with a heart donation. I was really invested in this, but I didn't cry or feel overwhelmingly sad, which is the only reason this doesn't get that 5th star for me. This was beautifully written, and I think it did a good job at portraying the grieving that surrounds a situation like this. I look forward to reading more Lurlene McDaniel stories, because this really was beautiful.
10/20/2016: 4.5. Wow. This was a really powerful read. I read through a lot of reviews, and many people cried while reading this. I also read Lois Duncan's review, which revealed that this book was based loosely around her daughter and their experience with a heart donation. I was really invested in this, but I didn't cry or feel overwhelmingly sad, which is the only reason this doesn't get that 5th star for me. This was beautifully written, and I think it did a good job at portraying the grieving that surrounds a situation like this. I look forward to reading more Lurlene McDaniel stories, because this really was beautiful.
September 3, 2011
I liked this book. I could really connect to this book on how with your friends and cherishing something special. This book taught me that you must Charish everything you have and eveyone you love because god can take it away in a heart beat. I don't know what I would do if one of my friends died. It would be hard for me knowing she is not going to make me laugh,cry,and be there fir me when u need her. I can't even imagine whammy life would be like! I loved how this book could almost make me cry. This book is sad you don't think it could happened in a book but it does! This is the 1st book that ever made me want to throw is aginst the wall and wish it didn't happen to that girl! This is a good book if you a not caring about what you have in the world and your taking everything for granted.. This is the book that will make you love everyone and everything you seen,heard,and know. This book if the one I love.
July 23, 2010
3.5.
April 14, 2024
This is a bit embarrassing because I remember really liking this book as a child. It was just... kinda bad.
With the entire premise based around a medical anomaly, you'd think it would feel like the author did research on the subject, but it felt like all McDaniel knew about the subject of transplant cell memory was taken from a shitty, click-bait "restore faith in humanity" Facebook article. The characters were dull and had no more variation than the different letters in their name. Maybe it's a style I don't enjoy, but the writing was also dull and had no emotion. I was being told how the characters felt when I would rather be shown. Forgiveness came too easy to some characters, and conflict was avoided the entire novel. What's the point of having characters make mistakes if there are no consequences for their actions?
This book left me wishing the publisher bought her a ghost writer because the concept was interesting, and events that took place should have an impact. It's such a shame that the book sucked. My persistence to finish the book before reviewing it annoyed me because I wanted nothing more, but to have been able to set this book, the aggravating characters, and the wishy-washy writing down forever, and never read it again.
With the entire premise based around a medical anomaly, you'd think it would feel like the author did research on the subject, but it felt like all McDaniel knew about the subject of transplant cell memory was taken from a shitty, click-bait "restore faith in humanity" Facebook article. The characters were dull and had no more variation than the different letters in their name. Maybe it's a style I don't enjoy, but the writing was also dull and had no emotion. I was being told how the characters felt when I would rather be shown. Forgiveness came too easy to some characters, and conflict was avoided the entire novel. What's the point of having characters make mistakes if there are no consequences for their actions?
This book left me wishing the publisher bought her a ghost writer because the concept was interesting, and events that took place should have an impact. It's such a shame that the book sucked. My persistence to finish the book before reviewing it annoyed me because I wanted nothing more, but to have been able to set this book, the aggravating characters, and the wishy-washy writing down forever, and never read it again.
August 25, 2017
i thought it was great
December 4, 2023
Very good book sad but had a good ending!
October 2, 2024
Good, it made my gf cry🤣
January 25, 2018
Heart to heart is about a girl who dies in a car crash and donates her organs. The girl who gets her heart starts to experience and feel thing similar to the girl who died. I really enjoyed this book because it was eventful and interesting. I recommend it to any one who enjoys books about organ donors or medical conflicts.
February 10, 2017
Personal Response:
I thought that this book was very touching and an enjoyable book to get into. If anyone wants a heart wrencher I totally suggest this book. This book kept me interested from the very beginning and throughout the entire book. Anyone who is looking to read this book I would totally give it a try.
Plot Summary:
This book is about two main characters in the beginning of the book: Elowen and Kassey. Elowen has just gotten her drivers license and a brand new car! Kassey and Elowen were super excited to start having more freedom away from the house. The best thing is, is that Kassey got a pair of keys to the car too for when she gets her driver's license! When Elowen got her driver's license she checked to organ donors box as well. On one tragic night, Elowen crashes her car and dies immediately. Arabeth has had heart problems since she has been a little girl. This has caused her to be very isolated and have very few friends. When she gets the call that she might have a heart donor she is ecstatic! This heart just happens to be Elowen's heart. When Kassey and her parents find out, they go to meet Arabeth. Arabeth strangely was acting just like Elowen. Same favorite food, favorite scent and they both like Paris. Kassey notices and finds it very weird. But they become very good friends and Arabeth's heart is working great. Then Elowen's parents start treating Arabeth like she is there child. At the end of the book, Arabeth and Kassey remain friends and Arabeth becomes very distant from Elowen's parents.
Characterization:
At the beginning of the book, Arabeth was a very shy and lonely child that couldn't participate in many activities because of her heart. As the book progresses Arabeth meets Kassey, her family, her friends, and Elowen's family. She immediately starts getting more friends and taking part in more activities as her new heart becomes stronger and stronger. She even had a connection with Elowen's old boyfriend. He also missed Elowen greatly and he liked that Arabeth acted just like her. At the end of the book, Arabeth was a changed person. She went from a shy social outcast, to a normal tennager in high school.
Audience Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any boy or girl in 6th grade and up. If you enjoy a good realistic fiction book this is the book for you. If you don't enjoy a little bit of sadness then I suggest that you don't read this book. If you like books about strange medical phenomenons then you will enjoy this book a lot. This is a very fun and easy book to read and is not that difficult. This book is also pretty short so if you need a book that won't take to long then this is a perfect book for you. I think that girls might enjoy this book a little more than a boy would but that is my personal opinion.
I thought that this book was very touching and an enjoyable book to get into. If anyone wants a heart wrencher I totally suggest this book. This book kept me interested from the very beginning and throughout the entire book. Anyone who is looking to read this book I would totally give it a try.
Plot Summary:
This book is about two main characters in the beginning of the book: Elowen and Kassey. Elowen has just gotten her drivers license and a brand new car! Kassey and Elowen were super excited to start having more freedom away from the house. The best thing is, is that Kassey got a pair of keys to the car too for when she gets her driver's license! When Elowen got her driver's license she checked to organ donors box as well. On one tragic night, Elowen crashes her car and dies immediately. Arabeth has had heart problems since she has been a little girl. This has caused her to be very isolated and have very few friends. When she gets the call that she might have a heart donor she is ecstatic! This heart just happens to be Elowen's heart. When Kassey and her parents find out, they go to meet Arabeth. Arabeth strangely was acting just like Elowen. Same favorite food, favorite scent and they both like Paris. Kassey notices and finds it very weird. But they become very good friends and Arabeth's heart is working great. Then Elowen's parents start treating Arabeth like she is there child. At the end of the book, Arabeth and Kassey remain friends and Arabeth becomes very distant from Elowen's parents.
Characterization:
At the beginning of the book, Arabeth was a very shy and lonely child that couldn't participate in many activities because of her heart. As the book progresses Arabeth meets Kassey, her family, her friends, and Elowen's family. She immediately starts getting more friends and taking part in more activities as her new heart becomes stronger and stronger. She even had a connection with Elowen's old boyfriend. He also missed Elowen greatly and he liked that Arabeth acted just like her. At the end of the book, Arabeth was a changed person. She went from a shy social outcast, to a normal tennager in high school.
Audience Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any boy or girl in 6th grade and up. If you enjoy a good realistic fiction book this is the book for you. If you don't enjoy a little bit of sadness then I suggest that you don't read this book. If you like books about strange medical phenomenons then you will enjoy this book a lot. This is a very fun and easy book to read and is not that difficult. This book is also pretty short so if you need a book that won't take to long then this is a perfect book for you. I think that girls might enjoy this book a little more than a boy would but that is my personal opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2011
This book review comes with a warning: Reading Lurlene McDaniel’s books can be addicting. I see it every year. One of my students–usually a girl–picks up one of McDaniel’s books and then goes on a reading binge, devouring novel after novel. In fact, one of my students gave me Heart to Heart to read this week, saying, “This is the best book. You have to read it.” So I did.
Heart to Heart explores the complicated relationships between four teens who are brought together by tragedy. Elowyn and Kassey are best friends. Together, they dominate the volleyball team and watch each other’s back. Then Elowyn gets a boyfriend–Wyatt. The romance is stormy, and Kassey hates feeling left out. Then a car crash leaves Elowyn brain dead. Her parents honor Elowyn’s choice to be an organ donor. Arabeth receives new life with the gift of Elowyn’s heart. A year after the transplant, Arabeth agrees to meet Elowyn’s parents and later Kassey and Wyatt. Elowyn’s heart draws all of them together in surprising ways.
I liked the alternating points of view between Kassey and Arabeth. Kassey is devastated by her best friend’s death and anxious about meeting the girl who received her heart. She is freaked out by the uncanny glimpses of Elowyn that Arabeth reveals. Arabeth feels both grateful and guilty for the life that Elowyn’s death made possible. She wants to learn as much as she can about Elowyn, but is unnerved by Elowyn’s intrusion into her personality. Eventually, Kassey and Arabeth must work out a friendship that is built on more than the memory the girl whose heart now beats in Arabeth.
Like in the rest of her books that I’ve read, McDaniel gives an unflinching look at death and grief, but she doesn’t leave you without hope. Yes, tragedy does happen and it is hard, but life can be good again. I think it is the combination of her honesty and inspiration that makes her books so compelling. I dare you to read just one.
This review was first published on my blog at http://kaymcgriff.edublogs.org/2011/0...
Heart to Heart explores the complicated relationships between four teens who are brought together by tragedy. Elowyn and Kassey are best friends. Together, they dominate the volleyball team and watch each other’s back. Then Elowyn gets a boyfriend–Wyatt. The romance is stormy, and Kassey hates feeling left out. Then a car crash leaves Elowyn brain dead. Her parents honor Elowyn’s choice to be an organ donor. Arabeth receives new life with the gift of Elowyn’s heart. A year after the transplant, Arabeth agrees to meet Elowyn’s parents and later Kassey and Wyatt. Elowyn’s heart draws all of them together in surprising ways.
I liked the alternating points of view between Kassey and Arabeth. Kassey is devastated by her best friend’s death and anxious about meeting the girl who received her heart. She is freaked out by the uncanny glimpses of Elowyn that Arabeth reveals. Arabeth feels both grateful and guilty for the life that Elowyn’s death made possible. She wants to learn as much as she can about Elowyn, but is unnerved by Elowyn’s intrusion into her personality. Eventually, Kassey and Arabeth must work out a friendship that is built on more than the memory the girl whose heart now beats in Arabeth.
Like in the rest of her books that I’ve read, McDaniel gives an unflinching look at death and grief, but she doesn’t leave you without hope. Yes, tragedy does happen and it is hard, but life can be good again. I think it is the combination of her honesty and inspiration that makes her books so compelling. I dare you to read just one.
This review was first published on my blog at http://kaymcgriff.edublogs.org/2011/0...
May 8, 2012
Dealing with a death of her only friend, and having to meet the girl who had her heart, it is very hard for Kassey to continue on with her life. Elowyn, Kassey's best friend, is in a coma due to a car crash. However, Kassey is told by the doctors that Elowyn can no longer bes aved no matter how hardthey had tried. Kassey doesn't even want to go to school anymore because, life would be hard without her best friend. However, she realized that Elowyn chose to become an organ doner, and her heart will be in someone else's body, Kassey is confused more than ever.
Choosing between connecting with the new girl with Elowyn's heart, and having to stay a loner and live on with life. However, Kassey realized that connecting with the new girl is not as bad as she thought. Arabeth (the girl with Elowyn's heart) lived a complete different life from Elowyn's but as soon as she gotten Elowyn's heart, Arabeth started to act completely different from how she normally would act. Soon, Kassey learns to let go of the past, and do not let it haunt you.
People must learn to let go of their past, in order to continue with their lives. If you continue holding on to moments that once happened, you would go nowhere in life. We should all learn to keep worth remembering memories in our hearts but keep sad memories in the bottom of your heart. Do not let these sad memories constantly haunt your mind, and stop you from making progress in your life. Holding on to people and thinking that they will always be with you is also something we must learn not to do. Kassey thought that Elowyn would be by her side at all times during all stages of life, therefore she trusted Elowyn with all her heart. However, when Elowyn died, Kassey didn't know what to do. From this whole book, you would learn to not trust everything with your best friend(s), because one day they will leave you, and you will be left with nothing.
Choosing between connecting with the new girl with Elowyn's heart, and having to stay a loner and live on with life. However, Kassey realized that connecting with the new girl is not as bad as she thought. Arabeth (the girl with Elowyn's heart) lived a complete different life from Elowyn's but as soon as she gotten Elowyn's heart, Arabeth started to act completely different from how she normally would act. Soon, Kassey learns to let go of the past, and do not let it haunt you.
People must learn to let go of their past, in order to continue with their lives. If you continue holding on to moments that once happened, you would go nowhere in life. We should all learn to keep worth remembering memories in our hearts but keep sad memories in the bottom of your heart. Do not let these sad memories constantly haunt your mind, and stop you from making progress in your life. Holding on to people and thinking that they will always be with you is also something we must learn not to do. Kassey thought that Elowyn would be by her side at all times during all stages of life, therefore she trusted Elowyn with all her heart. However, when Elowyn died, Kassey didn't know what to do. From this whole book, you would learn to not trust everything with your best friend(s), because one day they will leave you, and you will be left with nothing.
February 9, 2014
Usually when a book is about the recovery of one’s death, the person is depressed almost throughout the entire book. Towards the end, they start to get better. However, with this book, it is not the case. Kassey had been Elowyn’s friend for quite some time. However, on one stormy day, Elowyn got into a horrible car accident that left her in a coma she was unable to get out of. Kassey did mourn, but after about two weeks, she was well enough to at least go to school and communicate without pushing people away. Although it was hard for her not having Elowyn around, she still managed to live her life normally. One day, Kassey got a call from Elowyn’s mom who said there was a girl named Arabeth who had a heart transplant and got Elowyn’s heart. Arabeth, who already met her donor’s mom, wanted to meet Kassey because she wanted to understand her heart donor better. When she met Arabeth, she was cautious of her at first and did not want to hang out with her. After days went by she started to warm up to her. Even though Arabeth is not related to Elowyn, she still reminded Kassey of her. Throughout this book, Arabeth’s resemblance causes some problems.
In the beginning of this book, it took place in Kassey's point of view to explain how Elowyn and she met, but after the second part, it took place in Arabeth's point of view, switching off between the two girls. At a young age, Arabeth had heart problems. Throughout her life, she has had no luck of finding any heart donors, but since Elowyn checked the organ donor on her driver's license, Arabeth finally got a working heart.
The setting of “heart to heart” takes place in the past in South Carolina, three years into the past, then switches to the present on the second part.
The theme is mourning. Although it was not a common form of mourning, Kassey and Elowyn’s parents pretended Arabeth was Elowyn to make their lives easier.
I would recommend this book to eighth graders and up, because the plot is easy to understand.
In the beginning of this book, it took place in Kassey's point of view to explain how Elowyn and she met, but after the second part, it took place in Arabeth's point of view, switching off between the two girls. At a young age, Arabeth had heart problems. Throughout her life, she has had no luck of finding any heart donors, but since Elowyn checked the organ donor on her driver's license, Arabeth finally got a working heart.
The setting of “heart to heart” takes place in the past in South Carolina, three years into the past, then switches to the present on the second part.
The theme is mourning. Although it was not a common form of mourning, Kassey and Elowyn’s parents pretended Arabeth was Elowyn to make their lives easier.
I would recommend this book to eighth graders and up, because the plot is easy to understand.
March 22, 2013
Realistic fiction fans are not to be messed with. We know what we want; we want to be satisfied with a heart touching story that leaves us craving for more.
McDaniel brings us all the romance and tears we want in Heart To Heart. Beginning with the story of Elowyn and Kassey, two best friends that last till death do them apart. Young Elowyn Eden, beautiful and warm hearted, lives the last days of her life without knowing. Kassey Messechek, gorgeous and unbreakable, unaware that she is about to lose the most important person in her life, her best friend. Every best friend is afraid of one thing, a boy coming in between their friendship, and thats just what Wyatt Nolan did. After the typical couple public blow up between Wyatt and Elowyn, elowyn decides to take her 16th birthday present top of the line car for a drive not knowing she wouldn't come back the same person she was. Kassey receives a call in the middle of the night from Terri, Elowyn's mom asking if Elowyn was with her, thats when everyone started to get worried. The next morning the “shes in the hospital, she was in a car accident” call, broke down Kassey, who rushed to the hospital to later find out she had lost her best friend, FOREVER.
Just a check on the back of a drivers licence can change everything. Elowyn had volunteered herself to be an organ donor if anything ever happened to her. Arabeth St. Clair was about to receive the biggest miracle of her life, a new heart and new friends. Kassey was about to meet a stranger with her best friends spirit.
McDaniel brings us all the romance and tears we want in Heart To Heart. Beginning with the story of Elowyn and Kassey, two best friends that last till death do them apart. Young Elowyn Eden, beautiful and warm hearted, lives the last days of her life without knowing. Kassey Messechek, gorgeous and unbreakable, unaware that she is about to lose the most important person in her life, her best friend. Every best friend is afraid of one thing, a boy coming in between their friendship, and thats just what Wyatt Nolan did. After the typical couple public blow up between Wyatt and Elowyn, elowyn decides to take her 16th birthday present top of the line car for a drive not knowing she wouldn't come back the same person she was. Kassey receives a call in the middle of the night from Terri, Elowyn's mom asking if Elowyn was with her, thats when everyone started to get worried. The next morning the “shes in the hospital, she was in a car accident” call, broke down Kassey, who rushed to the hospital to later find out she had lost her best friend, FOREVER.
Just a check on the back of a drivers licence can change everything. Elowyn had volunteered herself to be an organ donor if anything ever happened to her. Arabeth St. Clair was about to receive the biggest miracle of her life, a new heart and new friends. Kassey was about to meet a stranger with her best friends spirit.
February 4, 2016
Combining romance, estrangement, illness, and death, Heart to Heart packs in more pathos than an afternoon soap opera (with about as much subtlety). After 14-year-old Arabeth receives a heart transplant, she takes on the qualities of the donor – 16-year-old Elowyn – which attracts and confuses Elowyn’s best friend Kassey and boyfriend Wyatt. The fast-paced book, written with a breezy, conversational style in the alternating voices of Kassey and Arabeth, is accessible to even reluctant teen readers. McDaniel frankly and simply explains organ donation and the controversy surrounding cellular memory, the phenomenon which ostensibly causes Arabeth’s transformation. She describes with sensitivity Elowyn’s removal from life support and the harvesting of her organs. McDaniel is less successful, though, at creating distinctive voices for her narrators. Some of the dialog is stiff, and at times McDaniel over-explains her text, as when Arabeth tells us on page 206 that “blowing this pop stand” means “getting out of here.” Other flaws will distract alert readers. On page 26 Kassey drinks coffee, but on page 67 claims she “never liked the taste of coffee much.” Although Elowyn died in February, her high school waits until September to display a tribute that helps further the plot. And the description of a photo album created by Elowyn’s father is cringe-worthy. Teens who enjoyed Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper may appreciate the family dynamics surrounding organ transplants in this novel, while fans of Sarah Dessen may be drawn to the complex friendships and romances.
March 28, 2013
"Heart to Heart" is told from two points of view. Kasey is a normal healthy teenage girl. Although her parents are not together and she despises her dad, she still manages to keep happy. That is until her best and only friend, Eloywn, died in a car crash.
Arabeth, on the other hand, isn't as lucky as Kasey.When Arabeth was about 13, she lost her dad due to a war. She also has a very weak heart. She can't do a lot of the things normal teenagers do, like hanging out with friends, or even going to school. There was a time where she almost had a heart transplant but when they were just about to perform surgery, she was informed that the heart was not able to be used.
I think this book would be great for anyone who has dealt with death or any sort of trauma because, they can really learn a lot from this book.
Arabeth, on the other hand, isn't as lucky as Kasey.When Arabeth was about 13, she lost her dad due to a war. She also has a very weak heart. She can't do a lot of the things normal teenagers do, like hanging out with friends, or even going to school. There was a time where she almost had a heart transplant but when they were just about to perform surgery, she was informed that the heart was not able to be used.
I think this book would be great for anyone who has dealt with death or any sort of trauma because, they can really learn a lot from this book.
March 27, 2015
Heart to Heart is about two best friends going through life together. They stay best friends until one of the girls named Elowyn gets into a fight with her boyfriend, and goes off into the dead of night in a thunder, and lightning storm. Kassey the other best friend, gets a call from Elowyn's mother saying that Elowyn didn't come home last night, and this is news to Kassey. She tries to call Elowyn, but there is never a reply. Elowyn's mom then calls Kassey, and tells her that the police have found here, but unconscious. Kassey is devastated and goes to the hospital as soon as she is told what hospital Elowyn is at. Elowyn doesn't remember much, but her and Kassey's friendship is one thing she didn't forget. It just goes to show friendship is just as strong as love. Read this book if you love friendship and loyalty, because that is what this book is all about.
March 14, 2016
This book is about this girl named Elowyn and she was a young teenage girl and she became friends with this other girl named Kassy they became the best of friends. They were so close that her paretns invited Kassy to a trip for the summer ansd her mother was okay with it. Whent they went to wherever they went they had such a fun time but then there was 2 boys and they were flirting with them And they were older to. Kassy was smart and ran off because she wants nothing to do with boys ever sense her father left her and her mom for drugs and drinking. One night Elowyn and Her boyfriend Wayyte got into a hudge fight that they used the word cheating. She was so upset that she ran off and got into a hidge car acciedent. Of course her condiction was really bad that she wasnt gonn make it. Kassy blamed wayyte and then she died.
January 25, 2018
Do you like to read books about organ doners? If you do this book would be perfect for you. The main character meets a bestfriend and they do everything together. Until one gets a boyfriend, they get in a fight and she goes driving. She ends up crashing and then having to go to the hospital. If you like romantic and intense books this is the one for you. I liked it because it made me want not want to put it down.
Read
September 24, 2012This book is a good book the main character is Kassey she loses her best friend and now is alone but there is a girl who comes in and they become friends. the problem is learing to live with out her best friend. She has to deal with her best friends boyfriend because she gone she died. i think this i a good read and i recommend it.
January 5, 2015
This book was fantastic. Lurlene McDaniel never dissapoints. Her writing is so beautiful and she makes the story so realistic. Her books make you feel like you are living in that situation, like you are going through what those characters are going through. This was truly an amazing, heart-wrenching story.
September 23, 2015
This book was just ok for me. It wasn't bad, but somehow the concept of Arabeth turning into Elowyn because she had Elowyn's heart didn't fly with me. I get that it's fictional, but suddenly being left handed, wanting French decor, etc. doesn't excite me as a reader. Also, the idea of a donated organ changing the organ recipient is a bit cliche.
February 1, 2016
Very sad story but at the same time, it was uplifting. Elowyn is declared brain dead after a car accident and this is the story of how her family and friends learn to move on and how her tragic death lead to life when her organs are donated. Arabeth recieved her heart and begins to act at times like Elowyn which leads the characters to learn about the thoery of cellular memory.
January 23, 2015
This book talks about a girls best friend dies by a car accident but her lungs are still alive, so the parents of the girl tells the doctor to keep the lungs for someone else and a girl that has lung problem takes her lung and she starts acting exactly like the girl that died.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews