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Safe
Fifteen year old Meriah has nothing to live for. No friends, a neglectful mother and an abusive brother. But on the night when she decides to end it all, she finds Toby in her room. Just his appearance is not enough to deter her from her plans. It is only when he tells her that he died that very night that living feels important.
- GenresYoung Adult
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
5 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Aviva Bel'Harold
9 books30 followersAuthor of Safe, Blood Matters and a few more.
I am many things; a writer, a mother, a wife, a dachshund lover, a sister, a daughter, a friend, an author. There isn’t anything on this list I could say I love more or that gives me more joy than the rest. I will fight to the death for my family, as I would fight to the end to give my books their best chance, as I will do everything in my power to provide my dogs the best care, as I have dropped everything to comfort a friend or help out my sister, mother or children (and I'd do it again).
Just as I write rich and engaging stories full of dynamic characters and fascinating ideas and places, I am as equally diverse: filled with a life of amazing and strange adventures.
Though I consider myself a YA author, and thus far I’ve kept my writing within that category, I have not limited my books to any one sub-genre, I've written from drama to horror to sci-fi and beyond.
However, writing didn’t come easy for me. I have several learning challenges and I've had to find ways around them. However, I was fuelled by my passion to tell people about the worlds and characters I am in love with.
For more about me look me up on Facebook: http//www.facebook.com/AvivaBelHarold
I am many things; a writer, a mother, a wife, a dachshund lover, a sister, a daughter, a friend, an author. There isn’t anything on this list I could say I love more or that gives me more joy than the rest. I will fight to the death for my family, as I would fight to the end to give my books their best chance, as I will do everything in my power to provide my dogs the best care, as I have dropped everything to comfort a friend or help out my sister, mother or children (and I'd do it again).
Just as I write rich and engaging stories full of dynamic characters and fascinating ideas and places, I am as equally diverse: filled with a life of amazing and strange adventures.
Though I consider myself a YA author, and thus far I’ve kept my writing within that category, I have not limited my books to any one sub-genre, I've written from drama to horror to sci-fi and beyond.
However, writing didn’t come easy for me. I have several learning challenges and I've had to find ways around them. However, I was fuelled by my passion to tell people about the worlds and characters I am in love with.
For more about me look me up on Facebook: http//www.facebook.com/AvivaBelHarold
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 14, 2025
SPOILERS BUT CRITICAL
I was nauseous reading this book. Disgusted. I almost put it in my did not finish pile, but I feel strongly to share my opinion on such a piece and I might as well read the whole thing to have a fair comment.
First of all I would like to highlight that this author is in fact a women, with children of her own. You might be wondering why that matters, and I will tell you why.
(Incoming spoilers)
To begin she was “saved” by a teenage boy. Later we find out that before he became a ghost, he lived his life making it hell for everyone else. Taking one example, he was a rapist. The problem isn’t the plot of the book itself, but the fact that this author worshiped the character she deemed a rapist.
Through her writing she made it clear that she doesn’t see rapists and guys who drug girls as monsters. We can see that the strongest through the main female character being in situations where she was sexually assaulted, yet she didn’t think twice to forgive the other two boys who caused that harm on others. The author made many points on forgiveness of the boys just brushing off the harm they had on others.
The worst part about this is not only to men get away with this in our real world, but she’s justifying it in a book meant for young adults! What does that say about our world?! Where’s the girls supporting girls?
I was nauseous reading this book. Disgusted. I almost put it in my did not finish pile, but I feel strongly to share my opinion on such a piece and I might as well read the whole thing to have a fair comment.
First of all I would like to highlight that this author is in fact a women, with children of her own. You might be wondering why that matters, and I will tell you why.
(Incoming spoilers)
To begin she was “saved” by a teenage boy. Later we find out that before he became a ghost, he lived his life making it hell for everyone else. Taking one example, he was a rapist. The problem isn’t the plot of the book itself, but the fact that this author worshiped the character she deemed a rapist.
Through her writing she made it clear that she doesn’t see rapists and guys who drug girls as monsters. We can see that the strongest through the main female character being in situations where she was sexually assaulted, yet she didn’t think twice to forgive the other two boys who caused that harm on others. The author made many points on forgiveness of the boys just brushing off the harm they had on others.
The worst part about this is not only to men get away with this in our real world, but she’s justifying it in a book meant for young adults! What does that say about our world?! Where’s the girls supporting girls?
August 7, 2017
DNF.
Storytelling is messy and awfully repititive that I couldn't bear to read on.
Storytelling is messy and awfully repititive that I couldn't bear to read on.
May 9, 2019
I'm only a quarter of the way through this book but I had to write a quick review. I am so excited about this book. I haven't read one in a while that has made me want to keep reading. I can't wait to finish and give a full review...
This is a must read as a young adult or mother. As a mother to two young girls I know when I’m not perfect and I worry all the time I'm messing my girls up.
Mariah didn't have a mom like that. As so many don't.
As a daughter I remember feeling the same way at Mariah. Not to the extreme thank goodness, but wanting attention and thinking of ways to get it. Or getting unwanted attention and not knowing how to stick up for myself. Thankfully I had great friends.
I cried at the end of this book not because it was super sad but because it spoke the truth for lots of people on many diff levels. Bullies, victims, families of victims.
For Tony who did terrible things in life and knew no matter what he couldn’t make up for them. He only tried to do good for once. For Mariah who overcame wanting to die for what she thought had been good reasons, but are there ever good enough reasons to die? They're always another day.
People can be so cruel and that’s the truth and when you don’t have support it’s a tragedy.
I truly enjoyed this read and will be passing it along.
I read a couple reviews about the repetitiveness in the book, the middle was a bit and I struggled through a couple chapters but when you get past, it was so worth it.
This is a must read as a young adult or mother. As a mother to two young girls I know when I’m not perfect and I worry all the time I'm messing my girls up.
Mariah didn't have a mom like that. As so many don't.
As a daughter I remember feeling the same way at Mariah. Not to the extreme thank goodness, but wanting attention and thinking of ways to get it. Or getting unwanted attention and not knowing how to stick up for myself. Thankfully I had great friends.
I cried at the end of this book not because it was super sad but because it spoke the truth for lots of people on many diff levels. Bullies, victims, families of victims.
For Tony who did terrible things in life and knew no matter what he couldn’t make up for them. He only tried to do good for once. For Mariah who overcame wanting to die for what she thought had been good reasons, but are there ever good enough reasons to die? They're always another day.
People can be so cruel and that’s the truth and when you don’t have support it’s a tragedy.
I truly enjoyed this read and will be passing it along.
I read a couple reviews about the repetitiveness in the book, the middle was a bit and I struggled through a couple chapters but when you get past, it was so worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2021
Couldn't get past 20 or so pages. Poorly written and not engaging at all.
October 20, 2022
Words cannot describe the impact I felt reading this in my teen years.
January 10, 2025
Read this as a depressed teen. First book I cried reading.
December 2, 2012
Let me put out a major caveat right up front: this is not the kind of book I usually read (YA paranormal teen drama). So please take my thoughts with a boulder of salt. :)
To me, this was a book all about evoking and then resolving teen angst. The main character, Mariah, certainly does have a pretty tough life to deal with--her family is neglectful, absent or violent; her peers bully her; she feels utterly alone (and not without reason). She is about to commit suicide when Toby, a ghost of a teenage boy suicide, suddenly shows up and becomes her "guardian angel". He guides her through self-realizations, making friends, changing some of the hard parts of her life, and laying to rest some of the hard parts of his life (which turn out to have been intertwined with Mariah's life in unexpected ways).
Bel'Harold beautifully captures the language and rhythm of teen life. Mariah's thoughts and actions took me right back to those painful identity-building times in high school where one is convinced that one is worthless and everyone else is better/cooler/prettier/more together. Even though I was never bullied as viciously or as physically as Mariah was, I totally could relate and it made her a very sympathetic character. From my adult perspective, I did sometimes become impatient with the consistent negativity and lack of self-esteem that Mariah had (because she was awesome, as Toby and everyone else kept pointing out), but of course, that was the point of the story. Mariah and Toby were both very relatable and well drawn characters with clear hopes and dreams (and flaws), as were some of the other minor characters. Though the plot was very "teen drama" (because that's what this was), which occasionally made me roll my eyes, it definitely did compel me to keep reading just to find out what happened in the end to these characters that I had come to care about.
I would recommend this book to older teens or young adults, especially ones going through that "nobody loves me/I'm worthless" phase, but since there are some fairly graphic explorations of abuse and violence in the book, I'd be cautious about recommending it to younger teens.
To me, this was a book all about evoking and then resolving teen angst. The main character, Mariah, certainly does have a pretty tough life to deal with--her family is neglectful, absent or violent; her peers bully her; she feels utterly alone (and not without reason). She is about to commit suicide when Toby, a ghost of a teenage boy suicide, suddenly shows up and becomes her "guardian angel". He guides her through self-realizations, making friends, changing some of the hard parts of her life, and laying to rest some of the hard parts of his life (which turn out to have been intertwined with Mariah's life in unexpected ways).
Bel'Harold beautifully captures the language and rhythm of teen life. Mariah's thoughts and actions took me right back to those painful identity-building times in high school where one is convinced that one is worthless and everyone else is better/cooler/prettier/more together. Even though I was never bullied as viciously or as physically as Mariah was, I totally could relate and it made her a very sympathetic character. From my adult perspective, I did sometimes become impatient with the consistent negativity and lack of self-esteem that Mariah had (because she was awesome, as Toby and everyone else kept pointing out), but of course, that was the point of the story. Mariah and Toby were both very relatable and well drawn characters with clear hopes and dreams (and flaws), as were some of the other minor characters. Though the plot was very "teen drama" (because that's what this was), which occasionally made me roll my eyes, it definitely did compel me to keep reading just to find out what happened in the end to these characters that I had come to care about.
I would recommend this book to older teens or young adults, especially ones going through that "nobody loves me/I'm worthless" phase, but since there are some fairly graphic explorations of abuse and violence in the book, I'd be cautious about recommending it to younger teens.
November 18, 2015
This is the story of Mariah who is troubled with her life and how things are going. She decides one night to end it all. She feels like she is alone and no one is around for her to talk with. Her mother is absent from her life as she is a workaholic, and never there at home; her brother is abusive towards her and is mean all of the time.
On the night that she decides to take her own life, she is met in her room by a boy named Toby. Toby is a ghost who can't leave Mariah alone. No matter what they try. Toby's whole goal is to try and save Mariah from the same mistake that he made the very same night that she tries to take her own life.
This is a very good book and will help children(and adults) who are struggling with life. This really makes you take a good long look at what you are about to do and the consequences of life's choices that you make as a single person.
On the night that she decides to take her own life, she is met in her room by a boy named Toby. Toby is a ghost who can't leave Mariah alone. No matter what they try. Toby's whole goal is to try and save Mariah from the same mistake that he made the very same night that she tries to take her own life.
This is a very good book and will help children(and adults) who are struggling with life. This really makes you take a good long look at what you are about to do and the consequences of life's choices that you make as a single person.
December 10, 2016
This is hands-down the best book I've ever picked up, I met the phenomenal author at the "Young Author's Conference" sometime last year, and was quickly intrigued by this particular book. The remarkable story has extremely relate-able characters such as Mariah, making me able to stay interested in the chapters, for I could understand multiple occurrences within the various pages.
(Minus the ghost, of course)
I was practically suction cupped to this book the entire time I was reading it, the story was so interesting that I found it exceedingly difficult to put it down.
This book of course isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but in my eyes it was simply astonishing, and I'm encouraging everyone to give this delightful story a read!
(Minus the ghost, of course)
I was practically suction cupped to this book the entire time I was reading it, the story was so interesting that I found it exceedingly difficult to put it down.
This book of course isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but in my eyes it was simply astonishing, and I'm encouraging everyone to give this delightful story a read!
April 13, 2011
Safe is a book on bullying. I think it hits pretty good on the points from the person being bullied. Mariah is a strong character who has a lot of strength, even if she doesn't see it. Toby, the ghost who shows up as Mariah is about to kill herself, used to be a bully. He helps Mariah and she also helps him.
It's a good story and there are some good lessons in it. I would definitely think it's a good novel to have a teenager read when they are going through that age and dealing with this sort of thing. Bel'Harold captures pretty accurately what life at school can be here. She is a local author to me and I'm impressed!
It's a good story and there are some good lessons in it. I would definitely think it's a good novel to have a teenager read when they are going through that age and dealing with this sort of thing. Bel'Harold captures pretty accurately what life at school can be here. She is a local author to me and I'm impressed!
November 29, 2012
I enjoyed the story idea, the ghost of a boy who had done some bad things in his life, being forced to help a girl with some bad things in her life. I felt Meriah's character was a bit contradictory, she was strong at home with all the extreme situations she had to deal with, yet was intimidated by a few girls at school. She had self confidence one minute but not the next. I found myself getting annoyed with her at times. I really enjoyed Tody, he had a lot of inner turmoil he was dealing with and I could really sympathize with him.
Safe is worth the read, I wouldn't recommend it for young girls however due to content.
Safe is worth the read, I wouldn't recommend it for young girls however due to content.
May 28, 2016
The perfect word to sum up 'Safe?' Perfect.
'Safe' is a wonderful YA that deals with the subject of bullying. Mariah's only wish is to fade into the background. That is, until a ghost boy attaches himself to her the very night she decides to kill herself.
The teenage voice is believable. Mariah is a strong character with all the foibles of a teenage girl. She pushes through hardships, finding herself along the way. Sometimes surprising, sometimes infuriating, always enjoyable.
p.s. the opening chapter art was phenomenal! I wish I'd thought of it first! :)
'Safe' is a wonderful YA that deals with the subject of bullying. Mariah's only wish is to fade into the background. That is, until a ghost boy attaches himself to her the very night she decides to kill herself.
The teenage voice is believable. Mariah is a strong character with all the foibles of a teenage girl. She pushes through hardships, finding herself along the way. Sometimes surprising, sometimes infuriating, always enjoyable.
p.s. the opening chapter art was phenomenal! I wish I'd thought of it first! :)
February 13, 2017
BOOK 11: SAFE BY: Aviva Bel'Harold
My otp ended up together so I forgive you for all that pain and heartbreak, Aviva.
This book was really good. I loved Mariah and Toby (for the most part, at least) and I love how none of the main characters were /too/ perfect. They all had flaws, some more than others. But this book is all about redemption and forgiveness, which is beautiful.
I also just love the idea of Toby and Mariah being tied together - that was so interesting. I loved a lot of things about this book.
My otp ended up together so I forgive you for all that pain and heartbreak, Aviva.
This book was really good. I loved Mariah and Toby (for the most part, at least) and I love how none of the main characters were /too/ perfect. They all had flaws, some more than others. But this book is all about redemption and forgiveness, which is beautiful.
I also just love the idea of Toby and Mariah being tied together - that was so interesting. I loved a lot of things about this book.
February 29, 2016
I'm not normally a fan of YA fiction, but this book kept me up till 2am. The heroine is a real teen with issues beyond the stereotype of boyfriend/body image portrayed in so much YA fiction. Meriah struggles with keeping herself together in the face of her many problems. Then just when she can't go any further, along comes the most unusual saviour. Highly Recommended, with minor trigger warnings.
December 11, 2016
this book is my number one favourite book ever. it's perfect. i related to it so well and i cried and laughed and smiled and MAN. i love this book more than life. thank you so much aviva for writing this. you changed my life.
i've reread it so many times and it's what book i always recommend to everyone. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
i've reread it so many times and it's what book i always recommend to everyone. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
September 2, 2016
Fantastic book!!! The writing is extremely creative. The characters are very relatable, and developed in such detail that you feel that you know them. I felt myself going on the journey with them. A brilliant way to tackle a difficult topic. This book is for all ages.
January 9, 2013
This was a good book, but some parts felt too unrealistic and obscure. I understand that was part of the point but I'd to have liked to seen more realism and believability
August 14, 2017
This was a very good book, with its theme of bullying, remorse and finding confidence. Tying the two main characters together is such an original idea.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews