Nora and her father plan to spend her birthday exploring the base of a canyon. Both are grieving the loss of her mom, who died on her birthday a year ago when a gunman came into the restaurant where they were celebrating. Her mother and another mother with young boys both died saving her life and others in restaurant. Her father has developed a mistrust of people and as a result, begins to isolate them from society. In the bottom of the canyon he feels safe. A flashfood arrives unexpectantly. The two are separated and left in the cruel desert to survive. Will Nora lose another parent on her birthday? As she fights off the natural elements, she also battles her demons from that fateful day.
The beginning and the end are related in prose while the meat of the story is free verse. The poems are cleverly constructed and offer a variety of forms.
A lot of intense emotions being processed and described. I could have read this book in one sitting because of the perpetual action.
Labeled as "teen fiction" because of the topic.
Points to discuss/warnings: one swear word, PTS, death of parent by a gunman, shootings, grief processing, solution to grief/pain is to believe in yourself vs. depending on God- Nora does pray, wonder if there is a god and if there is a reason for all of the pain and evil that has been in her life. These questions are not answered by the end of the book. Instead, the reader has the impression that she is stronger and more resilient because she survived impossible odds. The last chapter shows her making mends with her friend, which offers the reader hope.
-Borrowed from the library.
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