BOOK REVIEW & INTERVIEW: All in Pieces by Suzanne Young

BLURB:

Anger-management issues.”

That’s how they classified Savannah Sutton after she stuck a pencil in her ex-boyfriend’s hand because he mocked her little brother, Evan, for being disabled. That’s why they sent her to Brooks Academy—an alternative high school that’s used as a temporary detention center.

The days at Brooks are miserable, but at home, life is far more bleak. Savvy’s struggling to take care of her brother since her mom left years ago, and her alcoholic dad can’t be bothered. Life with Evan is a constant challenge, but he’s also the most important person in the world to Savvy.

Then there’s Cameron, a new student at Brooks with issues of his own; a guy from a perfect family that Savvy thought only existed on TV. Cameron seems determined to break through every one of the walls Savvy’s built around herself, except if she lets herself trust him, it could make everything she’s worked so hard for fall apart in an instant.

And with her aunt seeking custody of her brother and her ex-boyfriend seeking revenge, Savvy’s fighting to hold all the pieces together. But she’s not sure how much tighter she can be pulled before she breaks completely.

REVIEW BY: Arianna, 13 years, 11 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This is one of my new favorite stories.

It is heart wrenching and full of raw emotions. It made me cry and laugh yet made me want to read more.

My favorite person in this book is Savannah because she takes care of everyone first and she loves her little brother enough to let him go. She realizes that she is not what is best for him at the moment even if she doesn't want to. This shows just how much she puts other above herself.

My favorite part is when they are in a cornfield and almost get jumped. They run all the way to a gas station and a girl chasing them throws a shoe at their car window. This scene filled me with lots of laughter.

I think anyone and everyone can enjoy this touching and emotional story.

I give this book 5 stars and recommend it for ages 14 and up.

I had the privilege of interviewing Suzanne Young at the Texas Book Fest. The interview is located below.

Question #1: What was your inspiration for "All in Pieces"?

" The scenes in this book are exaggerated but these are things I dealt with growing up and personal experiences."

Question #2: What was your favorite character in your book?

" Retha was my favorite character because when I wrote her I got to pretend like I was tough and it was fun."

Question #3: What was the hardest character to write?

" Patrick was the hardest character to write because I always like to give my characters one redeeming quality but, he had none. He was just a dark and overall horrible person."

Question #4: What was the hardest part of the book to write?

" The hardest part to write was when Savannah said goodbye to her brother because it was a very depressing scene. Every time I read it, I cry. "

Question #5: Have you ever taken care of a person with special needs?

" No, I have never had that amount of responsibility and it is an extraordinary ability to be able to do that."

Question #6: Where you a wild or good child?

" I came from a low income family and everyone expected us to be trouble makers but we were not. We never intentionally made trouble it just seemed to find us."

Question #7: What do you think is the most important thing readers should take away?

" All of these experiences can beat someone down like it did to Savannah but, you have to keep getting back up. She learned to be a normal teen and find love. These experiences helped her in the end."

A big thank you to Suzanne Young, her publicist, and the Texas Book Fest.

Here are a few pictures of Suzanne, Angel, and Arianna: