Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009

Book Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Author: Becca Fitzpartick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

ISBN #: 978-1416989417

Type:  Fiction:YA:Mystery/Suspense

Pages: 400 Hardback

Published:  October 13, 2009

Website:   http://beccafitzpatrick.com/

Purchase:  $11.46 (HERE) 

The Story

You’d almost think that Nora was a typical teenager.  She has that quirky best friend, a menacing biology lab teacher, a hard-working single mother, and that one boy who is pursuing her.   But, there’s something about Nora that is anything but typical… she’s brave to the point of being nearly fearless.  Once determined to discover the truth about something or someone, she is single-mindedly on that path until she’s satisfied. 

Another thing about Nora… when strange things start happening around her, she doesn’t react in the way a typical teenager would.  Take, for example, the time that she suddenly hits a man with her car, (*or, was it that a man actually jumped on and attacked her car ???*) most teenagers would share this information with their parents and most likely the police.  NOT Nora.  She sees that something wasn’t quite right with that accident as the car wasn’t nearly as damaged as she had assumed.  Nora does tell her best friend about it, but nobody else.  Or, maybe that time when an intruder jumped out her bedroom window.  This time, Nora did call the police, however when they arrived there were no signs of the disturbance to her room.  Even though the intruder had ransacked her room, all signs had basically vanished.  Intruders and police visits should warrant a discussion with your mother, right?  For Nora, NO!  But, above all else, you would imagine that a teenager would finally go to her mother when her best friend was attacked on the street while acting as Nora’s decoy after the two friends noticed they were being followed.  No.  Not Nora.  Like I said, she’s seemingly fearless and tackles issues as an independent young lady.

Despite her adversity to bringing authority in to assist her with her supernatural issues, she faces the mysteries around her head-on.  Trying to unravel the mysteries affiliated with the two young men who are equally interested in her just seems to lead to more questions for Nora.  One thing she learns is that she can’t avoid true love… once it’s come for you, it’s bound to overtake you.  And, it did just that to Nora.  But, finding safety in that love is an entirely different question!

The Review

The best comparison for this book is Twilight, just without the vampires.  What you have here are all of the essential elements for a good YA Fiction Mystery/Paranormal novel.  You’ve got the strong heroine who pushes fear aside to search out the truth.  Nothing is better than a gorgeous angel to fall in love with (even if his wings have fallen off).  There are situations all around Nora that only she can see and decipher.

What’s missing?  An ending that you can feel good about.  But, there’s good reason for that.  this book is obviously the first of a series.  There has to be more story in the next saga!    

What’s there? Unlike Twilight, you don’t have the vampire aspect to the story.  But what you do have is a girl who’s fallen in love with an angel named Patch.  Because he’s an angel, Patch cannot feel any physical sensations.  He can, however, feel the full extent of human emotions.  What he’s left with is the desire for something more in a physical connection, however he possesses the love, compassion and logic to know that it would be a waste for him to take it any farther.  He cannot, after all, feel any of the physical sensations resulting from the intimacy.  In his love for Nora, he knows to look out for her and protect her. 

The Rating

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale,” I am giving Hush Hush  a rating of 8 out of 10.  Most tweens & teens will like this suspenseful tale.  The book is marketed to ages 13 & up and I would agree with the rating.  There is one scene in which intimacy could take place within in motel room, however does not.  I liked the book… however, didn’t love it.

Giving Thanks

I wanted Barnes & Noble’s First Look Program for sending me this review copy!

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