I'll Be There - Book Review

Title ~ I’ll Be There
Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Holly Goldberg Sloan
Release Date ~ May 3, 2011
Age Group ~ Young Adult
Publisher ~ Little, Brown Books For Young Readers
Source ~ Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

GOODREADS SUMMARY

Raised by an unstable father who keeps the family constantly on the move, Sam Border hasn't been in a classroom since the second grade. He's always been the rock for his younger brother Riddle, who stopped speaking long ago and instead makes sense of the world through his strange and intricate drawings. It's said that the two boys speak with one voice--and that voice is Sam's.

Then, Sam meets Emily Bell, and everything changes. The two share an immediate and intense attraction, and soon Sam and Riddle find themselves welcomed into the Bell's home. Faced with normalcy for the first time, they know it's too good to last.

Told from multiple perspectives, Holly Goldberg Sloan's debut novel offers readers fresh voices and a gripping story, with vivid glimpses into the lives of many unique characters. Beautifully written and emotionally profound, I'll Be There is a story about connections both big and small, and deftly explores the many ways that our lives are woven together.

REVIEW

I’ll Be There tells a heartwarming story that shows how everything in life is connected. It reminds me of the butterfly effect. How when a butterfly beats its wings, a hurricane forms across the world. One tiny event in one moment in time can have a lasting impact on someone else’s life.

Sam and his little brother Riddle have been on the run with their mentally ill father for years. It is a tough existence for these brothers who share a deep bond. Sam has a tough exterior, but he is oh so soft inside. Riddle really is a bit of a riddle – he hasn’t spoken in ages but he has some rather profound thoughts about his family situation.

The story is told from very many points of view. Not just the main characters, but also characters who may only be in one or two scenes. I know that sounds confusing, but it’s not. I liked knowing the thoughts and feelings of all these characters. I couldn’t help but wonder how the butterfly effect would touch each of them.

When Sam meets Emily by chance, the world stops. This meeting sets things in motion so that nothing will ever be the same. I love the magic of it all. There is less focus on Sam and Emily as a couple, and more focus on Sam and Riddle as brothers. What a nice change from the typical story line.

I’ll Be There gives me hope for the future.

RATING

5 Loved

COVER COMMENTS

Great cover. It is dusk on the cliff. I am not sure if that is Sam and Emily by the lights of the truck or Sam and Riddle. Either way, it shows how small they appear in the world around them. But remember, they are not alone. They have each other. I love the beautiful colors.