Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Hannah Harrington
Release Date ~ May 1, 2011
Publisher ~ Harlequin Teen
Source ~ Harlequin Teen
When her older sister commits suicide and her divorcing parents decide to divide the ashes, Harper Scott takes her sister's urn to the one place June always wanted to go: California. On the road with her best friend, plus an intriguing guy with a mysterious connection to June, Harper discovers truths about her sister, herself and life.
Saving June is much more than a teen suicide book. It does not scream SUICIDE over and over. Instead, Saving June, shares the effects of a teen suicide on those who are left behind. The mix of emotions felt by those who remain are all over the place and they are constantly changing Like the road trip to California, coming to terms to one’s grief is also a journey.
There are four teens on this road trip to California. Harper has always lived in the shadow of her perfect older sister. Now, she struggles to take care of her mother and she bottles up her feelings about June’s suicide. She is suffering tremendously and every last bit of her pain is spilled out on the pages.
Laney is Harper’s best friend, and she has no idea how to help her friend. So, she just keeps saying “are you okay” over and over. It’s maddening, but it’s also so realistic. Who hasn’t been in a situation where you just did not have the right words? Where you wanted to help, but had no idea what to do. Yeah, that’s Laney.
Jake is the musician who holds an unusual tie to June. He starts off as a complete jerk, but there’s more to his story and maybe he’s not so much of a jerk after all. The backstory on Jake and his transformation is oh so slowly revealed. It’s something to be savored.
Finally, there is June, well June’s ashes anyways. June was always perfect in every way. But, then again, who is really perfect? Although she’s gone now, it’s like she’s alive because she is brought up in the other characters’ memories. June is the character that brings all the others together and makes the story fluid.
While on the road, these teens have an emotional awakening. In their own way, each one learns to deal with loss. They each lower their guard and share secrets, some that are very difficult to share. In a beautiful way, even June has an awakening as the others finally grow to truly understand where she was coming from.
The most unexpected part of Saving June is the way music is woven into the story. Jake is a huge music fanatic and his passion for it is tangible throughout the road trip. Songs are interwoven into the plot and playlists are shared. The music is present in every aspect of the trip, and it sets the tone for what the characters are feeling. I loved this!
Thank you to Hannah Harrington for such a touching and emotional book.
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