Review: Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

Publication Date: May 28th 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages:  375 

Source: Purchased

Rating:
 ★★★½

Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:

1. You will remember to water the azaleas.
2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.
3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.
4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.
5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:

1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.
2. He says he has her stuff.
3. What stuff? Her stuff.
4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—
5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—
6. You pick up a pen.
7. You scribble down the address.
8. You get on your bike and go.
9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*
*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.

 At first I didn't care much about this book but as I was half way in I was completely hooked. It's not a light read, this book deals with a lot emotional stuffs like grief, secret and drug used.  It's madness I'm telling you. The story can get really and I mean really crazy. Kiri and Skunk are both really cute together. Yes they both look insane ( or actually are insane) and might not be an ideal to be together. But you cannot deny that their relationship is so real, somehow they understand each other. It's like at the end of the day, they've found each other and help each other out.

*pardon my language from here on because it seems like I cannot control my rage toward Denny and Lukas* =/

I dislike Kiri's brother Denny a lot. He's a jerk seriously he should realize that something is wrong with his sister behavior and at least helped her out. He's not a kid, he is in college so he supposed to be somewhat mature right. No he has to be such an a*** and went to destroy the painting and left Kiri by herself. He's a big time selfish. And Lukas, what? Kiri's best friend. Really. What kind of friend is that, f***off man. Worst friend ever. Period.  Kiri's parents, wow really wow, they talk to much. Don't they ever stop talking and look around to see that there is something really wrong with their kids? or at least stop talking so the kids have a chance to talk and express their feeling.

Ok the bottom line is this is a good book. Some people may not like this book because of the drug thingie and all the bad language. But please give it a try, don't stay away because the main character used weed like a normal thing and acted so careless. The friendship between Kiri and Doug is beautiful. No matter where you come from, friendship will grow if you give the other person a chance (give his/her the space to speak, and to do so without judgment.)