Chasing Brooklyn

Beautiful words

This was my first encounter
with a novel in verse.
It opened my eyes
to my own possibilities.

Beautiful words describing
grief
and how it's different
for everyone.

Beautiful words describing
the journey
to overcome that
grief.

Beautiful words describing
a path to healing
and unexpected
love.

And now, the book complete,
I have my own stories
floating
flittering
forming
that must be written
I may just try
my own
novel
in
verse.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

excellent, haunting, and happy

this book starts out with some excellent lauguage and images involving brooklyn, nico, lucca and gabe, who are all extremely important chracters in each others lives. Brooklyn starts the book off talking about luccas death, then two pages in the perspective switches to nico, Luccas living brother. He talks from his point of view on the story, then just a few entries in, Gabe, a friend of Lucca's dies of a drug overdose. This hurts both Brooklyn and Nico, and they begin haviing strange dreams. Nico dreams of Lucca, and Brooklyn dreams of Gabe, who haunts her in her sleep. Lucca only wants Brookly to be happy, and is trying to get Nico to help her. Nico has trouble figuring out how to help brooklyn. Gabe's dreams are haunting and realistic, and brooklyn has a hard time shaking them off. The book strings itself together in a series of wonderful and quirky poems. An excellent read, I recommend it highly. Dmitri Grigorieff Castel A5

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

amazing read

This book is one of the best books i've ever read it only took me a few hours to read, I couldn't put it down. I highly reccomend this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommend all of Lisa's books!

Lisa's books are about hope. To me they are about overcoming great heartbreaking trials, and finding your way back to hope for the future. This is a quick read about loss and continuing on. Recommend to all and even good for young teens.

Amazing!:D

This is by far the best book i have ever owned!! Ive read it over 12 time it is just amazing and i love how its written in verse it make it so much easier to relate to the characters i diffenatly recomend this book to ANYONE guy girl in between lol anyone its just that good... buy it read it and you wont regret it(:
... i promise!!!(:

Finish to review by Meb Luap

lost forever? Find out in Chasing Brooklyn!

Touching, Saddening, and Loving!

The story of high schoolers as they struggle through the traggedy of deaths of students within their school. Brooklyn lost her best friend and her boy friend, copeing is much easier said than done. Nico lost his little brother, his family has a hard enough time trying to get over the death, yet they still cling on hoping he might return. When Gabe kills himself it just about pushs Brooklyn over the edge, but someone who understands is there for her, every step of the way! Don't give up on love!!!

Tear Jerker!!!

Chasing Brooklyn has broght back those memories of losing someone really close to your heart. Though it has made me realize that you could either choose to live in the shadow of their death or honor their death by living the life they didnt get the chance to live but want you to live it to its fullest.

It had a very boring and pointless ending.

The book Chasing Brooklyn is mysterious and suspensful, but it was also a little confusing. It is a story where a young teenager is battling her love for two brother, but there’s only one problem. One of them is dead.Brooklyn’s true love had just died. It was the second trajedy within’ a year at her school. Soon after he died, his best friend just wanted to get away. He didn’t mean to kill himself, it was a complete accident. But he overdosed on drugs. Her true love’s best friend, Gabe, was haunting Brooklyn in her dreams, while her true love was haunting his own brother, telling him to make sure to keep Brooklyn safe and happy and to make sure she’s okay. Gabe is haunting Brooklyn’s dreams, only because he was trying to help her feel unafriad. All her true love wants is for her to be happy, but who will be the one to get her there?This book achieves my goal on what a book should be like a little bit, but I hated the ending. It was stupid and pointless, but other than that, it was okay.The book Chasing Brooklyn is mysterious and suspensful, but it was also a little comfusing. It is a story where a young teenager is battling her love for two brother, but there’s only one problem. One of them is dead.This may not be the best book I have read, however, you may enjoy it.

As Good - If Not Better Than the Last One, I Heart You, You Haunt Me

This was an amazing book. I was actually expecting a lot out of this book because I read the last one , I Heart You, You Haunt Me, which is actually one of my favorite books. I was expecting just a bit short of perfect. Anyways, this book was beautiful. It was written in verse, which is the second book I have read in verse. This book is mesmerising. I could not stop reading it and it was realllly hard to put it down because everything was so interesting. There was nothing that went 'slow'. I don't really have any qualms about this book. Even though I haven't really lost anyone really close to me, the two main characters, Brooklyn and Nico were really relatable. They had raw, real emotion. It wasn't cliche like most books where the main character(s) lost someone. The characters were devloped. This book was paced really well. There was no part where I got bored, so I kept reading and reading. I loved how she paced this book with Nico and Brooklyn's relationship because their friendship didn't seemed rushed and seeemed natural. I liked that this book was not the same thing as I Haunt You, You Haunt Me. Although they both deal with ghosts and Chasing Brooklyn is the companion book, the ghosts were real characters so it is not like Gabe, Jackson, or Lucca haunted the people the same way because they were different and unique people when they lived. Finally, I really like how there was a reference to Ava. Although she was only in one scene, she played an important part of this book and I like how Schroeder incorprated her into this book. I also like how Brooklyn passed down the Joy, Not Sorrow (another reference to I Haunt You, You Haunt Me) CD to Abigal, Gabe's sister. I was expecting a lot of this book, I was extremely and happily surprised when I got more than what I was asking for. Buy this book now, you won't regret it at all.

Hi

Five

Amazing Book!

This book was thrilling and exciting. I read the book all at once because I couldn't put it down!

A great read.

When I first picked this book up, I wasn't to sure about it, but after only reading a few pages, just the writers style of writing had me hooked where I grew to love the story.

Super Amazing!!! Read it!!!!!

So, so glad I decided to read this! Chasing Brooklyn is about finding help in places where you would least expect it. It's about moving on, living the best life that you can even if everything is against you, and not giving up. The main characters Brooklyn and Nico are perfect examples to use in order to tell this deep and meaningful story of love, hope, life, and help. It's written in verse form and I have to admit that I was afraid that I wouldn't understand it but the verse format wasn't a problem. It actually worked really well with this book. This was the fastest book that I've ever read (started it on a Friday night and finished it on Monday afternoon) and it's 412pgs! I would recommend Chasing Brooklyn to anyone!!:D "Love is the answer, not fear."

Entertaining

Brooklyn can't step away from death: just a year ago her boyfriend, Lucca, died and now her best friend Gabe has also died. Now Brooklyn can't sleep: Gabe's ghost won't leave her alone. Lucca's best friend, Nicco, who was also left behind by his death, is also being visited, but by Lucca himself. Nicco and Brooklyn find themselves reaching out for each other with messages being left for them from the Beyond. Afraid of what the other may think, they keep these messages to themselves. Only when these messages become unavoidable do they discover their true connection to each other.

At first, I was tentative to read this book only because it is written in Verse. However, Lisa Schroeder's unique style of writing offers a new way of reading. I was quite pleased with the style and plot of this book. While I would have loved to have seen more character development, in all the characters, I can see why this is not possible while writing in Verse.

I think all of Lisa Schroeder's books (as they are all written in Verse) are great for those who are tentative to read, particularly the Young Adult audience.

Sad, sweet, and poetic with just a hint of spookiness

Brooklyn's boyfriend Lucca has been dead for one year, but she hasn't healed at all from the loss. Lucca's older brother Nico is scarcely better off as he loses himself in physical exertion, running endless miles by himself, fleeing the house where his parents have left Lucca's room untouched as a shrine to his memory. With realistic teen characters dealing with tremendous problems, Chasing Brooklyn is almost a regular contemporary YA until the ghosts appear: Lucca's friend Gabe has overdosed on drugs and he begins haunting Brooklyn's dreams, terrifying her. At the same time, Nico receives repeated messages from Lucca, telling him that he must help Brooklyn. What follows is a very compelling, emotionally wrenching story which ends just the way I like--hopefully.

The POV characters are vividly portrayed, and I felt instant compassion for them. Brooklyn isn't just broken over her boyfriend's death; she's also dealing with her mother's abandonment. Her mom took Brooklyn's little brothers and left town, explaining that she was leaving Brooklyn behind because her dad "needed her more". Her dad is a nice man, but he doesn't know how to support his daughter in the way that she needs because he himself is heartbroken over the absence of his wife and sons. Brooklyn keeps herself emotionally afloat by writing letters to Lucca every day, and doesn't realize how fully she's stagnated. She used to be a gifted artist, but she hasn't sketched any of her beloved flower pictures in a whole year, or done anything else with her time.

Nico's sorrow shows itself through totally different coping strategies. Instead of slowing down like Brooklyn, he's gone into overdrive, working on his vehicle, cooking with his mother, running a half dozen miles or more a day--anything to occupy himself. He believes that his parents loved Lucca more, so that makes it all the worse for him as the surviving son. But when Lucca keeps pushing him to reach out to Brooklyn, Nico finally gives in and contacts her. Then, of all things, he invites her to train for a triathlon with him, and so begins a support system/friendship that blossoms sweetly and gradually into something more.

Stories about overcoming grief aren't usually my thing--I just dont' like to spend a whole novel wrapped in sadness, but Chasing Brooklyn was a joy to read. It's not depressing at all, and even has some funny moments, especially when Nico speaks, but even his thoughts made me laugh. The second time that Brooklyn collapses into his arms in a fit of tears, he thinks: "This girl/ is a faucet with legs" (pg 134). I love how they both throw themselves into their triathlon training, because the training is both the ideal forward-moving physical exertion they both seem to need, and the perfect metaphor for their fighting their loss and growing together as a two-person team. I liked the two of them together so much that I was frustrated every time Brooklyn ran away from Nico or refused to tell him what was wrong with her. Stay with him, girl!

Thanks to the line spacing and the free verse novel style, the pacing is incredibly fast, and the alternating POVs give the reader quick flashes of what Brooklyn and Nico are thinking and feeling, without once belaboring the moment.

Poetry bonus: The whole novel is in verse!

review taken from One Book At A Time

I'm glad I've finally gotten to read it. I never thought that an entire 400+ page novel written in verse could work so well. But, it's beautiful. Brooklyn is a very moving female character. You can tell just how deeply she carried for Lucca. You see her really fight to move on with her life, but her grief just consumes her. When she she starts seeing Gabe's ghost, you can't help but be frightened right along with her.

I was hesitate on Nico at first. But, I think we're suppose to be. He is after all Lucca's brother. I like how the author slowly brings his personality to the pages. I think we see him just as a brother at first until he becomes his own person. He comes to life and you realize that maybe that Nico and Brooklyn can help each other if they can just get past their connections to Lucca.

The novel was really well done and I enjoyed every minute of it. I can't wait to read something else by Lisa Schroeder.

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder Review

his is a book that is both heart breaking and breath taking all at once. There is so much pain in Brooklyn and Nico's life after Lucca dies and then his good friend Gabe soon after, that at times it was hard to read. Brooklyn lost her first love and someone she considered to be her soul mate. Nico lost his brother and best friend all at once. I honestly can't imagine and I don't want to try. But through Lisa Schroeder's powerful verse I feel like I was taken on a journey that was both eye opening and good for the soul.

A year after Lucca's death, Gabe ends his life. People believed the guilt he felt over being the driver of the car the night of the accident that killed Lucca was too much for him to live with. Shortly after Gabe's death, Brooklyn starts dreaming of Gabe and not in a comforting way. It's like he's visiting her in her dreams to send a message and not a gentle, soothing one, she's terrified. She's having these awful nightmares and doesn't seem to understand what he's trying to say to her, if he's trying to tell her anything at all. At the same time Lucca visits Nico and begins asking him to "help" Brooklyn, with no further details or any kind of explanation. And so the the story really begins. The journey these two take is remarkable and life changing. I could try my best to describe it but I would fall terribly short and would not do the book, or Schroeder justice.

To deal with her grief, Brooklyn writes letters to Lucca, beautiful, pleading, heartfelt letters. Sometimes I'd get to a page where she'd write one asking for his help and it would just break my heart; she felt so alone and missed him so much. Watching Nico and hearing his side of things was also both wonderful and terrible. He was struggling just like Brooklyn, but in different ways. He too felt like he was on his own, his parents were in no state to offer him much support when they were having trouble themselves with the loss of their son, so he attempted to put on a good front around them, tried to lessen the burden on them. So seeing Nico latch onto a purpose, to help Brooklyn at Lucca's request and together their training for the "finish line" was inspiring.

Like I said at the beginning, this story was both heart breaking and breath taking and it has instantly been placed on my 2010 favorites list and will be added to my collection for all time.

A must read!

I loved the way the book was written. Every chapter is a poem, well in poem format. I loved it! it was interesting plus the "Chapters" were only 2 to 3 pages long at the most. I also loved the plot. Most people can relate in some way or another. Everyone looses someone they love, if it hasnt happened yet for you i have to brake it to you it will happen some day. This book depicts what it is like to loose that person perfectly and how hard it is to find yourself again. There is just enough balance of despair and optimism to make this book realist why still having a "fairy tale" feel. I couldnt put the book down, i loved it.

A deep, emotional, can't-put-down read.

Lisa's gift to fans of I Heart You, You Haunt Me, this is not a sequel, and definitely stands alone. There's loss. There's love. And above all else: there's hope. It's also my favorite book she's written thus far.

What I love about all of Lisa's books is that she has a way of making me like things I normally wouldn't. I'm not really a big verse novel person. Nor am I into ghost stories. And I'm generally not a fan of anything that makes me cry. But I adore her books. I would love to figure out how she does that, but it remains a mystery. Maybe she has magic powers I don't know about.

Somehow she manages to make me forget that I'm reading poems instead of paragraphs. In fact, I think this story would lose its power if it were written traditionally. The verse feels so intimate--like diary entries--that you really connect with the characters on another level. And while the format makes for a quick read (my first time through only took a couple hours) I would strongly encourage anyone to read slower (or to read it twice) because there are subtleties woven through the words that are too easily lost while speed reading.

Bottom line: It's a wonderful story to sip and savor--not gulp--and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves touching stories about living with loss and finding a reason to keep going.