Don't Breathe a Word

A story that will draw you in and not let you go

I haven't read many darker contemporary books, but when I was looking to read an emotional, powerful story, I turned to Don't Breathe a Word. And I was not disappointed. This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you can read past the heartbreaking moments and the grim reality that what is portrayed here is life for some teens, you will be left with a truly poignant story.

Joy Delamere struggles to breathe - literally and figuratively. She suffers from asthma, and because of several near-death experiences, she suffers from overprotective parents who nearly smother her in their effort to make sure she is okay. She also suffers emotionally from her relationship with Asher. Eventually it all becomes too much, and Joy knows what she has to do: disappear without a trace. She runs away from home, finding a new life on the streets of Seattle. There she is befriended by several "Ave Rats" - Creed, May, and Santos - and with their help she learns how to survive on the streets. But Joy soon learns what harsh realities this life brings. She is not the only one with a secret, with things to escape from. People aren't always who they seem to be. And on top of everything else, winter is quickly approaching, bringing with it cold, sickness...and possible death...

Where do I even begin to talk about this book? I am amazed that Holly Cupala could write this story to be heavy, intense, and yet not completely depressing. She doesn't shy away from any issues that kids on the streets (or teens in general) face, but a book like this needs the gritty truth rather than a glossing over of these unpleasant aspects. It's impossible not to be drawn into the world that Cupala has set up for these teens and to hope that they all do find a way to survive (preferably off the streets). At the same time, the relationships they forged, the family they created themselves, was incredibly touching. The fact that these teens who seem to have seen little true love in their life are capable of loving and taking care of themselves and others is inspiring to see. The four main characters in this book - Joy, Creed, May, and Santos - all have their own story and their own secrets to tell, and learning about all of their secrets and how they'd had to deal with them was nothing short of heartbreaking. I cared for each of them and I hope that, even though the story is over, they all continue to find their way.

Surprisingly, the character who bothered me the most in this story was Joy. Even though we learn the most about her story through flashbacks, I wasn't quite as moved by her story as by the others. However, I did appreciate that her time on the streets helped her to grow into a stronger person. Despite my issues with Joy, this book is worth reading for the stories of all the characters, especially Creed, and for insight into lives that most of us cannot even begin to imagine.

Don't Breathe a Word has both a story and characters that will draw you in and not let you go. It is not an easy read, but it is certainly a good one. I will look forward to reading more from Holly Cupala!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Beautiful, heartbreaking and very real.

You ever read a book and think that this is 'your' book? A book that you can connect with on so many levels it's like the author took it straight out of your head? That was this book for me. There are a few other contemporaries I feel this way about, Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert and I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder. These books are different from each other, but if they were smooshed together it would be my book. Perfectly.
There were so many things I connected with in this book. I 'got' the main character, Joy, and understood her actions and decisions. I've been in an abusive relationship, I had overprotective parents and I lived on the streets. My story is not really anything like Joy's. Not really. My abusive boyfriend was different, my parents were overprotective for religious reasons and I lived on the streets after I'd moved out and well, my situation was different. And my experience on the streets was different because it wasn't Seattle. But still, I connected, truly connected with everything in this book. I've spent lots of time in Seattle and some of it was with the homeless teens and in the areas they run. So the territory was familiar to me.
There was so much in this book I loved. I loved the characters, the setting, the story line and situations. The writing was phenomenal (of course!) and I thought everything was just beautiful. It was heart breaking, heart wrenching, painful and real. It was real. It was all so freaking real. I appreciate that in a book.
I loved Holly's first book, Tell Me a Secret, but I loved this one even more. Holly isn't afraid to get to the nitty gritty and keep the truth real. I mean honestly, she walks a line that some would be afraid of. The street life ain't pretty. The situations are tough and scary and the things those teens do for money isn't something that most any parent would want their child to do. But that's how it is, and kudo's to Holly for writing about it. I don't think I've read a book that really took place on the streets. Where we really see the life of a homeless teen. So this was something different and refreshing for me.
I couldn't recommend this book any more highly. Honestly, this is one of my most favorite contemporaries of the year. Either in first or second place, it's up at the top though. Seriously LOVED it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another beautifully written book by Holly Cupala that's heartbreaking, gritty and real.

Everyone needs some breathing room in their lives but for Joy, it's become a struggle of life or death. Each breathe leads her one step closer to suffocation or one step closer to freedom. Freedom from her parents constant worry, freedom from her boyfriend Asher's control and freedom to figure out who she's meant to be. If she can manage to escape, to find the homeless boy who offered to help her, maybe she'll be able to breathe again. Cupala doesn't shy away from tough issues like the unseen abuse Joy suffers in her relationship with Asher to the struggle of teenage homelessness. This story is gut wrenching at times but also full of love, hope and strength. A definite must read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book!

I loved the way this book is written so detailed, so perfect, that it left me in awe. The plot, the characters, the beautifully detailing of emotions had me reader faster and faster!

I loved the plot line of this book. It was something different yet realistic in every way. I love the the story takes you on a journey that has been coming all along. The author presents the story as the main characters is falling so deep, you can't help but fall with her.

The characters of the book have so much great diversity as well as personality to them. I love that each characters carries their own dark secrets and each of them is revealed. Not all are happy, but I am glad that some manged to find their way back home.

The love interest in the story left me grasping for hope! While their is so much dark aspects to the book, the love interest paved a way for redemption. It gave me the meaning that even though things look bad, in the end, it will all be okay.

This is a great book of several characters trying to get out of the darkness that their in. They do what they can to survive and the fact that they make it, makes me happy. Don't Breathe a Word is a great book of darkness then of light. A journey to find who they are and where they are going.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A moving story.

Don't Breathe A Word is a moving, emotional story about dealing with struggles and learning that even if you think you've hit rock bottom, there's a way to come out on top.

Joy suffers from asthma but that's not all. Her parents are too overprotective and her boyfriend, Asher, is way too possessive. Joy feels like she's completely suffocating and cannot take anymore, so she decides to run away. She takes to the streets of Seattle to try and live on her own, but she quickly realizes how harsh it is on her own. Joy knows whatever happens, that she cannot risk going home. After changing her name to Triste and meeting Creed, she hopes that she'll be able to finally breathe, but things don't always get better right away.

Firstly, I love this cover. The girl with her eyes closed, blonde hair flowing around her face it's beautiful and perfectly describes the whirlwind Joy is thrown into. Also the fact that it's purple and yellow which is two of my favorite colors! Just gorgeous!

Don't Breathe A Word is a very gritty, but powerful book. It shows you what can happen when someone is pushed too far, when someone is forced to do the unthinkable just to stay alive, and what can happen if you give yourself hope. Living on the street is not the freedom Joy wanted, what she finds is a harsh world that she's not so sure she fits into. Could you imagine selling your body for money? Digging in the trash for food? Stealing? I know I couldn't and wouldn't want to.

Joy is an admirable character. After all she goes through she still comes out on top. She gives herself and those around her hope and things to look forward to. She also finds love in the most unexpected way, which I believe is the best way. The other characters in the story I enjoyed as well. May and Santos, who are part of her "street crew" are exactly the kind of homeless teens that show you how strong or how weak (depending on how you look at it) you have to be to survive on the streets. But, beneath all the tough exterior are soft hearts if you just dig enough to look for them. And finally, Creed. I loved Creed. He is very into his music and I so admire that about him. He also, is the "big brother" to their crew and he does what he can to look out for them all and keep them safe. Yet, Creed still has a smart head on his shoulders and in the end he sets things right for himself.

Holly Cupala created a very enjoyable, dark story... a story I really loved reading. I love to read about teens who hit rock bottom and then crawl their way back up. It's the darkness of a book I believe that grabs hold of you at first and pulls you in, but then ends up being very encouraging and inspiring in the end. If you're considering reading Don't Breathe A Word, I say go for it, it's a great read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Stunning YA book

Don't Breath A Word is a realistic glimpse into a girls life, a girl who is always being smothered and protected by her family and even friends at times. She feels so smothered that she makes it seem as if she has been kidnapped and she runs away.

Not only does she have asthma, but she fell for a guy who gets very possessive and even blackmails her to get what he wants. So many things make Joy leave, but an easier answer to her problems would have been to tell her family what was happening, right? Well Joy doesn't see it that way. Joy feels as if she has no other choice other than leave everyone behind and start new, but the only thing is Joy has no idea how hard life is on the streets.

Don't Breath A Word is a fantastic story about love, trust, family and not letting yourself fall under control of someone that is so possessive. I loved reading Joy's journey into really finding her voice and finding out that she can be loved without being smothered. Holly Cupula did a fantastic job weaving a very believable story, one that was so real that I could see Joy walking around the streets and having no where to go. I loved reading every single word of this book.

I also fell in love with its cover! The colors pop and when I first looked at this book I knew I had to have it. I loved how the colors of the cover all revolve around the girl on the cover!

Sad

So sad so powerful sooooi saaadd (cry cry)

Amazing!!!!!!

You have to buy this book you won't regret it.

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