Format: Ebook, 336 pages
Release Date: April 30th 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace
Synopsis:
Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.
His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.
When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.
For Jacob Hayes, one night of recklessness was all it took to change his life forever. On the night of Homecoming, he and his friends gather for a night of partying and having fun, celebrating their senior year and looking forward to their football season. But a little drinking goes too far, and for Jacob and his two best friends, Carter and Raine, it's a lesson they'll never forget.
I've read Keary Taylor's paranormal book, Branded, and I just loved it. I didn't know however, if I'd enjoy reading realistic fiction from her, since I was relatively knew to the genre last year. Actually, I don't think I even read at least three realistic fiction books in 2011. But I've expanded my reading to include the category, and I'm surprised that I really do enjoy it. When I heard about What I Didn't Say and read the synopsis, I thought, "oh how awful!". It definitely got me interested, and I'm so glad I finally picked it up and read it. This is one of those books that makes you reconsider about half the choices you make, or have made in your life, and makes you think "what if I'd been reckless that night?". I was drawn to the reality created in this world, and what I liked so much about it was that it seemed we were reading from pages of Jacob's journal. It just felt so much more real this way and made it much easier for me to connect with his character.
On the night of homecoming, Jacob and his friends get a little more than just "buzzed", they were for all intents and purposes, wasted. After years of harboring feelings for the school's smartest girl, Samantha Shay, Jacob's liquid courage, and liquid encouraging from his friends, prompts him to make the worst decision of his life, to go to Sam's and tell her how he feels. The car crash was awful, but imagine waking up one day in the hospital, surrounded by your family who are looking at you as if they've already lost you, and wanting to ask them what's wrong, only to realize, you can't even speak. When Jacob finds out that when the car crashed, a T-post was embedded in his throat and was made worse by the fact that his friends fell on top of him and embedded it deeper. What's worse is finding out that because his vocal chords were so damaged, he'd never again speak.
Obviously, anyone w/ such tragic events happening to them would be devastated, and Jacob was no exception. He wallows in self pity, made worse by the fact that one, he's been kicked off the football team, and because of his wounds cannot play any other sports; two, he'll never again be able to fly a plane; three, he'll have to get use to writing conversations on paper; and last, that he'll never again get a chance to tell Samantha what he feels for her. But soon, Jacob learns that losing his voice isn't the worse thing that could happen to a seventeen year old.
I really liked Samantha's character. She was strong and independent, and watching her life unfold through the eyes of Jacob was mesmerizing and heartbreaking all at once. No kid should ever have to feel like they've got the weight of the world on their shoulders. But I definitely admire her courage and her determination to push forward through the pain and the burdens. I also liked her because she helps bring Jacob out of his depression, helps him see that, yeah he might be mute, but at least he's still got a life, a home, family and friends that care about him.
Overall, this book is amazing. The message it carries through it's pages, that life doesn't have to end because of one tragedy, is way too powerful to stay in a fictional world. I recommend this to all book lovers, especially those who've been through so much that, at one point felt like giving up.
I've read Keary Taylor's paranormal book, Branded, and I just loved it. I didn't know however, if I'd enjoy reading realistic fiction from her, since I was relatively knew to the genre last year. Actually, I don't think I even read at least three realistic fiction books in 2011. But I've expanded my reading to include the category, and I'm surprised that I really do enjoy it. When I heard about What I Didn't Say and read the synopsis, I thought, "oh how awful!". It definitely got me interested, and I'm so glad I finally picked it up and read it. This is one of those books that makes you reconsider about half the choices you make, or have made in your life, and makes you think "what if I'd been reckless that night?". I was drawn to the reality created in this world, and what I liked so much about it was that it seemed we were reading from pages of Jacob's journal. It just felt so much more real this way and made it much easier for me to connect with his character.
On the night of homecoming, Jacob and his friends get a little more than just "buzzed", they were for all intents and purposes, wasted. After years of harboring feelings for the school's smartest girl, Samantha Shay, Jacob's liquid courage, and liquid encouraging from his friends, prompts him to make the worst decision of his life, to go to Sam's and tell her how he feels. The car crash was awful, but imagine waking up one day in the hospital, surrounded by your family who are looking at you as if they've already lost you, and wanting to ask them what's wrong, only to realize, you can't even speak. When Jacob finds out that when the car crashed, a T-post was embedded in his throat and was made worse by the fact that his friends fell on top of him and embedded it deeper. What's worse is finding out that because his vocal chords were so damaged, he'd never again speak.
Obviously, anyone w/ such tragic events happening to them would be devastated, and Jacob was no exception. He wallows in self pity, made worse by the fact that one, he's been kicked off the football team, and because of his wounds cannot play any other sports; two, he'll never again be able to fly a plane; three, he'll have to get use to writing conversations on paper; and last, that he'll never again get a chance to tell Samantha what he feels for her. But soon, Jacob learns that losing his voice isn't the worse thing that could happen to a seventeen year old.
I really liked Samantha's character. She was strong and independent, and watching her life unfold through the eyes of Jacob was mesmerizing and heartbreaking all at once. No kid should ever have to feel like they've got the weight of the world on their shoulders. But I definitely admire her courage and her determination to push forward through the pain and the burdens. I also liked her because she helps bring Jacob out of his depression, helps him see that, yeah he might be mute, but at least he's still got a life, a home, family and friends that care about him.
Overall, this book is amazing. The message it carries through it's pages, that life doesn't have to end because of one tragedy, is way too powerful to stay in a fictional world. I recommend this to all book lovers, especially those who've been through so much that, at one point felt like giving up.
Brilliant review Neyra. This sounds very inspirational. Glad you enjoyed this so much, I don't read much realistic fiction myself either.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this around but felt like maybe this is not the book for me. However I think this is more matured YA (New Adult) and I like YA contemporary that has a moral story. Thanks Neyra!
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzanne ^_^ It's a motivator lol. i tend to stick to paranormal mostly, but I've ran into some great realistic fiction books lately ^_^
ReplyDeleteI thought so at first too Braine, but I'm really glad I picked it up. There's no whiny pathetic female, no insta-love, and there's a moral to the story ^_^ You're welcome Braine!
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