Source: Library
Pages: 351
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Release Date: October 11th 2011
Series: Standalone
Verdict: Buy
Summary: When Rose’s mom dies, she leaves behind a brown paper bag labeled Rose’s Survival Kit. Inside the bag, Rose finds an iPod, with a to-be-determined playlist; a picture of peonies, for growing; a crystal heart, for loving; a paper star, for making a wish; and a paper kite, for letting go.
As Rose ponders the meaning of each item, she finds herself returning again and again to an unexpected source of comfort. Will is her family’s gardener, the school hockey star, and the only person who really understands what she’s going through. Can loss lead to love?
Review: Let me just cut to the chase. This book is just pure wow. I mean, what's not to love? Sports? Check. Music? Check. Cuteness overload? Check. The only thing that's not to love is the grief aspect, but it's something that is delivered in a flawless manner, revealing all that comes with grief, and all that comes out of grief.
Rose. I thought she was so amazing. She was honest and caring. Confused and grief-stricken, she doesn't know who she is anymore, and with the help of a survival kit from her mom, she's able to discover herself again, and I think that's pretty awesome. I can't think of one thing that I didn't like about her, and I'm totally okay with that, because seriously, Rose is fab.
Speaking of fab... Krupa. Talk about best friend of the universe. She's the type of person you'd want to turn to if anything comes up. Krupa was so supportive of everything Rose did or wanted to do, and she was there for Rose every step of the way. She was truly the best, and I loved her comforting presence.
And then there's hottie-mc-hockey.... err, I mean, and then there's Will. His personality was so endearing. I couldn't help but love him, even though he made a very big and questionable decision, because even when he made that decision, I could still understand why he did it. Still, my heart didn't know that, and I got all the feels, good and bad. I honestly have no idea how to really explain Will, because Will is Will, and I don't think anything I really say will do him justice. All I can say is that he has the most adorable blooming relationship with Rose, and it's just adorable and cute and amazing and fabulous and... basically everything that a relationship can be... but more.
Here's the thing. There wasn't a single character that I didn't like. Chris was great. Tony is great. Rose's dad is great. Rose's brother, Jim, is great. Rose's grandma, Maggie, is great. The cheerleaders are great. Will's family is great. Basically, everybody is great, and that pretty much never happens. I mean, seriously, it's like this book was made for me.
The Survival Kit is a breathtaking book about a girl who does everything she can to survive as herself under tragic circumstances, and in the process of following a survival kit, she discovers more than she ever thought possible. I absolutely loved this book, and I just know that I'll be reading it again and again in the future. This is definitely one of my new favorites. I just cannot get over how perfect everything was, and I'm so totally okay with that, because book perfection is the best perfection.
Rose. I thought she was so amazing. She was honest and caring. Confused and grief-stricken, she doesn't know who she is anymore, and with the help of a survival kit from her mom, she's able to discover herself again, and I think that's pretty awesome. I can't think of one thing that I didn't like about her, and I'm totally okay with that, because seriously, Rose is fab.
Speaking of fab... Krupa. Talk about best friend of the universe. She's the type of person you'd want to turn to if anything comes up. Krupa was so supportive of everything Rose did or wanted to do, and she was there for Rose every step of the way. She was truly the best, and I loved her comforting presence.
And then there's hottie-mc-hockey.... err, I mean, and then there's Will. His personality was so endearing. I couldn't help but love him, even though he made a very big and questionable decision, because even when he made that decision, I could still understand why he did it. Still, my heart didn't know that, and I got all the feels, good and bad. I honestly have no idea how to really explain Will, because Will is Will, and I don't think anything I really say will do him justice. All I can say is that he has the most adorable blooming relationship with Rose, and it's just adorable and cute and amazing and fabulous and... basically everything that a relationship can be... but more.
Here's the thing. There wasn't a single character that I didn't like. Chris was great. Tony is great. Rose's dad is great. Rose's brother, Jim, is great. Rose's grandma, Maggie, is great. The cheerleaders are great. Will's family is great. Basically, everybody is great, and that pretty much never happens. I mean, seriously, it's like this book was made for me.
The Survival Kit is a breathtaking book about a girl who does everything she can to survive as herself under tragic circumstances, and in the process of following a survival kit, she discovers more than she ever thought possible. I absolutely loved this book, and I just know that I'll be reading it again and again in the future. This is definitely one of my new favorites. I just cannot get over how perfect everything was, and I'm so totally okay with that, because book perfection is the best perfection.
Pure perfection
★★★★★
WOW! Five stars. That is amazing. It's so great when you connect with the protagonist, it makes things so much easier. I'm glad you enjoyed this book, Grace! Excellent review :)
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a great holiday weekend!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Yes, definitely one of my top contemporary young adult reads so far for the year! Any book-related connections are great, and character ones are the best!
DeleteThanks so much, Alyssa!
Hope you had a wonderful 4th!
-Grace :)