Forty Things I Want To Tell You
The main character of Forty Things I Want To Tell You had been floating around in my head for a while. I'd tried her in a few different stories, one about a murder, one about an angel, and one about a treasure hunt, but none of the tales seemed to be working out. So, I stopped and thought deeply about who Amy was; I tried to be honest about her story. Amy, nicknamed Bird, is very controlled and organized. She doesn't like it when things get out of hand and is always telling other people how to live. Once I'd figured that out about her, I felt the story coming together. I knew it would have to revolve around a list, and I knew she'd be so busy telling other people what to do that she let her own life tumble into chaos. It was very fun finding the Top Tips and fitting them into the story, but my favourite part of the writing process was seeing Amy change and grow into a much more nuanced character once I'd found the right story to tell.
From my publisher:
Top Tip: Some secrets are too hard to keep
Amy (a.k.a. Bird) seems to have the perfect life: loving parents, a hot boyfriend, the best friend ever. She even writes an online advice column, full of Top Tips, to help other teens take control of their lives. But after a new guy shows up at school, Bird can’t seem to follow her own wisdom.
Pete is the consummate bad boy. He’s everything Bird is not: wild, unambitious and more than a little dangerous. Although she knows Pete’s trouble, Bird can’t stay away. And the more drawn she is to him, the more cracks are revealed in her relationship with Griffin, her doting boyfriend. All it takes is one mistake, one momentary loss of control, for her entire future to be blown away ...
Review:
When I read a book that touches me, really touches me, I always finish it, close the cover, lay my hand over it, and just sit. Sometimes I just re-immerse myself in the story, sometimes I weep, sometimes I wonder how the characters managed, sometimes I ponder the title and the cover. With 40 Things I Want To Tell You by Alice Kuipers, I did it all.
Here are 5 things I want to tell you:
1. If you're a teen, female or male, read 40 Things I Want To Tell You.
2. If you're a parent of a teen, read 40 Things I Want To Tell You.
3. If you are a teacher or counsellor, read 40 Things I Want To Tell You.
4. If you appreciate great literature, read 40 Things I Want To Tell You.
5. Read 40 Things I Want To Tell You.
Read the full review by Helen K on canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com
