How to Save a Life

I actually purchased this because I wanted something to read...something quick. And I don't have a library card. So anyway, I thought I might totally regret buying it, but I did not because it was so good. I can't wait to loan it out to friends and hear what they think.

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was unexpectedly good, really really good. I have to admit that the premise of the story had me prepared for something closer to an original Lifetime Television for Women movie. The ones that I would rush home on a Sunday evening to watch. Yes, I shamelessly admit to a certain obsession with Lifetime and their original movies. And a roommate, who shall remain nameless, just happened to enjoy them with me. They were terrible and wonderful all at the same time.

But this, oh this was nothing at all like an original Lifetime Television for Women movie. This was just wonderful and not terrible. Nope, not terrible at all.

So the premise, which as I've said had me wondering and thinking that this read was a risky one, goes thusly. Teenager, Mandy, finds herself pregnant and unready for motherhood, especially not in her current situation. So she decides to find someone with whom to share an open adoption. And she finds Robin and her daughter Jill, both recently grieving over the loss of Mac, husband/father, respectively. Oh, and just as an FYI...the story shifts between two voices, Mandy and then Jill.

So you can see why I might believe that this could get ugly and sappy real real quick.

But as I've long preached, it's all in the characterization, and Mandy is tops. I fell in love with the poor girl. Something about her sad sad situation resonated with me. She told her story with a surprising amount of vulnerability and honesty. It was her vulnerability that really gutted me. She felt so believable that I cried and hated her mother and wanted to hug her and adopt her into my family all at the same time. All I can say is WOW Sarah Zarr, wow! I was kind of sure that she was going to be cheesy, and I was sure I was going to be rolling my eyes. But Mandy was too good for me to do anything but adore her.

Jill was pretty great, too. There were a few moments that I wanted to smack her, but she redeemed herself, and most of us were teenagers at one time, were we not? So then, we probably had people thinking thusly about us..."I want to smack the sass right out her/him." I suppose I can forgive her teenageryness. That and again, there could have been serious drama over the death of her father. There was drama, but her grieving/dealing was believable drama. Not trying too hard/emotive drama. There is a huge difference. Jill was also very believable and likable.

So now I have another YA author that has me pretty jazzed about the genre. I'm not sure yet whether Zarr is up there with Melina Marchetta or E. Lockhart. I'll have to check out a few more of her books before I can decide that. But I loved this, and so I highly recommend.


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