Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

Title: Keep Holding On
Author: Susane Colasanti
Publisher: Viking Juvenille (May 31, 2012)
Length: 224 pages
Source: LibaryThing Early Reviewers
Format: Advanced Reader Copy- paperback

Description from Goodreads:


A romantic and empowering book about bullying

Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for the love that keeps her holding on.

My Thoughts:

Noelle is a girl who has had a tough break in life. Her father is an addict who left when she was young, her mother simply doesn't care, she is poor, malnourished,has low self esteem, a hidden relationship, and very few friends. Susane Colasanti has created a character that you can't help but feel sorry for and wish you were there to be her friend. That said, this short book packed in a little too much. On top of everything listed above Keep Holding On also touches on rape, tons of bullying, teen suicide and has the classic most-popular-boy-falls-for-outcast-girl senario happening. It seemed as if the author was trying to pack in every negative experience and cliche someone could have in high shool in a little over 200 pages. The way everything was tidely wrapped up in the end was also slightly unbelievable. The conflicts were resolved, the "bad guys" were a little deeper than we thought and got "theirs" in the end, and the "good guys" lived happily ever after. After having said all of this the book wasn't horrible. Keep Holding On touches many harmful aspects that go ignored everyday, that if someone would take the time to care about could be solved. Although the characters in the book are older teens this would probably appeal more to those in the 12 to 15 year old range. Keep Holding On is a book that makes you examine the way you treat/ed others in school and look to see what you could/ve done differently. I give this book a (just made it) 2 1/2 STAR rating.

**I was provided this book by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for my honest opinion.