Before I Let Go
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4.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp (This Is Where It Ends) comes Before I Let Go, an emotional thriller about a suspicious death, a friend desperate for answers, and their small town’s sinister secrets.
Best friends Corey and Kyra were inseparable in their tiny snow-covered town of Lost Creek, Alaska. But as Kyra starts to struggle with her bipolar disorder, Corey’s family moves away. Worried about what might happen in her absence, Corey makes Kyra promise that she’ll stay strong during the long, dark winter.
Then, just days before Corey is to visit, Kyra dies. Corey is devastated—and confused, because Kyra said she wouldn’t hurt herself. The entire Lost community speaks in hushed tones, saying Kyra’s death was meant to be. And they push Corey away like she's a stranger.
The further Corey investigates—and the more questions she asks—the greater her suspicion grows. Lost is keeping secrets—chilling secrets. Can she piece together the truth about Kyra’s death and survive her visit?
Perfect for readers looking for:
• Mystery books for teens
• Bipolar teen characters
• Asexual characters
Praise for Before I Let Go:
A New York Times Bestseller!
2019 ALA Rainbow List
2018 Teen Choice Book of the Year Nominee
“With exceptional handling of everything from mental illness to guilt and a riveting, magic realist narrative, this well wrought, haunting novel will stick with readers long after the final page.”—Booklist *STARRED REVIEW*
“Compulsive readability… Intriguingly spooky”—Kirkus Reviews
“This sophomore novel from Nijkamp will haunt readers... The honest reflection of mental illness, suicide, friendship, and being an outsider provides ample topics for book discussion.”—School Library Journal
“[A] reflective examination on love and returning home... Nijkamp has an uncommon talent for drawing readers deep into the psyches of her characters.”—Publishers Weekly
Also by Marieke Nijkamp:
This Is Where It Ends
Even If We Break
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Nijkamp's reflective examination on love and returning home pairs well with the haunting environment of Lost Creek, a tiny Alaskan town where strange things are known to happen. Corey and her family left Lost Creek seven months ago, and it's been hard to leave behind her best friend, Kyra. Both girls grew up in Lost Creek, but Kyra's mental illness drove a wedge between her and other residents, with Corey caught in the middle. Just before Corey's planned trip back to Lost Creek, Kyra is found dead, leaving Corey just five days to uncover what happened and say goodbye to her friend. Told through a combination of flashbacks and present-day passages, this complex coming-of-age tale is hindered only by a repetitive fixation on Corey's guilt and her musings on the concept of home. But this intense focus on Corey's thoughts and feelings lets readers immerse themselves in her pain and her drive for answers; Nijkamp (This Is Where It Ends) has an uncommon talent for drawing readers deep into the psyches of her characters. Ages 14 up.
