Book Review: Wild Awake

Wild Awake
Hilary T. Smith
Published May 28th 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:

1. You will remember to water the azaleas.
2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.
3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.
4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.
5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:

1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.
2. He says he has her stuff.
3. What stuff? Her stuff.
4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—
5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—
6. You pick up a pen.
7. You scribble down the address.
8. You get on your bike and go.
9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*
*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.


Review:
Two days after I finished this and I am still deciding whether I liked it.
Kiri Byrd is seventeen, her parents decided to leave her at home while they go on a trip.....A while after they leave, Kiri receives a phone call from a man saying that he has some of her sisters things. The problem is, her sister has been dead for years.
The phone call is the starting point of this book, but the story line doesn't actually dwell very long on that actual phone call.

Kiri was a little immature for her age, and the things that she had already been through. I can't say that I fell in love with her character at all, something rubbed me wrong with her character the entire book. But, I can also say that Hilary T. Smith has crafted an amazing, realistic story that should be read. There is no perfect life for these characters. They have huge problems in their lives.
(one of) Kiri's love interests in this book is a jerk. The other one is a little less of a jerk. They both lie to her, but altogether I did like the one who ended up treating her better.

The plot was so realistic and vivid, and although I didn't like the characters I loved how Hilary crafted this entire story. The only problem I noticed with it is the ending (and I think that the author intended for this to be)the ending was very sudden. The book just ended. I wasn't that crazy about it, but I can see why the author did it.

I would recommend this to someone who loves realistic fiction. Not for younger readers, this deals with way too many huge problems.....(think This Song Will Save Your Life) And not for someone who likes a drawn out ending, it didn't happen with this book.
The writing was good, the plot was realistic, and the characters were mediocre. 3.5/5