Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Synopsis

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.

In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

Review

Initially when I read the synopsis for this book it sounded interesting but didn’t jump out to me like another one of Jennifer Brown’s books I read earlier this year ‘The Hate List’. However I really enjoyed ‘The Hate List’, so I was sure I would enjoy this one too, and I wasn’t disappointed, this one is just as good.

This book is hard hitting. Jennifer Brown writes about the devastation incredibly well. Not only do you see the physical damage to buildings and property in the aftermath of the tornado, but you feel the pain that everyone is going through, especially Jersey, as she comes to the realisation that she has lost everything and everyone that are most important to her.

I really feel for Jersey, after the tornado hits, she is let down badly by a lot of people. Her biological father, and his family are absolutely terrible, other than her aunt, who is Jersey's only ally, and I really enjoyed their scenes together. I wish the whole book was a little bit longer, more time with the grandparents perhaps, as that part of the book seemed to go very quickly.

Overall, this book was a really good read, I read it in one sitting and it's definitely on my pile of books to be read again and again!

Released on 29th May 2014
Order on Amazon now!

Published by: Little, Brown Books
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.