I received a ARC from the author via Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed!

This is one of those reads that gives you the "feels." I am not going to lie, the first chapter was a little rough for me to take. You get introduced to nine year old Logan, the main character who is also mute, and his current living situation, which includes his dad, his dad's girlfriend, and his dad's girlfriend's daughter. You are immediately thrown into a situation where Logan is basically fighting for his life against his very abusive father as the others just watch. So Logan runs, and this sets up the journey of the book. After that one chapter I immediately fell for Logan, so I was campaigning for him through the rest of the book, and of course I had a hatred built for his father.

You meet Logan's Gandma Nan, who was his mother's mom. She has been looking for Logan for years. The author tells you Logan's back story through Grandma Nan's current search for Logan. You meet a set of neighbors- Joanne, Laura, and Paul- and their stories, through Logan's journey. It is an interesting way how the story sets up and how it all comes together. I ended up keeping it together pretty well until the end. There was a part with a teacher and just thinking about it now is making me tear up. Told you this book has the feels! I don't want to say too much about the end, but I liked it, and I could even see a sequel. This is definitely a book I want for my shelves.

MY REVIEW OF “HALF A HEART” BY KAREN McQUESTION

Kudos to Karen McQuestion, Author of “Half a Heart” for writing such an emotional, significant, and thought-provoking story. The genre for this story is Fiction. The topics discussed in this story are important issues that happen in society today.

The Author describes her characters as flawed, complicated and complex possibly due to the circumstances. If you are emotional like me, be sure to have Kleenex ready. The father in the story is an angry alcoholic, living in a dysfunctional way. He is portrayed as a bully and takes his anger out on his 9-year-old son Logan. Logan has been emotionally traumatized and physically abused by the hands of his father. Terrified of his father, Logan runs away. Besides the emotional and physical scars that 9 year old Logan has, he can’t speak. From what he has seen, psychologically, Logan can’t talk. He is mute. His mother is dead. He has been told his beloved Grandmother has died.

What is so disturbing to me, that in Logan’s adventures, no one seems to want to see a neglected skinny boy, with a taped shoe. Fortunately, there have been a few wonderful and kind teachers in his life.

Logan is resourceful and manages to hide, and get food for a few days. The people he seems to meet are kind and concerned. Not only do some people touch Logan’s life, but Logan has made a difference in a few people’s life as well. I like that there is a lovable dog in the story as well.

Logan doesn’t know his Grandmother is alive,has been searching for him. She has hired a detective. His abusive father kept moving around, and purposely excluded her from Logan’s life. Logan’s Grandmother knows that the father is a very dangerous man. The Grandmother keeps tearfully saying that Logan is “half of her heart”. How will Logan be safe? Will his Grandmother be able to find Logan?

I appreciate that the author brings up such significant issues as physically and emotionally abused children, bullying, alcoholism, addiction and violence. What does it take to help the victims, and stop the violence? The author also discusses the importance of family, friends, hope and love. I would highly recommend this novel for those who read fiction. I received an Advanced Reading Copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down!

This is a rather unusual book. Imagine a story where there are many more likable people than unlikeable. The "unlikeable" people will cause more troubles and put fear in everyone's hearts.
A young mute boy, treated with unbelievable cruelty by his father,accidentally escapes from his home. His experiences afterward show him how much good is in the world. He meets people who are working through their own difficulties, yet so kind,caring and anxious to help others. Their good intentions for the young boy are impeded by his inability to communicate.
As the story unfolds, the boy realizes he is able to survive on his own and confronts his father.
There are some side-plots that make the reading even more enjoyable.
It is absolutely refreshing to read a novel with so much goodness shown. Each character gives freely and openly from the heart. Something we should all be following!

Logan is 9 years old but he doesn’t talk , He hasn’t spoke until his mother died when he was 6 .He cannot believe that his Granny had been looking for him.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Ever so often a book comes along that I truly can not put down. That grabs me from the start and does not let go. Takes my breath away. Makes me feel like I’m there. Honestly has me hooked from the first page. This was one of those books. I’ve been fortunate enough to read some very good books via NetGalley and from different authors for reviewing and loved them. This one however truly will stay on my mind for a long time.

Logan is a 9 year old little boy who can’t talk and is living a tough life. His dad is a mean drunk who loves to bully him, beat him and blame him for everything that goes wrong. Logan takes it and keeps on going. He has learned how to become invisible when he needs too. Logan has not spoken since his mom died when he was about 6 years old. Just one more thing for his dad to blame on him.

Logan ends up running away out of pure fear of his dad. He is terrified of the jerk. He hides in the back of a moving truck and ends up in another state. He has to fend for himself and does a pretty good job of it. He has five dollars to his name and dressed in rags. Shoes that are so worn that one is held together by duct tape. He knows or believes if he ever has to go back to his dad that the man will kill him. He decides that if he is caught he will say he can’t remember anything. He can’t talk anyway.

Logan has no idea that his Grandma Nan is looking for him. He believes she died. That’s what his dad had told him. She’s been looking for him and thought she had found him. But they had moved just a few months prior to that. She won’t give up though. She finds out where he was last seen but so did his dad who took off after him.

Ok I could keep telling you about this story and possibly give something away but I won’t. I can’t stand for anyone to tell me anything about a book I’m reading, other than it’s good, so I don’t do it to others. Just believe me it’s a great book. A very emotional, sad yet happy in parts too, keep you on the edge story that you won’t soon forget. Logan will worm his way into your heart and stay there. He’s a very lovable little boy who does the right thing even when he is desperate and alone. He’s a survivor for sure and his Grandma Nan never gives up.

It’s just a great book. I loved it. I wish I could truly do this book justice but the words just won’t come. It’s one you need to read. Root for Logan and Grandma Nan. It’s so worth reading by anyone that loves a happy ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for the honor of reading this awesome story.