I love when books hook you in right away and can hold your attention to the very end and that make you want to continue reading and subliminally tell you that everything else can wait just continue reading that you need to read it to the end. At first I thought this would take a little longer to read but within a few days I had finished it.

This was such an emotional read. It felt like my emotions were all over the place while I was reading this. With that being said as I am sitting here I am still thinking about Annabelle and I am sure this will stay with me for a little while.

The main character Annabelle who has survived something that no one should have to ever go through in their life. She is dealing with that plus the blame and guilt as a majority of people do. At first I have to admit I felt a little lost because the story takes place a year after the event that happened but as it progresses you begin to discover what happened. Through small little hints and then it begins to make sense as you read it.

Annabelle thinks of herself completely different then I was seeing her and so many times I wanted to jump into the book to encourage her and give her a hug. She broke my heart so many times.

Annabelle has decided that she is going to run across the country from her home in Seattle to Washington, DC to fight these demons. Her family and friends supports her fully by following her in a RV on this journey. Everyone on this trip plays a major role from her grandfather driving the RV to her brother Malcolm, friends Olivia and Zach being her cheerleaders and forming a publicity team. The more she runs the more her story is getting out.

As a society we were taught to basically be quiet and not say anything. We are expected to keep it buried deep inside and deal and get over it. We are taught to be nice and polite and the takers know that and take full advantage of it not realizing the impact it has on the person. We are taught how to dress and behave from a young age. It doesn’t matter who you are, where your from, rich or poor there will always be someone out there that will take advantage and we need to teach our kids as they are growing up what is and what isn’t acceptable to do to another person.

You can see in the beginning Annabelle was using this to run from her situation but as it progress you can actually see that this process is helping her deal with the demons and making her stronger. Running for hours a day you soon realize that even though you are surrounded by people you are alone with yourself and your thoughts.

Deb Caletti definitely has a way with words and knows how to write. This book is so relevant especially to what is going on in the world today. I highly recommend that everyone should read this.

As Annabelle runs, you learn pieces about a tragedy that she experienced. The suspense was unbearable to me, so I looked up spoilers. I literally could not handle waiting because I thought I knew what the Taker did. I truly admired the main character for all of her accomplishments - running, healing, and taking a stand against the Taker. This was a bit of a mystery, and a beautiful story. I loved it.

I was unable to get to this title before it expired in my adobe reader. Wish the publisher would use the kindle option so that I would have more time to read this title.

Recently there was a fire which killed a young boy, a member of my extended family by marriage. It was a horrendous accident where no one was to blame, but everyone was left feeling a sense of guilt - a series of “what if’s”.

When a tragedy like this happen, how do you move on? Deb Valentin explores this very presumption in her novel A Heart in the Body of the World.

While not this particular scenario, our heroine Annabelle is dealing with a situation which is beyond her coping abilities. She tries to pick up on her previous routines, but life after trauma just isn’t the same. Some little irrelevant detail reminds her of what she is trying to forget until all she wants to do is run. So that is just what she does, starting in Seattle and making strides towards Washington, D.C. despite her overprotective mom pleading with her to return home where she can be monitored (although there are others who are sympathetically cheering her on). Her grandfather follows in his mobile home - a safe place to recoup for the next day’s travels across a somewhat brutal terrain. Her little brother sets up a GoFundMe page with friends, teachers, and family members, even total strangers, donating cash to show their support. While she can’t change the past, at least Annabelle can have some small control over her life - complete with blisters, aching feet, as well as sore muscles to show for her efforts. The further she travels, the stronger her “statement” and everyone starts to take notice.

While the reader isn’t privy to the actual ordeal responsible for such a strong response until the end of the book, we are wrapped up in the emotional dilemma which motivates this footrace across the United States. This one will appeal to both teens and adults.

Four stars and a thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read:

https://ellenk59.wordpress.com/2018/12/31/a-heart-in-a-body-of-the-world-by-deb-caletti/

Deeply moving!
Thanks to Edelweiss+, NetGalley and Simon Pulse for the opportunity to read and review A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti!
This story captivated me with it’s mysterious, traumatic event and the strength of the main character and supporting characters. Also, the charm and humor of family and all the quirks that go along with that wonderful six letter word. The story is somewhat difficult to follow; I’m sure that was on purpose by the author because the back and forth, scattered thoughts represent the stress of the main character very well. A heartbreaking and inspiring story that fully reveals the event by the end of the book. 5 stars for this deeply moving realistic fiction!

After finishing this book I felt like I left the best therapy session of any life. This book gave me ALL the feels, I laughed, I cried, I sobbed at parts. This was definitely one of my absolute favorite reads of the year, if not ever. I really saw the difference of how boys a brought up vs, girls and it was laid out wonderfully in a way that actually angered me.

Annabelle was an extremely complex main character. She was a total perfectionist who suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, with flashbacks and major guilt. As the story unfolds you find out why and everything just connects in this big puzzle perfectly. The flashbacks while she was running were so realistic and relatable to me. Grandpa Ed was the best, most supportive and hilarious grandpa, I wish I had a grandpa Ed in my life, everyone deserves one.

I can’t wait to buy a physical copy for myself, my friends, and my family. This book is a must read and should be added to every book club read list out there. It really makes you think. The heart facts were the perfect addition to the story. If you read one book this year, please have it be this one.

A Heart in a Body in the World is a book about PTSD, survival, and the ways women have to navigate their own existence. The book has flashbacks and memories that bleed into the current story. There are secrets throughout the book and often ones that Annabelle is trying to hide herself.

At the same time, this book is about heart break and heart healing. Annabelle gives us facts about the heart in each chapter reminding us of all the amazing, strong, and vulnerable things it does. It’s a reminder to think more about the organ keeping us alive. And so how apt that this book is about our body, our heart, and how we figure it out.

Annabelle pushes her body further, hurting it while healing it, all while putting it back together. She has been made to realize the fragility of her body, but her journey teaches her about her own strength. It’s about realizing our limitations, that which makes us human, but also our potential for going beyond what we dreamed was possible.

It had been a while since I had read a novel by Deb Caletti, but reading her newly released A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD helped to remind me how much I enjoy her award-winning writing. This story focuses on Annabelle who lives near Seattle and starts running one day after a drunk guy approaches her in an inappropriate way. It is clear that there has been trauma in Annabelle's life and her family, single mom Gina, younger brother Malcolm, and Grandpa Ed all try to support her. In fact, her run becomes a cause with a Go Fund Me page set up by her high school friends, and interviews arranged with high school newspapers along the way. Annabelle reluctantly embraces this acknowledgment of her emotional pain and even begins making speeches. One of Annabelle’s struggles is "the sense that she must apologize for and atone for other people's actions."

Here are just a few other quotes that illustrate Annabelle’s physical and emotional journey: "Sometimes you just snap. Snapping is easy when you're already brittle from the worst possible thing happening." "Worry is a different version of prayer." "She's forever in a spinning round-ness of who she's supposed to be and who she really is; what's expected and what she really wants. When you spin like that, things get blurry." "How weird, she thinks, that there are people who maybe don't feel this thing, this endless buzz of nerves and fear and responsibility and control."

Readers will empathize with her efforts both at running and with dealing with past events which are gradually shared in a series of flashbacks. Annabelle keeps a journal and many chapters start with notes about the heart like this one "There are only one and a half gallons of blood in the body at a time. And you only have to lose two liters of it – one bottle of Diet Coke – and it's over." The story of A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD will have wide appeal. And there are numerous connections with recent headlines, #MeToo or #WhyIDidntReport, and new non-fiction books like Rage Becomes Her.

A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD by Deb Caletti received starred reviews from Booklist, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. Highly recommended - Look for it on our shelves soon.

Annabelle has decided that the only way to get away from what happened to her is to run. She sets out on a 2700 mile journey from Seattle to Washington, DC on foot. She learns early on that even though she is running, she cannot outrun her own heart and mind. With the help of her grandpa, brother and two friends, she becomes a role model to women across the country of someone who will not hide and cower after adversity. She doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, yet her quiet actions speak louder than any press conference would.

A Heart in a Body in the World is a stand-alone story that will appeal to readers of all ages and genders. Although the protagonist is a teenage girl, the story surpasses that and lets the reader enjoy the larger message along the way. Caletti teaches about the logistics of taking on a monumental run, yet readers will not feel like it is a book about running. A Heart in a Body in the World is a feel-good book with a feel-good message. In a world where books are dark and foreboding, I smooth and easy read is always welcome.

I was not able to read the pdf document. I tried to get it on my phone, but that did not work, I did not want to be stuck at my computer reading it. I wish I had been able to read it. The mobi is what works for me. I am on the blog tour for a content post, so I am still excited to share about the book in this way.

Annabelle has snapped, and like Forrest Gump, just starts running. With the help of her family and best friends, she beings a quest that will take her fromSeattle to DC in the hopes that she can do something, anything, and 'The 'Taker' will not win. A powerful story about PTSD, a women's role in this world, and feeling empowered, or the lack thereof. Very current.

A Heart In A Body In The World is the third book I’ve read by Deb Caletti. It is also the third book of hers that I have given five stars to. I think this means I need to just read ALL of her books ever. For once I am kind of glad that the Netgalley version of this book was one that would not download in Kindle format. I was forced to read it sooner rather than later (thank you expiring ePub formats, thanks a whole lot). In all honesty though, I am still reeling at this book and how much it made me think AND feel.

A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD BY DEB CALETTI | BOOK REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 LEAVE A COMMENT
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Heart In A Body In The World by Deb Caletti | Book ReviewA Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti
Also by this author: Stay
Published by Simon and Schuster on September 18, 2018
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Social Themes, Physical & Emotional Abuse, Violence, Travel & Transportation, Car & Road Trips
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9781481415231
Goodreads
five-stars
“This is one for the ages.” —Gayle Forman, author of the #1 bestseller If I Stay

Each step on Annabelle’s 2,700 mile cross-country run brings her closer to facing a trauma from her past in National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti’s novel about the heart, all the ways it breaks, and its journey to healing. Because sometimes against our will, against all odds, we go forward.

When everything has been taken from you, what else is there to do but run?

So that’s what Annabelle does—she runs from Seattle to Washington, DC, through mountain passes and suburban landscapes, from long lonely roads to college towns. She’s not ready to think about the why yet, just the how—muscles burning, heart pumping, feet pounding the earth. But no matter how hard she tries, she can’t outrun the tragedy from the past year, or the person—The Taker—that haunts her.

Followed by Grandpa Ed in his RV and backed by her brother and two friends (her self-appointed publicity team), Annabelle becomes a reluctant activist as people connect her journey to the trauma from her past. Her cross-country run gains media attention and she is cheered on as she crosses state borders, and is even thrown a block party and given gifts. The support would be nice, if Annabelle could escape the guilt and the shame from what happened back home. They say it isn’t her fault, but she can’t feel the truth of that.

Through welcome and unwelcome distractions, she just keeps running, to the destination that awaits her. There, she’ll finally face what lies behind her—the miles and love and loss…and what is to come.

A Heart In A Body In The World is the third book I’ve read by Deb Caletti. It is also the third book of hers that I have given five stars to. I think this means I need to just read ALL of her books ever. For once I am kind of glad that the Netgalley version of this book was one that would not download in Kindle format. I was forced to read it sooner rather than later (thank you expiring ePub formats, thanks a whole lot). In all honesty though, I am still reeling at this book and how much it made me think AND feel.


A Heart In A Body In The World is about a girl named Annabelle Agnelli. One day, Annabelle is at this burger joint, some guy has just made a rude comment to her. She decides to run from Seattle, where she is, to Washington DC. It is for a cause though. At the end, there’s Seth Greggory – who is a politician – if I am recalling correctly. She’s got something to say. What ends up happening is Annabelle’s grandfather follows along with her journey in his RV while she runs cross country and begins to heal from this tragedy that happened. This book is such a startling look at acute trauma and well, healing. I LOVED it.

Annabelle is probably one of my favorite sorts of main characters. She’s just so ordinary at first – yet she does something extraordinary. She’s empowered, ya know? Anyways. We get to know Annabelle as she is prior to the incident. We meet a girl who is on the track team – she runs cross country. She also works in a bakery after school. Her best friend is a girl named Kat. She had this boyfriend named Will. Annabelle is well liked and is in advanced classes. She has this amazing family. Granted, her parents are divorced and her dad ended up moving to Boston to become a Catholic priest. Still, she is just so interesting to read about because of her ordinary sort of life. Anyways, Annabelle and Will break up. There is a new guy in her classes, who is only referred to as the Taker.

At first, Annabelle is nice to him because she has been raised in a culture where she has been taught to do that. However, she keeps trying so hard to give him vibes that they are just friends and she is not interested in anything more. But well, he just will not listen. Annabelle is increasingly uncomfortable with him. Still, he sits at her lunch table and next to her in class. He keeps trying to take more and more from her. Annabelle, taught by our culture that this is acceptable goes along with it – sort of. She trusts that things will turn out okay. How very, very wrong she is. And well, I can’t say more because I don’t want to spoil A Heart In A Body In The World. Just believe me that you will be thinking about and discussing this book should you choose to read it.

Overall, I think that this book could potentially be triggering as there are guns involved. There is death involved. Also, there’s an unhealthy relationship. If those things do not trigger you though, what you’ll get is an extremely well written book. The message definitely resonates in a time of #MeToo. I just cannot recommend or praise this book enough. And well, I wish all my Deb Caletti books were not in storage because I ABSOLUTELY want to dive right into what are likely to be more five star reads right now.

The download for A Heart in a Body in the World did not work. Sadly, I was unable to view the title, therefore I cannot provide a detailed review of this book.

<i>"But she feels this in her heart and soul and with every searing and burning step: A crime must have a punishment and this is part of hers."</i>

I am kicking myself for not taking a physical arc copy of this book at BookCon because I didn't think I could relate to the running theme that I knew would feature heavily in this book. However, I'm glad the copy went to somebody else and I was approved on NetGalley because, man, I was wrong to think I could pass this book up.

<i>"She wants to propel herself into the dark and terrifying universe. Being that unanchored and that much in peril seems preferable to being here, grounded on the earth that wrecked her."</i>

If you are making a list of hard-hitting, heartbreaking, and beautiful books and this isn't on it, well, you're wrong. <i> A Heart in a Body in the World</i> is a story about survival, guilt, trauma, love, hope, and change. Annabelle starts off the story having a bit of a breakdown, running away from picking up her dinner (it's literally still in a take-out bag as she sprints away from town) and refusing to go back home. She's got it in her head that she's going to run straight from Seatle to Washington D.C. and even though she's got no idea what she'll do when she gets there, she's going all the same.

<i>"She is a mess of wounds Fresh wounds, old ones, wounds in various stages of pain and healing. She wonders if all of her will ever feel healed at the same time."</i>

Throughout the course of this book we understand her motivation for running, the horrific events of gun violence unfold, and we get a look at Belle's mental state (which she's amazing about checking in with). You see her coping with trauma and loss. You see her dealing with survivor's guilt and shame. You see all the ugly personal gritty bits of a girl who has dealt with forced intimacy and unspeakable trauma as she becomes an inadvertent activist raising awareness as she runs across the country with the aide of her grandfather and his RV.

<i>"There are all kinds of hands- careful ones, cruel ones, ones you can trust and ones you can't. You don't always know the difference until too late, but it's true, too, that ones as disturbed at The Taker's are rare. They are rare, she reminds herself. Most hands are good."</i>

This is not only a story of woe, it's also a story of healing, of mending back the pieces of a broken heart and reclaiming your voice and your power and doing something to force the change you want to see in the world. It's a timely, harrowing, and beautiful look at the world we live in today, a world that does not value or protect its young girls the same way it does men and guns. Some books you read and enjoy but soon forget, this is a book I won't be forgetting. If you are looking for a contemporary that gives you insight into the realities of the world around you, a vantage point I hope nobody else ever needs to have, then please consider picking up this book.

<i>"She should be furious. She should rage like mad every day. Her rage should start at The Taker and extend to every single way her body is illegally controlled or left unprotected."</i>

Trigger warnings for forced intimacy, stalking, gun violence, murder, the death of a loved one, trauma, self-harm by way of pushing past physical boundaries (aka running too long/too hard at times), PTSD, grief, and depression.

All quotes were taken from an ARC copy and are subject to change. ARC provided by Simon Pulse by way of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of a girl who is healing from a traumatic event by running across the country. With the help of her family and friends, she is able to traverse the country and find herself healing slowly along the way. I enjoyed the way the story was written and I have been a big fan of Deb Caletti for a long time. I think the topics that are tackled are very relevant in our society today and I was a little surprised at the action that was the catalyst for her journey to an emotional recovery. Overall I enjoyed this story but did find there were some things I wish there were more details about or time spent on. I know that this story is one my students will enjoy!

While this was an engaging read I didn't feel like it was the strongest storyline and character development. While the topic was well done and a sensitive area that isn't given enough attention I felt like the character was dealing with too personal a struggle to make them relatable to a broader YA audience.