5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one was a little difficult, but not as bad as I thought it could be. I wouldn’t consider it YA, and I believe it did have some romance. If you struggle with broken, messy people being honest, then you might not be able to handle this. But, if you’ve lived a life like mine, then you’ll be glad someone was willing to write about it and show us hope. I’m really glad I read this and I highly recommend it. We all need to be aware that human trafficking is happening, today, right now! And the children will need to have someone meet them where they are.


What do we do with a girl that’s lost her innocence? Who has suffered terrible, ugly things. Not even mentioning the violence. Drug abuse?
Can we be a part of the solution or make it worse for them? Just some of the questions I kept asking myself while I read. ✋🏼🎤

This was a NETGALLEY gift and I’ve given an honest review. All opinions were my own.

<b>What Unbreakable Looks Like</b> was a heart wrenching punch to the gut. The topic of this novel is human trafficking. McLaughlin shows how young girls are sometimes seduced into bondage. <i>"Mitch was there for me when no one else was. He took care of me. He sold me. Beat me. Told me I was beautiful and said I was an ugly bitch. He said he loved me . . . "</i> I cried when I read these words. I cried knowing that there are girls out there living in dysfunctional homes who are willing to accept this kind of "love" any kind of love. That they do not know their worth and have been neglected to the point that any attention is good attention. But McLaughlin also shows here that anybody can be trafficked and that this is happening right in our backyards in small town America. These men are predators; highly manipulative and skilled at grooming the young and impressionable. They have long arms and a lot of money backing these enterprises. In the book McLaughlin uses the website Stall313 to shine light on the real life fight to end online human trafficking. I have not been able to watch the documentary I am Jane Doe that inspired this book but I have viewed an interview with its director Mary Mazzio. I was utterly shocked by how deep this went and the responses of some politicians and judges. I found it frustrating that Backpage.com and other websites like it are able to use Section 230 as a legislative loophole to get around their complicity in human trafficking.

Here is the link to that interview with the director of I Am Jane Doe, the film that inspired this book:
<a href="https://youtu.be/DOnu3KZIrsA">Mary Mazzio</a>

<i>Special thanks to Meghan Harrington at Wednesday Books, Kate McLaughlin and NetGalley for advanced access to this book.</i>

This book is a young adult fiction which deals with a story of underage sexual trafficked girls. At first, I thought it would be hard to write such story as a YA novel, but it turned out great, the writing felt real and not sugarcoated to lighten the mood about the subject; Kate McLaughlin succeeded in sharing a message that is both powerful and important to discuss!

What I liked with this story is that Kate McLaughlin did not hide the reality of what happens to trafficked girls; she shows it. Still, she does not let this control the story; she also wants to show that it is a story about healing and accepting to be vulnerable and asking for help. And this is made clear in how we jump back and forth between two timelines, one with flashbacks when she is Poppy and one after being rescued by the police, where she tries to heal and go back to a normal/standard life as Alexa.

One of the main focus of this story is for Alexa to come to terms with what she went through, to accept the fact that she is not to be blamed for what happened, but also to recognize that she has a voice, that she matters and that she shouldn’t let people treat her the way they do, which leads the story to also deal with notions of consent and sexual assault, subjects that are also very relevant to talk about today.

An aspect of the book that I also like is that she does not go through this alone, we see that she accepts (with difficulties at first) to rely on adults to help her. We see her exchange with therapists, detectives, social workers, and other survivors of sexual trafficking; we get to read different views on the matter, and the author goes a little bit into the psychological process around healing and the help that is constructed around the girls in the story.
The hardest part was to realize at the same time as Alexa did, that every time there was a chance for an adult to help her, they always turned and looked away. This realization leads Alexa to lose faith in adults and to abandon any hope to get help. It is heartbreaking and frustrating to read!
Books that deal with issues such as the one developed in What Unbreakable Looks Like is not always easy to read, it is hard at times, but Kate McLaughlin does a great job telling the story, with great respect to the victims of sexual trafficking. She portrays a broken and hurt but healing character who is growing stronger and fighting to prevent other girls and boys from being trafficked.

There is something that Kate mentioned in her interview (on my blog) and which I was indeed both happy and relieved to read, it is the happy ending to Alexa’s story, even though this might be a rare case in real life, it still felt good to read and be happy for Alexa.

I gave this book five stars on Goodreads; I loved the way the story is constructed, and it is clear for the reader to understand the timeline changes. The character development is slowly building, and it does not go towards the cliché "I'm saved and healed," we see her struggling through her adaptation process, and we see her change at her own pace.

I highly recommend reading What Unbreakable Looks Like, it is undoubtedly a hard subject to read, but I came out of this reading journey even more aware of these kinds of issues that we tend to overlook.

Well, I hope you find this review interesting and that it made you want to give Alexa's story a chance.

TW: human trafficking, drug abuse, sexual assault, violence, bullying.

Lex was trafficked, and in that life, she was Poppy. When Lex's aunt Krys came to take her home after the police's rescue, she had the chance to live as Lex again. But soon, her new boyfriend and his friends sexually assaulted her. Would Lex decide to own her past and fight back as an activist?

When I finished "What Unbreakable Looks Like," I realized I had been crying since page one. And during this emotionally intense reading, I fell in love with both Krys and Lex's friend Zack. I also found myself immensely proud of Lex.

McLaughlin did not gloss over the fact that many trafficked girls never made it out far enough to stay alive. She also acknolwedged the painful truth that bad people exist, and that there were always people siding with oppressors. "What Unbreakable Looks Like" pictured the world as it is, and the story was ugly, beautiful, painful, and amazing all at the same time.

I am not even going to pretend that I understand Lex. She went through trafficking and her journey of rediscovering herself after being Poppy was far from an easy read. Told in first-person narrative, Lex was always a little emotionally removed. It was her way of coping with the past she did not want. She was also brutally honest with herself, and we know what she was not ready for, when she was unsure, and all the potentially guilty things she was happy about. Since Lex told everything as it was, her modulated tone allowed us readers to also feel our own emotions on top of hers. It was overwhelming as it should be.

In part two of the story, which was titled "lex," there were a lot of flashbacks. Through the many flashbacks, we catch a glimpse of what Lex had went through as well as her interactions with her closest friend Jamie during that time. There was enough information for the readers to infer Lex's life as Poppy with as little triggering details as possible. I think McLaughlin deliberately used flashbacks to provide authentic stories while not derailing from the present, more hopeful main plot.

Despite the many evil and horribly misguided people in the story, there were still wonderful friends and family Lex deserved. Krys and Jamal, Lex's aunt and uncle who invited Lex home at her worst, were a beautiful pair. Their relationship demonstrated what healthy intimacy looked like. And Lex's friends Elsa and Zack were both loving and supportive. Other great supportive characters included Detective Willis, Dr. Lisa, Dr. Bradley, etc. I love how many of these lovely people were of color or queer. Though I usually feel disconnected with picture perfect characters, these almost flawless characters were open and vulnerable and very real. I wish there were more people like them. And I aspire to be like Krys, Elsa, and Zack, who loved fiercely, gave everything they have to understand their friends, and were just the warmest people ever.

Everyone should read "What Unbreakable Looks Like." It is an ugly story on human trafficking, and a beautiful journey of healing, love, owning your past, and finding your voice.

What Unbreakable Looks Like was deep and not what I was expecting at all, but in a good way. I think sex trafficking especially in teen girls is not talked about nearly enough so I’m very glad this book was able to bring awareness to that huge topic. This was such an emotional book that touched on so many relevant teen topics and issues. I enjoyed this book even though I did find it extremely dark.

I received an early copy of this story by St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books. This story touches on sex trafficking and will have you on an emotional journey from being taken, abused, then rescued and having to deal with trauma of all of that and being brought back into regular life. This is not for everyone and if you are sensitive to certain topics, this story could be a trigger for you. But if you can read about these things then I do recommend this book.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for inviting me to be a part of the Blog Tour and for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I loved the premise of this novel and the message it attempted to share with YA readers, I was left wanting. Transitions between scenes and key moments of Lex’s life were abrupt and left me frustrated. The first half of the book felt rushed from one scene to the next; I would’ve preferred the author allow the reader to sit in some of those moments longer and allowed the character development to breathe. I was extremely disappointed that the author didn’t share Lex’s first day back to school. Instead the story, once again, skips to an immediate action scene involving traumatization.

This story ended being a 2 star read for me, but I still hope to see more books further explore this topic in YA fiction. If you are interested in reading a more in depth review of this book you can visit the link to my blog in my profile.

This is one of the toughest books to read, in the longest time. It was graphic and I can see it being very triggering to people. What Unbreakable Looks Like, is one of the first books I’ve read that touches on the topic of human trafficking, and I think it was a great place to jump right in. I found myself very emotional while reading, and for good reason.

I, myself could not connect to our main character, but felt like she was portrayed in a real, raw way. I could understand the actions she took and didn’t take, based on how well the author wrote her. Lex’s interactions with people were done so well, I could see them playing out in front of me.

This was a very powerful read, that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants a closer look into this topic. It is a very emotional read so be prepared. From beginning to end I was sucked into this book and I can see myself rereading it in the future, just to keep my eyes open to things that really do happen.

4.5 stars!

This was yet another case of Wednesday Books knowing me better than I know myself. Much like Jane Anonymous, (my review here) it's likely I would never have picked up this book, if left to my own devices. I do read books featuring heavier subject matter, but shy away from choosing certain types of stories for whatever reason. In this case, I'm so glad the wonderful team over at Wednesday Book kindly sent me copies of both books -- I read them out of sheer curiosity, and both turned out to be excellent reads!

This was such a powerfully written, emotional story. I love thrillers (both adult and YA) and I'm really used to stories that focus on the search and rescue. Usually, the story ends there. But books like Jane Anonymous and What Unbreakable Looks Like begin there. They begin with the rescue and dive into the complex emotional period that is the afterward. It's a lot to tackle, and I love how it's handled here.

Lex is so well-written. She's really believable as a teen character and someone who's survived the horrors of sex trafficking. She comes off as stony and unfeeling at times, but it felt clear to me that this was because of what she's been through, not because that's her natural personality or any lack of skill on the author's part. I loved seeing those moments of the real Lex, the before Lex, shine through, when she starts to move forward and learn how to navigate the after.

I honestly don't want to say too much, because I think this story is best explored without too many preconceived notions, but I'll just say I thought the author did a fantastic job of balancing joy and despair, hopefulness and hopelessness, and I loved Lex's journey and how it turns out. I also love that there's such a mix of characters in the book. The worst and best of humanity.

Just note that this story goes GRITTY. It is a pretty rough read, but appropriately so, considering the subject matter. This is a book that pushes readers to open their eyes to the horrific, worldwide industry of sex trafficking. It personalizes a horror that is so often reduced to statistics.

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Out TODAY (June 23, 2020)!

"Sometimes I think that's all life is𑁋just showing up."

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

What Unbreakable Looks Like made me RAGE, it made me sick to my stomach, and it made me want to get involved and do something. We need to permanently put an end to the trafficking of people, and it needs to be something the WORLD is talking about. It's not an issue you would think existed in 2020, BUT IT IS. The world is advanced! A better place, right? People aren't supposed to be treated like slaves, or forced to provide sexual acts for others against their will. These girls were repeatedly abused (raped, beaten, drugged) and made to feel hopeless and worthless.

I can't imagine seeing someone in Lex's situation (whether I was a legitimate visitor to the hotel, or just saw something while passing by) and not saying anything. How can you witness a CHILD being used against their will and simply look the other way? My stomach turns every time I think about mothers who are missing their daughters (and in some cases their sons), and eventually learning that their babies were trafficked for the pleasure of others.

It takes a really twisted motherfucker to do that to children, and it's disturbing how many of them get away with it. I know this book is fictional, but it's inspired by true events and people's stories. Lex wasn't kidnapped and brought to the motel. No, Mitch bought her expensive gifts and made her fall in love with him (a child who didn't have a lot, and who lived with an alcoholic mother). He made himself look like a hero in comparison, and he easily manipulated Lex into doing what he wanted. When she finally found her voice, it was too late. His claws were in too deep, and she didn't have anyone who'd care that she was missing. Even more disturbing, her mother and stepfather were friends with Mitch, and knew where she was. Her mother might not have known to what extent Lex was being used, but Frank definitely did.

My heart broke so many times while reading this book, and I don't think the shards will ever fully realign and repair themselves. I kept thinking, "What if this had been me? What if this happened to one of my girls? What would I do?" The story really hit me hard, and I think the author did an amazing job navigating the world of sex trafficking, and the impact it has on someone's mental and physical state. Lex was relatable, likable, and totally root-for-able. She didn't make stupid decisions once she started living with her aunt and uncle, like not telling them something they needed to know (at least... not for long), and I appreciated how honest she was about herself and her situation.

Lex has lost all sense of what it's like to be normal. She's struggling to come to terms with what happened to her, and to believe that her aunt and uncle want her around. She feels like a burden, or that something will happen and they'll decide she's not worth the trouble. I loved both Krys and Jamal, and I'm thankful they were there and willing to take Lex home and away from the world she'd previously known. They only ever showed her compassion, love, and kindness, and I think that helped her more than they realized. They didn't always understand what she was going through, but they were willing to listen, be patient, and learn. They wanted to give Lex everything she deserved and more, and I wish everyone had people like that in their lives. The world would be a better place for it.

The secondary characters were wonderfully written, and I loved both Elsa and Zack. They were there for Lex in a way she wasn't expecting, and their friendships (in addition to the love and acceptance from Krys and Jamal) did a lot to help Lex heal. They made her feel normal, and didn't pry into her past. They didn't make her talk about what she didn't want to discuss, and they never judged her decisions. Lex wasn't always great to Zack, letting her emotions rule her actions, but she always apologized, and he was understanding and forgiving. Both of her friends could relate𑁋to some extent𑁋to what she was going through, and I really enjoyed learning more about them as well.

Other characters, like Mike and his friends, or the people that visited Lex at the hotel, were people that brought out my anger and hated. They are despicable pieces of trash, and I really hope they all get what they deserve (fictional or not). The detective, doctors, therapist, principal, teachers𑁋all amazing. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to work with children who've been through something so traumatic, and it was heartwarming to see how much they truly cared about Lex and the other girls in this book.

What Unbreakable Looks Like is a hard read because it's based in truth. Everything that happened in this book is currently happening in the world (and probably on a more extreme level). I was absorbed in this story from the start, and my emotions ricocheted all over the place while I read it. If you can stomach the atrocities that happen in this story, I highly recommend reading it. It was an eye-opening experience, and something I think more people should be aware of. (★★★★★)

The Quick Cut: A teen girl struggles to reintegrate into society after being saved from a sex trafficking operation. Drama ensues when multiple obstacles try to get in the way of her returning to a healthy life. 
A Real Review: Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.   

 As a society, we don't like to think about some of the outstanding problems we have yet to address. One of the most distressing of these is the sex trafficking industry, which is thriving even still today. Its an arena that works well with other illicit activities, such as drugs. It is this concerning corner of the crime world that a girl named Alexa is all too familiar with, after being sex trafficked by her mom's boyfriend.
 If anyone asks at the motel, her name is Poppy. Poppy's pimp has re-named all his girls after flowers after trapping them into being his sexual slaves. Pulling them in by dating these girls, he would buy them fancy things until he would flip the script and convince them to have sex for money. However, Poppy is freed from her prison when a police raid is done on her pimp's operation. Poppy is back to being integrated into typical society and struggling to go back to the girl she used to be, Alexa. After her mother's boyfriend worked with her pimp to trap her in the life, she is taken in by her aunt. Will Alexa learn how to be herself again? Or will she fall apart and beg to go back to the life she was forced into? 
 Sex trafficking isn't exactly an upbeat or popular topic. In fact, its one that seems to be talked about far less than it should considering how prolific it is. So seeing a fictional story written about it is a very unique thing in itself as it takes a confident writer to talk about it. This story that centers around Alexa (aka Poppy) is one that feels genuine considering how realistic so many of the details are. From learning how to get off drugs & stay safe from her pimp to returning to school & having her classmates bully her, the story walks through all the hurdles she has to get through in order to get her life back. Its devastating how often those who are saved end up running back to the life that trapped them. 
 Alexa is such an admiring character. She's not the strongest of the girls who are saved. In fact, she has a tendency to be a little negative and somewhat in denial about the truth of what's going on. However, she is the one who is tough enough and with the right support structure to keep her from falling back into the worst habits. This book does such an amazing job at highlighting how important and essential a proper support structure is for any recovery. Beyond the reality of sex trafficking, this is such an important moral to grasp. 
 I would be remiss if I didn't point out that this story discusses some serious topics, including sex, drug addiction, and murder. This book, while powerful, is one that shouldn't be taken on unless you are old enough to handle these topics. If you are ready to talk about these topics though, they are very much talked about in a smart way in this fictional tale. 
  A story about sex trafficking that talks about the horrors of an often under-discussed crime. 
My rating: 5 out of 5

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Holy cow, what can I even say about this book? It is a hard subject, very raw, but so well done I couldn’t put it down. I have so much admiration for Alexa and everything she went through. She’s vulnerable yet strong and I just want to give her a hug. The author does an amazing job of character development and makes me want to know what happens next. If you might be triggered, don’t read this book. But if you feel strong enough, it will stay with you forever.

3.5 stars

I was sent an email with a NetGalley widget inviting me to read this book. I read the synopsis and decided to read it so thanks to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

First I just want to say that this is a painfully honest book and a hard topic to read about. There are trigger warnings for sex trafficking, substance abuse, addiction and so many others so if you are triggered by content please look into it before reading this book.

This book starts off by the girls being rescued and then follows Alexa (Lex) and how she copes with the aftermath. Every person has a different way of coping with trauma and there's no right or wrong way. We get to see Lex grow so much in the story. She starts off not trusting anything or anyone and by the end of the book she still has bad times but she has started to trust more and believe that she deserves to be happy.

The writing was very choppy and hard to keep up with. I mean one minute I was reading about Lex sitting in the kitchen talking to the detective and then she was all of a sudden in her room. This is just one example of how the author would jump from one thing to another and you really had to be paying attention to catch it. Keep in mine that I read an uncorrected proof so things could be different in the final copy.

I also need to mention the use of AAVE (African American Vernacular English) This was brought to my attention and I have to be honest and say I didn't know what this was until I looked it up. The person who brought it to my attention was very uncomfortable with the usage and stopped reading it. When I was reading it I felt like some of the language was off and didn't feel right but I didn't know what it was until this was brought to my attention. It was only in the very beginning of the book.

Overall I think this is a book that needs to be read by everyone. The content is very heartbreaking but also hopeful. as mentioned several times in the book most girls go back to the like so Lex's story is a best case scenario but still one that needs to be talked about more.

WOW!! I absolutely LOVED this book. I love the fact right in the beginning of the book under the dedication is a list of trigger warnings for human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence. I hope that part makes it into the finished copies. I’ve never seen that in a book and truly appreciated it.

I believe this is an important book about human trafficking and the aftermath that EVERYONE needs to read. It’s emotional for sure but needs to be told. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride. I was angry, sad, and even at one point had tears in my eyes. This is going to be a polarizing read. I think people are going to either love it or hate it. I fell on the side of love and am glad I read it.

As a homeschooling Mom I’ve added this to my son’s reading list for the upcoming school year (he’ll be a senior) I’m anticipating great conversations since I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the electronic advanced reader copy. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a gritty, realistic story of human trafficking. It is not a light, easy read, but a dark, beautiful story of overcoming life as a drugged up, left for dead, teenage girl.
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McLaughlin takes a deep dive into the seedy world of trafficking in our own backyards and exposes how pimps are able to seduce, kidnapped and twist young girls into a life of sexual abuse.
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In the midst of all the horror McLaughlin is also able to shine a light on the strengths of the abused girls and how friendships, even in the darkest of times, can make a life and death difference.
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This is a raw, emotionally powerful book with trigger warnings for sexual abuse, trafficking, emotional abuse, and drug abuse. It captured my attention from the beginning and it will stay with me for a long time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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"What Unbreakable Looks Like" is a novel unafraid to explore the topic of human trafficking and its impacts on victims.

Poppy…Alexa…Lex…was trafficked. But now she’s free. Except she can’t help thinking about whether it would be easier to go back. Whether she’s too much of a burden on her aunt and uncle who’ve taken her in. And whether she’ll ever be able to have real, good relationships…or whether she’s too damaged, too broken, to live such a normal life.

This story is anything but subtle, which means it doesn’t talk down to readers about its many dark and troubling themes and doesn’t shy away from the darker parts of Alexa’s character that she is trying to change.

As the book goes on, the story becomes not only about trafficking, but about other types of trauma as well, and focuses largely on the huge amount of work people have to put in after difficult events are over so that they can restore normalcy to their lives. Unlike many other novels, "Unbreakable" is more about life after trauma and what that looks like, rather than trauma itself.

However, the discussions and awareness that this book attempts to showcase, though important, are undercut by amateur writing.

Lacking thoroughly in descriptions, studded with jarring scene-jumps from paragraph to paragraph (which will hopefully be fixed by page breaks before publication), and fraught with notes of unrealistic dialogue and characterization, the story is much less engaging than it should be. The lack of subtlety, although it gives a nice bluntness to the topic, is overmuch in the too matter-of-fact style of narration.

Admittedly, the second half of the novel gets much better as we finally start to see flashbacks, which better express Alexa’s trauma and the changes to her lifestyle, and we start seeing some character descriptions so that we can actually picture and remember who people are. Alexa’s incessantly hypocritical narration ( I would never let her in. But I wanted to be close to her so badly!) in every other paragraph lessens considerably as well, which is an incredible relief.

But it all feels like too little too late, and by the time I felt that it was actually possible to feel invested in the characters, I couldn’t. Alexa had already established herself as a somewhat unrealistic, and unlikeable character. And that’s only cemented as the romance rolls along, which ends up taking the focus of the story even more so away from the legal and mental health implications of human trafficking to center around the relationship instead. This throws into the mix a heavy dose of the YA love-saves-all trope, as well as some scars-and-trauma-are-sexy type motifs.

I rated "What Unbreakable Looks Like" 2 out of 5 stars. However, fans of "Coral" may like this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A powerful and strong book. Haunting and heart breaking. It's really hard to read at times but it's an important book because what happened to Lex happens in real life. A necessary must read in my opinion. I was super excited to read this book and Kate McLaughlin did not disappoint. Pick up this winner of a book and cheer for Lex. Happy reading!

'What Unbreakable Looks Like' is a story that broke my heart but also put it back together by the end. This is a heart wrenching story of a girl who is turned on my the people she trusted and taken into a trafficking ring. Our story starts on the day that the hotel she is being kept at with the other girls is raided and they are taken to the hospital. There Lex is met with her Aunt Krys who is planning to take her in but after everything that Alexa has been through she doesn't trust anyone who says they want to help her.

This is a beautiful and painful story where we get to watch as Alexa has to learn to move forward from what has happened and learn to love and trust people again.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book wasn't perfect, but it was pretty dam close. What Unbreakable Looks Like is the story of Lex and her life after she is rescued from her life of prostitution. Picking up where Lex left off before her life in the sex trade is extremely difficult. With severe trust issues, fear of being sucked back into her old life and dealing with her new high school Lex is in for a fight if she hopes to take her life back.

What Unbreakable Looks Like is gritty, harsh, raw and completely captivating. Reading about Lex's recovery was heartbreaking while also hopeful. I felt this book was able to find a perfect balance in getting the imagery of life as a forced sex worker without being overly graphic. I think even if you do have a rough time getting through books that deal with mature, graphic topics such as this you should still be able to get through it. The writing was captivating; I found myself drawn into the story from the very first page. While the story was hard to read it was also difficult to put down. For me this is a definite must read.

This book was phenomenal- it was a quick, compelling read that I couldn't put down. While the subject matter is definitely heavy, the book has an overall feeling of hope that I appreciated. The story packs an emotional punch, but I thought it was so well done.