Sound familiar? Beautiful, smart, book-loving girl meets crazy brooding anti-hero and, seeing the goodness within, falls in love. That's it - beauty and the beast updated. Meet two 15-year-olds, Lucius and Aurora, both having moved to distance themselves from their pasts, both starting a new school. For Aurora, it’s a great experience. The students like her, include her, and make her feel at home. But the students have heard about the explosion that took Lucius’ hands and shun him, thinking him dangerous and a little crazy, and calling him “hooks.” He is the ultimate outsider. Lucius and Aurora meet on the bus that first day and connect instantly.
Told in alternating points of view, you see how each of them see the same events, see each other. And we see their relationship grow, see their relationships to their parents and siblings, and even the practices for a school play, which brings all the characters together. You see, Lucius set up a lab in his basement and blew up his house, losing his hands and the trust of his family. He’s hurt everyone he cares for, not just himself, and struggles with that. Yet the scenes with his sister are fabulous – funny, true to life, charming. There’s more to Aurora too: she cared for her Mother as she died slowly from cancer. She’s been taught to see the good in people so she sees more than just his hooks when she looks at Lucius.
Ultimately, this is a love story: tender, realistic, romantic. It’s a short book that you’ll read in one sitting, letting the world outside melt away, but wishing would last much longer.
Oh, and I love the cover. Really.
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2 comments:
From not posting, I'm getting used to this Angela. And yes, you've made me want to read this too!
Totally loved this book and the cover too. :)
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