Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe is a hard book for me to review. I want to start by saying I did honestly enjoy this book, and I will definitely be watching for what Steph Bowe comes out with in the future. And, there is nothing that I can pinpoint as to why I didn't love this book. But, something wasn't quite there for me. Let me try and explain myself.
Jewel and Sacha are the main characters, and each have their own unique set of problems that basically means they are both pretty messed up.
Jewel watched her older brother drown when she was 8 years old. Her father blamed her for his death, and told her she should never have been born, right before walking out of her life. Her mother, unable to cope, ODed several times on pain killers and anti-depressants, and finally sends Jewel from Australia to Canada to live with her grandparents, because Mom just can't deal. 10 years later, Jewel's grandparents have both died, and because she has no where else to go, she comes back to her childhood home to finish her final year of school.
Sacha was diagnosed with Leukemia as a child, and spent all of his elementary years in and out of the hospital. The Leukemia did finally go into remission, but his parent's marriage was never quite... solid after that. Desperate to regain the attention of her husband, Sacha's mom starts down a path that will eventually kill her. One year later, Sacha is still trying to deal with the death of his mother, his guilt over not being able to help her, the fact that his father is now dating his male art teacher, oh ya... and the Leukemia is back, and the prognosis is terminal.
Sacha decides life is no longer worth living and tries to drown himself in the lake where Jewel's brother died. Jewel often walks near there at night to clear her head, and she sees s boy in the water. Desperate to undo the mistake of her past, she jumps in and saves Sacha's life, something he's not so sure he's grateful for yet.
After Jewel saves him, their paths cross, and they realize they have an awful lot to offer each other. They start spending time together, and each
Now that Sacha has had a little more time to come to terms with his prognosis, he has an interesting view on life. He knows he's going to die, so he desperately wants to use the time he has left living. He struggles with whether or not it's worth it to keep going to school. He wants to tell the people he's closest to about everything, but is scared and doesn't want to be a burden to them. It's shown him that he needs to live life to the fullest, and he tries to do that. Things move faster between him and Jewel than they probably would otherwise, and he seems desperate to get in as much time with her as possible.
Although both Jewel and Sacha are supposed to be the main characters, and the story is told in alternating view points, I really felt it was Sacha who carried the story, Sacha would is most likely to touch my heart and teach me something. There is a lot to learn from a boy living out what may possibly be his final year of life.
Jewel does learn a lot during the week or so we spend with them. Her only goal in life is to be homeless in New York or London, and draw. She doesn't want to sell her art, or even show anyone. She draws for herself and that's enough for her. She decided a long time ago that she is going to be alone forever, and aside from periodic moments of staggering loneliness, she is content with the path she has chosen for herself. Until she meets Sacha. And then everything she has thought about herself and her future begin to change.
There were a few side 'issues' in the book that felt odd to me, and I think this is where my main disconnect from the book comes in. In the interest of avoiding any more spoilers than I've already given, I won't go into details, but there were some issues that felt like they were brought up, just to be issues, or additional conflict that didn't really go anywhere, like the phone call for her mother that Jewel answers at the end of the book. And, how easily Jewel resolved her conflict with her mother. I honestly felt that it was a 'kiss (or hug) and make-up' moment. Nothing was resolved, but life is suddenly grand.
Perhaps my favorite thing about this book, aside from the great characterization present in Sacha and Jewel was the ending. It's like a big question mark at the end of a page, but not in a bad way. The story resolved what needed to be resolved, but didn't spoon-feed us all the answers. It left much to the imagination and decision of the reader, and I think that was a wise way to let their story end.
Have any of you read this book? Did anyone else have a similar or completely different reaction? I'd love to hear your thoughts!