It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more — though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was — lovely and amazing and deeply flawed — can she begin to discover her own path in this stunning debut from Ava Dellaira, Love Letters to the Dead.
-
Sexual Content - 3/5
3/5
-
Violence - 1/5
1/5
-
Language - 2/5
2/5
-
Drugs and Alcohol - 3/5
3/5
Summary
In a day and age where YA novels of all stripes are presented to young, impressionable teens, it can be hard to break free of the sea of \"typical\" contemporary realistic fictions writers in this genre compete against. Classic boy-meets-girl stories have recently begun stepping aside for a new trend- the soul-searching, find-your-own-way-in-the-world coming of age story with fresh twists. Love Letters To The Dead is a stunning first novel that is on a fast track to becoming the new handbook in the search for teenage identity. Its premise is simple- a high school freshman who writes letters to her dead idols- Kurt Cobain, Judy Garland, River Phoenix, to name a few- about her struggles with high school and her sister's \"mysterious\" death (well, obviously the protagonist knows exactly what happened, but she's not about to tell Kurt Cobain- or us curious readers). The author does her homework- woven into each letter's narrative are fascinating and little-known facts about each idol's childhood and adolescence. These facts are added fun for music appreciators who may learn something interesting about a favorite singer. The author finds a way with each letter to relate the deceased person's struggles in life with those of the girl writing the letter. What results is a beautiful and moving tribute to each person, and to growing up as well. Love Letters is, in short, a must-read for teenagers struggling with their identity and sense of acceptance. I would recommend this book firstly to fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, and secondly to any teenager looking for a relatable contemporary fiction.
Violence-Some guys got in a fight.
Language-Some mild crude language as is typical for high schoolers.
Sexual-There is a lot of making out; a few scenes with a pair of lesbians; and one scene of rape but it was not graphic.
Drug & Alcohol-The teenagers drink and smoke marijuana frequently.