Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Publication Date: 10/5/2010

Publisher: Speak

Received from: Purchased at Bookstore

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Goodreads Summary:

In the wake of her best friend Ingrid's suicide, Caitlin is left alone, struggling to find hope and answers. When she finds the journal Ingrid left behind for her, she begins a journey of understanding and broadening her horizons that leads her to new friendships and first love. Nina LaCour brings the changing seasons of Caitlin's first year without Ingrid to life with emotion, honesty, and captivating writing.

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So many inspiring books lately!  I can't believe how many books relate to real life situations.  I remember when I was an actual teenager, which wasn't too long ago, there didn't seem to be as many books available which related directly to life and learning.  They all seemed to be the happy, mushy stuff that doesn't show you what life can really be like.

This novel is amazing.  I couldn't put it down for a second!  The story is told in such a real perspective.  Caitlin is lost.  That's the easiest way to describe her.  Her best friend committed suicide and she doesn't know why.  She doesn't quite know how to move on or what to do that will make her move on.  She is extremely emotional, angry, frustrated, sad, and just...broken.  Caitlin is entering her junior year of high school and trying to put her life back together.   She has expectations of those around her and they just aren't meeting them...which means she feels as though they aren't helping her and decides to rebel a little.  When Caitlin finds Ingrid's journal she learns more than she thought she ever would about her best friend.   She comes to realize that being best friends doesn't just mean talking about random things, but rather she should have dug deeper and saw what Ingrid was going through.  She should have recognized the signs.  Caitlin feels guilty over some journal entries, but it is the last one that makes her realize what it is she needs to do.

We see Caitlin grow up in this novel.  We see her go from a lost little girl to a beautiful, strong, and hopeful young woman.  Caitlin is finally beginning to understand and it is this understanding that leads her to where she needs to be.

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