Breath to Breath by Craig Lew: Review and Giveaway!

Uprooted from his home and sent to live with his estranged father, seventeen-year-old William's world is feeling tenuous at best. When he's unexpectedly dragged into a situation in which he has no choice but to help an abused four-year-old boy, William’s world is rocked to the core as he discovers the truth behind the mysterious young boy’s stories of extreme sexual abuse. He and this boy are connected in ways William can't even imagine and as horrible memories begin flood his consciousness, William’s rage drives him to steal a neighbor's guns, convinced he must kill those responsible for causing a boy so much pain and betrayal. How William finds the love and compassion he needs to make the right choices is the heart and pulse of this riveting verse novel. Inspired by a true story, BREATH TO BREATH explores what hurt and healing really mean: to survive you hold your breath, but to live you must exhale.

Goodreads Summary

I could not imagine the pain and suffering a child must face if he/she were sexually abused as a child. The memories would probably always be there causing you discomfort and possibly interfering with the normal healthy relationships in your life. If you ever came across another kid later in life that faced what you faced, you would probably have major sympathy and maybe even some anger towards the person causing this other child harm. That is the premise of "Breath to Breath."

Although this book is a true story there were definitely moments when it became a bit too real. The memories that William were facing were vividly described and it made you feel just as uncomfortable as he probably did. The author does a great job at depicting the emotions and hardships that someone in this situation would feel. If you want to get a picture of what goes through someone's head that has been through sexual abuse this is definitely the book to read. All in all, there is a lot of strong imagery, but it paints a good picture and tells the story realistically.

3.5 Stars

Reviewed by Chris

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