Where did I get it? I requested it on NetGalley so thank you very much Harper Collins!
What's it about? Parker Grant went blind when she was 8, when her mum drank a bottle of wine and drove the two of them into a bridge, killing herself and severing Parker's optic nerve. Parker and her dad have clearly done lots of things to make Parker's life easier, and she's now sixteen. Her dad dies before the beginning of the book, and her aunt, uncle and cousins have to move in with her. They don't really understand her, and her cousin Sheila is resentful that she's had to move in the middle of high school. Parker's new school year starts and due to two high schools merging, her old friend Scott is back in her school. The two of them went out but he broke one of her Rules and they haven't spoken since.
Meanwhile, Parker and her friend Sarah help people with their personal problems every morning before school, and Parker also runs each morning too, leading to a coach at her school wanting her to try out for the track team. Parker meets a guy called Jason and goes on her first date with him. There's tons going on in this novel and it's fantastic. As someone who isn't blind I really liked reading about how Parker dealt with things, down to the tags she puts in the scarves that she wears over her eyes.
What age range is it for? 13+, there's very little of anything taboo in it.
Are any main characters LGBTQ+? No, and I would have liked to see it, but that's my only criticism.
Are any main characters non-white? Yes, but obviously, since Parker can't see that, she only knows if she's told. There's a really nice bit with her new friend Molly regarding Molly's not being white.
Are any main characters disabled either mentally or physically? Yes
Is there any sex stuff? Very little, it's just making out, there's no sex.
Are drugs mentioned or used? No
Is there any talk of death? Yes, it's very sensitively done. I actually would have liked to hear more about the accident that took Parker's sight, but I can understand that as it's from her POV it may have been too difficult for her to tell the reader about. That's fine, I was just interested!
Are there swear words? A few
Would I recommend the book? Yes, absolutely. It's a shining example of what contemporary YA should be; it's got a diverse voice, an interesting hook, and a great way of relating it to today's teens without being patronising. Everyone needs to read this.
How many stars? Ten, it's not perfect (because no book is) but it's the closest I've read in a while
Where is the book going now? It will stay on my Kindle, I may well read it again. I read it in two days because it really sucked me in! I predict they'll make a film of it for sure.
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