Wow. One of the best contemporaries I've read in the last few years, I'd stack this against my favorite YA contemporary writers: Melina Marchetta and Courtney Summers. This book took two popular YA issues - death of a loved one and abuse - and managed to keep from being a parade of cliches. That is impressive, as is Zarr's characterization, writing, and plotting. Even with two such flawed protagonists, this is an author that makes you care; one that makes you deeply invest in their lives as characters. They feel real and viable in a way few characters seem to - I post tack of how many times this book made me cry. I can't sing the praises enough for How to Save A Life. One book and I finished this needing more Sara Zarr ASAP. She is really that good. Listen to the hype - it is actually warranted.
