What They Say:
It starts with a wedding. And a car crash.
On the same night Evan's mother marries local radio DJ 'Breakfast Tim', Evan's brand-new step-brother Lewis is found unconscious and terribly injured, the only survivor of a horrific car crash.
A media storm erupts, with the finger of blame pointed firmly at loner stoner Lewis. Everyone else seems to think the crash was drugs-related, but Evan isn't buying it. With the help of her journalist dad, Harry, she decides to find out what really happened that night.
As Evan delves deeper into the lives of the three teenagers who died in the crash, she uncovers some disturbing truths and a secret that threatens to tear her family - and the community - apart.
What I Say:
As always with a Cat Clarke novel, there are important teen issues being dealt with at the heart of We Are Young
From the outset, we meet troubled characters but the real big issue doesn't become prevalent until much later in the story. We see blended families, teen drug use, a horrible accident, unprotected sex, sexuality being addressed and staying friends with exes. But much later we are brought into the big picture and mental health becomes a huge issue.
Evan is a wonderful character, she is so rich and deep. It's great to have a protagonists that isn't always loveable. It made this book so great to read and quite different from most other YA novels.
Cat Clarke is a prime example of what the YA literary market should be about; helping young people understand what is going on around them and to see that they are not alone. The list of useful contacts in the back of the book could save lives. 9/10
I got my advanced e-book copy on Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
We Are Young is out on 3rd May.
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