Book Review: Keep Holding On by Susanne Colasanti

By: Susane Colasanti

Published by: Viking Juvenile

To Be Released on: May 31st, 2012

Source: ARC from publisher to review

4.5 Stars: I Highly Recommend This Book

Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Extras: Get the discussions guides & more here

A romantic and empowering book about bullying

Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for the love that keeps her holding on -quoted from Goodreads

This is one of those books I want to hand out to every person who's dealing with a bully, has been bullied and has yet to deal with a bully. Susane Colasanti packs a powerful punch with her newest release, Keep Holding On. This story totally broke my heart, bothered me to no end because of some of the things that happen in this book, moved me to tears, and left me feeling hopeful for Noelle. This story is an eye opener. It's one that will move readers as much as it will inspire them. Noelle's story is full of grace, strength, heart break, bullying, broken heartedness, love, and that little thing that keeps Noelle going even when she doesn't have much to go on for, HOPE. 

Noelle is an amazing strong character! I say that in the same breath as I say she's incredibly broken as well. She's brave and surprisingly strong, because even in the face of her daily bullying, her constant teasing, living with a single mother who completely neglects her, and doing her best just to survive each day, Noelle keeps her inner head held high. She will do whatever it takes to stay strong in the face of so much discouragement and hate. When I would have crumbled, she kept going. Let me just say, Noelle deals with some pretty cruel things from some pretty terrible people that had me wanting to go all "mama bear" on them. Seriously, it was painful reading what she had to endure by herself. It was horrifying to know that there are kids that really do endure the bullying on the same level Noelle does and worse. 

Aside from the hope that keeps Noelle going is her amazingly awesome best friend Sherae, who will do anything for her. The relationship these two have is so well written and created. I loved it! The other person I enjoyed getting to read about is the story's main love interest Julian. Their relationship was built up so naturally and it was so wonderful to see a relationship like theirs. The progression was well paced and really fit in with Noelle's story. The other thing I enjoyed was the list that Noelle kept of all the ways she as a teacher (she wants to be a teacher or a writer) was going to help stop the fight against bullying. Numerous times she things back on all the bullying incidents that have happened to her were no one, not even a teacher who witnessed what was happening took a stand against it. Shocking, I know. 

Huge kudos to Susan for tackling such tough issues. The things that Noelle deals with are serious issues that teens face today, and through  Noelle's story Susane brings them to light with such poise. She creates a story that pulls you in with Noelle's voice, and then emotionally grabs at you either from things you've personal dwelt with as a reader when you were a teen, or it will grab at you because you're dealing with it now or know someone who is. Susane nails bullying on the head. She doesn't just say bullying is bad, as a reader you get the first hand effects of how it effects Noelle, and the horrible things this poor girl has to endure. Through Noelle, we also see the deadly effects bullying has on others, the guilt some of us carry for not speaking up and how it moves others to stand up and take action. 

Through all the tough things that Noelle faces and deals with, I loved her positive attitude, and the fact that she never gave up! She didn't let the bullies control her, even if they controlled the situations they created. NEVER GIVE UP is one of the strong messages Noelle's story shares. The book ends on a high note with a powerful message from Noelle talking directly to the writer. Susane herself also includes a message of hope from her personal letter to readers about her dealing with bullying and at the very end of the book is a list of organizations who are there to help teens cope and get through all they're dealing with. Noelle's message is a powerful one mixed into a well written contemporary. This is book that I'd HIGHLY recommend picking up! This is for teens as much as it is for parents and teachers etc.