Review: Don't Breathe a Word

Don't Breathe a Word
Holly Cupala
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 299

Joy Delamere is suffocating... From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. Joy can take his words - tender words, cruel words - until the night they go too far. Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe... if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late. Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.

There are very few books that I've encountered that can pack a punch like this one. Don't Breathe a Word was an intense story that has the power to impact a person. 

I was a huge fan of Holly's debut novel Tell Me a Secret, but I think I like her sophomore novel even better. I love Holly's lyrical way of storytelling and the way she can impact me so much. 

I was a bit weary of Joy at first. She seemed weak in her decisions. But as I got to know her and see her grow, I really started to like and understand her. I also grew very attached to the other characters: Creed, May and Santos. They all had their secrets and stories. When discovering their stories and personalities, I was more interested in them. Even though May and Santos made some bad decisions I still felt for them. And Creed. Oh Creed. He was so strong yet so vulnerable. He was another character that grew so much through the book. And I liked him even more the more I learned about him. 

This book tackles a tough subject that has not been covered much before. Seeing all the teens on the street, both Creed's group and others, was heartbreaking. But it's definitely a subject that needs to be covered. 

Don't Breathe a Word was such a powerful and impactful novel. Holly Cupala is not one to miss.