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Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there. A riveting and startling companion to the bestselling Impulse, Ellen Hopkins’s Perfect exposes the harsh truths about what it takes to grow up—and grow into our own selves. Because everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go?
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Yet another amazing book!,
First Impressions: Hands down. Absolute must read. Those were my thoughts when I first found out that Ellen Hopkins was writing this companion novel to her book, Impulse. I’m not going to lie, before I even received this book for review I was already dreaming up the wonderful review I was going to write for it. I have THAT much confidence in this author. Her work is never a let down, and I have the bad habit of comparing similar authors to her. Can you tell I really like this author? Because I do. I like her a lot and I am a picky person, so that should tell you something right there.
First 50 Pages: If you never read Ellen Hopkin’s book, Impulse, don’t worry. You really don’t need to read Impulse in order to understand what is happening in this book. It would make me happy if you did though! Since I have read Impulse, I was extra excited to read Perfect and the 50 first pages just made me want to continue to read more and more. Her books are extremely addictive and hard to put back down.
Style of Writing & Plot Points: If you aren’t into reading prose/poetry, please don’t look over this book. Yes, this book is set up to the similar style of Ellen’s other books but it isn’t Shakespeare. There is no long confusing prose that you have to sit and almost diagnose and tear apart in order to understand. Shakespeare can be tough. Ellen Hopkin’s books are easy to follow and easy to read and understand. She has mastered her craft and uses all of her creativity in this book, like the lines within the poems that could be read by themselves to create a second poem inside of a poem. I know, it sounds confusing but it really isn’t. Just take my word for it. She doesn’t mince her words and she tends to be very blunt and in your face. I really like that about this author and this book. There is no sugar coating. Life isn’t sugary sweet all of the time and it fascinates me how Ellen Hopkins captures all of the tough moments in her books.
I’d like to add in here that there is a reason why this author is so beloved by teens all around the world. In my own opinion , it is because she has this way of being able to create overly human-like characters that everyone can easily relate to. When you read her books, you can imagine that the characters you are faced with could easily be your best friend, a family member, or even yourself. There is nothing unrealistic about her characters, especially concerning this particular book. I also found out that Ellen talks with her readers and they send her their own personal experiences and she takes everything into account while writing her books. Books are always so much better when they pull from real life experiences, and that is just another talent Ellen has mastered.
Final Thoughts: Like her other books, Perfect deals with complicated, real issues that any teen could face. The issues in this book could and probably will be considered controversial. I loved this book, like I knew I would. This book, is well…perfect!
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|Powerful, memorable, and realistic,
This companion novel to Impulse tells the story of four teenagers and their unceasing efforts to be perfect. Connor’s twin Cara begins the book with her perspective of the unhappy home she and her brother grew up in, but she deals with the pressure exerted by her parents differently than her brother. Connor’s ex-girlfriend Kendra is still reeling from his sudden absence in her life, and clings to the idea that perfection is size 0, obtained by whatever means possible. Like his girlfriend Cara, Sean is driven to work for a perfect life, and that means being the best on the baseball team and getting into Stanford to be with Cara…even if that’s not what Cara wants anymore. Andre thinks he’s found all that he wants in dating Kendra’s younger sister, but he has a secret talent that can’t be ignored so easily.
Set over the course of a few tumultuous months, Perfect is a powerful, realistic book about the complexities of growing up in a culture that demands more and more out of its teens. All of the characters are cleverly intertwined with each other and many of the events of Impulse. Cara is a sympathetic character–she really struggles with her identity and how to deal with the added issue of Connor’s suicide attempt, which her parents insist must remain secret. Her boyfriend Sean is a very, very confused character, and his storyline is a testament to how your choices can greatly impact your life and send you into a downward spiral. Kendra and her sister are self-destructive, though in different ways, in reaction their parents’ divorce and the secrets surrounding the event. Both girls think they are strong and on the right path, but the real tragedy is that neither has someone in their lives that can advocate for them and support them in healing…until it’s too late. Andre was probably the most likable character. He’s easygoing, smart, and talented, but he isn’t at a good point in his life and makes some bad decisions while dating Kendra’s sister. Hopkins has again pulled off an amazing, affecting book with some pretty attention-grabbing insight into the lives of a community of teens, rather than just a few random people from different backgrounds brought together by a common problem, like in Impulse or Tricks. All of the issues she brings up are extremely relevant to our culture now, yet Perfect doesn’t come off as an “issue” book. It’s a tough, heartbreaking, exhilarating look at characters that are real, with real consequences and real conclusions. The powerful ending isn’t quite as unsettling as the conclusion of Impulse, but it is memorable and ties the two books together nicely.
Cover Comments: I love this cover! The colors and the font of the text are beautiful, but I love how the color is bleeding…not exactly perfect.
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