Title: The Walls Around Us
Author: Nova Ren Suma
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Series: Stand Alone
Source: Digital ARC Courtesy of Netgalley
Book Summary:(via Goodreads) The Walls Around Us is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices—one still living and one long dead. On the outside, there’s Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement. On the inside, within the walls of a girls’ juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom. Tying these two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries.
We hear Amber’s story and Violet’s, and through them Orianna’s, first from one angle, then from another, until gradually we begin to get the whole picture—which is not necessarily the one that either Amber or Violet wants us to see.
Characters: Amber, Violet, Ori
What I Loved: There is a lot to love about this book, so I am going to try my best to do it justice without giving too much away (which is going to be difficult)! First, I really like the multiple points of view. I love hearing about an event from those involved, but when you hear it from two sides it really gives you a clearer picture of what is going on. In the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Amber, who is an inmate in the Aurora Hills Juvenile Detention center. She tells us of life inside and how it changed when Ori arrived. Ori is the connection between Amber and Violet. Her story is one that I still can’t forget. Ori is just one of those girls/ characters that everyone loves. She is well written, entirely believable, and kid that I could imagine at my school. She is nice, thoughtful and someone who brightens the room when she walks in. Then we meet her best friend Violet, who is the opposite in every way from Ori, and you are left wondering why, why would a sweet, nice girl be friends with someone who is obviously not. Violet is hard, cold, and conniving-- a difficult character to connect with. But as her story is revealed, you are left to wonder, not why she was the way she was, but were the events that occurred to her what shaped her, and was this the person she was always going to be? What surprised me was how big of a role bullying played in this book. It begins as teasing and then quickly escalates into much more. It adds a sense of realism to the book-- a what would you do, how would you react type of situation. Although, personally, knowing Violet’s whole story does not make her in the least bit more likable for me. I think that it will make a great book for discussion with my students. What are you born to do, and how much of what happens to you in society changes you. I also can’t wait for my students to read it because the ending….. OH MY!!!! I just need to talk about it with someone!!
What I could have done without:. The only thing I will say about this book is that at the beginning... it was confusing. I won’t give it away, but I reread the first section of Amber’s story because I wasn’t getting it. I think that when my students read it, I will just encourage them to keep going because it all does come together at the end!
Final Grade: B+
Review by Janine
Review by Janine
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