Sara Barnard
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books FYR
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Sometimes you have to leave your life behind to find your place in the world…
Peyton King has always wanted to belong. She seizes the opportunity to start over at a new school and finally finds real connections with the friends she’s always dreamed of and even an actual boyfriend!
But after flying high in her newfound happiness, Peyton comes crashing down when reality sets in and the ones she cares about let her down. Peyton’s friends can’t fix her and she can’t help them if they won’t let her. If she wants to find real, lasting happiness, Peyton will have to search somewhere else.
With nothing but her sketchpad and a backpack, she buys a one-way ticket and gets on a plane. How far will she go to change her story?
Perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Sarah Dessen, this lushly written and heart-wrenching novel follows a teen girl on a one-way trip away from her life and slowly reveals what made her leave it all behind.
Secondary school had been filled with isolation and abuse, therefore, Peyton was looking forward to a fresh start in college. Though she was able to find a group friends, she found she was losing herself in this friendship. When she hit bottom, she was looking to run far from her life. That brought her to the west coast of Canada, where she found her tribe and herself.
I cannot express how much I love reading a Sara Barnard book. Her books are always such a wonderful and emotional experience for me, and this one really hit home.
Though I never got as wild as Peyton did, I had a similar experience. I was relentlessly tortured in grade school, and though things weren't quite as bad in high school, there was a group of girls who lived to isolate me and make me feel bad. I could totally understand Peyton trying so hard to be part of this group that appeared to welcome her as one of their own. She was so desperate to be accepted and to have friends, that she constantly dismissed all her reservations. She wasn't blind, but she dismissed a lot of things go, because of her need to be included.
It was utterly heartbreaking to read those bits from "before", but as rash as the decision was, fleeing to Canada came with a great reward for Peyton. There she learned what real friendship was. She found a group of incredible people, who liked her for who she was, not for what she could give them. She didn't have to perform for them, but rather, she could be herself. The contrast between her college friends and her Canadian friends was so striking, and I loved seeing them side by side like that.
Barnard made me cry and feel lots of things, but she also took me on an adventure. I was only in Vancouver to board a cruise ship, so I didn't really get to see much. Barnard filled in those holes for me. She brought me to so many wonderful places, showed so many breathtaking natural wonders, and let me tag along on an epic road trip.
This combination of physical and personal journey was such a winning combination. Though Peyton's past was painful to read about, I found so much joy in her present. Seeing her heal and learn to trust again filled me with endless amounts of cheer. A part of me hopes Barnard might revisit Peyton and write a sequel. I loved her and her merry bunch of travelers so much. It would be a joy to attend a reunion with them.
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Click to read reviews of other Sara Barnard books
Have you ever been to Canada?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
Man, those "before" chapters really got to me. Those kids were so awful and the teachers weren't much better the way they just kind of turned a blind eye to the bullying. I almost started crying as soon as Peyton meet the group in the hostel because I just tell they were going to be her people, lol.
ReplyDeleteThose chapters were painful, but the joy of Canada!
DeleteWhy do people have to be so cruel?? I already feel for Peyton, and her journey sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt really was. I want a sequel. That's how good it was.
DeleteYou know a book is good when you want a sequel! I like that this one was so heavily about friendship and finding who/where you fit in with.
ReplyDeleteIt had a touch of romance, much later in the story, but it really was Peyton's journey back to herself.
Delete"I was relentlessly tortured in grade school, and though things weren't quite as bad in high school, there was a group of girls who lived to isolate me and make me feel bad."
ReplyDelete😥 I'm glad this one resonated so much with you, and gave you the happy ending you would have deserved back then.
I really loved the ending Barnard gave to Peyton.
DeleteI need that one! I met Sara at YALC London two years ago and she explained how she wrote a Quiet Kind of Thunder. It was fascinating. Her novels are always so touching!
ReplyDeleteI wholly endorse all her books. Every one of them touched my heart.
DeleteI feel for Peyton. I experienced bullying, too, in junior high and it was a pretty dark time. What a great feeling for Peyton to walk away from it and seek out better for herself. And your mood board totally has me wanting to see all those sites in person!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since I actually went to Canada. I think the last time was when I was 14, and we visited the Eastern side. Like I said, flashed in and out of Vancouver (though I will say the airport is lovely). Bullies suck, we can only hope karma gets them in the end
DeleteThese books can be hard for me to read sometimes because of similar experiences in middle school but it can also be powerful to read about people coming out the other side.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
I like seeing someone overcome that and find something incredible, and that's what happened for Peyton
Delete"I was relentlessly tortured in grade school" Gah what was grade school all about ? I had some of that too in the early grades. I am glad this struck a chord with you- sometimes I think books like this can help us deal with our own deep seated issues- or at least I know for me they do, at times :)
ReplyDelete"She was so desperate" I love the sound of how she found people who were accepting.
Wow, beautiful pics too.
Grade school was actual hell on earth. I accrued so many absences, because I just couldn't deal. So, I stayed home. I like books that show that we can overcome things that seem insurmountable at the time. Survivor stories of all kinds are always wonderful to read.
DeleteThis book sounds so emotional and I'm so happy to hear that real friendship was in her future. And I won't ever understand how one can be so horrific to others, I guess it goes along with the saying misery loves company, but still, it's heartbreaking. Gorgeous pictures to go along with such a heartfelt book ♥.
ReplyDeleteJen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog
I never understand being that awful either, but Barnard did a magnificent job capturing those emotions, while telling the story of picking oneself up and moving forward.
DeleteIt sucks being bullied. I never had girls isolating me. I usually isolated myself. High school was lonely at times... I am glad you loved this so much. I really didn't like A Quiet Kind of Thunder so she's probably not the author for me. But, the adventure and emotional side of this book sounds awesome.
ReplyDeleteSee, I have adored all of Barnard's books. I was not surprised this was a hit for me.
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