I've just struggled through two books that were a real chore to read. Shine was the exact opposite! I found myself resenting the fact that I couldn't read it straight through. It was captivating, thought-provoking, inspiring, and challenging. Cat's characterization truly made this book qualify for inclusion for the National Book Award. (Unfortunately, this was s mistake and the author was asked to withdraw her book from this list.) Lauren Myracle's Internet Girls series is included on ALA's Most Frequently Banned/Challenged List and Shine has also been challenged for offensive language, sexually explicit scenes, and homosexuality. It probably won't make the list because it is clearly a YA read and not intended for the younger kids for whom it would be inappropriate. Cat's best friend, Patrick, who is gay, is badly beaten at the Come 'N Go where he works. He is in a coma and is unable to identify his attackers. The local law enforcement officers are getting nowhere in their investigation and determine that it was probably some out-of-towners. Cat decides to investigate on her own and discovers secrets, lies, and life lessons. I loved the chapter introduction illustrations. They reiterated the mood of this excellent tome. Beware of some inappropriate language and, of course, previously mentioned objections.
"God loves you even on your darkest days, and He will always, always be there to guide you home. All you have to do is look for the light of His love."
"We all mess up. It's what we learn from our mistakes that matters."
"It was unfair how the kids who were starving for attention tended to be so annoying that people had no inclination to give it to them."
"Knowledge was powerful than fear. Love was more powerful than hate."
"...sometimes the pieces of who you thought you were didn't add up to who you really were..."
"Why would you even try a drug like that?" "Because it wipes you clean and fills your up again...Whatever you don't have in here - he thumped his chest - meth gives it to you. You're...Superman. You can do anything."
"Pastor Paul talked about how sometimes bad things happened and we couldn't see the bigger picture, because only God saw the bigger picture. He said that grief had the power to transform us, because when our hearts were hurting, we often let God in. We were imperfect, every one of us, but through God's love we could be healed."
"I decided that looking only at people's outsides...wasn't good enough. I needed to think about their insides, too. I needed to remember there was a difference. For a while there, I think I forgot there was one, and so I spent a lot of time comparing my insides to other people's outsides, which made me feel broken and didn't get me anywhere."
Gateway Award Preliminary Award 2013-14
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