Heartfelt and hilarious, this book snuck up on me and sucked me right in. There is something so special about a book that can take a tragedy and some hard facts about life and tell you that story while still making you laugh along the way. I truly loved this book. The characters, both the main ones and the supporting ones, were fantastic. The writing was spot on and the jokes and puns made me laugh out loud. I honestly can't say enough positive things about this book. I tend to be stingy with my stars, rarely giving 5, but this book is worth every one and then some. If you are a fan of YA contemporary, you need to read it. If you aren't, you still need to read it because it's just that good.

I still remember exactly where I was on 9/11: I was watching TV before a hair appointment I’d set up because I had a job interview the next day, and the breaking news cut in with images of how the first plane had hit the tower. I remember watching the beautiful blue sky suddenly marred by what we all at first assumed was a horrible accident. Then, I watched live as the second plane hit, shocking every single person who was paying attention to what was going on. It was then we started having an inkling that this wasn’t just an accident after all. I remember the horrific sight of seeing so many people jumping from the windows of the towers, and the even more horrific sight of the towers actually falling, seeming just to crumple to the ground. As with my memories of watching the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986 and learning that my sister had been killed in 2008, that memory of 9/11 is something that I know will always be with me. Our brains create new neural pathways when we experience traumatic events, which is why we remember them so vividly; sometimes it feels as if they’ve actually been imprinted into our very DNA.

I was thinking about all of this the whole time I read HOPE AND OTHER PUNCHLINES by Julie Buxbaum. The lives of both of our main characters, Abbi (aka “Baby Hope”) and Noah, were significantly impacted by 9/11, and as they approach the 16th anniversary they are each struggling with the aftereffects of this event that happened when they had just turned one (Abbi) and had just been born (Noah). Abbi hopes to escape her notoriety as Baby Hope by working at a summer day camp two counties over; unfortunately, she discovers on her first day that another boy from her high school, Noah, also works at the camp. What ensues is a summer of discovery and growth for both Abbi and Noah, who slowly become friends and, perhaps, something more.

I love both Abbi and Noah so much, and I’m so glad that Ms. Buxbaum told the story in alternating chapters from both points of view (one of my favorite storytelling formats, especially for contemporary novels). The secondary characters are also great, especially Noah’s best friend Jack and Abbi’s awesome parents. Jack and Noah’s text message chats and IRL conversations are definitely one of my favorite things about the book, and I also really enjoyed the relationship Abbi had with her parents. The visits that Abbi and Noah make to the other survivors in the “Baby Hope” picture are so touching, and they both learn so much from these brief encounters. Of course, the burgeoning relationship between Abbi and Noah is the best thing about this book, and I love that it develops gradually and naturally.

There is just so much to love in this incredible novel, and there are many profound statements and sentiments that kind of sneak up on you and hit you right in the heart. Although it deals with some heavy events and issues, it’s a relatively light, often funny, always heartwarming read that just warms you up on the inside. I highly recommend this to any YA fan, and if you are a lover of contemporary novels, then picking up HOPE AND OTHER PUNCHLINES is a no-brainer! I hope you love it as much as I do!

RATING: 5 stars!

**Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love the gorgeous book cover of Hope and Other Punch Lines. I was attracted to this story when I read the book synopsis. I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on September 11th, 2001. I was twenty-one, and I remember the feelings of shock, fear, vulnerability, anger, and deep anguishing sadness as I watched news of the terrorist attacks. I realized that I was officially a part of history, and that while students would one day be reading about what had happened; I actually had experienced it. September 11th having made such an impact on me, is what made me want to read this story.

Hope and Other Punch Lines is about Abbi Hope Goldstein and Noah Stern. Abbi lives in a small town, and is recognized as "The Baby Hope," wherever she goes. A photograph captured her on her first birthday wearing a crown, balloon in hand, as one of the trade centers collapsed. Since that fateful day, she has become an icon and symbol of hope. However, she just wants to escape this label, and live her life as a normal teenager. When Abbi starts having trouble breathing and gets the cough, she knows that she has developed, "911 Syndrome," and her time left is limited. She hides her cough from her parents and gets a job in another town as a summer camp counselor, so she can escape being "Baby Hope."

Unfortunately, Noah Stern, a fellow camp counselor, immediately recognizes her. He approaches her, because he works for a school newspaper and needs her help locating all of the people that were in the photograph with her, to see where they are today, and if they will let him interview them. While Abbi, is adamant about not wanting to participate in Noah's investigation; he won't take "no" for an answer.

As a character, Abbi, felt very "real" to me. In many ways, she came across as a typical teenager, who just wants to truly live and enjoy her life. Abbi hopes to make new friends at summer camp, since her ex-best friend Cat, decided to stop being her friend. She wants to go to parties, and is interested in meeting cute boys.

However, we also see how the events of 911 have shaped her in many ways. She is mature for her age, and has had to grow up quickly. She feels the responsibility to enjoy her life and be appreciative of the fact that she survived, when many others did not. She has had to mourn the loss of Connie, a family friend who rescued her when she was a baby; and consequently died from 911 syndrome.

Initially, Noah, came off as pushy, when he approached Abbi, with his own agenda. He wouldn't give up, until she conceded. However, I suspected that there was a deeper reason for why his investigation was so important to him.

As Abbi and Noah embark on tracking down and interviewing the other 911 survivors in the photo, they begin to get closer to one another and experience the excitement of first love. Noah, who wants to become a stand-up comedian when he grows up, will do anything to make Abbi laugh, and she enjoys spending time with him.

The first half of the story was pretty slow moving, but the second half moved really rapidly and as the story picked up, so did my enjoyment of reading it. I liked reading all of the factual information on 911 and found that to be the hook of the story for me. The romance/love part of the story was okay. I enjoyed the message that it's important to be able to laugh and find humor in the middle of tragedy. When life gets us down, we can either choose to laugh or cry, and in this story, our main characters Noah and Abbi chose to laugh.

I liked that the chapters were short and told in the alternating viewpoints of Abbi and Noah. I really liked the secondary characters. My favorite was Noah's best friend, Jack. Abbi's parents and Noah's mother and step-father added to the story, as did, Julia, Abbi's new friend and fellow camp counselor. I shed some tears in this book, and it really did tug on my heart strings.

3.5 Stars

HOPE AND OTHER PUNCHLINES by Julie Buxbaum (author of What to Say Next) is a new young adult novel which centers around the aftermath of September 11. The main characters are teenagers Abbi and Noah, both of whom have special ties to that day. Abbi is known as Baby Hope because of a famous photograph of her one year old self taken as the towers burned and fell. Noah is searching for his father who disappeared on that day and convinces Abbi to accompany him to interviews with some of the adults in the photo. Buxbaum balances 9/11's tragic consequences with some budding romance and chronicles the attempt by these young teens who have no real memory of the day's events to begin to move on. HOPE AND OTHER PUNCHLINES is a relatively quick read, and while there is plenty of reflection on the sacrifices made that day (think The Red Bandanna), this novel will also appeal due to its consideration of teenage angst and pain. For example, Abbi comments about former best girlfriend Cat: "when I look back, I think we outgrew each other. It's as simple and as sad as that." Noah narrates alternating chapters and muses: "You know what I think? I think the reason high school sucks is because it feels so small. Like a too tight turtleneck .... And even if you are brave enough to molt, there's all those people around you still, like, holding up and showing you your old skin."

Disclaimer: I received this book from Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.



Book Series: Standalone



Rating: 4/5



Publication Date: May 7, 2019



Genre: YA Contemporary



Recommended Age: 15+ (TW for 9/11, it’s talked about A LOT so please be careful if you were affected by it, 9/11 Syndrome, blackmail, jokes, and hope)



Publisher: Delacorte Press



Pages: 304



Amazon Link



Synopsis: Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.

Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka "Baby Hope") wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.

Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She's psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope.

Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it's a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers?



Review: This book discusses some really heavy topics in, what I think, is very personable and open way. This book takes place from the perspective of Abbi, who became an internet sensation when she was photographed on her first birthday and was dubbed Baby Hope. I loved how the author mixed in a real and tragic event and spun her own universe off of it. The moments that talked about the event were very well done and sensitive, but the core of the novel was healing and, like in the title, hope. I felt that the characters were expertly crafted, the story was funny and touching, and the feels ughhh. I also liked that the book really talked about 9/11 Syndrome. That’s something that not a lot of people talk about/think about. Funding is quickly evaporating to help thousands of those affected by the syndrome get the treatment they need and if legislation doesn’t pass to move more money into the fund, then a lot of sick people, a lot of those who helped find survivors and ran into the face of danger to rescue people, will be without aid.



My only complaint is that the mystery portion of the story is kind of weird, like the events that fall into place all seem a bit to coincidental to be true. Some of the sentences repeat and there is a bit of a repetition problem in the book. Also, a bit off-putting, were some of the quips and little jokes about 9/11. It’s really insensitive since some readers would have lost parents or family members on that day and it’s something they live with, either with 9/11 syndrome or with coping through the loss of an absent family member or parent.  Laughter can be the best medicine, but some things are really off-limits in terms of jokes. Also, I don’t like that Abbi left her disease to progress over the summer to tell her parents. That’s not a message you want to send to young ones. And I didn’t like how there was a bit of Stockholm syndrome in the mix with the blackmailing of Abbi by Noah.



Verdict: It’s raw and emotional and pretty good, but there are some off-putting things about it. So please self care if you were affected by 9/11.

Wow! I forgot how amazing it is to read a Julie Buxbaum book. Once again, she gifted me with a story that touched my heart, and its mere mention brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.

I keep saying this, but 9/11 books are tough for me. That day left an indelible mark on me, and I will admit, that some of the tears I shed were the sad kind. The first chapter was so emotional, and the interviews with the 9/11 survivors were both touching and heartbreaking. But, why I value a book like this is because we now have a generation, who only know of the attack from their history books. Buxbaum managed to write a beautiful and moving story, which included romance and humor, and also helps remind us to never forget what happened that day.

Buxbaum built this story around two very likable teens, and both Abbi and Noah quickly endeared themselves to me. Although I was quite frustrated with a secret Abbi was keeping from her parents, I still wanted her to be able to enjoy her summer free of Baby Hope's legacy. At the same time, I really needed her to get some answers with respect to her little secret. It was beyond stressing me, because I cared for her so much.

My heart went out to Noah too. He was so cute and sweet and goofy in the best way. Watching that little spark ignite between him and Abbi filled me with joy. But, I also wanted Noah to get the answers he was seeking. He needed closure, and Buxbaum did a fantastic job giving it to him.

I know I am making this sound all emotional, but it was actually a really well balanced story. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I swooned, I even got a little bit mad. Buxbaum did a phenomenal job bringing me through the highs and the lows, and never, at any point, did she leave me hopeless.

I could wax poetic about this book forever, but instead, I will give you a few bullet points:

• Jack was an amazing best friend and I ❤️ him.

• Abbi's parents were fabulous and I loved what was running in the background between them.

• Grandmas - you know I adore them, and Abbi's was fantastic, even if her subplot was a bit heartbreaking.

• Some of my father's friends are currently suffering from 9/11 cough, so I appreciate Buxbaum raising a little awareness of that.

• Noah's comedic attempts were rather fun, and it's a little bit out of the norm hobby, which I liked.

• The subtle shoutouts to Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Next delighted me.

I cried a lot as I wrote this review, because the book was just that touching for me. Buxbaum is on my shortlist of authors, who produce YA perfection, and Hope and Other Punch Lines more than earned its place on that list.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I remember where I was when 9/11 happened and since it was something I've lived through I haven't searched out books that deal with the events and the aftermath of those events. This book focuses on Abbi Hope, a girl made famous in a picture taken when the attacks happen because she is a young girl being carried from the towers while the attacks were happening. Abbi has always resented the photo and her fame since the picture is an image synonymous with the attacks and she feels stifled by that image. Abbi meets a boy named Noah who is also touched by the attacks, but in a different way and he prods her to reach out to the others in the photo because he is looking for answers that stem from the photo.

This books was pretty sweet and the characters are both really relateable. Also, really loved Noah's friend Jack -- would love to see a book about Jack in the future.

Hope and Other Punchlines opens 16 years after Abbi Hope Goldstein became the poster child for hope, when she was photographed wearing a birthday crown, while escaping the collapse of the first tower at the World Trade Center. She is beginning to exhibit signs of 9/11 syndrome, including a bloody cough, which she is hiding from her parents. She takes a job as a camp counselor a few towns away, hoping for some anonymity one last summer before she thinks she will die. Unfortunately, a co-worker, Noah Stern, recognizes her from school and blackmails her into helping him interview other people who were in the infamous picture. One of them was his deceased father, whom he wants to learn more about. Told from alternating points of view, the story illuminates the impact the tragedy had on survivors, as well as tells a tale of first love and resilience in the face of adversity. Although this emotional journey is laced with quick-witted banter, the novel is ultimately a fairly serious examination of the aftermath of the infamous terrorist attack in NYC.

*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*

This book was phenomenal, another amazing read and outstanding story from Julie Buxbaum. With each passing hour since I closed this novel, I find myself become filled with awe over the moving, beautiful story I just read. Truly, a stunning, poignant, masterpiece about healing from the past and finding yourself.

A rich, complex, dimensional story line carries the plot. With the heavy hearts of 9/11 weighing down upon us, Julie crafts a moving tale in the perfect balance of serenity and grief, humor and heartache. The story centers around Abbi and Noah. Noah spends the summer seeking answers and slowly realizes that maybe it's more about the journey than the destination. In contrast, Abbi desperately wants to be more than "Baby Hope" and over the course of the novel realizes that a moment in her life doesn't need to define life as it is.

Filled with friendship and romance, my heart was swelling with pure joy. Upon a first kiss, I found myself silently fist pumping and cheering. I wanted to skip down the hallway and share my elation with others. But the story expands so much further. Noah's best friend, Jack, who is the perfect companion adds much needed humor and wisdom throughout the story. Abbi's family, who isn't your ordinary family but compliment Abbi so well, add a fun home dynamic to the story. In comparison, Noah's family is still navigating how to be a family and connect with each other in this world.

I think this level of depth is what really elevates Julie Buxbaum's writing. The characters have histories and expanded families, drama, and pasts, all of which flow effortlessly off the page. This is the type of story that leaves a smile on your face and hope in your heart. The type of novel you hug at the end because it was just that good.

This is a 9/11 story about a girl in a photo that symbolizes the hope and determination that the American people hold onto after that tragic day. Abbi is "Baby Hope'. She is a little girl who was born on 9/11, and she is photographed holding a red balloon right when the World Trade Center was hit because it was her first birthday.. The photo is iconic, and America loves Baby Hope. Abbi does NOT love Baby Hope. She is tired of always being identified and living up to the stygma. She has decided to work in a summer camp away from people she knows and become "Just Abbi." She meets a boy named Noah who is from her same town and knows exactly who she is. He needs answers from the people in the photo, so he blackmails Abbi to go around with her and interview every person in the photograph. He is looking for something out of these people and soon realizes that he is getting their grief and anger. After seeing the photo through the survivors eyes, he looks right in front of him and finds the "hope" he has been looking for since that awful day.

Buxbaum is a genius when it comes to contemporary storytelling, and this book is no exception. She manages to pack so much into 300 pages without ever making it feel overwrought or unrealistic. You would be hard-pressed to read this book and not come out of the experience thinking about 9/11 differently.

What Fed My Addiction:

Opposing goals.
Abbi wants to move on with her life and get past the one thing that has always defined her. She wants to ignore the possible repercussions of that day (which I can’t talk about because it would be a spoiler). Noah wants to understand the day that took his father away–he needs to know what happened to him. I ended up loving both of these characters so much that I was rooting for both of them. But these two opposing goals are impossible to reconcile and they make for a great conflict.

9/11.
I’ve only read one other book about 9/11, and it was a middle grade that tackled the subject in a more classroom-type setting. This story was fictional (the picture that the book is based on and the characters portrayed are not real) but the scenario that Buxbaum creates is intensely personal, which makes the tragedy of 9/11 itself more personal. This isn’t a discussion of the motives behind the attack but instead examines the lives of those left behind. I did learn a few things about 9/11, though—I didn’t realize that so many people suffered from illnesses due to the chemicals in the air. For most of us, 9/11 is a bad memory (or, for teens, not even that), but there are still many people living with the repercussions today.

Fleshed out secondary characters.
Buxbaum is amazing at this. I felt like I knew every single character in this story, even if they were very minor. Each person was three-dimensional and knowable (and likable, at least in some ways–even those you weren’t sure about). From Jack, Noah’s best friend who plays a key part in the story, right down to Brenden, Jack’s love interest with a tiny role in the book, you learn details that made you feel like you know them!

Noah’s comedy.
How to write a book about 9/11 that isn’t depressing? Make one of your main characters love comedy. Noah and Jack were a hilarious duo, and Abbi herself managed to be funny when she was around Noah (a fact that surprised even her). Who doesn’t love snappy banter? (Without having snarky characters–a balance that’s unusual and hard to achieve.)

Slow-burn, adorkable romance.
The romance in this book doesn’t develop overnight. No love at first sight here. Instead, Abbi and Noah have some definite friction at the beginning. The other thing I LOVED about this book was that Noah and Abbi aren’t all suave and passionate–they felt like two real teens, and often their relationship was strained and awkward and goofy. Such a breath of fresh air!!!

Family!
Abbi’s relationships with her parents and grandmother are center stage in this book (and they’re SO positive). Noah’s relationships are slightly more complicated, but they’re not full of the usual YA angst, and we get to see his parents as real people. The family relationships in this book are perfect! (Well, okay, they’re imperfect, but they are portrayed perfectly.)

Subplots.
I don’t usually specifically note these, but Buxbaum manages to infuse so much into one story without making anything feel ignored or maudlin. Beyond the plotline regarding 9/11, we’ve got a grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s, a serious illness, a best friend relationship that’s faded away, and a few will-they-won’t-they romances for the secondary characters. And that’s just what I think of off the top of my head! I have no idea how all of these things are woven into the story so seamlessly and perfectly—it seems like witchcraft!

What Left Me Hungry for More:

Bad decision with few repercussions.
Abbi makes a very poor decision about her health that just gets a tiny response. I was expecting a bit more consequences—or at least a stern talking-to.

No information?
There were a couple of times when I wondered why Noah couldn’t find the information he was looking for, considering how much he’d researched things. When it all comes to light, it seems like someone would have talked about it sometime in their small(ish) town.

Honestly, I feel like I could just keep talking, but soon this review would be as long as the book. But that’s the type of read that I love—one that keeps me thinking about it long after I’ve put the book down. As you can see, my negatives for the book were tiny compared to the positives. Filled with humor and heart, Hope and Other Punchlines reminds us of the frailty of life and how we need to hold onto every precious moment, but it also reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

The first thing that drew me to this book was, no surprise, the cover. It's absolutely *gorgeous*, and, in my opinion, really matches the story well!

But it was when I read the story synopsis on Goodreads, however, that I knew that this would be a must-read. While I wasn't *technically* alive on 9/11, it still struck a cord with me, as I was born exactly 9 weeks after. I have heard stories from my parents about it, and even know people who were around the area when the towers came down.

And while I have some minor problems with it, for the most part, it lives up to its premise.

To begin, Abbi and Noah were such great characters. They showed a huge amount of development through the course of the novel. Furthermore, Noah was really supportive of Abbi, something that is not always seen in YA.

The storyline was also really great. There were occasional times when my eyes drifted from the page, but for the most part, I was really into it. There were also a couple of plot twists that I really enjoyed, mostly because I assumed that there were only two ways that it could go, but somehow Julie was able to present a third option that I hadn't even considered.

The only thing I really had a problem with was the romance. This might me more of a "me" thing, but I feel like it could've done with more swoony scenes.

Overall though, I would still full-heartedly recommend this. Touching, poignant, and honest, this is definitely a book you don't want to miss out on. 4 stars!

This story kinda snuck up on me. There was good character moments and surprisingly a lot of humorous dialogue, but I didn't really connect with it for a large part of the story. But the last 50 pages really elevated the story. I felt the emotional weight and really connected with the characters. There was a lot of happy resolutions (a few sad ones too), but if anyone deserved a bit of happy in their lives it's Abbi Goldstein who feels the weight of a legacy forced upon her on her sholders everyday. I LOVED al lthe family dynamics - with Abbi's family and with Noah's. Noah and Jack's friendship was truly amazing, and I thought the romance was cute. This story really has so much going for it - it's a wonderful exploration of grief, guilt, and survival all wrapped up in a single, inspiring picture. .

Nice contemporary YA romance with some seriousness mixed in. I like that this book was based on a teen that survived 9/11, as many of our teens don't know much at all about it already anymore. Of course, most of them weren't even born yet, so it is ancient history to them. This story was told in nice, short chapters from two different points of view--Abbie and Noah. Both have lasting "side effects" from the 9/11 attacks and are struggling to deal with those effects. Abbie is suffering physically and mentally/emotionally, sick of being recognized for a picture from that fateful day. Noah is trying to figure out what truly happened with his own dad that day. Together, they are able to help each other, with some struggles along the way. I liked the writing style and will be recommending this one to my students.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the advance Kindle copy of this book. It’s out Tuesday! All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This one punched me in al the feels. Abbi was one year old on 9/11, and was at a daycare in the World Trade Center. She became a national icon when a photo was captured of her with a paper crown on her head, grasping a red balloon as one of her teachers carried her from the wreckage. Dubbed “Baby Hope”, she became a celebrity. Now sixteen, she has a bloody cough that she knows is from the air that day; she just wants one more normal summer, so she hides it from her parents. Noah lost his dad on 9/11. He was a baby in the NICU that day, and believes that his dad is one of the people in the background of the Baby Hope picture. He finds Abbi, hoping that she can help him track down the others in the picture. Highly recommended for grades 9+.

I loved this story...it is ultimately a character-driven love story, but it is so much more than that with its focus on 9/11. It brought me back to that time & evoked so many emotions; she did a great job fleshing our her minor characters and creates an intimate and uplifting love story. I also appreciated the humor and banter, especially with Noah and Jack. I hope (pun intended) that the story resonates with teen readers who did not experience 9/11.

Buxbaum is such a talented storyteller, and this is a great treatment of how the ripple effect from 9/11 continues. The book also includes the author's trademark realistic but pitch perfect romantic touch, so readers can enjoy the budding relationship between the two protagonists, while still having plenty to think about when it comes to tragedies and the long term and unexpected aftermath that those directly and indirectly involved have to deal with.

I wanted to really like this book. I love the author's other titles. This one just fell a little flat for me.

Posted to Goodreads: Abbi Goldstein has spent her whole life trying to blend in. Abbi was a year old on 9/11. She was celebrating her first birthday at her daycare in the World Trade Center and it was a photo of her wearing a crown and holding onto a balloon as the Tower fell that made her famous. Now, sixteen years old Abbi just wants to be normal. She has a job as a day camp counselor and plans to spend her summer anonymous. However, when a fellow counselor named Noah recognizes her Abbi is forced to help him try to track down the other people in her famous photo.

I realized while reading this book that I just really like how Julie Buxbaum writes YA realistic fiction. The story of Abbi and Noah and their connection over a shared loss was beautifully written and both heartbreaking and perfectly realistic. The book is a unflinching look at how tragedy effects people on a personal level. Bauxbaum keeps the story funny and honest and makes it impossible to put down.

This was a different type of 9/11 story. It was funny and heartbreaking all in one, a difficult task for an author to accomplish. A must read.