Recently, when my family went on our trip to Montana, I read Glass Girl by Laura Anderson Kurk. This beautiful work of YA fiction drew me into Meg Kavanaugh’s world of Chapin, Wyoming; and I couldn’t stop reading until, in one day (and lots of traffic later), I reached the end.

My Rating: Four and a Half Robert Frost Poems Out of Five

Back Cover Blurb (Taken from Amazon)

The ice cold fear I’d felt, not knowing if Wyatt was alive, pressed into the wall with other girls and surrounded by guys who were unspeakably brave, hit my body again in a wave. This was trauma—the gift that keeps on giving.

When Meg Kavanagh finds herself in the unthinkable role of grieving sister, she discovers some harsh truths—parents aren’t perfect, life’s not always sweet, and the dead don’t write back. Her famous artist mom grieves by slowly disappearing, and her dad copes by moving them to a small town in Wyoming. 

What she finds in Wyoming blindsides her.

His name is Henry, and he shows Meg that the best things in life—like falling in love and finding mercy—require uncommon courage.

What I Loved

Meg. Meg, our glass girl, is one of my favorite MCs in all of YA literature. She’s so broken, and yet she’s trying to put herself together. She’s so weak, and yet she’s so strong. Meg is just…. Amazing. And I beg you to read the book so you can get to know her.

The setting of Chapin, Wyoming. Not many YA novels are set in beautiful Wyoming (this is the first book I’ve read with Wyoming as its setting), but Glass Girl just so happened to be surrounded with cowboys in trucks and barns full of horses and sunsets in a never ending sky. Even when I closed the book, I could picture the Wyoming setting and wished I could go to Chapin with Henry and Meg. 

All the little flashbacks. The author skillfully added a bunch of flashbacks from Meg and Wyatt’s life in Pittsburgh before (*spoilers*) happened. The flashbacks breathed more life to Meg and her family, more depth, and they made my heart ache even more. 

Mercy and grief. Love and loss. The themes of this book are delivered softly and sweetly, in the best way, little by little. Meg is relatable, and her story is one that I’m sure will touch many hearts.

What I Didn't Love 

Some of the content. I disliked some of the content (such as Tennyson's antics). Content-wise, I would recommend Glass Girl for readers 13 and up.

The fact that the book had to end. I wish Meg’s story could have gone on FOREVER.

Overall

I loved Glass Girl and would recommend it to anyone who loves YA fiction. This is a book that will never get old, and I will continue to flip back to my favorite parts. =) 

About The Author

 

Laura Anderson Kurk writes contemporary books for young adults, a genre that gives her the freedom to be honest. Her debut novel, Glass Girl, is an unconventional and bittersweet love story, and its sequel, Perfect Glass, makes long distance love look possible.

She lives in Texas with her family.

Laura blogs at Writing for Young Adults (laurakurk.com). On Twitter, she's @LauraKurk.

Author Website 

Buy Glass Girl on Amazon

View Glass Girl on Goodreads

 Have you read Glass Girl? What is one of your favorite book settings? Have you been to Wyoming? If so, TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT. What are your thoughts on flashbacks in novels? ISN’T THE COVER GORGEOUS?!?! Let’s chat!

The Cookie Book Tag

I have discovered my dream tag. Cookies and books. All I need is a mug of cocoa and I'm practically in Heaven. Many thanks to Savannah of Scattered Scribblings for this tag. I just so happened to eat a few cookies during the month of July... So here I am. =) Ready to get started? 

Chocolate Chip // A book that never gets old

A book that never gets old... I've flailed over this book before, and I'll do it again. Joanne Bischof's To Get To You will never get old for me. Every time I open it, I find something else about it that I love and another quote to highlight. =) 

Dutch Snowballs // A book that gave you an unexpected surprise

I'm taking it that this doesn't mean nice surprises only.... *tears up* THIS WAS A BAD SURPRISE!!!!!!! A BAD BAD SURPRISE!!!!!! *more tears* The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morill was full of twists and turns and surprises. This book ruined me. Yet I still have no regrets. xD 

Molasses // A book with a character that gets in a sticky situation 

Isn't that every book EVER? xD A book with a character who gets into an especially sticky situation is Stone and Snow by Sibella Giorello. I couldn't help but feel a little sick to the stomach as Raleigh was torn between being loyal to her friend and hurting the people around her through her actions as she tried to solve a certain mystery. 

Oreo // A book dealing with the light and the darkness

When I think light and darkness, I automatically think of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. I never finished the last book (*hides face in utter shame*), but the light and darkness thing can be so literal in Tolkien's writing. Sauron and Gandalf, orcs and elves, Mordor and the Shire.... Oh, I need to read these again. 

Sugar // A book with a sugary sweet villain

Definitely Entwined by Heather Dixon. Keeper was so nice at first... He let Azalea and her sisters dance, always provided desserts that I wished I could take off the pages... *happy sighs* AND THEN HE TURNED!!!!!!!! But he seriously was so sugary sweet and evil all at the same time. Mostly evil though. *glares at Keeper* 

Monster // A book that confused your emotions

The Selection by Kiera Cass confused my emotions. I mean, one moment I'm rooting for America and the next I utterly despise her. And then I can't pick between Maxon and Aspen and then there are the other girls and goodness gracious this is a run-on sentence if I've ever seen one.... I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE ENTIRE SERIES!!!! 

Snickerdoodle // A book that made you laugh

Another Heather Dixon book!!!! Illusionarium really truly made me smile and giggle, ESPECIALLY Lockwood. Take, for example, this lovely quote....

"You shot the chandelier down, Lockwood? I yelled as bullets ricocheted past my head and jangled as they shot the prisms of the chandelier. I ducked down and shook the rifle from my shoulder.

"Of course not!" Lockwood yelled, his rifle firing so rapidly it fogged the air with steam. "I climbed up the wall and pulled it down with my weight, what do you think?" 

-Illusionarium by Heather Dixon

#lockwoodforever Enough said. xD

Peanut Butter // A book with a nutty character

One of the nuttiest characters I've encountered in fiction is good old Peet the sock man in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson. Socks on his hands, a quirky wooden castle in the woods, his strange way of speech.... Nutty doesn't do Peet justice. xD 

Have you eaten any cookies or read any books lately? What's your favorite type of cookie? What's your favorite genre of book? Have you read any books with characters who love cookies in them (and not just If You give a Mouse a Cookie...)? Get some cookies, cocoa, and a good book and let's chat!