Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

I'm not usually one for contemporary novels (although a few are amongst my all-time favs), but the idea of creating your own family from tragedy resonates with me, so I took a leap of faith and joined the blog tour.

This book was amazing. It gripped me from the start and just pulled me a long with the story. I really identify with Jersey, as I've found myself in a few similar situations. She struggled with hopelessness, grief, and displacement. I can sense her long journey a head to deal with her panic and loss. This book brings reality to readers, and confronts the truth that most have to adapt in the face of tragedy. If I had to describe the book in one word, it would be RAW.

The way it was written was also a plus. It was beautiful, real and raw. She writes with a rare symmetry that I adore. (I don’t find it often enough in novels.) I loved how Jersey learned, and dealt with lies uncovered. I reacted similarly when I discovered an important family secret. I wonder if Jennifer has ever gone through something similar, because it. was. just. so. real.

I absolutely recommend this book. However, I would not recommend it to depressed people, as there is practically no light in this novel. I found it very depressing, but put it in context. Often, you can’t impact readers unless heavy weight is thrown around. If you aren't depressed, I would absolutely recommend this novel. I know I'll cherish this one for a long while.

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About the Author:

Jennifer grew up in a Kansas City-area suburb called Lee's Summit, and she's proud of her rural Midwest heritage. There is a lot of adventure there. Growing up, she spent lots of time battling sweat bees and playing King of the Mountain on a family farm, building pretend worlds with neighborhood friends, and setting out on long, sibling-battling road trips.She believes that those were the moments that helped her develop an imagination that could sweep her away. To this day, she loves adventure, and is easily talked into hurtling herself down rivers in rafts and down mountains on bicycles.

Follow her here!