An icy road. A car crash.A family changed forever.Hannah Josephson had always been the “perfect” daughter. Kiera couldn’t live up to her before, and she certainly can’t now that her older sister has died in a car accident. But the image she carried resentfully of Hannah is challenged when she finds her dead sister’s diary and begins to read. Apparently Hannah’s final year wasn’t as perfect as … perfect as everyone thought.
Caught in a pattern of blaming each other, the Josephson family is falling apart. Their father has left, their mother is mixing opiates and alcohol, little sister Maddie has been shipped off to spend the whole summer with their grandmother, and Kiera feels utterly alone with her grief and anger. A summer job helping at a park in a poor section of town provides a friend and a purpose.
But it’s Hannah’s diary that fills her thoughts. For the first time in years, she feels close to the sister she’s lost. But can the knowledge she gleans about her possibly help her patch back together the family that seems determined to implode?
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Gone Too Soon (2018) by Melody Carlson is a PHENOMENAL standalone Young Adult novel. This book comes in all forms including eBook, and is 195 pages in length. With a full-time job and a very lively six-year old at home, this book took me two days to read. I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, WhiteSpark Publishing. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give Gone Too Soon 5+++++ STARS. This book is a Christian Young Adult novel.
Right off the bat, I’m telling you that I do not have enough adequate words to describe just how good Gone Too Soon by Melody Carlson is. This book should be a MUST-READ for adults and teens alike. If you have ever dealt with, or are currently dealing with, a family that is so dysfunctional it’s imploding or exploding then this may be a book you will want to read. For me, the best part of this novel are its characters. They may be some of the best written characters I have ever read. What they go through and how they go through it all is SO realistic and SO human. I did feel I could relate to all of them. Gone Too Soon wrecked my heart as a mother, daughter, wife, and a teacher, but by the end it left me feeling hopeful. Many things are left unresolved by the end — again, very realistic — but I feel like things will probably work out for the hurting family in this story, and I’m OK with that.
Melody Carlson tackles BIG topics in this novel: the untimely death of a daughter, the grief and guilt associated with any death, the breaking apart of a marriage, drug and alcohol abuse, a suicide attempt, child neglect, the strife between a mother and a daughter she doesn’t understand, and the difference between the appearance of faith versus actual faith in God. Gone Too Soon is a heavy book. Having dealt with most all of these topics in my teenage and young adult years, I did have to take reading breaks to catch my breath. But, I’ve never been more happy to read a book. Gone Too Soon, for me, was an extremely cathartic, soul-searching read. If I could purchase a copy of this novel for all of my students, I would purchase today. And, when my six-year old is old enough (I would say 14 is a good age), she most definitely will be reading this book. Why? Because the way Carlson deals with these BIG topics is realistic, relatable, and responsible. The way this book altered some of my perspectives in a more positive manner makes me want so badly to share this with others who could benefit from a similar perspective change now in their young years before they set negative habits, thoughts, and feelings that are really hard to change when older.
The number one reason I would make teens read this book is for the fantastic discussion about guilt. We humans take on guilt like nothing else. We shackle ourselves within its clutches and wear it like a parka. We stew in it and become irrational about it. And, we get sick to our stomachs going over all the many ways we could have done something differently, which leads to even more guilt. Kiera, the main character, feels severe guilt over the death of her sister, Hannah. However, a perspective change will lead Kiera to at least ponder her role in her sister’s death, and start a walk down a more healthy path. An old woman in a hospital sees a worried Kiera (I won’t tell you why she’s there) and asks what she is worried about. Kiera, for some unknown reason, tells this old woman her feelings. The old woman listens attentively, and then kindly asks Kiera, “Are you God?” This throws Kiera for a loop. Of course Kiera is not God. What a crazy question. The old woman asks, “Then why do you feel guilty about something you couldn’t control?” This stops Kiera in her tracks, and I don’t mind telling you it stopped me in mine as well. This shifts Kiera’s perspective and makes her realize that she’s holding onto baggage that is not hers to hold on to. This reminds me of 1 Peter 5:7 which tells us to “cast all anxieties on [Jesus] because He cares” for us. We are NOT supposed to hold our feelings in. God is the BOSS. When He allows certain BIG things to happen to us, instead of feeling guilty, angry, and devastated and stubbornly holding those feelings within ourselves, we are called to give them to Him. When Kiera realizes she is taking on God’s job, and that she isn’t responsible for her sister’s death, she is able to begin true healing of her many hurts. No one ever gets over the death of a loved one, but we can heal a little from it by going to God. He wants to take the baggage from us, and He wants to comfort us. This is why I think my students need this book. If they could learn this lesson NOW at 16 imagine all the unnecessary hurt and grief they could save themselves from!
Gone Too Soon packs a punch. There are so many things going on in this book that I think a book club could discuss for weeks. In fact, I think this is a great book to read with more than one person so a real discussion can take place. While reading this book I did chuckle a little, cried quite a bit, felt really frustrated and angry at times, and really searched my soul on a couple of issues. This is one of those books that will stick with me for a long time. Gone Too Soon is an excellent novel that I highly recommend. Just make sure you have some tissue nearby — you’re probably going to need it.
Gone Too Soon is labeled as a young adult novel, but I would not recommend this book for readers under fifteen do to some of the content (drugs, alcohol, parent hitting a child, minor foul language and a teenager taken advantage of at a party). I felt that Gone Too Soon was a realistic story. We get to see what a family goes through after losing a family member. Blame, grief and anger are ripping the Josephson family apart. I could feel the character’s emotions as they struggled. The story is told from three different point-of-views. Kiera’s story is told in the first person, Moira in the third person and then Hannah’s diary entries. Due to the dark nature of the story, I found Gone Too Soon to be a depressing story. I was glad when the story started to lighten up in the last half of the book. I like Kiera’s growth over the course of the story. She needs to go through the various stages of grief before she can begin to help others. I found Gone Too Soon easy to read with steady pacing. I liked how God is presented in this story. God is our savior, but He is also our friend and comforter. My favorite sentence from the book is “If we blame ourselves, it’s like saying we are God”. God is in control and He has a reason for everything He does. It just may take us a while to discover His intention. I like how Gone Too Soon ended. There are valuable life lessons presented in this book, and I feel that Gone Too Soon would be a good story for an individual going through a similar situation. Gone Too Soon is a story of overcoming one’s grief, forgiveness and redemption.
I recognize this is only a book and a good book probably aimed at a younger crowd I need to say, I wanted to shake the parents in this book! This is the story of a dysfunctional family and their relationships due to the death of Hannah the 16 year old daughter. I don’t want to go into to my reasons for so disliking the parents as it will spoil the book but the dad especially was unbearable. This book is very Christian in nature, which is fine by me, but might not be for everyone. Although written I feel for teenagers I would say a strong PG13+
“Our old Christian clichés and platitudes flew right out the window not long after Hannah died. Now it’s all about blame and shame and guilt and grief … and this seething, deep-rooted hatred that taints everything.”
I loved Gone Too Soon by Melody Carlson. It’s not a comfortable read, nor an easy one – but it is extremely relevant and compelling. I highly recommend it to young adults and adults alike.
On one level, Gone Too Soon is a fast-paced, engrossing story that’s hard to put down. But on a much deeper level, it transports us into the hearts and minds of a family trying to cope with unimaginable grief. A large part of the story is, as one would expect, quite dark. It’s raw and emotional, reflecting unhealthy coping methods for grief at first; but I suspect some of these methods are not foreign to Christian families. Everyone feels personal guilt for Hannah’s death, but hides that guilt so that it festers.
Kiera’s reading of Hannah’s diary gradually reveals a young lady who wasn’t all that she seemed, one who faced struggles and temptations that hit all teenagers. But God’s love, grace and forgiveness are woven throughout, resulting in a beautiful story of redemption and restoration. There’s also the timely reminder that, no matter our age, tomorrow is never assured.
Gone Too Soon is a moving story that leaves readers with much to reflect upon. Recommended to all readers.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This is not an easy, light YA read. It’s gritty, depressing at times, and authentic. It deals with real issues that include grief of a daughter/sister, a dysfunctional family, alcohol, prescription drug abuse, neglect, and more.
But as Kierra steals her deceased sister’s diary and reads through it, she finds that none of her family really knew Hannah. The oldest of three sisters, Hannah seemed perfect, like she had it all together, but there’s a darker side of her that she kept hidden.
So yes, this is a hard read, but it also offers glimpses of the hope and healing that lie at the other side of grief. And the promise that this life is not the end for those who believe and confess Christ.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Beware that this book will be making you cry. This is funny at times but can be very depressing through much of the story. This is a story of how one family handles the death of a teenage daughter. Can this family survive the feelings that occur or will they fall apart? I loved how Melody Carlson showed what happens with this family. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
This book was a timely one for me to read. I lost my brother in March and the grieving process is so hard. There are times I wish I could have one more day with him. Other times I’m angry because he left me and then there are times I think I should have done more. Gone Too Soon is a powerful story of a family dealing with the loss of a family member. We don’t know much about Hannah at first , only that she was the oldest daughter and died in an accident. Many people thought she was beautiful and the favorite of the family.
I loved how the author examines each family member as they grieve her loss. Everyone grieves differently and at their own pace. It was easy to relate to the mother especially. Her guilt overwhelms her and she falls into a hole of alcohol and drugs to drown her sorrow. It is an easy escape because you feel no pain, but you go deeper into the trap of addiction.
Kiera is the middle daughter and is the main focus of the book as she recounts how her family deals with Hannah’s death. The author pulls apart each character and slowly puts them back together as they each go through different emotions such as guilt, depression, blame, anger and suicidal thoughts. It’s easy to see that this was a dysfunctional family hiding behind smiles and a front that others couldn’t see through.
I was angry with the father for the longest time because I thought he took the easy way out and just walked away. It surprised me how cold he became towards his wife, but soon I discovered it was his way of dealing with grief. The author does a great job of taking a character and exposes their inner thoughts and vulnerability.
We get to see the real Hannah through a diary she left behind. It is filled with confessions, real pain and raw emotions. There was something in the book about forgiving someone that really hit home for me. When you forgive someone, they don’t have power over you anymore. It’s interesting to note that each member of the family including the youngest daughter felt responsible for Hannah’s death. The author does a great job explaining the guilt they feel and how it was an eye opener for each of them.
The book does deal with some sensitive subjects, but in a way that is helpful and realistic. The book is geared towards teens but I think it is for anyone who wants to be free from guilt, have a relationship with Jesus and learn that grieving is a process that takes time. It is not an easy book to read but it is one that helped me understand that none of us are immune to death and how we deal with it is our choice. I have left God out of my life for the last month, but this book reminded me that He is still here and he does heal the brokenhearted.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Gone Too Soon takes the reader into the depths of utter brokenness experienced by the family of young Hannah Josephson following her death in an unexpected car accident during her senior year of high school. Six months later, Keira finds her sister’s diary hidden in one of the drawers of her dresser. Never would she have expected to see what she found written inside.
I have been very excited to read this book for quite a while. A few friends of mine shared there reviews a few months ago and it’s been high on my TBR pile since then. There have been some people who loved it from cover to cover, and others who have felt that it went to darker places than they were comfortable with. So here’s the deal: as an adult I know that I want to protect kids from the dangers of the world and believe that they aren’t ready to hear of the level of darkness around them. On the flip side, I know that I was personally exposed to similar content in this book as early as middle school. Yes, I hung out with kids much older than me and didn’t always make the wisest decisions, but the truth is I didn’t fully understand a lot of what I was walking into. Looking back I fully believe that God protected me from a whole lot of yuck, considering the fact that my friends were more “protective” of me than they were inclusive. Why do I share this? Because sometimes I think we can be so careful to protect kids, that we miss the reality of what they are already experiencing. Our fear of talking is then passed on to the next generation. Having said that, this book does hit some tough topics such as rape, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicidal thoughts; however it also holds some very powerful redemption that couldn’t be fully appreciated until travelling through the depths of brokenness.
Hurt people hurt people. Throughout the story each of the family members seems to lash out at one another to blame them for Hannah’s accident, all while crumbling under the pressure of the guilt they feel themselves. They retreat to whatever seems to give them temporary satisfaction to either numb or ignore their pain. What they don’t know is that Hannah had her own compelling journey that lead her to an eternal relationship with her Heavenly Father. This story doesn’t sugar coat, ignore, or miraculously erase the struggles this family experiences. Instead, the reader is taken deep into the trenches with them and walks with them through a very personal journey towards hope and healing in Christ.
This book was an emotional ride but it was also incredibly powerful. The author did an amazing job of bringing all the characters and their struggles to life throughout the pages. Yes, there are some very dark moments, but the they needed to be walked through to get a fuller picture of the indisputable redemption. I highly, highly recommend this story!
*I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
As this is the first YA book I have read, I was not sure what to expect. What I received was a story that brought tears, anger, frustration and eventually a sense of peace. This contemporary family is basically dysfunctional, a situation that is compounded by the untimely death of the oldest daughter. What follows is blame, depression and addiction eventually leading to an overdose. When the diary of this young lady is found, the story around her life is told. What would you give up to help ‘heal’ your family? A story of how faith can bring about forgiveness and wholeness.
This ARC was given by NetGalley and CelebrateLit. This review gives just a small window of my impressions.
Gone too soon
This is one of the best books I have read this year. It was a very touching book. Even brought a tear or two. Once I started reading it was hard to put down.
Hannah dies in a car accident just after she had started driving. We get to know her through her diary. Hannah had two sisters, of course they are both having a hard time but worst for Kiera. She finds Hannahs diary and reads it throughout the book.
They are all blaming themselves and each other for Hannah death. Mom and dad cannot get along, dad moves out and mom gets involved with drugs. Is the family going to be ruined forever?
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
Only God knows the number of days he has ordained for each of us, so when seventeen yr old Hannah dies unexpectedly in a car accident on New Years Eve, her whole family falls apart.
Middle sister Kiera finds Hannah’s diary hidden in her room, so she secretly “steals” it to read. Thus begins a discovery process for her about her “perfect” sister. As her family comes unglued right under her nose, she hides and begins reading Hannah’s thoughts. There’s so much she didn’t know and realize about her dead sister. Kiera regrets that Hannah, gone too soon, will never be there for them to become closer.
There was so much emotion displayed within the pages and I found myself wiping away tears along with the characters. How do they mend a broken family? Each one blames themselves for Hannah’s death through different circumstances. The diary plays an important part of the healing process as they learn what important things Hannah wanted each one of them to learn and begin mending their relationships from within. I was fully engaged in this story and read through it in less than a day. It was so moving and real for I too have experienced young death within my own family.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
Gone Too Soon is among my favorites I have read this year so far. It tells the story of the Josephson family struggling with the death of the oldest daughter. Hannah died in an auto accident and the family points fingers at one another as to who is to blame. Kiera, the middle daughter discovers Hannah’s diary and finds out she was not who she thought she was. This discovery brings a whole new view of life for the family.
Gone Too Soon covers quite a bit of heavy real life issues. Such as: Grief, rape, and addiction. I intended to read only one chapter before continuing on to my daily chores. However, my daily chores did not get done that day. I could not put the book down until I read the last page. My heart ached for Kiera and her family. I was hoping they would find their way.
I am giving Gone Too Soon a well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend this inspirational story for all! I loved it!
I receive this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
This is the first YA book by Melody Carlson that I have read and it was totally absorbing and intensely emotional. The story tracks the devastation and reconstruction of a family after the death of the oldest daughter at the age of seventeen. The plot addresses so much more than just grief and guilt after an untimely death of a loved one; it delves deeply and frankly into a stark and raw look at depression, addiction, and spirituality through the eyes of sixteen year old Kiera and her mother Moira.
Kiera starts out immature, angry, selfish and stubborn but, as she reads her deceased older sister’s diary, she matures and becomes likable. Bernard provides the much needed friendship and companionship for Kiera during the summer vacation that her family falls apart. Moira, in her own immaturity and selfishness, also has a lot of growing up to do, as does Kiera’s dad. Though at times extremely painful and somewhat uncomfortable, the author does an excellent job crafting a heart-wrenching yet redemptive story about grace, forgiveness, and acceptance.
I was given a copy of this book by WhiteFire Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Heartbreakingly real. As a YA book I would gauge the maturity level before permitting them to read this. I needed tissues several times as the heartbreak over losing a child, grandchild, sibling, etc can be devastating to some families especially if they are not grounded in their faith. This is a look at such a family and the blame game over the circumstances. It is a look at what wearing a mask and pretending all is well while disintegrating inside will do. It shows how communications is vital to the health of a family. I loved the diary and the role it played in helping this family find their way to redemption, forgiveness, and the grace and mercy of Christ. Well written and great characters this is a story that gives you food for thought.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
As I began this book I soon realized this is a story about a parent’s worst nightmare, the loss of a child. The author gives us an in-depth look into the lives of the survivors, and it is apparent that there might not be a whole family unit by the end of this read.
The family consists of parents, and three children, and when the oldest is killed, the aftermath of guilt and loss becomes overpowering for those left behind, and we journey with the survivors, not knowing how this is going to end up.
This story felt so real, and the journey through these pages is not always easy, but it was a compelling read.
You might want to keep the tissues handy, but I recommend this book!
I received this book through the Publisher WhiteFire, and was not required to give a positive review.