A review by ambrealla
Thirsty by Jas Hammonds

4.25

FIRST READ: 4.25 ★

This book is written in that iconic juvenile style most YA novels use—but I don't mean that as a bad thing. There's merit to that style: it's engaging, digestible, and accessible to readers of many ages and ability levels. These days, however, I feel myself gravitating away from that. However...

I deeply enjoyed this book. Even though author Hammonds discusses the serious and frightening subject matter of alcoholism and negative self-image, this was almost refreshing in a sense. Instead of being set in a fantastical world where a young heroine (a "chosen one", no less) fights dragons to save the world, we are brought to low-income Virginia Beach where a young heroine fights doubts to save herself. Sometimes, the latter is just as momentous and takes just as much courage as the former. The rite of passage isn't filled with glory and honor, but heartbreak and acceptance, and that touched me. 

It's difficult to exist in today's world as a young person; there is pressure from all angles and everyone has a different expectation of you. This book delivers the tender message that we are not any less if we struggle, and sometimes things need to be broken down before they're built back up. We're allowed to change our minds. We are all capable of growth and healing.