Review: Streaks of Blue by Jack Chaucer

Book Title: Streaks of Blue

Author: Jack Chaucer

Published Date: September 27th, 2013

Publisher: CreateSpace

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Standalone

Book Link: Goodreads

Purchase Link: Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

 Adam Upton and Thomas "Lee" Harvey are plotting the next big school massacre at their New Hampshire high school. Nicole Janicek, who knew Adam in elementary school, tries to reconnect with the damaged teen at the start of their senior year. But will Nicole’s attempt to befriend the would-be killer disrupt the plot and turn Adam’s life around before the clock strikes 12:14?

Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review:

This one is going to be a very hard one to review. Mostly because I found the first 65% of it slow and boring but the last 35% more than made up for it.I did love that the author dedicated this book to the families of Sandy Hook and to be totally honest, this book brought back a lot of the memories from that day as a friend's son was a student at that very school on that very day.It was hard for me to read this book at times.  

The book starts off with Nicole and her best friend Candace hiking and camping. That night Nicole has what initially seems to be just a dream. However Nicole quickly believes that this is no dream and that what she actually had is a vision. Despite the increase of school shootings over the last 2 decades I'm not sure I would have believed in this dream, vision whatever you want to call it as quickly as Nicole did. I think I would have taken a similar stance as Candace did.

Yet Nicole seems hell bent on befriending Adam Upton and she starts by driving his freshman brother, Brody, home. Now I don't think I would have done that, but Nicole seems so insistent on seeing the good in people. Now I'm not knocking that, but she did seem a little naive at times, which was part of what bored me to pieces during the majority of the book.

Like I said previously though, the last 35% of the book was beautiful and it really brought out a whole lot of emotions in me.I would say I cried a good chunk of the last 35% of the book.

Where initially Nicole seemed like a do-gooder in a very obnoxious way,she grew to be a very strong, likable character which made me really happy.It was clear to me how much the Sandy Hook massacre had affected her and as weird as it sounds,that made me happy.I was happy she wasn't a typical selfish teenager who only thought of herself.Now Adam's character did the biggest change of everyone and it was so great to be able to witness the very strong character evolution in him.

The crazy part is that my absolute favorite part of the book had to do with the re-connection with her estranged father.Unless you've been estranged from your father for many years, you cannot understand how it can touch you to see a father reach out to his daughter.This was hands down one of the most emotional parts of any book I have ever read.

"I'm so proud of you Nikki. I'm so damn proud of my little girl" -Roger

This book is about redemption in so many ways and for several characters. For Adam, Adam's father, Nicole's father. This book could have easily been titled Redemption.I will be giving it 4 stars. The last 35% of the book completely turned my rating around and while I know some people may say that it was too little, too late, I will wholeheartedly disagree with them.