Review: Impulse

Author: Ellen Hopkins
Release Date: January 23, 2007
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 688
Series: Impulse #1
Source: Bought

Summary: Three lives, three different paths to the same destination: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for those who have attempted the ultimate act -- suicide.

Vanessa is beautiful and smart, but her secrets keep her answering the call of the blade.

Tony, after suffering a painful childhood, can only find peace through pills.

And Conner, outwardly, has the perfect life. But dig a little deeper and find a boy who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself.

In one instant each of these young people decided enough was enough. They grabbed the blade, the bottle, the gun -- and tried to end it all. Now they have a second chance, and just maybe, with each other's help, they can find their way to a better life -- but only if they're strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place.

  My Favorite Lines:

“Grandma once told me it's easy to overthink love, to dissect it and A it until it is no more.” 

“My happiest memories have no place in the past; they are those I have yet to create.”

 I wanted her to fill the empty spaces left by a father who never once praised me, ‘friends’ whoused me, an ice princess mom who raised me with glass kisses.” 

Why I Loved It:  I can explain why I loved this book in four words.  Ellen Hopkins wrote it.  I'm sure that I would need more for a review.  I have to say though that I am an Ellen Hopkins fan.  Super fan.  I have read a lot more of her books than I have reviewed.  But I am going to review this book.  Even if the ending made me mad.  That happens I suppose.  Even still, the book was incredible.

Ms. Hopkins has this gift.  She can write about characters that seriously could have been your next door neighbor.  They are real people suffering from real issues.  It's really incredible what she can do in a book, and in prose nonetheless.  No other author brings me to my emotional knees like this.  My heart was broken, seriously broken by the end of this story.  The problem is I get so wrapped up in the characters' lives because Ms. Hopkins sucks you into their world.  I felt like I was walking down the shiny halls of Aspen Springs.

This book takes three totally different people who are tied by one factor: they each tried to commit suicide.  That act landed them in the psychiatric facility of Aspen Springs.  Vanessa has demons that revolve around her mother.  Tony has a past and is totally homosexual.  Or is he?  And Conner is the victim of appearances not being at all what they seem.  Together they experience the highs and lows of learning who you are and what that is worth.

I have come to realize that not everyone can love Ms. Hopkins.  Her books are so.. intense and startling and you don't get the happy book gushy feelings.  They just don't exist here.  Instead, this book will make you feel like your life is worth something.  You will feel all the feels!

Who Should Read It:  People who want something real in their books.  Intensity and freedom to really look at life dead on are huge parts of the book.  If that sounds attractive to you, then go for it.