Review: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.
Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn . . . and ruggedly good-looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

Publishes in US: May 8th 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Simon for review
Series? No.

Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound BookDepository.com

Find Jessi online: site Twitter Facebook

 

    Even the subject matter screamed to me: read me. I am a sucker for emotional books like this, and the road trip is an added bonus. It is so important that it talks about the death of a marine, and how the family feels after the loss from the one they loved that made such a sacrifice. I know this is fiction, but there are so many true stories, and feeling the emotion and getting inside Honor's head--if it makes me understand even a little bit, then it has done an important service. 

    Being inside Honor's head was amazing ride. She experienced grief but she also was trying to work through it in a way to remember and honor her brother. That lead her on quite and adventure and she discovered so many things, about herself and about life, even about Finn, her brother. 

    Rusty, oh Rusty. He is so rough around the edges and there were moments when he was so insensitive and I just wanted to smack him. And then the next he was deep or kind and I wanted to hug him. I realize that he was going through the loss of his best friend as well, and that brought out to extremes the rough edges that were there before, but not as hurting to other people. 

    I loved the interactions with Wyatt, a random, very sweet, understanding guy that takes her on an adventure. The possibility of love was palpable, but it wasn't meant to be obviously since they meet in the middle of nowhere and are going different directions. It was sweet, and also helped Honor learn about herself. 

    The ending itself was also well done. The secrets that Honor found out, and the guilt that she felt were all an emotional roller coaster. But there was a sweet friendship with hope of more, something that I wasn't sure I wanted to happen, but ended up being thrilled about. 

Bottom Line: This is a sweet, yet emotionally packed book about loss, love, grief and healing.

Books similar to :(links go to my review) Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Matson, Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson, Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz,Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker

My question to you, my lovely readers:

Do you think you could or would want to take a roadtrip the day after sibling's funeral to honor what you felt were :last wishes for you"?