Like many books I own, I got Hold Still from the bargain book section of the local warehouse store. I admit, I judged by the cover. The photo and art was put together in my own personal taste. Then I read description and knew I had to give it a real chance.
Caitlin, a normal 16 year old girl has found a best friend in Ingrid, a girl in her high school. But at the end of the year, Ingrid is gone. No goodbye, no suicide note. Nothing. Just another body in the cemetery, and Caitlin is devastated.
Hold Still follows Caitlin over a one year period as she struggles to get over the loss of her best friend. She finds the journal Ingrid kept with her, stashed away under Caitlin's bed. In it are details of Ingrid's life behind the curtains as she battles depression.
For her first book, Nina LaCour wrote a powerful and beautiful story. It's so real, so full of depth, something most books targeted toward the teenage crowd rarely achieve. Unlike the bubblegum-pop, happy happy joy joy books for teens today, it's not sugarcoated. Details are in your face, nothing is held back.
Hold Still deals with the very real issue of death, a taboo subject in the western world and a topic Ms. LaCour seems to handle very elegantly while still keeping the raw emotion that goes with it.
Overall, the plot is strong, the book is entertaining and makes you want more and the characters actually develop over time. It's a good read for anyone, especially those who are overcoming loss, not necessarily suicide.
In my honest opinion, the book gets 5 stars. I can't wait to read more from Nina LaCour.
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