Don't Breathe A Word - Holly Cupala
Release Date: January 2, 2012

Publisher: Harper Teen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 299

Buy the Book: Amazon

Joy Delamere is suffocating.

From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words...until the night they go too far.

To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love—-a world she won’t easily let go.

Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala’s power­ful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength.

Synopsis and cover taken from Goodreads.  

The story of a girls fight for survival, when those closest to her are the reason she is dying.

Why It's Awesome:

• Brings forth the reality of street kids (homeless teen/runaways).
• Explores abusive relationships and their mental and physical effects.
• Courageous protagonists 
• Shockingly honest and suspenseful.
• Beautifully written.
• Compared to Speak by Laurie Hulse Anderson.

Recommend If You Liked:

• Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys
• Street Pharm - Allison van Diepen
• If I Lie - Corrine Jackson 

Comment: 
This is among the best and post powerful books I've ever read. Yet, I'm surprised that not many other have read it. So TSC readers I emplore you to pick it up and give it a shot. I especially recommend this one to those who are in the mood for a dark YA read that deals with a real horror faced my people everyday.

 MY REVIEW

Book Trailer

-MARI