Review - Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Title: Leaving Paradise
Author: Simone Elkeles
Publisher:
Publish Date:
Paperback, 303 pages

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I am quickly becoming a HUGE fan of Simone Elkeles. I have read two of her books and am excitingly waiting the next book to be ready at the library for me. I was worried about reading this book and being disappointed. Nicely, I wasn't at all. I really loved this one. It was just wonderful.

I loved this book. I fell in love with it. I thought the horrible incidents that were dealt to both Caleb and Maggie are things no one should have to deal with and yet, they did. I am afraid to speak too much about this book as I may reveal the ending of this book, but I highly recommend it. It was a quick and easy read, but so worth it. I think one of the reason I like Simone Elkeles so much is that she develops all characters around the main characters so well that they too stand out.

It is also a clean book for teenagers to read. Even though it deals with drunk driving, it is done tastefully and not revealing too much too early for those still trying to making choices. Very easy book to discuss with your fellow teenagers.

Summary -

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.