By: Kristina McBride
2010 Debut Author!
Synopsis (From Goodreads): It’s been two years since Noelle disappeared. Two years since her bike was discovered, sprawled on a sidewalk. Two years of silence, of worry, of fear.
For those two long years, her best friend Tessa has waited, living her own life in a state of suspended animation. Because how can she allow herself to enjoy a normal high school life if Noelle can’t? How dare she have other friends, go to dances, date boys, without knowing what happened to the girl she thought she would share everything with?
And then one day, someone calls Noelle’s house. She’s alive.
A haunting psychological thriller taken straight from the headlines, The Tension of Opposites is a striking debut that explores the emotional aftermath of a kidnapping on the victim, and on the people she left behind.
For those two long years, her best friend Tessa has waited, living her own life in a state of suspended animation. Because how can she allow herself to enjoy a normal high school life if Noelle can’t? How dare she have other friends, go to dances, date boys, without knowing what happened to the girl she thought she would share everything with?
And then one day, someone calls Noelle’s house. She’s alive.
A haunting psychological thriller taken straight from the headlines, The Tension of Opposites is a striking debut that explores the emotional aftermath of a kidnapping on the victim, and on the people she left behind.
Even though this book was told from the perspective of her best friend and not the victim, I found that it still did a very good job addressing the issues that would definitely plague this young girl. But, I loved Tessa's character. I loved how flawed, scared, and conflicted she was. It showed a great depth of compassion for Tessa to put her life on hold the way she did for Noelle. I would want a friend like Tessa.
On that note, I also really liked that Tessa didn't ditch Noelle for Max. Too often in YA literature, the female protagonist loses all connections with her friends and gets wrapped up in her relationship with danger boy. Tessa's relationships stayed pretty much the same, including those with her family. Loved it!
I have mixed feelings about Max. I felt like he pushed Tessa a little too far at times. I did like their relationship by the end though, and he was a pretty decent guy. Along those same lines, I wasn't real thrilled at the pretty constant mention of their physical relationship. I probably would have liked the book a little better if a little more had been left to the imagination.
But, I really enjoyed the book and finished it in one day. That's saying something for a contemporary novel. I usually have a really hard time getting into them. But, The Tension of Opposites was engaging and a very fast read.
My Rating:
I gave this book 4 stars
Profanity: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Sexuality: Moderate
Violence: Mild
Received from 1 ARC Tours
by Julie Berry: I'm working on a review now. It's been difficult since I've got mixed feelings about the book.
by L.K. Madigan: I won't have a review posted on this until September sometime since it doesn't come out until October 4.
by Anastasia Hopcus: I've got big plans for this ARC, so I've got to get it read this week!
by Jasper Fforde
by S.E. Hinton
