Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Speak (Penguin Group)
Pages
329
Description
Sixteen-year-old Willow, who was driving the car that killed both of her parents, copes with the pain and guilt by cutting herself, until she meets a smart and sensitive boy who is determined to help her stop.
Description
Seven months ago on a rainy March night, Willow's parents drank too much wine at dinner and asked her to drive them home. But they never made it--Willow lost control of the car, and both of her parents were killed.
Now seventeen, Willow is living with her older brother, who can barely speak to her. She has left behind her old home, friends, and school. But Willow has found a way to survive, to numb the new reality of her life: She is secretly cutting herself.
And then she meets Guy, a boy as sensitive and complicated as she is. When Guy discovers Willow's secret, he pulls her out of the solitary world she's created for herself, and into a difficult, intense, and potentially life-changing relationship.
Julia Hoban has created an unflinching story about cutting, grieving, and starting anew. But above all, she has written an unforgettable tale of first love.
Now seventeen, Willow is living with her older brother, who can barely speak to her. She has left behind her old home, friends, and school. But Willow has found a way to survive, to numb the new reality of her life: She is secretly cutting herself.
And then she meets Guy, a boy as sensitive and complicated as she is. When Guy discovers Willow's secret, he pulls her out of the solitary world she's created for herself, and into a difficult, intense, and potentially life-changing relationship.
Julia Hoban has created an unflinching story about cutting, grieving, and starting anew. But above all, she has written an unforgettable tale of first love.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-04-02 [2009]
Physical description
329 p.; 8.25 inches
ISBN
9780142416662
Similar in this library
Media reviews
SLJ
"Hoban takes readers on an intense journey that allows them to see a cutter's painful reality."
VOYA
"In this unusual sotry of first love and redemption, Hoban manages the difficult task of making the reader care about and root for a heroine with little initial self-worth and a nearly unthinkable way of dealing with her pain."
BCCB
"Lush and intense, tortured and romantic, this is a compelling story with some will-nigh irresistable...this is a turbulent and emotional tale as a girl as much wounded as wounding."
Publishers Weekly
"The stark clarity of the present tense, third-person narration echoes the numbing effect that Willow achieves through cutting...a credible depiction of a grieving girl's struggle toward self-forgiveness."
User reviews
LibraryThing member nicola26
You know it's bad when you can't work up much sympathy for a character who's just lost her parents.
I just couldn't bring myself to like Willow, no matter how hard I tried. I totally understand that she was going through a lot and struggling but I still don't think it's an excuse to act like nobody
Also couldn't stand Guy, the love interest. He was SO odd. Very melodramatic, as was Willow. Their relationship was incredibly unhealthy but Hoban portrays it as something to be desired. Maybe I'm just not one for 'damsel in distress' type stories. I think the story did have potential.
It could have been an interesting story of a girl who gets the strength to carry on after a disaster with support from friends and family, instead of a story about how a girl can only recover with the 'help' of some random overbearing guy.
I know I've torn the book apart here but it wasn't ALL bad. The writing is good, the story idea was good, it kept me interested until the end which is also good. There are certainly a lot of people who will like this- just not me.
I just couldn't bring myself to like Willow, no matter how hard I tried. I totally understand that she was going through a lot and struggling but I still don't think it's an excuse to act like nobody
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else's problems are real. Willow seemed to think that just because she'd gone through something awful, NOBODY else's feelings were valid. No problem other than Willow's was worth crying about. That just really annoyed me. Also couldn't stand Guy, the love interest. He was SO odd. Very melodramatic, as was Willow. Their relationship was incredibly unhealthy but Hoban portrays it as something to be desired. Maybe I'm just not one for 'damsel in distress' type stories. I think the story did have potential.
It could have been an interesting story of a girl who gets the strength to carry on after a disaster with support from friends and family, instead of a story about how a girl can only recover with the 'help' of some random overbearing guy.
I know I've torn the book apart here but it wasn't ALL bad. The writing is good, the story idea was good, it kept me interested until the end which is also good. There are certainly a lot of people who will like this- just not me.
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LibraryThing member ericajsc
I’ve read so many good reviews of this book, and I really wanted to love it. And while I do think it is a great book, and I really like it, I don’t think I can honestly say that I absolutely love it. But I still think it’s a wonderful book.Willow is utterly shattered. Reeling from the loss of
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her parents and feeling completely responsible for it, she basically won’t let herself feel anything except guilt for killing them. To make matters worse, she’s living with her older brother who is, at best, aloof when she’s around. Given this setup, it would be easy to make Willow into a hollow shell of a person, but Hoban writes her as a fully formed, deep character.This is not a book about a girl who self-mutilates. It’s a book that explores how one girl deals with an event that radically changed everything about her life. She’s at a new school where she’s sure people are talking about her as the girl who killed her parents, her brother has secured her a job at the university library so that she can contribute financially to the household, and then she meets Guy.Guy is a sweet, sensitive, somewhat nerdy guy from her school who happens to be taking classes at the university too, and he develops an interest in Willow when they first meet. Whenever Willow feels any emotion, her world swirls around her and the only way she knows how to get any semblance of control back is to cut, so she does her best to push Guy away, despite the fact that she’s intrigued by him. Guy doesn’t back off when she tells him about her parents, and when he learns about her cutting, he won’t let himself walk away from her because he’s a good guy. It’s not a pretty love story, all rainbows and butterflies, but it’s filled with confused emotions along with a connection built on more than just lust. Hoban allows their relationship to slowly evolve throughout the story in the way actual relationships do, something I appreciate when there are so many stories where the characters fall in love at first sight, or go from hatred to love in 3.1 seconds.As a whole, this book is exceptionally written. The tension in the relationship between Willow and her brother David is palpable, brought to life in the conversations they have where they manage to talk to each other while saying absolutely nothing. And Willow’s thoughts before, during, and after cutting herself are disturbingly captivating. My only real issue was that, scattered throughout the book, certain conversations seem stilted. I noticed it most during the parts where Guy confronts Willow about her cutting, or attempts to comfort her. I realize he’s a smart, sensitive guy, but some of the things he says don’t seem like something a teenager would say. Even though it wasn't constant, it happened enough that it bothered me and, ultimately, is what prevents me from finding this book entirely amazing. Show Less
LibraryThing member stephxsu
Seven months ago, 17-year-old Willow’s parents were killed when Willow was driving the car. Now, she lives with her older brother whom she thinks hates her for what she’s done, goes to a different school, and cuts herself almost hourly, all over her body, to feel only physical pain, to keep
Then Willow meets Guy. When Guy finds out about Willow’s cutting, Willow is sure that it is going to be the end of her secret. Much to her surprise, however, Guy doesn’t tell, and he even sticks around. Slowly but surely Willow starts to come out of her numbness and loneliness, but the emotions she must now face may be an even bigger challenge than denying them.
WILLOW is an impressive novel about a difficult subject. The main character, Willow, is extremely well developed, and this book approaches her path to healing in a careful, subtle, yet realistic way. It balances the time spent on Willow’s personal healing, her growing relationship with Guy, and her healing relationship with her brother in a matter that’s satisfying in the end.
Julia Hoban writes in the third-person limited present tense, which may be a bit jarring at first, but you will quickly lose yourself in the emotional ups and downs of this book. Willow’s path to recovery is not easy, and sometimes you’ll want to cry the tears that she cannot, as she continues to hurt herself even though there are people caring about her. The ending, however, is hopeful, and ties up all of the major relationship issues satisfactorily.
All in all, WILLOW is a rare accomplishment of poignancy, grief, and the healing power of love. Read it if you want a Sarah Dessen-like story about emotional numbness and the difficult road to healing and feeling again.
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away the emotional pain that could very likely overwhelm her.Then Willow meets Guy. When Guy finds out about Willow’s cutting, Willow is sure that it is going to be the end of her secret. Much to her surprise, however, Guy doesn’t tell, and he even sticks around. Slowly but surely Willow starts to come out of her numbness and loneliness, but the emotions she must now face may be an even bigger challenge than denying them.
WILLOW is an impressive novel about a difficult subject. The main character, Willow, is extremely well developed, and this book approaches her path to healing in a careful, subtle, yet realistic way. It balances the time spent on Willow’s personal healing, her growing relationship with Guy, and her healing relationship with her brother in a matter that’s satisfying in the end.
Julia Hoban writes in the third-person limited present tense, which may be a bit jarring at first, but you will quickly lose yourself in the emotional ups and downs of this book. Willow’s path to recovery is not easy, and sometimes you’ll want to cry the tears that she cannot, as she continues to hurt herself even though there are people caring about her. The ending, however, is hopeful, and ties up all of the major relationship issues satisfactorily.
All in all, WILLOW is a rare accomplishment of poignancy, grief, and the healing power of love. Read it if you want a Sarah Dessen-like story about emotional numbness and the difficult road to healing and feeling again.
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LibraryThing member dylanesque
I enjoyed 'Willow'. I thought the book was well written, interesting, powerful, moving.
That said, I have one big problem with 'Willow'. Throughout the book Hoban is unflinching in her description of emotional and physical wounds. She has a strong and compelling voice. However, when it gets to the
I'm disappointed that Hoban was unable to follow through on the emotional honesty that she unwaveringly provides for the rest of the book. I feel that without Willow's pleasure being addressed the book is in many ways still incomplete. Hoban presents a one-sided picture, giving us the details of Willow's negative feelings, but not going into the positive feelings that Willow embraces toward the end of the book.
That said, I have one big problem with 'Willow'. Throughout the book Hoban is unflinching in her description of emotional and physical wounds. She has a strong and compelling voice. However, when it gets to the
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scene of the first time Willow has sex both characters and author get tongue-tied. Hoban cannot bring herself to write the word condom, so the characters repeatedly refer to it as "something." And when the characters get to the pleasure (emotional as well as physical) Hoban quickly states that pleasure feels better than pain, ends the chapter, and cuts to another place and time entirely.I'm disappointed that Hoban was unable to follow through on the emotional honesty that she unwaveringly provides for the rest of the book. I feel that without Willow's pleasure being addressed the book is in many ways still incomplete. Hoban presents a one-sided picture, giving us the details of Willow's negative feelings, but not going into the positive feelings that Willow embraces toward the end of the book.
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LibraryThing member MsGemini
Willow is a story about a life changing car accident and how Willow, the main character chooses to deal with the aftermath.
Even though this book deals with difficult subject matter, I was interested in reading it.
While I appreciate Julia Hoban's style of writing, I thought the story was just
I stuck with this one to the end only to be left wanting more from the story
Even though this book deals with difficult subject matter, I was interested in reading it.
While I appreciate Julia Hoban's style of writing, I thought the story was just
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okay. I thought I would feel the pain and grief Willow was experiencing but it did not come across strong enough for me. I stuck with this one to the end only to be left wanting more from the story
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LibraryThing member texasheartland
I couldn’t put it down. It reaches me on a personal level and I was kind of nervous when I agreed to review it. I thought it would bring up a lot of bad memories, but it didn’t. I can’t imagine what Willow has gone through so I couldn’t put myself in her shoes. But it was heart-wrenching
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and heart-warming all at the same time. You could just feel what they were going through and you wanted to weep with them. Considering how many people still currently cut themselves, I believe it sends a positive message. The message will be different for others but it’s a positive message alright. The characters have so much life (and pain). They take you along as they try to carry on through life and realize that it’s much harder than it seems. You’ll laugh a little. You’ll definitely cry. And you’ll reflect back on your own life and realize that maybe your life isn’t as bad as it seems. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheDreamerReader
Holy freaking (insert swear word here)!!
The Good: Be prepared for some serious fan-girl gushing! Also, this review in no way justifies how much I loved this book.
For a debut author, Julia has blown all the other authors, regardless if it's their first or not, WAY out of the water! Once I started
Secondly, the cutting. Holy crap, I never expected it to be so haunting! As much as I am against cutting, I could see where Willow was coming from. It was a hard subject to write about, but Julia Hoban does it with such grace and elegance. She doesn't sugar-coat the issue, I think that was one of the reasons why Willow is so fresh in my mind. She gave us the truth and the way that she portrayed Willow's cutting, made me absolutely entranced in the story. Near the end, she tells about the first time she cut. And I swear, I gasped and got goosebumps.
The way Willow grieved was real. Fortunately for me, I have never lost a parent but, Willow had such a sense of reality about her. Sometimes, you want to smack her in the head and shout, "Why do you do this to yourself?!" but that urge is quickly smothered because Willow is just so darn likable!
The last sentence... wow. Yay for possibilities!
The Bad: I really cannot think of anything wrong with this book!
However, I do have a little complaint. I did not like Guy that much. I know I'll probably get shot for that, but he was just too perfect! It seemed that he no faults, whatsoever! Don't get me wrong, I ABSOLUTELY ADORE him! I just wished he had some faults like... he wore socks with his sandals or something. I think that would've made him more appealing and so much more human. Not to mention, Willow and him would be a slight more equal. I still love him, I just wish he wasn't so damn perfect!
Another complaint of mine is the ending. It was a good one... after I read a couple times. It sort of made me go, "Was that really it?" the first time.
Overall: Willow is a remarkable book that is moving and will leave an imprint on you for a long time. Honestly, Willow is one of the best books I've read all year. If you have not bought Willow, may the Gods of Literature guilt you into buying it!
Grade: A
The Good: Be prepared for some serious fan-girl gushing! Also, this review in no way justifies how much I loved this book.
For a debut author, Julia has blown all the other authors, regardless if it's their first or not, WAY out of the water! Once I started
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Willow, I could not put it down. It's like Green Eggs and Ham. I read Willow when I sat on a stool, I read Willow lounging by the pool, I read Willow here and there, I read Willow FREAKING EVERYWHERE.Secondly, the cutting. Holy crap, I never expected it to be so haunting! As much as I am against cutting, I could see where Willow was coming from. It was a hard subject to write about, but Julia Hoban does it with such grace and elegance. She doesn't sugar-coat the issue, I think that was one of the reasons why Willow is so fresh in my mind. She gave us the truth and the way that she portrayed Willow's cutting, made me absolutely entranced in the story. Near the end, she tells about the first time she cut. And I swear, I gasped and got goosebumps.
The way Willow grieved was real. Fortunately for me, I have never lost a parent but, Willow had such a sense of reality about her. Sometimes, you want to smack her in the head and shout, "Why do you do this to yourself?!" but that urge is quickly smothered because Willow is just so darn likable!
The last sentence... wow. Yay for possibilities!
The Bad: I really cannot think of anything wrong with this book!
However, I do have a little complaint. I did not like Guy that much. I know I'll probably get shot for that, but he was just too perfect! It seemed that he no faults, whatsoever! Don't get me wrong, I ABSOLUTELY ADORE him! I just wished he had some faults like... he wore socks with his sandals or something. I think that would've made him more appealing and so much more human. Not to mention, Willow and him would be a slight more equal. I still love him, I just wish he wasn't so damn perfect!
Another complaint of mine is the ending. It was a good one... after I read a couple times. It sort of made me go, "Was that really it?" the first time.
Overall: Willow is a remarkable book that is moving and will leave an imprint on you for a long time. Honestly, Willow is one of the best books I've read all year. If you have not bought Willow, may the Gods of Literature guilt you into buying it!
Grade: A
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LibraryThing member TheBookCellar
With her debut novel, Julia Hoban blows away readers with a gripping story full of emotion, truth, and what could be real life experiences. Willow blames herself for the accident that happened months ago, and expresses and releases the guilt she feels through cutting herself.
Willow is written in
The first page Guy walked into the story, you could feel the romance that would happen between Guy and Willow. The journey and build up to that romance was so sweet, open, and honest. Guy was such a well-rounded character. The fact he cares about Willow and what she's doing to herself, all the while taking action to help her was great. I can relate to some of his emotions he felt towards Willow in regards to her cutting herself, as one of my best friends took up the same escape. I don't think a lot of people realize the seriousness of the issue. As a narrator, Willow was interesting. Hearing her story and emotions she feels toward everything was really enlightening. Julia Hoban nails what I'd assume the emotions that would be going through a sixteen year old's head in that situation.
The end was so sweet. It's not exactly what readers are thinking will happen. This was a book I was addicted to, especially needing to know how it would end.
While Willow deals with such a intense plot, it's not depressing. It's full of hope that Guy expresses towards Willow and helping her through that point in her life. I cannot wait to see what Julia Hoban comes up with next.
Willow is written in
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3rd person, and at first it distracted me from the book. But after a few chapters, it made the story so much more raw and emotional and definately suited the book. It made the writing almost detached, and Willow is dealing with so many emotions and so detached herself.The first page Guy walked into the story, you could feel the romance that would happen between Guy and Willow. The journey and build up to that romance was so sweet, open, and honest. Guy was such a well-rounded character. The fact he cares about Willow and what she's doing to herself, all the while taking action to help her was great. I can relate to some of his emotions he felt towards Willow in regards to her cutting herself, as one of my best friends took up the same escape. I don't think a lot of people realize the seriousness of the issue. As a narrator, Willow was interesting. Hearing her story and emotions she feels toward everything was really enlightening. Julia Hoban nails what I'd assume the emotions that would be going through a sixteen year old's head in that situation.
The end was so sweet. It's not exactly what readers are thinking will happen. This was a book I was addicted to, especially needing to know how it would end.
While Willow deals with such a intense plot, it's not depressing. It's full of hope that Guy expresses towards Willow and helping her through that point in her life. I cannot wait to see what Julia Hoban comes up with next.
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LibraryThing member katiedoll
I’ve been trying to get my hands on this book for such a long time, and with all of the positive buzz going around on this book, I had a feeling I wouldn’t regret buying it. And I most definitely didn’t. Willow was probably one of the most gut-wrenchingly sad, yet heart-warningly beautiful
I’ve had friends who cut before, so I felt myself sympathizing with Guy a lot. Guy has just earned himself a permanent spot on my favorite fictional character list. He was so real, yet one of those guys that only come around once in a lifetime. He dealt with Willow’s problems magnificently, but there were times in which he’d become overwhelmingly angry, which I loved. It’s not an easy issue to deal with, especially if it’s happening to somebody you care about, and frustration is only natural.
I was also saddened by Willow and David’s relationship, but I went through the same waves of emotions that Julia Hoban wrote for her characters. As I read, I went from agreeing with Willow, to scoffing and awing at something David did or said, to wanting to cry when the two finally blew up. The ending didn’t leave you satisfied in knowing that the two were back on regular terms, probably because they never would be. It still left you with a little bit of hope, though.
But the ending was perfect. It wasn’t a story that fast forwarded to years in the future, displaying the change between characters and resolved issues. It was a step in the right direction for Willow, and then an ending, which I loved very much.
I would probably give this a million stars if I could. It was so raw, and real, and I found myself stopping after chapters just to make the story last at least one more day, because I didn’t want it to end. I recommend it to everybody. I absolutely fell in love with it, and I’m almost certain you will too.
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books I have ever read. Ever.I’ve had friends who cut before, so I felt myself sympathizing with Guy a lot. Guy has just earned himself a permanent spot on my favorite fictional character list. He was so real, yet one of those guys that only come around once in a lifetime. He dealt with Willow’s problems magnificently, but there were times in which he’d become overwhelmingly angry, which I loved. It’s not an easy issue to deal with, especially if it’s happening to somebody you care about, and frustration is only natural.
I was also saddened by Willow and David’s relationship, but I went through the same waves of emotions that Julia Hoban wrote for her characters. As I read, I went from agreeing with Willow, to scoffing and awing at something David did or said, to wanting to cry when the two finally blew up. The ending didn’t leave you satisfied in knowing that the two were back on regular terms, probably because they never would be. It still left you with a little bit of hope, though.
But the ending was perfect. It wasn’t a story that fast forwarded to years in the future, displaying the change between characters and resolved issues. It was a step in the right direction for Willow, and then an ending, which I loved very much.
I would probably give this a million stars if I could. It was so raw, and real, and I found myself stopping after chapters just to make the story last at least one more day, because I didn’t want it to end. I recommend it to everybody. I absolutely fell in love with it, and I’m almost certain you will too.
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LibraryThing member bermudaonion
Poor Willow – she feels like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Both of her parents died in a car accident when she was sixteen and now she lives with her brother, sister-in-law and baby niece. Their apartment is small and cramped, money is tight and Willow feels like she’s in
When Willow moved in with her brother, she had to transfer schools and she feels like she doesn’t fit in there either. She thinks everyone knows all about her, and she doesn’t want their pity. Academics aren’t going so well either since Willow’s mind is always somewhere else.
How does a seventeen year old high school student cope with all of that? Willow cuts herself because
"She has so conditioned herself to transmute emotional pain into the physical realm, that without the razor to blunt her feelings, her body is responding the best way it possibly can. She is literally making herself sick."
(This is revealed very early in the book, so it’s not a spoiler.) Cutting becomes so important to Willow at times it seems like it’s all she can think about. She’s an expert at hiding her scars and her supplies. She says,
"I’ve taught myself, I’ve trained myself, not to feel anything except physical pain. I’m completely in control of that."
When I first read about Willow by Julia Hoban on Presenting Lenore, I knew I had to read it and ordered it right away since none of our local stores carried it. It got buried by other books, and then Alea raved over it and I told myself I should read it soon. I got caught up with something else and didn’t get to it. Candace’s review finally made me put it at the top of the TBR pile and I’m glad it did. I really enjoyed this book and its fictional peek into the life and mind of a cutter. The character development in Willow is fantastic! I really cared about Willow and hoped she would speak up as I read this book. Willow’s thinking is flawed at times, but if you can remember your teen years at all, you can totally relate to it. I did feel like things were wrapped up a little too neatly and easily by the end of the book, but it really didn’t distract from the story.
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the way.When Willow moved in with her brother, she had to transfer schools and she feels like she doesn’t fit in there either. She thinks everyone knows all about her, and she doesn’t want their pity. Academics aren’t going so well either since Willow’s mind is always somewhere else.
How does a seventeen year old high school student cope with all of that? Willow cuts herself because
"She has so conditioned herself to transmute emotional pain into the physical realm, that without the razor to blunt her feelings, her body is responding the best way it possibly can. She is literally making herself sick."
(This is revealed very early in the book, so it’s not a spoiler.) Cutting becomes so important to Willow at times it seems like it’s all she can think about. She’s an expert at hiding her scars and her supplies. She says,
"I’ve taught myself, I’ve trained myself, not to feel anything except physical pain. I’m completely in control of that."
When I first read about Willow by Julia Hoban on Presenting Lenore, I knew I had to read it and ordered it right away since none of our local stores carried it. It got buried by other books, and then Alea raved over it and I told myself I should read it soon. I got caught up with something else and didn’t get to it. Candace’s review finally made me put it at the top of the TBR pile and I’m glad it did. I really enjoyed this book and its fictional peek into the life and mind of a cutter. The character development in Willow is fantastic! I really cared about Willow and hoped she would speak up as I read this book. Willow’s thinking is flawed at times, but if you can remember your teen years at all, you can totally relate to it. I did feel like things were wrapped up a little too neatly and easily by the end of the book, but it really didn’t distract from the story.
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LibraryThing member bookwormygirl
On a stormy night, Willow takes the wheel and her whole life is forever changed. Both her parents are killed in the accident and Willow has to move in with her older brother, his wife and their young daughter. She feels the weight of the world is on her shoulders - she's emotionally overwrought,
She finds that the only way to relieve herself when her emotions just become too much is to "cut" herself with a razor. But she is eventually found out by a classmate named Guy. Although Guy promises not to tell on her - he also can't just walk away from her. Instead he tries to get closer to her to find out what leads a person to hurt themself in such a way and to try to help her out of the dark place she's in.
This is the first time that I read about "cutting" in such detail and although a bit on the descriptive side, it was not overdone or gory. On the other hand, Willow's pain is so real that you can actually understand why she would feel the urge to cut herself... even if you don't actually agree with it, you almost feel as if it is acceptable. It's as if her pain will consume her if she does not find an outlet to let it out. From the moment you start reading this book you become so emotionally attached to these characters (i.e. Willow; her brother, David; Guy) that you fly through the pages just to see what happens. If they can forgive each other? If they can forgive themselves?
The book is written in the third person, and I really commend Ms. Hoban for having written it this way. It somewhat gives you a detached feeling but at the same time you feel as if you are looking at Willow and Guy from above. Catching a glimpse into a painful part of a young woman's life.
This novel is not just about cutting - it is about love, hope and forgiveness. Although it touches on such a heavy subject, it is not overwhelming, instead it is told in a very unique and graceful voice.
Willow is a beautiful story, compellingly told and is by far one of the best YA novels I've read in quite some time. It is a very powerful piece that I highly recommend to older teens as well as adults.
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heavily grieving and feels guilt towards her part in the accident. To top it off, she also feels that her brother secretly blames her for their parents’ death and no longer loves her.She finds that the only way to relieve herself when her emotions just become too much is to "cut" herself with a razor. But she is eventually found out by a classmate named Guy. Although Guy promises not to tell on her - he also can't just walk away from her. Instead he tries to get closer to her to find out what leads a person to hurt themself in such a way and to try to help her out of the dark place she's in.
This is the first time that I read about "cutting" in such detail and although a bit on the descriptive side, it was not overdone or gory. On the other hand, Willow's pain is so real that you can actually understand why she would feel the urge to cut herself... even if you don't actually agree with it, you almost feel as if it is acceptable. It's as if her pain will consume her if she does not find an outlet to let it out. From the moment you start reading this book you become so emotionally attached to these characters (i.e. Willow; her brother, David; Guy) that you fly through the pages just to see what happens. If they can forgive each other? If they can forgive themselves?
The book is written in the third person, and I really commend Ms. Hoban for having written it this way. It somewhat gives you a detached feeling but at the same time you feel as if you are looking at Willow and Guy from above. Catching a glimpse into a painful part of a young woman's life.
This novel is not just about cutting - it is about love, hope and forgiveness. Although it touches on such a heavy subject, it is not overwhelming, instead it is told in a very unique and graceful voice.
Willow is a beautiful story, compellingly told and is by far one of the best YA novels I've read in quite some time. It is a very powerful piece that I highly recommend to older teens as well as adults.
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LibraryThing member bookjunkie806
A poignant story, nicely written. Willow is a young woman who cuts herself to forget the pain of losing her parents. With the budding friendship of a guy, she is able to grasp and understand her past. She is finally able to give herself time to heal.
LibraryThing member vampiregirl76
This was the first time I read a story that involved cutting and I wasn't sure I wanted to read a book on this subject. It just seemed too sad and depressing. But I decided to read a few chapters to see what it was like and before I knew it I was 100 pages into the book. I was definitely hooked.
Willow is honest. An emotionally driven read. Beautiful written. I think for most readers once you start you'll have a hard time putting this book down. Ms. Hoban has created such complex and wonderful characters in both Willow & Guy. I was hoping for the ending to be a little bit more than it was, but I think that's a feeling with all good books. While cutting plays a big part in this story, it is also about forgiveness, love and hope.
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Seeing Willow come out of the darkness and start to live again was quite beautiful.Willow is honest. An emotionally driven read. Beautiful written. I think for most readers once you start you'll have a hard time putting this book down. Ms. Hoban has created such complex and wonderful characters in both Willow & Guy. I was hoping for the ending to be a little bit more than it was, but I think that's a feeling with all good books. While cutting plays a big part in this story, it is also about forgiveness, love and hope.
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LibraryThing member Awesomeness1
Everything changed on the rainy March months seven months ago. Willow's parents were tipsy and asked her to drive home, a decision that would cost them there lives. Ever since then, Willow has felt disconnected from the world, her only reprieve is in multilating her own body, one cut at a time. But
I did not like Willow. Not the book, the character. She was a whiny little biotch. I understand that I probably should pity her, her being responsible for her parents deaths and all, but she makes it so damn hard. It's not the cutting that makes her so unlikable. Even though I am not a cutter myself, I understand the concept and have friends who divulge in it. It's just her view of the world. She expected the whole damn universe to revolve around her. She whined about people being inconsiderate around her and about how no one "got her". But Willow was always wrong about others. She judged them before they could judge her. I didn't understand her logic most of the time. And I hate how she would always go "well, I killed my parents." You're not the only who has ever lost anyone, Willow. You are not the only person in the world who is grieving. I just wanted her to get over herself. Though admittedly, I did like her considerably more by the novel's end.
Based on the character of Willow alone, this book would have gotten two stars. Thankfully, the itense writing and topic made me really like it. The writing flowed really well, and its interesting how this book was in third person instead of the expeceted first person. Of course, cutting is an always disturbing, intriguing topic, as much as you wish that it wasn't.
And Guy might have been too perfect, but he was sweet and sensitive without being gay (glances at her copy of Shiver). But I felt sorry for the poor guy (hehe, pun). He was stuck with Willow. And I also liked David and all the literary references.
One more thing that didn't quite fly with me was the end. A spoiler is coming up, so AVERT YOUR EYES. Okay, so teenage sex. It happens a lot. A lot a lot. So why encourage it? "Guy, we need to sleep together because I'm sad." "Okay then." *they do it* "Okay, I'm all better." "Okay, then." Just a little bit of WTF.
Overall, parts of this book and others parts I didn't like at all (aka Willow). But it is a good book, no doubt about that. It has a powerful, intense theme that I'm sure teenagers (especially cutters looking to relate) will eat up.
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everything changes when she meets Guy, the only one with whom she can possibly share her secret. I did not like Willow. Not the book, the character. She was a whiny little biotch. I understand that I probably should pity her, her being responsible for her parents deaths and all, but she makes it so damn hard. It's not the cutting that makes her so unlikable. Even though I am not a cutter myself, I understand the concept and have friends who divulge in it. It's just her view of the world. She expected the whole damn universe to revolve around her. She whined about people being inconsiderate around her and about how no one "got her". But Willow was always wrong about others. She judged them before they could judge her. I didn't understand her logic most of the time. And I hate how she would always go "well, I killed my parents." You're not the only who has ever lost anyone, Willow. You are not the only person in the world who is grieving. I just wanted her to get over herself. Though admittedly, I did like her considerably more by the novel's end.
Based on the character of Willow alone, this book would have gotten two stars. Thankfully, the itense writing and topic made me really like it. The writing flowed really well, and its interesting how this book was in third person instead of the expeceted first person. Of course, cutting is an always disturbing, intriguing topic, as much as you wish that it wasn't.
And Guy might have been too perfect, but he was sweet and sensitive without being gay (glances at her copy of Shiver). But I felt sorry for the poor guy (hehe, pun). He was stuck with Willow. And I also liked David and all the literary references.
One more thing that didn't quite fly with me was the end. A spoiler is coming up, so AVERT YOUR EYES. Okay, so teenage sex. It happens a lot. A lot a lot. So why encourage it? "Guy, we need to sleep together because I'm sad." "Okay then." *they do it* "Okay, I'm all better." "Okay, then." Just a little bit of WTF.
Overall, parts of this book and others parts I didn't like at all (aka Willow). But it is a good book, no doubt about that. It has a powerful, intense theme that I'm sure teenagers (especially cutters looking to relate) will eat up.
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LibraryThing member dasuzuki
This was an awesome book! I’ve been wanting to read it for ages and it finally came in for me at the library. I started it last night stayed up late to finish it because I could not put it down. Guy seemed like the perfect, well, guy. He is so sweet and considerate to Willow without seeming like
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a push over. Willow was a little irritating but totally understandable after what she went through. I think it was obvious to everyone but Willow that her brother, David, did not blame her for her parents deaths but the interplay between David and Willow was still interesting to watch through out the story. It’s hard not to give away too much but this was a wonderful book that I highly suggest to both teens and adults. Show Less
LibraryThing member sb631
Willow by Julia Hoban was an amazing read! At age 16, Willow and her parents were in a car crash. She was driving and her parents died. Ever since that day, she had a hard time getting back to her normal life. Her and her brother have grown apart after the accident. As a way of coping with the pain
I really enjoyed this book. It is a great read and brings lights to topics such has cutting, death, and guilt. I think everyone should read this is will learn something from it!
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and guilt, she cuts herself. Everything starts to change when she meets Guy who helps her. I really enjoyed this book. It is a great read and brings lights to topics such has cutting, death, and guilt. I think everyone should read this is will learn something from it!
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LibraryThing member StevePalmer
17 year old Willow is a cutter, a bad day at school, the look on her brother's face, the absence of her parents, her razor blade masks one pain with another. Seven months after surviving the car crash that kills her parents, Willow is bowed down with guilt - for killing them and for burdening her
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brother with the responsibility of looking after her. Then she meets Guy and is scared and confused when she starts to have feelings for him. The tragedy of the story is that neither Willow, nor her brother David, can bring themselves to talk to each other about their grief and loss. The depictions of self-harm are shocking and chilling, the level of self-loathing is appalling and Willow's misinterpretation of people's reactions to her are infuriating. But the love story is touching and gentle with some beautiful, naturalistic dialogue that brings the characters to life. An understanding depiction of a self-harmer and her motivations with some strong language, though given the subject, this is scarcely relevant. Show Less
LibraryThing member mrsderaps
I've read other books that deal with teens who self-mutilate, but none have been as engrossing, developed, or as realistic as Julia Hoban's Willow. In comparison, other titles feel a lot more shallow and less holistic. Willow is nothing short of disturbing and breath-taking.
In this book, Willow is
Too ease her pain (or possibly to validate it) Willow begins to cut herself. I have never read a book that describes this process, mentally, emotionally, and physically in such excruciating detail. It is sickening in its reality. Willow successfully hides her addiction to cutting successfully until a boy named Guy catches her doing it. After this, Willow makes him promise not to tell anyone. He agrees and they begin a rocky but intensely close relationship.
Normally, I would want Guy to tell someone quickly so that Willow could get help. This is me as a reader who works with teens every day. This is me as an adult looking in a judging Willow and Guy and wanting someone to help Willow, to force her to change. But, that would not make such a compelling read. Because the relationship between Guy and Willow is so authentic, so based on feelings and fears and mutual respect that I don't want that to be messed up with Guy telling on her. But, I don't want Willow to continue cutting, either.
In this way, the author puts the reader in Guy's shoes. If he tells, Willow may be forced to get help. But, if she's not ready for help then she will continue to cut (or try another route to ease her pain) without actually working through her sadness and loneliness and pain. Sure, Guy is a teenager and cannot be expected to take on Willow's problems, but I do think that he does a great job of caring about her as a person. He helps her work through her problems in a natural, caring manner. He's not looking for sex, but for her companionship. This is refreshing.
I would hope that teens (and adults) who read this book understand more about the psychology behind cutting. I don't hope that teens (or adults) will try to take on the problems of someone who is cutting; that is scary to me. But, I do recognize that friends have an enormous role in the lives of those who are hurting. I think that Guy models an engaged, concerned friend who just does not know how to help someone who is in as much pain as Willow.
This book is a must-have for high school libraries and classrooms. I have worked with students in the past who have arms scarred up and down from cutting. I feel like this book has allowed me some insight into this world, of which I admittedly have very little understanding. I will definitely put this book in my classroom and use Willow's story as a point of reference for future situations where I find that a student in my care is self-mulitating.
If you've read this book, please let me know what you thought.
In this book, Willow is
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a smart, authentic-seeming teenage who is living a nightmare. She has labeled herself a "killer" because she was driving the night that she and her parents suffered a fatal car accident. She is the only survivor. Never mind that Willow's parents had that second bottle of wine and were too impaired to drive home, never mind that the rain was torrential, never mind that Willow only had her learner's permit. She blames herself and wants everyone else to.Too ease her pain (or possibly to validate it) Willow begins to cut herself. I have never read a book that describes this process, mentally, emotionally, and physically in such excruciating detail. It is sickening in its reality. Willow successfully hides her addiction to cutting successfully until a boy named Guy catches her doing it. After this, Willow makes him promise not to tell anyone. He agrees and they begin a rocky but intensely close relationship.
Normally, I would want Guy to tell someone quickly so that Willow could get help. This is me as a reader who works with teens every day. This is me as an adult looking in a judging Willow and Guy and wanting someone to help Willow, to force her to change. But, that would not make such a compelling read. Because the relationship between Guy and Willow is so authentic, so based on feelings and fears and mutual respect that I don't want that to be messed up with Guy telling on her. But, I don't want Willow to continue cutting, either.
In this way, the author puts the reader in Guy's shoes. If he tells, Willow may be forced to get help. But, if she's not ready for help then she will continue to cut (or try another route to ease her pain) without actually working through her sadness and loneliness and pain. Sure, Guy is a teenager and cannot be expected to take on Willow's problems, but I do think that he does a great job of caring about her as a person. He helps her work through her problems in a natural, caring manner. He's not looking for sex, but for her companionship. This is refreshing.
I would hope that teens (and adults) who read this book understand more about the psychology behind cutting. I don't hope that teens (or adults) will try to take on the problems of someone who is cutting; that is scary to me. But, I do recognize that friends have an enormous role in the lives of those who are hurting. I think that Guy models an engaged, concerned friend who just does not know how to help someone who is in as much pain as Willow.
This book is a must-have for high school libraries and classrooms. I have worked with students in the past who have arms scarred up and down from cutting. I feel like this book has allowed me some insight into this world, of which I admittedly have very little understanding. I will definitely put this book in my classroom and use Willow's story as a point of reference for future situations where I find that a student in my care is self-mulitating.
If you've read this book, please let me know what you thought.
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LibraryThing member Ashliecaster
This book was a joy to read. It was sad and did make me tear up.
LibraryThing member silenceiseverything
I usually tend to steer clear of young adult books that are after-school-special-like. Mostly because they tend to be filled with the whole "woe is me" attitude and that can get old very quickly. However, sometimes I need my share of angst, so Willow seemed to fit the bill. Was it angsty-ahoy?
Just the whole premise of the book (Willow's parents die in a car accident that had her behind the wheel) was so heartbreaking. I think that's why I sympathized with Willow. The thought of being in that situation is incomprehensible to me. Willow's pain was so raw that I literally cringed while reading some of the parts in the book. Her pain was so overwhelming and I really felt for her.
I really loved and adored Guy. He was such a good guy and his refusal to leave Willow to suffer alone was really sweet. Their whole relationship was really sweet. Sure, the fact that he seemed to have no visible flaws was annoying, but I really wouldn't mind having my own personal Guy to help me through my tough times.
Willow is highly recommended. It was a haunting and poignant story. I really couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting. Plus, it wasn't overly dramatic or cliched. But most importantly, it doesn't feel preachy like an after-school special does.
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Without a doubt. And while it did have shadings of "woe is me", I still ended up captivated by Willow (the book). Just the whole premise of the book (Willow's parents die in a car accident that had her behind the wheel) was so heartbreaking. I think that's why I sympathized with Willow. The thought of being in that situation is incomprehensible to me. Willow's pain was so raw that I literally cringed while reading some of the parts in the book. Her pain was so overwhelming and I really felt for her.
I really loved and adored Guy. He was such a good guy and his refusal to leave Willow to suffer alone was really sweet. Their whole relationship was really sweet. Sure, the fact that he seemed to have no visible flaws was annoying, but I really wouldn't mind having my own personal Guy to help me through my tough times.
Willow is highly recommended. It was a haunting and poignant story. I really couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting. Plus, it wasn't overly dramatic or cliched. But most importantly, it doesn't feel preachy like an after-school special does.
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LibraryThing member bookalover89
A wonderful (but rather long) story of overcoming self-injury.
LibraryThing member snaprebelx
Bieng a recovering cutter myself, I tend to like self destructive type books, if only for the inevitable happy ending. They almost always get over it in the end. But I have never found a cutting book (then again I usually avoid cutting ones, I go for the drugs or other destructive behaviours)that
Kudos to Julia Hoban for such a well thought out and written book.
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was this authentic and acurate (at least for me) about the actions. Other books make it feel like the cutting is more for shock value and less for actual story telling. "Willow" had a much more in depth storyline that made you feel for her. It was about her emotional pain and the cutting played a large part, but if focused on other parts as well. And Guy's aproach to her was great. I had a boyfriend that threatened to leave when I cut and generally made me feel angry and more apt to do it. I had another boyfriend that took the same basic aproach as Guy and well...I ended up married to him and even though I still struggle occasionally, Im mostly over it.Kudos to Julia Hoban for such a well thought out and written book.
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LibraryThing member ACleveland
i have to honestly say that this book wasn't all that great. the story line was amazing but i just wish that the auther could of put more realistic characters and the only thing that save the book for me was the fact that it was written in third person.
i, a former cutter would never act anything
i might be a little to harsh but if you read the book then you would understand.
i also had my friend read it who is also a former cutter and she couldn't understand her actions either. dont get me wrong. we understood where she was coming from...but it was just a little bit over the top.
i, a former cutter would never act anything
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like Willow. she often came across as well....crazy. i understand that she was hurt by the death of her parents, but the things that she said and how she treated people was horrible. she seemed to have trust issues when no one even broke her trust. and her boyfriend was just....pathetic.i might be a little to harsh but if you read the book then you would understand.
i also had my friend read it who is also a former cutter and she couldn't understand her actions either. dont get me wrong. we understood where she was coming from...but it was just a little bit over the top.
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LibraryThing member just_some_bookworm
Willow is the story of a girl who is dealing with the death of her parents. To cope with the loss, she cuts herself. While working at the library, she meets a character named Guy, whom she becomes romantically interested in.
This was a quick read. The story flowed well and was entertaining enough
This was a quick read. The story flowed well and was entertaining enough
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to keep my interest, but I disliked the romantic and emotional parts of the story.. Show Less
LibraryThing member ComaCalm
Willow's parents died in a car accident in which Willow, with only a learner's licence, was driving. Devastated by grief and finding no-one to turn to, not even her Brother, she finds comfort in her razorblades, which she uses to blot out the pain of seeing her parents die. Leaving all her friends
Guy meets Willow at the library and finds her intriguing. After discovering her secret he feels both powerless to help her and unable to tear himself away from her. Will he be able to pull her away from the comfort of the razor?
This is one of the most depessing books I have ever read. But it is uplifting too. The book is written entirely in the present tense, which the Author doesn't seem to have a good grasp of, so a few of the sentences don't quite fit.
Willow doesn't seem to have the same taste in books as most YA yet this seems to be normal. Tristes Topiques anyone? Going by the blank faces I'd guess you've never heard of it either.
The psychological side, in the mind of a self-harmer, is very accurate, to the poivt where I wonder if the Author has self-harmed in the past. She thinks of everything: all the emotions, the addictions, how to hide it etc.
I'd describe this books as a 'dark, emo, coming of age story'. Although it is rather depressing I did enjoy it quite a lot. I would have loved there to be an epilogue, about a year or so later where Willow's more normal and everyone's happy and singing about rainbows... but that's just my oddness.
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behind to move into her Brother's home, she stops bothering to call them, becoming more and more dependent on her razors. She feels that her Brother blames her for the accident and the fact that her avoids looking at her or speaking about anything that isn't trivial secludes her even more.Guy meets Willow at the library and finds her intriguing. After discovering her secret he feels both powerless to help her and unable to tear himself away from her. Will he be able to pull her away from the comfort of the razor?
This is one of the most depessing books I have ever read. But it is uplifting too. The book is written entirely in the present tense, which the Author doesn't seem to have a good grasp of, so a few of the sentences don't quite fit.
Willow doesn't seem to have the same taste in books as most YA yet this seems to be normal. Tristes Topiques anyone? Going by the blank faces I'd guess you've never heard of it either.
The psychological side, in the mind of a self-harmer, is very accurate, to the poivt where I wonder if the Author has self-harmed in the past. She thinks of everything: all the emotions, the addictions, how to hide it etc.
I'd describe this books as a 'dark, emo, coming of age story'. Although it is rather depressing I did enjoy it quite a lot. I would have loved there to be an epilogue, about a year or so later where Willow's more normal and everyone's happy and singing about rainbows... but that's just my oddness.
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Awards
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — Teen — 2013)
Florida Teens Read Award (Nominee — 2011)
Call number
YA A Hob