The Awakened

by Rachel R Reichl London

[bookaholic188]

"The Awakened", written by Rachel Reichl London, tells the incredible story of Samantha Lonodson; aka Sam. Sam is an autistic teen, learning to navigate her way pass the numerous obstacles in her life. Not only does she have to tolerate disrespect from complete strangers, but even at her high school, she faces a challenging time fitting in. But Sam is far from passive and timid. She is witty, outspoken, sharp, and observant. No one, and I mean no one, messes with Sam. She is not afraid to reassert her values, and she does this with confidence. As a main character, I completely understand why Sam has to forge a tough persona for herself—if she doesn't stand up for herself, who else will? After all, Sam experiences so many heartbreaking challenges throughout the book—like the loss of a parental figure, bullying, difficulties fitting in, overcoming conflict with her best friend, overcoming betrayal, changes in her family dynamics and even surviving a kidnapping. The storyline has a slow progression, but I distinctly remember feeling eager to take this memorable journey with the main character as she successfully navigates each new obstacle. I think this book is an excellent young adult fiction that discusses and delves into real life issues affecting today's youthful population. I will certainly recommend it to teenagers (over the age of 15) who have experienced similar issues, or who simply enjoy reading young adult novels that revolve around coming-of-age issues. The book may need further editing. Additionally, it does contain some obscenities within it, but nevertheless it is a remarkable read. I took my time reading it, and I savored the experience. I rate it 4 stars out of 5.