Ruthanne Snow

It's slow moving, but good

My rating is 3.5 stars. This book was okay. It was drug out too long when it could've gotten to the point much sooner on in the book. The girls are all best friends in high school and it is told by each one of them of their stories leading up to the incident. As I said it could've been told sooner it was just drug out too long. I do like the fact that the author brought up a subject that nobody likes to talk about, but in today's world with teens I think this should be talked about more.… (més)

I’m not the target audience for this book—and YA books targeted towards women are generally not my preferred genre. But knowing the author, I was very interested in reading this book. I’m glad I did. The official synopsis does a good job describing the story of Jenna, Rosie, Ket, and Elin—four devoted friends in Utah. The story picks up just before prom, with Jenna, Rosie, and Ket working to prevent everyone from finding out that Elin had recently tried to commit suicide. Then, on the night of prom, Elin goes missing and her friends furiously try to find her, while facing down their own battles in the process.

The story deals with a lot of things that teenagers and young adults have to navigate as part of their lives—friendships, relationships, divorce, grades, sex, drinking, depression, future plans, peer pressure, and family struggles. At times, the way the characters talk about these things so casually that it’s off-putting (though with exception—the discussion of depression and suicide attempt—there’s nothing explicit). But it also works as realistic dialogue between the characters. Overall, the story moves at a good pace. The discussion of depression is one of the best I’ve read and the conclusion is amazing. There are also lovely elements of other books like Little Women that you can pick up on with a careful reading. All in all, I’m glad to have read this one and look forward to seeing more good work from my friend, RuthAnne.… (més)

This review is posted on both my personal account and the account for Crossroads Public Library.

It was well-written, and the way the characters interacted was pretty sweet and honestly pretty true to the high school experience. But there was some heavy emotional whiplash for me that made it hard to react to either direction. Ket was a breath of fresh air, and she really saved the book for me. And Elin's description of depression at the end was important, and spot on. I think it's easy to misunderstand what depression is if you haven't experienced it, so putting it in a YA novel in terms that a teen will get is so necessary.… (més)

When the Truth Unravels by RuthAnne Snow is a well-written young adult novel with a socially relevant storyline.

Elin Angstrom, Jenna Sinclair, Rosie Winchester and Ket West-Beauchamp have been close friends for several years. However, ever since Elin attempted suicide, cracks have begun to show in the foundation of their friendship. Elin's return to school has been uneasy with rumors swirling about her absence. She is also not divulging the reason for her inexplicable decision to end her life. Defying her parents, Elin convinces her friends to attend prom with her. The girls go their separate ways soon after their arrival and later in the evening, Jenna, Rosie and Ket are very worried once they realize Elin is missing. They frantically begin searching for their still somewhat emotionally fragile friend, but will their worst fears be realized when they locate her?

Jenna is the sensible, driven teenager in the group. She is an exemplary student and holds prominent positions in several school activities. Jenna has mutinously planned for her future and her hard work has paid off. However, she has not been quite herself since Elin's suicide attempt but she refuses to discuss what is wrong. Jenna's friendship with Elin is also strained yet no one knows why.

Rosie is a little socially awkward but she is at ease with her best friends. She does not like to be the center of attention and she is not comfortable talking to strangers. When Elin asks all of her friends to go to the prom with her, Rosie reluctantly agrees. Will Elin come out of her shell and socialize at the before prom party? Will she accept a stranger's request to dance?

Ket has a bit of a reputation since she not shy about hooking up or making out with guys she is attracted to. She is a loyal friend and this puts her in a very tricky situation with a boy she once dated. Will Ket do whatever takes to protect Elin's secret? Or will she stand up for herself and refuse to compromise her reputation for a young man who is sexually blackmailing her?

The majority of Elin's part of the story details her life in the months before she attempts suicide. Her behavior has drastically changed but no reason is provided for her altered behavior. Savvy readers will most likely piece together what is going on well before the "big reveal" at the novel's conclusion.

Alternating between the various characters' points of view, When the Truth Unravels is an engaging young novel. The differences in the young women's personalities make it very easy to keep up with the narration shifts. RuthAnne Snow handles sensitive subject matter in a forthright manner that also educates the reader. With a bit of suspense surrounding Elin's disappearance from the prom, the novel ends with a surprisingly upbeat conclusion with each of the young women reaching unexpected turning points in their lives. An excellent young adult novel that I highly recommend to older teen readers.… (més)