You by Charles Benoit

"You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place?

There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them?

Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late?

Think fast, Kyle. Time's running out. How did this happen?

In his stunning young-adult debut, Charles Benoit mixes riveting tension with an insightful—and unsettling—portrait of an ordinary teen in a tale that is taut, powerful, and shattering."

           

            Reading You is like climbing up a mountain only to be pushed off the peak. The climax occurs at the very end of the novel, and the falling action is a brief plunge to a bloody end. But don't let that dissuade you from reading this novel. The way it's written, as though the main character is talking to you as if you're him (I know that's a bit confusing, but I couldn't think of any other way to say it) is so unique and fresh. It's truly a style of writing that I have never seen before.

            Plot alone makes this book stand out, but combined with the author's unique way of drawing the reader into the story, it's truly a book that stays with you long after the last page. Granted, the style takes a little bit of getting used to because it doesn't follow one of the traditional first or third person narratives that are prevalent today. However, the adjustment period is well worth it. The book holds you in its grip and takes you for a wild, devastating, painful ride. Unlike some other books ( I won't name any names) You is really thought-provoking. It definitely made me think about all the little choices I've made in my life and the effects those choices have on me and my family.

            The attachment that the reader forms with the main character, Kyle Chase, is so much deeper than usual. Because we see his life through our own eyes, the level of involvement in the story increases tenfold. I felt caught up in every scene, and I wished I could change the events that sent Kyle spiraling toward his less than happy end.

            You is fresh, emotional, and heartbreaking. It is suitable for a wide range of ages and persons of both genders.