Book Review UKYA

REVIEW: Salvage by Keren David

I must write a warning before I get into the proper review: my review will not do this book the justice it deserves. Believe me, it blew me away, and it takes a real stunner of a book to do that.

Adopted when she’s very young, Cass doesn’t often thing about her life before, let alone her brother. So when a boy contacts her on Facebook one day, claiming to be her brother, she should ignore it, shouldn’t she? But her adoptive family is falling apart and Cass is drawn more and more to a life unlike the stable and normal one she’s lead so far. Aidan, though, has a past totally different to Cass’, and not all of it has been respectable.

The one thing about David’s books that I love is that she can write about any subject and deal with it in just the right way. Never in this book was there an uncomfortable moment and every single word urged me forward. I read Salvage in a day and couldn’t stop thinking about it afterwards. UKYA is known for its gritty topics and this is especially gritty.

One of the themes that most interested me was the class differences between Cass and Aidan. Even though they had the same blood running through their veins, shared the same mother, Cass was privileged and lived with a politician, whereas Aidan had a low-paying job and a girlfriend and her child to support. The differences were always there at the back of your mind and the dissimilarity between the two was clear.

I enjoyed seeing Cass’ naïveté because it helped me to understand Aidan’s life better. I’ve never lived like he does so I think seeing things through Cass’ eyes helped to get to know him more. My mum even says I look like Cass from the back cover, so it was hard not to like her!

Speaking of Aidan, I found him interesting to read about because of the reasons above. I found it fascinating to think that his life could have been so different if he was adopted by the right person. The insight into the life in care and foster homes was thought-provoking and I found it very easy to comprehend.

Salvage was riveting and compelling and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a real eye-opener and I think everybody should read it. It’s a book I think could be taught well in schools and readers will become easily invested in the story. David has produced a masterpiece that I can’t give enough praise to.

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4 Comments

  • Reply
    Maya @ The Book Nook
    6 December, 2013 at 10:53 am

    Gah, I cannot wait until this comes out! I haven’t read any of Keren David’s books (yet!) but I’ve heard so much about them and Salvage in particular sounds like something I’d love. Fantastic review, Lucy!
    Maya @ The Book Nook recently posted…REVIEW: The HobbitMy Profile

  • Reply
    Caroline Taylor
    6 December, 2013 at 11:10 am

    Wow, you really loved this, I must admit I have to thank you for reviewing it because I really don’t like the cover so I wouldn’t be drawn to it in a shop but now I have seen your review I will keep an eye out for it.

  • Reply
    Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain
    7 December, 2013 at 1:55 am

    Again, I still need to read a UKYA book and your reviews just keep motivating me. I haven’t read many gritty and dark books, but maybe I should try this one and break myself into the genre with a book that looks really promising.

    Fantastic review, Lucy! <33
    Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain recently posted…Crash Into You by Katie McGarry Tour StopMy Profile

  • Reply
    Melanie (YA Midnight Reads)
    7 December, 2013 at 3:01 am

    This sounds like one right up my alley!

    Wonderful review as always, Lucy! <33
    Melanie (YA Midnight Reads) recently posted…Discussing Through Midnight (17): To buy, or to borrow?My Profile

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