How to Save a Life (Sara Zarr)

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         Mandy is ready to escape.  And the baby she's having is her ticket out of town, away from her mother and her mother's boyfriend.  She chooses a woman named Robin MacSweeney to adopt her baby and asks to stay with Robin until she gives birth.  When she arrives at the MacSweeney's house, Mandy has no doubts about giving her baby to sweet, supportive Robin.  As time passes, however, she realizes that she might be more attached to her child than she thought.  

         Jill MacSweeney's mom is making a huge mistake.  Shortly after the death of Jill's father, her mother has decided to adopt a baby.  Not only does Jill think it's really stupid to adopt without any kind of legal agreement, but she feels as though her mom is trying to replace her dad . . . or maybe Jill herself.  Jill knows she hasn't been the ideal daughter: she's pushed away her mom, friends, and on-again-off-again boyfriend since her father's death.  Though Jill is determined to hate Mandy, she can't seem to do it.  Especially after meeting Ravi, a corporate employee at the bookstore she works for.  Ravi helps Jill to be a better person, and might just be the fresh start she needs.

         I enjoyed reading this book from the perspectives of both Jill and Mandy.  It was interesting to see their very different takes on life.  In some ways, the book was about each girl separately.  Their stories did overlap, though, giving you insight on the girls' relationship.  How to Save a Life wouldn't be half as good if you saw it from only one side.  However, I do wish this book had been a little less predictable; I knew how it was going to end halfway through reading.  On the whole, a good book worth reading.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: June 6, 2012