Review: Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
Title: Crash Into Me
Hardcover, 257 pages
Author: Albert Borris
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: July 21, 2009
Source: Library
Buy: Amazon
Book Summary:
Owen, Frank, Audrey, and Jin-Ae have one thing in common: they all want to die. When they meet online after each attempts suicide and fails, the four teens make a deadly pact: they will escape together on a summer road trip to visit the sites of celebrity suicides…and at their final destination, they will all end their lives. As they drive cross-country, bonding over their dark impulses, sharing their deepest secrets and desires, living it up, hooking up, and becoming true friends, each must decide whether life is worth living–or if there’s no turning back.
Review:
For a few days I have been trying to compose my thoughts on Crash Into Me. My first feeling when finishing this book was to be appalled, but I did not want that to be my only reaction.
I’m not sure I’ve changed my opinion much.
The teens in this book have all declared they want to go on a trip and then kill themselves at the end of it. It’s not really a book you’d pick up if you’re looking for a happy story, so going into it I expected to have an emotional ride.
The road trip part of the story was, for the most part, pretty good. Each of the characters on the trip revealed more about themselves as the trip progressed, learning more about each other and their own personalities and thoughts.
Throughout the book we see chat transcripts of these four meeting and then deciding to go on this trip. This SCARED me. I am not ignorant of what can happen on the Internet, but to even consider that any teenager I know could be in a chatroom at this very moment talking about suicide and planning a trip that would eventually end in taking their life was so frightening to me.
Once I had gotten through some of these chat transcripts and had those feelings, I started to feel negative towards the book because it did not do a good job of explaining anything about the characters except specifically why they wanted to die. Without an overall picture it made it seem like suicide was their only choice, and this is not a message I want floating around.
The end of the book also made me a bit unhappy – the reason for what happens at the end is so ridiculous. I felt like this could have been done a lot better.
Maybe the reason I really did not appreciate the way suicide was depicted is because I have never had experience with a friend or family member feeling that way. There are many very positive reviews of this book on Goodreads, but it really is not one I’m totally behind – I am going to try Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, which has a similar topic and see if I feel any differently.
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Sorry to read you didn’t like this one more but I understand your reasoning behind it. Thanks for the honest review.
Amber, I’m glad that I explained it in a way that allowed you to see my point of view. I know that many people loved this book and I tried hard to explain why I didn’t as much
Twitter: BasicallyBooks
Sad. I haven’t read this one, but I really wanted to read it, although I’m not totally sure I had a good grasp of the actual plot… BUT, Thirteen Reasons Why is masterfully done. It’s probably the best book I’ve ever read dealing with teen suicide.
Thank you for the extra recommendation, Ashley. I need to move Thirteen Reasons Why up my list!
“The road trip part of the story was, for the most part, pretty good. Each of the characters on the trip revealed more about themselves as the trip progressed, learning more about each other and their own personalities and thoughts.”
This is the only part of the book where I got excited and became interested the other part of the story is just bad imho.
It’s very interesting that I found your site when researching Crash Into Me. I had a friend bring this book up about a week ago and I just got around to checking online.
I don’t know if I would buy this book, based on your review. It’s not a bad review at all. It’s just that some of the content probably won’t sit well with me. You said you haven’t known anyone who has had suicidal tendencies. Well, I have.
It was a very rough time for me, and although this book might help out with a situation I’m in, it may have too much of a negative impact on me. I’ll have to give it some thought.
Thanks for the review!
Shelia
This book is a pictorial reality about most teenagers. In today’s changing relationships, teenagers are getting into depression, anxiety and loneliness which encourage them to commit suicide.
While there is a greater life ahead, it is very important to counsel them to guide them in the right path. Chatting has become another concern for parents. I think this book could have done more by inflicting positive thoughts onto the youth.
Regards,
Tommy
So I won’t be checking this one out then. Thanks for the review. 3/10 plot is surely the worst rating you’ve given?
Question: why do you bother to rate the book cover?
I just read ‘Crash into Me’ for one of my sec ed grad courses. I am a 25 year-old female from PA. I agree that this book reflects the lives and feelings of many teens across America. I saw my teen self in all four of the characters and have had many discussions with other young adults who share the same connection.
However, in hind sight, my teen suicidal tendencies were more a cry for attention rather than an attempt to end my life. Which I feel is the case with most teens today. It’s hard to see as a teen that there is a life beyond high school, everything seems so important and dramatic. Most teens grow up to realize how silly they were to cry out for attention in the form of suicide. ‘Crash into Me’ is a good book for seeing the world throught a teens perspective.
With that being said, suicide is a very serious matter. Please pay attention to warning signs and proceed with the proper channels
@Shanyn
Thanks for the review. This book was recommended by a friend, but after reading your review, I’m not that enthusiastic anymore to read it.