REVIEW: The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson

Andrew Brawley was supposed to die that night. His parents did, and so did his sister, but he survived.

Now he lives in the hospital. He serves food in the cafeteria, he hangs out with the nurses, and he sleeps in a forgotten supply closet. Drew blends in to near invisibility, hiding from his past, his guilt, and those who are trying to find him.

Then one night Rusty is wheeled into the ER, burned on half his body by hateful classmates. His agony calls out to Drew like a beacon, pulling them both together through all their pain and grief. In Rusty, Drew sees hope, happiness, and a future for both of them. A future outside the hospital, and away from their pasts.

But Drew knows that life is never that simple. Death roams the hospital, searching for Drew, and now Rusty. Drew lost his family, but he refuses to lose Rusty, too, so he’s determined to make things right. He’s determined to bargain, and to settle his debts once and for all.

But Death is not easily placated, and Drew’s life will have to get worse before there is any chance for things to get better.

A partly graphic novel.

REVIEW:

 Shaun Hutchinson really nailed it with The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley!! It is the perfect mix of tragedy, loss, bullying, humor, friendship and hope. This book is a roller coaster of emotions! However, Hutchinson did a brilliant job of weaving it all together.

The book is partly made up of a graphic novel, which really added a fun element, and a definite brand of uniqueness to the novel.

The characters are real - so real feeling that you feel like you know them and your heart swells with pride and is suffocated by grief for them.

The setting of the novel, being in a hospital, really lent a lot to the plot and made you see the characters, nurses - everyone from a much different perspective.

All over, I must say BRAVO to Shaun Hutchinson for creating a novel that should very well be considered a must-read by both teens and adults!!