Cover Wars: Hold Still

This is definitely one of those occasions when it is really hard to choose. I love the hardback and it ties in great with the book and the illustrations inside, but I also love the paperback and think it has a very 'adult' look. It certainly wouldn't look out of place in the adult fiction section!

So...nope! I can't choose!



HB / PB

What do you think?

Hold Still by Nna Lacour

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.

I completely fell in love with this book. Everything about it just worked for me. I adored the writing – it was really beautiful and really bought Catlin to life. I really felt as if I was in her head and was on the journey with her. Her pain was palpable and it felt completely realistic to me.

This is another one of those books that is very character driven and relies on character interaction and development. It is in this aspect that this book excels. I loved Catlin’s progression through the novel and it felt a very realistic portrayal of grief. I also loved the way her parent tried to help – you could see how scared and worried they are yet they still give her the room to grieve. They also provide the tools for her to work her way through her grief which was lovely to see. Her interactions with her new friends were really interesting and you could see her struggle with the responsibility of being a friend and her need for contact. Ms. Delani was a really interesting character and gave insight into the responsibility a teacher feels when a student commits suicide.

I also loved the presentation of the book. The way they incorporated Ingrid’s Journal into the book through different paper colour and drawings had a huge impact and as a result made Ingrid a main character in the novel. The author does a great job in showcasing depression in a real and honest way. When we get to see Ingrid through her own words and through the memories of others we get to see this as a long term illness with symptoms that can easily go unnoticed. It was interesting to see Catlin struggle with the truth behind many of her memories now that she sees them in a different light.

I don’t think I’ve done how much I loved this book justice – all I can say is please read it. It’s absolutely stunning.

I want to read that...

Hold Still by Nina LaCour


From Amazon:
Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful - in words and illustrations, Ingrid left begind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend's suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons and start to realise that true friendship didn't die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid's depression becomes the tool by which Caitlin reaches out to all those who loved her.


I really like the sound of this - I expect it will make me cry though! It's published 12 November 2009 (in the UK).

Check out the trailer below: