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Summary
Summary
In this unforgettable novel, Quinn Sullivan falls for the recipient of her boyfriend's donated heart. Printz Award winner John Corey Whaley calls it "not just a love story, but one with a ferocious pulse."
After Quinn's boyfriend, Trent, dies in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the fragments of her now-unrecognizable life. But whoever received Trent's heart has chosen to remain silent. The essence of a person, Quinn has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent's, then in a way, she will still have a piece of him.
Risking everything to get closure once and for all, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas, whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into something more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it--especially since he has no idea how they're connected--but the time Quinn spends with Colton makes her feel alive again. No matter how hard she's falling for Colton, though, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she's lost . . . and all that remains at stake.
Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, this unique and emotional story about an unexpected bond between two strangers will leave no heart untouched.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-Junior Quinn Sullivan finds it hard to forget the night that her life changed in an instant when her boyfriend, Trent, was killed in a car accident. Healthy and only 17, his organs were donated to five different people. After 282 days and several written letters, Quinn meets the recipients of Trent's organs-all but one of them. Who received Trent's heart and why didn't that person come forward? Quinn needs to know and begins combing websites looking for clues. She eventually finds the receiver, Colton Thomas, and sets out to meet him in person. The love story that follows will hook readers-especially those who enjoyed John Green's The Fault in Our Stars (Dutton, 2012). The author has created believable and likable characters who will remind readers to seize the moment and live each day to the fullest. Each chapter is introduced by a fact, quote, or statistic about the heart. The writing is easy to follow yet rhythmic and honest. The one romantic scene is dealt with delicately; sex happens off the page. Kirby brings attention to the importance of organ donation without sounding preachy. VERDICT This memorable romance will ring true with teens, and librarians won't be able to keep it on the shelf.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
High school senior Quinn Sullivan's late boyfriend, Trent, was an organ donor. Via a program that allows donors' loved ones to connect with organ recipients, Quinn gets in touch with (and hears back from) all of them, except for Colton Thomas, who received Trent's heart. Although it is against the rules, Quinn tracks down Colton to get a look at him, and the two end up spending a memorable day together. Soon Quinn and Colton are diving headfirst into new romance, and as she falls for him, the truth of why they met in the first place (which she has kept secret from him) looms like a storm cloud. Medical hook aside, Kirby's (Golden) story is, at its core, a sweet, budding romance, set against the backdrop of Quinn's loving family. Questions of whether Trent's heart still beats for her within Colton's body and whether the circumstances that spark a romance matter linger throughout Kirby's story of letting go and moving forward. Ages 14-up. Agent: Leigh Feldman, Leigh Feldman Literary. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
In an effort to hold on to some small part of her boyfriend, who died in a car accident, Quinn reaches out to the five recipients of his major organs. The only person she can't reach, Colton, received his heart; Quinn sets off to track him down, and a tender romance blossoms. A sure hit for fans of Sarah Dessen. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Trent died in a car accident 400 days ago, leaving Quinn, his girlfriend, with crushing, unremitting grief that has derailed her life.Trent's organs were donated, and Quinn believes that if she could just make contact with the person who received his heart, it might, somehow, help her deal with the pain. So she tracks Colton down, discovering a charming 18-year-old surfer and kayaker who is just beginning to get his life back together after years of illness. She falls for himand he for herin a big way. It's not what she had planned, but when he presents her with a sunflower, the same type of blossom that Trent kicked off their relationship with, she's hooked. Their connection is based on lies: He doesn't reveal that he's had a heart transplant, and she doesn't tell him about her connection either. Kindly advice from her older sister, who is recovering from her own recently ended relationship, and from other members of her gentle, loving family (who, surprisingly, have allowed her to virtually wallow in grief for so long), and Colton's tender, genial demeanor help Quinn rediscover happiness. Predictable and a little syrupy, this effort is ultimately sustained by well-rounded characters and the romantic tension of unrevealed secrets. Just the thing for a day or two at the beach. (Romance. 11-16) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.