When I Was Joe by Keren David + Giveaway!

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

When Ty witnesses a stabbing, his own life is in danger from the criminals he’s named, and he and his mum have to go into police protection. Ty has a new name, a new look and a cool new image – life as Joe is good, especially when he gets talent spotted as a potential athletics star, special training from an attractive local celebrity and a lot of female attention. But his mum can’t cope with her new life, and the gangsters will stop at nothing to flush them from hiding. Joe’s cracking under extreme pressure, and then he meets a girl with dark secrets of her own. This wonderfully gripping and intelligent novel depicts Ty/Joe's confused sense of identity in a moving and funny story that teenage boys and girls will identify with - a remarkable debut from a great new writing talent.

Review:

Ever since this book started to make waves in the bloging world, I've been looking forward to reading it, and when the chance finally came for me to do so I was so excited. And luckily enough, When I Was Joe turned out to be everything I heard it was. Because When I Was Joe was one of the most exciting, thrilling, and unique books I've read in long time.

When I Was Joe is told from the viewpoint of Ty, a boy who's forced to lie about everything after he witness the stabbing of a young boy much like himself. Now him and his mum are in the witness protection program and given brand new identifies, as well as a new city to live in. Ty's new identify is Joe, a boy very different from his former self. Since while Ty was a dweeb and always a bit babyish, Joe is cool, a leader, and fierce- the eye-candy of all the girls and the guy all the boys want to be. Though, with Ty's new image come problems, like Ashley, a popular girl who isn't nearly as sweet as she looks, Carl, the school's bully who's after Ty, and Claire, the only girl who really gets Ty...too bad she's off limits. And this isn't even adding in the fact that one of London's most infamous drug families is after him with only one goal in mind: to leave Ty dead and unable to testify against them. If anything Ty's year will be anything but a breeze or uneventful!

Ty was an interesting main character, one who always had me on the edge of my toes with his way of looking at things, as well as the mysterious tone his character got when talking about the stabbing and what lead up to it. Another thing that I always found fascinating about him was the way he managed to grow up through this novel and gain a new way of looking at things, one that made him seem ages ahead of his real age but still naive and innocent at times. I especially liked his friendship with Claire. Claire was a very sweet girl and one who always managed to bring the good out in Ty, which left their scenes together to always be some of my favorites.

Another aspect I enjoyed about this book was the action-packed plot. It constantly mangaged to throw little surprises and twists at me that constantly had me rethinking my former predictions and making new ones. And the ending? It has made me so very excited about the sequel.

Lastly, David's writing was yet another good addition to the book. I always felt that she did a decent job of fleshing out her characters, as well as the plot lines. Though, I wasn't really found of the way she managed to make some parts dreadfully slow. But other then that, I think she did a great job with this book

In all, When I Was Joe is the perfect thriller read for teens out there, especially reluctant readers who are looking for a book to keep them on their toes. I simply can't wait to see what Ms. David comes up with next.

Grade: B+

When I Was Joe is now out!

Source: Jennifer at 45th Parallel Communications. Thanks, Jennifer!

And best of all Jennifer has alwasy donated a SIGNED copy of the book for giveaway.

Here are the rules:

~ Open INTERNATINALLY!
~ Must be 13 years or older to enter.
~ Must fill out form to be officaly entered.