I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Lisa Schroeder

Plot:
"I dare you." Ava said to her boyfriend, Jackson during their End-of-School Party. Jackson's eyes lit up and he made his way to the top of the waterfalls and prepared to jump.

"Stop!" Ava screamed, a second too late.

Jackson didn't even pop his head out of the water, nor screamed for help. Just the deadly silence. A moment later, deafening screams of shock and hysteria filled the place, but three words drowned them all out in Ava's head. I killed Jackson. Well, there goes her world - and maybe, her sanity too.

Jackson was back. Ava was certain she isn't crazy, but everything felt so real - Jackson's face flashing beside her in her bathroom mirror, the feeling of his hand brushing her cheek, his soft whispers, turning on of the cd player, all accompanied by the sudden drop of temperature. Everytime she felt his presence, towing her out of her big ocean of guilt, Ava kept feeling happy and relieved. Soon, she was ditching everything to stay at home and be with Jackson, but the outside world is calling for her. Her family and friends, are begging for her to come out, have fun, bond and just be happy. As she steps out of her world into the sea of love and concern of the ones dear to her, she discovers that there is life after an unfathomable loss after all, setting free of Jackson with her guilt, and sending them to the place of eternal happiness.

Insight:
The story is uniquely wonderful, and the cover is really interesting. Lisa Schroeder succeeded in her first verse novel. I fell in love with the story and its characters right away, and soon, I was hungry for more, ardently flipping through the pages. It teaches us that not even death can keep us from loving the ones we've left behind and wanting what's best for them. Three thumbs up for this one.xD