Date finished: 19 April 2015
Rating: 1/5
The
Last Leaves Falling is a striking novel that
demands careful consideration of serious issues by its reader. Sora, a Japanese
teenager with huge dreams, struggles to find friendship and courage in his
struggle with ALS. Unfortunately, there are elements that did not sit well with
me, and I constantly found myself questioning what exactly the author was
trying to convey to her readers.
Although Benwell’s writing style and
simplistic plot are far more suited to readers in their early teens, Sora’s
opinions on death, suicide and his struggle against ALS are not entirely appropriate
for younger readers. Overall, there is a dark underlying tone of helplessness
and tragedy that, instead of challenging its readers, seems to advertise
suicide as a courageous and noble death. Teenagers would be safer reading
novels with darker content that present a more stable view on life, especially
when suicide and self-harm are becoming increasingly prominent among
adolescents.
This incompatibility of the storyline,
teenage characters and main themes resulted in a confusing and overwhelming
story that left me feeling ill at ease. This book is not worth the wasted time
or emotional energy it demands.
This review was also posted on The Bluestocking Review.
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