Shut Up by Anne Tibbets

I was lucky enough to win this book through the First Reads giveaway from goodreads.com.

First of all, I love the cover. It would be something I would pick up off the shelf if I didn't know exactly what I wanted to read. I also thought it was great because it was a really quick read, it was just over 100 pages so it wasn't something that would intimidate people who aren't really readers.

I could defiantly connect with the main character Mary. Not only did I have coke bottle glasses that I got picked on for as a child, but I also didn't know when to keep my mouth shut. We got to see things a little bit from her brothers perspective, but I felt like if we were going to add him into the main character list, why not also add her sister Gwen and maybe even her younger sister Rose. I would have liked to know more about there life in Penn. and maybe it would have shed light on the reason Gwen was the way she was. I understand that the author wanted to focus solely on Mary but since she added a little perspective through Paul I don't think it would have been a stretch to add a couple more chapters covering all the siblings.

All in all though I thought it was a solid story, I think it's something that most teens would be able to relate to.

Another thing, and this has less to do with the book than it does the author, but at the end when she was thanking people she added that a Lifehouse song inspired her. I have often wondered if books would be enhanced by music that the author has picked out to accompany the book.