LitPick Review
Maybe I Will is the intensly emotional story of Sandy, a high schooler who experiences sexual abuse at the hands of a classmate. We don't know if Sandy is a boy or girl, just that the abuse affects Sandy's life in many different ways. Sandy's relationships with family and friends becom strained, and Sandy begins to feel depressed and lost.
Trying to cope with the many emotions that result from the abuse, Sandy eventually turns to a mix of alcohol and martial arts. With help from some new friends, Sandy must begin the long journey of healing and forgiveness.
Opinion:
Maybe I Will was an interesting, fresh look into a topic that is relevant to many teen readers.
While it threw me off a little in the beginning, not knowing Sandy's gender gives the reader the freedom to relate to the main character in the way they feel most comfortable. The first-person point of view made this gender-unspecific character possible, and provided for intimate looks into Sandy's thoughts and feelings.
Sandy was a well developed character. I enjoyed reading about the Peter Pan auditions, and getting a glimpse into Sandy's life before the abuse. Details about Sandy's interactions with friends and family throughout the story gave the story depth and added heart to the story. The way that Sandy was betrayed by his/her friends stirred real anger and a whole range of additonal emotions.
I would have liked for Cassie and Troy to make a few more appearances in the middle of the story, and perhaps add a bit of external conflict to keep the story moving at a faster pace.
All in all, Maybe I Will is a fantastic story that stirs reader emotions and shares a meaningful story. I would reccommend it to teenagers who enjoy realistic fiction and books like Speak.
