Haunted Echoes
by
Emma Bloom
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Publication Date: July 20th, 2015
Format: eARC
Freak!
Oddball!
Crazy!
Loser!
The world sees Abby as unsavory, making her feel isolated. But she most certainly isn’t alone. Everywhere she turns she hears disembodied voices, sees things move as if by unseen hands. Bullies constantly torment her, threatening what remains of her sanity. Her mother is too busy trying to fix her craziness to see what is truly happening. Abby is tired of the world around her, and wants nothing more than to escape. When her life spirals out of control, she is invited to Hildebranch Academy, a school for spirited kids like her. Can Abby learn to live a normal life?
"She would have given anything to be normal. Her oddities were what made her standout. Maybe they were right. It was entirely possible that Abby was crazy. Why did she have to be born this way? What good could come of the spirited voices which continued to plague her? What did someone even do with this? All it had brought her was pain and delusion."
You know you've just read a great book when it has provoked strong feelings from you as a reader.. And I just had a bitter sweet experience with Haunted Echoes.
You see, when I'm reading, I always try to relate to the characters, and I can't do that to Abby- atleast at the beginning. She's weak, overly dramatic and whiny for my taste. That was why I think she's a perfect target for the bully kids. She wanted somebody else to make her life easier.
"Abby couldn't help thinking if she knew about the bullying problem in the school, why didn't she do something about it. She was a teacher after all."
I don't like the way she blamed other people to what happened in her life.
"If only my mom had made me feel it was ok to be me.....
If she hadn't treated my like I was making things or acting out all those years ago, it would have been easier to face the horrors of my everyday life..."
But then, I thought maybe I was being hard and unfair to Abby. I mean, I have never been bullied, even though I grew up with no parents, my aunts were there for me, they have been the constant companion I had and they never made me feel alone, and lastly, I don't hear ghostly voices like Abby does, so I probably should give the girl a break. Abby doesn't have a friend or a parents to confide what she's been going through. Her mother doesn't believe her about the voices..
"Abby still remembered her words. "Stop playing with your imaginary friends, Abigail. It's time to grow up already."
It's kinda hard to confide to a person who doesn't believe you. The bully kids torment her life in every way possible it made me angry. I wanted to yell and shook Abby on the shoulder and slap her to make her realize that no one will be bullied if no one will allow it! Meghan is creepy and a bully. The things she do to Abby are not something a sane teenager girl would've been able to do. I thought it was disturbing and insane - turns out she was.
Abby's growth throughout the duration of the book was commendable. Her mother's faith and love to her helped her get past one of the worst chapters in her life. Maybe the worst is not yet done, but atleast she wouldn't have to face it alone. She has friends now in Hildebranch Academy, where she was eventually sent to learn more of her ability.
Sometimes we overlook things, or maybe it was just me. When I was reading the bully encounters Abby had, I saw Meghan as a rich brat girl who bully people who's beneath her just because she can - an immature act. And boy was I so wrong.
After reading this book, I felt the need and want to personally meet Abby, I want to apologize to her, I want to hug her so hard and be her friend and tell her that she needs to be strong and I want to assure her that everything's going to be alright.. This was the reason why I liked this book. Not because I was entertain. No, I liked Haunted Echoes because it made me feel all sorts of feels, very heartfelt it made me cry, and it taught me not to judge people just because you could've done things better.
Romance: What the hell is romance? That girl have enough problems like proving her sanity and trying to survive highschool that flirting is not on her highest list... JK.. Actually there's this guy the girl might have a silly little highschool crush on, but it was short lived, because the guy might have serious issues going on too. So yeah, that sums up her romantic experience, which I liked better. Atleast I was saved with the frustration of insta love by a supposedly troubled teen. But we may see more of that in the sequel of this book which I'am really looking forward to! **Wink
Overall: I
Highly Recommend this book to everyone.
Author Emma Bloom, that’s me! I was born in southern Illinois and am the youngest in my family. From an early age I found a great love for reading and dreamed of one day creating books that would capture the minds of young readers. I am an avid lover of all things paranormal, even though I admit I’m the first to duck and cover in a haunted house.
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Disclaimer: Thank you to YA Bound Book Tours for providing all of the information. None of these belong to us. Also to Netgalley, for accepting my request after this tour was organized. The eARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Blog Tour + Giveaway: Haunted Echoes by Emma Bloom
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