Friday, March 8, 2013

RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 
GIVEAWAY ENDED 
RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA
 BY KIMBERLY McCREIGHT

ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Kate, single mother and law firm partner, gets an urgent phone call summoning her to her daughter's exclusive private school, she's shocked. Amelia has been suspended for cheating, something that would be completely out of character for her over-achieving, well-behaved daughter.

Kate rushes to Grace Hall, but what she finds when she finally arrives is beyond comprehension.

Her daughter Amelia is dead.

Despondent over having been caught cheating, Amelia has jumped from the school's roof in an act of impulsive suicide. At least that's the story Grace Hall and the police tell Kate. In a state of shock and overcome by grief, Kate tries to come to grips with this life-shattering news. Then she gets an anonymous text:

Amelia didn't jump.

The moment she sees that message, Kate knows in her heart it's true. Clearly Amelia had secrets, and a life Kate knew nothing about. Wracked by guilt, Kate is determined to find out what those secrets were and who could have hated her daughter enough to kill. She searches through Amelia's e-mails, texts, and Facebook updates, piecing together the last troubled days of her daughter's life. 

Reconstructing Amelia is a stunning debut page-turner that brilliantly explores the secret world of teenagers, their clandestine first loves, hidden friendships, and the dangerous cruelty that can spill over into acts of terrible betrayal. 

PRAISE FOR RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA:
“McCreight captures the complexities, cruelty and angst of teenage girls so well my stomach was in knots. What really happened to Amelia? You’ll find yourself staying up all night to find out.”
— Jennifer McMahon, New York Times bestselling author of Island of Lost Girls
“The real story of Amelia’s life and death emerges slowly, through a creative blend of Kate’s present, Amelia’s past, and such varied communication methods as texts, e-mails, blog entries, and Facebook status updates. . . . Fans of literary thrillers will enjoy the novel’s dark mood and clever form.”--Publishers Weekly“A multilayered legal thriller. . . . Comes to a seamless and unanticipated conclusion.”— Kirkus Reviews“An elaborately plotted mystery. . . . A harrowing story. . . . McCreight does a fine job of building suspense and creating characters, notably Kate and Amelia, whom the target audience—both adults and older teens—will care about and empathize with.”— Booklist
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kimberly McCreight, named one of Entertainment Weekly's "13 to Watch in 2013," attended Vassar College and graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. After several years as a litigation associate at some of New York City's biggest law firms, she left the practice of law to write full-time. Her work has appeared in such publications as Antietam Review, Oxford Magazine, and Babble. She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband and two daughters. To read more about this author, visit her "Bio" on her website HERE.
MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
Kimberly McCreight’s first novel, RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA, is a realistic thriller woven around the relationship of a single mother and her teenage daughter. On the surface, all appears to be quite normal until a terrible tragedy forces examination of what is really going on in their lives. Inclusion of contemporary issues such as bullying and dealing with one’s sexuality, make this a timely narrative that grabs you from the start and makes it hard for readers to put down.

As an attorney for a busy law firm in New York, Kate Baron, is a single mother to daughter, Amelia. Amelia is a curious and bright sophomore who appears to love attending the elite, private Grace Hall School. With a best friend, Sylvia, Amelia enjoys doing well in school and even has a text pal, Ben, who she appears enthusiastic about. Amelia is chosen to be a member of the Magpies which is an unofficial, all-girls’ club who are very cliquey in who they select. Although Amelia doesn’t really want to be part of this group, she sees significant reasons for joining.

The story really takes off when Grace Hall calls Kate to tell her that Amelia has been suspended for a paper she says she wrote but rather had plagiarized it. Upset, she heads to the school only to get there too late. Kate is now shocked for when she arrives, she finds that Amelia is dead, having fallen from the roof of the school! It is originally believed that Amelia jumped. Kate is naturally distraught, filled with grief and guilt as she tries to examine where she failed Amelia. However, when Kate receives an anonymous text that says “She didn’t jump”, it sets in motion a mother determined to find out what really happened to her daughter.

RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA is masterfully written by alternating Kate and Amelia’s first person point of view so that the narrative shows readers what really was going on before and after Amelia’s death. Through examination of Amelia’s emails, blogging, texting, and even Facebook account, Kate begins to reconstruct what really was happening in her child’s life that led to her death. McCreight does a superb job of developing these two characters with such precision that you know them and totally feel for them both. Topical in scope, heartfelt in emotion, RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA is sure to draw you in and stay with you for a long while. How a mother and daughter can be so close and yet so far apart will play out as their secrets are revealed. Don’t miss RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA and if you are like me, you will eagerly await the release of more from Kimberly McCreight!


GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO KATHRYN AND THE GOOD
FOLKS AT HARPER COLLINS, I HAVE ONE
COPY OF THIS THRILLING NOVEL,
RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA
 
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
 

COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!


HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING AT KIMBERLY McCREIGHT'S WEBSITE HERE 


+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON A CURRENT GIVEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES

  GIVEAWAY ENDS AT 
6 PM, EST, MARCH 21
   GOOD LUCK! 

117 comments:

debbie said...

This sounds like a really good thriller. I would like to see how the mother finds out about what happened in her daughter's life. I would really like to read this book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I entered assaulted pretzel.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Reading said...

I think this sounds like a book I would like to curl up with at night. I love the mystery!

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

I follow on GFC

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

I am an email subscriber

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

traveler said...

A compelling thriller. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Saturday Night Widows.saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Assaulted Pretzel.saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Nickled and Dimed. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Fix it and Forget it cookbook. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered The Sunshine When she's gone. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Eleanor and Park. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered The Girl in the Wall. saubleb(at)gmail(dot()com

traveler said...

I entered The Girl in the Wall. saubleb(at)gmail(dot()com

traveler said...

I entered Six Sisters' Stuff. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

The author was an attorney. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I really want to read this book. I want to find out what happened to Amelia and what she was involved in. Please enter me in contest. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com

Carol N Wong said...

This story sounds so real, gripping and tragic and mysterious. I really want to read it!

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

petite said...

A new book that sounds excellent. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am a follower. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

The author is talented and has written short stories in journals. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Assaulted Pretzel. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I enjoyed reading about she treated writing this book like putting together pieces of a puzzle.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)ccm

petite said...

Entered Saturday Night Widows. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Fix it and Forget it. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with an e-mail subscription.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with Facebook.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Wave Goodbye. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with Networked Blogs.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Peach pies and alibis. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Bowling. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered the Christie Curse. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with Google Friends Connect.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Nickled and Dimed to death. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Six Sisters Stuff. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Alex Cross. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "Nickled and Dimed to Death".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
"Saturday Night Widows".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

petite said...

Entered The Sunshine When She's Gone. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
"Christy Curse".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

petite said...

Entered The Girl in the wall. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "Fix it and Forget It".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "Peach Pies and Alibis".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "The Sunshine When She's Gone".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "Eleanor and Park".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
"Assaulted Pretzel".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "The Girl in the Wall".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "Wave
Good-bye".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "Alex Cross, Run".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "Bowled Over".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 March Facebook Bonue Entry

#1
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 March Facebook Bonue Entry

#2
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 March Facebook Bonue Entry

#3
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 March Facebook Bonue Entry

#4
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 March Facebook Bonue Entry

#5
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Mona said...

I enjoy books set in schools and bullying is, unfortunately, too prevalent these days.

Thanks :)
monagargATyahooDOTcom

Mona said...

https://mobile.twitter.com/Kulmona/status/310252173701296128

monagargATyahooDOTcom

Mona said...

I learned she went to law school and yet she quit both her lawyer jobs within a few months.

monagargATyahooDOTcom

Mona said...

GFC(Mona)
monagargATyahooDOTcom

Mona said...

Twitter(@kulmona)
monagargATyahooDOTcom

Mona said...

Facebook(Mona Garg)
monagargATyahooDOTcom

Mona said...

Networked Blogs(Mona Garg)
monagargATyahooDOTcom

Mona said...

Email subscriber
monagargATyahooDOTcom

Mona said...

Goodreads(Mona Garg)
monagargATyahooDOTcom

Pamela Keener said...

Thanks to your review I want to read this book. It sounds so current and intriguing
pk4290 comcast net

Linda Kish said...

This sounds intense. I'd love to find out what happened to Amelia. What a great first book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Her extended biography tells a great story of what she went through to become a publish author.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an RSS subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an email subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 March facebook

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 March facebook
3
lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Margie said...

This sounds like an exciting mystery, discussing some very current and important topics. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

In the beginning of her career this author would get up early before her legal job, to write short stories.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 3
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 5
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

GFC follower
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Facebook fan
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

RSS read via Google Reader
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Saturday Night Widows
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Christie Curse
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Sue Farrell said...

I like that the author was good at capturing the angst and secret lives of teenagers---should be interesting.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Margie said...

entered Cookbook giveaway
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Sue Farrell said...

I am an email subscriber.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Margie said...

entered Peach Pies
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Girl in the Wall
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Sue Farrell said...

I follow in twitter as @Suekey12.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I follow on Networked Blogs as Suzan Morrow Farrell.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I follow on GFC as Suekey.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I follow on facebook as Suzan Morrow Farrell.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered Saturday Night Widow.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered The Christie Curse.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered Peach Pies and Alibis.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered The Girl in the Wall.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered six Sisters Stuff.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered Alex Cross, Run.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Margie said...

entered Louder Than Words
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Misusedinnocence said...

I like the idea of seeing a chraracter constructed through her Mother's memories and research, because as far as I can tell we never see the character of the daughter. It sounds like a really good read.

Misusedinnocence said...

I learned that the author will be at The Corner Bookstore in New York, NY next month.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

rubynreba said...

I enjoy thrillers and this certainly sounds like a good one.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

GFC Follower
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

email subscriber
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 March facebook
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 March facebook 2
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 March facebook 4
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 March facebook 5
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Entered Assaulted Pretzel
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Entered The Girl in the Wall
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Entered Six Sisters Stuff
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Entered Wave Good Bye
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Entered Bowled Over
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Entered Louder Than Words
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Margie said...

entered When She Was Gone
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Week in Winter
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

CLICK HERE TO
SEE MY POLICY