Book Review: Stronger Than You Know by Jolene Perry

Title: Stronger Than You Know
Series: N/A
Author: Jolene Perry
Pages: 256
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN: 9780807531556
Source: Netgalley
Purchase Links: Amazon | Book Depository
RATING ★★★★

After police intervention, fifteen-year-old Joy has finally escaped the trailer where she once lived with her mother and survived years of confinement and abuse. Now living with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in a comfortable house, she’s sure she’ll never belong. Wracked by panic attacks, afraid to talk to anyone at her new school, Joy’s got a whole list of reasons why she’s crazy. With immense courage, Joy finds friends and grows closer to her new family. But just when hope is taking hold, she learns she must testify in her mother’s trial. Can she face her old life without losing her way in the new one? Will she ever truly belong in a world that seems too normal to be real?

REVIEW

Browsing through Netgalley and I saw Jolene Perry – it was an auto-click/request. I did not even think twice or exerted much effort in reading the blurb on this one. I knew instantly that I just had to read this. There was no mixed decision or hesitation because I knew that Perry will always deliver a story worth reading. I have that much faith in her ability. Of all the books she wrote that I read, I rated it 4 or 4 1/2 stars so there’s no doubt that I am indeed a fan – and to be honest, Stronger Than You Know is as best as her other works.

Stronger Than You Know is centered around Joy – a teenager so broken it’s difficult for her to even talk and be in the same room as her uncle. Joy’s life has been traumatizing and there’s nothing her new found family can do but be patient and wait for Joy to open up. It takes every bit of Joy to do so and her journey to self discovery is bittersweet and heart breaking. If you are familiar with Perry’s work, you already expected that Stronger Than You Know is character focused than its story. Perry has a talent for whipping up well developed characters unlike any other – and in spite the fact that there was no room for a flourished story – it was still as harrowing and beautiful as expected.

Joy was such a mess and you’ll feel that throughout the story. The amount of tears and moments of breaking down reached a new high for me while reading Stronger Than You Know. Granted that I am an emotional reader basing on some of my reviews BUT I was not expecting to get attached to Joy as I am now. Her pain was so raw and painful, I did not for a second pity her though because her family is right – she is stronger than she gives herself credit. If it was someone else, I doubt that they can handle it as better as Joy did. Joy was not the only one who stepped up in this journey. Seeing how her family helped her along the way was so touching. I cannot imagine the sacrifices they made to help Joy with her issues. Joy made them a stronger unit and they made Joy open her eyes in accepting that she is invincible to all her demons.

If you want to read a story with strong character development Stronger Than You Know is a great choice. Although story development is not its strongest suit I can guarantee that its all worth it. It is a quick read – short yet powerful. Perry has yet again masterfully written a story that creates an astounding impact to her readers. It is raw, powerful and memorable. Definitely a book in my “best of” list this year.

If you want to check out Jolene Perry’s other works, here’s her Goodreads page. Also check out my reviews of her works: