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Never Eighteen Kindle Edition

by Megan Bostic (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 118 ratings
See all formats and editions
A teenage boy takes a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life. “There won’t be many dry eyes at the end of this extremely affecting story.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.
 
But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.
 
“It is easy to connect with Austin because his journey is honorable . . . Bostic’s narrative is concise, chapters are short, and the story never lags. Her story is sad, but it is real and pulls no punches.”—VOYA

“Bostic writes this graceful, affecting tale without pretension . . . Perhaps it’s because of that simplicity that the story concludes with such a powerful emotional punch.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“It had the vibe and similarities from two of my favorite books and maybe even a third that are all pretty popular: If I Stay, Thirteen Reasons Why, and The Fault in Our Stars.”—Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    210 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    7 - 12
  5. Publisher
    HMH Books for Young Readers
  6. Publication date
    January 17, 2012
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0547550763
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review




"It is easy to connect with Austin because his journey is honorable.....Bostic's narrative is concise, chapters are short, and the story never lags. Her story is sad, but it is real and pulls no punches."--VOYA

"Bostic writes this graceful, affecting tale without pretension...Perhaps it's because of that simplicity that the story concludes with such a powerful emotional punch." --Kirkus

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

chapter one I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared—terrified, really. I wake, shooting up, drenched in sweat. Jumping out of bed, I immediately head to my computer. I need to get some things done this weekend, and I’m running out of time. God, I hope Kaylee can help. What if she asks what I’m doing? I can’t tell her, can I? No. She’d try to stop me, I’m sure of it. Shit, I hope she doesn’t have to work. I should have checked. Without her Mustang, I may not be able to do this, and I want to, I need to. Otherwise, things may just continue as they always have: painful, motionless. Like treading water. You stay afloat, but you never really get anywhere. A flash, a flicker of life, that’s all I want. I don’t think it’s too much to ask. I sit at the computer and stare at the monitor, wondering where to begin. I need to make a list. It’s hard, but soon it all comes rushing to me—people, places, things. Over and over I think of Kaylee. I want her to be there. Need her to be beside me through all of it. I type until my thoughts die down, come to a stop. I hit print, grab the list, and shove it into the pocket of my jacket, hanging on my closet door. I look in the mirror. I’ve changed so much in the last year, physically, emotionally, mentally. I may be smaller now, but my heart and mind are stronger. These last few months I’ve come to realize that life doesn’t wait. If we stand still it passes us by, and by the time we understand that, it may be too late. The people I see this weekend—I hope they’re okay with this. I want them to take hold of it and not let go. I hope they at least listen. If they don’t, it will kill me. I grab a shoebox that’s been sitting in my closet. It held the new pair of green Converse high-tops my mom bought me before the school year started. Cool shoes. I take the lid off the box and put it on my bed. I pack the box with books, CDs, pictures, my poetry notebook, things that are important to me. I won’t have everything I need until Sunday night. On Monday, it goes to Kaylee’s for safekeeping. It’s late, and I have a full weekend ahead of me. I put the lid back on the shoebox, and place it on the top shelf of my closet. Out of sight. There’s no need for my mom to find it. She wouldn’t understand. I shut off the light and climb back into bed. My body’s tired, but my mind keeps working, churning. I’m anxious, nervous, thinking of what to say, what to do. Sleep comes with difficulty, but in the end, it still comes.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005OCE0C8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HMH Books for Young Readers (January 17, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 17, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1247 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 210 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 118 ratings

About the author

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Megan Bostic

Megan Bostic

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I am just a mere human girl trying to make it in this crazy world. I'm the mother of two crazy beautiful girls, living in the rainy, but lovely Pacific Northwest.

Novelist, blogger, amateur poet, total flirt, self-proclaimed Facebook addict, and all around great girl, I also love making videos. I've done a chronicle of my writing journey on youtube. You can check that out here http://www.youtube.com/user/itlnbos.

I am also partial to monkeys, including the sock variety, and the color black.

My debut novel, Never Eighteen, will be coming your way Winter 2012 from Graphia, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
118 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Just J
5.0 out of 5 stars A most touching story
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2012
Verified Purchase
I felt as if I had been awaiting for this one to be released for years. I had anticipated it so much, and so when it finally arrived on my front door and I laid eyes on how tiny this book is, I found myself a little dumbfounded that it was so small. 'I know, I know, it makes me sound a little shallow to make judgements but my point in sharing this is because undoubtedly, this book will be in my top ten this year. Megan Bostic has written this novel and filled it with such compassion, heartache, true friendship, and pure love.

As I began the journey, reading about Austin and wondering just what it is he had planned, not only was I eager to know what happens next, but saddened because I was a little closer to the end. Megan holds your interest by letting you know that Austin has something seriously wrong with him, as he reaches out to others in need around him. He wants to help others realize that they have the chance to make things change. They have a life to make a difference and that it should not be wasted.
Austin has his best friend Kaylee take him to visit all the people he wants to reach out to and do all those last minute things he never got a chance to. He only wants them to make something of their lives because he doesn't have that chance. He's only seventeen and this will be the end for him. He sees them struggling and reaches out. It is up to them if they will change, as Austin only comes to approach each individual and help them recognize what their issue is and how they can better themselves to lead a much happier life. It isn't a thing to waste and it saddens Austin to see his friends struggle with their lives.
It's Kaylee that makes a difference in Austin's life. He has always wanted more from her but never wanted it to interfere with the great friendship that they have. It's when all feelings are finally laid out exactly as planned, that Austin's biggest regret is that he never spoke up sooner. As I reached the end, tears streaming silently down my cheeks, I knew I was coming closer to the end of Austin's life. But did his life make a difference to anyone else? Austin held so much love for everyone around him. I sure hope so.
2 people found this helpful
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Sheila A. Dechantal
4.0 out of 5 stars A touching book that teaches the power of making ammends
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2012
Verified Purchase
Austin Parker knows he will never see his eighteen birthday. The leukemia he had for years now has slowly eaten away his once strong athletic build and he is tired of fighting.

Really tired.

Yet, before he goes... Austin has made a list of people he wants to talk with and places he wants to see. With the help of his best friend Kaylee and her car that she constantly changes the name of, they take a weekend to right wrongs, to speak truth, to try new things, and to come clean about true feelings... no matter what the cost.

I had such a good time reading this book. How do I describe it's impact on me? Yes, it is sad. BUT it is also powerful, smart, important, insightful, kind, sweet, brilliant, thought provoking and a page turner.

For a YA read I was impressed how this book makes you think of the what if's in our lives... and the relationships we have that are either broken, damaged, or there are words that need to be said... but the time never seems right. What does it take to motivate us into action? How could lives change if we were the ones to make the steps toward repairing, if we were the ones to point out truths that no one has been brave enough to say out loud?
One person found this helpful
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Kimberly Sabatini
5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Moved Me
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2012
Verified Purchase
This was the very last book I read in 2011 and it seems to me that it was supposed to be that way. My dad passed away in 2005 during the early morning hours of New Year's Day. Today it is New Year's Eve--seven years later. I'm not sure you ever get over losing a parent or a child, but the way that I've tried to make sense of my personally horrific loss, has been to make my life matter. In honor of my father, I've chosen to live with courage and hope. The truth is that I would not be a debut author if my father died. So bitter sweet.

As I'm writing this review, I'm terrified that I won't be able to do it justice, that I'll be unable to express just how much it moved me. This book is beautiful. It speaks softly, but resonates deeply. It has everything that a real life has...love, shame, mistakes, friendship, hate, hope, loss, fear, regret, laughter and belief. It has the belief that it is never too late to want more from your life--even when life is short.

I found a connection with every single character in this book--saw myself in bits and pieces of every human interaction, but I loved Kaylee and Austin. They will haunt me--I'll think about them often. This is one of those books that doesn't feel like a story. It feels like it was real. I know them now and they are a part of me and I'm better for having had them in my life.

Megan Bostic is my fellow debut author at the Class of 2k12 and the Apocalypsies, but I urge you to champion this book. My love and admiration for it have nothing to do with my connection to her. This is a book that matters. This is a book that I believe in.

I would be extremely grateful if, when you read this book, you'll stop by and share your thoughts on it with me
One person found this helpful
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Amy K.
5.0 out of 5 stars Never Eighteen
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2012
Verified Purchase
Never Eighteen tackles a depressing subject without being super depressing. Austin has some stuff to take care of before he allows himself to go and takes a weekend with his long-time best friend, Kaylee, to drive him around town to make amends.

Ms. Bostic writing shines in the scenes between Kaylee and Austin. Many readers will be able to relate to a relationship that's very much in the moment, even though there's no hope of a future between the two.

This is a short book that moves along at a pretty fast clip and in that fashion I consider it to be a true YA book aimed at teen readers. I found the some of the scenes to be slightly under-developed (mostly when he'd go to someone's house, he never stayed long and that seemed a bit odd to me). Overall, though, I really enjoyed the novel and highly recommend it.

Read the book to remember what it was like to be young and live life in the moment. Or, if you're still young, be glad you're still there!
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Top reviews from other countries

Amy
4.0 out of 5 stars Came bent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
I bought this book because it cost exactly the amount i had left to spend to get free delivery and it was actually pretty good. It came a bit bent but other than that it was great.
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