disappearances

Watch out for the review to this book on my blog sometime soon!!!

Title: Pity Isn’t An Option

Author: Jessica Brooks

2013, Createspace

Synopsis:

Seventeen year-old Jonas Norton is trying to come to terms with what his blood disorder has robbed from him, including his two most favorite things: basketball, and competing in Hatchet Racket, Wanless’ annual hatchet-throwing contest. The facts that his father works constantly to pay for his blood tests and Jonas can actually see the disappointment in his eyes for being such a failure only make matters worse. And even worse than all of that? Jonas’ own twin brother, Micah, is perfectly healthy and becoming quite the basketball player. Also, Hattie, the girl Jonas has loved for forever? She has no idea how he feels.

Sixteen year-old Hattie Akerman lives down the hill from Jonas. Though her father, Heath, tries to hide his lack of mental clarity behind the bottle and she’s pretty much given up on having any kind of relationship with him, she would still rather her younger sister, Lucy, not have to deal with the consequences of his behavior. Hattie helps her mother by baking food to sell at Market and looking out for Lucy. No matter what the rest of the town says about her crazy father, Jonas sticks up for them. He is, by far, her very best friend.

As if things aren’t complicated enough already, Heath and Micah are unexpectedly drafted into President Kendrick’s army (an army from which no one ever returns) just days before Thanksgiving. When Heath disappears instead of arriving at the Meeting Place to check in, Hattie and Jonas decide they’ve had enough, and take matters into their own hands. And though nothing could have prepared them for what happens next, Hattie and Jonas learn that hope can be seen in every situation. You just have to know where to look.

Excerpt 4

Suddenly, there are gasps all around me. Assuming someone in the Union is going crazy again and a tree is about to fall from the sky, I brace myself, and look around.

People are pointing somewhere off in the distance. Within seconds, I hear sirens.

Nothing good ever comes out of a draft. It only brings the bad. People pass out, parents try to fight the officers who are delivering the news about their precious children, some beg to take their place, others get sick—all are natural reactions. About two years ago, it just turned into one of those automatic things—if someone was drafted, then along came the ambulances. It’s the one time those who don’t have Kendrick’s insurance are allowed medical help. Just shows how sick he is.

“It almost sounds as if they’re going—” Jonas stops and looks at me. He doesn’t have to finish. –Hattie

About the Author:

Jessica resides with her husband of over fifteen years, three awesome daughters, and a plethora of pets in Central California, where fog, frost, triple-digit heat and various items of produce arrive bountifully, depending on the season. She has an affinity for both coffee and owls, and loves to connect with fellow readers and writers on most social networks like Goodreads, Twitter and Pinterest. You can also connect with her on her blog, My Thoughts Exactly.

Jessica writes both young adult and adult fiction. PITY ISN’T AN OPTION is her debut novel.

catch her on:

site/blog: My Thoughts Exactly

twitter: @coffeelvnmom

GIVEAWAY

There are two giveaways. One is US only, and the other is INTERNATIONAL. Please post both codes. 🙂

US only giveaway

1 paperback copy of Pity isn’t an Option by Jessica Brooks plus some surprise swags

You can go HERE for the giveaway

INTERNATIONAL giveaway

1 ebook copy of Pity isn’t an Option by Jessica Brooks plus some surprise swags

You can go HERE for this giveaway