Review: Eleven Minutes by Megan Miranda

Eleven Minutes (short tie-in story to Fracture)
by Megan Miranda

Publisher: Bloomsbury Teen

Release Date: January 17, 2012

Format: eBook 

Source: Fracture Facebook fan page

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fracture is told from Delaney's perspective, and if you've read the first two chapters, you know that she falls through the ice in chapter one, and she wakes up 6 days later. And what happens in between—well, that's Decker's story.

This is the story of those eleven minutes, and the six days that follow, from his perspective. Because while it must be terrifying to be trapped under the ice, it's a different kind of terror seeing your best friend trapped...

Especially if it's your fault. (Goodreads)

I loved Megan Miranda's debut novel, Fracture, so I was excited to learn of Eleven Minutes: Exclusive Tie-In Story, a 28 page ebook that is currently only available through the Fracture Facebook fan page. This short tie-in story to Fracture is written from Decker's POV and spans the eleven minutes after Delaney falls into the ice and the time she is in a coma. I loved Decker in Fracture, so this was a treat to read. The story is mostly his inner dialogue of regret and guilt, and his desperation/hope for her to wake up... There's also a peak at his memories of growing up with Delaney, and of their friendship.

I always love reading stories from different points of view, and being able to understand things from a different perspective. I don't think it's necessary to read Fracture before this short story, but I would recommend it. I also really enjoyed reading Miranda's note at the end, and why she was drawn to writing this type of story.

If you haven't read Fracture yet, what are you waiting for?!

Author Links: website | twitter | facebook | goodreads

Book Links: facebook | excerpt from Fracture - chapters 1 & 2

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Publisher: Walker & Company

Release Date: January 17, 2012

Format: Advance Reader Copy

Source: Publisher/NetGalley

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Buy: Amazon | IndieBound

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine - despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death. (Goodreads)

I pretty much knew before reading Fracture that I would enjoy it, but what I didn’t expect was how much I would love it. I immediately (on page one) connected with Delaney, the protagonist… she was such a real teenage character, and my teenage self could identify with her in so many ways. I was quickly gripped by the story and I had a hard time putting it down!

What starts out as a fun afternoon with friends quickly turns to horror when Delaney slips and falls through the ice, to what everyone thinks is her death. She is trapped under the ice for 11 minutes until her best friend Decker is able to pull her out. She should be dead, but miraculously she survives seemingly fine. There is no explanation for her walking, talking wellness since by all medical standards she should have been brain dead after 8 minutes. However, Delaney doesn’t feel exactly fine, and she slowly realizes that she is drawn to death. She is relieved when she meets mysterious and “dreamy” Troy, who has her same abilities.

My favorite thing about this novel is the relationship between Delaney and Decker. They’re neighbors and grew up together as best friends, the kind that knows each other inside and out. I loved the push and pull between them as they realize their feelings for each other. OK, I admit it. I might have a little huge crush on Decker! Their relationship was complicated, and you didn’t know what would happen to them until the very end… and it was delicious to read!

I truly enjoyed this contemporary that has a bit of mystery/suspense and a paranormal twist. Fracture is well written with fantastic characters, and great pacing. I highly recommend that you pick this up now!

Here's the book trailer... I won't lie, I think the narration is a little funny...

Author Links: website | twitter | facebook | goodreads

Book Links: facebook | excerpt - chapters 1 & 2

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The week's WoW feature is:

Fracture by Megan Miranda
Publisher: Walker & Company
Release Date: January 17, 2012

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine - despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death. (Goodreads)

I love this cover! It grabbed me from the start... and the premise of the story - awesome! I can't wait to find out what Delaney's "gift" is all about... Fracture is high on my list for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge :).

What book are you anxiously waiting for?