Believe (Fiction - Young Adult) - Hardcover

Aronson, Sarah

3.15

155 ratings by Goodreads

9781467706971: Believe (Fiction - Young Adult)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1467706973 ISBN 13: 9781467706971

Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab �, 2013

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When Janine Collins was six years old, she was the only survivor of a suicide bombing that killed her parents and dozens of others. Media coverage instantly turned her into a symbol of hope, peace, faith―of whatever anyone wanted her to be. Now, on the ten-year anniversary of the bombing, reporters are camped outside her house, eager to revisit the story of the "Soul Survivor."

Janine doesn't want the fame―or the pressure―of being a walking miracle. But the news cycle isn't the only thing standing between her and a normal life. Everyone wants something from her, expects something of her. Even her closest friends are urging her to use her name-recognition for a "worthy cause." But that's nothing compared to the hopes of Dave Armstrong―the man who, a decade ago, pulled Janine from the rubble. Now he's a religious leader whose followers believe Janine has healing powers.

The scariest part? They might be right.

If she's the Soul Survivor, what does she owe the people who believe in her? If she's not the Soul Survivor, who is she?

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Sarah Aronson holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is the author of three books for kids and teens: Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and her newest novel, Believe. When Sarah is not writing, she teaches online classes at writers.com and is the cofounder and organizer of The Novel Writing Retreat at VCFA. She lives in Evanston, Illinois, with her family. She enjoys cooking, hot yoga, biking and hanging out in Chicago. She drinks way too much coffee. Find out more at her website: www.saraharonson.com.

Review:

"As a child, Janine, an American, was the only survivor of a suicide bomber's attack on a temple in Israel. Now 16 and living with her aunt in Pennsylvania, she wants to focus on getting into a good fashion design school and not be the center of any attention. But it is the 10th anniversary of the bombing, and the man who pulled Janine from the rubble is in town, courting the press. Dave Armstrong has become a preacher, and he feels that she is holy and has healing powers. Janine, a lifelong skeptic, tries to simply avoid Dave and his followers, but when they show up at her house, and she touches a boy in a wheelchair who then appears to walk, she begins to doubt everything in her life. Janine is a deeply complex character. As the anniversary of the explosion nears, she is alternately close and loving to her friends or angrily pushing them away. While many people would love to be famous, Janine had fame thrust upon her and grew up with it, affecting every day of her life. She lost her parents, her anonymity, and her innocence in that explosion. This is a book about faith, friendship, celebrity, family, and what pressure can do to someone. Readers may or may not agree with Janine's choices, but those choices always ring true. Aronson makes readers ponder how they would act in Janine's place. Hopefully they will never have to find out." ―School Library Journal

(Journal)

"All Janine wants is to be a normal teenager. But when she survived the suicide bombing that killed her parents and many others ten years ago, people began to see her as a symbol of hope and faith. Each year, on the anniversary of the bombing, reporters have flocked to her, the sole survivor, now dubbed 'Soul Survivor,' to create stories of inspiration for their readers. But Janine feels her routine life is anything but inspirational.

"On the tenth anniversary of the bombing, Janine finds the reporters are camped outside her house again, hoping to snag a story. Her closest friends want Janine to use her fame and publicity to further their own causes. Even Dave Armstrong, the passerby-turned-hero who pulled her from the rubble after the bombing, has shown up in town. Now a religious leader, he hopes to convince Janine that her destiny lies with him. She is the one who will bring faith in God and His miracles to Armstrong's followers.

"Janine angrily rejects them all, clinging desperately to whatever shreds of normalcy remain. But those shreds unravel when it appears she can heal people. Caught up in the religious fervor that follows, Janine begins to believe and maybe to fear that Armstrong might be right, that this, indeed, may be her true destiny.

"Believe is an excellent, fast-paced novel, filled with betrayal, hope and faith. Loaded with complex ideas that relate to current events of the day, it would be ideal for book clubs or discussion groups and is highly recommended for ages 12 and up." ―starred, Jewish Book World

(Magazine)

"Issues of religion and responsibility get a refreshingly thorny examination in this hard-nosed look at a girl thrust into an unwelcome spotlight. Janine was only six when a suicide bombing in Jerusalem killed her journalist parents and many others. In fact, Janine was the sole survivor―or 'Soul Survivor,' as the media dubbed her―miraculously pulled from the rubble with hand wounds resembling stigmata. The 10-year anniversary brings back the spotlight, especially when her rescuer, Dave, now a famous religious leader, comes to town. With shocking suddenness, Janine appears to heal two sufferers. Is it possible she truly is a healer? In this perfect read-alike to Neil Connelly's The Miracle Stealer (2010), Aronson is adamant about keeping things realistic the entire way through, coating the so-called miracles with plenty of skepticism, and instead focusing on the way that Janine is used as a symbol of hope for anyone who needs it―even when things turn out poorly. Nuanced relationships and a refusal to accept easy answers make this a strong, unique look at faith." ―Booklist

(Journal)

"I was fascinated by this thoughtful, twisty, and convincing story about faith in the media age. Halfway through, I felt so deeply for Janine that I found myself looking at my own hands and wondering what I'd do if I were her."―Nancy Werlin, New York Times bestselling author of Impossible and The Rules of Survival

(Other Print)

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"When she was six, Janine was the only survivor of a suicide bombing in Jerusalem. Her parents were killed, and her hands were burned and broken. They call her the 'Soul Survivor,' and they think her hands can heal. On the tenth anniversary of the bombing, she is hounded by the press, her friends want to use her celebrity for their cause, and the man who pulled her from the rubble wants her to be the beacon for his followers. All Janine wants is to be a normal American sixteen-year-old. Janine's life has been defined by that day. Her friends Miriam and Abe, and boyfriend Dan know that she does not want to be famous and avoids the press at all costs. Abe is hit by a car while they are being chased by reporters, and Janine prays for his recovery, although she is not sure she believes in God. When Abe 'miraculously' heals, she begins to believe the hype herself.
This is a story about the expectations put upon those who are famous. Everyone has an opinion on what Janine should do with her life. Janine struggles to define herself apart from being the 'Soul Survivor.' She cannot trust anyone, and when she tries to it backfires, leaving her more alone than she thought possible. This is a great novel to spark discussion on current affairs, living up to others' expectations, and how fame changes lives. Teens will relate to Janine's search for her place in this world." ―VOYA

(Journal)

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