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Everything Beautiful is Not Ruined by Danielle Young-Ullman is a book about a camping trip. It also has some backstory woven in throughout the story. The supporting characters are all so developed and have such complex stories. The main character is also smart, strong, and musically talented. This book does not disappoint.
Title: Everything Beautiful Is Not RuinedAuthor: Danielle Young-Ullman
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: February 21, 2017
Rating:
Wild meets The Breakfast Club in this story of a girl who must survive an extreme wilderness experience to prove to her mother that she has the strength to pursue her dreams.
Then
Ingrid traveled all over Europe with her opera star mother, Margot-Sophia. Life was beautiful and bright, and every day soared with music.Now
Ingrid is on a summertime wilderness survival trek for at-risk teens: addicts, runaways, and her. She’s fighting to survive crushing humiliations, physical challenges that push her to her limits, and mind games that threaten to break her.Then
When the curtain fell on Margot-Sophia’s singing career, they buried the past and settled into a small, painfully normal life. But Ingrid longed to let the music soar again. She wanted it so much that, for a while, nothing else mattered.Now
Ingrid is never going to make it through this summer if she can’t figure out why she’s here . . . and why the music really stopped.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Everything Beautiful is Not Ruined, Danielle Young-Ullman
This book is a story that focuses on a summer camping trip in the wilderness and has bits of intricate backstory woven in. I loved switching between the present and the past, where the story of Ingrid’s mother and the events leading up to the trip are revealed. The theatrical and survival aspects made for a nice contrast and made the book so unique. I was definitely not prepared for the big reveal at the end and appreciated the element of surprise.
❀ Quirky Cast of Characters
One of the most interesting aspects of Everything Beautiful is Not Ruined is the cast of characters. While Ingrid is away at camp, she meets a group of teens who are each troubled in their own way. At first, I had some doubts about a lot of the characters, but after learning each of their stories, most of them grew on me. Each of the characters is quirky and there’s definitely more to them than what meets the eye. The growing bond between them was entertaining to read, and I enjoyed watching them start to rely on each other.
❀ Ingrid is Admirable
Ingrid is a clever and insightful main character. I enjoyed her sarcastic voice and her hilarious letters to her mom. Ingrid really transforms on the camping trip, and it is really inspiring watching her grow stronger. She is so determined to follow her dream, despite the protests from her mom, which I really admired. Her character really makes the book emotional and entertaining.
❀ Highly Recommend
Everything Beautiful is Not Ruined by Danielle Young-Ullman alternates between past and present as it tells the story of a camping trip. The supporting characters are all so interesting and unique in their own way. Ingrid is also a strong character who comes a long way from who she is at the beginning – or technically the end – to the present. I would strongly recommend this book!
About Danielle Young-Ullman
Danielle Younge-Ullman (danielleyoungeullman.com) is the author of the YA novels, EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IS NOT RUINED, and LOLA CARLYLE'S 12 STEP ROMANCE, and of the adult novel, FALLING UNDER. Danielle studied English and Theater at McGill University in Montreal, then worked as professional actor for ten years. This was character-building time during which she held a wild variety of acting and non-acting jobs—everything from working on the stage and in independent films, to dubbing English voices for Japanese TV, to temping, to teaching Pilates. She now lives with her husband and two daughters in in Toronto.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
This sounds like a super interesting read! The synopsis and your review has really gotten my attention 😀 Wonderful review, thank you for sharing!
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
So glad to hear you enjoyed this! I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages, so I can’t wait until it’s released! It sounds like such a fun, interesting read…definitely different from other stuff that’s floating around out there right now. Awesome review!
It really is a different type of book. I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
This sounds so interesting! Great review!
This sounds so good. I haven’t heard of it until now, but I love the idea behind it. I love the idea of the wilderness camp for at-risk teens. Not the most unique idea, but still intriguing!
Right?! I hope that you enjoy it if you do decide to read it. 🙂