Review of Gone Gone Gone by Hannah Moskowitz

Gone, Gone, Gone 

by Hannah Moskowitz

5 stars

It's a year after 9/11. Sniper shootings throughout the D.C. area have everyone on edge and trying to make sense of these random acts of violence. Meanwhile, Craig and Lio are just trying to make sense of their lives. Craig’s crushing on quiet, distant Lio, and preoccupied with what it meant when Lio kissed him...and if he’ll do it again...and if kissing Lio will help him finally get over his ex-boyfriend, Cody. Lio feels most alive when he's with Craig. He forgets about his broken family, his dead brother, and the messed up world. But being with Craig means being vulnerable...and Lio will have to decide whether love is worth the risk.

*blurb from Goodreads

The gif that describes it all ;)

Credit

Review

Craig is a fifteen year old boy who loves his animals more than anything. But now a burglar broke in, his animals have all escaped and he feels more lost than ever. Lio is in love with Craig but Craig isn't over his ex-boyfriend Cody, who lives out of state. 

Words fall short when I try to describe this book. It's the best feeling to get after finishing a book but not necessarily good when you try to write a review about it. I'll give it a shot anyway because this book is too good not to read.

For me reading is mostly about feeling. Some books resonate with you and others don't. What I loved about this book that it perfectly captures the feeling of being in love, not just love but unrequited love. The wanting that turns to aching because you want to be with somebody so badly that it hurts. To want to touch, to completely inhibit that person. Yes, I could relate very well :) 

Written from two first person POVs, you get to know the thoughts of Craig as well as Lio. Their problems are very complicated and I think Moskowitz showed other people's motivations really well. Nobody is just the bad guy, there is a reason that's usually from misunderstanding. You see Craig and Lio slowly growing to each other and it's a beautiful thing to witness.

Since I'm still young and I can barely remember 9/11 -also I'm not American- this gave me a whole new insight to the aftereffects. Over the years I've learned more about it but I will never really understand how it changed America. This book portrays the fear and the confusion very well. I didn't know about the shootings in D.C. and I can't imagine how it must have felt. It's not an easy subject to tackle but I think Moskowitz did it both respectfully and honest. 

The characters are believable and it never feels forced. A new classic that will stay with you for a long time.

Short

Moskowitz writes an earnest and understated story of two lost boys on a journey to find what they need and get what they want. 

I'd never read any books by Hannah Moskowitz before but now I'm certainly reading the rest of her books.