Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gritty book about suicide survivors told in free verse.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Parents say the book is a powerful but potentially triggering read for teens, dealing with heavy topics such as suicide, addiction, and mental health. While many reviewers commend its relatable storytelling and engaging prose, they caution that maturity and parental guidance are necessary for younger readers due to its graphic content and emotional intensity.
- mature themes
- parental guidance needed
- relatable storytelling
- graphic content
- emotional intensity
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 76 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Three teens are locked up in a psychiatric facility after their suicide attempts. They each have a dark past filled with abuse, but slowly they begin to open up to one another and form tight bonds.
Is It Any Good?
More than 600 free-verse pages about teen suicide gets to be a bit much at times, especially as the three interconnected protagonists reveal all the trauma they've endured in their short lives. And that includes everything from sexual abuse to abortion to cutting and more. But by stringing together short lines, Hopkins is able to make each of her characters real and distinct. Along the way, readers will find themselves really caring for Vanessa, Conner, and especially warm and funny Tony, as the troubled teens start to deal with their demons, and depend on one another.
In the end, IMPULSE is a gritty and realistic book for mature teens only. It can open the door to a lot of conversations, thanks to the myriad topics it covers. Parents who do a quick flip through the book first will feel more prepared for the discussion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Hopkins' free-verse writing style. How does it change the impact of her story? Were you able to read this book more quickly than other books?
The author's books are often controversial -- and challenged. Should any topic or book be off-limits for teen readers? Who should have a right to say what's appropriate for you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : January 23, 2007
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 14
- Number of pages : 672
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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