Parents' Guide to

The Last to Let Go

By Mary Cosola, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Teen tries to hold family together in sad, beautiful story.

Book Amber Smith Coming of Age 2018
The Last to Let Go Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

In THE LAST TO LET GO, author Amber Smith tackles the tough subject of domestic abuse and its effect on families. The story centers on Brooke, a high school junior, who is reeling from her dad's death at her mother's hands. Before the killing, Brooke's family was already fractured internally due to years of domestic violence, but after her dad's death, all the cracks are exposed and things start to come apart. With her siblings dealing with the trauma in their own ways and her mother in jail, Brooke works hard to hold herself and the family together. She starts her new academically rigorous high school, confronts her sexuality, and gets a job, all while trying to get through emotionally to her mom, sister, and brother. Eventually, it is all too much for a 16-year-old to manage, and Brooke must face the truth of her situation and how her family's past has shaped who she is.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

A teen girl struggles to keep her family together in this sad but engaging look at the ripple effects of domestic violence. The story has little plot and is slow in places, but author Amber Smith's beautiful, lyrical writing elevates The Last to Let Go above standard YA fare. Brooke Winters, the 16-year-old at the center of the story, is hard to get invested in as a character. Though her pain of being an outsider is well presented, she is so closed off from herself and others, it can make for frustrating reading. Her progression from self-absorbed to self-aware teen is an important part of the book, but it isn't always an enjoyable journey to follow. Along those lines, her mother never explains her decisions or her actions, only saying to Brooke things along the lines of "You wouldn't understand." The story would have been better served by showing more of the mom's perspective. Her actions greatly influence the story but the reader never gets to know her.

Smith effectively shows how difficult it is to help people in abusive relationships, the long-term effects of abuse, and how it can be handed down through generations. Each Winters sibling has a different response to and different personal issues resulting from living in an emotional war zone for so many years. The ending isn't tied up in a neat bow, but it is satisfying and realistic.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Deep, unhappy secrets are a common theme in young adult books and movies, such as The Last to Let Go. Do you think this is a realistic portrayal of teen life?

  • Have you ever put on a false front when meeting new people? Why? Does the real you come out eventually? Should you be making friends who wouldn't like the real you anyway?

  • How do you cope when you feel like you have too much on your plate, such as school, activities, and family obligations? Do you think you're a person who can handle a lot or does it stress you out?

Book Details

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