Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Schultz
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brilliant, intense tale of teen coping with grief.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Kiri is a passionate musician, who spends most of her time practicing piano in preparation for an upcoming competitive Showcase, and jamming with her bandmate, Lucas, to get ready for a Battle of the Bands competition. While Kiri's parents are away on an extended vacation, she gets a call from someone named Doug, who says he is holding possessions that belonged to Sukey, Kiri's sister, who Kiri believes died in a car accident. Kiri adored her sister and immediately sets off on her bike to retrieve Sukey's effects. Kiri then learns that her parents have kept secret the real story of Sukey's death. The information she receives sends Kiri into a spiral of pain, drugs, and a desperate need for understanding and solace.
Is It Any Good?
Kiri's sleeplessness, her drug-induced moods and personality shifts, her struggle to make sense of her sister's life and death are all so palpable, it hurts to read about her. But it's worth the heartache to experience the unfolding of this perfectly paced story, and the blossoming tenderness between the troubled couple of Kiri and Skunk. WILD AWAKE is a beautifully constructed and remarkably well-realized first novel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Wild Awake compares to other novels that depict mental illness or grief. What others have you read?
Do you think Kiri's parents were right to shield her from the facts about Sukey's death?
What do you think Kiri does after the end of the novel?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Emotions
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date : May 28, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 375
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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