Believe

by Sarah Aronson

Overview

When Janine Collins was six years old, she was the only survivor of a suicide bombing that killed her parents and dozens of others. Media coverage instantly turned her into a symbol of hope, peace, faith—of whatever anyone wanted her to be. Now, on the ten-year anniversary of the bombing, reporters are camped outside her house, eager to revisit the story of the "Soul Survivor."

Janine doesn't want the fame—or the pressure—of being a walking miracle. But the news cycle isn't the only thing standing between her and a normal life. Everyone wants something from her, expects something of her. Even her closest friends are urging her to use her name-recognition for a "worthy cause." But that's nothing compared to the hopes of Dave Armstrong—the man who, a decade ago, pulled Janine from the rubble. Now he's a religious leader whose followers believe Janine has healing powers.

The scariest part? They might be right.

If she's the Soul Survivor, what does she owe the people who believe in her? If she's not the Soul Survivor, who is she?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467733816
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/01/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and her newest novel, Believe. When Sarah is not writing, she teaches online classes at writers.com and is the cofounder and organizer of The Novel Writing Retreat at VCFA. She lives in Evanston, Illinois, with her family. She enjoys cooking, hot yoga, biking and hanging out in Chicago. She drinks way too much coffee. Find out more at her website: www.saraharonson.com.

Editorial Reviews

08/12/2013
Ten years ago, Janine lost her parents when a suicide bomber blew up a synagogue in Israel; she was the only one who survived the bombing, though her hands were seriously injured. Afterward, the professor who dug Janine out from the rubble turned into an internationally popular minister, claiming he saw stigmata in the girl’s hands. Though she is publicly known as the “Soul Survivor,” Janine avoids fame and any belief that she is special (“No matter what anybody says, I am not superhuman. I cannot change the world”). After Janine’s hands appear to heal two gravely hurt boys, she begins to wonder at her own power. Aronson (Beyond Lucky) has hold of a compelling premise, but the many subplots can be distracting, including a friend’s quest to save a community farm and Janine’s desire to be a fashion designer. Her story raises fascinating questions about fate versus luck, and who has the responsibility to make a difference in the world, but the convoluted plot weighs the story down. Ages 12–up. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary Agency. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

4Q 3P J S

"When she was six, Janine was the only survivor of a suicide bombing in Jerusalem. Her parents were killed, and her hands were burned and broken. They call her the 'Soul Survivor,' and they think her hands can heal. On the tenth anniversary of the bombing, she is hounded by the press, her friends want to use her celebrity for their cause, and the man who pulled her from the rubble wants her to be the beacon for his followers. All Janine wants is to be a normal American sixteen-year-old. Janine's life has been defined by that day. Her friends Miriam and Abe, and boyfriend Dan know that she does not want to be famous and avoids the press at all costs. Abe is hit by a car while they are being chased by reporters, and Janine prays for his recovery, although she is not sure she believes in God. When Abe 'miraculously' heals, she begins to believe the hype herself.

This is a story about the expectations put upon those who are famous. Everyone has an opinion on what Janine should do with her life. Janine struggles to define herself apart from being the 'Soul Survivor.' She cannot trust anyone, and when she tries to it backfires, leaving her more alone than she thought possible. This is a great novel to spark discussion on current affairs, living up to others' expectations, and how fame changes lives. Teens will relate to Janine's search for her place in this world." —VOYA

From the Publisher

Janine reacts to the increased media scrutiny surrounding her on the 10th anniversary of the suicide bombing that killed her parents with a series of peculiar behaviors, including a brief stint as a faith healer. The novel's most promising storyline involves Janine's struggles to understand her role as a reluctant public figure. Though many community members are well-wishers, others very openly declare that Janine is wasting her "second chance at a meaningful life" by withdrawing rather than using her fame to champion important causes. Unfortunately, Janine's attempts to define "important" and to understand why harnessing her fame as a promotional tool feels like exploitation get lost in the multitude of additional issues that are haphazardly squeezed into the novel. Janine's struggles with her Jewish heritage, faith healing and the family drama that ensues as Janine reads her mother's last diary obscure potentially interesting themes about privacy and the press. Further complicating the novel is Janine's self-absorbed storytelling, which leaves little room for readers to understand other characters, whose behaviors often seem conveniently demonized to generate pity for the unlikable Janine (such as when her friends stand by and watch as an angry mob unaccountably begins to throw mud at her). Sluggish narration and characters' baffling emotional fluctuations will leave readers unfulfilled in spite of the novel's interesting premise. (Fiction. 14 & up)

Kirkus Reviews