Cross My Heart, Hope To Die by Sara Shepard Review

Hi Wonderful readers!

Welcome to my first poem-style review!

Cross My Heart, Hope To Die by Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Rating: 4/5 SPLENDID STARS 
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Minor "Book-Enticing" Spoilers Ahead 

First, my Book Review Writing Playlist:

There are some songs that I listen too while writing this review and I find have relevance to the book and my opinion of this book. Listening to music is my little habit while writing poems.  

1.     Lucky by Britney Spears

Sutton Mercer is the equivalent to a Hollywood Star. She is the most popular girl in her school, has a loving family and amazing friends. Emma is lucky to pretend to be her but, like the girl described in the song, Sutton’s life, against appearances, is not perfect. Emma’s life as Sutton also appears to perfect but it is not, she, though she is in internal denial, is in love with two boys, Thayer Vega and Ethan Laundry, and although she has finally found her biological family, she cannot tell them the truth. Also, scary events occur at night bringing out inner tears.

2.     Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

This song correlates helped with the morose ending of Cross My Heart, Hope To Die by Sara Shepard, the action and suspense.

3.     Someone I Used To Know by Gotya

Everyone, from Sutton’s boyfriend Thayer to Sutton’s best friends Madeline and Charlotte to Sutton’s rival Nisha, notice how much Emma is different from the Sutton they used to know, without realizing the truth. Though one of them is on the charge! I also feel many of these lyrics are going through Thayer’s head.

Now my review!

Smile, another great story
in this pleasure of mine.

Vibrations echo the surface

Over and over again

As I muse over the disastrous cliffhanger

Where one’s fierce fire is shocked

much too early in a watery turmoil.

Emma why couldn’t you just answer the phone?

Or read that evidential file?

Wish you would stop being ignorant

and realize the sad truth.

Still, would I be thinking straight

pretending to be my murdered sister?

Suspense bangs throughout this story.

In the beginning and end,

Lags in the middle for a sweet contemporary space

Sharing life travels during meandering a murder investigation.  

Emma’s admirable moments bonding with Mads and Char,

apologizing for a silent voice in the shadows, and

her ability to find trust in a new friend,
in an old rival who understands.

Oh Nisha, how delightful are you.

Smart, brave, and, most of all, forgiving. 

Oh Nisha, how proud I am of you.

It is amazing how one character can grow,

becoming a favorite within just one book.

Ethan and Emma scenes are embarrassing,

What does she see in him?

When there is sweet

     brave,

         honest

             caring

               maturing

      understanding

         Thayer of amazing lines.

I could complain about the awkward

Ethan and Emma romance,

the plenty of unresolved mysteries

and holler for answers,

Or I can enjoy what makes this book 
standout in a crowded mass,
a library of books.

My admiration for the amazing characters,

Emma’s bravery, Thayer’s strength, Nisha’s initiative
Madeline and Charlotte's loyalty, Laurel spunk, 
Mr. and Mrs. Mercer's love.

All growing riveting against gravity.  

Explorations of a damaged yet loving family
A mother's regret. A father's devotion. 
A daughter struggling between forgiveness and anger. 
A challenging, dangerous secret.
One impossible to stay secret forever. 

The amazing writing style, 
In the view of a thoughtful, imperfect ghost and 
her self-less twin who makes numerous mistakes.
I adore them as protagonists, 
wish they could have met.  

A splendid tale where tragedy transcends over

the innocent, ignorant souls who deserve the truth,

leaving them with unrest and tears.  

Yet the unjust leave happy, 
free to hide in the bushes, 
attack for the smallest of sounds,
a cassowary far from justice.

My favorite lines:

Emma’s determination:

“She was the Emma who’d been channeling Sutton. She was a tough and practical Emma who had to fight to survive, who had to ask difficult questions and learn truths she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She was the Emma who was going to solve a murder,” Pg. 75

Thayer’s maturity:

“I’m just saying – you can’t prevent other people from disappointing you. It’s bound to happen at some point. We’re all only human. What you can do is decide how you’re going to respond to it, how you’re going to deal with it.” Pg. 240

Nisha’s sad truth:

“The dead don’t come back. No matter how much you want them to.” Pg. 276 

Thanks for reading!