Book Review: Friday Never Leaving by Vikki Wakefield

Publish Date: September 10th, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781442486522
Pages: 352
Series: None
Source: ARC from publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this wrenching, exquisite coming-of-age novel, Friday discovers what makes a family—and a home.Friday Brown has never had a home. She and her mother live on the road, running away from the past instead of putting down roots. So when her mom succumbs to cancer, the only thing Friday can do is keep moving. Her journey takes her to an abandoned house where a bunch of street kids are squatting, and an intimidating girl named Arden holds court.

Friday gets initiated into the group, but her relationship with Arden is precarious, which puts Friday—and anyone who befriends her—at risk. With the threat of a dangerous confrontation looming, Friday has to decide between returning to her isolated, transient life, or trying to help the people she’s come to care about—if she can still make it out alive.

My Review:

From the first sentence of the book, I know I would love it. And love it I did! I cried, I laughed and I felt something for each of the characters. They came alive and affected me in each and every way.
Friday is a young girl living everywhere and anywhere on the streets with her mother. They sleep in hotels and run before they can pay. They sleep in the woods after having a fire and telling stories to each other. Each story in which Friday remembers the details of even after her mother succumbs to cancer and leaves Friday for good. Instead of living with her grandfather as expected, Friday tries to honour her mother in a way, and takes to the streets again. Friday knows what its like on the streets, she's no rookie having her whole life as proof. Surviving without her mother shouldn't be any different. Then she meets Silence. A young boy with no voice but so much to say. He takes her to the place where runaway kids, like himself find shelter, friendship and some hope within each other. Right away, Friday makes some friends and with them, some enemies. She convinces herself that she wont stay long, though her and Silence find comfort in each other and because of this Friday is invested and wont leave without him.
With the help of Adren, the self-elected leader of the bunch, they are on the move again seeing as there are too many of them to go unnoticed now, to find a new shelter and things start to spiral downward fast. They find "home" in an abandoned city and nothing feels right. The teens are unhappy and realize that things may not be as they seem. People start questioning the way Arden runs the show, and Friday is marked as a target in her eyes.
The friendship between Friday and Silence is heartwarming. The connection I felt between them was real. I was rooting for the two of them to leave and never look back. They compliment each other so well, and I really loved their dynamics. They are definitely a character duo that will stick in my head for time to come.
Friday Never Leaving had such an eerie feel to it -the beginning and end especially. The ending will leave you speechless! Vikki Wakefield left me blubbering like a baby throughout the last few chapters (and parts in between). Friday Never Leaving was expertly written with enough detail to pull you in with every word and remember this book even after you (reluctantly) put it down. Its such a unique read with a fresh, new writing style. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something new!