Release Date - August 12, 2014
Publisher Website - Soho TeenPublisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 256 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**
Here is the Goodreads synopsis
National Book Award-finalist Adele Griffin tells the fully illustrated story of a brilliant young artist, her mysterious death, and the fandom that won't let her go.The Unfinished Life Of Addison Stone is a mystery. It's a story of a broken girl, and her equally broken relationships. The story of a brilliant artist whose life ended all too soon. Adele Griffin blends multiple art forms to create what is essentially a novel version of those true crime TV shows. This worked much better than I anticipated, and created an engaging and engrossing read.
From the moment she stepped foot in NYC, Addison Stone’s subversive street art made her someone to watch, and her violent drowning left her fans and critics craving to know more. I conducted interviews with those who knew her best—including close friends, family, teachers, mentors, art dealers, boyfriends, and critics—and retraced the tumultuous path of Addison's life. I hope I can shed new light on what really happened the night of July 28.
—Adele Griffin
At times you'll almost forget that you are reading a fiction novel, which is the entire point of this type of storytelling. The urge to Google Addison Stone and continue the exploration of her life is always present in the back of your mind as you begin to unravel her story. You lose yourself in the story of her life and Addison becomes real. She becomes someone who lived and breathed.
As vibrant as Addison is, the rest of the cast falls short of feeling fully actualized. They are entities who serve only to flush out the enigma that is Addison. The only ones who come close to feeling as developed as Addison are her boyfriends (and potential suspects) Lincoln and Zach. They create the other sides to this volatile triangle, and add even more mystery to the story.
The mystery elements are well done. The mystery of what happened the night of Addison death compels you to keep reading. It keeps your attention and explores many different possibilities which keeps the tension taunt until the very end. Both a gripping potential murder mystery, and a heartbreaking exploration of mental health issues, it never lets the reader stop wondering.
It's a look at a damaged, troubled girls final days. It's just as harrowing, just as sad as you would expect. There are also bright moments of happiness and light that make up Addison's life. The novel adeptly creates a picture of an all too short life lived in extremes, both high and low.
A unique reading experience that felt fully immersive. Adele Griffin has created something where multiple forms of storytelling worked together to create a richer, deeper picture. I am not sure this format would work for every type of novel, but this one felt natural. Those looking for something a little different from their reading experience will enjoy this one.
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