In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor by Jessi Kirby
Published: May 8, 2012 by Simon & Schuster
Received: ARC from the publisher - thank you S&S!

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences? {goodreads.com}

I first fell in love with Jessi Kirby's writing in her debut novel, Moonglass.  Her ability to create a story centered around a character's personal growth really hit home with me.  In both novels, grief plays a heavy role.  What I adore so much about Jessi Kirby's story-telling is that she does not focus on the death per-say, but rather the life that still needs to be lived. 

The main character Honor has just be given the news that her brother has been killed while serving the military in Iraq.  What we soon learn is that her brother is (was) the closest living relative to Honor.  The brother-sister duo have grown up relying on each other ever since their parents passed away when they were young children.  Honor has always looked up to her brother for guidance and reassurance.  She never quite understood his reasons for joining the military and leaving her behind.  In the wake of his death, Honor discovers a letter that he had written to her months before.  In this letter are tickets to a concert 3 states away and one last request of fulfilling a dream.  With her college plans about to unfold, Honor makes a split decision to road trip it to California, per her dead brother's request.  On the day her journey is to begin, she runs in to Rusty - her brother's best friend, who's been absent from their lives for quite some time.

As these two characters agree to drive out of Texas and in to the barren desert together, it's obvious this journey is much more than just complying with her brother's letter, and more about self discovery and moving on.  Immediately I was drawn in to the physical landscape of where this road took them.  Jessi Kirby does an amazing job of describing scenery in her stories, so much that I can feel the hot sun beating down on me, and the dry sand circling around in my hair.  There is a particular scene in this book that takes place at a majestic watering hole in the middle of the desert.  I was in awe of the beauty being described, but it was the emotion of that particular scene which left me breathless.  Hand over my heart, sighing a heavy sigh of, wow that is some damn good writing.

This review would not be complete without the mention of the unbearable, yet so so satisfying tension between Honor and Rusty.  It's obvious these two characters have a past as childhood friends.  Now that they've matured and have become seasoned souls, it's their experiences through laughter, wit, sarcasm, and the joint love for Honor's brother for which pull them together and facilitate this story forward.  As the final chapter ended my initial thought was: MORE! I want more!  When a book leaves you wanting more from the characters, the story, the adventure, that is always a good sign.  I adore Jessi Kirby, as she is now becoming one of my favorite YA contemporary writers.  I will pretty much read anything with her name on it :)

I realize I have written this review insanely early from it's publication date, but it's THAT good I had to share my thoughts immediately about it.  In the mean time, if you have not already, check out Jessi Kirby's debut novel, Moonglass.