Lefty's Lowdown: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor by Jessi Kirby
(standalone)
Published: May 8, 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads: 
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? 

 So I've finally read it. This book has been on my TBR for years, so when I saw a used copy at Hastings for cheap, I was all over that like gravy on potatoes. I'd heard really good things about In Honor and I've had pleasant previous experience with Kirby, and I was not disappointed this time around. In Honor was by no means an amazing, force-everyone-I-know-read-this-book book, but it is a sweet road trip story imbued with emotion and discovery.

I'll tell you all right here, right now: I cried by the second chapter. The novel opens with Honor at her older brother Finn's funeral, and you can tell how close they were and how heartbroken Honor is now that he's dead. I have two older brothers, both of whom I am very close with, so I was immediately hit with every feeling ever. As the novel progresses, we learn even more about their relationship and how much Finn was willing to sacrifice in order to make his sister happy. It kinda crushed me and made me want to call up my brothers to tell them how much I appreciate them.

I also found the perspective of this novel really interesting. Honor's brother was a marine killed in action. We're taught to really respect every member of the military because they have sacrificed so much to fight for our freedom, but Honor has a hard time appreciating the military when it killed her brother. She is juggling hurt feelings, confusion, and anger that her brother would just leave her for (what seems to her like) no good reason. I just think that we don't get that perspective that often in YA especially.

Obviously I connected with Honer, seeing as she made me cry so easily, but I definitely found her a bit annoying and immature. I can't put my finger exactly on what it was, but she acted like a giant brat sometimes and I couldn't help but wonder if she was a sophomore in high school instead of a girl who is supposed to be at her college orientation. She grows a lot by the end of the novel, though, and realizes that it's time to grow up and take some responsibility, which I really liked.

The other main character in this novel is Rusty, who I liked a lot while reading, but now, only 3 days later, I've become rather indifferent toward. I know that a lot of people are saying he is supposed to be based off of a Friday Night Lights character, but I've never actually watched that, so he reminded me a lot of Wade Kinsella from the show Hart of Dixie, whom I am head over heels in love with. He was definitely arrogant and not much for vulnerability, but when he let his guard down, it was hard not to like him. I just wish I got to know him more. We do learn a lot about him, but I just feel like I didn't get this complete image of him. Same goes for many of the other characters, such as Lilah and even the dead brother Finn.

The writing, of course, was beautiful. Jessi Kirby has a way with words! And I adore the ending. It's one of those that aren't quite tied up in a pretty little bow, but also not super ambiguous and leaving you hanging.. There was also one tiny scene that really tied the whole story together.

Although this book was not perfect, it was still a very enjoyable read. If you're a fan of contemporary, this is one you don't want to miss. There's emotion and an Impala (and if someone tries to tell me Kirby is not a fan of Supernatural, I will not believe them) and vortexes, which is a pretty cool combination.

4/5