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There are currently 65 member reviews
for Safe with Me
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Lucy B. (Urbana, OH)
The Gift of Life
One woman's loss becomes another woman's hope. A single woman's precious l2-year-old daughter Emily loses her life due to being struck by an automobile. Maddie, the daughter of Olivia and James is very ill and needs an organ transplant to save her life. Thus the story takes on more depth when Maddie receives the gift. James and Olivia never want to know who the gift was received from, but Hannah, Emily's mother, learns who received the gift and the story unfolds. Maddie's mother is an abused wife and suffers many beatings by her husband as the story progresses, which puts another twist to the story. I have to say that for me this book was "unputdownable."
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Susan P. (Boston, MA)
Safe With Me
The story is told in the alternating voices of a well-off but badly treated wife, her daughter who has had a liver transplant, and the mother of the child who died and whose liver was transplanted. It's more realistic in the telling than one would think. The real suspense -- apart from whether the characters will all know the identity of each other -- is whether the abused wife and her daughter can escape the home they've grown to hate. The different voices were well done, especially the teenagers. A good read about finding happiness again.
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Kathleen B. (Las Vegas, NV)
Timely Subjects
I am glad I read this book alone. I cried throughout the book. I related most to Olivia because I was a victim of domestic abuse. I totally understood her mindset and how she didn't leave for so many years. I could only imagine Hannah and Olivia's horror as mother's going through what they did. The pain of losing a child and the pain of watching a child with a grave disease. Maddie was the most interesting character in the book for me. Her intelligence and good nature throughout her long illness was remarkable. It was no wonder that she finally was feeling some of the reality of her situation and having to deal with social situations that never had been an issue before.
There was so much material covered in this book, dealing with aging parents, grief, organ donation, domestic violence and abuse, family relationships, betrayal and friendship. Wow, that covers just about everything.
This book could be a YA book, also and a great book club book. I gave it a four because it is almost impossible to get a five out of me.
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Tracy B. (New Castle, DE)
Safe With Me
The story is an interesting look at both sides of organ donation. Maddie the teen whose life was saved struggles to be part of the real world. Life in the mansion was safe for her, but not for her mother. Hannah the mother of Emily, the of the girl who died, struggles with her grief.
Both Maddie Bell and Hannah struggle with the WHY ME question. How these families meet each other and the relationship that follows is a combination of friendship, hope, deception and fear.
The characters were well developed and the story a compelling one.
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Barbara B. (Alta Loma, CA)
Who Is Me?
From the first page, this book is a real page turner. I read it non stop on a flight from LA to Chicago. Besides being exciting, it also brings up some serious subjects, such as, grief, organ donation, how an organ recipient feels emotionally after the transplant takes place, domestic violence & abuse , & finally something we can all relate to-friendship. I can understand where some readers may find it difficult to read, but these are things we deal with in our society. For this reason, I feel as though this book would be a wonderful book club selection. There is just so much to discuss. Hannah, Maddie & Olivia need each other to be safe.
The characters seem to be real & likable. I especially liked Noah,a true friend.
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Jill S. (Eagle, ID)
Safe with me
This is an emotional, gripping story. It deals with so many social issues--loss of a child, abandonment, domestic violence, and organ donation. Some of these issues were dealt with well in the book, and others were not very realistic. As a result, that's why I gave it 4 stars.
It's a quick read, and I found myself in tears throughout this story. Overall, it's a good read, and I'll recommend it.
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Patricia L. (Seward, AK)
Stay with Safe with Me
Safe With Me begins slowly. The first eighty pages are slightly tedious, especially one long paragraph detailing how to play Zombie Wars. A grieving mother donates her daughter's organs after a fatal accident. A year later she thinks she has met the girl who is a recipient and seeks to confirm her suspicions. While there are some improbable relationships, viewed with skepticism initially, they are easily dismissed as the plot develops. Once the settings and characters become familiar the atmosphere charges and the drama of family dysfunction and abuse unravels with chaotic suspense. In the end, Hatvany takes sorrow, grief, abuse, self-respect and acceptance and blends them into a fast paced study of perceptions and reality. This book is recommended for those seeking a suspenseful yet contemplative week-end read.
