Customer Reviews

Aimee

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a valuable book that should be read by teens and their parents. Missed opportunities for communication between adolescents and adults are key to the story, which evolves like a mystery with such suspense that I couldn't put it down. The narrator's voice is very real and poignant. The story has an important message to convey, on the difficult issue of teen suicide.

I think this is a useful book for mental health professionals to read, as well.

A Review by Tiffany

Best Friends with Aimee, Zoë did everything that they every wanted to do. They had the cutest boys in the world. The ones that are caring and won't go tell his best friend everything that they did the night before. But one night everyone's life comes to complete stop. Zoë ends up with charges against her and Aimee is dead by her own hand. After everything went wrong Zoë has been herself since. Her family life is torn apart and the one person she ever loved she can't even see him.

I like how this book keeps going back and forth to the past and present. It keeps me reading. It leads up to what she really has now. Her life is a mess. At least her love Chard is still by her side. And that nothing can put them in the way of seeing each other. I learned that every life is precious. That one fatal move can hurt some ones life forever. Mary Beth Miller is one of the best authors. Every page leaves you in a wondering mind. Like what is going to happen on the next page. For a while there I thought it was based on a true story. I think that it should be a movie.

I would recommend this to anyone. All ages should read this book in there life. It might make a big difference.

To begin with, I cannot describe the excitement that suffused my body as I finished the first two pages of the book. I immediately knew the story was going to be a narrative that brilliantly told about the chronicles of a young, teenage girl who was struggling through adolescence because of the many misfortunate events that occurred in her life. This is a fictional story of friendship, loyalty, insanity, recovery and hope that can appeal to almost anyone who has ever lost someone or something special to them.
In the story, Mary Beth Miller tells a chilling account of a young girl named Zoe, who is charged with the murder and accused of assisting her best friends suicide. Though proven innocent Zoe cannot let go of the thought of being tried for such an appalling crime. To get through the chaos Zoe was recommended to a psychiatrist, whom she does not enjoy sharing her thoughts and feelings with. Even though she does not like her psychiatrist, she is to recount in the journal what she went through with Aimee and her posse of friends before and after Aimees death. One chilling fact that was brought to the surface was that Aimee admitted to Zoe and her friends that her stepmother was physically and mentally abusing her. By doing so little by little the events leading up the Aimees suicide were revealed. This was only the beginning of Aimees cry for help, but nobody heard her screams in time to help her. After writing her feelings and thoughts into her journal Zoe had come to terms with Aimees death and was ready to start life over. Zoe changed her way of life and moved on from her past. She now is a scholar student and a state track champion.
I ended up finishing this book in less than two days because the book takes you on an emotional roller-coaster ride that entices you into reading more and more until you read the book from front to back. I thought this book was excellent in every aspect. I was very impressed with Millers uncanny ability to get into the characters head, while never even knowing the narrators name, which was later found out at the very ending of the book. I believed the characters roles were very well developed and realistic. The only criticism that I had about the characters was about Zoes parents. I felt as though they were not explained well enough and seemed to be one-dimensional at first, but later in the book, I got more insight as to their roles. Although fictional, I felt as though I was reading a true story from someones journal by using the first person perspective to narrate the whole story. To add to this, the author was able to capture even the darkest emotions of the narrator that it made me feel as though the events were happening to me. Lastly, I think the best part about this book is that it brings up issues that plague teens today. Such as, depression, suicide, eating disorders, illegal drug and alcohol use, divorce, and love in a very realistic way.
Overall, I found the book to be an exceptionally good read for teenagers to young adults. For a fictional novel, it was terrific and profound, which made me enjoy it even more. It made me think about life more than usual and how similar events could one day occur in my life. I would highly recommend it for anyone, but I will prepare those who read it to have a box of tissues beside him or her. I say this because you will hear a girl recount her life after she lost her lifelong best friend.

I was given this book for Christmas. I didn't expect it to be any good, but I was wrong. From the very first page, questions rose from my mind. But the most prominant question was - WHY didn't I read it sooner?
This is the story about a group of friends torn apart by one tragic night of poor decisions and a life time of anyting but happy endings.
Aimee was the victim of sexual child abuse.
Zoe was the victim of a friendship that couldn't win.
While reading, you're bound to form questions in your mind. Write them down, as see just how quickly they're answered. I garuntee it'll be quickly.
MaryBeth Miller has a style of writing I've been yearning for in the mix of boring young adult dramas. Her unique voice touches, GRABS you and rips you in to the world of Zoe.
One thing is for sure.
You won't forget Zoe or Aimee after you read.

Well, I was reading through all of the other reviews and I noticed one that said that Mary Beth Miller automatically assumed that every teen has sex, gets drunk, and contemplates suicide. Well, not every teen does. But what about the ones that do? Is it not fair that there should be a book that they can relate to also? You can't hide whats out there, so why try? I do not think that Mary Beth Miller has stereotyped rebellion into teenagers at all. I think she's just showing you a genuine glimpse of real life. She's just being real. By the way, I loved the book. And I even loved how you didn't find out the main characters name until the end. It was just simply intriguing and kept a strong hold on my attention. Overall, 5 stars :)

In this very "unusual" yet exciting style of writing, Mary Beth Miller draws her readers quickly into her book AIMEE. The techinique of flash backs and memories flooding through the main characters mind make for an all together wondeful plot. Readers will share some of the most intimate and personal thoughts of a teenager as she deals with friends, family, triumph, love, loss, heartbreak, and death.

I enjoyed this exteremly deep and meaningful plot. Although it was difficult at first to keep track of the story due to all the time changes, (presnt to past, constantly switching) it wasn't long before until I found myself yearing for more. Chard, Kyle, Kates, Jason, and Amiee soon enough become more like your own friends that strangers. They find a place inside your heart where I am sure they will stay for a time to come.

Overall a really well written book that is worth reading. I am looking forward to reading more books From Miller in the future.

This is a poignant book that hits home on the theme of friendship and knowing what is right and wrong when you aren't sure which adults you can trust. Once Zoe is accused of assisting in her friend's suicide, she is isolated from her friends. Anyone who has experienced high school knows how essential your friends are to your mental health. Zoe is angry, adrift, trying to cope with the loss of her friend, and has no one save for an unhelpful therapist to discuss this with. She waits to describe the night of her friend's suicide until the climax of the novel, and the moment is eye-opening.

The parents in this book were very realistic. They were unhelpful to the teens, and they were mistrustful of their childrens' stories, based on their past behavior. As an adult, I can relate to the parents' decisions regarding their children, but as a post-teenager, I relate more to how crushing the adults' actions were to the teens.

In discussing this book with others and reading the other reviews, it is clear to me that adults have trouble "getting" this book, while teenagers immediately identify. As someone not too long out of high school, this book really hit home for me. It also resonated with my 16-year-old sister. Each of us started the book during the day and then had to stay up the entire night because we were so drawn into the story. I finished it at 2:30 AM and I was very emotionally stirred. So I caution you, don't start this book right at bedtime!

I just recently started reading this book but hardly ever want to put it down. I carry it around from class to class picking it up in my free time! THis book is so captivating and is dealing with subjects taht are relevant to what is happening the world. I really reccomand you reading this book!

AIMEE was an astonishing piece written by Mary Beth Miller. It keeps you in suspense. It was a book that kept you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the very last. This book had five main characters. They are Chard, Aimee, Kates, Kyle and the narrator, whose name you'll learn later in the book. This book starts with the introduction of each family of each character. They really get into detail. There are so many parts to this book and each one is really descriptive in it's own way. They're unique. You have to use your imagination. AIMEE is an inspirational story of how you can cope with certain situations; it teaches of how to deal with life. This book is probably the most intense, vivacious book one can read. It's great for teenagers. It's also good for the early twenty-year-olds. AIMEE is definitely a book I'll read to my teens. I like this book a lot. It's very fantastic with a magical touch.

Aimee is a stunning look at teen angst and the real problems that face young adults even as they are trivialized by their parents. The narrator's voice is strong and frighteningly real. One can't help but feel that the author must have firsthand experience of what it's like to be the survivor of a best friend's suicide. The descriptions and scene settings are vivid and true. Bravo to Mary Beth Miller for giving us teen characters that are so purely portrayed.