In Honor [Hardcover]

Jessi Kirby (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 8, 2012

A devastating loss leads to an unexpected road trip in this novel from the author of Moonglass, whose voice Sarah Dessen says “is fresh and wise, all at once.”

Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it.

     Honor 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 Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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?

Review

“An amazing novel about first kisses, last goodbyes, and what it means to finally let go. I absolutely loved it.” (Lauren Barnholdt, author of Two-Way Street)

“A beautiful, engaging journey with heart, humor, and just a pinch of Texas sass. Hands down my favorite contemporary of the year.”

--Sarah Ockler, bestselling author of Twenty Boy Summer, Fixing Delilah, and Bittersweet

"The story of Honor and Rusty’s road trip offers moments of hilarity, potential romance, and spiritual awareness as the two travel across the desert to commemorate Finn’s life...Readers will find themselves rooting for the two to see past their differences and get together. "

--VOYA

“[Honor and Rusty’s] enviable roadtrip portrays the universe as resonant with beauty and responsive to personal grief, which is just what many teen readers need as they cope with the losses in their lives.“--BCCB

“A sweet and soulful summer romance that is worth the trip.”

--Publishers Weekly

“Fans of road-trip novels with plenty of heart . . . will love this journey, from unpredictable start to finish.”

--Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (May 8, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1442416971
• ISBN-13: 978-1442416970
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #757,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jessi Kirby is the author of MOONGLASS, IN HONOR, and GOLDEN, available May 14, 2013. She is also a wife, mom, middle school librarian, runner, and beach lover.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Laughed, I Cried, I Loved it May 8, 2012

By Page Girl

Format:Hardcover

The Writing: I know I said this about Kirby's first novel Moonglass, but it must be stated again: She is a great writer plain and simple! Kirby can take what other's seem to bungle, and instead wrap it up with poetic conciseness that keeps the story moving, the reader fully enveloped in the moment and all the while you feel as if you are cruising along at a nice easy pace. She writes in such a way that you truly believe the characters point of view and experiences. If she is describing grief, nervousness, the scenery on the road or what it's like to see a place for the first time, you feel like this must have been how Kirby felt in her own life to write with such a sense of authentic trueness. Her word imagery pulls you into a scene that is easy to visualize complete with emotion and the necessary details to keep you turning the page. As my 60-something year old retired father said when he read one of Kirby's novel "That girl's a professional alright".
Family Is Where Your Heart Is: Kirby paints a picture of the older brother every girl always wanted-Someone who was always looking out for them, but not willing to make a big deal out of it; The kind of brother that every mother imagines her son to be when she finds out that her first child will be a boy-A defender of the family. I believe this aspect appeals to most of us out there either because we've always wanted that or never really had it. I also love that Finn and Rusty had their own family bond even though they were just friends. In life you don't always get to pick your family members, but true friends can more than make up for gaps left by the unfortunate events that can happen in life. This message is woven through out the book as Rusty and Honor's odyssey unfolds revealing a closeness that surprises them both....

The Crush: The crush aspect of this story makes me so awkward and nervous, I might as well have had a crush on Rusty myself. I love the fact the Honor knows him all to well, but just can't help herself from letting her thoughts get the best of her. I love Rusty's cockiness mixed with the realization that this is not the 8 year old little sister that use to follow them around BUT that he still holds onto the respect he has for his best friends little sister. That kind of self control is so far off from the "I want it NOW" generation we are all a part of and if we don't write down in books, how will future generations know the importance of holding back when all you want to do is leap forward. A little bit of chivalry and self control can go along way and is so much sexier than giving in. I mean come on here people we need to shape up; we are in danger of having nothing but a bunch of floozies running around looting the world if we can't get a hold of our need for instant gratification.

All in all, I laughed, I cried (no really I did) and in the end I loved it! Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Told Story May 11, 2012

By Mundie Moms/Mundie Kids

Format:Hardcover

Why fret over the cost of gas and where to go this summer on a road trip, when all you need to do is pick up Jessi Kirby's upcoming release, In Honor! This is one of those stories that will leave you wising you had a trusty guy friend, a sweet red pair of cowboy/girl boots, and a classic car to hit the road with. Not to mention a few mishaps, and some unforeseen adventures, all of which accompany Honor during her whirl wind road trip from TX, to CA. Shortly after laying her only brother to rest who was killed in action, Honor receives a letter from him and a request. In order to honor his request Honor decides to hit the road for an incredibly moving and unforgettable road trip.

I loved Honor! This girl made me want to laugh with her, cry with her and had me wishing I was sitting in the passenger seat along side her for her trip. Yes I know Rusty, her brother's best friend had that spot, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind sitting in the back, or maybe he would. She's a strong girl who's just learning to cope with losing her brother, finding her way, keeping his request and learning to maneuver through the various mishaps that accompany her on her journey. The biggest complication of all lies with Rusty. Oh this boy knows how to push the right buttons, as well as work it.

Here's the thing with Rusty, he is who he is. He knows how to get to Honor, as much as he knows how to comfort her. He made me frustrated at times and other times me made me love him for all his imperfections. The thing between Honor and Rusty is complicated, and wonderful all at the same time. They have this rich history since Rusty's been her brother's best friend since grade school.... Things grew differently for them after high school, which also makes for an air of uncertainty and some complications with Honor and Rusty now. Their relationship to say the least is strained.

The thing I love about a well written contemporary is getting to really know the characters. I felt like I not only got to understand the history and the feelings between Honor and Rusty during their road trip, but I felt like I apart of their lives for this brief moment. I felt like I was getting to know them during their process of getting reacquainted with each other during their drive through the hot desert, with the windows down in the car, and their sometimes awkward conversations and walks down memory lane. It's definitely a unique relationship these two have, but it's one I felt drawn to in many ways. They're both learning to grieve, cope, love, trust and open up about things they'd rather not.

One of the most appealing things to me about this story is the relationship between Honor and Rusty and the love that they have for one another. It is so unique and different than a actual love story, and I loved that! Here's the thing I've come to admire about Jessi Kirby's writing, she keeps it real with her realistic characters, their life like situations and the fact that she can emotionally hook me from the get go. This is a story that made me laugh, got me a little teary eyed, made me want to smack Rusty in the shoulder and give him the "what the heck are you thinking" and "I can't believe you just said that" look a few times, and in the end left me with that happy sigh with how things were left. It's that ending where you things will be okay.... Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great YA read November 17, 2012

By morselmama

Format:Hardcover

Loved it! The characters and emotions were sincere and genuine. Had a blast going on the journey with Kirby and Honor, and really felt pulled in by their shared grief and experience. Had a great little twist at the end, too. I'm SO looking forward to Jessi Kirby's next book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is so beautifully written. November 9, 2012

By Alexa (Alexa Loves Books)

Format:Hardcover

In Honor is Jessi Kirby's sophomore novel, but the first book I've read by her - and I was honestly blown away. There is nothing I love more than beautiful writing and well-done characters, and there is just the right amount of both these things in this novel. I fell in love with this incredible story, and I am afraid I won't be able to do it justice with my review, but I'll certainly try.

The best part of In Honor is the writing. Jessi Kirby did a fantastic job in this respect, especially when it came to her choice of words and turns of phrase. It is always a pleasure when books read beautifully - which really just means that the tone, the phrasing and the rhythm just work well. I read it at a slower pace than I would normally do, simply because I was squeezing every single bit of enjoyment and pleasure I could out of it. With her words, I could picture moments and setting vividly in my mind; with her words, I wanted to become a part of the story.

The one thing that appeals to me most about this story is the road trip that Honor and Rusty go on. I love road trips; if I had a car and I had a schedule that was less constrictive, I'd be taking road trips all the times. What makes this trip even sweeter is how Honor didn't plan for it at all, and didn't even intend for Rusty to come along. I loved the spontaneity and the rush from not knowing what would happen next.

I also loved the relationships highlighted in this book - specifically between Honor and her brother Finn, Rusty and Finn (though we don't hear too much about them) and Honor and Rusty.... I love how each of these relationships receive their own share of attention - how Finn protects and cares about Honor and seeing her happy, how Honor looks up to Finn and relies on him, how Rusty and Finn are the best of friends, how Honor and Rusty are not friends, but eventually find their way back to that kind of relationship again (and maybe a little more, which I totally approve of). These characters are strongly defined by their relationships with one another, and this actually gives a fresh sort of insight into who they are.

But, apart from each other, these characters are real and quirky and flawed. Little things, like what the Impala was named or what songs they liked to listen to, these things showed off their individual personalities. And we see, throughout the course of the story, just what each of them (Honor & Rusty) are trying to overcome and struggling to accept. (Just to throw this out there - I wouldn't mind having a Rusty in my life!)

Though I enjoyed this book, I'm sure I could understand why some people would be on the fence about it The story is paced well to me, but it might be a bit slow to other people. Everything - emotional punches, unforgettable moments - happens in the span of a few days, but most of the things that happen are more internal experiences than actual action. If you're looking to have an emotional experience, In Honor is perfect for just that.

In Honor was an incredibly written book - and I'm happy that I finally got to experience for myself the absolute beauty of Jessi Kirby's writing. As I'm a fan of real characters and lovely writing, there is no doubt in my mind that I'll be reading anything Jessi Kirby writes in the future. If you're looking to experience an emotional journey alongside some amazing characters, In Honor is a great choice. (Plus, you know, road trip! And Rusty!) Read more ›