Book Reviews

In 27 Days (Published Version)**Special Content**

Author: Alison Gervais 
Sci-Fi/YA/Fantasy Fiction

Favorite Characters: 

-Hadley Jamison 
-Archer Morales 
-Death 
-Archer's Mom (Regina?)
-Archer's Grandma

I found that there is no other way to explain the premise of this book other than giving you the actual summary (besides I have a personal tale to speak about so that will be the main focus of this update): Go Check out the Wattpad version! <3 You will love it! -->It's also free! 

Hadley Jamison is shocked when she hears that her classmate, Archer Morales, has committed suicide. She didn't know the quiet, reserved guy very well, but that doesn't stop her from feeling there was something she could have done to help him. Hoping to find some sense of closure, Hadley attends Archer's funeral. There, Hadley is approached by a man who calls himself Death and offers her a deal. If Hadley accepts, she will be sent back 27 days in time to prevent Archer from killing himself. But when Hadley agrees to Death's terms and goes back to right the past, she quickly learns her mission is harder than she ever could have known.

Hadley soon discovers Archer's reasons for being alone, and Archer realizes that having someone to confide in isn't as bad as he'd always thought. But when a series of dangerous accidents starts pushing them apart, Hadley must decide whether she is ready to risk everything—including her life—to keep Archer safe.

From award-winning Wattpad author Alison Gervais (HonorInTheRain) comes In 27 Days, a story of redemption, first love, and the strength it takes to change the future. 

I found the Wattpad version of In 27 Days in January of 2017. How do I remember? A few weeks before a guy from my high school who I will nickname Joseph for his family's privacy, committed suicide January 8th. This book had found it's way to me at the moment I needed it the most. Like Hadley I didn't know Joseph well when he was alive, it was more in his passing that I got to know him. As strange as that sounds I know I am not the only one in the world that has experienced something like this. 

I mostly remember Joseph during lunch or passing each other in the hallway. (I've never shared this with anyone...). My friend had had a crush on him earlier in the school year, so I knew a few things about him and his family. I never really sat with anyone at lunch so when I finished my food I'd throw away my tray and take refuge in the school library. There was one thing I was always certain of... he would be in there, always with his guitar and girlfriend. She was the type where she was very possissive and a bit paranoid. She just screamed: "Bish he's MINE!" even if you weren't looking at him in that way. He quietly strummed his guitar one time where the tone was so smooth, soft, and hypnotic. I remember looking over at him just as he looked up and over at me. In that moment I felt like he was playing just for me. I gave him a little smile and continued to watch his fingers strum the cords finding exactly the tone he wanted to play.  His page is still accessible and I find myself listening to him playing his guitar, drums, and piano sometimes. No one could ignore the passion he had for music. 

I had never felt so much grief for a guy or anyone I didn't even know. Reading In 27 Days it made me feel like I wasn't alone and could get past this. As time went on a realization hit me, if given the chance I would do exactly what Hadley had done for Archer if that meant he could be alive. There will be times where I'm doing everyday things or thinking about my future and get this thought: Joseph will never experience anything like this... again. Joseph was 17 when he died. He'll never have a wife, children, grandchildren. People wonder why people want to do such a 'thing' to themselves when you over hear people from your classes or people you walk past in the hallway making fun of him for doing that to himself. People who are sick enough not to even care about another human's life being snuffed out. 

A girl who had bullied him had posted a thing speaking about him. After his death was announced she took it off the website and asked the principle if she could lead his memorial that the students were going to have for him. He wasn't popular. He wasn't very well liked... for what reason? Because he was different. He wasn't preppy in that frat boy way, he liked playing video games, and watching manga. Yet the whole lunchroom was full of people to 'pay respects' many of the people will even tell you they just wanted to skip class. 

Later when the yearbook was released I was expecting a In Loving Memory of Joesph P. to be somewhere in the many pages, but sadly nope. Not even a school picture was on display. It was as if he never existed. 

A part of me wants to erase the stuff I have written above... but it is my personal experience that I can confidently say made me love the story of Hadley and Archer even more. Books allow us to grow and experience things we wouldn't in 'normal life'. 

A secret that I've been thinking about for a while would be writing and publishing a book for Joseph allowing  the world to see his story in a unique way and show people just how cruel today's teenagers can be and the emotional effects that are left behind. 

  I fight till the end but I learned something in life you don't die for your friends you live for them -Joseph P.-