A Heart In A Body In The World.

☆☆☆☆☆

a heart in a body in the world.

 Deb caletti.

Publisher  Simon Pulse.

Publication Date: September 18,2018.

Genre: YA Contemporary.

Format|Pages: Hardcover|368.

 Source:  Goodreads|Library.

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

When everything has been taken from you, what else is there to do but run?



So that’s what Annabelle does—she runs from Seattle to Washington, DC, through mountain passes and suburban landscapes, from long lonely roads to college towns. She’s not ready to think about the why yet, just the how—muscles burning, heart pumping, feet pounding the earth. But no matter how hard she tries, she can’t outrun the tragedy from the past year, or the person—The Taker—that haunts her.



Followed by Grandpa Ed in his RV and backed by her brother and two friends (her self-appointed publicity team), Annabelle becomes a reluctant activist as people connect her journey to the trauma from her past. Her cross-country run gains media attention and she is cheered on as she crosses state borders, and is even thrown a block party and given gifts. The support would be nice, if Annabelle could escape the guilt and the shame from what happened back home. They say it isn’t her fault, but she can’t feel the truth of that.



Through welcome and unwelcome distractions, she just keeps running, to the destination that awaits her. There, she’ll finally face what lies behind her—the miles and love and loss…and what is to come. 

 ☂

I don’t have words… This book was heartbreaking, and inspiring at the same time. A lot of emotions went through me while I read this book. While I was reading, I felt as I went on journey along with Annabelle, went through the emotions, the doubts that she went through. I cried, I smiled, I was afraid, and I cheered for Annabelle. I wanted for Annabelle to reach her destination, her goal. I am not a runner, I do run on occasion on treadmill, but I can’t imagine running the amount she did. I do believe that the fact that she had such support system, that helped her. Her family, friends and even people that she didn’t know, they cheered her on, no matter what. I understand why she did it, and even though I am not a runner, I do feel that running is a good escape for a while. I loved Annabelle from start, and I wondered what happened to her, I was curious what ‘The Taker’ done to her. I did know that it couldn’t be anything good, but I was curious to find out what it was.



From start, I wondered why she came to the sudden decision, to run without any preparation. As I read the story, as The Taker was introduced, and as she mentioned Kat, I had a feeling that it had something to do with it, the memories. It did not take me long to discover that something wasn’t right with The Taker, the way he acted and how fast he would get angry over anything, like someone laughing at him, he would take it so seriously. I had a bad feeling about him. It did not take Annabelle to figure out that either. I just wish that she would told someone. The way he acted, that wasn’t normal, it was scary. A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD is one of those stories that will break your heart, and at the same time you won’t be able to put it down, you will get observed in story, you will find yourself connecting with the characters, especially Annabelle. Out of all the characters, she was my favorite. Plus, I loved the fact that she was running all way to Washington D.C, since that happens be where I live. Annabelle might be a fictional character, but she is inspirational one.



I have been reading DEB CALETTI books for years, and I do believe that A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD is my favorite (So Far). I loved all of her books that I read, but this one hit me hard. I started it 2 days ago and if it wasn’t for work, I would finished it before today. I read it before bed, in morning before work and at my lunch break. I couldn’t get enough of this story, I had to force myself to put it down. Once I did finish it, I was still thinking about it. I wondered what happened to Annabelle, her family and friends after. I loved how close the family was in this story, and how supportive they were of Annabelle, even if her mother had her moments, but despite that, she was still there, cheering her on. Her grandfather, I loved him. I am not sure how far she would got if he didn’t come along. The only character I did not like was The Taker.



A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD was such inspiring, beautiful story about grief, friendship, love, violence. Once you pick this book up, the story will stay with you. This book deserves more than 5 stars. A story that everyone should read.