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How to Save a Life Paperback – October 30, 2012

by Sara Zarr (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 238 ratings
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Jill MacSweeny just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends -- everyone who wants to support her. When her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she's somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.



Mandy Kalinowski understands what it's like to grow up unwanted -- to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she's sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It's harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?




As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy -- or as difficult -- as it seems.
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  1. Reading age
    12 years and up
  2. Print length
    367 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    7 and up
  5. Lexile measure
    HL710L
  6. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.92 x 8.25 inches
  7. Publication date
    October 30, 2012
  8. ISBN-10
    0316036056
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0316036054
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Editorial Reviews

Review

* "Woven together from two simple threads, the resulting tapestry is as beautiful as it is real. A story that will resonate beyond its final page."―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

* "Filled with so many frustrations, so many dilemmas needing reasonable solutions, and so much hope and faith in the midst of sadness, Zarr's novel is a rich tapestry of love and survival that will resonate with even the most cynical readers."―Booklist (starred review)

* "Zarr...crafts intimate and authentic portraits of two vulnerable teens struggling to cope with uncertain futures....Their slow, cautious efforts to build trust and better understand the meaning of family are expressed with the deepest compassion and kindness."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

* "The imperfection of the characters and the uniqueness of their situations come together in a compulsively readable novel. Zarr has established herself as an author who must not be missed."―VOYA (starred review)

* "Another heavy-hitting page-turner from Zarr....A must read."―School Library Journal (starred review)

About the Author

Sara Zarr was raised in San Francisco, California, and now lives with her husband in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is the author of The Lucy Variations, How to Save a Life, What We Lost, Sweethearts, and the National Book Award finalist Story of a Girl. Her website is www.sarazarr.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown; Reprint edition (October 30, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 367 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316036056
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316036054
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL710L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.92 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 238 ratings

About the author

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Sara Zarr

Sara Zarr

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Sara Zarr is the acclaimed author of nine novels and Courageous Creativity: Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life. She’s a National Book Award finalist and two-time Utah Book Award winner. Her books have been variously named to annual best books lists of the American Library Association, Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, the Guardian, the International Reading Association, the New York Public Library and Los Angeles Public Library, and have been translated into many languages. She has served as a judge for the National Book Award.

Sara has written essays, creative nonfiction, and short fiction for Image, Hunger Mountain online, Response, Gather, and Relief Journal as well as for several anthologies, and is a MacDowell Fellow (2014). Sara also hosts and produces the This Creative Life podcast (2012-2015; 2020-). Her first book, Story of a Girl, was made into a 2017 television movie directed by Kyra Sedgwick.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
238 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book readable and well-written, with an interesting story that weaves together alternating chapters. They appreciate its beauty and realism, with one customer noting it's an excellent book about the meaning of family. The character development receives mixed reactions - while customers love how different the characters are, some find the main character unlikable.

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14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and wonderful, with one mentioning that their granddaughter loved it.

"This book was awesome in so many ways. I know I say this a lot. The cover and the title caught my attention a while back...." Read more

"Wow...so I could title this post, "Must Read"..the book is just that wonderful...." Read more

"...Still a good book, though." Read more

"Over all this book was amazing and very relate able. I'm so upset with the ending!!!! I want to know more!!..." Read more

9 customers mention "Story quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, which weaves together an interesting narrative, with one customer noting it is told in alternating chapters.

"...It's a beautiful story." Read more

"...She weaves together an interesting story; each chapter alternates between the two teenagers whose lives have been completely different...." Read more

"...Told in alternating chapters, by Mandy and Jill, it is story that deals with love, loss, hope, tragedy, evil, good...well...life...." Read more

"...how their voices sounded completely different, how their stories complemented each other...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one noting it is very easy to read.

"Sara Zarr's writing style is clear and uncluttered, yet sometimes devastating in its emotional honesty...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the author's writing style and would definitely read something else by her." Read more

"I liked this book. The story was interesting and the book was well written...." Read more

"Decent writing style, however I found the characters very irritating, there was a lot of complaining, or staring - with very little actions for..." Read more

4 customers mention "Relationship"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's portrayal of relationships, with one review highlighting its nuanced approach to adoption and another noting how readers can connect with both Mandy and Jill's perspectives.

"...Everything -the technical details around the adoption, people's relationships, the ethnic diversity - felt realistic and motivated...." Read more

"...The author did a good job of making the various relationships, dialogue and character interactions feel real and natural...." Read more

"I could relate to both Mandy and Jill and I just adore the way that the characters develop. I got super attached to Mandy and Jill and Jill's mother." Read more

"Excellent book about the meaning of family..." Read more

3 customers mention "Beauty"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful.

"...Sara Zarr did a beautiful job with them and also with the supporting characters...." Read more

"...The prose is not literary, purple, or in your face, but it has a subtle elegance and grace that leaves you with a story that makes your heart expand..." Read more

"Beautiful!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Realism"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the realism of the book.

"...the adoption, people's relationships, the ethnic diversity - felt realistic and motivated...." Read more

"...relationships, dialogue and character interactions feel real and natural...." Read more

"The characters in this novel are flawed and real and so relatable...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some loving how different they are, while others find the main character unlikable.

"...These characters are so beautifully damaged it's so easy to be on the same page with them, watching as they think they're strong, as they fall apart..." Read more

"...Both characters are flawed and not immediately likeable. Jill is angry and frustrated because she is unable to express her grief...." Read more

"...I loved how different these characters were, how their voices sounded completely different, how their stories complemented each other...." Read more

"...every ounce of her usual sensitivity, compassion, and deep observation to each character...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Valeria PG
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book was awesome in so many ways
    Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book was awesome in so many ways. I know I say this a lot. The cover and the title caught my attention a while back. I forgot about this book, but somehow came back to it not long ago. I'm so glad I read it.
    The way Jill deals with her loss, by being angry, cynical and by pushing everybody away is pretty much how I felt about my own. Putting holes in my body, dressing in black, using make up, dark nails, angry stares. But always showing that I'm not tough to the core, never been never will.
    And Mandy, so innocent and naive, but so damaged in her own way. It's easy to not trust everything that has been given to her just by reading the things she's been through.
    These characters are so beautifully damaged it's so easy to be on the same page with them, watching as they think they're strong, as they fall apart, and as they put themselves together.
    I was scared Sara would make me hate Dylan, because from the start I came to love him as Jill's wall, her strength. But it was obvious it was a relationship that wasn't going anywhere. And just like that, things you have for certain, first things, will eventually go out of your reach. Nothing is forever.
    Not even grief.

    At first I was a little bothered because I'm not used to reading two-narrators stories, because I think sometimes details are left out and so. But this one delivered everything, and it was exciting getting from one to another. Mandy had me laughing from the moment she was talking to that man on the train, saying that their age gape wasn't that big. She's a funny, looking for the bright side girl. And with Jill it was slowly, and then all at once. They're both easy to like, easy to relate to. And even though they have bigger problems, you still find them struggling with boys, and love, and mothers. It's a beautiful story.
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  • Deep-ends
    4.0 out of 5 stars How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Sara Zarr's writing style is clear and uncluttered, yet sometimes devastating in its emotional honesty. She weaves together an interesting story; each chapter alternates between the two teenagers whose lives have been completely different. Jill is brought up in financial security by loving, attentive parents but is grieving because she has recently lost her father. Mandy is brought up by a single mother, was sexually abused by her mother's boy friend, is pregnant and completely lacking in self esteem. Their lives are intertwined when Jill's recently widowed mother decides to adopt Mandy's baby and Mandy comes to live with them until the birth.
    Both characters are flawed and not immediately likeable. Jill is angry and frustrated because she is unable to express her grief. She shuts out the people in her life who would reach out to help her. Mandy is a clingy, sticky label. The type of person who will tell her life story to complete strangers she just met minutes ago on the train. The story is propelled by the interaction of these 2 main characters, both internally and with each other. By the end, they bring out the best in each other and, thankfully, it is a happy ending!
    This is a short, very easy read. I would recommend it for female adults and teenagers alike.
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  • S. Richardson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Try a Little Tenderness
    Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Wow...so I could title this post, "Must Read"..the book is just that wonderful. Told in alternating chapters, by Mandy and Jill, it is story that deals with love, loss, hope, tragedy, evil, good...well...life.

    Both Mandy and Jill are dealing with intense issues, and as they gradually come to understand each other, through their alternating chronicles, the reader falls in love with both of them; with their stories, with their perspectives. Caring about all of the characters in this novel, is one of its' draws. (well, truthfully, two characters are awful, but described in a manner that allows you to picture them in a holistic manner).

    I titled the review, "Try a Little Tenderness" because it is a central theme to the book, and the song plays an important role in Jill's life. Whenever she and her late father were arguing, one would say to the other, "Try a Little Tenderness" and the fight would stop..wow, kind of a perfect sentiment, right?

    So, with Otis singing in the background, I plowed through this book. Yes, crying at the end, but these were tears of joy.

    Jill's mother states about life, "be prepared for detours"...and again, how true that is. Some detours we are happy to encounter, others are tragic and throw us for a loop. The death of Jill's dad, throws her family into turmoil, but the detour they ultimately take will have you too crying tears of joy.

    I can't recommend this book highly enough.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Alena
    4.0 out of 5 stars Touching
    Reviewed in Spain on January 13, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    When I started reading it, I had the impression it was going to be quite superficial, just a simple book about two very different teenage girls. Then I got hooked on the story from the very first pages and I thought: at least it is entertaining. But it goes deeper and deeper into the characters' lives and minds and I discovered a very touching and well written story. A very good reflection on life and second opportunities.
    Report
  • T.R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars gut zu lesen für Englisch Lerner
    Reviewed in Germany on December 13, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Das Buch ist gut zu lesen für Schüler und alle die Englisch lernen. Deshalb von mir auf jeden Fall zu empfehlen
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  • Kat
    5.0 out of 5 stars How to Save a Life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I don't know why it takes me forever to read books that are very highly rated by the blogger community. How to Save a Life is one of those books - a lot of bloggers that I have similar tastes to loved it, and yet it took me a long time to get to reading it. And yes, I do wish I had picked it up sooner.

    How to Save a Life is a book that clicked with me from the first page. Jill is dealing with the death of her father the only way she knows how - by pushing people away and shutting them out of her life, including her boyfriend Dylan. And when her mother decides to adopt a baby, Jill is immediately completely against the idea. The connection that Jill had to her father is the thing that really resonated with me - her love and respect for him, and her overwhelming grief at her death felt so personal, so real and was so heartbreaking.

    Although she felt closest to her father, she also has a lot in common with her mother, which she doesn't seem to see in her grief - they are both intelligent, focused women and I loved them both as characters. Even their questionable decisions and reactions endeared them to me, because throughout everything both of their hearts were in the right place. Jill is independent, strong minded and I liked that she embraced her feelings and went with her instincts, whether they were right or wrong.

    Told in alternating POVs, Mandy irritated me at first - she's the kind of person I would have a similar reaction to as Jill, but as the story progressed and more of her life and background was revealed, I also started to feel sympathy towards her. It's just another example of how good How to Save a Life really is - that Zarr could make me feel that I was in Jill's seat, and my emotions changed along with hers.

    I also liked how Zarr handled Dylan and Jill's relationship - as it was already in play before the book began, rather than being a romance, it was more focused on how relationships change and grow as the characters did. There are two male characters, Dylan and Ravi, in Jill's life, and both of them are fabulous - they're caring, kind and not afraid to say what they are thinking - there's no good boy vs bad boy battle, it's simply two nice guys that are prominent in Jill's life for different reasons and I loved them both.

    The ending could have been a big cop-out, but Zarr handles it superbly - there's emotion, indecision and finally tough things need to happen, and there's a huge amount of character development in both Jill and Mandy.

    I adored How to Save a Life - the characters are larger than life, the plot kept my attention and it was completely addictive. Sad, happy and funny, sometimes separately and sometimes all at once, I can highly recommend it.
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  • Book Blog Bird
    4.0 out of 5 stars How to Save a Life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I'm not sure I would have picked this up had Amazon not kept pushing it at me, but I'm really glad I did.

    How to Save a Life tells the story of Jill, whose father has died leaving a gaping hole in her and her mother Robin's lives. Jill's solution to her grief is to retreat into a little ball of hurt and anger, lashing out at anyone who comes too near. Whereas Robin's solution is to adopt a baby...

    Enter Mandy. Neglected by her mother, Mandy forms inappropriate attachments with complete strangers. Pregnant with a baby who could be the result of sexual abuse, Mandy's only thought is to give it up for adoption.

    I really enjoyed How to Save a Life. Told from the dual perspectives of Jill and Mandy, it's a gentle, emotional read, and despite the difficult subject matters it never leaves you feeling raw. Sara Zarr paints both the protagonists perfectly, really letting you get into their characters.

    For a book that on one hand is about the way people deal with grief over the death of a loved one, and about teenage pregnancy on the other, it would have been so easy for Sara Zarr to have made this overly melodramatic, like one of those awful made-for-TV films they show in the afternoons. Instead it's very restrained but still manages to make you care about the characters.

    And the ending is just adorable.
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  • A
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it :00
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book. I read it about 4 years ago. It was one of the first books that I really enjoyed it's easy to follow along to. It has things I can relate to. Started reading it again, so I'm going to see if I interpret it differently now :00
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