I have a bit of a different book review for you today, its a non-fiction book called Beautiful Scars by Kilee Brookbank and Lori Highlander. Thank you to KiCam Projects for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review, as always all opinions are my own.
This is a hard review for me to write. I don't really read lot of non-fiction, and this is such an emotional, inspiring story, it is hard for me to put into words how I feel about this book.
I am hesitant to call this a memoir, but I suppose it fits the definition. Basically, this is the story of sixteen year old Kilee and how her life is changed after her house explodes. In this story of survival, Kilee and her family come together after Kilee suffers extensive burns to forty-five percent of her body and has to have multiple surgeries to repair and heal. While the book does go into detail on the recovery process in the hospital, we also see her life when she gets home. She fights to regain her movement and the use of her body, all while she and her family heal mentally as well.
This story is told in alternative perspectives from Kilee and her mother Lori. I really liked having the two perspectives, you got the story from Kilee as she was living it, her thoughts, her feelings, but you also got Lori's perspective as well. Lori focuses on Kilee's recovery, but also adds insight to family matters, watching Kilee and her brother Cameron grow closer, cherishing every moment even more.
Over the course of nine months, Kilee regains the use of her hands, meets Justin Bieber, goes to prom, lives her life again. Towards the end of the book, Lori mentions that one of the reasons they wrote this book was to share Kilee's story with others who are experiencing what Kilee has been through, to help support them.
In terms of writing, I think everything flowed well, I liked the alternative perspectives, and I really loved the parts where Cameron added his thoughts. He carried a lot of guilt over what happened, and from what is mentioned, has become quite anxious over what has happened to his sister.
Storywise, I can't really say too much. Because this book is a retelling of events that actually happened, I can't say I want to change this, this, and this. Things are how they are.
Overall, this is an inspiring story about a girl and her family who overcame a great adversity and have become stronger because of it.