The Tension Of Opposites

by Kristina McBride

Summary: It’s been two years since Noelle disappeared. Two years since her bike was discovered, sprawled on a sidewalk. Two years of silence, of worry, of fear.

For those two long years, her best friend Tessa has waited, living her own life in a state of suspended animation. Because how can she allow herself to enjoy a normal high school life if Noelle can’t? How dare she have other friends, go to dances, date boys, without knowing what happened to the girl she thought she would share everything with?

And then one day, someone calls Noelle’s house. She’s alive.

A haunting psychological thriller taken straight from the headlines, The Tension of Opposites is a striking debut that explores the emotional aftermath of a kidnapping on the victim, and on the people she left behind.

My Thoughts: First off, I'll start by saying, this is one of those books you need to be prepared to read. Not everything is picture perfect all the time. We meet Tessa who was best friends with Noelle until Noelle disappeared two years ago. Tessa has tried to go on with her own life but she still thinks about Noelle everyday, even telling herself she won't fall in love because Noelle doesn't have the chance. Until, one day Tessa finds out Noelle is a live and she comes back. The kidnapper is caught and Noelle is back home with her family. You can tell from the get go, she's not the same Noelle anymore and who could expect her to be? She's changed a lot and even grew up in a lot of ways.

We sometimes forget that when someone is kidnapped their lives either end or they go on and Noelle's went on the only way she knew how. McBride spun this tale just right. We realize how much Noelle is different and how Noelle and Tessa are so much alike yet so different because they have had different experiences. I also liked the element of romance throughout the book with Tessa and her "new guy friend." I also loved the photography throughout the book. I could relate to that a lot. I think McBride proved to us how hard this situation would be and this book was just the right kind of book to get you really thinking.

Overall: I loved it. I loved the characters and the elements throughout the book. As much as I didn't want to know what happened to Noelle, part of me did because I felt like I needed to know to get closure. I think this was a brilliant book.

Cover: I really like it. I like the idea of the steps too. If you really think about it, it really explains a lot.

What I'd Give It: