The Last Leaves Falling
Author: Sarah Benwell
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Summary:
As much as he loves his new friends, he can’t ignore what’s ahead. He’s beginning to lose function of his hands, and he knows that soon he will become even more of a burden to his mother as the illness takes his freedom piece by piece. So he has to make a difficult decision.
Debut novelist Sarah Benwell writes a devastatingly beautiful novel set in Japan about friendship, saying good-bye, and finding peace.
First Sentence: I stare at the cursor blinking expectantly at the top of the page.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
My Review:
For some reason, when I first saw the cover and read the synopsis of The Last Leaves Falling, it reminded me of one of my childhood favorite books, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. I don’t know why – maybe it’s because the two novels are both set in Japan and both main characters are sick with little to no hope of recovery. (My heart just hurt typing that.) I was quite surprised to see that Sarah Benwell talked about Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes in the Acknowledgements of her book (I read the Acknowledgements before I start the actual story) since it was like she was totally reading my mind about the similarities. I couldn’t help but hope that The Last Leaves Falling would contain the same sad, almost whimsical feeling that Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes made me feel when I was a kid. Add the fact that The Last Leaves Falling focuses on a teenager boy with ALS, you know, the same ALS everyone did the ice bucket challenge for, and I just knew I had to read The Last Leaves Falling.
I wish, I wish, I wish. But they cannot grant me anything I really want.
I wish to have a life.
…
I wish to meet my grandchildren, and feed them ice cream until they’re sick.
I wish to be young and free and not in this wheelchair.
…
It is as if they’re saying , “You are going to die. The best you can do is wish for life.” (42)
The Last Leaves Falling contained conversations where teenagers chatted on an online forum. Although the conversations can get confusing because there were so many people chatting at the same time and I couldn’t keep track of who said what, they were enjoyable and fun to read. However, I do have a problem with the chats. EVERYONE that’s a teenager in the online forum chats types in perfect normal everyday English, with the exception of three slang words or typos made in the entire book. They use no abbreviations when typing, no “Where r u?” or “Tht can’t happen” “See u tonite.” I just don’t believe that.
Call me ignorant, but I’ve never thought much about people who have a disability and the things they have to go through. I didn’t think about what those Make A Wish non-profit corporations mean for them, or how hard it would be for them to earn a living. The Last Leaves Falling opened my eyes to many things and I’m sure it’ll open other readers’ eyes as well.
“Yes. We have. So don’t you ever say you’re sorry; I’m not.”
I’m not, either. Not for this. But every day I’m further from the boy I was, and I want him to be the one that she remembers. (305)
Reading The Last Leaves Falling, I could tell that Sarah Benwell did a lot of research about Japan. She knew a lot about Japan’s culture, how they valued pride and honor above all else, and inserted other aspects of Japan’s culture throughout the book. However, I found one particular storyline in the book very unrealistic and not believable, something I’m sure other people who are Asian would be agreeing with. I can’t say anything more as it’ll be a spoiler even though you can predict this outcome easily, but it’s still a spoiler nevertheless.
What really shocked me was the book’s ending. I mean, when I saw that there were only two pages left in the book and it looked like The Last Leaves Falling was still ending that way, I was panicking. To find out that the author actually went there was shocking, especially when I think about the aftermath and some legal consequences that wasn’t explored or just brushed over.
Overall, The Last Leaves Falling is an eye-opening read that you definitely need in your life. It will change your perspective on reality and leave you reeling hours after you’ve finished it.
why do i have a feeling that i know how this book will end…but i love how this one was such an eye opener for you. i don’t know much about ALS either…but i know how it was like to take care of a love one who suffers from a debilitating disease…it was a struggle and it takes out an emotional tool from both of you. thanks for this review kelly :)
I will probably not be reading this book. I have a REAL hard time with incurable diseases books. I tend to shy away from tearjerkers, with the exception of the Fault in Our Stars (which was just a one second decision to buy the book, and then read it the same day otherwise I would’ve lost the nerve), but I am really envious of your courage, to read such books. To go into a book knowing your heart is going to be broken, and you’re going to suffer, and do it anyway so you’ll know and understand more about those situations. I really wish I was so brave.
<3
Nitzan Schwarz recently posted…Gifed Up: Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Hmm… This novel hadn’t even been on my radar, but after reading your review, I’m tentatively adding it to my TBR list. On one hand, it sounds like it’s guaranteed to be sad (I think I can predict the ending), but I also like novels that take me out of my comfort zone or teach me something different. Great review.
Kari recently posted…Literary Ladies
I loved this book myself and I thought it was so heartbreaking. I rated it a little higher than you, but it’s such an important book and brings attention and highlights disabilities much more, which is great. Great review!<3
Amanda @ Beautiful Bookish Butterflies recently posted…Book Review – The Traitor
It’s very interesting to know that this book is out there, I would never have heard of it otherwise. The decision to set it in Japan sounds intriguing. Thanks for the review :)
Awesome review Kelly :D So happy you ended up liking this book a lot. I haven’t heard of it before now. But you have made me curious :) You make it sound so good. <3 And heartbreaking. Ugh. One day I will want to read it, I'm sure. Thank you for sharing about it sweetie :)
Carina Olsen recently posted…Cover Reveal: Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
I’ll be one of those people to admit that I miss those books that inspire something in you. Those books that leave you thinking at the end what you just read, what could have happened differently, why it ended better than what you would have come up with on your own, what could have happened afterwards in another way, etc…I haven’t read a book like that for what feels like for a long time…and I miss that. I might end up reading The Last Leaves Falling just to feel that again. Thanks Kelly! :)
Honestly I wasn’t planning on reading this book in the near future. I am curious about ALS but I thought I would read it some other time because I’m not sure I can deal with sad books right now and this one is sure to be at least somewhat sad.
However, lots of reviewers say, like you did, that it captures the feeling of being in Japan well and I lived there for a while and miss it immensely, so I guess I just put the book on top of my TBR… :) Thank you so much for the review.
I also have read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. That story left a mark on my life. To know that The last Leaves Falling has similarities is a definite plus for me. Thank you for reviewing this book. I know it will be on my soon tbr list.
interesting info about the research
First and only question…. Will there be tears? I am sensing some serious tears and I have to mentally prepare myself!
Jaime Lester recently posted…Jaime Reviews ~ The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
Beautiful and inspiring review. I have been on the fence about this one and you have helped me make the decision to read it. I try not to read too many illness, death/dying type books, b/c I do not want to become jaded to these types of reads. I try to go for the very best ones and this sounds like one to forge ahead with. Thank you.
I honestly haven’t heard about this book but because of your review I am adding it to my TBR. I know that it probably make me sad but sometimes I need to read these types of books to put my own life into perspective!
Oh please as a japanese literature fan, I really need this in my life. I’m looking forward to read more japanese authors like yukio mishima and more of my beloved yasunari kawabata ♥♥ (classics)
thanks for the review
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