"People in love are the most dangerous of all, the most likely to do something rash."
- Alina, from Sarah Crossan's "Breathe"
Truly capturing the fierce, adventurous character bursting from the pages, the stories brought to life in this book are often magical. Letting our childish imaginations run wild, books paint this vivid realm where creativity, mystery, and intrigue flourish. Whether it's the intricate details of the characters that attract you or the passion of adventure, books have always been an escape from this dull reality.
Often times, we fall in love with books that truly speak to our soul. I found one of my favorites to be a book that brought a serious issue to light, which caught my interest. Kidnapping the reader and tossing them into a whirlwind of adventure, revolution, and tragedy, this story keeps you on the edge of your seat. I often find myself looking at the clock, realizing that hours have passed and the sun is already beginning to rise. I think that is the indicator of a good read, a true read where you lose yourself -- in the story and in reality.
I found exhilaration through Sarah Crossan's tale, "Breathe."Revolving around three protagonist characters, the story takes an interesting twist as it tells the story from each person's perspective -- each chapter is a different character. At first, I wasn't convinced. However, looking at all the action from three different versions proved fascinating. It was mind boggling to see how each character saw the world, how their morals, lifestyles, and attitude completely changed their perspective of certain situations.
Well what situations could they possible encounter?
Setting the scene in a post Apocalyptic world, "Breathe" depicts the Earth as a Godless barren stripped of its beautiful trees, water, and sadly air. Forced to survive in a giant plastic bubble, literally, the remaining fighters fell victim to greedy corporations that began to manufacture and sell "breathable air." Clearly showing a distopian society, "Breathe" tells the story of those living the extravagant life and those scraping by to merely breathe.
In an attempt to restore Earth's nature, Alina entangles with several other unknowing characters, Bea and Quinn, and recruits them on her crusade. Encountering dilapidated homes, crazy people eager to attack, and an army looking to destroy the quest, these characters endure serious hardships.
The most iconic scene is when they finally arrive at the Sanctuary, a place Alina's resistance has began to replenish the Earth. Housed in an abandoned baseball stadium , their little ecosystem is beyond impressive -- vines wrapping around fences, gargantuan trees protruding through the ceiling, and glimmers of sunlight cascading across fields of vivacious flowers. It held such beauty and it truly captured the innocence of our world's nature.
And when it was all destroyed... it showcased man's true blackhearted nature, our blinding selfishness that led us to neglect God's gift to us, nature.
Depicting a truly amazing fictional story, "Breathe" brought to the surface prevalent issues that are likely predictions for the future. While its tragedy is disheartening, it is necessary to truly understand the severity of nature's importance.
If your looking for a thrilling excursion or a read with a powerful message, I would definitely dive into "Breathe."