Review: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Title: In Honor

Author: Jessi Kirby
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication date: May 8th, 2012

Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary)

Challenges: Debut, Contemporary, SARC

Source: Own
Format: E-book

Pages: 240

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn . . . and ruggedly good-looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

We get started with the tragic death of Honor's brother, Finn. I found it quite interesting for the book to just start off as them being in the memorial of her brother who died while he was with the Marines in Iraq. I was kind of grateful that I didn't actually get to know Finn, or else I would have been in tears for his death. Anyways, Honor is the main protagonist in this book. After her parents death, Honor and her brother moved in with their aunt. I can see how close Honor and Finn were, and how his death strongly effected Honor. The last letter Honor got from Finn were two tickets to see famous popstar Kyra Kelly. Honor found it a job for her to actually go there, and tell Kyra about her brother. Honor decides to start her journey the next day, only leaving a note for her aunt about her sudden disappearance.

Later, we get to meet Finn's old best friend, Rusty. Things start off kind of weird since it's been a long time since they last met. The next day, Honor finds Rusty drunk and blacked out, so she just decides to throw him in the back side of the car, and starts her long journey to California. I really liked how Honor and Rusty's relationship develops as friends. Finn means a lot to both of them, and I felt like both of them just needed to find that closure for themselves. Jessi Kirby really wrote a book that was cute, funny, and even emotional at times. Both characters felt so believable, and I felt like it was very easy to relate to them as well. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book very much. The characters were very lovable, and funny as well. This book wasn't that sad, but it wasn't all fun either. Jessi balances the fun and seriousness very well, and I loved every moment of it. I would recommend this to all contemporary young adult readers out there. Can't wait to read more of Jessi Kirby's future books.