Walk Softly, Rachel by Kate Banks

Walk Softly, Rachel by Kate Banks is about fourteen year old Rachel. When she was 7, Rachel's older brother Jake died. Ever since, her family has kept his room exactly the same - complete with all of his track medals and trophies and personal items. Rachel is struggling with the loss of her best friend Adrien, who moved to Africa with his family. As a result, she goes into Jake's room to try to connect with him. She finds his journal and begins reading. The rest of the story goes back and forth between what's happening in Rachel's world and what was happening in Jake's world just before his death. Both share their innermost thoughts, feelings, and struggles. Through reading his journal, Rachel learns a lot about her brother, her family, and herself.

This was an interesting story. It really focused on the inner-struggles of teenaged boys and girls. I especially liked the way the author found ways to connect what was happening in Rachel's life with what had happened in Jake's life, shared through the journal.