[Review] This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready

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Title: This Side of Salvation

Author: Jeri Smith-Ready (Twitter, Facebook, Website) 

Publisher: Simon Pulse/ Simon & Schuster

Genre: Young Adult- Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

Release Date: April 1, 2014

Source: advance copy from the publisher – review policy here.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he does know for sure: The closer he gets to new-girl Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels.

Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties in to prepare for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. There’s a big difference between living in the moment and giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey—especially Bailey—in hope of salvation.

But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined...

Ahem... *Steps on soap box*

This book does contain religious elements, however it is not about whether you believe or not. It is so much more, so don't get hung up on the scripture. 

*Steps off the box*

This book is about loss, the grieving process and, ultimately, moving on. It's about being a survivor and how we all survive differently. David and each of his family members handles their tragedy differently to find comfort, meaning and to move on. Unfortunately, Dad has the hardest time doing this and with Mom joins a group as they prepare for The Rush. This group is separate from either of the two churches they attend and is covered in the media as an extremist group or cult. Immediately, Mara, the now oldest child, rejects The Rush, however David goes along with the idea in hopes of salvation for his family. Told in present and past tense through David's narration the reader begins to piece together how the eldest brother died, the progression of grief and healing, and hints of moving on from each family member. Smith-Ready writes this in such a way that there's no judgement, right or wrong, in how you find your salvation as long as you maintain hope. 

"You ought to run the hardest
when you feel the worst" 

- Joe DiMaggio

Ironically, the parts I loved the most about this book were about baseball. Yes, baseball. David is an above average pitcher and this becomes his anchor. The synopsis may have you believe it's a girl and she's an important anchor too. What girl to a 16-year-old boy isn't? But, it's baseball that's there before his brother's death, through his transition into home schooling, through his parent's transition into The Rush group, and is even there as all other material possessions begin to fade away and uncertainty sets in. There's always baseball. While David's faith kept him strong I believe it is his love for baseball that kept him sane. It is the one thing that went untouched by home, it is his spiritual place. 

David is supported by his sister Mara, his best friend Kane (who's gay) and his girlfriend Bailey (a Darwinist-hippie-vegan) as they search for Mom and Dad. I really, really like David's character and watching him grow, own his faults (and even those that aren't his), and become confident in his head and body. It's endearing and refreshing to have a protagonist who is balanced enough to be surrounded by diversity, hold onto his own beliefs and keep moving forward. 

Overall I found the story unique in an overcrowded field of dystopian-contemporary-romances, it was intellectually stimulating, and kept the pages turning. 

3.5 Stars - Good standalone read. Recommended for those who enjoy
 a good mystery or conspiracy theory.