Minty

by Christina Banagh

YA Thriller

Book Description

Fourteen-year-old twins Minty and Jess are inseparable. Maybe they bicker now and then, even crave a bit of space once in a while. But they have a connection. Unbreakable. Steadfast. Nothing can tear them apart. Until a family trip to the coast puts their bond in jeopardy. As Minty tries to rescue her dog from drowning she ends up fighting for her life. Will Minty survive? If she doesn’t, how will Jess cope without her? Only the stormy sea has the answer.

MY THOUGHTS: 4.5 OUT OF 5 FLEURS DE LIS

Minty by Christina Banach

It’s absolutely impossible to review this book without giving up a very important spoiler that somehow didn’t make it into this book’s synopsis. Minty and Jess are teenaged twins living in Scotland. When one day the girls make a fateful trip to the rocky shore, Minty loses her life and Jess in short order loses her sanity. Minty’s spirit continues to hang around her family’s home, but it’s so hard to watch the living when you are seeing them break down. As twins, Minty and Jess shared a special bond…but will it be unbreakable even in death?

The book started off quickly but around the middle things got repetitive and the plot suffered a bit. Minty and Jess are twins, but so different from each other. Even though those differences exist, Jess experiences Minty’s loss like no one else because of the connection they shared. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see Jess go through all of the stages of grief, but it was also fulfilling to read because the author made it all feel so real.

Minty meets another ghost, trapped spirit, or whatever you want to call it shortly after he death. His name is Jack, and while Minty finds him irritating, he is also the only company she has and she needs his help. I mostly found him annoying myself. He and Minty don’t really have a romantic relationship, but he is extremely standoffish at times and often makes fun of Minty. She gave him a lot more leeway than I would have.

While I think the book was too long and several scenes could have been cut out, overall Minty was a great read and very emotional. I like that it didn’t fall prey to most YA stereotypes, and that the main focus was on family instead of a romance. The end was great and left me in tears. I’d recommend the book to anyone who has a firm sibling bond, or readers who’d like to experience one.

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About the Author

Christina Banach is a former head teacher who lives in Scotland, UK, with her husband and their two rescue dogs. She loves walking; delicious food and wine; evenings at the theatre; exploring new places; surfing the Net; listening to music; and anything that makes her laugh. Plus she has a bit of a thing about shoes and handbags. She loves reading, and is especially keen on young adult and children’s fiction (all those years buying for school libraries!).

She is currently working on her next novel.

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