Abandon by Meg Cabot

A lot of people wonder about what it’s like to die, but few actually know. Pierce is one of the people who know because she’s died before. And ever since then, nothing has ever been the same. It seems that mischief and accidents follow Pierce everywhere, and whenever she’s in trouble, he’s there too, John Hayden. Pierce would love more than anything to leave the past behind and even moves away to the isolated Isla Huesos, but whenever John appears, forgetting is close to impossible. Pierce doesn’t know what John wants from her, if he wants anything at all, but there has to be a reason why they keep running into each other when Pierce least expects it but most needs it. Pierce thinks that she just wants to know the truth, but the truth will plunge her into a dangerous world she can never escape from.

My summary of this modern, creative retelling of the Persephone myth simply does not do the story justice. But at the same time, I can’t give a really good synopsis for risk of revealing an important detail, of which there are many in Abandon. This novel is probably the least straightforward Meg Cabot book that I’ve ever read; this is not a slight against all of her earlier books, but it is worth noting that Abandon has a lot more complexities and dark secrets than, say, The Princess Diaries and even Airhead. Flashbacks are periodically inserted between Pierce’s present exploits, which is confusing until the reader gains Pierce’s entire background. And luckily, unraveling Pierce’s past is only the beginning. I have to admit that I savored every page where the myth of Persephone is laid onto the modern world. Meg Cabot can tell a story like no other, and the richness of detail, background, and perspective in this alluring tale will sweep readers into the multiple worlds of Isla Huesos. With vivid and unusual characters, a truly fascinating story founded in Greek myth, and a new darkness and depth to Cabot’s writing, Abandon is sure to tease and please all readers.

Abandon will be enjoyed by Meg Cabot fans as well as by readers who also enjoyed Sea Change by Aimee Friedman and Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs. 

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Scholastic