Review: Hating Heidi Foster by Jeffrey Blount

                                            Book: Hating Heidi Foster by Jeffrey Blount
                                            Pages: 105
                                            Genre: Young Adult
                                            Source: Sent from Alluvion Press

Short Synopsis: Mae is consumed with grief from losing her father who died while trying to save Heidi's life. 

My Thoughts: A deep, and gripping tale of loss and acceptance, Hating Heidi Foster was a very emotional read. 

Mae McBride and Heidi Foster were the very best of friends. Tied at the hip from early elementary school, their relationship was the stuff of storybooks, legendary even, in the minds of their high school classmates.
Unshakable.
That is, until Mae's father died while saving Heidi's life. When Mae finds out, she blames Heidi. She blames her father for putting Heidi ahead of her. She blames her friends for taking Heidi’s side. She begins to unravel amid that blame and her uncontrollable and atypical anger.
At the same time Heidi is beset by guilt, falls into depression and stops eating properly; wasting away physically and emotionally while waiting for Mae to let her back into the friendship she misses so dearly.
Mae, consumed by her hatred of Heidi, the confusion regarding her father’s motives, the perceived desertion of her friends and her mother’s grief, loses more and more of herself.
What could possibly bring these two old friends back to each other? A miracle?
Hating Heidi Foster, is a young adult novel about the place of honor true friendships hold in our lives. It is about suffering and loss and the ethics of grief. It is about a deep and painful conflict, the bright light of selflessness and sacrifice and the love that rights the ship and carries us safely to port.
--From Goodreads

Mae McBride can't seem to shake the grief of losing her father in a horrible fire while trying to save Heidi, Mae's best friend. And though her life will never be the same, Mae also hates her friend, who was the cause of loosing her father. Both Mae and her mother are trying to recuperate from loosing Mae's father, as both try to grieve in their own way. 

Mae slowly gets back into school, with things being awkward, especially her friends, and especially with Heidi being around as well. As weeks and months pass by, Mae's hatred from Heidi consumes her as Mae seems to be loosing her friends, and both girls seem tortured by this one event. As life goes on for Mae, she learns to take her anger out on her sport, and manages to come to her senses and forgiveness with her best friend, Heidi. 

A very indelible, and heartbreaking story about loss and forgiveness as Mae goes on a profound journey, leaving readers breathless and wanting more. I was deeply moved by this story and felt the hurt that Mae felt, as she couldn't shake the fact that her father was no longer with her. 

It was interesting to read how Mae still kept in contact with her grandmother from her father's side, and that their connection was stronger than before, due to recent events. And though I can't imagine what it's like to loose someone close, it kind of felt that Mae's mother wasn't as in the picture as I expected her to be. 

And I also I can't imagine what it would be like to be in Mae's position, I was a bit surprised at how lengthy Mae's grudge against her best friend was. The whole situation was obviously hurting Heidi, and couldn't see that due to Mae's hate. 

It was also interesting to read how the whole situation went down in the end, but I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more detailed information about Heidi's point of view, or how the fire started in the first place. In general, a very touching and moving story about loosing the one you love.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5.