A Book Review of Kristina McBride's The Tension of Opposites

Kristina Mcbride's The Tension of Opposites is a story of two best-friends struggling to overcome the tragic events that tore them apart. Two years prior to the beginning of the narrative Tessa's best friend, Noelle, was kidnapped. In the first several chapters the reader learns that not only is Noelle alive, but she is returning home! Tessa is ecstatic for her friends return. Her joy turns to disappointment and sadness as she is faced with the oft overlooked realities of child-abduction survivors. McBride's heartbreaking yet realistic work is one of the most well crafted I’ve read in some time. The concept of child abduction isn’t original, but setting the entire story two years after the actual kidnapping and subsequent rescue gives it a fresh feel. Using Tessa’s photography project to personify the conflict she faces in her life adds a depth to the read often lacking in young adult fiction.

While I can recognize a talented writer when I see one, I can’t say I loved the book. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters and I tired of the constant blubbering over the various romantic relationships. Of course, I am not her the target demographic. I do recommend this novel to all girls thirteen to nineteen and most women over twenty. It is an emotional and gripping tale capturing the complexity a tragic event like an abduction can add to the life of a person. With a debut that is more impressive than most novels of this genre from veteran authors , McBride is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

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A twenty-two-year-old University student, Jeff is the founder and coeditor of The Debut Authors Blog. He is an aspiring author and a self-avowed bibliophile. Also, he is not above shameless self-promotion and talking in the third-person.