Book Review: Sync by Ellen Hopkins

Read my review of Ellen Hopkins’ Sync—a powerful tale of siblings navigating the foster care system. Discover why it’s a must-read!

Looking for a book that’ll take you on an emotional ride? Sync by Ellen Hopkins does just that. I expected a typical sibling drama, but this story of two siblings navigating the foster care system is anything but ordinary. Hopkins’ unique style took a second to click, but once it did, I was hooked. Find out more about the book and why I gave it four out of five stars.

What is the book about?

Seventeen-year-old twins Storm and Lake have always been in perfect sync. They faced the worst a parent could do and survived it together. In the wake of their mother’s rejection, they’ve spent the last five years moving from foster home to foster home—sometimes placed together, sometimes apart.

After being separated from his sister once again, Storm is devastated. He’s the older brother and promised to always take care of Lake. But after a stint in juvie, his newest placement has him feeling almost hopeful. His foster dad is kind, and his girlfriend, Jaidyn, is the first person other than Lake he feels he can trust. But when Jaidyn is sexually assaulted by a violent ex, it pushes Storm over the edge. He retaliates and lands back in lockup—and he fears this time it will be for good. He wishes he could talk to Lake, but he doesn’t know where she is, and he’s now feeling more alone and out of sync than ever before.

Lake, like Storm, has found her own happiness in a relationship with someone new—her fellow foster, Parker. Life with Parker is never boring, but Parker has her own scars. She can be withdrawn and unpredictable, and that can be dangerous, especially after Parker convinces Lake to run away from their Bible-thumping fosters after they are caught in a compromising position. With no money, shelter, or ID, they’re living on the streets. Lake thinks of Storm and his promise to take care of her, and wonders where he could be now. [Goodreads.com]

My thoughts:

Whoa, Sync by Ellen Hopkins totally caught me off guard! I wasn’t expecting such a beautiful yet gut-wrenching tale of two siblings torn apart by the foster care system, desperately trying to find their way back to each other. That’s the main storyline, but their journey is packed with so many highs and lows that it really shines a light on the ever-changing, often unsteady world of foster care.

Now, I’ll be honest—Ellen Hopkins’ writing style took a second to get used to, but it wasn’t long before I was completely hooked on this riveting and emotional story. This was my first time reading Hopkins’ work, but I can already tell it won’t be my last.

I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say the ending felt a bit abrupt, which might be why this isn’t a five-star read for me. But seriously, Sync is brilliant, and I absolutely recommend giving it a read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

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