Books
The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone

by Adele Griffin
Soho Teen, August 2014, $17.99

When famous 18-year-old artist Addison Stone dies mysteriously by falling off a bridge, her family, friends, and boyfriends are left with more questions than answers. There is suspicion one of her ex-boyfriends pushed her. There is speculation she took her own life—as she had once attempted to do. Others guess she has fallen by accident while painting on the bridge. But all the speculation in the world fails to shed light on Addison’s death, which is as mysterious as she was.

Addison was a talented artist, yet she struggled with depression, mania, and hallucinations. Author Adele Griffin shows it all: from Addison’s stint in a mental hospital to her unexpected fame as a new artist in New York City. Addison’s story is told exclusively through interviews with those who knew her—her longtime best friend Lucy Lim, her estranged parents, her wealthy ex-boyfriend Zach Fratepietro, and her newest boyfriend Lincoln Reed. All of these characters have different versions of Addison’s art, relationships, loves, and what they think happened the night she died. The Addison readers learn of through interviews and biographical information from others is flamboyant, flawed, sympathetic, and tragic.

As readers learn more about Addison’s life, struggles, and the night she died, they will be pulled in by her story and be left with the sense that maybe the biggest question isn’t what happened the night Addison died…but who Addison really was. A moving story of art, fame, and tragedy, The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone is a fine example of young adult literature.

Sarah Prindle

When famous 18-year-old artist Addison Stone dies mysteriously by falling off a bridge, her family, friends, and boyfriends are left with more questions than answers. There is suspicion one of her ex-boyfriends pushed her. There is speculation she took her own life—as she had once attempted to do. Others guess she has fallen by accident while painting on the bridge. But all the speculation in the world fails to shed light on Addison’s death, which is as mysterious as she was.

Addison was a talented artist, yet she struggled with depression, mania, and hallucinations. Author Adele Griffin shows it all: from Addison’s stint in a mental hospital to her unexpected fame as a new artist in New York City. Addison’s story is told exclusively through interviews with those who knew her—her longtime best friend Lucy Lim, her estranged parents, her wealthy ex-boyfriend Zach Fratepietro, and her newest boyfriend Lincoln Reed. All of these characters have different versions of Addison’s art, relationships, loves, and what they think happened the night she died. The Addison readers learn of through interviews and biographical information from others is flamboyant, flawed, sympathetic, and tragic.

As readers learn more about Addison’s life, struggles, and the night she died, they will be pulled in by her story and be left with the sense that maybe the biggest question isn’t what happened the night Addison died…but who Addison really was. A moving story of art, fame, and tragedy, The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone is a fine example of young adult literature.

Teri Duerr
3721
Griffin
August 2014
the-unfinished-life-of-addison-stone
17.99
Soho Teen