Bite-Sized Book Review: Hana by Lauren Oliver.

Product details:
Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton
Release date: December 19th 2011
ebook, 144 pages
Rating: 3½ out of 5
Ages: 14+
Series: Delirium #1.5
Other Books in Series: Delirium

In the world of Delirium, love is a disease. And like all eighteen-year-olds, Lena and Hana must take the cure.

At the start of their last summer of freedom, they were the closest of friends. Until Hana made a decision that tore them apart... In Delirium, we heard from Lena. Now, Hana gets to tell her side of the story. And nothing is what we first thought.

Hana is a powerful, moving and beautifully told original eBook short story, with a shocking twist that will leave you with your heart in your mouth.

 While reading Lauren Oliver’s Delirium last year, I didn’t immediately connect to its main character, Lena. Like a lot of people, I found her best friend, Hana, easier to relate to, more interesting, even, with her lust for life, her anti-establishment values and her rebellious nature.  I liked love interest Alex, a lot, but Hana intrigued me. I wanted to know more about this girl, and with this novella, I found out all I needed to know.

Hana, which recounts the events of Delirium from Hana’s perspective, gives us an insight into Hana’s character that we never would have seen through Lena’s eyes.  We see the Hana that Lena knows, but another girl too, a girl that the outside world doesn’t get to see – a girl who has fears and insecurities of her own, a girl who wants something more from the boy she meets up with at forbidden parties, a girl who can be hurt.  We find out the truth about Hana, and it is a shocking truth.

Delirium tugged at my heartstrings with its heartbreaking final scenes, but nothing could have prepared me for the shocking conclusion to Hana.  The perfect accompaniment to Delirium, especially for readers who were fans of Hana, this story may be short in length, but it packs an almighty punch, and is definitely worth checking out!

Bite-Sized Book Reviews: A review in approx 200 words for when I need to play catch up on reviews/when reviewing short stories/novellas etc.