Collateral

By: Ellen Hopkins

Narrated by: Rebekkah Ross

From the sensational writer of the young adult classics Tilt, Crank, and Perfect - and the New York Times best-selling author of the adult novel Triangles - the gripping story of a woman torn between love for her boyfriend, a dedicated Marine deployed to Afghanistan, and the resentment she has for the war that is tearing their lives apart.

Written in Hopkins’s stunning poetic verse style, Collateral centers on Ashley, an MFA student at San Diego State University. She grew up reading books and never dreamed she would become a military wife. One night she meets a handsome soldier named Cole. He doesn’t match the stereotype of the aggressive military man. He’s passionate and romantic. He even writes poetry. Their relationship evolves into a sexually charged love affair that goes on for five years and survives four deployments. Cole wants Ashley to marry him, but when she meets another man, a professor with similar pursuits and values, she begins to see what life might be like outside the shadow of war.

Collateral captures the hearts of the soldiers on the battlefield and the minds of the friends, family, and lovers they leave behind. Those who remain at home may be far away from the relentless, sand-choked skies of the Middle East and the crosshairs of a sniper rifle, but just the same, all of them will sacrifice a part of themselves for their country and all will eventually ask themselves if the collateral damage caused by war is worth the fight.

©2012 Ellen Hopkins (P)2012 Simon and Schuster Audio

don't know how author does it

the flow of all this prose is seamless, especially as an audio book. Brava Ellen Hopkins!

Ending is not what I expected

I love Ellen Hopkins writings as she always leaves us with a twisted ending. As much as I wanted the ending to go another way, she really captured issues in today’s society that most would ignore. Good read.

Great Book - Awful Narrator

Where does Collateral rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

All of Ellen Hopkins books are amazing, never disappointed, unfortunately I'll have to buy the Kindle version of this one as well - Rebekkah Ross is too hard to listen to - monotone, says 'een' for every work ending with 'ing' puts my teeth on edge

What other book might you compare Collateral to and why?

I haven't read anyting around this topic but Ellen Hopkins books all have a similar feel, not to say they're formulaic but each one keeps you wanting more - she always produces a great read.

How could the performance have been better?

If the narrator would just say 'ing' instead of 'een' she'd probably be ok for the voice of a teenager but for more mature characters she doesn't cut it.

book was good, reader not so.

the whole time the reader was very breathy and she was monotone. the book was very good though