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Book Review of The Big Crunch

The Big Crunch
The Big Crunch
Author: Pete Hautman
Genre: Teen & Young Adult
Book Type: Hardcover
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Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com

The first time Wes saw June, fireworks definitely did not go off. He thought her greenish-blue eyes were set too far apart, and her hair looked as though she had stepped right out of the shower. June resembled a sea-creature, and not in a mermaid-like way.

He started calling her Aqua Girl, and eventually all Wes wanted was for June to be his.

Their affair is tumultuous, just like most teenagers in the throes of first love. Wes soon discovers that his relationship with June is exhausting, especially when it becomes long-distance. Is their Big Crunch a one-shot deal, or will it last?

Hautman uses the changing seasons to mark the progression of Wes and June's relationship. As the seasons change, their intensity and passion changes, as well. They learn about themselves through one another. They discover that there are limits to what they can do, both physically and emotionally.

I loved this book because the story was simple yet poignant. It wasn't flashy or filled with romantic dialogue; it was real. A boy and girl meet, fall in love, and try to make it work. Sometimes it lasts and sometimes it doesn't. Honestly, that really doesn't matter - it's about the story, and that's what makes this novel so wonderful.