Echo

Have you ever relived a moment in time, trying to judge whether anything you could have done might have prevented an inevitable outcome? When Justin's younger brother Mark dies, Justin is forced to relive the horrific day and its consequences again, and again, and again.  Kate Morgenroth's Echo depicts grief and its consequences and explores the gray area between reality and illusion.


Justin used to be popular. He used to be an athlete. Now, he's a pariah. His former friends and his girlfriend go out of their way to avoid him. Everyone tells him he has changed. The teachers and administrators at his school have lost their patience; his grief is no longer enough to account for his rudeness and hostility. Justin thinks he is doing fine until he is overwhelmed by the anniversary of his brother's death and is found at the scene of a critical accident involving his former friend Billy. Already grappling with the guilt of being a firsthand witness at his brother's death, Justin now hears a voice that makes him relive the day of Billy's accident over and over.

Each time, Justin sees the incident with new eyes and learns a little more about the cast of supporting characters. He comes to understand which circumstances he could have changed and which were beyond his control. He realizes that he is not, in fact, okay, but that he also does not have to be alone in his grief.

Echo is dark and a little raw in places. It's not too graphic, but there are a few scenes I could do without visiting multiple times. For young adults who are not too close to grief in their own lives or who have an interest in psychology, this would be an interesting read.  It is pretty compelling, and at 137 pages, moves quickly. There's a little mystery and a little raw emotion as well as a need for belonging and search for forgiveness that we can all relate to.