Booklist, September 1, 2012

This wasn't bad, but It lacked a back story. I don't think that Jane's explanation for wanting to commit suicide was credible enough - that her father and grandmother had chosen to die that way. Really? And the romance did not ring true. All in all the characters were not strong enough to drive the plot. ( )

Jane got my attention right away because I have had mental health problems as well, and I am fascinated with reading this type book. I was intrigued at how someone could go from wanting to kill themselves to fighting tooth and nail to survive after a plane crash. I don't know how much has to do with control of when and how, or actually just having that near death experience that kicked her survival instinct in gear.
Her relationship and interactions with Paul are all meaningful and escalated because of the situation that they find themselves in. There is no time to be coy, hide things, or to really sort out emotions. They are faced with so many things that could end their life or the others' that they are feeling everything on multiply and then to the extreme.
Jane herself is witty and intense. It was definitely a unique experience being inside her head. I first didn't want to like her, but I ended up as she grew and learned to appreciate life.

Bottom Line: Survive is an action packed, emotional no holds barred kind of book that I did not look away from.

3.5 stars

As soon as I heard the synopsis of this book I knew I wanted to read it, in fact I featured it on my blog for a WOW (waiting on wednesday) post back when I first heard about it. I had very high expectations of this book after reading the synopsis. The fact that this suicidal girl leaves the "nut house" for christmas break due to good behavior and plans on killing herself while the plane is in the air completely intrigued me. The plane instead crashes, and only her and a boy her age survive and suddenely all she wants is to live and get off this snow covered mountain.

I've always loved "survival of the fittest" type books. Hatchet was one of the books growing up that really got me into reading in the first place, and one of my favorite Young Adult series is The Ashfall series by Mike Mullin, both of which are survival type stories. I guess in the end I was a bit let down. I really wanted to connect to Jane's story and felt that she had a wall up so that I couldn't really connect with her, and same goes for Paul. I wanted more drama on the mountain and was looking for more obstacles I guess. I felt like everything, (food, water, clothing) came too easiley for them and I wanted to see more of a struggle. I also felt like their characters fell into the trap of the YA "insta-love". I do believe that being the only two survivors of a plane crash and going through something that tramatic together would ultimately lead to feelings developing but I just felt like it happened way too quickly to be real or believeable.

I did enjoy certain aspects of this book for sure, and it was a quick read, but ultimately I wanted more from the story and more development that lacked a bit for me. Would I still say this book is worth a read? Yes. without a doubt, but I think personally I had my expectations set too high and it resulted in a bit of a let-down for me. ( )

On a flight home for Christmas holidays from the mental hospital from where she has been living, Jane decides to commit suicide. Her father did years ago and Jane feels that there is no other way for her.
Just as she starts to swallow the pills that will end her life when the plane crashes into the snow covered mountains leaving her alive and freezing. There is one other survivor, Paul, and the two of them face the task of finding their way off the mountains that threaten to end their lives. Jane really does not want to die and a friendship blossoms between the two, a friendship that will survive the mountains. ( )