Anwell is the same age as his dead brother when his life suddenly changes. Told from the gruesome, gothic perspective of Anwell on his death bed and his wild young friend, Finnigan, "Surrender" is the type of book that continuously digs itself into a deeper, darker hole. 

At first I was annoyed by Hartnett's writing style - she overly uses similes, especially from Anwell's perspective - but I quickly got used to it. Once inside our narrator's head, the book became a fiery page turner. By the end, I don't know if I fully understood it, particularly the meaning of the dog. I think the climax could have been handled better - more slowly, perhaps - to avoid some of that confusion. 

This is my first Hartnett and I will definitely be reading more. I'm happy to have discovered her, as I love young adult authors that aren't afraid to tackle tough themes.