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Never Ending    by Martyn Bedford Amazon.com order for
Never Ending
by Martyn Bedford
Order:  USA  Can
Doubleday Canada, 2015 (2014)
Hardcover, Softcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Lyn Seippel

Fifteen-year-old Siobhan Faverdale, known as Shiv, has undergone an unbelievable loss that played out in the news throughout Europe. Her brother Declan recently died during a family vacation in Greece and Shiv feels responsible.

Now she's back in England. Her bizarre behavior makes moving on with her life impossible, and she's not sure she wants to move on. After more than one therapist fails her, she turns to the Korsakoff Clinic for help. Their experimental eight week in-patient program specializes in bereavement trauma.

There are six other patients there who are all desperate to cope with the death of someone close to them. Mikey is to be Shiv's assigned buddy. He lost his sister. Lucy's infant niece died on her watch. Caron becomes Shiv's confidante, but isn't ready to open about her own loss.

The story moves slowly, alternating with flashbacks of a perfect vacation; Shiv's crush on Niko, a gorgeous young Greek; her relationship with her brilliant, funny, younger brother; and her time at the clinic. The unfolding tragedy of Declan's death remains a mystery to the reader as Shiv tries to deal with her loss.

Sad and sweet, Shiv's story is hard to put down.

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