Review: Kelly is Unbreakable by Jackson Keller

A surprisingly deep musing on trust, power, truth, and friendship, Kelly is Unbreakable by Jackson Keller is a unique and suspenseful YA thrill. Exploring personal boundaries, and perhaps even finding the edge, this super-powered debut novel takes adolescent exploration to an inventive new level.

Kelly has grown up in the shadow of what’s “wrong” with her, and while age has taught her discretion, her superhuman strength is starting to show, just as it did a decade earlier, when her only friend Chris discovered her dangerous secret. After a lifetime of hiding, Kelly may finally be forced to come into the light to save those she cares for most, despite what it may cost her.

With a shifting narrative perspective, readers are pulled into this story from every side, and given a unique level of insight into the core relationship of the protagonists. Chris and Kelly are an unusual pair, to say the least, but their friendship is more nuanced and intriguing than traditional puppy love relationships often found in YA lit. Even during their foundational experience together in the woods, there is hesitancy and tenderness, mixed with the deep desire to connect.

The prose throughout this character-driven novel is coated with a thin layer of grit, reflected in the visceral metaphors and bursts of intense violence. Thematically, the book boldly addresses everything from bullying and emotional abuse to identity shaming and the pain of self-discovery, giving the story a broad yet timely appeal. The story matures at a fast clip, delving rapidly into conflicts of duty, grief, self-doubt, and personal responsibility for the wellbeing of others. The question of whether you should do something just because you can do something is a timeless quandary, and Keller neatly fuels that debate between these two compelling young characters.

The dialogue throughout much of the book feels organic as well, yet there are also small streams of profound wisdom from the mouth of babes: “It’s easier to forget the bad stuff if you’re not just sitting around.” Dividing the narration between Chris and Kelly gives readers a comprehensive view of this story, as well as more intimate insight into the feelings of both core characters. As with the dialogue, the narration is mostly simple and declarative, but carefully crafted for emotional impact: “There had to be something I could say to show her I cared. She was my best friend! It should have been easy, but it felt like trying to comfort a stranger. There was just so much we didn’t talk about.”

Though there are occasional slips in grammar, and some convoluted syntax that demands a re-read, the writing is smart throughout, capturing organic moments of self-reflection and authentic conversations. There is an occasional tendency to explain a particular emotion behind a statement or an event via narration, which can sometimes feel heavy-handed, but most of the prose is smooth, driving this riveting story to an impossible-to-predict conclusion.

As a whole, the rough edges of this narrative give it a savage charm, and with Kelly as the dark, complicated heart of this story, it is an electric and enigmatic read.