More Than We Can Tell

This is about two teenagers who are both receiving unwanted messages and don’t want to talk to their parents about it. Rev has recently begun receiving emails from his abusive father, whom Rev hasn’t seen in over a decade ago. He doesn’t want to (and arguably does not know how to) explain to his adoptive parents how he feels about this contact with his biological father. Emma keeps receiving abusive messages from a fellow player of an online game that Emma built. She doesn’t think telling her parents will help – she expects her gamer father to say that this is just part of the gaming industry that Emma has to deal with, while her mother will use the situation to insist that Emma stop gaming altogether.

I found this very show more compelling. I had recently been struggling to focus on other books but, as with Letters to the Lost, I did did not have that problem – instead, what I did have trouble with was putting the book down (it was after midnight and I had to work in the morning)!

I loved Rev’s friendship with Declan. Obviously having seen that relationship from Declan’s perspective in Letters to the Lost means there’s been space to develop it in more depth, but I think it’s also the way the two of them have helped each other through traumatic stuff that shows both the strength of their bond and how important it is that they have this. (One of my favourite moments was when Declan asks Rev to accompany him for moral support as Declan does something personal and difficult. Another favourite was when Rev, who has been Not Coping, is convinced that Declan will be mad at him, but Declan isn’t, he’s just worried. Also when Declan helps Rev and his new foster brother understand each other better, because the latter two are too on edge, due to past trauma, to see the other clearly.)

“Help me, Dec. Which one am I?”
His eyes are dark and serious. “Neither. Is that what you need me to say? You’re neither son.”
“But—”
“You’re not selfish. You wouldn’t be the son who asks for his money and leaves. And you’re not spiteful. You don’t resent anyone, even the one person you should.”
I flinch again. “Don’t you understand? I have to be one or the other.”
“No, you don’t! You moron, there are three people in the story.”
“What?”
“You’re neither son, Rev. If you’re anyone, you’re the man who watched his kids act like total dicks, only to stand there with open arms and forgive them.”
I’m speechless. I might be gaping at him. As many times as I’ve read that parable, I’ve never considered a third perspective.

Rev’s adopted parents are also great.

In contrast, I did not feel as invested in most of Emma’s relationships – with the notable exception of her dog. (Definite points for her dog!) But continuing my theme of talking about these characters like they’re real people, I thought that it was probably a good thing for Rev and Emma that lots of Emma’s other relationships aren’t quite so complicated – the relationships that Emma will be continuing beyond the borders of this story, I mean. She also has some dark and tense experiences, which kept me hooked, and I liked that the ultimate conclusions about her online experiences were thoughtful and sensible – neither blaming her for the abuse she experiences, nor banning her from online spaces in the name of safety. show less

Well, that was a roller coaster.

We laughed.
We cried.
We fell.
And we almost died.
#shesapoet

This wasn’t as good as Letters To The Lost, but it was about as close as you can get. I love Rev. Emma was great. This was just an all-around great story.

I loved all the conversation about religion, fate, PTSD, and pushing people away. It was all so raw. So important. Kemmerer always does a fantastic job at tackling the rough topics.

I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone more than Rev’s father. Using religion as an excuse to hurt someone is just so sick.

In contrast, Geoff and Kristin are amazing and underrated and they deserve all the love in the world. They were so good to the kids they took in. And they were so patient with Rev and Matt. show more I’m such a sucker for a good parent/child-like relationship and I just...GAH. I love them.

5/5 stars
—Elliana Maselli
Saturday, 25 April, 2020; 1:30AM show less

Le pongo un tres generoso... la historia de Rev me encanto! la de Matt también, aunque quedó bastante inconclusa... me hubiera gustado que tenga mas protagonismo ya que fue una muy buena incorporación!. A Emma realmente la odié,( tanto como a su familia) me pareció totalmente infantil, con actitudes totalmente inmaduras. No me gustó para nada que ella sea la pareja de Rev.
En general es un buen libro, me gustó muchísimo mas el primero y esperaba mas de este.. se me hizo un poquito largo..

I'm giving it 5 stars cause at so many levels Rev's experience resonates with me as i went through something very similar.
As i was reading the book(2 chapters usually, Emma and Rev's side of a particular scene) i frequently found myself stopping just to feel whatever was coming back to the surface at that particular moment. I finally allowed myself to feel and process things i buried deep down over the years and even talk about some of it for the first time.
For that i wanna thank the author for this amazing book. Your dedication and commitment to come up with something this good is very much appreciated

Having thoroughly enjoyed "Letters to the Lost" and Rev's character in it, I was excited to learn that Brigid Kemmerer had decided to give him his own novel. Thus, it was with eager anticipation that I started this one, but "More Than We Can Tell" didn't have the same emotional appeal that Letters to the Lost had. It was lovely having Declan play such a big role again, and he was just as kind as supportive as he was in the first book. However, this sequel just had too much going on.

I felt so sorry for Rev as his horrific backstory was revealed, but I struggled with how the issue with his father was finally resolved. It fell flat and I thought it was totally anti-climatic considering the abuse Rev's father threw at him when he was a show more little boy. However, Rev's adoptive parents were lovely and even Matthew had grown on me by the end. I wouldn't be surprised if he has his own novel, as well, in the future.

Emma annoyed me from the start. I loved that she was a gifted coded who created her own computer game, and I liked how the author shone a light on the struggles females have in male dominated industries, enduring harassment, sexual innuendos, vile comments and unfair treatment. However, as a character, I didn't like her. She was always angry and lashed out at everyone then went on self-pity binges where I wanted to slap her. I also hated how she belitted her best friend's YouTube makeup channel and the stupid decision to climb into a stranger's car just had me shaking my head.

While I loved the relationship that developed between Dec and Juliet in "Letters to the Lost", I never felt the same way about Rev and Emma. Their dialogue always felt forced, especially all the questions and answers, and I never felt an emotional connection between them. In fact, I preferred Dec and Rev's relationship - it felt real and genuine. Overall, a very disappointing read. show less

I really liked this. I loved Rev. I liked Emma. It was fun, and heartbreaking, and everything in between. I just had a few issues.

SHORT LIST OF THOUGHTS

- I love Rev! Rev is a sweet, broken, cinnamon roll of a character! And I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! And his DEVELOPMENT! And I LOVE HIM! And I HATE HIS DAD SO MUCH!

- Emma was a good enough character, if unremarkable.

- THE DECLAN AND JULIET MOMENTS! Perfection! They were probably my favourite parts of the book tbh. SO PERFECT AND WONDERFUL!

- The romance was SO GOOD! I shipped it so much!

- Okay, but... the book sort of vilified internet friendships, which irritated me so much. Like, Juliet was an idiot, for sure. She should not have done what she did... Getting in a car with someone you barely show more know, and have only met over the internet, without telling anyone where you're going? That's just dumb. Like, she barely knew him! And he was clearly a creep. ...but internet friendships aren't bad, and... also she just wouldn't be that dumb. And I would have liked an internet friendship that DIDN'T end poorly. That would have been nice.

- Also the ending was... overly climactic? It took an unnecessary turn in my opinion. It was a relationship based contemporary, and then it was like, never mind, let's take a really action packed turn, and do this! And why? It was so unnecessary, and I think it took away from the book, not added to it.

Still though, I loved this! The characters were great, the romance was great, and I really enjoyed the plot for the most part.

***Initial reaction, July 20, 2018***

Not as good as Letters to the Lost, but still pretty great! RTC. show less

More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer is an emotionally moving, gorgeously penned novel. While it is the second in The Letters to the Lost series, it definitely can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone book.

Rev's and Emma's story moved me through the gambit of emotions. Once I started reading this book, I ended up carrying it around with me everywhere so I could continue reading it every chance I got. The themes of this story are not easy subjects to read about but Ms. Kemmerer has addressed them with honesty, compassion and created a story that just blew me away.

I loved reading More Than We Can Tell and highly recommend it, along with the rest of this series.

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and show more all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms. Kemmerer, Bloomsbury Children's Publishing as well as Netgalley for the opportunity to read/review this book. show less