LitPick Review
Not your typical coming-of-age novel, All I Know begins with Kai Martin as a playful 9-year-old and takes us through the next three decades of her life. Kai shares an inextricable relationship with her brother, Kade, and her childhood crush, Josh Taylor, throughout the book. These relationships drive decisions that affect Kai’s life, even during years she is not physically with either of them. The author does not shy away from some tough topics. Alcohol and drug abuse, child abuse, and suicide are all dealt with as Kai moves from childhood into adulthood. Several times the reader is unsure of whether or not she will be able to step from the tragedies in her early life and triumph as an adult.
Opinion:
The author does a nice job handling a time span of several decades and a large cast of characters without allowing the reader to become lost.The timeline skips several years at different times, yet the reader is kept current through a series of letters that Kai writes as something of a catharsis, letters that help the reader see into Kai’s deepest emotions and understand the inner turmoil she is carrying. The book tackles some dark topics such as substance addiction and abusive relationships. While I would not call it a “feel good” novel, there is an element of triumph of spirit when Kai is able to overcome some pretty tough challenges.
