49 pages • 1 hour read
I Will Save You
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
336
Novel • Fiction
California • Contemporary
2010
YA
12-18 years
770L
Super Short Summary
I Will Save You by Matt de la Peña follows Kidd, a resident of a halfway house for troubled youths who spends the summer at a beach resort in California. There, Kidd becomes involved in a love triangle with his new girlfriend Olivia and his erratic former best friend Devon, leading to a conflict that makes Kidd confront his past and his mental health challenges related to depression and PTSD. The novel deals with themes of depression, violence, and trauma.
Emotional
Dark
Mysterious
Contemplative
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
2,011 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
<I Will Save You> by Matt de la Peña has garnered praise for its compelling, emotionally charged narrative and complex character development. Readers appreciated the authentic portrayal of teen struggles and the engaging writing style. Some critics noted that the story's pacing could be uneven, and a few found the plot twists predictable. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read I Will Save You?
Ideal for readers aged 12-17 who enjoy gripping, contemporary YA fiction that explores themes of mental health, trauma, and redemption. Fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and Looking for Alaska by John Green would particularly connect with this emotionally intense narrative.
2,011 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Devon
Devon
A mysterious figure who influences Kidd's decisions, Devon represents the darker, impulsive side of Kidd's personality, complicating Kidd's path toward self-discovery.
Red
Red
A supportive mentor and father figure to Kidd, Red is a surfer in his thirties who operates the campground and shares wisdom born from his own battles with loss and addiction.
Olivia
Olivia
Kidd's love interest, Olivia is a wealthy girl with a rare skin condition who fosters a deep connection with Kidd through shared experiences of emotional struggle and understanding.
336
Novel • Fiction
California • Contemporary
2010
YA
12-18 years
770L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.