Oh, Chrys!

This review appeared first on Oh, Chrys!Having read an ARC of [b:Life After Theft|16065465|Life After Theft|Aprilynne Pike|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361587713s/16065465.jpg|19071699], I was really expecting for this digital short to be functional. I wanted to know more about Kimberlee. Unfortunately, I found nothing significant, nothing that made me say "now that explains a lot". All I got from this novella is that Kimberlee is a bitchy kleptomaniac with a lot of emotional insecurities.Now, since this is a prequel, it would be unfair to review this short story as though I was expecting questions and doubts from [b:Life After Theft|16065465|Life After Theft|Aprilynne Pike|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361587713s/16065465.jpg|19071699] to be addressed. Nevertheless, as a prequel novella [b:One Day More|10929|For One More Day|Mitch Albom|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347937379s/10929.jpg|3125926] was okay. Had I read it first, I would have some interest in [b:Life After Theft|16065465|Life After Theft|Aprilynne Pike|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361587713s/16065465.jpg|19071699]. It ended with a cliffhanger that is sure to get readers jazzed up for what Kimberlee's future holds. Will she redeem herself?It was refreshing to read from Kimberlee's point of view though, because readers get to learn of her "issues" directly and without any assumptions. Her narrative voice is mature, sometimes even humorous with her snarky comments. Though she is wealthy and can get away with anything because her father is a judge, Kimberlee is thoroughly unhappy. I found this message to be very powerful, as many young adults have to endure such problems. For instance, the absence of her parents at home is quite realistic in her case. Consumed with work, and a desire to strengthen their marriage, Kimberlee's parents practically neglect her, leaving her without supervision, discipline or emotional stability. Then of course there is her compulsive desire to steal. Often kleptomaniacs are associated with disheveled men sporting matted beards. It was ironic that a "rich-kid" succumbed to kleptomania.When it comes to a novella for a series, I believe it needs to be necessary - it must contribute significantly to the overall plot. I cannot say that [b:One Day More|10929|For One More Day|Mitch Albom|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347937379s/10929.jpg|3125926] did that. Though it transitions flawlessly into [b:Life After Theft|16065465|Life After Theft|Aprilynne Pike|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361587713s/16065465.jpg|19071699], I find that the two could have been merged. A simple conversation, occupying no more than half a page in [b:Life After Theft|16065465|Life After Theft|Aprilynne Pike|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361587713s/16065465.jpg|19071699], would have eliminated the need for [b:One Day More|10929|For One More Day|Mitch Albom|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347937379s/10929.jpg|3125926] .