The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr (YA)

Seventeen-year-old Flora Banks has no short-term memory. Her mind resets itself several times a day, and has since the age of ten, when the tumor that was removed from Flora’s brain took with it her ability to make new memories. That is, until she kisses Drake, her best friend’s boyfriend, the night before he leaves town. Miraculously, this one memory breaks through Flora’s fractured mind, and sticks. Flora is convinced that Drake is responsible for restoring her memory and making her whole again. So when an encouraging email from Drake suggests she meet him on the other side of the world, Flora knows with certainty that this is the first step toward reclaiming her life. 
With little more than the words “be brave” inked into her skin, and written reminders of who she is and why her memory is so limited, Flora sets off on an impossible journey to Svalbard, Norway, the land of the midnight sun, determined to find Drake. But from the moment she arrives in the arctic, nothing is quite as it seems, and Flora must “be brave” if she is ever to learn the truth about herself, and to make it safely home.

In my efforts to read more YA I saw this book and the blurb sounded intriguing. And it is. You most definitely don’t have to be a YA to enjoy this. Any and all lovers of good stories will find it spellbinding!

I almost hate to say anything about the story other than the blurb. So let me say I loved this story! I loved Flora Banks. She can remember everything that happened before she was 10, but she is unable to retain any new memories for longer than a few hours.

Until one day something happens and that one memory sticks. Clinging to the hope that this could be a miracle that only this one boy in this one memory can solve, she resolves to track him down. In the Arctic. Alone.

That mix of bravery and sheer determination makes her one of the most interesting characters I’ve come across. I read this straight through in one sitting. I couldn’t stop any more than Flora could!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for this beautiful story!  Release Date set for May of 2017