"Do not define me by my gender or my socio-economic status, Noah Willis. Do not tell me who I am and do not tell me who society thinks I am and then put me in that box and expect me to stay there" 
 Wow. This book right here blew me away. 
 What a stunningly powerful and exquisitely crafted novel. 'Yellow' is an impressive and masterful debut, the sort of quietly compelling and beautifully written story that sneaks up on you page by page and takes your breath away. It is, on the surface, a young adult contemporary - set in the lower class housing commission suburbs, the public school classrooms and surrounding bushland and beaches of a coastal Australian town - intertwined with an almost supernatural murder mystery. The author creates this beautifully atmospheric and haunting narrative, bringing the story together in a way that forms something heartbreakingly amazing and unique, a whole that is a lot stronger than the sum of its parts. 
 This is a book that tackles some really big concepts - bullying, murder, depression, divorce, addiction, self-image and self-awareness, standing up for yourself and for others, friendship, relationships and loss - and weaves them all together into an incredibly poignant but uplifting story that is ultimately about the redemptive power of kindness, what it means to be haunted by the past and the choices we must make as we grow up and find our feet in the world. For me, at least, the ideas and themes behind this story are what made it so powerful and memorable. 
 This book is all heart and soul, undoubtedly a labour of love by the author; heartfelt, gritty, real and honest. There is something whisper soft and tranquil about the writing which enables the author to really pack a powerful punch with the harsher realities of the world. And Jacobson does not once talk down to her audience, she is truthful in her portrayal of harder social issues and yet intertwines it all with a level of poetry to the writing that is just heartbreakingly beautiful and so engaging. I often tag pages with beautiful lines or favourite passages when I read a book I plan to review, but with this one I had to stop because almost every second page there was a line or phrase I wanted to savour. The prose in this book is just stunning, reminiscent of a Markus Zusak contemporary. Jacobson so effortlessly creates this haunting and sad reality and yet makes it beautiful, fills even the simplest moment with something amazing. This book is the embodiment of the sentiment that even though things may be broken they can still shine and that even in the darkest of places there is still something inherently beautiful and hopeful about life. 
 'Yellow' so perfectly captures the emotion and atmosphere of growing up in Australia. It brought me right back to my childhood, especially with the way it explored bullying. I think many readers will find something sadly relatable about the way in which victims will try to diminish themselves in order to avoid attention and maintain the status quo within an established school pecking order, as though excelling beyond your allotted place is a crime worthy of punishment by those around you who will quickly bring you down. There is a level of claustrophobia to the world, the characters' lives confined by the social hierarchies and limited opportunities in front of them in a way that I feel is so relatable to many younger people who cannot yet see the potential before them or in themselves. It is hard to be young, lonely and a little bit lost and I think we can all understand that feeling of just trying to work life out as we go, unable to see more than what is in front of us. 
 While 'Yellow' is a book heavy on themes, it is at its core a story about people and what it means to grow up and believe in yourself even in a world that will try and bring you down. This book is a good reminder that true friends will build you up, they will see the good in you, rather than try to drag you back down or point out only your flaws and failings. It really illustrates how damaging words can be, as well as how kindness and love can be so powerful and healing. The characterisation is definitely one of the areas where Jacobson really shines. These characters felt real to me; I felt their emotions, their fears and insecurities, the ways in which certain things can break a person down or build a person up, especially in the oh so important teen years where belief in yourself can be hard to find. 
 While I imagine some readers will find the pacing a little slow, those who like intelligent, thought-provoking and beautiful writing and a book that delves into harder topics will be richly rewarded. 
 4.5 stars. Beautiful. Poetic. Atmospheric. Honest. Relatable. Powerful. 
 I would recommend to anyone who loves Australian contemporaries, especially to readers who enjoyed When Dogs Cry by Markus Zusak, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and Pieces of Sky by Trinity Doyle. 
 Disclaimer: I won an ARC from the publisher via a giveaway on Instagram.