I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. But I loved how it showed how not just the victim is affected, but how true friends and family of a kidnapped child are affected as well. ( )

Excellent first novel about friendship. Sophomore Tessa has withdrawn into herself in the past two years since her best friend Noelle was abducted from the park; no one knows if Noelle is alive or dead, and Tessa has found it hard to get close to anyone again. But now suddenly two things happen: she meets a nice guy to whom she is attracted, who shares her interest in photography, and--Noelle contacts her family and is rescued by the police! Now Tessa has to figure out how to rekindle their friendship, now that "Elle" as she prefers to be called, is a changed girl. But can Tessa handle balancing the new cynical Elle and her need to protect her, with her growing relationship with Max? ( )

The Tension of Opposites is one of those novels that pulls you in from the first lines and refuses to let you go until you've read every last word. Devour is almost too tame a word to describe how quickly I read this novel... inhale might be a better fit. It's always a magical experience when a reader finds an author whose writing style fits perfectly with his or her preferences - and I'm happy to say that I experienced that magic with Tension.

I feel that I should mention that the the description of Tension only conveys the darker elements of the plot, despite the fact that there is plenty of lighter material in the novel as well. Not only are both light and dark elements present, they are perfectly balanced. With a novel that addresses such a heavy topic, attempts at lighter material may be awkward and disrupt the flow of the novel, but this isn't so with Tension: it plunged into the inky dark depths of emotion and managed an amazing love story. The fact that the story is told from the point-of-view of the victim's best friend offered a unique perspective and, I think, ultimately allowed McBride to write such a balanced story. I would have been frustrated if the entire story was dark, since Tessa is the narrator and I wanted her to move past the traumatizing event and find happiness, despite the horrors that Noelle suffered. It will never be something that she will forget, but she can't postpone her life indefinitely, no matter how much she loves Tessa.In ways, I thought the fact that Noelle lost so many things provided even more reasons that Tessa shouldn't. Noelle had those things taken... Tessa shouldn't just give them up.

Tessa and Noelle's relationship was painful and heartbreaking. I felt for Tessa... She waited so long to regain her best friend, guilty and afraid to live her own life after Noelle's had been cruelly shattered. When Noelle returns home, Tessa knows that things won't be the same, but nothing can prepare her for the new Noelle... Elle, who doesn't seem to have even a glimmer of Noelle left in her. At the same time, I understand why Noelle had to adopt this new persona: Noelle, Tessa's best friend, is dead. I think McBride accurately conveyed Tessa's POV, which is different than most other YA novels dealing with the same topic, as they usually told from the victim's POV.

One of the brightest elements of the novel is the romance between Tessa and Max, the boy who finds a way past Tessa's carefully constucted walls and into her heart. Max and Tessa's relationship is one of my absolute favorites... and I read a lot of good love stories. I think the realistic quality of their story is what really won me over... I believed in their story. That and the fact that there is the definite possiblity that it might not work out between them and I desperately believed that they should be together! Tessa's ready to do anything to help Noelle, including giving up her own happiness... and Max. ( )

THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES, by Kristina McBride, was a bone-chilling thriller that explores the ripple-effect that a kidnapping creates. Although Noelle was kidnapped two years prior, her best friend, Tessa, held onto the hope that she was still alive and would come back home. When Noelle's brother told Tessa that Noelle was found and coming home, she believed that her friend was back but the opposite was true.

I really enjoyed this book. There were two stories that revolved around Tessa, one with Max and the other with Noelle, AKA Elle. Tessa did not want to move on with her life because it felt wrong that Elle couldn't move on while she was gone. But when Tessa met Max, she finally found someone she could really connect with. At the same time, she was trying to protect Elle when she didn't need protecting.

I also liked the added element of photography. The artistic eye that both Tessa and Max had added to their charm as a couple. And the assignment that was lingering over them throughout the book really tied it all in. The resulting project for Tessa was really fantastic. Her experiences with Max and Elle gave her a new perspective on life in the hope that she might be able to finally let go of "Noelle".

The kidnapping had such an effect on all the characters, it was a bit startling to deal with at first. Elle was very unpredictable. It was heart-breaking to learn what she went through during the two years she was gone and it made her so strong, but I waited for her to snap at any moment. This young girl grew up very quickly and it was difficult to deal with for everyone around her. But I love how through it all, both Elle and Tessa realized that nothing could ever go back to what it was, but something new and beautiful could be created.

This book is definitely a must-read. ( )

This book is amazing. The plot twists and turns you all the time. YOu can feel all the emotions runnning through you. Sadness, Happiness and counfution.
I give this book a 5 out of 5. amazing read. ( )