Addison Stone's death at the age of eighteen shocked the
world. Was the young artist murdered, a victim of suicide,
or was it simply an accident? Through interview snippets,
Adele Griffin shows us the story of Addison Stone's
tumultuous rise to fame as well as her dramatic end.
Wow! THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF ADDISON STONE is a fictional
documentary but don't be surprised if you find yourself
repeatedly questioning whether or not it's fictional. I must
have googled the people, places and events half a dozen
times as Adele Griffin does such a marvelous job at making
the story seem real. We meet a plethora of characters and
yet it is neither overwhelming nor do their personalities
seem flat. Instead, Adele Griffin offers readers snippets of
interviews that both shed light on the personality and
events of Addison's life but also provide us insight into
the actual interviewees. And who can't help but love the
mystery of Ida and her impact on Addison's world?
Addison is a very emotional and passionate character. She
throws herself wholeheartedly into anything and anyone she
has contact with. Consequently, the love triangle she's
involved in is perhaps the most chaotic and dangerously
obsessive one I've ever read. So many times I wanted to
close my eyes from the mayhem that was about to ensue and
yet the story is so compelling that I couldn't put it down!
Adele Griffin takes the concept of epistolary fiction and
turns it upside down! From the marvelous artwork to the very
distinct voices of the people interviewed, THE UNFINISHED
LIFE OF ADDISON STONE offers readers a unique and
captivating fictional documentary. The strong cautionary
message about mental health, medication, and obsession is
quite powerful. I can't recommend THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF
ADDISON STONE highly enough!
For fans of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children,
Girl, Interrupted, and A.S. King, National Book Award-
finalist Adele Griffin tells the fully illustrated story of
a brilliant young artist, her mysterious death, and the
fandom that won't let her go.
From the moment she stepped foot in NYC, Addison Stone’s
subversive street art made her someone to watch, and her
violent drowning left her fans and critics craving to know
more. I conducted interviews with those who knew her best—
including close friends, family, teachers, mentors, art
dealers, boyfriends, and critics—and retraced the tumultuous
path of Addison's life. I hope I can shed new light on what
really happened the night of July 28.