so-soMcBride weaves a beautiful story about perseverance. The fantastical elements were not my cup of tea; however, I could see many YA readers enjoying this book. My favorite part of McBride's novel is the final message that one is never alone. Mental illness is often a struggle behind closed doors, but there is always someone rooting for you. I would love to include this novel in my classroom library and recommend it to my whimsy-loving students.
McBride's novel appeals to so many students with her characters. Mental health conditions and prejudice against black kids are at the forefront of the novel, but are not overwhelming for adolescent minds. These issues are not sugarcoated, yet they are not made too graphic for YA readers. McBride's novel encourages adolescents to learn about issues which, in turn, encourages them to use their voices for change.
pickAny Gracie Abrams fans on here? This book feels like listening to "I Love You, I'm Sorry". The angry live version, specifically.
I have been captivated by the structure. Much like my students, when I open a book, I expect lines upon lines of words thrown onto the page. However, McBride's structure provides an air of whimsy, making the book itself seem like a journey. I think it would be cool to take excerpts from this book and pair them with other texts to highlight different styles of writing while bringing awareness to mental health.
pickReading this book was painful, but in the right way. It gave language to things I‘ve felt but couldn‘t explain. It helped me realize I wasn‘t broken or alone. There are stories in it that made me cry—because I saw myself in them. Jamison writes with such care and respect for every life, even the ones lost.
I think this book might have saved me a little, or at least made me feel like I was worth saving.
@BookmarkTavern #SundayFunday
pickWhat other authors could you recommend similar to Coco Mellors? I've read her only two books and loved both of them. Her style reminded me of Ottessa Moshfegh, but if you know of anyone else who writes gritty, complicated, but lovable characters, please let me know!
I did appreciate the ending of this novel. I felt like there was a lot of buildup to the final plot point and the discovery of the siblings. The symbolism in the forest and the way they rewrote the story was very powerful and teaches readers how to take control of what is causing them stress. It wasn't all good and it wasn't all bad. Representative of real life and the struggles people go through.
McBride did a good job at positioning mental health in a digestible way that is easily understandable for younger readers. Depression was not tip-toed around nor glorified. McBride also weaved in racial identity with mental health in a powerful way that deserves recognition. Combined with the fantastical setting, this book is a classic young adult literature novel that holds moral value and entertainment for younger audiences.
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