Can we just start by having a look at this book cover? Isn't it glorious? The teenage me is quite jealous right now. If only I had this book back in the day, I would have never let go of it. It would have taken centre stage right on my bookshelf with pride. Then again, I've always been a sucker for a good book cover. But aren't we all?
So, where should I begin? Lets have a talk on the synopsis...
The story is focussed on one girl in particular, her name Lexi Miller and her trials as young girl who doesn't believe in herself. She has been suffering with some form of mental illness, which she calls Solitary and keeps this knowledge to herself. She is also coming to terms with her sexual orientation, while battling the problems with everyday life at school. This also deals with the profound effect of bullying and how this shapes us to become the people who we all grow up to be. As well as death and how we come to rely on people, when really we should realise that we all have the strength to rely on ourselves.
I found this book interesting. The writing style is like she is speaking to you, almost like you are intruding her diary and peeling back her feelings and the type of person that she really is inside which no one gets to see other than herself. I'm pleased in this regard as I can actually see myself when I was young and at school, where I possessed similar feelings of this kind.
The book length itself I believe to be perfect in regards to the age group. It's short, it's sweet, it gets to the point. Not many young people have a good attention span, especially with so many other distractions. So I think that it is a brilliant book to start with if you want your children to begin to read by themselves. It is also a good short read for anyone over the age range for a few hours if you want to pick up a book which is different. Personally I read this book in an hour.
I'm not going to lie, it was not the most perfect book, but this is only the beginning. However, I'm very intrigued as to what is next for Ada Almond and that is the exciting part of it all. The only way is up.
Even though there can be seen to be many teething problems in the book, I can say there are some moments which really seem to shine and would seem to present itself to a young age group as being profound to them individually. There is one quote for instance, that I still think about. Not only because it is one of the better pieces of writing throughout the book, but would also resonate with so many people in the same situation as Lexi.
'There are people who are homosexual, and people who are heterosexual, and bisexual, pansexual and all those sexual orientations, each of them unique and valid. There will be people who will say that you're weird, not normal. There will be people who will say you will die in hell and are full of sin. They won't accept you, and that's just how life works. But the trick is not to listen to those people.'
This also brings me on to another problem that I found within this book, relationships and character development. Because of the way that the book was written, you really get to understand what is in Lexi's head at the time and what she considers to be important. However, this also takes out what it would have meant to have more of a character arc for both Melodine, the girl she likes and her family. I really do feel like it was an opportunity missed here. I would have really liked to see all these characters take more of a centre stage within the book and have their own goals and how this would make them the characters that Lexi is shown to see. Otherwise, it can feel a little two-dimensional.
On the other hand, I must praise the ending. I have known many people suffering from the same mental illness which Lexi is informed to have and would have loved this when they first began suffering themselves. In fact, I know of plenty of people suffering from all sorts of mental illness where they have felt worthless and not wanting to bother anyone's time. So this ending is what I believe for many people suffering, not necessarily what Lexi is suffering from herself, but all across the board. I must admit I did shed a tear and that is not an easy feat!
So, after much deliberation, I think I am going to give this book a three star. This is because I felt like it has a good premise and message. However, there is some points that could be improved, which I am sure whatever happens next for Ada Almond will be an interesting one indeed.
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