oliviapalizzi's review against another edition
2.0
Disclaimer: if you loved this book that's great! If you know someone who loved this book that's great too! Don't let my opinion stop you from enjoying it.
I was so excited to read this because it was given to me by someone who loved it.
Before you read the rest of this review where I tear this book apart I have some things to say. The actual style of writing is incredible, it draws you in and it makes things interesting. This author has a unique voice that I particularly enjoyed. Her talent for storytelling is undeniable and her character development is pretty damn good. For me, it was the actual content itself that I had an issue with.
I liked it at first, but it was difficult for me to stay with the story. One of the problems I had was with Mim's age. With the way she was written, she sounded like a spunky 12-year-old, not a 16-year-old. It was hard to get 12-year-old Mim out of my mind. After the bus crashed, I started to give up on the story.
For me, the only redeeming thing about this book was Walt. Just like Mim, I adored Walt, and his story broke my heart. The whole camp thing though was just so strange, especially with the psycho Caleb and his mystery accomplice. Then the entire rooftop scene happens; I just wasn't a fan. And it never actually had a full resolve?
Also, as great of a character as Beck is, he has a beautiful moral good to him, the "romance" if you can call it that detracted from the story. I hated it. "it's not a crush" ... "it's love" almost made me throw the book across the room. I guess the only good part was that Beck realized the age difference. A "romance" between a 21-year-old and a 16-year-old is gross I don't care how you spin it. Of course, we can forgive Mim because she's only 16 and crushes and attraction is normal, but her fixation on Beck freaks me out.
And the letters, I really could not bring myself to care about the letters. Who's Iz? She's either a friend, her aunt, another personality, a figment of her imagination, or a nobody. Oh, she's writing to her little sister? I didn't care. Towards the end of the book, I just started skimming.
Lastly, I have a significant issue with how mental illness is portrayed. I understand that the author is attempting to combat the idea that mental illness is a "disease" that needs to be corrected and can only be done with drugs and intervention. They are trying to combat the idea that mental illness is something to be ashamed about or something that makes you "crazy." I appreciate the effort. But the main character goes off her meds, cold turkey, with no warning. This is dangerous for so many reasons.
One - going of your meds like that is dangerous to your mental and also physical health, and you should ALWAYS talk to a doctor before quitting
Two - some people need their meds. They need them because nothing else works. I need mine, and there is already a huge stigma surrounding antidepressants. I had been in therapy, I had tried everything, and I decided to go on medication because I knew I couldn't do it alone anymore. So many people refuse to take medications or are ashamed of their medications because of the stigma surrounding them, and this storyline only perpetuates that. Of course, I understand the stance of the book on "overprescribing." Especially here in the US, we have an epidemic of doctors overprescribing medications to people - even children - who don't need them. I still think that it could have been done better.
I was so excited to read this because it was given to me by someone who loved it.
Before you read the rest of this review where I tear this book apart I have some things to say. The actual style of writing is incredible, it draws you in and it makes things interesting. This author has a unique voice that I particularly enjoyed. Her talent for storytelling is undeniable and her character development is pretty damn good. For me, it was the actual content itself that I had an issue with.
I liked it at first, but it was difficult for me to stay with the story. One of the problems I had was with Mim's age. With the way she was written, she sounded like a spunky 12-year-old, not a 16-year-old. It was hard to get 12-year-old Mim out of my mind. After the bus crashed, I started to give up on the story.
For me, the only redeeming thing about this book was Walt. Just like Mim, I adored Walt, and his story broke my heart. The whole camp thing though was just so strange, especially with the psycho Caleb and his mystery accomplice. Then the entire rooftop scene happens; I just wasn't a fan. And it never actually had a full resolve?
Also, as great of a character as Beck is, he has a beautiful moral good to him, the "romance" if you can call it that detracted from the story. I hated it. "it's not a crush" ... "it's love" almost made me throw the book across the room. I guess the only good part was that Beck realized the age difference. A "romance" between a 21-year-old and a 16-year-old is gross I don't care how you spin it. Of course, we can forgive Mim because she's only 16 and crushes and attraction is normal, but her fixation on Beck freaks me out.
And the letters, I really could not bring myself to care about the letters. Who's Iz? She's either a friend, her aunt, another personality, a figment of her imagination, or a nobody. Oh, she's writing to her little sister? I didn't care. Towards the end of the book, I just started skimming.
Lastly, I have a significant issue with how mental illness is portrayed. I understand that the author is attempting to combat the idea that mental illness is a "disease" that needs to be corrected and can only be done with drugs and intervention. They are trying to combat the idea that mental illness is something to be ashamed about or something that makes you "crazy." I appreciate the effort. But the main character goes off her meds, cold turkey, with no warning. This is dangerous for so many reasons.
One - going of your meds like that is dangerous to your mental and also physical health, and you should ALWAYS talk to a doctor before quitting
Two - some people need their meds. They need them because nothing else works. I need mine, and there is already a huge stigma surrounding antidepressants. I had been in therapy, I had tried everything, and I decided to go on medication because I knew I couldn't do it alone anymore. So many people refuse to take medications or are ashamed of their medications because of the stigma surrounding them, and this storyline only perpetuates that. Of course, I understand the stance of the book on "overprescribing." Especially here in the US, we have an epidemic of doctors overprescribing medications to people - even children - who don't need them. I still think that it could have been done better.
untitledlullaby's review against another edition
1.0
2.5 the main character was unbearable. I’m not like other girls type whilst also acting like a 12 year old when she was meant to be a teenager. There is also literally a everybody clapped scene which made me skip a couple of pages. At the end of it I just didn’t care anymore.
vickyd18's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rachelised's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mbennett51's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A beautiful book, not my normal genre but really took me by surprise how much I loved it.
alchemysmack's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure I know how to describe this book, besides just.... an anomoly. but in a good way. Mim's trip is a coming of age, finding yourself, sad but happy kind of trip. and I feel like I am better now having read about it.
everthereader's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 3.75
As much as I would love to read this on a road trip, I wasn't traveling at the time I was reading this book. But it was still fun to read it even in the comfort of my own bed. The writing style was so descriptive and wonderful. I really loved Mim as well and all of the people she met on her journey (minus Poncho Man and Caleb.) I found Mim's mental illness and it felt very real. My main issue was the stupid trope of the supposed evil stepmother. I understand that Mim was frustrated and angry but why let it out on your step mother? Overall, this was a really fun travel story.
As much as I would love to read this on a road trip, I wasn't traveling at the time I was reading this book. But it was still fun to read it even in the comfort of my own bed. The writing style was so descriptive and wonderful. I really loved Mim as well and all of the people she met on her journey (minus Poncho Man and Caleb.) I found Mim's mental illness and it felt very real. My main issue was the stupid trope of the supposed evil stepmother. I understand that Mim was frustrated and angry but why let it out on your step mother? Overall, this was a really fun travel story.
classiccarissa's review against another edition
5.0
I was too young when I read this book tbh. Unhinged and savvy, this mc's journey will stress you out, for good reason. I vividly remember her putting on her war paint in the bus bathroom that smelled horrible and throwing up over the man in another bathroom.
gellyfiish's review against another edition
4.0
Oh boy, this book is really something. I've seen others reviews and I can agree with them when they say that this book really has no words to describe it. The story follows a girl named Mim, who packs up her life in Mississippi and hopes on a bus to Cleveland when she hears her mother is sick there. We follow Mim's journey as she meets bundles of strangers that have some sort of affect on her.
This book really just mesmerized me, it had a unique point of view with Mim being such an imperfect character. She makes mistakes and misjudges people and reading through he minds filter makes her feel relatable.
I have no other words for the type of experience this book is, pick it up and read it for yourself, it's quite a delightful ride.
This book really just mesmerized me, it had a unique point of view with Mim being such an imperfect character. She makes mistakes and misjudges people and reading through he minds filter makes her feel relatable.
I have no other words for the type of experience this book is, pick it up and read it for yourself, it's quite a delightful ride.