Reviews with content warning for Forced institutionalization - Impulse

Of all the Ellen Hopkins books I’ve read, this one affected me the least. I saw the ending coming so it wasn’t a surprise. The characters have similar traumas even though they’re from very different backgrounds and families. Only three of the characters have their stories fully told and I really only liked 1 of them. The other two were okay but pretty flat considering the intensity of the subject matter and their backgrounds. The biggest WTF? The final challenge patients go through to get out of the institution. It wasn’t thought out very well considering their demographic. I’ll just leave it at that.

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beccam22's review

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

Read this if you like:
🥀🖤 Dark truthful stories
👪👯‍♀️ Found Family

🛑Please read triggers warnings ⚠️

Ellen Hopkins is known for beautiful dark stories and this is nothing less than that. Written in verse, so much is said and conveyed with the lest amount of words and it cuts deep. Three teenagers go through a treatment program after attempting suicide, each for their own reasons and their own way. They find friendship and love and what is love.

These can be possible spoilers but I feel like it’s needed for some people in depth the possible triggers are:
There are detailed descriptions of self harm and suicidal thoughts. All main characters did attempt suicide and it is described in the very beginning how each of them attempted. There is detailed adult/minor relationships as well as rape and grooming. Can be considered forced institutionalization since all main characters are minors and family is requiring them to attend the treatment center. There is a character with bipolar and family history of bipolar, the history does go in depth and how it effected them growing up. There is a character who has an abortion and the guilt from it. There are absent parents, both military and simply leaving for a better life. There are parents who expect perfection and the pressure that comes with that. There is a successful suicide. Please do not read this if you are not in a good head space.

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urmom456's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

The characters in this book are the products of their mental illnesses and trauma. They have no personalities, their personalities are their disorder/truama.

The one gay character is “fixed” by “turning straight” which I find disgusting. And as my review on Goodreads says, this is basically ‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie’ but instead it’s ‘If You Put a Suicidal Teenager on Top of a Cliff’.

Absolutely hated it, there was hardly any actual plot. No wonder it took me 4 years to even finish it.

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sleepysadpoet's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a reread.
And this book meant a lot to me in high school because of my own personal struggles. As someone studying clinical psychology though, I will admit I'm a bit frustrated with misinformation within.
Granted it came out when everyone was being diagnosed as bipolar, during the late 2000s. Since then, the dsm-V has come out, and the over diagnosis ended, mostly.
And here's the thing.
Vanessa, a character I hold close to my heart, is diagnosed as bipolar because back then everyone who was unstable got that diagnosis. But, as someone with both bipolar II and bpd--her story reads more like BPD. Especially the self harm aspect. Mania is also described incorrectly, as if it lasts hours instead of days to weeks. BPD mood cycles can last hours however. Bipolar is also referred to as BPD in this a couple times which is incredibly incorrect. However, because this came out during the dsm-iv time period, I am able to let that go.
I in many ways relate to Vanessa. Because of my BPD and struggles with self harm. I also have been hospitalized twice, and for the most part Aspen springs reminds me of that. That being said, I didn't have the challenge at the end and I'm so glad I didn't because that's straight up terrifying. I also understand Ellen isn't a psychologist so any misinformation isn't entirely her fault.
Despite those errors, I still adore this book. Because when I read it the first time, I was in a horrible place with untreated bpd. I've read this a few times, as it is one of my favorite books by Ellen Hopkins.
A lot of people call this story unrealistic, but it really isn't, because there are many Tonys, Conners and Vanessas in the world. Along with Dahlia, who's story sort of is like mine, I'm not going into details.
Back when I read this the first time, I felt hope. This could give a lot of other people like me hope too.
Hate that I noticed the misinformation and got a lil upset though, because if I weren't going into the field I probably wouldn't have known it was misinfo lol.

Content Warnings

em_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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brookey8888's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

4.5
This book is honestly really depressing, but important. Check content warnings because this is dark and it talks about a lot of things. I changed it from a full five to a 4.4 because I felt like some of the things said were a little problematic. For example a character said the only thing that could save her was being in love and as this is YA I just am not fully comfortable with that. Other then a few some things it still holds up and I love that it’s written in verse.

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shakiral's review against another edition

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"I do trust Tony. But why? A gay guy, from the wrong side of town, who I only met a few weeks ago?"
A guy who thinks he's gay realizing he's straight in a mental institution and falling for this bitch, no thanks. I've read worse, but I just don't like it.

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