maryam162424's review against another edition
3.0
2016: 4 stars
Loved the boy's perspective and the pace it went in! A really good book!
2020: 2.5 stars
I can see why my 15 yr old self liked the concept of this book.. but it doesn’t deliver in the way I think it should. If it’s mean to raise awareness about boys having eating disorders too, then the least Metzger could do was show that they acknowledge this at the hospitals, where they would normally (and unfortunately) see cases such as Mike’s. I liked how most ppl didn’t say anything till it got really worrisome, but for a doctor to ignore this and the treatment centre to be so bland almost, it’s just not the right portrayal of how treatment works. I was pretty disappointed after rereading this but I’m also happy that I was able to acknowledge these things as a mature adult.
P.s. I know some treatment centres are really ignorant, but when a book is raising awareness that boys have eating disorders too, then in my opinion, it should be showing the progress mike makes AT the centres. Sure, maybe the first one was crap but Metzger should have taken him to another hospital with better treatment and better therapists.
Loved the boy's perspective and the pace it went in! A really good book!
2020: 2.5 stars
I can see why my 15 yr old self liked the concept of this book.. but it doesn’t deliver in the way I think it should. If it’s mean to raise awareness about boys having eating disorders too, then the least Metzger could do was show that they acknowledge this at the hospitals, where they would normally (and unfortunately) see cases such as Mike’s. I liked how most ppl didn’t say anything till it got really worrisome, but for a doctor to ignore this and the treatment centre to be so bland almost, it’s just not the right portrayal of how treatment works. I was pretty disappointed after rereading this but I’m also happy that I was able to acknowledge these things as a mature adult.
P.s. I know some treatment centres are really ignorant, but when a book is raising awareness that boys have eating disorders too, then in my opinion, it should be showing the progress mike makes AT the centres. Sure, maybe the first one was crap but Metzger should have taken him to another hospital with better treatment and better therapists.
jaybirdt's review against another edition
4.0
Many changes in our life come from a sly effort. Maybe moving an inch of a foot forward, you're really taking a huge step towards something really gratifying. At the end of the road, you are the one who decides the outcome of your actions, thoughts or decisions. This book took me to a world I knew not so long ago, and sometimes, still fear that I could travel back there. But I decided that I could make that change by myself, that it was a step in the right direction —even if it was smaller than the eye could see.
bluehazard's review against another edition
5.0
At first, I fell in love with the cover. then I went to the biggest bookstore in my country and asked about it, ended up being given a shelf number rushed to it, bought the book, and went back home... it's then that I realized that I got the wrong book and it wasn't by Lois Metzger.
So I ended up going to the nearest bookstore, ordered it and waited for 1-2 weeks or so for the book to arrive. And the moment it did, I immediately opened it and read it.
And I DON'T REGRET A SINGLE THING THAT I WENT THROUGH FOR THIS BOOK.
This book speaks to you. It talks to you and you hate who's talking to you, but you can't help but carry on reading.
It's captivating. It introduced a new concept and it's an eye opener.
loved it and definitely recommend it to everyone no matter what genre you prefer to read.
So I ended up going to the nearest bookstore, ordered it and waited for 1-2 weeks or so for the book to arrive. And the moment it did, I immediately opened it and read it.
And I DON'T REGRET A SINGLE THING THAT I WENT THROUGH FOR THIS BOOK.
This book speaks to you. It talks to you and you hate who's talking to you, but you can't help but carry on reading.
It's captivating. It introduced a new concept and it's an eye opener.
loved it and definitely recommend it to everyone no matter what genre you prefer to read.
missprint_'s review against another edition
4.0
Let's say 3.5 stars.
Full review:
Mike Welles thought his life was pretty great. He did well in school, he played on the school baseball team. He and his best friend Tamio have a great time talking about stop motion animation and watching old movies.
Everything was fine.
That was before things started going wrong at home. Mike's parents started to act strangely. Especially his mom. And his dad is just gone for huge chunks of time.
Mike thinks he can still handle all of the changes--even talking to a beautiful new girl at school--but it just keeps getting worse. He's out of shape. He's losing control. It's all just so wrong.
Mike keeps hearing a voice that wants to help him. The voice says that Mike can be stronger. Better. But no one else can hear the voice. And the voice never tells Mike what that kind of strength can cost him in A Trick of the Light (2013) by Lois Metzger.
At a slim 208 pages (hardcover) it is really hard to talk about this book without spoiling some of the twists Metzger has skillfully created. Suffice it to say, Mike is in trouble.
What I can tell you is that despite touching on some familiar territory, Metzger comes at the issues in A Trick of the Light in a very clever and original way. Mike is not the typical protagonist in this type of story.
The narrator of this book is not typical either. (It's not a spoiler to say it is not Mike but I'll leave it at that.) Metzger's choice of narrator is extremely interesting and makes for a very creepy read. At the same time it also adds a lot of distance between Mike and the reader as Mike's story is told at a remove. The technique works but it does make the book a little confusing at first.
That said, once you get into the rhythm of the story this book really takes off. Metzger expertly draws readers into Mike's struggles without ever coming across as heavy-handed or preachy.
A Trick of the Light is a subtle, engrossing read that would be ideal for reluctant and avid readers alike.
Possible Pairings: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, Skinny by Donna Crooner, Everybody Sees the Ants by A. S. King, The Beautiful Between by Courtney B. Sheinmel, Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
Full review:
Mike Welles thought his life was pretty great. He did well in school, he played on the school baseball team. He and his best friend Tamio have a great time talking about stop motion animation and watching old movies.
Everything was fine.
That was before things started going wrong at home. Mike's parents started to act strangely. Especially his mom. And his dad is just gone for huge chunks of time.
Mike thinks he can still handle all of the changes--even talking to a beautiful new girl at school--but it just keeps getting worse. He's out of shape. He's losing control. It's all just so wrong.
Mike keeps hearing a voice that wants to help him. The voice says that Mike can be stronger. Better. But no one else can hear the voice. And the voice never tells Mike what that kind of strength can cost him in A Trick of the Light (2013) by Lois Metzger.
At a slim 208 pages (hardcover) it is really hard to talk about this book without spoiling some of the twists Metzger has skillfully created. Suffice it to say, Mike is in trouble.
What I can tell you is that despite touching on some familiar territory, Metzger comes at the issues in A Trick of the Light in a very clever and original way. Mike is not the typical protagonist in this type of story.
The narrator of this book is not typical either. (It's not a spoiler to say it is not Mike but I'll leave it at that.) Metzger's choice of narrator is extremely interesting and makes for a very creepy read. At the same time it also adds a lot of distance between Mike and the reader as Mike's story is told at a remove. The technique works but it does make the book a little confusing at first.
That said, once you get into the rhythm of the story this book really takes off. Metzger expertly draws readers into Mike's struggles without ever coming across as heavy-handed or preachy.
A Trick of the Light is a subtle, engrossing read that would be ideal for reluctant and avid readers alike.
Possible Pairings: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, Skinny by Donna Crooner, Everybody Sees the Ants by A. S. King, The Beautiful Between by Courtney B. Sheinmel, Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
lostingothicmusic's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jaggardwilliams's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
thatjamiea's review against another edition
3.0
Originally handed this a 4 star (really liked it) rating but opted to roll back to a 3 store (liked it) due to lack of character development.
Mike is 15 years old. His life is falling apart a little bit. His parents are acting weird. His dad is never home. His mom won't get out of bed and recently, he's been stress eating and has gained some weight. It's around this time that Mike starts hearing a voice in his head that turns out to be anorexia.
In the course of a few month, Mike goes from a relatively normal kid, to requiring hospitalization for his serious eating disorder.
Again, good premise. Informative. Well paced, but just lacking good character development.
Mike is 15 years old. His life is falling apart a little bit. His parents are acting weird. His dad is never home. His mom won't get out of bed and recently, he's been stress eating and has gained some weight. It's around this time that Mike starts hearing a voice in his head that turns out to be anorexia.
In the course of a few month, Mike goes from a relatively normal kid, to requiring hospitalization for his serious eating disorder.
Again, good premise. Informative. Well paced, but just lacking good character development.
cowmingo's review against another edition
4.0
Wow wow wow. A great YA book about I'm going to need to do a blog review on this one.