A review by simsbrarian
Lights, Camera, Disaster by Erin Dionne
4.0
This story follows 8th grader Hester Greene. She's a film-buff; a girl who loves making movies, who can usually only focus and have any sorts of control with a camera in her hands. But her executive fuction disorder (akin to severe ADHA with an added sprinkle of anxiety-induced panic attacks) is wreaking havoc on her attempts at getting through the grade. There is no big movie dance sequence which can hide the truth: Hester is failing 8th grade, might be losing her friends, and risks getting her camera taken away. This is fast-paced and a quick read; I couldn't put it down and flew through it in one sitting. Hester is easy to like; even as she makes poor choices. There are laugh-out-loud moments, diverse friendships, and an attention to mental health detail which makes EFD read as realistic and not something "solved by a montage".
Anything you didn’t like about it? It's worth noting that despite the decent handling of Hester's EFD; there is still ableist language throughout the book.
To whom would you recommend this book? (Read-alikes if you can think of them) Good for reluctant readers and those looking for a decent take on a student with anxiety getting through 8th grade.
FTC Disclosure: The Publisher provided me with a copy of this book to provide an honest review. No goody bags, sponsorship, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Anything you didn’t like about it? It's worth noting that despite the decent handling of Hester's EFD; there is still ableist language throughout the book.
To whom would you recommend this book? (Read-alikes if you can think of them) Good for reluctant readers and those looking for a decent take on a student with anxiety getting through 8th grade.
FTC Disclosure: The Publisher provided me with a copy of this book to provide an honest review. No goody bags, sponsorship, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.