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gmamartha's review
3.0
very interesting perspective of a boy who has grown up with a dad with mental/emotional problems. and how he can get through the loss of his mother.
griess's review
5.0
a book that's as crazy as the title its suspenseful and thrilling it has twists and turns and makes you thankful to be where you are
graywild's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Jason lives with his dad who is mentally ill. His mother has passed away so Jason must take care of his dad. Jason has no friends so he has voices in his head that take that role. Jason ends up in a student support group at school and through this group he finally finds real friends that can help him cope with his issues. Well written.
yiddish_anarchist's review
3.0
Eh? Cute enough, I guess. Maybe I just don't appreciate how much "normal" people might find this book profound. Maybe it's too much like real life for me, for it to be as touching and "deep" as others found it?
mldias's review
5.0
*marked spoiler for vague spoilers*
For fifteen-year-old Jason Papadopoulos, life has been one raw deal after another. His mother, that one bastion of normalcy in his childhood, died of a stroke, leaving him to fend for himself with his increasingly unstable father. Contrary to what Jason needs to believe to cope with his harrowing home situation, his father has never been normal. One of his first memories, an incident at age six that continues to haunt him, completely undermines Jason's claim that his father was ever well.
There are no medical diagnoses in this book. Nolan hints at schizophrenia (e.g., Dad's hastily scribbled word salad on page 47), but never mentions it by name. The DSM-IV-TR is incidental here. When things finally come to a head with Jason's father, the narrative tells us that Dad smells like nail polish remover (suggestive of blood sugar irregularity, possibly even ketoacidosis); however, the story never pursues this angle. What matters is that Jason goes to bed hungry most nights, is doing poorly in school because he spends so much time cleaning up after his delusional father, and keeps the world at arm's length to avoid confronting his increasingly unmanageable situation. His only outlet is his hidden identity as the school newspaper's blunt advice columnist, paradoxically named "Mouse."
So when Jason reluctantly joins a support group for troubled kids during his lunch hours, he isn't about to divulge any sordid details. After all, who needs human friends when you can have an audience of characters chattering inside your mind 24/7? Yes, that's right. An entire audience inhabits Jason's mind. They are not manifestations of psychosis, but defense mechanisms. They are Jason's support group when he has none. In fact, you, the reader, are a member of that audience; this narrative pokes at, and sometimes busts through, that pesky fourth wall.
There are some implausibilities in this book. If Jason's father has been on medication, why hasn't his doctor noticed how unfit he is as a parent and reported him to authorities? When Jason lashes out during a lunchtime support group meeting, why doesn't Dr. Gomez report it to the principal, who shows up to investigate the commotion? (Dr. Gomez emphasizes Jason's need to work through his grief and anger, but the episode gets pretty violent and the other students must restrain Jason.) When Jason's mother died in the middle of the night, why didn't Jason find out until he went to the hospital the next morning? Wouldn't the hospital have called? Had their phone already been disconnected at that point?
Still, this is a powerful story. Within a span of a few weeks, Jason's father's illness comes to a head, he is removed from his home, and moves in with a foster family who is everything to him that his father can't be. He finds a new family in his school therapy group, one who advocates for him even when he won't do so for himself.
(Disclaimer: I received the galley proofs of this title from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for review.)
For fifteen-year-old Jason Papadopoulos, life has been one raw deal after another. His mother, that one bastion of normalcy in his childhood, died of a stroke, leaving him to fend for himself with his increasingly unstable father. Contrary to what Jason needs to believe to cope with his harrowing home situation, his father has never been normal. One of his first memories, an incident at age six that continues to haunt him, completely undermines Jason's claim that his father was ever well.
There are no medical diagnoses in this book. Nolan hints at schizophrenia (e.g., Dad's hastily scribbled word salad on page 47), but never mentions it by name. The DSM-IV-TR is incidental here. When things finally come to a head with Jason's father, the narrative tells us that Dad smells like nail polish remover (suggestive of blood sugar irregularity, possibly even ketoacidosis); however, the story never pursues this angle. What matters is that Jason goes to bed hungry most nights, is doing poorly in school because he spends so much time cleaning up after his delusional father, and keeps the world at arm's length to avoid confronting his increasingly unmanageable situation. His only outlet is his hidden identity as the school newspaper's blunt advice columnist, paradoxically named "Mouse."
So when Jason reluctantly joins a support group for troubled kids during his lunch hours, he isn't about to divulge any sordid details. After all, who needs human friends when you can have an audience of characters chattering inside your mind 24/7? Yes, that's right. An entire audience inhabits Jason's mind. They are not manifestations of psychosis, but defense mechanisms. They are Jason's support group when he has none. In fact, you, the reader, are a member of that audience; this narrative pokes at, and sometimes busts through, that pesky fourth wall.
There are some implausibilities in this book. If Jason's father has been on medication, why hasn't his doctor noticed how unfit he is as a parent and reported him to authorities? When Jason lashes out during a lunchtime support group meeting, why doesn't Dr. Gomez report it to the principal, who shows up to investigate the commotion? (Dr. Gomez emphasizes Jason's need to work through his grief and anger, but the episode gets pretty violent and the other students must restrain Jason.) When Jason's mother died in the middle of the night, why didn't Jason find out until he went to the hospital the next morning? Wouldn't the hospital have called? Had their phone already been disconnected at that point?
Still, this is a powerful story. Within a span of a few weeks, Jason's father's illness comes to a head, he is removed from his home, and moves in with a foster family who is everything to him that his father can't be. He finds a new family in his school therapy group, one who advocates for him even when he won't do so for himself.
(Disclaimer: I received the galley proofs of this title from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for review.)
raleyv12's review
2.0
2.5/5
I found it interesting that the main character had voices in his head and it is written as they are speaking to him. It was a different kind of writing that excited me. However, it wasn’t executed well. A lot of telling and not showing, there were too many one dimensional characters, and things happen in favor of the MC even when there were consequences. I’m glad to have read something I don’t think I would have continued.
I found it interesting that the main character had voices in his head and it is written as they are speaking to him. It was a different kind of writing that excited me. However, it wasn’t executed well. A lot of telling and not showing, there were too many one dimensional characters, and things happen in favor of the MC even when there were consequences. I’m glad to have read something I don’t think I would have continued.
caitlandrenee's review
4.0
I thought I was really going to struggle with this book and the way it was written (the personalities talking at all times), but once I got into it, it didn’t bother me. It was a very good, insightful book, albeit slightly on the depressing side. But I felt for the main character, and I know they are people who exist that fall to such continuously unlucky/unfortunate circumstances. I thoroughly enjoyed the book overall.
mynameactualwilson's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
stacishootsfilm's review
5.0
I’ve always been an avid reader of all things mental health, and my favorite part of this book is how Jason stands up for his dad, all the while sorting out his stuff. I also enjoyed the conversation of mental health and how it was portrayed for a younger audience. I highly recommend this book!
booshort's review
3.0
This is another book that I started a while ago then put down because newer more exciting books distracted me.
Not to say this book isn't interesting. It is. I always try to read as much of a variety as I can, and this is definitely different to the regular sci-fi/fantasy books that I usually read.
I really enjoyed the idea that Jason had all these characters/voices in his head and you, the reader, were "new" to the imaginary group. I also really liked the ending. Other than that I didn't much enjoy it. The only reason I liked the last couple chapters is because I feel it really portrayed life realistically and had a really good message in the end.
I also have to say I think the last chapter brought the whole book together perfectly. I'm interested in another book by the same author, but other than that I don't think I'll pursue any of her other books.
Not to say this book isn't interesting. It is. I always try to read as much of a variety as I can, and this is definitely different to the regular sci-fi/fantasy books that I usually read.
I really enjoyed the idea that Jason had all these characters/voices in his head and you, the reader, were "new" to the imaginary group. I also really liked the ending. Other than that I didn't much enjoy it. The only reason I liked the last couple chapters is because I feel it really portrayed life realistically and had a really good message in the end.
I also have to say I think the last chapter brought the whole book together perfectly. I'm interested in another book by the same author, but other than that I don't think I'll pursue any of her other books.