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jessicawithabook's review
3.0
More books should be written like this about mental health to help break the stigma surrounding it. I love that it provides multiple authors and different types of stories to portray their meanings.
DEFINITELY check your content warnings and take them seriously. You will need to be in the right headspace to read this whole book or sections of it!
DEFINITELY check your content warnings and take them seriously. You will need to be in the right headspace to read this whole book or sections of it!
donasbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I found AB(SOLUTELY) NORMAL, edited by Rocky Callen, on the Libby app. Check for your local library on the app and read great books for free!
zbrarian's review
4.0
An incredible collection of short stories about mental health. From depression to anxiety to body dysmorphia. Each author has a connection to each story they have written. Some were funny, some made me tear up. All of them gave the same message: mental health is real and it’s ok to discuss it. If you need help, help is where you least expect it. I will say my favorite was the story about the ghost and vampire. I would love to see that as a full novel!
aaubrey829's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think this was a really good idea for a book. I appreciate the short stories that had to do with different mental health issues. It was interesting to read about some mental health issues I don't suffer from or even know all that much about. I really did feel a deep connection to a lot of the stories having to deal with depression and anxiety though. Definitely a must read of all people.
z_brarian's review
4.0
An incredible collection of short stories about mental health. From depression to anxiety to body dysmorphia. Each author has a connection to each story they have written. Some were funny, some made me tear up. All of them gave the same message: mental health is real and it’s ok to discuss it. If you need help, help is where you least expect it. I will say my favorite was the story about the ghost and vampire. I would love to see that as a full novel!
rainbowbookthief's review
3.0
2.75
I think I need to swear off of anthologies in the future. I don't enjoy short stories - there's not enough time to get to know the world or the characters. In this particular anthology, I felt like everything was plotless. It's some important messaging packaged in a short story or poem or other miscellaneous format. And each story has a premise with so much potential, if it had only been given more page time. There are a few standouts - I loved the graphic novella in here, and I actually really liked the script-style story that finishes the collection, but everything else gets lost in the shuffle.
Basically, I would never have picked this up if not for my graduate school class. It didn't really do anything for me, but I can understand why it was published and where some teen readers might find value in the representation.
I think I need to swear off of anthologies in the future. I don't enjoy short stories - there's not enough time to get to know the world or the characters. In this particular anthology, I felt like everything was plotless. It's some important messaging packaged in a short story or poem or other miscellaneous format. And each story has a premise with so much potential, if it had only been given more page time. There are a few standouts - I loved the graphic novella in here, and I actually really liked the script-style story that finishes the collection, but everything else gets lost in the shuffle.
Basically, I would never have picked this up if not for my graduate school class. It didn't really do anything for me, but I can understand why it was published and where some teen readers might find value in the representation.
lexisunshine's review
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
3.75
Loved: the diversity of people, body types, and everything. I also love each story being followed by a personal note by its author.
Didn’t love: the intended audience. In its defense, I really shouldn’t read YA, but the concept appealed to me too much.
Didn’t love: the intended audience. In its defense, I really shouldn’t read YA, but the concept appealed to me too much.
a_ab's review
4.0
3.5*s, rounded up for the best of intentions.
I wish I could've liked this book better. I loved the concept and intent behind it, but on the execution level and as a collection the book didn't live up to my hopes.
It's still a good and a necessary book, and I do not regret reading it. The tricky, complex and heavy subjects are mostly handled with grace, compassion and nuance. The lives experience requirement really paid off here.
I wish I could've liked this book better. I loved the concept and intent behind it, but on the execution level and as a collection the book didn't live up to my hopes.
It's still a good and a necessary book, and I do not regret reading it. The tricky, complex and heavy subjects are mostly handled with grace, compassion and nuance. The lives experience requirement really paid off here.