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tasha5492's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
rachelwrites007's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was incredibly moving. As someone who began self harming by age 11, but only entered rehab at age 25 (and then again at 32), I really appreciated THE GLASS GIRL. I will say that my experiences were very different (I had anorexia and went to a "standard" center).
Bella is struggling. She uses alcohol to mask her grief, her anxiety and her sadness. She tries to be perfect. If she can just help out and take care of the people around her and get good grades, she'll be okay. But Bella's also tired of helping out. She's tired of being the go between from one parent to another, she's tired of seeing her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, and she is tired of grieving her grandmother, who was her person. When she ends up in a rehab center for 30 days, Bella has to examine why she's there, what she's done and how to untangle alcohol from herself. It is NOT easy.
What I appreciated so strongly/deeply about THE GLASS GIRL is that Bella still struggles in her recovery when she returns. Not many books show this aspect of recovering from self harm. Kathleen Glasgow goes there and it is so needed. Post-rehab is often explored as pretty solid, but really, being in the real world and outside of the safety of the rehab center cocoon is so so hard. Bravo, KG.
Bella is struggling. She uses alcohol to mask her grief, her anxiety and her sadness. She tries to be perfect. If she can just help out and take care of the people around her and get good grades, she'll be okay. But Bella's also tired of helping out. She's tired of being the go between from one parent to another, she's tired of seeing her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, and she is tired of grieving her grandmother, who was her person. When she ends up in a rehab center for 30 days, Bella has to examine why she's there, what she's done and how to untangle alcohol from herself. It is NOT easy.
What I appreciated so strongly/deeply about THE GLASS GIRL is that Bella still struggles in her recovery when she returns. Not many books show this aspect of recovering from self harm. Kathleen Glasgow goes there and it is so needed. Post-rehab is often explored as pretty solid, but really, being in the real world and outside of the safety of the rehab center cocoon is so so hard. Bravo, KG.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Grief and Mental illness
Minor: Death and Self harm
thenextgenlibrarian's review
dark
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
“I believe if you can walk into the darkness, then you have the strength to walk back out.”
🍸
Bella is drowning. Her mom needs her to be her support since the divorce. Her dad needs help taking care of her little sister. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she was “too much”. And the one person in her life, her grandmother, passed away so Bella has no one. The only thing that helps dull the pain is alcohol. What started as an escape has now turned into a serious issue when she ends up face down in front of her mom’s house the day after Thanksgiving and a video of her has gone viral. Now Bella is headed to rehab at fifteen years old and her road to recovery has just begun.
🥃
I read this in one sitting because…it was so dang good. I’m still thinking about it hours later, which doesn’t usually happen for me. @misskathleenglasgow is known for her ability not to shy away from the hard topics in her YA books and this was no exception. What an honest portrayal of alcoholism in teens. Everything felt so authentic and powerful, especially for those who work with teens and might not see the obvious signs. Make sure you read the Author’s Note at the end when this novel releases November 12. Thanks to the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
CW: alcohol, alcoholism, vomit, detox, cutting/self-harm, alcohol poisoning, hospitalization, suicide attempt, death, emotional abuse, drug use, overdose
🍸
Bella is drowning. Her mom needs her to be her support since the divorce. Her dad needs help taking care of her little sister. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she was “too much”. And the one person in her life, her grandmother, passed away so Bella has no one. The only thing that helps dull the pain is alcohol. What started as an escape has now turned into a serious issue when she ends up face down in front of her mom’s house the day after Thanksgiving and a video of her has gone viral. Now Bella is headed to rehab at fifteen years old and her road to recovery has just begun.
🥃
I read this in one sitting because…it was so dang good. I’m still thinking about it hours later, which doesn’t usually happen for me. @misskathleenglasgow is known for her ability not to shy away from the hard topics in her YA books and this was no exception. What an honest portrayal of alcoholism in teens. Everything felt so authentic and powerful, especially for those who work with teens and might not see the obvious signs. Make sure you read the Author’s Note at the end when this novel releases November 12. Thanks to the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
CW: alcohol, alcoholism, vomit, detox, cutting/self-harm, alcohol poisoning, hospitalization, suicide attempt, death, emotional abuse, drug use, overdose
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