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katievallin's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Vomit, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Gaslighting, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Antisemitism
alohomara's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked it because it discussed things like the shame of having "healthy" friends adjust so they can accommodate you, and this feeling that you overthink and doubt everything that you're just overreacting and paranoid, but also things, why should there be a hierarchy that this person is considered sicker than the other therefore the sicker person has more right to be absent from school when they're not feeling okay? It was... introspective. I'm not sure if Moskowitz actually has some chronic illness, but it's an interesting exploration of an unhealthy person's POV.
Moderate: Medical content, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Confinement
Minor: Ableism, Vomit, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
dlrosebyh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Ableism, and Vomit
Moderate: Blood and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
tylerlee_readsnow's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Blood, Ableism, and Abandonment
roamingfictionalworlds's review
- 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
Oh my goodness. I loved this book; I devoured it! I listened to the audiobook on Scribd. The narrator, Amy Melissa Bentley, did a phenomenal job! I felt they expressed Isabel's character very well.
Isabel, our main character, is 16 years old and has rheumatoid arthritis (RA). During one of her transfusion treatments, she meets Sasha. A 16-year-old boy with Gaucher disease. He is hilarious, sweet and retains a copious amount of (needless) historical facts. He has the biggest crush on Isabel, which is so obvious - I love him for it!
Isabel, being hardworking and outgoing, runs an advice column at school. I love that each chapter gets preceded with her question and the answers from the characters. It gives us insight into the characters personalities and is very entertaining.
Also, the setting plays off in New York over the festive season from November to March. The cosy vibes are everything!
There are so many important discussions in the book on ableism, people's biases on chronic illness and the shortcomings of the health care system and professionals (especially regarding an invisible illness).
The book is primarily character-driven. It was great to see how Isabel overcame some of the internal and external issues she was dealing with while still staying true to herself.
This was such a great read! I believe everyone should read it if they're able.
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Sexism, and Vomit
Content warnings:yvonne_cl's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Blood, Cancer, Toxic friendship, and Medical trauma
Minor: Vomit, Terminal illness, and Injury/Injury detail