A review by marmaladereads
Constellations by Kate Glasheen

challenging emotional informative sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A raw and utterly vulnerable look at gender and addiction. Claire is a teenager growing up in a declining industrial town in the 1980s and struggles with their gender identity and rampant homophobia and transphobia of their surroundings. They turn to binge drinking and end up being sent to a rehab facility for teenagers. Most of the book takes place in rehab. There we meet some of the other teenagers struggling with addiction, and learn of the family circumstances that led them there. For some, those family circumstances land them right back into addiction as soon as they leave rehab.

This book is difficult to read because it shows the tools that are available for dealing with addiction but it doesn't shy away from the challenges, and there are honest depictions of abuse, homophobia and transphobia on page. The art style (pencil and watercolor) also lends itself to the vibe, not feeling very polished but full of emotion. Incredibly powerful and oh so heartbreaking.

The art and the feelings did feel a little incomplete sometimes. There are no answers or reflections, only thoughts and feelings, and the characters didn't all have complete story arcs. Some of the characters could also be a bit hard to distinguish from each other due to the art style. I don't think this is a book that will work for everyone. But this is a great book that would be powerful for anyone going through similar struggles.
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