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A review by nicolemhewitt
Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Hurricane Season is a poignant story of the complexities of loving a parent who struggles with mental health issues. Fig is used to having to take care of her dad. She's used to him embarrassing him in front of her friends. She's used to needing help (sometimes even from the police). She's used to the questions and the worry that this time social services might actually take her dad away from her. She's used to all of these things, but that doesn't make any of it any easier to handle.
The story follows Fig as she struggles to understand her dad and battles her own fears. Her story is heartbreaking and incredibly realistic. For instance, it's easy to understand why Fig doesn't know what would be worse: for her father to be taken from her or for life to continue in the chaos she's been used to. When a new neighbor moves in, Fig is relieved to finally have someone who's willing to help, but she also feels threatened when she feels he's starting to take her place in her father's life. Fig's struggle between wanting her father to change and fearing that things will spiral out of her control is palpable. The book handles mental illness realistically---even when Fig's dad gets help and starts to get better, there is no miracle cure. And Fig's feelings about her father's illness and about his relationship with their neighbor come off as true to life as well. The only reason I don't give it my highest rating is because it took me longer to read than a MG typically does--I found myself putting the book down more often than normal (and the book felt longer to me than it really was). Still, I think many kids will relate to Fig's emotional journey, even if they don't know anyone with a mental illness themselves. And they will certainly grow in compassion through reading this story.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Hurricane Season is a poignant story of the complexities of loving a parent who struggles with mental health issues. Fig is used to having to take care of her dad. She's used to him embarrassing him in front of her friends. She's used to needing help (sometimes even from the police). She's used to the questions and the worry that this time social services might actually take her dad away from her. She's used to all of these things, but that doesn't make any of it any easier to handle.
The story follows Fig as she struggles to understand her dad and battles her own fears. Her story is heartbreaking and incredibly realistic. For instance, it's easy to understand why Fig doesn't know what would be worse: for her father to be taken from her or for life to continue in the chaos she's been used to. When a new neighbor moves in, Fig is relieved to finally have someone who's willing to help, but she also feels threatened when she feels he's starting to take her place in her father's life. Fig's struggle between wanting her father to change and fearing that things will spiral out of her control is palpable. The book handles mental illness realistically---even when Fig's dad gets help and starts to get better, there is no miracle cure. And Fig's feelings about her father's illness and about his relationship with their neighbor come off as true to life as well. The only reason I don't give it my highest rating is because it took me longer to read than a MG typically does--I found myself putting the book down more often than normal (and the book felt longer to me than it really was). Still, I think many kids will relate to Fig's emotional journey, even if they don't know anyone with a mental illness themselves. And they will certainly grow in compassion through reading this story.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***