Book Review: Closer to Nowhere / Ellen Hopkins

 

Let me start by sharing that this story targets middle school students, the protagonists are twelve years old. Then let me say that this doesn't matter a bit, this is a story that needs to be told, a story written from Ellen Hopkins's family story - about addiction and violence - about children born into families which have a rough time supporting them both emotionally and physically. And about the healing that can take place afterwards given the right supports.

Cal's father is in prison, his mother died of leukemia. He lives with his aunt (an identical twin of his mother) and her family including Hannah, his cousin - also twelve. Cal's life until now has been about surviving hardship and he is learning how to adapt to living in a safe environment with food on the table and a bed. Hannah is learning how to live with Cal and his struggles with learning how to adapt to a life that is no longer chaotic. The truth is - this is hard for everyone.

This story speaks to the trauma that people go through when their lives are chaotic. It also speaks to the truths of incorporating a hurting child into one's family. And it speaks to love, addiction, hope, therapy, adapting, inner strengths, compassion, and learning more about what lies behind the faces that we put forth. This is a story about what is under the surface. 

If you are planning on becoming a teacher, a counselor, a nurse, a doctor, a social worker - just about anyone in a "helping profession" - read this book. It is a great opportunity to walk in the shoes of someone who is learning how to live a life which doesn't have chaos as a foundation. It is also a story that reminds us that what we see in people is only what lies on the surface. We are all more than what we appear at first glance.

Book Review: Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

Mickey Catalan lives for softball and works hard in school hoping that the athletics combined with her grades will get her into a good college. As she is driving one day she is in a car accident and destroys her hip. Micky is determined to return to her position as catcher in the upcoming season and pushes hard to get back into shape with a little help from Oxycontin. But when her prescription runs out and her doctor will not refill it, she finds herself looking elsewhere for pain relief.  One oxy turns into two, doses increase, and her drug use becomes addiction.
This is a great book to read to better understand addiction.

Book review: Far From the Tree by Robin Benway

Far From the Tree by Robin Benway is a contemporary novel about three siblings who first meet each other as teenagers. Grace, Maya and Joaquin are all put up for adoption by their mother when they were babies. After Grace has a baby of her own that she gives up for adoption, she seeks out the siblings she never knew. When they all meet, they discover their life journeys up to this point have been very different. As they get to know one another, they each carry with them secrets that affect all the relationships in their lives, including with each other, and also influence their decision to find their birth mother. Told from the viewpoints of all three, the story slowly unfolds as they confront their past choices and make decisions about their futures. This is an emotional story of families - realistic, painful and hopeful. I listened to the audiobook version and truthfully think I would have liked reading it better as the narrator tried to change her voice for all the characters and her male character voices were slightly annoying. However, the story is great and one that I recommend if you like intense family dramas. This book is also a Flume 2020 nominee and is also available on Hoopla and Overdrive (Nashua Public Library).