Please Don’t Hug Me

by Kay Kerr

• ISBN10: 1922268054
• ISBN13: 9781922268051
• Publish Date: 28 April 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: AU
• Publisher: Text Publishing
• Imprint: The Text Publishing Company
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 288
• Language: English
• URL: https://textpublishing.com.au/books/please-dont-hug-me

Reviews

[Kelly]

Please Don't Hug Me is compulsory reading. Narrated from the perspective of seventeen year old Erin as she shares her thoughts in a series of letters to her brother Rudy. Rudy was a popular young man and after a disagreement with his parents, escaped the confines of the family home and the expectations of his parents. Five year old Oliver barely remembers his brother, their mother is consumed by keeping her family together while their father searches for understanding at the local tavern, drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

Erin is an intelligent and incredible young woman, navigating a neurotypical environment from the perspective of a person on the spectrum and sharing her intimate, analytical, and often tumultuous thoughts on life, love, friends, family and autism. Erin begins her correspondence as she prepares to look for casual employment, leaving her previous position feeling misunderstood and underappreciated, resulting in an outburst. For Erin, feeling emotional and overwhelmed are two instances in which her psychologist encourages her to practice being present in the moment, while Erin keeps a secret list of her indiscretions each day to release her tension and as she enters her final year of school, Rudy is missing her important milestones.

Beyond her family, Erin has only confided in two friends of her diagnosis, her best friend since childhood Dee and her boyfriend, the disappointing Mitch. Dee is friendly, created from sunshine and laughter and understands when Erin is feeling overwhelmed, arming herself with doughnuts and waiting on her doorstep. Dee is charming, lighthearted and a young woman also finding her place in the world but her friendship with Erin wasn't always a positive influence on Erin's mental health. Especially at school, allowing her friends to make Erin feel uncomfortable. Her friendship is important to Erin but also restricted her personal growth as she transitioned into adulthood.

As Erin begins in her new position at a clothing store predominantly for seniors, she develops a friendship with Agnus, an Indigenous, Quandamooka young woman, musician and activist who endures depression. Aggie is a wonderful influence on Erin, allowing her to guide their friendship so she feels comfortable, offering support and understanding. In comparison to her friendship with Dee, their friendship signified a new and exciting chapter of life for Erin.

Throughout her letters, we see Erin grow in confidence, learning to care for herself and others and coping mechanisms. Please Don't Hug Me encourages awareness of those on the spectrum, empathy and the mentality from neurotypical society. Observing our environment through the thoughts of Erin was remarkable and profoundly intimate, navigating social situations, employment, her education and friendships and relationships. It was beautiful, poignant and an incredibly important read, as neurological conditions are rarely discussed in young adult literature.

Sincere, unflinching and achingly beautiful, Please Don't Hug Me is an exceptional and remarkable debut

[helenfarch]

I’ve just finished Please Don’t Hug Me by Kay Kerr. I usually start my review posts with a quote that resonated with me. But I couldn’t pick just one from this book - it is filled with such beautiful writing. I will say, watch out for page 193 - it will break your heart. But in the spirit of no spoilers you will have to read it for yourself.

What a book. I’ve been wanting to read this since I heard Kay speak at the YA Showcase in Melbourne last December and then I was lucky to win a copy in an Instagram giveaway.

Well, I have to say it did not disappoint all my expectations in any way.

Erin is in her final year of high school and she is looking forward to Schoolies. But Erin is autistic and she is finding life a challenge to understand and navigate. As part of her therapy she is writing letters to her brother, Rudy, who left almost a year ago. In the letters, Erin pours out her confusion at life and the way people act, her heartbreak that he left, the uncertainties of life after High School.
The ultimate irony of this book is that I just want to give Erin a huge hug and let her know everything will be ok.

I’m not crying….. you’re crying!