Award-winning author Susin Nielsen has written a laugh-out-loud and heartrending novel for fans of Robyn Schneider’s Extraordinary Means and Cammie McGovern’s Say What You Will.
Beware: Life ahead.
Sixteen-year-old Petula de Wilde is anything but wild. A former crafting fiend with a happy life, Petula shut herself off from the world after a family tragedy. She sees danger in all the ordinary things, like crossing the street, a bug bite, or a germy handshake. She knows: life is out to get you.
The worst part of her week is her comically lame mandatory art therapy class with a small group of fellow misfits. Then a new boy, Jacob, appears at school and in her therapy group. He seems so normal and confident, though he has a prosthetic arm; and soon he teams up with Petula on a hilarious project, gradually inspiring her to let go of some of her fears. But as the two grow closer, a hidden truth behind why he’s in the group threatens to derail them, unless Petula takes a huge risk. . .
Praise:
Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year
“Nielsen writes with sensitivity, empathy, and humor.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred
“Nielsen excels at depicting troubled, clever teenagers in familiar environments.” —School Library Journal, Starred
“[An] empathic and deeply moving story, balanced by sharply funny narration and dialogue.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred
“A poignant exploration into the nuances of healing.” —Quill and Quire, Starred
I received this book from Early Reviewers at LibraryThing. I liked it a lot, but it probably wasn't as good as We Are All Made of Molecules. Having said that, it's still a great read. Susin Nielsen is probably someone I would have read as a teenager. She creates real characters, in believable situations, and never pulls any punches.
Most of the characters in this story have a fair bit of dysfunction in their lives and are brought together at an art therapy class at their high school. The main character, Petula, is very pessimistic about life, but as her story unfolds, you start to realise why. Another teenager with a tough past, joins the class and has an immediate impact on Petula. He brings some optimism to her life, but all is not what it seems. There are some things that he seems to be keeping hidden and he seems to live life through his favourite movies. The rest of the young people in the class are also positively affected by the class newcomer, but as his story starts to become clearer there are some real moments of tension where everything that has been gained my end up being lost.
It's not a long read and is one that would be enjoyed especially by teenagers with many questions about life. But it's one that can be read enjoyably by older readers too.
