Reader, Reviewer, Literature Enthusiast Welcome to my Blog! Here, I'll be posting on numerous topics related to books -- including reviews, lists, and OTP freak-outs! I have loved reading ever since my parents bought me my first paperback at four-years-old. Now, I'm sharing my love with the world! **All reviews are 100% my OWN opinion even if the book is provided by the publisher. I also receive a small commission for any books purchased through my links. **
*An ARC for this book was provided by West 44 Books through Net Galley. This review is 100% my OWN opinion.*
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines addiction as a "compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance." For some, these addictions can be as minuscule as a laptop or social media. For others, though, these addictions can become detrimental --- affecting not only themselves, but the ones around them. For Melody Dodds' novel, "Little Pills," this is exactly what happens.
Told through prose (think Ellen Hopkins), this story follows seventeen-year-old Charlotte, a young girl whose life is changed forever when she discovers the spiraling world that is oxycontin. Weighing in at only a little over 200 pages, Dodds is able to convey the battle that is addiction, ultimately leaving us with a sorrow in her hearts for those who have dealt with the little pills.
Now, before I continue on with my own thoughts, I do want to note that this novel affected me on a more personal level than most do. As someone who has seen what pain killer and heroin addiction can do to someone I love, I truly feel Charlotte's story struck a chord with me. Nonetheless, this does not have any effect on my overall review. It simply weighs my opinions.
So, due to this, I think we should get my opinions out of the way.
First of all, I really enjoyed Dodds' descriptive language when talking about the highs and lows of addiction. Without giving any spoilers, I believe the author really understood what it felt to witness someone come down from a high. While reading this novel, I was transported back five years ago, watching my loved one shake and mutter as they sat on my sofa.
Another thing I really enjoyed about the story was the characters. I'll be honest, I usually find within hard-hitting novels such as this one that the characters are often bogged down by the topic at hand. "Little Pills," however, manages to keep the important characters front and center while leaving the lesser-important characters in the chorus.
One character that stood out to me, in particular, was Mia. Now, there isn't much to say without spoiling anything, but I will say that Mia reminded me of myself at such an impressional time in life.
Of course, there are always some negatives when it comes to any book. "Little Pills" is no exception.
For one thing, the stepfather's way of handling our main character's addiction irked me. Perhaps it was simply my own experience (let's face it, it definitely was), but I feel the entire situation was not helpful to Charlotte.
Another thing I didn't like was the ending. I promise I'm not going to spoil anything, so that's all I'm going to say. It was just very unfulfilling and left a lot to be desired.
So, overall, "Little Pills" by Melody Dodds was a harrowing, wounding tale of what our lives can become --- whether we're the one taking the pills or not --- when we become addicted. For those who have experienced these effects, the story may open new wounds. For those who are lucky enough to never experience these events, it opens eyes and minds to what really happens behind closed doors. For that, this novel is receiving a 4 out of 5 star rating. Thank you, Melody Dodds, for giving the world an opportunity to understand the true battles of addiction.
Support the author and purchase “Little Pills” by Melody Dodds here.
*An ARC for this book was provided by Candlewick Press through Net Galley. This review is 100% my OWN opinion.*
The 60s: the decade of space travel, mindless wars, and the best music to ever pass through mankind's ears (*cough* Creedence Clearwater Revival *cough*). The good, the bad, and the ugly. Through it all, one thing always remained with those who chose to live it: free love.
So, naturally, when I saw Todd Strasser's novel, "Summer of '69" advertised on the Amazon shopping page I immediately added it to my cart, my GoodReads "Want to Read" list, and Net Galley request form. The anticipation for this read was excruciating, and when I finally got my hands on it you best believe that I DEVOURED it in one sitting. You better buckle up, folks, because this book is a wild ride.
The novel is simple enough to follow. Taking place during one summer of 1969, probably the most famous year of the decade, our story follows Lucas Baker. Lucas is your average, everyday seventeen-year-old "hippie" (as described by society, not me). His story, however, is anything but average. Told through Lucas's point of view (as well as a third every once in a while, which I'll explain more on later) and letters to and from his supporting characters, Strasser weaves a tale of pang and woe that comes with one's journey through those uncomprehensible months just before life begins.
Okay, that's all out of the way. Now I can finally spew EVERY LAST THOUGHT I"VE BEEN KEEPING INSIDE SINCE READING THIS BOOK. *Achem* Let's begin, shall we?
In my opinion, the ensemble cast is what makes this book so enjoyable. For starters, our narrator feels completely genuine. I've seen others call Lucas out on his obnoxious habits, but I'm here to defend him. To me, his drug use, desperate heart, and anger is what makes him such a strong character. I'm just sick of seeing these washed-up, overused stereotypical charcters in literature. Lucas was such a refreshing divergence from that.
As for our side characters, I'm very pleased to be able to say that they were given the same treatment. Something I often see in books with such strong leads are much weaker side characters, which irks me beyond belief. "Summer of '69," however, manages to create such a balance that Lucas can stand solo next to everyone else without smearing them off the page, and vice-versa.
Another thing I really enjoyed about Strasser's novel was the atmosphere he created. As an avid reader, I've traveled to a lot of places: the Highlands of Scotland, World War II-era England, Narnia...the list goes on for quite a while. My point is that I read books to be transported to an entirely different world. I want to see what the characters see, smell the air they breathe, hear the sounds they hear, and so on. Strasser, it seems, is a complete master at this. Within only a couple dozen pages I felt I was standing in the middle of a war-riddled country in the end of the 60s.
Now, all of these great things the author provides isn't always enough to create such a phenomenal book. When reading, I also want to feel something. Whether that be grief for the war-torn countries burying their people, lovers disagreeing, or just the fear that comes from being looked at on the street. I just need to have some emotion stirring inside of me. This book, as you might have guessed, did exactly that.
Of course, no book is without its faults. Fortunately for Lucas's story, there aren't too many. Really, the only things that bothered me were the point-of-view switching and one itsy, bitsy part of the ending (WHICH I CANNOT SPOIL, SO DON'T COME AT ME FOR LEAVING YOU HANGING). The point-of-view thing made sense later on, though, so it's not too big of a deal (again, I cannot spoil anything).
So all in all, Todd Strasser's novel, "Summer of '69," was an emotionally evocative tale that, for those who were there, reminds us what those young years were all about, and, for us younger folks, gives us a glimpse into the lives we were never able to experience. For that, this novel is recieving a solid 4 out of 5 stars from me. Thanks, book. Now I can truly say I've experienced free love.
Support the author and purchase "Summer of '69" by Todd Strasser here.
"His smile was deep and dark, like a thousand books begging to be read, like the doorway to Narnia." Beautiful. Words streamed from the mouth of a poet. Alas, this book is far from poetry.
Geez, that made me sound like a class-A jerk, huh? I can't help it! This book was, to my complete surprise, one of the worst books I've read this year. I tried so hard to like the writing styles and the characters, but there really wasn't any redeeming qualities in my opinion once I hit the halfway mark.
Told through the point-of-view of sixteen-year-old Penelope, "The Museum of Heartbreak" sets out to tell a story and pull us, the readers, back to the days of first loves and teenage drama. Though it does have its share of relationships and feuds, platonic and romantic, the story really lacks in any authentic emotion-evoking material.
My main quarrel with this book was that the characters were just insuffarable. It came to the point half-way through the book that I was actually rooting for the antagonist to get a good snide-remark in. Just saying.
Penelope, our protagonist and narrator, just seems to be so much younger than what we're informed. Now, I'm not saying it's a terrible thing to like childhood things (I still binge Zoey 101 when I can catch it on). All I'm saying is that there is a fine line between "young-at-heart" and just completely childish. (Everyone burps and farts, Penelope. Get over it.)
As for our protagonist's friends, they aren't much better. Audrey, Penelope's supposed best friend since elementary school, is an a-double astrick-hole in all ways when it comes to friendship. Ephraim (or Eph, as he's referred to the majority of the time) is a little better on the scale of loyalty. His main problem was the lack of character. We were shown the surface, and the surface was all we were shown.
Against this cast is what the book attempts to be antagonists. First we have Cherrie (who I'm still not sure how to pronounce. Cherry? Sherry?) who was who I aformentioned a few paragraphs ago in regards to snide remarks. There isn't much to her besides the stereotypical high school mean girl. (There is A LOT of tropes just like this throughout, by the way.)
Our other antagonist is Keats, the "love interest" of Penelope (I use quotes here because throughout this entire story Keats doesn't seem to show one itsy, bitsy sign of romance in his being). He was a little deeper in character than Eph or Cherrie, being the "eccentric" or "indie" kid. Though, last time I checked being eccentric does not also mean you can be sexist (this is obviously not a jab at the author of the book, just the character in general).
Now, despite the numerous flaws of this book, there were some redeemable qualities, the first being Grace and Miles. These are two characters met a little further into the novel, though it doesn't spoil anything (don't worry). Their being in the story was, to be frank, the only reason I was able to bare finishing. It was Grace's complete cool demeanor and Miles's snarky, gay self that kept me entertained when I was becoming bored. (Thank the Gods for these characters!)
The other good things about this book were minor, but still impactful. The inclusion of paleontology was really interesting, especially the parts about Willo the "maybe-has-a-heart" dinosaur. Alongside this, Eph's art ability was a bit entertaining, if somewhat repetitive after a while.
Despite ALL of this, "The Museum of Heartbreak" is a cutesy, light-hearted read. Being Meg Leder's first fiction novel (that I can find in her biography), it wasn't the worst thing ever written. So, maybe my comment from earlier was a bit too harsh.
Anyway, overall, the story was okay. There wasn't much depth to it, so it could easily be read by middle school aged kids (though I will warn that there is numerous uses of the "F-word" throughout).
Would I recommend it? Sure, if you're looking for something that doesn't drown itself in development and can easily be swept through in a couple of hours. It just wasn't my ideal type of story. For that, I'm giving this book a solid 3 out of 5 stars. Sorry, book. You're just not my kind of heartbreak.
Support the author and purchase "The Museum of Heartbreak" by Meg Leder here.
