Hazel (1853 KP) rated White Petals in Books
Dec 17, 2018
First her father died, then her Nana, and to top it all off her mother has been placed in a psychiatric hospital. Life for Emmeline Rose has not been easy but the unfortunate circumstances are going to lead her to the discovery of a secret gift. In this young adult novel, <i>White Petals</i>, Maria Grace creates a heartwarming tale of grief, friendship and fantasy.
Fourteen-year-old Em has been placed in a children’s home whilst her mother recovers from a psychotic breakdown. Here she begins to make friends with some of the other children, however she finds herself being bullied at school. Yet, what she cannot understand is why she gets a painful ringing in her ears whenever the school bully is around. But when her mother starts explaining mind-boggling things about their family, things start to make more sense.
The novel is a first person narrative therefore everything is shown from Em’s point of view. This, however, results in the story sounding like a young teenager has written it, which can be rather annoying. On the other hand, this aspect helps relate to the intended target audience.
The biggest issue with <i>White Petals</i> is the way mental illness is described. Phrases such as “off her tree”, “crazy”, “psycho” and “nutter” are frequently used throughout the narrative. Mental health stigma is a growing problem that many charities and organizations are challenging. Although many teenagers may genuinely think this way due to a lack of understanding, there is no attempt in this book to contradict these beliefs and educate the reader.
Overall I personally do not think this book is anything special, however many teenagers may enjoy the humour some of the characters bring to the story. Each chapter is headed by illustrations that were the result of a competition held in Wales for eleven to eighteen year olds. Despite certain misgivings, the story was still interesting to read.
Simply Learn Lithuanian
Education and Travel
App
*** Learn lithuanian language when visiting Lithuania *** Simply Learn lithuanian Language App is a...
The Atlas of ER Flashcards
Medical and Book
App
A super-effective portable learning tool to sharpen your visual diagnosis skills. This app contains...
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Medicine
Book
Most people know Roald Dahl as a famous write of children's books and adult short stories, but few...
Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Story of Huguette Clark and the Loss of One of the World's Greatest Fortunes
Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell
Book
Empty Mansions is a rich mystery of wealth and loss, connecting the Gilded Age opulence of...
The Oxford Handbook of Nietzsche
Book
The diversity of Nietzsche's books, and the sheer range of his philosophical interests, have posed...
Moon Grand Canyon
Book
Moon Travel Guides: Find Your Adventure! With 1.2 million acres of rocky expanse formed over...
The Plant-Based Journey: A Step-by-Step Guide for Transitioning to a Healthy Lifestyle and Achieving Your Ideal Weight
Howard Jacobson, Lani Muelrath, T. Colin Campbell and Neal Barnard
Book
It's been proven that a plant-based diet is good for your weight, health, budget, and the...
Cheryl Saban's Guide to a Happy and Mindful Life
Book
A beautifully illustrated pocket-size gift book that explores the experience of mindfulness through...
ClareR (5996 KP) rated Heatstroke in Books
Dec 27, 2020
Rachel appears to be struggling with the fact that she’s ageing, and she wants to feel both young and attractive to men - and to some extent, boys. She is constantly thinking about what other people think about her: appearances are supremely important, and she can’t understand her daughters need to look older and alter her looks with makeup. Mia is growing up and becoming more independent, and this pushes Rachel further in to despair. Surely if her daughter is older, she is too!
I found it hard to excuse Rachel’s behaviour. She could have made her daughters friend safe quite easily, I think.
I liked the abrupt ending. I rather like it when a book finishes and you can make your own mind up as to what has happened afterwards. Don’t get me wrong - a book that ends with a resolution is just as enjoyable, but you can’t beat an unresolved ending! And i don’t think that this book would have been able to give the quick fix end. It’s clear that there is a lot that needs to be done to make Rachel’s family ‘better’.
I enjoyed this book: as a debut novel, it has certainly given me something to think about, and a name to look out for in the future!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this fabulous book.