Hi everyone, welcome to the first week of May. For someone who calls the southern hemisphere home, I always equate May with spring. It must be all those books I’ve read!! Anyway, for this week, I’ve got a lovely little book I enjoyed a few years ago while visiting my sister in the UK!! Why not click below to find out what this book is…
Title: Forget-me-not
Author: Ellie Terry
Genre: Fiction – contemporary (in verse)
Publication details: Feiwel and Friends; NY, 2017
ISBN: 9781250096272 (Hardcover)
What this book is about: Astronomy-loving Calliope Jane has Tourette Syndrome, so she sometimes makes faces or noises that she doesn’t mean to make. When she and her mother move yet again, she tries to hide her Tourettes. But it isn’t long before the kids at her new school realize she’s different. Only Calliope’s neighbor, who’s also the popular student body president, sees her as she truly is – an interesting person and a good friend. But is he brave enough to take their friendship public? As Calliope navigates school, she must also face her mother’s new relationship and the fact that she might be moving – again – just as she starts to make friends and finally accepts her differences. Ellie Terry’s affecting debut will speak to a wide audience about being true to oneself.
My review: I found this an inspiring and moving read of navigating life and school with Tourette’s syndrome. I suppose I learned a bit about things like Tourettes, Asperger’s and even the hardships of those who have dyslexia through stories like these. With verse and prose mixed together, the descriptions become multilayered and you get the most vivid reading. Calli’s voice in verse brings a different depth to the book and reveals her emotions and inner thoughts better than prose!! Despite the themes of bullying that were evident in this read I actually ended up enjoying this story even more than usual!!
My rating: 4½⭐
Additional notes: This book was nominated for the AML Award for Middle Grade Novel in 2017.
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 