Michael was walking through the quad, cutting across grass - anxious to get to his film-workshop class even though he was too early - when his phone rang in his pocket...
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It has recently come to my attention that I must make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from Netgalley. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.
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The Blurb
Michael Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma from his classmates, his adoptive family, and himself.
When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society—and is surprised to learn that this is essentially everyone. Although some participants are recovering from injuries or surgeries, others are dealing with more everyday factors like aging or the changes to a body from giving birth.
As he collects these stories—and finally tells his own—Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more obstacle: his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him.
My Review
This was a fabulous book to read and it had me engrossed.
It has two timelines running through it: one when the main character, Michael, was a child and the other when he begins college. Michael's backstory is told through the chapters from his childhood.
He has had a difficult start to life. First, he is badly injured by a firework and is left both physically and mentally scarred. He is then placed into care — fostered and later adopted. However, Michael's birth parents make the decision to keep his older brother with them. Unsurprisingly, this leaves him with rejection issues. The author portrays him as a multi-faceted character and I enjoyed the time I spent with him in this book.
Michael's film teacher has a significant part to play in his life. He encourages him to express himself in film, becomes his mentor and eventually his friend. It is through him that Michael begins his journey of self-acceptance.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is an exceptional storyteller and understands both her characters and readers very well. She writes in a way that grabs the reader's attention and ensures that they are fully invested in her story.
It is a brilliant coming-of-age story and has much to say about family, self-acceptance and body positivity. As Michael brings together people who dislike the way they look, he begins a journey of not only understanding his own body issues but understanding that other people have the same issues for a myriad of different reasons.
The author has a significant back catalogue. I have read one of her titles prior to this book, Dreaming of Flight, and you can read my review by clicking here. I fully intend to read more of her work too. I highly recommend this excellent novel to anyone who enjoys character led fiction.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1662522291
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited
No. of Pages: 288 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than 50 published and forthcoming books.
She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.
Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of ’14.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.
You can also find Catherine at:
(ARC courtesy of NetGalley)
(author photo courtesy of the author's website)
(author bio courtesy of Goodreads)
(all opinions are my own)
(Bookshop.org affiliated)
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