This week’s book talks 1/22-26

I had an out of building meeting on Monday, but still managed to talk about five books. I am sneaky that way.

Tuesday, I shared Making Bombs For Hilter by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, who lives in the town where I did my last year of high school.

Wednesday, the kids clearly needed something less serious, so I chose Zombie Baseball Beatdown by Paolo Bacigalupi.

Thursday, I caught up and gave them a twofer: two books by N. H Senzai, N. H Senzai. Escape from Aleppo, her new book, and  Saving Kabul Corner.

  

Friday, I shared Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella, just because I love it.

 

 

Making me LOL

Lucy is a silly girl and her goofy antics have had me laughing, which is making Fiona’s loss bearable.

 

I don’t often read humorous books, but I’m listening to Finding Audrey  by Sophie Kinsella  during my daily commute and I am actually laughing out loud as  drive.

Gemma Whelan, the narrator is spot on and these Brits know how to do this sort of off beat humor. It isn’t really a funny story, more of a tragicomedy. The eponymous Audrey is slowly emerging  from the fog of Social Anxiety Disorder that resulted from vicious bullying.She wears dark glasses and avoids contact with people outside her family. But under the guidance of her therapist, Dr. Sarah, who feels rather real, Audrey is pushing herself to move forward.

Parents are often undeveloped or completely absent in YA novels, but Audrey’s parents are farcically realistic and form a fitting counterpoint to the real struggle Audrey feels. There’s a little love story, but it doesn’t overshadow the power that is Audrey, facing her fears.

This might be one of the best YA books I’ve read about mental illness this year. Kinsella shows recovery from mental illness as a long process of two steps forward, one step back. Even at the novel’s close, Audrey has not been miraculously cured.