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librarianaaryn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
floridaminnie's review against another edition
4.0
This YA packed a lot into. It’s focus is around a 12 year who is angry all the time. This 12 year old lives with 2 moms, is a triplet with identical brothers and is part of a blended family. She has a lot going on and this is an age when kids start wondering who they are. It was written extremely well and will touch a lot of the age range it is intended for.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy fir an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy fir an honest review.
popthebutterfly's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Science of Being Angry
Author: Nicole Melleby
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: 2 moms, f/f romances, IVF and anonymous donor MC and siblings, Queer MC
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, LGBT, mental health, family
Publication Date: May 10, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 9+ (violence, slight romance)
Explanation of Above: There is some light violence in this book, with our MC who pushes and shoves people. Sometimes stuff is thrown too. There is also a very slight romance.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 276
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Joey is angry. All the time. And she doesn’t understand why. She has two loving moms, a supportive older half brother, and, as a triplet, she’s never without company. Her life is good. But sometimes she loses her temper and lashes out, like the time she threw a soccer ball—hard—at a boy in gym class and bruised his collarbone. Or when jealousy made her push her (former) best friend (and crush), Layla, a little bit too roughly.
After a meltdown at Joey’s apartment building leads to her family’s eviction, Joey is desperate to figure out why she’s so mad. A new unit in science class makes her wonder if the reason is genetics. Does she lose control because of something she inherited from the donor her mothers chose?
Review: I really REALLY loved this book. It was such a good book in showing how sometimes kids are angry because of genetics or things outside of the (very wrong) assumption that “they’re just bad kids”. The MC has good intentions, but sometimes she just gets mad because of things outside of her control. I loved that the root of the anger was discussed at the end and that the whole family apologized to each other for the way they all contributed to the MC’s anger. I especially loved how it showed the family having fights and showing that it was ok to fight or disagree sometimes with each other. The book also did so good in discussing ancestry and genetics, but also discussed how “non-traditional” families in several different forms. The explanation of IVF and the anonymous donor was very well done and very well explained for children to understand the basic concept. The book also did well to show how well this family in the book works, which sets the example for how families do and can look like. I also thought the romance was so sweet and adorable. The character development was well done, the world building was well done, the writing was amazing, and the book just draws you in and refuses to let you go. I highly suggest tissues when you read this.
The only issue I had with the book is that I wish the diagnosis was shared to the audience, but I did love that many different things were thrown out there and several coping mechanisms discussed so other kids who are also dealing with this could see their own mental health journey in this book.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: The Science of Being Angry
Author: Nicole Melleby
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: 2 moms, f/f romances, IVF and anonymous donor MC and siblings, Queer MC
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, LGBT, mental health, family
Publication Date: May 10, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 9+ (violence, slight romance)
Explanation of Above: There is some light violence in this book, with our MC who pushes and shoves people. Sometimes stuff is thrown too. There is also a very slight romance.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 276
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Joey is angry. All the time. And she doesn’t understand why. She has two loving moms, a supportive older half brother, and, as a triplet, she’s never without company. Her life is good. But sometimes she loses her temper and lashes out, like the time she threw a soccer ball—hard—at a boy in gym class and bruised his collarbone. Or when jealousy made her push her (former) best friend (and crush), Layla, a little bit too roughly.
After a meltdown at Joey’s apartment building leads to her family’s eviction, Joey is desperate to figure out why she’s so mad. A new unit in science class makes her wonder if the reason is genetics. Does she lose control because of something she inherited from the donor her mothers chose?
Review: I really REALLY loved this book. It was such a good book in showing how sometimes kids are angry because of genetics or things outside of the (very wrong) assumption that “they’re just bad kids”. The MC has good intentions, but sometimes she just gets mad because of things outside of her control. I loved that the root of the anger was discussed at the end and that the whole family apologized to each other for the way they all contributed to the MC’s anger. I especially loved how it showed the family having fights and showing that it was ok to fight or disagree sometimes with each other. The book also did so good in discussing ancestry and genetics, but also discussed how “non-traditional” families in several different forms. The explanation of IVF and the anonymous donor was very well done and very well explained for children to understand the basic concept. The book also did well to show how well this family in the book works, which sets the example for how families do and can look like. I also thought the romance was so sweet and adorable. The character development was well done, the world building was well done, the writing was amazing, and the book just draws you in and refuses to let you go. I highly suggest tissues when you read this.
The only issue I had with the book is that I wish the diagnosis was shared to the audience, but I did love that many different things were thrown out there and several coping mechanisms discussed so other kids who are also dealing with this could see their own mental health journey in this book.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
pagesandtales's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pucksandpaperbacks's review
4.0
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book to review. All thoughts are my own!
This was a solid middle grade about neurodivergence and mental health following an 11-year old girl, Joey as she tries to learn about the pent up anger she's releasing causing everyone in her life to view her differently. At least, that's what she thinks in her head. To Joey, she's not like her brothers or Mom's because they don't hurt people and lash out causing hurt toward them. Thus, Joey is going to make things right by finding the donor her mother's used to get pregnant. When a project arises in school on genetics, Joey takes this as the perfect opportunity to learn about her genetics.
What I loved most about The Science of Being Angry is how Joey reacts to her outbursts being viewed by her family and friends. This shows how there are consequences to your actions and you can learn how to control them which Joey starts to learn as she hurts the feelings of those around her. As someone who also deals with anger issues, I loved seeing Joey's character because I haven't read a book about mental health and/or neurodivergence where anger is at the forefront. It's such an important symptom to touch on especially with a child. Toward the end of the book, therapy comes in and I really enjoyed how the story doesn't give Joey a definitive diagnosis as it shows how it takes time to find the answers. There is a side character, Joey's half-brother, Benny who has ADHD and plays hockey to help manage it. Benny encourages Joey to sign up for hockey to help get her aggression out and I loooved that so much. As a hockey fan, hockey is the best way for me to get my anger out.
Overall, highly recommend this sapphic book about genetics and family dynamics.
This was a solid middle grade about neurodivergence and mental health following an 11-year old girl, Joey as she tries to learn about the pent up anger she's releasing causing everyone in her life to view her differently. At least, that's what she thinks in her head. To Joey, she's not like her brothers or Mom's because they don't hurt people and lash out causing hurt toward them. Thus, Joey is going to make things right by finding the donor her mother's used to get pregnant. When a project arises in school on genetics, Joey takes this as the perfect opportunity to learn about her genetics.
What I loved most about The Science of Being Angry is how Joey reacts to her outbursts being viewed by her family and friends. This shows how there are consequences to your actions and you can learn how to control them which Joey starts to learn as she hurts the feelings of those around her. As someone who also deals with anger issues, I loved seeing Joey's character because I haven't read a book about mental health and/or neurodivergence where anger is at the forefront. It's such an important symptom to touch on especially with a child. Toward the end of the book, therapy comes in and I really enjoyed how the story doesn't give Joey a definitive diagnosis as it shows how it takes time to find the answers. There is a side character, Joey's half-brother, Benny who has ADHD and plays hockey to help manage it. Benny encourages Joey to sign up for hockey to help get her aggression out and I loooved that so much. As a hockey fan, hockey is the best way for me to get my anger out.
Overall, highly recommend this sapphic book about genetics and family dynamics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Bullying
Mention of birth and pregnancy, Intrusive thoughtsninebookishlives's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Bullying
camilaariasb's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
qace90's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I receive an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.
Once again Melleby has taken my heart, torn it to pieces, and mended it with such care. As a person who spent much of their childhood full of anger, this book spoke to me so much, and I cannot wait for others to read Joey’s story and fall in love.
Full review closer to release.
Full review:
I do not know how to put into words how much this book means, but it hits me so hard in the feelings.
I’ve been obsessed with Melleby’s books since I read In the Role of Brie Hutchens… and every time I fall more in love with her stories and characters. The Science of Being Angry is no different, and especially hits me as a child who struggled with anger and lashing out when the feelings got bigger than could be contained. Joey is such a relatable character on that front, even as her experiences as a triplet, as the daughter of two moms, as a product of in vitro fertilization don’t line up with my own experiences.
I love Joey’s journey of figuring herself out, or at least working towards new understanding of herself, the complexities of her interpersonal relationships, with her triplets, with her moms, with her best friend/crush Layla, with her brother Benny, and seeing her working on those relationships. Joey often feels wrong and knows she’s been mean, and often feels like she just gets angrier and angrier, but at the end of the day, hurting those she loves is the very last thing she wants to do. And seeing a preteen navigating those feelings, struggling with words and self-expression, hits me so hard. And I also love and appreciate that there isn’t an answer in the end for why Joey is so angry all the time, just the hope and promise of working on that anger and learning new coping strategies so she can handle the anger in a healthier way.
I adored this book, am so glad it exists, and cannot wait to see what Melleby will write next. I love how much this book made me cry, and also how much healing and hope it offers in putting in the work to change harmful behaviors and the reassurances of the love of Joey’s family. Learning that her mom will never leave her, even if they don’t share DNA, and navigating who she is without knowing where half her DNA comes from is such a powerful, emotional story. I hope it finds many readers who are also able to feel seen and loved and like being angry doesn’t make them a monster or needlessly cruel, even (or especially) when that anger so often feels out of control until the pressure is released.
Once again Melleby has taken my heart, torn it to pieces, and mended it with such care. As a person who spent much of their childhood full of anger, this book spoke to me so much, and I cannot wait for others to read Joey’s story and fall in love.
Full review closer to release.
Full review:
I do not know how to put into words how much this book means, but it hits me so hard in the feelings.
I’ve been obsessed with Melleby’s books since I read In the Role of Brie Hutchens… and every time I fall more in love with her stories and characters. The Science of Being Angry is no different, and especially hits me as a child who struggled with anger and lashing out when the feelings got bigger than could be contained. Joey is such a relatable character on that front, even as her experiences as a triplet, as the daughter of two moms, as a product of in vitro fertilization don’t line up with my own experiences.
I love Joey’s journey of figuring herself out, or at least working towards new understanding of herself, the complexities of her interpersonal relationships, with her triplets, with her moms, with her best friend/crush Layla, with her brother Benny, and seeing her working on those relationships. Joey often feels wrong and knows she’s been mean, and often feels like she just gets angrier and angrier, but at the end of the day, hurting those she loves is the very last thing she wants to do. And seeing a preteen navigating those feelings, struggling with words and self-expression, hits me so hard. And I also love and appreciate that there isn’t an answer in the end for why Joey is so angry all the time, just the hope and promise of working on that anger and learning new coping strategies so she can handle the anger in a healthier way.
I adored this book, am so glad it exists, and cannot wait to see what Melleby will write next. I love how much this book made me cry, and also how much healing and hope it offers in putting in the work to change harmful behaviors and the reassurances of the love of Joey’s family. Learning that her mom will never leave her, even if they don’t share DNA, and navigating who she is without knowing where half her DNA comes from is such a powerful, emotional story. I hope it finds many readers who are also able to feel seen and loved and like being angry doesn’t make them a monster or needlessly cruel, even (or especially) when that anger so often feels out of control until the pressure is released.
kejana13's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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