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challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
What a treat this was!
At the start I was so frustrated with Freya's refusal to even consider changing her own bag - why should her mum/nurses always have to do it? But I also understand part of this was her struggling to accept it.
I was diagnosed with colitis myself very recently and it was honestly so refreshing to read about people with bowel conditions and for it to be openly talked about. Some parts were so informative which I really appreciated, and I think a lot of young people could learn from this, and that ostomies can be life saving.
I really felt for Freya having to deal with the ignorant people in her school, but was equally proud of how she learnt to handle it and take it in her stride. The book was a real journey for Freya and I loved watching her grow throughout.
At the start I was so frustrated with Freya's refusal to even consider changing her own bag - why should her mum/nurses always have to do it? But I also understand part of this was her struggling to accept it.
I was diagnosed with colitis myself very recently and it was honestly so refreshing to read about people with bowel conditions and for it to be openly talked about. Some parts were so informative which I really appreciated, and I think a lot of young people could learn from this, and that ostomies can be life saving.
I really felt for Freya having to deal with the ignorant people in her school, but was equally proud of how she learnt to handle it and take it in her stride. The book was a real journey for Freya and I loved watching her grow throughout.
Xena Knox has written a fierce, flawed main character in Freya, shining a light on a little acknowledged topic in YA writing. 'Sh!t Bag' is the nickname cruel classmates (including her ex-boyfriend!) have started spreading about her following surgery to fit a temporary ileostomy bag. Suddenly, a summer training with her hockey team turns into shipped off into the highlands to bond with teenagers who have conditions similar to hers. Freya is determined not to get attached and reverse her surgery ASAP because she needs to be "normal" again.
Don't get me wrong, Freya is often INFURIATING in this book. But that is what makes her a real teenager whose life has just been turned upside down. She is rude to her campmates, refuses to learn how to care for her bag and obsessed with torturing herself looking at photos of the hockey trip on Instagram. That is the beauty of this book - not only does it display the reality of living with conditions like this but also gives Freya so much room to grow.
I would recommend this to anyone, but especially teenagers so that we can normalise living with an ileostomy bag and contribute to myth-busting in the real world. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Don't get me wrong, Freya is often INFURIATING in this book. But that is what makes her a real teenager whose life has just been turned upside down. She is rude to her campmates, refuses to learn how to care for her bag and obsessed with torturing herself looking at photos of the hockey trip on Instagram. That is the beauty of this book - not only does it display the reality of living with conditions like this but also gives Freya so much room to grow.
I would recommend this to anyone, but especially teenagers so that we can normalise living with an ileostomy bag and contribute to myth-busting in the real world. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was amazing it was beautiful and emotional yet it was impossible to not love the characters. I think this is one of my favourite reads of the whole year.
DNF: this is going to sound really mean but…. where was the “funny” i was supposed to get from this book?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
funny
informative
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced