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gillyreads's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Really moving story.
I did have issues with a couple factors,it seemed like Meg’s home life was a point where there should have been more questions/action from the school, and I didn’t love that she’d been faking panic attacks, it sort of felt like experiencing representation that was then taken away. I didn’t really understand the purpose of that plot point.
I also felt like the discussion around health and food was heading in a good direction but there were moments that I felt could have been more explicitly challenging diet culture’s influence on medicine/health.
I did have issues with a couple factors,
I also felt like the discussion around health and food was heading in a good direction but there were moments that I felt could have been more explicitly challenging diet culture’s influence on medicine/health.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Grief, and Death of parent
sammy_3004's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
pavedwithbookss's review
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
melbsreads's review
4.0
Trigger warnings: bullying, death of a parent (in the past), parent with mental health issues, medical crisis.
I can understand why tweens are loving this book. It's fast paced and easy to read, and both the protagonists are very likeable. Even though they're dealing with serious issues that many kids won't be able to relate to - Type 1 diabetes on one side and a parent whose grief has spiralled into mental health problems and extreme poverty on the other - there are enough common problems in the story to ensure that young readers will find the characters relatable.
I liked that the story focused not only on the budding friendship between the two girls but on the importance of there being a safe space for kids to go in schools. In this case, it's sick bay. In my case, it was the library. For some kids, it's the art room. Etcetera.
Wearing my adult/school employee hat, I had two small problems with this:
2. I really didn't like the fact that Meg had been faking her panic attacks the whole time. I mean, I'm sure it happens. I faked plenty of asthma attacks to get out of swimming. But to go from "oh, this 12 year old character has anxiety issues, that's cool!" to "LOL JK she made it all up" was a little bit galling for me.
Also I laughed multiple times about how extra Lina was. Homegirl needs to chill.
I can understand why tweens are loving this book. It's fast paced and easy to read, and both the protagonists are very likeable. Even though they're dealing with serious issues that many kids won't be able to relate to - Type 1 diabetes on one side and a parent whose grief has spiralled into mental health problems and extreme poverty on the other - there are enough common problems in the story to ensure that young readers will find the characters relatable.
I liked that the story focused not only on the budding friendship between the two girls but on the importance of there being a safe space for kids to go in schools. In this case, it's sick bay. In my case, it was the library. For some kids, it's the art room. Etcetera.
Wearing my adult/school employee hat, I had two small problems with this:
Spoiler
1. That no one had called any kind of authorities to report the level of neglect that Meg is going through. It's definitely not her mother's fault. But, like, y'all are mandatory reporters. You've got a kid who's coming to school in the same t-shirt most days and a LITERAL PAIR OF SLIPPERS because she's outgrown her shoes. She's often got no food with her and she's unkempt. Someone definitely should have called the powers that be...2. I really didn't like the fact that Meg had been faking her panic attacks the whole time. I mean, I'm sure it happens. I faked plenty of asthma attacks to get out of swimming. But to go from "oh, this 12 year old character has anxiety issues, that's cool!" to "LOL JK she made it all up" was a little bit galling for me.
Also I laughed multiple times about how extra Lina was. Homegirl needs to chill.
bec_sherman's review
5.0
I read with my daughter Savannah (11 years old). Savannah rates Sick Bay 5/5. She thought the book was interesting and different to other books. She loved how it showed that people can be going through things and you don’t know - but things can always get better. Overall Savannah loved all of it.
waywardfancy's review
5.0
Two grade six girls, Meg and Riley, meet in Sick Bay. Why are they in Sick Bay? Well -they each have their reasons.
Ever since Meg’s Dad died and her mother is consumed by a deep depression Meg goes to sick bay to get fed by office lady, Sarah, and has time out with her two emotional crutches – a brown paper bag for breathing into and her well-thumbed copy of Anne of Green Gables.
Riley is new to the school and is type 1 diabetic and hates the monitoring it requires – especially how that impacts on her ability to hang out with her new friends. But if her friends don’t understand her diabetes are they really friends?
It’s the end of grade six and so much is about to change. Both girls are caught in a gap between their home lives and school lives, their truths and their lies. Maybe it is only in sick bay that you can truly be yourself?
Nova Weetman is a writer of incredible sensitivity. She mines emotional gems from even the most gentle of moments and does so with such authenticity it makes your heart pound. With each chapter from the alternate girl’s POV, the plot is absorbing as we see how these two lives intersect as they head towards grade six graduation and finding the strength to be themselves.
Even thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Oh my heart!
Ever since Meg’s Dad died and her mother is consumed by a deep depression Meg goes to sick bay to get fed by office lady, Sarah, and has time out with her two emotional crutches – a brown paper bag for breathing into and her well-thumbed copy of Anne of Green Gables.
Riley is new to the school and is type 1 diabetic and hates the monitoring it requires – especially how that impacts on her ability to hang out with her new friends. But if her friends don’t understand her diabetes are they really friends?
It’s the end of grade six and so much is about to change. Both girls are caught in a gap between their home lives and school lives, their truths and their lies. Maybe it is only in sick bay that you can truly be yourself?
Nova Weetman is a writer of incredible sensitivity. She mines emotional gems from even the most gentle of moments and does so with such authenticity it makes your heart pound. With each chapter from the alternate girl’s POV, the plot is absorbing as we see how these two lives intersect as they head towards grade six graduation and finding the strength to be themselves.
Even thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Oh my heart!
megan_alice's review
4.0
Twelve year olds live in their own little world. Stuck in that awkward stage when they're no longer a child but not yet a teenager, all they want to do is be with their friends. Sick Bay explores this perfectly.
Navigating friendships, parents and life in general, Meg and Riley make a lot of discoveries in their last weeks of primary school: everyone has something going on in their life that you can't see. Parents are actually human and have feelings too. The "weird" kids at school just want to be included and accepted like everyone else. Your real friends won't ever make you feel bad for being yourself.
"Nobody's normal. We're all just trying to cope."
Overall, this is a terrific Australian middle grade read. Nova Weetman absolutely nailed the ending.
Navigating friendships, parents and life in general, Meg and Riley make a lot of discoveries in their last weeks of primary school: everyone has something going on in their life that you can't see. Parents are actually human and have feelings too. The "weird" kids at school just want to be included and accepted like everyone else. Your real friends won't ever make you feel bad for being yourself.
"Nobody's normal. We're all just trying to cope."
Overall, this is a terrific Australian middle grade read. Nova Weetman absolutely nailed the ending.
littlemissstar55's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this.
Full review here: https://tinyurl.com/yyfjnwdz
4/5 stars
Full review here: https://tinyurl.com/yyfjnwdz
4/5 stars
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