Reviews

A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel

cathyolibrarian's review against another edition

4.0

Hannah is an unreliable narrator with a story to tell. We are given glimpses of truth through a reality that may or may not be real, through the eyes of the self-assured girl who believes for all the world that she does not belong in the institution she has found herself in. Very readable and intriguing from the start.

tatbookshelf's review against another edition

4.0

4.5
A DANGER TO HERSELF AND OTHERS is different than what I normally read, but all the same: mystery needing solved: Was she pushed? Did she fall? + there are twists and turns as Hannah's life is changed (new friend, accident but was it? real or imaginary). This book is tense, and the author does enough to keep the reader intrigued by Hannah's story, rooting for her as she learns to navigate her diagnosis, her friends, etc.
I liked this book, but there were parts that irritated me. There were spots where the information was repeated, and it wasn't entirely necessary to do so. Other than that, A DANGER TO HERSELF AND OTHERS was a relatively fast-paced read with shocking moments that had me engrossed from page one.

ktag's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I actually really enjoyed A Danger to Herself and Others. It kind of threw me for a loop because I wasn’t expecting the last bit of it. But I do have to say I really enjoy a good mental health book that kind of lets you see the perspective of what others might be going through. I do have to say I wish Hannah had better parents. It’s not the reality of things I know but I felt so bad for her and the fact that they treated her like crap all her life. 

kleonard's review against another edition

3.0

A bright but unreliable narrator tells the story of her summer program experience gone bad. Hannah finds herself in a psychiatric hospital after her roommate at a prestigious summer program falls from a window and remains in a coma. But it's all a misunderstanding, Hannah tells the readers, and proceeds to try to convince herself of that as well. The unreliable narrator trope is handled well, and brittle, overachieving Hannah reminds me all too well of someone I know who has similar problems telling reality from perception.

megwilliams573's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.0

maceyhoff3's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dorayanki's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

vjones01's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

carrie1788's review against another edition

1.0

Why did I finish this? I thought this book was worse than Taylor Swift’s song Trouble. I went into this book blind and only knowing the narrator was unreliable. I hated all of it.

ashleygorczyca's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25