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willwork4airfare's review against another edition
5.0
This book was completely wonderful. A little melodramatic in some parts, a little whiny in some parts, but overall it was a really great description of bipolar disorder and what it's like to love someone who has it.
Izzy and Connor met at a summer camp where they were counselors and keep in touch throughout the school year. Told entirely through emails, you see firsthand the honest love Connor has for Izzy while she battles with her own emotions and moods every day.
This was another one of those books that made me cry about halfway through and I didn't stop until it was over. Izzy could get annoying and frustrating and sometimes I just wanted to shake her and tell her to pull it together and treat Connor better, but he just goes on loving her and trying to do the best by her. I love her actions and her self-awareness. I love the way she describes her feelings and how scattered her thoughts are.
I love the way their emails are written and how they tell you so much about their characters while still leaving so many questions for you to discover later in the story.
I love this book. I love Amy Reed.
Izzy and Connor met at a summer camp where they were counselors and keep in touch throughout the school year. Told entirely through emails, you see firsthand the honest love Connor has for Izzy while she battles with her own emotions and moods every day.
This was another one of those books that made me cry about halfway through and I didn't stop until it was over. Izzy could get annoying and frustrating and sometimes I just wanted to shake her and tell her to pull it together and treat Connor better, but he just goes on loving her and trying to do the best by her. I love her actions and her self-awareness. I love the way she describes her feelings and how scattered her thoughts are.
I love the way their emails are written and how they tell you so much about their characters while still leaving so many questions for you to discover later in the story.
I love this book. I love Amy Reed.
heather4994's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, so if you're at all familiar with my blog, you'll know this book must have been hand picked for me!
Bipolar disease runs in my family with three out of the four of us having it in my immediate family. I could relate to Izzy so well, Amy Reed could have interviewed me. I was always "too sensitive" or "everyone else feels that way too." When you've never known normal, how do you know you're sick?
My first impression of this book was that it was a great snapshot into showing the highs and lows of an undiagnosed or unmedicated case of Bipolar Disease. Yes, it's a disease the same as heart disease or diabetes, and it affects the biggest organ of all in our bodies. That's why it shouldn't be talked about secretly or shamefully. It should be out there and everyone should be talking about the diseases that affect this major organ. The one that controls everything and the one that, when it is affected by a disease, does the most damage.
There can be no doubt about it as you read Crazy that Izzy is definitely different. She's supposed to be brilliant (according to what Connor says) and a fantastic artist (again according to what Connor says). The story is told through a series of emails back and forth between Connor and Iz or Izzy depending on how she wants to sign it. Sometimes she punishes him for days not writing back so that he backs off from whatever he was trying to assert and apologizes. This is the manipulation that comes with Bipolar Disease. There are lots of little tricks that can make you hate someone with Bipolar Disorder, but they are also the same ones that can make you love them. As you read the emails, you sense Izzy's depression and utter loneliness. She expresses herself very well. But there got to a point where I wasn't sure if someone in her state could so beautifully express herself. Sometimes the writing, which was extremely lyrical and almost over my head at times, seemed too intelligent for two high school seniors to be writing.
I get that Izzy had Bipolar Disorder and sometimes people with more creativity are supposedly among those that have the disease. So she should have been able to express herself in unique ways, but even when she was manic, her thoughts were clear enough but almost too intelligent. It felt like two poet laureates were expressing themselves instead of two high school students with above average intelligence.
But Izzy's behaviors were right in line with textbook Bipolar Disorder. She hit rock bottom and then bam hit a high and couldn't sleep for days for all the ideas in her head, ideas she never finished and that weren't a good idea. She was promiscuous and participated in dangerous behaviors and then she came crashing down to the inevitable low. And Connor, Connor from summer camp who helped this beautiful girl that he fell in love with and didn't know was going to take him on this roller coaster ride, is with her every step of the way as she pours out how she's feeling, what she's done, what she regrets and everything in between. Ironically, Connor's mother is a therapist, but he wont' betray Izzy by talking to her about what Izzy is going through unless Izzy says it's okay and she does not say it's okay.
I'm glad Amy Reed showed what it's like to be inside the mind of someone who goes through this scary ride and doesn't understand what's going on. It's a desperate, lonely, terrifying journey especially if no one is there to care or get you help. I hope that teens will read this and if they see themselves in it, will get help. I wish there had been resources listed in the back for teens to go for help. Mental illness is still looked upon shamefully and is a disease that doesn't get enough discussion. I did read the ARC so maybe there are resources listed in the finished book.
Reed gets it right for showing Izzy as a victim of her illness, not some delinquent juvenile that can't control herself. Because the truth is, Bipolar Disease is a chemical imbalance in the brain. That's the simple way to put it and Izzy says it herself. But she's also deflated by the fact that the first medication may not work and it may take 4-6 weeks to know if it is working and if it isn't working there's no guarantee that the next medication will work. It's just a guessing game until you hit the right combination. That's the complicated part. And the medication can make you feel like a zombie until you get used to it, or for a long time after.
This is a great book for teens and anyone that enjoys Contemporary YA. There is some language and sex mentioned in graphic terms so use your judgement. It's part of the journey Izzy goes through. I think parents might learn a lot too if their teen suffers from Bipolar Disease/Disorder.
Bipolar disease runs in my family with three out of the four of us having it in my immediate family. I could relate to Izzy so well, Amy Reed could have interviewed me. I was always "too sensitive" or "everyone else feels that way too." When you've never known normal, how do you know you're sick?
My first impression of this book was that it was a great snapshot into showing the highs and lows of an undiagnosed or unmedicated case of Bipolar Disease. Yes, it's a disease the same as heart disease or diabetes, and it affects the biggest organ of all in our bodies. That's why it shouldn't be talked about secretly or shamefully. It should be out there and everyone should be talking about the diseases that affect this major organ. The one that controls everything and the one that, when it is affected by a disease, does the most damage.
There can be no doubt about it as you read Crazy that Izzy is definitely different. She's supposed to be brilliant (according to what Connor says) and a fantastic artist (again according to what Connor says). The story is told through a series of emails back and forth between Connor and Iz or Izzy depending on how she wants to sign it. Sometimes she punishes him for days not writing back so that he backs off from whatever he was trying to assert and apologizes. This is the manipulation that comes with Bipolar Disease. There are lots of little tricks that can make you hate someone with Bipolar Disorder, but they are also the same ones that can make you love them. As you read the emails, you sense Izzy's depression and utter loneliness. She expresses herself very well. But there got to a point where I wasn't sure if someone in her state could so beautifully express herself. Sometimes the writing, which was extremely lyrical and almost over my head at times, seemed too intelligent for two high school seniors to be writing.
I get that Izzy had Bipolar Disorder and sometimes people with more creativity are supposedly among those that have the disease. So she should have been able to express herself in unique ways, but even when she was manic, her thoughts were clear enough but almost too intelligent. It felt like two poet laureates were expressing themselves instead of two high school students with above average intelligence.
But Izzy's behaviors were right in line with textbook Bipolar Disorder. She hit rock bottom and then bam hit a high and couldn't sleep for days for all the ideas in her head, ideas she never finished and that weren't a good idea. She was promiscuous and participated in dangerous behaviors and then she came crashing down to the inevitable low. And Connor, Connor from summer camp who helped this beautiful girl that he fell in love with and didn't know was going to take him on this roller coaster ride, is with her every step of the way as she pours out how she's feeling, what she's done, what she regrets and everything in between. Ironically, Connor's mother is a therapist, but he wont' betray Izzy by talking to her about what Izzy is going through unless Izzy says it's okay and she does not say it's okay.
I'm glad Amy Reed showed what it's like to be inside the mind of someone who goes through this scary ride and doesn't understand what's going on. It's a desperate, lonely, terrifying journey especially if no one is there to care or get you help. I hope that teens will read this and if they see themselves in it, will get help. I wish there had been resources listed in the back for teens to go for help. Mental illness is still looked upon shamefully and is a disease that doesn't get enough discussion. I did read the ARC so maybe there are resources listed in the finished book.
Reed gets it right for showing Izzy as a victim of her illness, not some delinquent juvenile that can't control herself. Because the truth is, Bipolar Disease is a chemical imbalance in the brain. That's the simple way to put it and Izzy says it herself. But she's also deflated by the fact that the first medication may not work and it may take 4-6 weeks to know if it is working and if it isn't working there's no guarantee that the next medication will work. It's just a guessing game until you hit the right combination. That's the complicated part. And the medication can make you feel like a zombie until you get used to it, or for a long time after.
This is a great book for teens and anyone that enjoys Contemporary YA. There is some language and sex mentioned in graphic terms so use your judgement. It's part of the journey Izzy goes through. I think parents might learn a lot too if their teen suffers from Bipolar Disease/Disorder.
ariatari's review against another edition
5.0
Oh man this book was good. Izzy was quite a relatable character surprisingly. Reed is one of my favorite authors who write books dealing with mental illness. I also have another one of her books, entitled "Clean". I also enjoyed that one to pieces. Will definitely be one of the books I reread time and time again!
pikasqueaks's review against another edition
5.0
This book did a number on me. So it's about Connor and it's about Izzy and it's about this THING between the two of them. It's about mutual destruction, budding love, caring, misunderstandings, understanding, mental illness, worry, and hope.
And when you read a book that is, essentially YourLife.txt, it becomes hard to objectively review it. There are a number of passages in this book that are put so perfectly, that hit so close, so hard, that I had to put the book in my freezer for a while.
Seeing yourself in the pages of a book, especially one about two teenagers, can be painful.
It's hard to find a YA book incorporating mental illness that doesn't demonize it. Crazy does not romanticize it, but it doesn't demonize it, either. If you're familiar with books about mental illness (specifically bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, etc), you know that most of what's out there paints each person who manages it in the worst lights manageable. While Izzy's condition blows up and people will likely have a hard time understanding why she does things, it's real. It's important to remember that it's just one of the ways that things can go, though. It's not as though you're seeing it from the outside, either. These are Izzy's thoughts, and sometimes you need something between you. That's where Connor comes in.
The interesting part, and what made this stand out so far is that there is a lot to fault Connor for in the book as well. He knows things are spiraling out of control, and he doesn't understand it. He tries to understand it -- which is amazing, bless this fictional boy -- but he doesn't establish boundaries, and while he's observational, and he misses what's really going on. His addiction to Izzy blinds him from seeing what could potentially hurt him, and hurt her. The fact that there are two not-so-innocent parties in the book manipulating one another is a breath of the freshest air.
There are some unfortunate stereotypes that are used in the book -- that Izzy is an artist is one. Oh, there's truth behind that stereotype, but it doesn't make it any less disappointing to see it when it's used. However, like with everything she does, Amy Reed handles the subject with strength. I'm starting to think there's no subject the author can't touch without turning it into gold.
I will hand Crazy to my friends, and to my loved ones -- and one day, to someone in specific, and have them read it. It's one that shouldn't be missed.
And when you read a book that is, essentially YourLife.txt, it becomes hard to objectively review it. There are a number of passages in this book that are put so perfectly, that hit so close, so hard, that I had to put the book in my freezer for a while.
Seeing yourself in the pages of a book, especially one about two teenagers, can be painful.
It's hard to find a YA book incorporating mental illness that doesn't demonize it. Crazy does not romanticize it, but it doesn't demonize it, either. If you're familiar with books about mental illness (specifically bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, etc), you know that most of what's out there paints each person who manages it in the worst lights manageable. While Izzy's condition blows up and people will likely have a hard time understanding why she does things, it's real. It's important to remember that it's just one of the ways that things can go, though. It's not as though you're seeing it from the outside, either. These are Izzy's thoughts, and sometimes you need something between you. That's where Connor comes in.
The interesting part, and what made this stand out so far is that there is a lot to fault Connor for in the book as well. He knows things are spiraling out of control, and he doesn't understand it. He tries to understand it -- which is amazing, bless this fictional boy -- but he doesn't establish boundaries, and while he's observational, and he misses what's really going on. His addiction to Izzy blinds him from seeing what could potentially hurt him, and hurt her. The fact that there are two not-so-innocent parties in the book manipulating one another is a breath of the freshest air.
There are some unfortunate stereotypes that are used in the book -- that Izzy is an artist is one. Oh, there's truth behind that stereotype, but it doesn't make it any less disappointing to see it when it's used. However, like with everything she does, Amy Reed handles the subject with strength. I'm starting to think there's no subject the author can't touch without turning it into gold.
I will hand Crazy to my friends, and to my loved ones -- and one day, to someone in specific, and have them read it. It's one that shouldn't be missed.
okay_lis's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved how the whole book was written in email back and forth between Conner and Isabel. I can strongly empathize with Iz and Connor was just so genuinely caring for her regardless. It was really brave of him to help her in the way he did, I think most people would have walked away the second they suspected any kind of problem.
This whole book was really endearing for me. I R E A L L Y enjoyed it over all. Two characters I really liked from the get go and that didn't absolutely drive me insane at any time in point throughout the story.
This whole book was really endearing for me. I R E A L L Y enjoyed it over all. Two characters I really liked from the get go and that didn't absolutely drive me insane at any time in point throughout the story.
cassidylynnereads's review against another edition
3.0
This was actually a reread from a while ago. I'm not quite sure when I first read it, but it's been at least two years and I decided to revisit it since it's a quick read and I remembered enjoying it before. I don't know if it's my reading slump still lurking or just that my opinion has changed so much, but upon rereading this book I found that it was average. It wasn't a terrible read (side note: my rating would probably be a 3.5/5 if goodreads allowed half stars) but it's just not my cup of tea. One major factor that made me dislike this book was the constant mention of sex. Perhaps it's the fact that I am now confident in my asexuality and strong distaste for sex, but this time around I found some parts more uncomfortable than humurous or artistic like they were supposed to be. Like many others have said in their reviews, this book takes place mostly through emails, and while many people thought that took away from the book I found that I actually enjoyed it this way. Though the text wasn't flowery and descriptive because of this, I think it gave a clear view of how quickly Isabelle jumped from one emotion to the next, and it overall added to the idea that she's very flighty. I think the book did a great job of portraying mental illness and how difficult it can be to love someone suffering from problems that you can't really understand. The only major critique I have is that some of parts of the book felt like they weren't authentic. The way Connor and Izzy talk about teenage angst felt like they were trying too hard to be relatable and ironic. I think the only time teenagers actually joke about angst is when they're discussing the emo or scene crowd. And again it may just be my personal distaste, but I thought there was an awful lot of awkward sex talks for two teenagers who are just friends and only met at camp (especially when one is obviously in love with the other). Maybe I just wasn't in the right crowd, but I don't think teenagers are such huge sex fiends like this book makes them out to be, but maybe I'm wrong. I will say the best thing about this book that I think made me love it so much the first time I read it was the ending. I think things wrapped up nicely and the actual scenes from the real world were what the majority of this book was missing. Again, not a terrible read, but just an average read. I think I may end up reselling this book because I don't see myself reading it again in the future.