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starbuck1210's review against another edition
4.0
This book was provided to me in e-ARC format by the publisher through Edelweiss for review purposes
There are some pretty intense themes in this one including: suicide, depression, homophobia, and child abuse
"I feel something in me, something that feels incomplete. Something that feels unspoken."
I think one of the most important themes in this book is coming into and defining yourself. Learning that because some one labels you something doesn't mean its your full definition. I like that throughout the book Eleanor feels more and more open as she explores herself and what it means to be gay. That there isn't just one set definition. Its far more about who someone is than what they are.
Overall I enjoyed this book and was thankful for the opportunity to read it in advance. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys coming out novels and books where the main character is just figuring out where they fit in the world. We don't always have it all figured out.
There are some pretty intense themes in this one including: suicide, depression, homophobia, and child abuse
"I feel something in me, something that feels incomplete. Something that feels unspoken."
I think one of the most important themes in this book is coming into and defining yourself. Learning that because some one labels you something doesn't mean its your full definition. I like that throughout the book Eleanor feels more and more open as she explores herself and what it means to be gay. That there isn't just one set definition. Its far more about who someone is than what they are.
Overall I enjoyed this book and was thankful for the opportunity to read it in advance. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys coming out novels and books where the main character is just figuring out where they fit in the world. We don't always have it all figured out.
briannareadsbooks's review against another edition
1.0
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I read about 30% and I couldn't continue because it was just too boring for me, and I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. It was honestly such a shame because everything about this book seems right up my alley, from the queer protagonist to the riot grrrl movement of the 90s. But I just felt so disconnected and... bored.
This may seem like a minor thing, but I confused almost all the characters. Their names didn't stand out to me and I didn't particularly like any of them so I constantly confused them. I'm also very picky with novels that are in the form of letters, and I tend not to appreciate them that much.
There's just something about a letter-writing where the writer ponders on certain subjects and makes themselves seem stupid.
This book was a bit disappointing. Maybe at another time, I'll give it another try, but it is definitely not for me right now.
I read about 30% and I couldn't continue because it was just too boring for me, and I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. It was honestly such a shame because everything about this book seems right up my alley, from the queer protagonist to the riot grrrl movement of the 90s. But I just felt so disconnected and... bored.
This may seem like a minor thing, but I confused almost all the characters. Their names didn't stand out to me and I didn't particularly like any of them so I constantly confused them. I'm also very picky with novels that are in the form of letters, and I tend not to appreciate them that much.
There's just something about a letter-writing where the writer ponders on certain subjects and makes themselves seem stupid.
This book was a bit disappointing. Maybe at another time, I'll give it another try, but it is definitely not for me right now.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Everything Grows by Aimee Herman is an introspective young adult novel.
Eleanor Fromme's reaction to the news that her classmate who bullied her, James, committed suicide leads to unforeseen consequences. Her best friend Dara's shocking comments serve as a catalyst to a realization that Eleanor has struggled to articulate for quite some time. In the midst of this uncertainty, she is also still grappling with her mother Shirley's suicide attempt and Eleanor's fears that she will try again. Her journey to understand herself is viewed through a class assignment in which Eleanor writes diary format letters to James. By the end of the assignment, Eleanor has a better understanding of herself, yet there are still layers she has yet to explore.
Eleanor's voice is quite engaging as she ponders the shifts within herself. Her hurt at Dara's rejection is tempered by her unexpected friendship with new student Aggie. Her lingering concerns about her mother's mental health issues are realistically depicted and rather poignant. With her oldest sister Greta off at college, Shirley's best friend, Flor, provides Eleanor with a steadying influence and someone to confide in as she becomes more comfortable with who she is. Meeting James's mother, Helaine, gives Eleanor access to James's diary where she learns she and her bully have more in common than she thought possible.
Everything Grows is a thought-provoking young adult novel that is insightful and reflective. The characters are well-developed and likable. Aimee Herman deftly handles sensitive subject matter in a forthright and realistic manner. The novel ends on a positive note, but Eleanor's journey is not yet complete since she is still wrestling with other parts of her sexual identity.
Eleanor Fromme's reaction to the news that her classmate who bullied her, James, committed suicide leads to unforeseen consequences. Her best friend Dara's shocking comments serve as a catalyst to a realization that Eleanor has struggled to articulate for quite some time. In the midst of this uncertainty, she is also still grappling with her mother Shirley's suicide attempt and Eleanor's fears that she will try again. Her journey to understand herself is viewed through a class assignment in which Eleanor writes diary format letters to James. By the end of the assignment, Eleanor has a better understanding of herself, yet there are still layers she has yet to explore.
Eleanor's voice is quite engaging as she ponders the shifts within herself. Her hurt at Dara's rejection is tempered by her unexpected friendship with new student Aggie. Her lingering concerns about her mother's mental health issues are realistically depicted and rather poignant. With her oldest sister Greta off at college, Shirley's best friend, Flor, provides Eleanor with a steadying influence and someone to confide in as she becomes more comfortable with who she is. Meeting James's mother, Helaine, gives Eleanor access to James's diary where she learns she and her bully have more in common than she thought possible.
Everything Grows is a thought-provoking young adult novel that is insightful and reflective. The characters are well-developed and likable. Aimee Herman deftly handles sensitive subject matter in a forthright and realistic manner. The novel ends on a positive note, but Eleanor's journey is not yet complete since she is still wrestling with other parts of her sexual identity.
impybelle's review against another edition
4.0
There's a lot to love about Everything Grows. Aggie is worthy of all the attention paid to her over the course of the book. El is pretty spiffy most of the time (not everyone could forgive and actually legitimately mourn their bully, even after finding out the reasons behind them being a bully), Helaine is wonderful, and I want nothing but the best for Flor.
Thing is, don't go into this thinking that this is a story just about Eleanor coping with the death of her bully because it's so much more than that to the point that it feels weird having that be the thing that drew me in and made me want to read the book. This is not that book. It's definitely about Eleanor finding herself and dealing with the aftermath of her mother's suicide attempt, as well as trying to help the people left behind when James (the bully) kills himself.
I like that El tries to make these grand gestures (tracking down the correct Brian) only to find out that reality doesn't conform to the Hollywood ideal. I like that El is at a loss to describe how she feels about her body and the disconnect between what's physically happening and what she'd prefer.
I don't really get the rush of nostalgia that other people have mentioned. Sure, lots of touchstones are thrown about (Nirvana, Milli Vanilli) but it's not until Eleanor mentions her Walkman that I remembered that the year is supposed to be 1993. And even then, it doesn't really feel at all 90's-ish til Reigh shows up and I'm not sure I can pinpoint why. It vexes me though, so I'm throwing it out there.
I will say that Aggie's letter to Kurt at the end is wonderful and probably worth the price of admission alone. If it's not, then Eler's joy in wanting to keep going, to find the words and people and things that will make her life be better definitely is.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.
Thing is, don't go into this thinking that this is a story just about Eleanor coping with the death of her bully because it's so much more than that to the point that it feels weird having that be the thing that drew me in and made me want to read the book. This is not that book. It's definitely about Eleanor finding herself and dealing with the aftermath of her mother's suicide attempt, as well as trying to help the people left behind when James (the bully) kills himself.
I like that El tries to make these grand gestures (tracking down the correct Brian) only to find out that reality doesn't conform to the Hollywood ideal. I like that El is at a loss to describe how she feels about her body and the disconnect between what's physically happening and what she'd prefer.
I don't really get the rush of nostalgia that other people have mentioned. Sure, lots of touchstones are thrown about (Nirvana, Milli Vanilli) but it's not until Eleanor mentions her Walkman that I remembered that the year is supposed to be 1993. And even then, it doesn't really feel at all 90's-ish til Reigh shows up and I'm not sure I can pinpoint why. It vexes me though, so I'm throwing it out there.
I will say that Aggie's letter to Kurt at the end is wonderful and probably worth the price of admission alone. If it's not, then Eler's joy in wanting to keep going, to find the words and people and things that will make her life be better definitely is.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.
elliswylder's review against another edition
4.0
Rich and slow moving, a very real look at figuring out what queer means in 1993
befrazzledenby's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Transphobia
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
It's 1993, and Eleanor* is dealing with a lot: less than a year has passed since her mother attempted suicide, and Eleanor is still afraid she'll try again; Eleanor's pretty sure she's into girls, not boys, and her best friend can't deal with that information; she hasn't gotten her period yet and would prefer to keep it that way; her body is changing in ways she's not sure are right for her; and a boy in her class—one who was once mean to her—has just committed suicide. Enter an assignment for an English class: write to someone who won't receive your letter. Eleanor picks the boy who just died.
Now...I stand by my earlier conclusion that authors writing epistolary novels, especially those set in times before email and text messaging, should be required to write the first drafts by hand. Eleanor writes some doozies here, not just in terms of length but in terms of content (can you imagine writing a letter to a guy you didn't like—even if it's really a journal and there's no way he'll ever see it—in which you describe the first time you masturbate, etc.?), and I think I'd have preferred the letters to be a smaller part of the story, interspersed with more standard narration. This is partly a me problem, of course; I always want to like epistolary novels more than I do.
I'm curious about the choice to set this in 1993 rather than make it contemporary. I suspect (though of course this is just a guess!) it has something to do with the timeline of the author's own upbringing, and it does change things in terms of what is and isn't the norm in Eleanor's world. There's also so much more access to information in the current day that Eleanor doesn't have access to. That's not a problem in and of itself, of course! I forget sometimes how much has changed, even since I was Eleanor's age (which would have been...2003). But...I don't know how to put this. There's a very clear attempt to be a resource here (so many conversations and questions and moments where Eleanor learns something or figures something out), but in some ways it felt like it would be most effective as a resource for, you know, teenagers wondering about sexuality and gender in 1993. (I'm also past the target age range for this, so here's hoping that it's proved useful to teens reading it.)
*
Now...I stand by my earlier conclusion that authors writing epistolary novels, especially those set in times before email and text messaging, should be required to write the first drafts by hand. Eleanor writes some doozies here, not just in terms of length but in terms of content (can you imagine writing a letter to a guy you didn't like—even if it's really a journal and there's no way he'll ever see it—in which you describe the first time you masturbate, etc.?), and I think I'd have preferred the letters to be a smaller part of the story, interspersed with more standard narration. This is partly a me problem, of course; I always want to like epistolary novels more than I do.
I'm curious about the choice to set this in 1993 rather than make it contemporary. I suspect (though of course this is just a guess!) it has something to do with the timeline of the author's own upbringing, and it does change things in terms of what is and isn't the norm in Eleanor's world. There's also so much more access to information in the current day that Eleanor doesn't have access to. That's not a problem in and of itself, of course! I forget sometimes how much has changed, even since I was Eleanor's age (which would have been...2003). But...I don't know how to put this. There's a very clear attempt to be a resource here (so many conversations and questions and moments where Eleanor learns something or figures something out), but in some ways it felt like it would be most effective as a resource for, you know, teenagers wondering about sexuality and gender in 1993. (I'm also past the target age range for this, so here's hoping that it's proved useful to teens reading it.)
*
Spoiler
It's implied as the book goes on that Eleanor/Eler may eventually make a more permanent name and/or pronoun adjustment, but that's still a work in progress by the end of the book, so I'm sticking with 'Eleanor' and 'she/her' pronouns here.jkjoy_books's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story of with many different issues that Eleanor faces as a teenager. She faces puberty with no self esteem, her mother has just tried to commit suicide. And now her bully has committed suicide. El's English teacher comes up with the idea for each student to start a journal of letters to someone expressing their thoughts and feelings as a means to cope with his suicide. El chooses to write hers to her bully. I want to thank the publisher through LibraryThing for the ARC to review.
lenny3's review against another edition
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? No
3.5