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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
The world of the young carer... Affecting, amusing look at one family and their heart-rending story.
I don't think I've ever read a book concentrating on teenage carers before. Its a voice that deserves an ear. Bobby is 17. His younger brother is 14 going on 10, and he is carer for his beloved (single) mum, suffering with a degenerative disorder that leaves her often bedridden and unable to look after herself or her boys.
It's an understandably exhausting life, with school, exams and thoughts about his own needs conflicting with his other duties. He is offered a lifeline in a support group for teenage carers, and decides to attend.
The story takes some upsetting directions, but through it all, Bobby, his brother Danny and best friend Bel continued to hold my sympathy and kept me wryly smiling.
"'Right,' Bel says. 'Get your self off that couch and go get groomed online, or whatever boys your age do.'"
Their mum is a wonderfully warm mother figure, even in her state of confinement within her own bed and body. She's forever caring and sarcastic, she doesn't lose her personality or spirit, making her fight all the more poignant.
I enjoyed the scenes at the carers' support group, lots of very realistic-feeling (and cheesy) activities, bonding and a good interplay between the group, though few of the group are given much depth.
My one qualm with the whole book was the constant reference by characters to refer to each other by name in conversation, in one such conversation Bobby and Bel must have used each other's names a dozen times. Very clunky and unrealistic. I wasn't sure why it was written this way, as it wasn't just these two and their own unique sparring that it occurred between.
A moving, heart-breaking story that will be hard to shake. Teenagers and adults alike will benefit from considering the lot of the teenage carer.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance e-copy.
I don't think I've ever read a book concentrating on teenage carers before. Its a voice that deserves an ear. Bobby is 17. His younger brother is 14 going on 10, and he is carer for his beloved (single) mum, suffering with a degenerative disorder that leaves her often bedridden and unable to look after herself or her boys.
It's an understandably exhausting life, with school, exams and thoughts about his own needs conflicting with his other duties. He is offered a lifeline in a support group for teenage carers, and decides to attend.
The story takes some upsetting directions, but through it all, Bobby, his brother Danny and best friend Bel continued to hold my sympathy and kept me wryly smiling.
"'Right,' Bel says. 'Get your self off that couch and go get groomed online, or whatever boys your age do.'"
Their mum is a wonderfully warm mother figure, even in her state of confinement within her own bed and body. She's forever caring and sarcastic, she doesn't lose her personality or spirit, making her fight all the more poignant.
I enjoyed the scenes at the carers' support group, lots of very realistic-feeling (and cheesy) activities, bonding and a good interplay between the group, though few of the group are given much depth.
My one qualm with the whole book was the constant reference by characters to refer to each other by name in conversation, in one such conversation Bobby and Bel must have used each other's names a dozen times. Very clunky and unrealistic. I wasn't sure why it was written this way, as it wasn't just these two and their own unique sparring that it occurred between.
A moving, heart-breaking story that will be hard to shake. Teenagers and adults alike will benefit from considering the lot of the teenage carer.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance e-copy.
aigigugu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.75
thebooklender's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to the Reading Zone and the publishers for the review copy.
17 year old Bobby Seed has too much on his plate. Any time not spent at school doing A Levels is spent at home looking after his mother, who suffers from MS, and his younger brother Danny, who has his own needs.
When Bobby’s school counsellor suggests he joins a young carers’ support group, he is torn between the desire to have some time away from his responsibilities and the guilt at not being there for his family. He decides to give it a go - with his best friend Bel helping out at home while he’s away.
And so he meets a group of scared and lost teens, hiding their fear behind a wall of cynicism. On top of everything else, Bobby finds himself falling for the group’s American bad boy, Lou - he’s never really had the luxury of time or headspace to even think about romance before.
But then his mother asks him to do something for her, and Bobby Seed is never the same again.
The Weight of a Thousand Feathers was an emotional and powerful read - not surprising given the topic. What was surprising was just how much humour there was in the book. A large part of how Bobby related to his Mum and Bel was through humour - who would have thought that the last line of a book about teen carers and euthanasia would make me laugh out loud?!
Early on I was struck by the realisation that I am of a similar age to Bobby’s mum - same taste in music, same cultural references - which helped crank up the empathy on my part.
17 year old Bobby Seed has too much on his plate. Any time not spent at school doing A Levels is spent at home looking after his mother, who suffers from MS, and his younger brother Danny, who has his own needs.
When Bobby’s school counsellor suggests he joins a young carers’ support group, he is torn between the desire to have some time away from his responsibilities and the guilt at not being there for his family. He decides to give it a go - with his best friend Bel helping out at home while he’s away.
And so he meets a group of scared and lost teens, hiding their fear behind a wall of cynicism. On top of everything else, Bobby finds himself falling for the group’s American bad boy, Lou - he’s never really had the luxury of time or headspace to even think about romance before.
But then his mother asks him to do something for her, and Bobby Seed is never the same again.
The Weight of a Thousand Feathers was an emotional and powerful read - not surprising given the topic. What was surprising was just how much humour there was in the book. A large part of how Bobby related to his Mum and Bel was through humour - who would have thought that the last line of a book about teen carers and euthanasia would make me laugh out loud?!
Early on I was struck by the realisation that I am of a similar age to Bobby’s mum - same taste in music, same cultural references - which helped crank up the empathy on my part.
bethanystone13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Darker and more depressing than I would've liked
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent
mijsfranssen's review against another edition
3.0
3/5✨
This book was an emotional turmoil about a seventeen year old boy who is a carer for his mother who has a terminal illness as well as his brother who has a mental disability. It is a good insight into how this works, the ups, the downs and the responsibility. The writing style was something that I at times appreciated, and at times did not really like. I felt like the book moved a little slow one minute, and then really fast the next. The time line did not always make complete sense. However, the story was really beautiful and the characters were interesting.
This book was an emotional turmoil about a seventeen year old boy who is a carer for his mother who has a terminal illness as well as his brother who has a mental disability. It is a good insight into how this works, the ups, the downs and the responsibility. The writing style was something that I at times appreciated, and at times did not really like. I felt like the book moved a little slow one minute, and then really fast the next. The time line did not always make complete sense. However, the story was really beautiful and the characters were interesting.
janaybrazier's review against another edition
4.0
It's taken me almost a month to finish this book because I found it really difficult to read at times. It’s such an emotional read and there were a couple of occasions (especially nearer the end) that made me feel really panicky and really teary. It’s a brilliantly written book and it’s so unique, I’ve never read anything with a plot like this. The family bonds within this story are truly incredible. I just can’t stop thinking about it. I recommend you read this once it’s released. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are honest and are not influenced by the fact that I was sent this book.
alongreader's review against another edition
5.0
How to describe this book? This beautiful, heartbreaking, terrifying, uplifting book? It's not about issues, although there are plenty; it's not about romance, though there's some of that too; it's not about morals or preaching, though there's plenty of thinking and talking about them. It doesn't fit into any 'box'. But it is fantastic, and I hope it does really, really well. It deserves to.
Receiving an ARC did not alter my review in any way.
Receiving an ARC did not alter my review in any way.
carolineroche's review against another edition
5.0
This book is definitely for your older readers, as it deals with the subject of mercy killing. 16 year old Bobby Seed cares for his terminally ill mother and his brother, Danny, who has special needs. Bobby adores his mother, but as she becomes feebler and less like herself, she asks Bobby to do the impossible .... This deals very sensitively with the life of a young carer, and it will break your hearts.
owls_rainbow's review against another edition
2.0
Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.
This book was interesting and bland at the same time. I loved the relationship between Bobby and his mum - who was absolutely amazing by the way - and Bobby and Danny. The MS stuff was well-written and appeared to be well-researched which was in stark contrast to Danny. It was like "Hey here's my headcase brother who is bad enough to go to a special school but we don't want a diagnosis for him." What was that about?
Bobby's friendship with Bel seemed quite hollow and under-developed and feelings or not how do you not tell your best friend that you're gay? Also the group stuff was very weak and seemed like just an awkward way to meet Lou. I didn't like Lou, he was a manipulative liar who used Bobby.
I hated the ending and how Bobby involved Danny, everything after seemed kind of muddled. How did they handle the authorities, especially with Bobby still being under 18?
For more reviews see: https://owls-rainbow.blogspot.com/
This book was interesting and bland at the same time. I loved the relationship between Bobby and his mum - who was absolutely amazing by the way - and Bobby and Danny. The MS stuff was well-written and appeared to be well-researched which was in stark contrast to Danny. It was like "Hey here's my headcase brother who is bad enough to go to a special school but we don't want a diagnosis for him." What was that about?
Bobby's friendship with Bel seemed quite hollow and under-developed and feelings or not how do you not tell your best friend that you're gay? Also the group stuff was very weak and seemed like just an awkward way to meet Lou. I didn't like Lou, he was a manipulative liar who used Bobby.
I hated the ending and how Bobby involved Danny, everything after seemed kind of muddled. How did they handle the authorities, especially with Bobby still being under 18?
For more reviews see: https://owls-rainbow.blogspot.com/
phie's review against another edition
3.0
2.5⭐️the book had potential but i simply did not bond with the characters and the story
the only character i truly loved was Lou and he deserved better than what the author did with his character
the only character i truly loved was Lou and he deserved better than what the author did with his character