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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
djc16's review against another edition
5.0
Bobby Seed has the weight of being an almost full-time carer to his debilitated Mum, and essentially carer to his brother Danny.
He’s got so much going on with caring for his family that we, as the readers, and Bobby himself barely know who he is. He isn’t sure what he likes to do apart from relax with his friend Bel. He constantly dodges the question of what he wants to be, dismissing it with a witty reply rather than confiding in anyone.
The narrative shifts between two very different spheres of Bobby’s life, two that he likes at first to keep apart. One is the world where he is his mother’s primary carer, the other is his involvement in a social carer’s group that he joins with recommendation from his school.
In this new setting for Bobby, along comes a bunch of young people with similar experiences, but with little respect for the format of group that has to play games and talk about themselves. Lou emerges as a friend for Bobby, another teenage carer with a mysterious air and a hidden past. Bobby finds himself drawn to the other boy, as someone to lean on and confide in.
While the story of a young carer might not seem like the most obvious of choices for a YA novel, Brian Conaghan said recently in a literature festival event in Dublin that he was motivated and interested to write about a character on the margins of society.
As always, Brian Conaghan deals in biting and casual dialogue to develop his characters. Bobby’s dynamics with the small cast of characters is carefully crafted and his relationships with Lou, Bel and his Mum all have their own nuances. There’s a lot of humour throughout, dark and sometimes caustic, but usually well intentioned, especially between Bobby and Mum, sniping yet full of love.
In Bobby Seed and in this story, the author has created and heartbreaking and tough to read narrative, but one that makes you feel for the characters and feels grounded in very true to life situations. Highly recommended.
He’s got so much going on with caring for his family that we, as the readers, and Bobby himself barely know who he is. He isn’t sure what he likes to do apart from relax with his friend Bel. He constantly dodges the question of what he wants to be, dismissing it with a witty reply rather than confiding in anyone.
The narrative shifts between two very different spheres of Bobby’s life, two that he likes at first to keep apart. One is the world where he is his mother’s primary carer, the other is his involvement in a social carer’s group that he joins with recommendation from his school.
In this new setting for Bobby, along comes a bunch of young people with similar experiences, but with little respect for the format of group that has to play games and talk about themselves. Lou emerges as a friend for Bobby, another teenage carer with a mysterious air and a hidden past. Bobby finds himself drawn to the other boy, as someone to lean on and confide in.
While the story of a young carer might not seem like the most obvious of choices for a YA novel, Brian Conaghan said recently in a literature festival event in Dublin that he was motivated and interested to write about a character on the margins of society.
As always, Brian Conaghan deals in biting and casual dialogue to develop his characters. Bobby’s dynamics with the small cast of characters is carefully crafted and his relationships with Lou, Bel and his Mum all have their own nuances. There’s a lot of humour throughout, dark and sometimes caustic, but usually well intentioned, especially between Bobby and Mum, sniping yet full of love.
In Bobby Seed and in this story, the author has created and heartbreaking and tough to read narrative, but one that makes you feel for the characters and feels grounded in very true to life situations. Highly recommended.
brooke_review's review
4.0
What would you do if your mother asked you to help her die? That’s just one of the struggles sixteen-year-old Bobby Seed faces in Brian Conaghan’s new book, The Weight of a Thousand Feathers. This YA coming-of-age novel explores the themes of young caregivers, incurable illness, teenage sexuality, and single parent families.
Bobby’s mom has multiple sclerosis. Bobby is trying to juggle high school, look out for his younger brother, and care for his mom. Taking on the family responsibility just comes naturally to Bobby, but it’s not something he likes to talk about. So when a school counselor suggests Bobby join a local young caregivers support group, Poztive, he’s hesitant. At first he has trouble opening up to this group of teens experiencing situations similar to his, but he becomes comfortable with the group after awhile and begins to find his place.
Bobby also finds his eyes landing on Poztive’s resident rebel, Lou. Lou talks like an American, throwing around words like y’all, cool, and damn. He drives a vintage Vespa and has a laidback attitude about being his mom’s caregiver and life in general. In other words, he is everything Bobby isn’t. As Bobby and Lou develop a friendship, beginning with Lou giving Bobby rides to Poztive on the back of his Vespa, Bobby hopes for something more, but he doesn’t know how to make that happen. Not long after, however, Bobby’s mom asks for his help in ending her life, and his whole world changes.
The Weight of a Thousand Feathers is haunting and poetic (quite literally - Bobby tries his hand at poetry throughout the novel, and is oftentimes quite good.) This book’s deep moral conundrum - would you assist in someone’s suicide, or even further, kill them solely on your own - will have readers pondering what they would do if ever similarly tasked with caring for an ill family member or friend on the brink of losing the very essence of who they are. Conaghan delves deep into Bobby’s psyche, exploring how a sixteen-year-old boy juggles living as a teen by day - going to school, chatting with friends, crushing on cute guys - and as an adult by night - taking care of his practically immobile mother, as well as his brother with special needs. Conaghan’s writing is heart-wrenching, and readers will be laughing alongside Bobby and his mom on one page, and crying with them on the next. Have lots of tissues ready because this one takes you in directions you weren’t expecting!
Thanks to NetGalley & Bloomsbury YA for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Bobby’s mom has multiple sclerosis. Bobby is trying to juggle high school, look out for his younger brother, and care for his mom. Taking on the family responsibility just comes naturally to Bobby, but it’s not something he likes to talk about. So when a school counselor suggests Bobby join a local young caregivers support group, Poztive, he’s hesitant. At first he has trouble opening up to this group of teens experiencing situations similar to his, but he becomes comfortable with the group after awhile and begins to find his place.
Bobby also finds his eyes landing on Poztive’s resident rebel, Lou. Lou talks like an American, throwing around words like y’all, cool, and damn. He drives a vintage Vespa and has a laidback attitude about being his mom’s caregiver and life in general. In other words, he is everything Bobby isn’t. As Bobby and Lou develop a friendship, beginning with Lou giving Bobby rides to Poztive on the back of his Vespa, Bobby hopes for something more, but he doesn’t know how to make that happen. Not long after, however, Bobby’s mom asks for his help in ending her life, and his whole world changes.
The Weight of a Thousand Feathers is haunting and poetic (quite literally - Bobby tries his hand at poetry throughout the novel, and is oftentimes quite good.) This book’s deep moral conundrum - would you assist in someone’s suicide, or even further, kill them solely on your own - will have readers pondering what they would do if ever similarly tasked with caring for an ill family member or friend on the brink of losing the very essence of who they are. Conaghan delves deep into Bobby’s psyche, exploring how a sixteen-year-old boy juggles living as a teen by day - going to school, chatting with friends, crushing on cute guys - and as an adult by night - taking care of his practically immobile mother, as well as his brother with special needs. Conaghan’s writing is heart-wrenching, and readers will be laughing alongside Bobby and his mom on one page, and crying with them on the next. Have lots of tissues ready because this one takes you in directions you weren’t expecting!
Thanks to NetGalley & Bloomsbury YA for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
caitlin_luvs_books's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
livpeters_x's review against another edition
5.0
Brian conaghan is truly a legendary writer, this book made me laugh, cry, smile and everything else in between. Bobby seed will forever own a place in my heart
rome_'s review
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
minibooknook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
juliette_d_03's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
always_need_more_books's review against another edition
5.0
Bobby Seed is a 17-year-old boy who has the enormous burden of being the carer for his mum who has MS. We join his life as she is starting to get much worse and is essentially bed bound. Bobby has to feed her, wash her, help her to the toilet, try to sooth her pain and look after the house, all while trying to lead a normal teenage life and go to school.
He also cares for his 14-year-old brother Danny, who has learning difficulties. He doesn’t have many friends or do the normal teenage stuff boys do – all his time is taken up being the lynchpin that keeps his family together.
His school refers him to a young carers support group, Poztive, where Bobby meet Lou, an American boy whom he is immediately attracted to.
Then as his mum worsens she asks Bobby to give her the ultimate gift, to end her life for her.
I’d really been looking forward to reading this after hearing a friend gush about it on Twitter, and it didn’t disappoint. This is an amazing book – Conaghan writes convincingly as a 17-year-old boy – Bobby is a touching character. There is no sense of him ever complaining about his role (which would be completely understandable if he did!) but we do hear how difficult it is for him, especially knowing how it will get harder before she eventually dies. He hates her suffering and obviously loves her dearly. The pressure on him is immense and he has no one to share it with (except his friend Bel). Although this could be a depressing book the black humour between Bobby and his mum helps to keep the tone a bit lighter.
The topics of a gay awakening and of assisted suicide are handled with sensitivity. The book conveys how devastating the decision to carry out such an act for a loved one is.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending a copy my way.
He also cares for his 14-year-old brother Danny, who has learning difficulties. He doesn’t have many friends or do the normal teenage stuff boys do – all his time is taken up being the lynchpin that keeps his family together.
His school refers him to a young carers support group, Poztive, where Bobby meet Lou, an American boy whom he is immediately attracted to.
Then as his mum worsens she asks Bobby to give her the ultimate gift, to end her life for her.
I’d really been looking forward to reading this after hearing a friend gush about it on Twitter, and it didn’t disappoint. This is an amazing book – Conaghan writes convincingly as a 17-year-old boy – Bobby is a touching character. There is no sense of him ever complaining about his role (which would be completely understandable if he did!) but we do hear how difficult it is for him, especially knowing how it will get harder before she eventually dies. He hates her suffering and obviously loves her dearly. The pressure on him is immense and he has no one to share it with (except his friend Bel). Although this could be a depressing book the black humour between Bobby and his mum helps to keep the tone a bit lighter.
The topics of a gay awakening and of assisted suicide are handled with sensitivity. The book conveys how devastating the decision to carry out such an act for a loved one is.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending a copy my way.