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imstephtacular's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Ableism, Grief, Abandonment, and Bullying
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Homophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
story_sanctuary's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite things about HURRICANE SEASON is the evolution of Fig's relationship with her dad. At the beginning she really idolizes him and feels super defensive of him, even when he's doing things that make her life a lot harder. She blames their problems on her teacher who called social services. Or on hurricane season for drawing her dad to the shoreline during its dangerous storms.
As Fig's dad's behavior deteriorates and starts to affect her relationships at school, she grows to resent him and his mental health problems. She feels guilty and frustrated at herself, and eventually frustrated with her dad when he's not able to do things with her that she needs, like going to an art exhibit that's important to her, or going to her art show at school.
Even as their relationship frays, Fig and her dad continue to share rituals that bond them. I loved their exchange: "I love you." "Double it." "Love you, love you."
And in the midst of it all, a miracle happens. A new person joins their family, and as so often happens when a situation is out of control, it's that person who helps everyone realize how untenable things have become. I liked this catalyst character in the story, too, though at times he seemed almost too perfect.
I loved the way HURRICANE SEASON used details about Van Gogh's life and his work to frame what was happening with Fig's dad and even Fig herself.
Also worthy of note: this is a medication-positive story. Fig's dad eventually begins taking medication to regulate his mental health, and while the solution isn't perfect-- the story shows some difficulty getting dosage and prescriptions right for him-- it's clear that it makes a positive difference in all of their lives.
Readers who enjoyed THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTOPUS by Ann Braden or NEST by Esther Ehrlich need to put HURRICANE SEASON on their reading lists.
As Fig's dad's behavior deteriorates and starts to affect her relationships at school, she grows to resent him and his mental health problems. She feels guilty and frustrated at herself, and eventually frustrated with her dad when he's not able to do things with her that she needs, like going to an art exhibit that's important to her, or going to her art show at school.
Even as their relationship frays, Fig and her dad continue to share rituals that bond them. I loved their exchange: "I love you." "Double it." "Love you, love you."
And in the midst of it all, a miracle happens. A new person joins their family, and as so often happens when a situation is out of control, it's that person who helps everyone realize how untenable things have become. I liked this catalyst character in the story, too, though at times he seemed almost too perfect.
I loved the way HURRICANE SEASON used details about Van Gogh's life and his work to frame what was happening with Fig's dad and even Fig herself.
Also worthy of note: this is a medication-positive story. Fig's dad eventually begins taking medication to regulate his mental health, and while the solution isn't perfect-- the story shows some difficulty getting dosage and prescriptions right for him-- it's clear that it makes a positive difference in all of their lives.
Readers who enjoyed THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTOPUS by Ann Braden or NEST by Esther Ehrlich need to put HURRICANE SEASON on their reading lists.
rlwertheimer's review against another edition
5.0
So impressed with this book! The author is spot on with the emotions of kids and adults, the complexities of dealing with mental illness, the reality of middle school friendships and crushes, the layers of identity and coming out. Will recommend to younger (and older) middle schoolers looking for LGBTQ+ reads. Audiobook narration is great. Loved it!
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Our view of Fig's world - her life with her erratic, once brilliant musician father and trying to keep things hidden from outsiders - is very clearly told by a sixth-grader. Her questions and fears, friendships and relationships with adults and peers have no moments of "adult" POV sneaking in. We learn what's wrong with her father as she does, and her investigation of how to help is our investigation. Even her perception of one teacher's actions is clearly age-appropriate without a wink to the reader that she's not seeing things properly. That's the good. The "meh" is that the ending feels pre-ordained and there's no surprise.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
sonni89's review against another edition
5.0
This is a truly, truly stunning middle-grade novel about Fig, an 11-year old math nerd who takes an art class in school in the hopes that it will make her understand her musician father who has bipolar disorder. The book is also super queer, which made my heart happy. And despite it dealing with many different things, it didn't for a second feel like an 'issue book'. It was just Fig's life, and her story was told so beautifully.
I genuinely bawled my eyes out while reading this, I just had a lot of feelings, etc. I also couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting. I just really liked Fig so much and felt for her. She was truly a believable 11-year old and her narration was SO GREAT, especially getting across the things she clearly understood and then, in contrast, the things for which she didn't really have the concepts to explain them just yet.
I really liked all the main people in the book. Especially Mark. What a joy he was!
What a truly wonderful book that I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone.
I genuinely bawled my eyes out while reading this, I just had a lot of feelings, etc. I also couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting. I just really liked Fig so much and felt for her. She was truly a believable 11-year old and her narration was SO GREAT, especially getting across the things she clearly understood and then, in contrast, the things for which she didn't really have the concepts to explain them just yet.
I really liked all the main people in the book. Especially Mark. What a joy he was!
Spoiler
I thought I was reading too much into it when I was convinced something was going to happen between Fig's dad and Mark, but then IT DID and it was so great and so well-done, and the conflict that stemmed from her dad keeping it from her when she had come out to him was incredible. But Mark was GREAT and Fig slowly warming up to and trusting him was so, so beautiful.What a truly wonderful book that I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone.
julieartz's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this sweet and heartbreaking father-daughter story so much.
magicalmystery's review against another edition
5.0
hardcore cried multiple times at this beautiful/heartwrenching story (plot twist i just stopped crying like 3 seconds ago)
meredithmc's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of this book is heartbreaking but still lovely. I was engrossed in Fig's world, worried for her and hopeful things would work out. There's a lot of "seriousness" in this book but guess what, kids go through that kind of stuff all the time and worlds like this are their reality. I appreciated the mental illness representation and the feelings of developing crushes you weren't expecting.
mjcupoftea's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent middle Grade novel that really, any adult reader could appreciate. The challenges Fig faces made me want to keep reading and stop reading at the same time. Sometimes it made me uncomfortable and that disequilibrium is as important in the story as it is in real
Life. Such a beautiful wrap up and it painted a lovey picture of real humans in my mind.
Life. Such a beautiful wrap up and it painted a lovey picture of real humans in my mind.