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libraryfrog's review
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Medical content, and Mental illness
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
readerette's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's a self help book in the guise of a coming-of-age story, and it's a little trite for an adult, but I can see the appeal for younger people. Fast read and decent advice, if a little woo-woo in places.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Suicide
joisaddler's review
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think this book is, at the very least, a good illustration of what dealing with depression and anxiety can look like for teens. Obviously, it is not going to connect with every individuals' story, however, I think it provides a solid mental health representation for those looking to see themselves in YA graphic novel.
Though this book is on the shorter side, I feel that Mona's character offers a glimpse toward the struggles that come with negative self-talk, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness. The black and white illustrations help to emphasize the feelings of Mona having a black hole in her heart and also to show when progress shines through. (And yes, progress looks different for everyone, especially on mental health journeys.)
I know there is a lot of discussion around the medical emergency scene. I still am not 100% sure how I feel about this, and I am by no means a doctor, so please take what I say with a grain of salt. I know that stomach problems can manifest as a result of prolonged, intense anxiety and depression. It did not seem unreasonable that the medical emergency Mona faced was related to her depression. However, I do with it was elaborated more on throughout the story and not just chalked up to something that Mona just assumed was related to her mental health.
Overall, I think this is a book I would recommend in the future for readers looking to see mental health representation or who are looking to learn more about what depression and anxiety can look like.
Though this book is on the shorter side, I feel that Mona's character offers a glimpse toward the struggles that come with negative self-talk, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness. The black and white illustrations help to emphasize the feelings of Mona having a black hole in her heart and also to show when progress shines through. (And yes, progress looks different for everyone, especially on mental health journeys.)
I know there is a lot of discussion around the medical emergency scene. I still am not 100% sure how I feel about this, and I am by no means a doctor, so please take what I say with a grain of salt. I know that stomach problems can manifest as a result of prolonged, intense anxiety and depression. It did not seem unreasonable that the medical emergency Mona faced was related to her depression. However, I do with it was elaborated more on throughout the story and not just chalked up to something that Mona just assumed was related to her mental health.
Overall, I think this is a book I would recommend in the future for readers looking to see mental health representation or who are looking to learn more about what depression and anxiety can look like.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
library_kb's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
I really loved and connected with this beautiful graphic novel exploring depression. Mona is a girl who artistically separates her depression from herself and names it Matter in order to explore how it impacts her life. I think that many readers will connect with this story and take some of the healthy coping mechanisms portrayed from this into their own life, and if they have never struggled with depression, they will have a lot more understanding for those who do.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
kstericker's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think the topic of this book is important. It's about Mona's struggle with depression and how she works her way through it. The positives: there is great representation of therapy, the metaphors work well for the age group this book targets, and some of the art panels are gorgeous.
The negatives: some of Mona's struggle is equated with something physical that happens to her, which can be problematic. Her depression also seems to be solved fairly quickly, which isn't always the case with mental illness. Figuring out the right treatment plan takes time. Mona is also written off a lot by adults, which is the case for a lot of teen girls, and this isn't really addressed in the text all that much.
That being said, I do think the discussions in this book are an important addition to the discussion of mental illness in books for young people. I just think they could have been done a bit better at times.
The negatives: some of Mona's struggle is equated with something physical that happens to her, which can be problematic. Her depression also seems to be solved fairly quickly, which isn't always the case with mental illness. Figuring out the right treatment plan takes time. Mona is also written off a lot by adults, which is the case for a lot of teen girls, and this isn't really addressed in the text all that much.
That being said, I do think the discussions in this book are an important addition to the discussion of mental illness in books for young people. I just think they could have been done a bit better at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
strawbself's review
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
for a book about mental illness and psychological conditions, it sure didn’t name those conditions and threw around pseudoscientific terms rather irresponsibly. this whole story felt so self-absorbed and privileged, it made it unbearable to read at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
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