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geo_curler's review against another edition
5.0
A touching novel from debut author Tae Keller. There are many characters, each with their own personality and they are incredibly relatable. The plot is developed well and I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid scenes and emotions described. Detailed and exciting, this is a 1st amazing book of hopefully many to come from Tae Keller.
calstaker's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
audiobook!
sammilambi's review against another edition
5.0
“Science is asking questions. And living is not being afraid of the answer.”
A young Natalie sets out on a scientific mission to save her mom from an illness that has changed everything. She finds unexpected answers in the truth, love and hope in friendship, and courage to keep trying despite “breakable things.”
Keller gives us a glance into a young mind learning about depression, life, suffering, and hope. With beautiful images and metaphors for flowers and plants which bloom or fade in their seasons, depression is brought into a speakable reality, one that is brimming with hope for new life and meaning.
A young Natalie sets out on a scientific mission to save her mom from an illness that has changed everything. She finds unexpected answers in the truth, love and hope in friendship, and courage to keep trying despite “breakable things.”
Keller gives us a glance into a young mind learning about depression, life, suffering, and hope. With beautiful images and metaphors for flowers and plants which bloom or fade in their seasons, depression is brought into a speakable reality, one that is brimming with hope for new life and meaning.
retiredlibrarylady's review against another edition
3.0
It was hard for me to get into this book about a middle school girl whose mother has lost her job and is too depressed to come out of her room, while her therapist father is no help with either of them. Her very enthusiastic science teacher and best friend Twig, as well as new friend Dari and an egg drop contest, bring her into a better place. As I read, I really got into the story. Fortuitously, all is well in the end. Character development is quite good, plot ending a bit weak.
izumisano's review against another edition
4.0
I think is an important book for young readers. Too often in Children's literature, adults who aren't perfect (unless it is a lovable quirk) are vilified. Children need to know that while their parents aren't perfect or immediately there for them, that doesn't mean they don't love them. Adults are struggling too. In this case Natalie's mom is going through a period of severe depression. She never comes out of her room and Natalie and her father are kind of lost on how to get her old, sparkling mother back. It can be a hard change to understand why someone who used to be the definition of life, would suddenly withdraw and hide. Depression is a common illness and it doesn't always have to be trigger by something catastrophic. In this case, it seems something at work didn't go as planned.
Natalie spends the book wondering the reasons her mother would be depressed. Is it Natalie's fault? Did her mom get fired? Can she fix it? She decides that she has to do something to help her mom, because she has been there for her during her troubles.
I like the way this book is formatted. The author set it up on this lab notebook theme. Interspersed are these lab prompts from her teacher, as well as drawings from her experiments. It helps to break up the narrative in a fun way.
Natalie spends the book wondering the reasons her mother would be depressed. Is it Natalie's fault? Did her mom get fired? Can she fix it? She decides that she has to do something to help her mom, because she has been there for her during her troubles.
I like the way this book is formatted. The author set it up on this lab notebook theme. Interspersed are these lab prompts from her teacher, as well as drawings from her experiments. It helps to break up the narrative in a fun way.
ry_reader_29's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the adventure in this book, along with the journey of Natalie's finding the truth of what's going on with her mother and trying to fix her
sandhills_kt's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book because I have depression and wanted to read it with my daughter and see if it could help her understand anything. It was a nice book, she really enjoyed it.
mwbuell's review against another edition
5.0
I read How to Trap A Tiger last year… but THIS is the book that has made me a huge Tae Keller fan. I love how Tae related Natalie’s complicated emotions to science and the scientific process. I loved all the bits about the flowers. But most of all… the reveal of Natalie’s mother’s depression.
The whole book, I assumed that Natalie’s mother was terminally ill—and perhaps she really was—just not in the physical way that I was anticipating. But when it was revealed that the sickness or “the situation” was depression, I was touched. Suddenly so much of Natalie’s perspective made sense, in a way that it hadn’t before.
This is the first book I’ve read from the perspective of a child whose parent is battling mental illness. I hope it is not my last. The author did a phenomenal job of expressing a child’s complicated feelings—even resentment—while holding such a beautiful space for healing and hope.
The whole book, I assumed that Natalie’s mother was terminally ill—and perhaps she really was—just not in the physical way that I was anticipating. But when it was revealed that the sickness or “the situation” was depression, I was touched. Suddenly so much of Natalie’s perspective made sense, in a way that it hadn’t before.
This is the first book I’ve read from the perspective of a child whose parent is battling mental illness. I hope it is not my last. The author did a phenomenal job of expressing a child’s complicated feelings—even resentment—while holding such a beautiful space for healing and hope.