Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Such a great story and amazing character development! Truly enjoyed this one and couldn't read it fast enough
DNF at 70%
I feel a bit of a fraud posting a review when I did not finish the book, but I think I need to justify it. I cannot begin to imagine going through the trauma of being told you will not only die in a few years, but you will lose all sense of self and control of your body, too.
The heroine, Sammie, suffers from NCP which is a degenerative disease that causes not only early onset dementia, but various physical disabilities that will make it impossible for Sammie to continue on the high-flying path she had strived for (aiming to be a lawyer at NYU).
Sam has no friends, a very poor self image (body image) and values only high grades. The author has tried to make us sympathise with her - this lonely, friendless girl who spends all her time studying - but I came away thinking she was very insular and single-minded with little time for the things she ought to value the most (friendships, family and the truth). Once the true nature of her condition is revealed, her manner of dealing with it is childish in the extreme and she buries her head in the sand, pretending it isn't really happening, ignoring warnings and safety precautions her parents try to put in place.
She takes terrible risks, imperiling others, doesn't medicate, and only 'comes clean' to her only friend when she has to
The only value I found in the book was as an exposure for the disease (kudos and many thanks to the author for raising awareness) and Sammie's stubborn 'can do' attitude, in that she wasn't going to let the disease stop her from following the path she'd mapped out for herself.
I feel a bit of a fraud posting a review when I did not finish the book, but I think I need to justify it. I cannot begin to imagine going through the trauma of being told you will not only die in a few years, but you will lose all sense of self and control of your body, too.
The heroine, Sammie, suffers from NCP which is a degenerative disease that causes not only early onset dementia, but various physical disabilities that will make it impossible for Sammie to continue on the high-flying path she had strived for (aiming to be a lawyer at NYU).
Sam has no friends, a very poor self image (body image) and values only high grades. The author has tried to make us sympathise with her - this lonely, friendless girl who spends all her time studying - but I came away thinking she was very insular and single-minded with little time for the things she ought to value the most (friendships, family and the truth). Once the true nature of her condition is revealed, her manner of dealing with it is childish in the extreme and she buries her head in the sand, pretending it isn't really happening, ignoring warnings and safety precautions her parents try to put in place.
She takes terrible risks, imperiling others, doesn't medicate, and only 'comes clean' to her only friend when she has to
Spoiler
it was beyond selfish to enter the nationals without mentioning her condition<\spoiler> . For a bright and intelligent girl, she behaved very irrationally and perhaps that was something the author was trying to convey as the natural reaction to her condition, but one couldn't help feeling that was Sammie all over. What's worse is that Sammie couldn't see how unreasonable she was being and used the 'I'm going to die' card to excuse her behaviour to herself.The only value I found in the book was as an exposure for the disease (kudos and many thanks to the author for raising awareness) and Sammie's stubborn 'can do' attitude, in that she wasn't going to let the disease stop her from following the path she'd mapped out for herself.
A horrible disease captures a teen on the cusp of all her dreams coming to fruition. When everything you planned goes to dust, what is left?
Sadly, this was the most trope-filled, predictable disappointment. I read it for FYA book club and usually they don't steer me wrong. This was the rare exception.
It's not like, once you've read the summary of this, that the ending is a surprise, but my God, I wept buckets. Surprised the hell out of me.
Recently, I had been wondering why I spent the majority of my reading time reading YA. This book just reminded me.
Because, YA can be just a beautiful and well-written as any adult book. It can be just as life-affirming. Just as theme heavy. Just as amazing.
And this book was. It was entirely perfect. I don't even want to taint it with my words.
Because, YA can be just a beautiful and well-written as any adult book. It can be just as life-affirming. Just as theme heavy. Just as amazing.
And this book was. It was entirely perfect. I don't even want to taint it with my words.
Sammie McCoy has things planned out - she will win the National Debate competition, be valedictorian of her class, attend NYU in the fall, work at the United Nations, and be the best she can at all times. The one thing she didn't plan on - being diagnosed with a debilitating disease that will steal her memory. To help her remember things in her life, she begins to write everything down.
While Sammie is struggling to keep her plans in place, her social life starts to take off for the first time in high school. She begins a relationship with her longtime high school crush, and renews her friendship with her longtime neighbor. When things begin to fall apart, they both step up in very different ways.
Although Sammie's circumstances change drastically throughout the course of the book, her voice remains consistent throughout. Definitely a story worth reading!
While Sammie is struggling to keep her plans in place, her social life starts to take off for the first time in high school. She begins a relationship with her longtime high school crush, and renews her friendship with her longtime neighbor. When things begin to fall apart, they both step up in very different ways.
Although Sammie's circumstances change drastically throughout the course of the book, her voice remains consistent throughout. Definitely a story worth reading!
Ik pakte dit boek op, omdat ik even iets minder heftigs nodig had, maar omg dit boek was heftiger dan ik had verwacht.. Ik heb gehuild op het einde, gelachen door het boek heen en meegeleefd met Samantha. Ik kan me absoluut niet voorstellen hoe het is om te hebben wat zij heeft, maar ik kan het net wat beter begrijpen op deze manier. Een boek in dagboekvorm heeft vaak weinig impact (sterker nog, ik irriteer me er vaak aan..) maar dit boek... <3
Ah! I really love Lara Avery and hope everyone checks out her books.
The marketing copy compares this book to All the Bright Places, and I just want to point out how different the tones of both of these books are. THE MEMORY BOOK, even though the character is diagnosed with a rare, debilitating disease, feels hopeful and light and really celebrates so many wonderful moments. Even with an inevitably sad endgame, there were almost times I forgot how sick Sammie was. And I think that's because Sammie was trying to pretend she was sick, and working so hard to fight against her diagnosis. There are some really fantastic characters in this book but I truly loved how real her conversations were with her parents, and also Coop. This book is full of sweet surprises and also uses a formatting (journal-like) that really lends itself to depicting how Sammie's diagnosis changes her.
I loved that this book was one I could sink my teeth into. I didn't speed read it; I felt like I got to spend a lot of time with these characters and experience so much alongside Sammie as she falls in love learns about friendship, and starts to piece together what her future will look at. (Also this main character had glasses, went to church, and truly loved hanging out with her younger siblings. The author captured so much of her backstory, so much of her "weirdness", and I loved that too.)
Keywords: senior year, summer after senior year, genetic disorders, crushes, overachieving main character/debate club, feminist (Elizabeth Warren & Beyonce references!), old friends
The marketing copy compares this book to All the Bright Places, and I just want to point out how different the tones of both of these books are. THE MEMORY BOOK, even though the character is diagnosed with a rare, debilitating disease, feels hopeful and light and really celebrates so many wonderful moments. Even with an inevitably sad endgame, there were almost times I forgot how sick Sammie was. And I think that's because Sammie was trying to pretend she was sick, and working so hard to fight against her diagnosis. There are some really fantastic characters in this book but I truly loved how real her conversations were with her parents, and also Coop. This book is full of sweet surprises and also uses a formatting (journal-like) that really lends itself to depicting how Sammie's diagnosis changes her.
I loved that this book was one I could sink my teeth into. I didn't speed read it; I felt like I got to spend a lot of time with these characters and experience so much alongside Sammie as she falls in love learns about friendship, and starts to piece together what her future will look at. (Also this main character had glasses, went to church, and truly loved hanging out with her younger siblings. The author captured so much of her backstory, so much of her "weirdness", and I loved that too.)
Keywords: senior year, summer after senior year, genetic disorders, crushes, overachieving main character/debate club, feminist (Elizabeth Warren & Beyonce references!), old friends
Starts with an amazing hook, and immediately slows to a crawl. You will find yourself wondering why you should care about this character and feel guilted into sticking with her because she's sick. That will be irritating. Hang in there, though. About 1/3 of the way in, it gets really good again and you won't be able to put it down. A sweet, poignant story of self discovery.