A review by princzukos
The Most Precious Substance on Earth by Shashi Bhat

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

5.0

“... I compose a new blog entry about traveling back to when I was fourteen and living my whole life over, knowing what I know now, curating my life to resemble most Facebook timelines: a gallery of only good things. Or maybe I’ll bring a past version of myself to the present -- to the future even -- and show her how everything turns out. A crazy thing happens to you when you're fourteen, I’ll tell her, but you live a normal life. It’s just happened a long time ago, though it’s there permanently in your brain chemistry -- a wrinkle in gray matter, a flaw in a synapse. It’s almost as if it happened to someone else” (p. 251)

I loved everything about this book. It is extremely well written! I hate time skips but they were done well in this book. The MC and story were relatable: white-washed (not by choice) South Asian female, male HS teachers are creepy, self-medication is always the move, being 14 sucked and I often wish I could go back in time and give her a hug.

The point of the story wasn’t to “accept” what happened and get help or revenge, but about just continuing on with life. Shit happens, and will always happen, but it’s not the end. There is always hope.
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