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A review by pucksandpaperbacks
The Science of Being Angry by Nicole Melleby
4.0
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book to review. All thoughts are my own!
This was a solid middle grade about neurodivergence and mental health following an 11-year old girl, Joey as she tries to learn about the pent up anger she's releasing causing everyone in her life to view her differently. At least, that's what she thinks in her head. To Joey, she's not like her brothers or Mom's because they don't hurt people and lash out causing hurt toward them. Thus, Joey is going to make things right by finding the donor her mother's used to get pregnant. When a project arises in school on genetics, Joey takes this as the perfect opportunity to learn about her genetics.
What I loved most about The Science of Being Angry is how Joey reacts to her outbursts being viewed by her family and friends. This shows how there are consequences to your actions and you can learn how to control them which Joey starts to learn as she hurts the feelings of those around her. As someone who also deals with anger issues, I loved seeing Joey's character because I haven't read a book about mental health and/or neurodivergence where anger is at the forefront. It's such an important symptom to touch on especially with a child. Toward the end of the book, therapy comes in and I really enjoyed how the story doesn't give Joey a definitive diagnosis as it shows how it takes time to find the answers. There is a side character, Joey's half-brother, Benny who has ADHD and plays hockey to help manage it. Benny encourages Joey to sign up for hockey to help get her aggression out and I loooved that so much. As a hockey fan, hockey is the best way for me to get my anger out.
Overall, highly recommend this sapphic book about genetics and family dynamics.
This was a solid middle grade about neurodivergence and mental health following an 11-year old girl, Joey as she tries to learn about the pent up anger she's releasing causing everyone in her life to view her differently. At least, that's what she thinks in her head. To Joey, she's not like her brothers or Mom's because they don't hurt people and lash out causing hurt toward them. Thus, Joey is going to make things right by finding the donor her mother's used to get pregnant. When a project arises in school on genetics, Joey takes this as the perfect opportunity to learn about her genetics.
What I loved most about The Science of Being Angry is how Joey reacts to her outbursts being viewed by her family and friends. This shows how there are consequences to your actions and you can learn how to control them which Joey starts to learn as she hurts the feelings of those around her. As someone who also deals with anger issues, I loved seeing Joey's character because I haven't read a book about mental health and/or neurodivergence where anger is at the forefront. It's such an important symptom to touch on especially with a child. Toward the end of the book, therapy comes in and I really enjoyed how the story doesn't give Joey a definitive diagnosis as it shows how it takes time to find the answers. There is a side character, Joey's half-brother, Benny who has ADHD and plays hockey to help manage it. Benny encourages Joey to sign up for hockey to help get her aggression out and I loooved that so much. As a hockey fan, hockey is the best way for me to get my anger out.
Overall, highly recommend this sapphic book about genetics and family dynamics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Bullying
Mention of birth and pregnancy, Intrusive thoughts