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A review by youraveragedave
This Appearing House by Ally Malinenko
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.25
Even though this is a middle grade book, it takes a unique look at trauma and facing your fears that can apply to both kids and adults.
As someone who went through lots of medical testing and lots of unknowns this book felt like a lived experience by this author. We find out in the Author's Notes that Ally did experience a breast cancer diagnosis.
The premise of Jac's trauma and fears being a haunted house is really great. And her final confrontation has so many great pieces of advise for the reader to pick out. Her building this strong house so no one could hurt her, it's not living just existing... that rings so true
Also looked her talk with her mom at the hospital after about just being a kid and that not every headache or fall means the disease is back. I've felt this with my own condition, is this pain just a sore muscle or a new issue popping up?
I think the only issue I had was the character names... Generally Jac (Jack) is a masculine name and Hazel is a feminine. Flipping this is fine, but for a split second each time I heard one name followed by an unexpected him or her I was jarred out of the story a little. That's on me though and it doesn't take away from the book or the themes within.
As someone who went through lots of medical testing and lots of unknowns this book felt like a lived experience by this author. We find out in the Author's Notes that Ally did experience a breast cancer diagnosis.
The premise of Jac's trauma and fears being a haunted house is really great. And her final confrontation has so many great pieces of advise for the reader to pick out. Her building this strong house so no one could hurt her, it's not living just existing... that rings so true
Also looked her talk with her mom at the hospital after about just being a kid and that not every headache or fall means the disease is back. I've felt this with my own condition, is this pain just a sore muscle or a new issue popping up?
I think the only issue I had was the character names... Generally Jac (Jack) is a masculine name and Hazel is a feminine. Flipping this is fine, but for a split second each time I heard one name followed by an unexpected him or her I was jarred out of the story a little. That's on me though and it doesn't take away from the book or the themes within.