My Review: I clearly didn't look into this book enough before agreeing to review it, because I didn't realize it was part of a series. But despite clearly missing out on some major life events for Maddie, I was able to jump right in to this. It actually worked out well, I like how the author made the reader aware of previous storylines, not by just repeating them, but by having Maddie catch up with an old friend and share her story.
But what really stuck with me is how realistic this book is when tackling the issue of anxiety. I don't think I can praise this author enough for how well she portrayed Maddie's anxiety, and how she coped with the major life events happening around her. While reading this, I found myself comparing it to the later books of the Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot - because both authors did a fantastic job writing about panic attacks, anxiety, and how utterly exhausting it can be. And since the Princess Diaries is one of my all time favorite series... comparing this book to that is high praise indeed.
A few grammatical errors and typos can pull the reader from the story, but there's enough good here to suck you right back in. Overall, a recommended read! And I would be interested in reading more of the series sometime. Adding it to my ever-growing list!
Cover Lovin': Simple and sweet!
Recommendation: Part of a series, but can be read on its own.
Final Rating: THREE POINT FIVE out of FIVE stars (3.5/5)!! A good read, and recommended for any one feeling like they're not ready for adulthood.
Till It
Stops Beating
Seventeen-year-old Maddie Hickman’s
senior year begins with the good (the reemergence of The One That Got Away),
the bad (a cancer diagnosis, not hers, but it might as well be) and the WTF (an
anxiety attack that renders her writhing on the floor like an upside down
crab).
Adding to her spiraling anxiety is Senior Project, in the form of I’ve Decided To Write A Book about The Other One That Got Away (And Crushed My Heart). Compounding it all is applying to college and keeping up with her friends. The ever mounting stress eventually rips her tight grip on all that she holds dear.
Her break down leads to an unexpected road trip where she is forced to listen to her wildly beating heart. It is only in the back of a convertible with pop music blasting, that she discovers she must risk everything in order to really live.
Adding to her spiraling anxiety is Senior Project, in the form of I’ve Decided To Write A Book about The Other One That Got Away (And Crushed My Heart). Compounding it all is applying to college and keeping up with her friends. The ever mounting stress eventually rips her tight grip on all that she holds dear.
Her break down leads to an unexpected road trip where she is forced to listen to her wildly beating heart. It is only in the back of a convertible with pop music blasting, that she discovers she must risk everything in order to really live.
Purchase
Link:
Amazon UK
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1684330807/
Author Bio
–
Often
referred to as “the teenage whisperer”, Hannah R. Goodman’s twenty-year career
working with teenagers includes the titles teacher, tutor, coach, and, more
recently, mental health counselor. Hannah has
written essays about mental health for various online publications. Her work
has appeared on MindBodyGreen, OC87 Recovery Diaries, Zencare.co,
and The Mighty. Though she has
previously earned the title author with her first three books, the last was
released in 2009 and all were self-published. This time around, indie
publisher Black
Rose Writing released her novel Till It Stops Beating this summer.
Hannah's first
YA novel, My Sister’s Wedding, won
the first place award for The Writer’s Digest International Self-Publishing
Contest, 2004, children’s book division. She published the follow-up, My Summer Vacation, in
May 2006, which went on to win a bronze IPPY in 2007. The third Maddie
book, Fear of Falling, was released
in the fall of 2009 and was praised by teachers and readers for tackling
subjects like homophobia and coming out. She’s published young adult short
stories on Amazon’s Shorts, in an anthology entitled Bound Is The Bewitching Lilith, and in the journal Balancing The Tides. She also has
written columns for The Jewish Voice
& Herald. Recent, previous projects include Sucker Literary, which
features emerging YA authors and All The Way YA, a group blog of writers
telling the real deal about writing and publishing YA fiction.
Hannah is a member of ARIA (Association of Rhode Island Authors) as well as a graduate of Pine Manor College's Solstice Program in Creative Writing where she earned an MFA in Writing For Young People. She resides in Bristol, RI with her husband, two daughters, and black and white cat named Zoe.
Social
Media Links –
You can find Hannah:
Twitter: @hannahrgoodman
No comments:
Post a Comment