The author of the book writes as the narrator of a series of vignettes about how she has navigated her life. She shares both the mistakes she’s made and the lessons she’s learned in an attempt to pass those lessons on to her readers. Seeing as the book is just a collection of stories from her life, with commentary on how she views those stories in hindsight, there is no specific plot or setting, but she is definitely the main character. As a reader, you are meant to just go for the ride of her life story, taking bits of wisdom from her experiences along the way.
I did not like the book because the author’s tone throughout the whole thing felt very patronizing. She was clearly trying to sound world-weary and wise, but I felt like cringing when reading most of her stories. Additionally, I either disagreed with the content of her lessons or felt that they were delivered in a self-righteous manner. Therefore, I would not recommend this book because I did not enjoy reading it.
I would say the author’s self-appraisal is the most memorable thing about the book. Though I dislike her approach, her attempts at analyzing her life experiences is a nice idea.
Reviewed by Farhan, Grade 8, Twin Hickory Area Library
HCPL TeenScene's Read + Review 