The Situation: Frankie cannot help but stick out when she is with her family. Not only is she adopted, but she is black while her mother, father, and golden boy of an older brother are white and blonde. Nick is the perfect son, if you believe his and Frankie's mother's opinion on the matter. The woman cannot get enough of sharing with her uppity friends how he got into Harvard. And while Frankie may not feel like she exactly fits in with this family, she also may not want to. Her mother is less than interested in her extra-curricular activities, such as the social-justice focused club she started with her best friend, Jo. Frankie's mom also would not be too thrilled to learn that she and Jo are a little more than friends. Maybe a lot more...
The Problem: Frankie does not know Bella that well, she is more in Nick's circle of friends than her own. Even so, when Bella is sexually assaulted at a party, Frankie is eager to advocate for her. It is what her club with Jo is all about. Whatever is going on between the two of them takes a back seat, especially when Phoenix, the new kid at school, suddenly shows up and is clearly interested in Frankie...and she isn't exactly pushing him away. Everyone has their own personal struggles; some very public; some that are secrets threatening to come out; some that are easily understood and forgotten; and others that are often ignored. It takes a lot to stand up for yourself, and stand up for what's right. But it certainly helps if you have people who are willing to stand with you.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel adapted from the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Jagged Little Pill. Set in modern-day Connecticut, it follows five teens through a tumultuous few weeks in the middle of the school year. Frankie, Jo, Nick, Phoenix, and Bella all take turns telling their story and sharing what is happening, with the primary focus being mostly on Frankie and Nick, and the many dramas that are going on in their small family. The book tackles acceptance, sexual assault, justice, victim-shaming, guilt, and even addiction. And of course, fans of Morissette's music will recognize many of the artist's lyrics that are sprinkled throughout the story.
My Verdict: I always talk about how books that have different characters share the first-person narration often suffer from having one person's story be more interesting that the other. With five narrators, I wondered which ones would hold my interest, and what the ratio of 'interesting' to 'not interesting' would be. At the beginning, it was honestly hard for me to care that much for any of them, and then Phoenix and Bella became the clear winners (unfortunately, I do believe they are the two we hear from the least). I have never seen the musical or heard the score, so I probably have that working against me. But I will say, about the midway point of the book, things pick up quickly, and while the story is complex and the drama is high, Smith does not let any detail slip past him or the reader, with it all leading to a satisfying conclusion.
Favorite Moment: There are only a couple of moments when we get to see Phoenix with his sister Ruby while she is in the hospital. Their relationship is sweet, and comforting, and a nice change of pace amidst all of the chaos.
Favorite Character: Phoenix is a solid kid who is simply trying to support his mom and his sister, while also being the new kid at school who is missing his old crew back home.
Recommended Reading: I have only ever read one other book adapted from a musical, and that is Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich. I also recommend Smith's previous book, Don't Read the Comments.
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