Reasons to Be Happy

by Katrina Kittle

REASONS TO BE HAPPY

21. Cat purr vibrating through your skin
22. Jumping on a trampoline in the rain
23. Raw cookie dough
24. Getting yourself all freaked out after a scary movie
25. Dancing like an idiot when no one is watching

What happened to the girl who wrote those things? I miss that girl. She used to be bold and fun. Now she's a big chicken loser.

How could so much change so fast? Let's see, you could be the plain Jane daughter of two gorgeous famous people, move to a new school, have no real friends, and your mom could get sick, and, oh yeah, you could have the most embarrassing secret in the world. Yep, that about does it. So, the real question is, how do I get that girl back?

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mental Health, Romance, Family

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Hello! Welcome to my GoodReads profile, fellow book lover. I've made it a New Year's resolution to keep better track of my reading this year. My profile makes it look like I never, ever read, which is sooooo far from the truth. I'm just terrible at tracking, but I resolve to be better! People have teased me that my reviews are all so high that I don't seem very critical (like a teacher who gives out all A's). Let me explain: First of all, life is too short to finish a book I don't love, and I'd never, ever review a book I hadn't finished. Secondly, I feel much more comfortable recommending works I admire than I do criticizing something I didn't. There. Just so ya know! :-)

I'm the author of five novels, four for adults and one for tweens. I hope you'll check them out. You can also follow me on Instagram or my Facebook author page.

Happy Reading!

Reviews

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my 'Reasons to Be Happy' is that I have read this book. I read it and then passed it on to my daughter. This is a fantastic book by one of my favorite authors. I wish I could convey all the appreciation I have for the time that Katrina Kittle takes when researching and writing her books. There are times while reading her books that I have felt like she has read my mind.

This is an emotional read that deals with many important issues. Bulimia, addiction, disease, death, sexual pressures, bullying and more. I have had personal experience with some of the subject matter and thought I was fairly well-educated in regards to these issues. However, I feel like this book exposed me to things I may not have thought about otherwise. I loved the fact that the book showed how healing can take place anywhere. Even on the other side of the world.

The main character, Hannah is struggling. Her mother has cancer and her father is an alcoholic. She also battles with her own issues of low self-esteem etc. Some parts of the book may be hard to read but I feel the author serves us well by showing the true picture of topics like bulimia and addiction, as well as many other important issues.

Although this book was written for a Young Adult audience, I highly recommend it for everyone. Hannah's struggles will resonate with many readers. Also helpful to anyone who knows someone suffering from any of these issues. Helps for better understanding.

Beautifully written, filled with inspiration and insight.

I have and will continue to read anything Katrina Kittle has written. I have read all of her books and loved them all. They have stayed with me long after the last page.

I look forward to her next novel.

[Jenny Whetzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 2nd book that I have read by this author and I enjoyed it. I think this would be a good book for teenagers based on a couple of the main characters age and issues.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah transfers to a new school. As the daughter of two celebrities, finds herself in the middle of a mean girl group with the pressures that come with being popular. Her life outside of school is difficult as well while her mother battles cancer. She ends up with Bulimia. Just as it is discovered by her family, a twist of fate takes her to Ghana where she learns a lot about herself including how to control her desire to binge/purge.

The first quarter of this book made me feel like the author was throwing a bunch of tough situations at Hannah to set her up for developing this illness. She has to deal with a new school, peer pressure, sexual pressure, her mother has cancer, etc. etc. I thought it was a little much, but then as the plot progressed I could see how each of those situations were important to get Hanna to the finale at the end. I thought this was a great book and hope I can get my daughter to read it. There are a lot of issues addressed. Obviously, there are the eating disorder and body acceptance issues. Hannah also deals with an unwelcomed groping by a classmate and heckling from the boys afterward. Her father is an alcoholic yet doesn't recognize her bulimia as an addiction issue. When in Ghana she gets to explore the idea of beauty from a different cultural perspective and begins to learn to respect herself again. The real challenge to hold on to all those things comes when she returns to her old life in the States. It was a wonderful story and imparted great lessons.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This book was magic.

I absolutley love the cover, its just so pretty! I was not expecting this to be such a moving and heart felt story about learning to find the real you when you lose yourself. It was an extremely hopeful story about a girl who develops Bulimia, an Eating Disorder and loses sight of the real person she is just because, to begin with, she wanted to fit in. That along with her Mother having Cancer, she spiralled out of control and only once she recieved a once in a lifetime chance to go to Africa, did she discover that she could find herself again and stop the torment she was going through.

It is such a strong strong book. I can relate to her SO much (while Im anorexic not bulimic, they are similar enough and I saw so much of her in me. That feeling of needing to change who you are because you feel people wont like the true you.

This book NEEDS to be read by anyone suffering with an Eating Disorder. It shines light in a world where there is very little.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome (but tender) girly teen movie in book form and I liked it so, so much. Perfect lazy day read.

Thanks Deanna for the recommendation!

[Reesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really powerful. I didn't expect this deep meaningful story about builima - from the cover anyway. I like the main character - as a girl, I found her emotions, her thoughts, her opionions believable. The journey she takes to Africa was mind - opening as well.

I disagree personally with some of the other reviwers. I believe that she went to Africa - not to stop builima, but to change her perspective. Like a normal teenage girl, she has no self belief of her self ever since that guy walked in on her eating food out of a trash can. In africa, she changed to the girl she was originally. I believe that her 'new friends' and her desperation to impress her mother were the main factors in her builima and depression. I am impressed on how the author had in the beginning, a typical reaction to a new and unfamilar territory. After a while, she becamed used to the area, and warmed up to the people in the village itself. When she came back, the messages that were shown to me was that 'western society' has a negative impact on how a girl should look. When she came back - it automatically started her builima again, and her coach as well as Jake, were there to take her to the nurses office (please note, her Aunt's interfence is not there). After that chapter and it moved to 2 years later to the area of the awards ceremony, I believes it skips a time pierod in which she physically heals. For that reason, I would recommend this book to any teenage female. It shows them that even a 'hollywood star daughter' will have the same struggles and depression that normal girls would have.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasons to Be Happy tricked me. I thought I was in for a light hearted read. Heavens was I wrong.

I won't give a summary of the book, because you can read that in other reviews. I'll just get right to the critique.

I didn't really know much about eating disorders, so I was in for an educational experience. I also knew nothing about Africa. Those were two things that I semi enjoyed reading. (Really, the binging and purging just ruined my mood. Definitely not a place you want to be in.)

There is little dialogue, which you don't really notice. Hannah's voice practically is dialogue.

But I have one serious complaint: the characters were one hundred percent flat. Hannah's narration was innocent enough, but whenever she spoke, I was thinking: "What the heck? This isn't the girl I've been following for the last hundred pages!" She was acidic and impulsive, with words that weren't backed up by her thoughts or words that expressed thoughts that weren't expanded on. In fact, all characters were like that. Just downright rude.

I think this was, more than anything, a projection of the author. Every single character lacked the talent of being tactful. The Aunt, Hannah, her father, etc, all said some pretty rude things that were apparently okay to say in the world of Reasons to Be Happy. It merely demonstrated that the author has a lacking view of the world.

Hannah's descent into her eating disorder was real enough. The process, at least. Once more, I found Hannah's voice rather lacking.

I give it three stars for the appearance of knowledge on the areas of eating disorders and Africa. I take off two because Hannah's voice and every single character born in the US made absolutely no sense to me.
Overall, this book couldn't connect with me on any level.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this poignant story about Hannah, an 8th grade girl with movie star parents who is trying to fit in at a Beverly Hills school, to be very readable and realistic. Hannah struggles with bulimia as a way to deal with her body image issues and losses, and--to its credit-- this book doesn't shy away from the physical and psychological misery the disease ultimately creates -- it will definitely help adolescent girls understand better the reality of eating disorders and how they progress from an "SR" (secret remedy) to a "DRH" (disgusting, repulsive habit). Some of the characters border on stereotypes (the popular but mean girl, the quirky but sensitive boy, the caring health teacher, etc.), but it doesn't really detract from the story.

Readers may have heard the messages about recognizing inner beauty and staying true to your self before, but Hannah's very likeable and authentic adolescent voice conveys them in an especially effective way. The plot ultimately involves Hannah going to Ghana with her documentary-producer aunt where she gains insight into different standards of beauty and what she really values - but this is not an option many readers are likely to have. I wish her local therapist (who makes just a brief appearance) had played more of a role in Hannah's recovery which would have better emphasized treatment options for eating disorders available in this country. Still, a very powerful, important read.

[Snu · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://elrincondesnu.blogspot.com.es/...

Cuando los Mochileros Literarios propusieron este mes leer Reason to be Happy, me quede bastante sorprendida ya que no tenía ni idea de lo que trataba este libro. Además, para que negarlo, la portada no me llamo nada la atención pero la sinopsis despertó mi curiosidad. Así que decidí arriesgarme y darle una oportunidad.

Hannah era una chica divertida y alegre, hasta que las cosas a su alrededor comenzaron a cambiar y a desmoronarse a su alrededor. Ella llegará a encontrar una solución para sentirse mejor, su remedio secreto. Cuando todo empieza a salírsele de control y ya no quiere continuar así, será demasiado tarde para poder frenar todo lo que se está haciendo a sí misma. Afortunadamente hay alguien que ha logrado darse cuenta de lo que Hannah está pasando, y la ayudará a afrontarlo.

Cuando me leí la sinopsis, me llamo la curiosidad porque quería saber cuál era el embarazoso secreto de Hannah. A medida que fui avanzando en la lectura y lo descubrí, me quede bastante sorprendida de encontrar una enfermedad tan dura entre las páginas de este libro. Creo que nunca había leído un libro que tratase algo así, y a medida que me adentre en el libro y en su historia, fui comprendiendo poco a poco porque Hannah tomo la decisión de hacer algo así. Era su vía de escape, su forma de olvidarse del mundo durante un tiempo, su forma de dejar todos los problemas atrás.

La verdad es que me gustaría mucho contaros cual es la enfermedad de Hannah, pero si os la cuento el libro perdería toda su esencia. Lo bueno de esta lectura es ir descubriendo poco a poco las razones que llevan a Hannah a tales extremos, e intentar empatizar con ella para comprenderla.

A pesar de que el libro en general me ha gustado, creo que lo peor de todo han sido las listas. Durante los primeros capítulos, todos empezaban con varios puntos de la lista de Hannah y eso se me hacía bastante aburrido. Por otro lado, algo que no me ha terminado de convencer ha sido el romance que surge en esta historia. Me ha dado la impresión mientras lo leía, que la autora lo ha puesto ahí para que su historia tenga algo de amor entre sus páginas, aunque a mí me hubiera gustado muchísimo más que se quedase únicamente con el amor que vemos volver a surgir en la familia de Hannah.

En cuanto a los personajes, y a pesar de que hay unos cuantos, solo quiero hablaros de Hannah. Me ha parecido una chica que en casa está viviendo una situación muy dura y complicada a la que es muy díficil hacerle frente, pero a pesar de eso, creo que tendría que haberle hecho frente a las "amistades" que hace en la escuela. Me ha parecido una chica bastante manipulable, que se deja mangonear por un grupo de chicas guays que lo tienen todo. A pesar de ello, ver como poco a poco reconoce que tiene una enfermedad y que necesita ayuda, como se enfrenta a ella e intenta superarla me ha parecido algo muy valiente y de personas fuertes.

En definitiva, Reason to be Happy es un libro que me ha sorprendido bastante. A pesar de que ha habido varias cosas que no me han gustado demasiado, ver a Hannah hacerle frente a su enfermedad y luchar para afrontarla ha sido algo duro y admirable de leer.

[drey · Rating 3 out of 5]

drey’s thoughts:
Hannah Carlisle should be on top of the world. Her parents are movie stars. She herself is an artist and an athlete. Her life is good…

Then she starts at a new school, and all at once everything changes. Why? Because she can’t seem to get herself—her real self—unstuck from the person she becomes with the group she hangs out with at school… Seems like an easy solution: stop hanging out with that group! But Hannah’s bravery has deserted her, and she can’t. So she finds another way to deal with that stress.

I couldn’t believe that such a lovely and talented girl would fall prey to the clutches of the mean girls at school, right from the get-go. Then again, I was never in that situation, so I’m not in any position to say what could be real or not… I wanted to read this book to see how an author addresses one of the many problems that our young girls and women face as they battle their own body image. And see how a young girl’s own self-image could become so skewed.

What happened to Hannah can happen to any other eighth-grader, or any other young girl or woman you know. We are too often bombarded with negativity–we’re too fat, too tall, to short, too flat, etc. Even when we do well at school or other pursuits, even to those who love us best, it seems our looks are still our most-used measuring stick–and we never seem to measure up. Why is that?

Who defines beautiful? Is it the media? The entertainment industry? Our families? Friends? Acquaintances we barely know? Whose opinion carries the most weight? Why? And most importantly (to me at least): Why do we give control of our own selves over to those who certainly (usually?) don’t give a rat’s behind what happens to us? And what can we do about it? Ok, so maybe I’m being a little harsh–after all, we expect that our parents and loved ones do give a rat’s patootie. And we’re all just a bit (hah!) too sensitive…

Hannah’s being “outed” by her aunt is one step towards recognition, and possible recovery. And when she has to go to Ghana for four weeks, that’s four weeks dedicated to something other–other than thinking and stressing about her self, her weight, her insecurities… Can she keep up the progress once she’s back in the USA though? You’ll have to read Reasons to be Happy to find out.

drey’s rating: Pick it up! We need more books like this to reinforce a healthier self-image for our young girls and women! And not just books and messages; we also need to follow through with action. What we say and do is definitely worth more than what we say to do!

[Dana Grimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't judge this book by it's cover...I did and was expecting a cute story about a plucky young girl who was dealing with your average middle school life drama. Nope, this was not a "cute" story at all but rather an intense and sad tale of a young girl going through the loss of her mother to cancer while battling with bulimia. At first I found it hard to like Hannah and felt that the author didn't give enough of her before story to make me feel anything but pity for her, but by the end I found myself having a change of heart towards her and the novel itself. This was one compelling story although I think I will find it hard to recommend.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

♫ Why am I making this hard on myself
When there's so many beautiful reasons I have to be happy? ♫
-Natasha Bedingfield, "Happy"

Super cute start (I love 8th grade narrators), with a unique perspective from being the daughter of two Hollywood actors, then a Sudden Serious Twist turns this into a very good introductory novel about bulimia. It does seem to be conquered with a bit too much ease, but then again, the earlier you address this kind of thing, oftentimes the easier it is to stop. Some wrenching descriptions of binge eating in here, but also some beautiful descriptions of the miniature "cities" she builds with craft items and small trinkets.

Side note: I'm so happy that the full and complete list of reasons is published in the back! Would definitely be a fun project to write my own.

[helianthus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm gonna add this book to my favourite list!! Finally Hannah found her reasons to be happy and be herself. Actually, I'm cried when I read about Hannah's mother gone. When Hannah said,

"I miss her. It seems so stupid to even said that. It's such an understatement. I miss her. I look for her and she's not there."

"More than anything in the world, I want my mom back."

It really hit me hard because I feel it to. But lets back to the topics, I really really love this book! Good job author for this amazing reasons to be happy.

[Kayla Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely not my cup of tea, but it was incredibly well written.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 rating

Okay, a little random side note. I read this whole book thinking about how this was a new-to-me author. And when I was done, I was thinking what an amazing book this was. Then I was reading the author part of the book and realized that Katrina Kittle also wrote The Kindness of Strangers. I was thinking that I remembered enjoying the book and so I tried to find my review on the blog, but I read it before I started this blog, so I went to goodreads and realized that I gave that book 5 stars! That is a high, high compliment from me. I almost never give 5 stars! So just realize how amazing Katrina Kittle is!

Okay, on to the review. First off, this book should mandatory for every single junior high student (or girl at least) to read in some health class. Bulimia is such an important topic and this book covers it in a way that is so very detailed yet not preachy at all. I feel like on one hand, it shows the pros (no, not pros, there are no pros, but I can't think of another word) of an eating disorder...it doesn't just gloss over it like teens will never have a problem and bulimia is so gross..yadda yadda. I think that if a teen already has an eating disorder, he/she would be able to identify with Hannah and this book would help a teen overcome the disorder. Yet at the same time, I think that it shows how horrific bulimia is and that hopefully teens who don't already have an eating disorder would realize that beauty is deeper than the outside of a person and that there are other ways to overcome stressful/upsetting times.

That being said, I loved Hannah. She was just such a real teenager. You could feel her pain and her want to be happy. And the journey she took was such an important one. Both in the literal sense, of going to Ghana, and of the metaphorical sense, of trying to overcome her eating disorder. And Aunt Izzy. Everyone needs an adult in their life like her. Someone who's not critical, is there for you and wants to help.

And I loved reading the lists on things to be happy about. I found myself saying "yup" or "that makes me happy too" too most of them! So here's a brief look at my happy list:

1) Cuddling up on the couch with my hubby and puppy
2) Looking at my wedding photos
3)Going out with the girls
4)Cheering on the Gators at the Swamp
5) Getting a compliment from a stranger

I just can't express how much I enjoyed this book. It was such a tough topic but the author did such a great job with it!

[Liz at Midnight Bloom Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katrina Kittle's Reasons to Be Happy is directed to the perfect audience of young teenage girls who are just beginning to discover their changing bodies as they grow up. In our world today, there are so many ideals of what constitutes beauty and the perfect body type... but are we ever truly comfortable with our body images? I don't think so, and it's novels like this one which can educate its audiences for the better.

Reasons to Be Happy focuses on Hannah, the only daughter of two famous Hollywood celebrities, and her struggles with bulimia to deal with a life that quickly seems to be spiraling out of control. Compared to her beautiful parents, she feels fat, awkward and not pretty... and bulimia becomes a poor solution to her problems, especially when she falls under the negative influence of a group of girls at her school who practically encourage her to do so. Perhaps because the novel moved at such a fast pace, it wasn't always easy for me to relate with Hannah. The book would swiftly move onto the next event before I could emotionally invest myself more in the story...

There are a lot of sudden changes in Hannah's life and she certainly has a lot on her plate, but at the same time, my own personality is so completely different from hers that it was difficult for me to understand her actions. If a group of girls were treating me that badly, I wouldn't have wasted my time with them, preferring solitude if need be. I guess, I wanted her to stick up for herself more! The novel later takes a surprising turn by transporting readers to Africa where Hannah's aunt is working on a documentary... and I was glad Hannah was finally able to gain more perspective and grasp how truly privileged she was. But most of all, I was glad that Hannah was able to finally accept that she was beautiful just the way she was.

Katrina Kittle's middle grade debut novel Reasons to Be Happy should be commended for showing readers the importance of accepting ourselves for the people we are and how we're all beautiful in our own ways. It's not as hard-hitting for a novel that deals with a social issue, but then again, I wouldn't expect it be considering the age group it is geared more towards. (Not that older audiences wouldn't also enjoy reading the novel too!) And as you continue to read along, you'll be supporting Hanna in rediscovering her reasons to be happy!

[Ella Boleynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pulled in by the cover of this book. It looked so fun and happy. As I entered the life of Hannah Carlisle, I hurt for her and longed with her to be able to find the bravery she had once possessed. This book is a great read and deals with real issues head on. Alcoholism, bulemia (and anorexia), cancer, death, sexual pressures, body image issues, bullying, poverty - it's all in there.

This book will suck you in as you journey with Hannah, and ultimately, you will have discovered a little more bravery in yourself by sharing in her journey. The character of Hannah was powerfully rendered, and she is someone that anyone who has ever dealt with the pressures of fitting in can relate to.

On the negative side, the plot is a little yeah-right. Her parents are both actors; her dad being some super-studly man that all of her classmates drool over (awkward!). While this helped move the plot along, I think some people might find it a little unrelatable. My only other complaint is that many of the characters aside from Hannah are not well developed. The girls at her school fit the mean girl stereotype, the boy she falls for is the "perfect novel first boyfriend."

Still, for a novel that deals with such hardcore issues, with such a lovable main character, it's not too annoying that the other characters are a little less interesting. We're not too concerned about them, anyway.

This is a great book if you want a look inside of the psychological and physical mind of a person struggling with bulemia and going through the stages of grieving.

Violence - There is a scene where Hannah describes a maimed girl she meets. Her father also threatens to kill one of her classmates (a boy of course).

Sex - There is a mention of an unwanted advance at a pool party, but it is not graphic. Other than that and characters referring to it, there is nothing.

Language - Minor language in a few areas.

Alcohol/Drinking - there is a point when one of the characters struggles with alcoholism.

[Ja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. It gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling while reading it. Like the feeling of having not to go to school because it's raining hard and you can watch t.v or read books all day long in your bed with your pajamas and your adorable cats.

What I love most about reading books is the feeling after you read them. I'm not too picky in books. I read what I felt like reading and this light novel is what I need right now. The most amazing part about books is they come when we need them. And a particular book finds you or you'll find it when you needed it the most. It's like magic.

A lot of people in this world are not really living. They go to school. They work their asses off to the point of exhaustion. They have so called friends or acquaintances. They are in a relationship. They are doing things continuously without stopping and thinking, "Is this really what I want? Is this really the real me?" And then there are some who wants to get out but don't know how to start. And some who knows how to start but too afraid to move.

But why do we do it to ourselves? Why do we choose to be miserable when we can choose to be happy? And being happy is about being true, shredding those masks and layers that the culture imposed on us. As a great mentor once told a young man,"If the culture doesn't work. Don't buy it." And as I quote Zafon, "People complicate their own lives as if living isn't complicated enough."

Sometimes, when I'm walking through streets, or riding in a bus, I watch people. As they hurry for their 8:00 jobs with their tired eyes and exhusted faces. I always ask this in my head, "Are they happy? Are they content?" And then I'll ask myself, "Am I?" "Is this the life I want?"

Authenticity and happiness are the best beauty products out there. And being true with everyone, especially with ourselves makes our heart lighter, gives glow to our faces and passion to our lives.

[Angelc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually consider it a spoiler to reveal too much more than what the back cover of a book delivers, but this book is about bulimia. I thought I knew what bulimia was before I read this book, but I realize now I barely knew anything. The author paints a gruesome look at all of the dirty, embarrassing details of the eating disorder, without sugar coating anything. She creates an honest, and still very compassionate, view of a young girl with bulimia.

I think this book could be really helpful if you know someone with this eating disorder. It really helps to understand what the disease is and what the person is going through.

Hannah's relationship with her dad is so honest, especially since he is going through a disease that has many similar qualities. In the end when you can tell he finally understands, it is really bittersweet.

When Hannah goes to Ghana with her aunt, it really puts her decisions into perspective for both Hannah and the reader. I thought this was a really interesting perspective on the disease.

Jasper was too adorable as a love interest. He was much more mature and accepting than most 8th grade boys in my opinion (and probably more mature than most adults for that matter). Sometimes, I felt like Hannah was a little older than 8th grade as well. The book felt more mature than a middle grade book, so I think I would classify it as YA instead of MG.

There's so much to mention about this book and not enough space. But overall, it is an honest, compassionate look at the effects of bulimia.


ARC sent in exchange for honest review

reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grade: D


REASONS TO BE HAPPY is the type of book an adult who knows little about eating disorders would write to send a message to teenagers. Hannah, the daughter of movie stars, develops bulimia as a way to cope with the stresses of a new school and her mother's illness. In school, she hooks up with the popular mean girls, who treat her poorly, and thinks she'll be happier if she loses weight. She writes lists of positive things which make her happy, and those lists are the only redeeming part of this book.

Katrina Kittle treats bulimia as if it were the result of a diet gone wrong, rather than a serious psychiatric disorder with potentially deadly consequences. After 8 days of therapy and no mention of medical oversight, Hannah's aunt whisks her away to Ghana where she encounters orphaned children who not only speak fluent English, but also teach her to have a better body image in a matter of days. And they have a school with fast WIFI, so she can resolve relationship issues quickly through email

REASONS TO BE HAPPY tries to be a a book about our outsides being more important than our insides, but Kittle delivers the message with a sledgehammer rather than allowing Hannah to develop insights organically. I can't think of anyone to whom I might recommend this novel. Perhaps middle grade readers might enjoy this predictable story, but with so many quality books on eating disorders and recovery, I'd go in another direction.

[Irwinquiffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first decides to buy this book I never thought it would be such a powerful and deep breathtaking story based on the cover and title. Plus of how Katrina wrote the synopsis on the back of it. I have completely no idea its about a struggle of a bullimic. This book remind me a lot of Red Tears by Joanna Kendrick but instead of self harming its about Hannah's escapism by being a bulimic. this book changed my point of view of life, it have a lots of wonderful quotes that good to take as self reminder. I almost cried seeing how tough time Hannah have been through under the pressure of judgemental peeps, the death of her mom, drinking famous dad and her bulimia problem. All of the words expressed beautifully and realistically. The plots arranged nicely I couldn't stop reading and always looking forward to see what would happen next. Hannah is a lucky girl to have her understanding Aunt Izzy that playing a big role in her life to stop her secret remedy (that's what she called the bulimia in the book) I don't think she would ever stop it if her aunty wasn't there. Sorry for the spoiler but this story end like a fairytale where she finally live happily ever after with her boyfriend that love her just the way she is, her frenemies facing through hard time, the bad boy stop bugging her and more. Over all thumbs up for this book :)!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few books that inspire me to jump on my computer immediately and write a review, but this book was one of them. Katrina Kittle is one of those authors that has the power to absolutely move me with her writing, and this book was definitely no exception. There were a few unexpected moments in this book that actually brought me to tears, but not in a sappy, obvious way. Kittle really captured this girl's struggle to find herself and painted such a vivid picture of her emotional turmoil surrounding the loss of her mother and her fight with bulimia. The characters are so rich and I found that the time which the characters spent in Ghana was especially fantastic.

I can't say enough good things about this. I read the whole thing in one night because I couldn't put it down. Absolutely amazing. My only word of caution would be that it is a little graphic regarding the down and dirty details of the darker sides of bulimia.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, here's MY "reason to be happy" today - I just finished reading this young adult novel, and I loved it because it actually moved me enough to bring tears to my eyes. I think girls everywhere can identify with Hannah's insecurities, even if the details about her "Secret Remedy" are a bit frightening to read about. I especially love how, despite it all, Hannah is ultimately full of hope and happiness, and not because of any huge new change that occurs to her, but because she is finally able to find the beautiful self that was inside her the entire time. This novel will be published in October. I would highly recommend this to any teenaged girl struggling with self-image and peer pressure, or any mom who wants to discuss these issues with her daughter. It is uplifting.

[Sydney L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I have to get this out first: To anyone who is reading this, please, please, do not convince yourself that you need to change because people don't like you. Each and everyone of you are special.

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS (kind of my definition, because in the summary it didn't say anything about this)*

Anyway, this was a really good book. It was well-written. It was so descriptive about bulimia, that when it described her eating, it actually made me almost want to throw up myself, from all that sweet stuff she's eating. Though I don't know why, I liked how Hannah had a list of "Reasons to Be Happy." I actually thought of doing that myself, to remind me when I'm down, and stuff.
So overall, a really good book. :)

[Josiah Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im not really one to complain, and i did read the whole book. But this book was like reading mean girls. I mean who doesnt feel bad for that girl hannah? I certainly do. But I feel like the book was just a sort of crummy cliche sort of fit in the box book. I thought it was cool in a sense that it lets people know, oh so youre bullimic? well in africa they eat what they get and thats what she learned.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, compelling read about a girl battling with bulimia. I loved Hannah's narration. Her life wasn't perfect, she lost her way, struggling with her body image and forgot who she was. However, thankfully, with love and support she was able to overcome her demons. "Reasons to be Happy" gives a very realistic insight into the mind of a bulimic, the downward spiral to addiction and the fight to overcome it. A great read.

[Jessica Vargas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
La verdad que el tema de la bulimia siempre ha sido un tema muy delicado; y lo que no puedo negar que se expreso de manera muy completo lo que sentía la protagonista cuando pasaba por ese momento de oscurida.La vida no es fácil, pero nosotros tampoco tenemos que poner la otra mejilla. Me gusto la lista. Todos deberíamos tener una de ella para no olvidar que las pequeñas cosas son la que verdaderamente te hace feliz

[Rana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah has already compiled her list of reasons to be happy. She has it all figured out on her own..Sequins, glitter,the smell of rain as it hits concrete, whipped cream,running,slinkies,
hammocks and the list goes on.

The Daughter of two aspiring, stunningly head turning actors, she has inherited none of their charmingly good looks. Unlike her petite, slim mother, she is tall but more on the "chubby average looking girl" side with her looks.
This fact has never seemed to embitter or even bother Hannah, armed with her mother's motto "pretty is as pretty does". After all beauty is only skin deep.

When she joins a new school, she finds herself stuck with the " B-squad", a clique of three plastic girls who have set rules on how to be cool, suave and popular.Even more, hanging with them only serves to make her become conscious of her own expanding figure.
Hannah finds herself torn between their friendship and that of jasper's ("the retard",as dubbed by the
B-squad). She is also faced with the manipulative double faced Kevin, who mocks her behind her back, but tries to woo her in front of everyone else,only wanting a piece of her father's fame and glory and in a frantic quest to be in the limelight.

Hannah has devised a way to get in shape and be happy with her SR (secret remedy) by going on a wild binge followed by a purge.
Guzzle,chug, gobble, throw up, blue lights, float, trance, high.

SR Is Hannah's new confidante and the closest version she has to an actual friend. The only way she keeps her grief bottled up. This is a secret she has strived to keep away from everyone.

Not long after, Hannah's teachers become concerned as they start to notice her puffy face, blood shot eyes, greying teeth and sallow skin. As she struggles to conceal the signs from the world, She acutely becomes aware of an irritatingly sore throat and a constant nose bleed due to her newly acquired secret habit.

As events unfurl, and after a long fight with cancer, Hannah's mother passes away and she finds herself in an empty house faced with a devastated and distant father. After her mother's death, her father falls into depression and an ugly relapse with alcohol.
With Hannah's newly acquired bulimia, compulsive lying and addictive shoplifting, things start to go downhill from there.

In an attempt to postpone dealing with Hannah's concerning issues, and to get some peace of mind himself, her father decides to send her off on a plane to stay with her aunt izzy for a while, who supports her and who tries to help her deal with the debilitating Bulimia, as a past victim of anorexia herself. Meanwhile, Back home,Hannah's father falls deeper into his drunken stupor and ends locked up in jail for a car accident. His mug shots are hideous and they are everywhere.How would her so called friends and peers react when she goes back to school is all she's able to think about during her time with aunt izzy. As they spend more time together, aunt izzy manages to help her and together they are on a mission to stop this destructive habit. As a start Hannah has come up with a new name for her friend, DRH!
DRH(disgusting repulsive habit).

A journey to Africa with Joanna's aunt izzy might just be the cure to Hannah's unresolved issues and grief.

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is listed as YA, but it's closer to middle-grade. At times, it comes across a bit like "baby's first intro to eating disorders," which is probably going to seem a bit forced for older teens/adults. But it clearly means well, and for better or worse (or a bit of both), it takes a different approach from most books about people with eating disorders.

First, we have the setup--getting to know Hannah, her life, her issues, and how her downward spiral begins. This part is...underwhelming. There's nothing terribly wrong with it, that I can remember, it's just kind of bland and flat.

The second part of the book is where things get more interesting. Minor spoiler that's mentioned in a lot of other reviews, she accompanies her documentary-making aunt to Africa for a few weeks. During this time, she starts to see things from a different perspective and make progress towards recovery. This section felt more vivid than the first part, and the characters were, on average, more realistic and nuanced.

The third part, the ending, was alright. It pulled the first two parts of the book together and moved Hannah's life forward, and I was glad to see (moderate spoiler) that Hannah still struggled, and wasn't magically cured. It was a bit short, though, and while it wasn't as flat as the beginning, it was a bit of a let-down after the middle part of the book.

Caveat: Hannah receives almost zero formal treatment. If I remember correctly, she does mention seeing a counselor, but most of her recovery is done more or less on her own. I have mixed feelings about this, but I'm cautiously okay with it here. The book makes it clear that she can't just will herself to be better, she does have a support system to help her, and while she doesn't undergo treatment per se, her experience does share some of the same elements. I don't think it comes across as suggesting that treatment isn't necessary or important, but rather leans toward the idea that there are a lot of things that can help someone get better, or at least get to a place where they can start to recover. But I wouldn't fault anyone for being bothered by this, especially considering her aunt's experiences.

In short, it's fine. It's relatively positive for a book of this sort, while still being straightforward about the seriousness of various issues, and the middle portion was pretty interesting to read. I just wish the rest was stronger.

[Danya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was for my blog event Psychtember, so it's formatted a little differently than usual, to reflect the mental health theme. I've structured things as though the book is the patient and I'm giving them an assessment. Each axis is an aspect of the book that I'll give my thoughts on (characters, plot, etc.), and the validity score refers to how psychologically accurate I think the book is, with the final diagnosis being my shooting star rating. The rating still reflects my overall view of the book, using my standard rating system.

Patient: Reasons to Be Happy by Katrina Kittle

Assessment:

Axis 1. Characters

It took me a little while to get used to Hannah's voice. I felt like sometimes it was too mature, a wiser Hannah looking back, but at other times it seemed a bit too young. However, I could definitely sympathize with her, as I remember what it was like to be that age and have to deal with annoying "cool" girls like the B-Squad. It captures the feeling of being in middle school, and all the emotions that come with it, quite well.

Hannah's list of "reasons to be happy" gives us a glimpse into the Hannah that used to be, a girl who is markedly different from the Hannah mid-book. The love for life and trying new things that we see in the old Hannah gives us some idea of the girl she once was. Her pastime of building miniature cities is different, creative and gives her a more distinct character. I would have wanted to be friends with her before she gets in with the B-Squad, becomes bulimic and turns into someone else.

Jasper was sweet but struck me as very unrealistic for a young teenage guy. He was far too mature and understanding to be believable, instead coming off as more of a young girl's fantasy crush. A message about the importance of inner beauty from an adult is one thing, but it stretched my credulity too far to have it come from a guy Hannah's age.

Hannah's dad is a perfect example of how imperfect a parent can be. At one point he's a real jerk who can't see — or chooses to ignore — his daughter's situation and how much she needs help. Once he admits his failings and tries to remedy them, though, he becomes more open with his daughter and willing to listen to her.

Axis 2. Premise/plot

I enjoyed how her list of "reasons to be happy" was referred to throughout the novel; it gives the story some structure and an angle that makes it a bit more memorable amongst a sea of "eating disorder books." The trip to Africa also adds something different and fresh, giving Hannah perspective and showing her how much she has to be grateful for.

Axis 3. Writing Style

The author's intentions seemed obvious to me at times, and the sentences fairly simple, but it is a "tween" read and I don't read many of those so I'm not that familiar with that level. I also found some of the dialogue (especially exchanges with Jasper) to be inauthentic for their ages.

Axis 4. Psychological Accuracy

The scenes depicting Hannah's binging and purging were realistic to the point of being somewhat nauseating for me. Her desperate need to devour food — she'd gotten to the point of stealing food from the store — and then vomit it all up made me feel sick. Kittle's ability to evoke Hannah's emotions in me was excellent; I felt guilty and nervous like she did because it seemed like I was binging and purging right along with her. I was fascinated by the relief she felt upon purging, which demonstrated that for Hannah it was not all about her body image. She mentions a few times that she wants to be thin (especially in a misguided effort to please her mother) but I never bought it the same way that I bought her urgent need to feel the physical and emotional relief that the bulimia gave her. It's like an addiction for her, and provides a compelling reason for why Hannah continues to hurt herself this way. Often one might think, "Well, why doesn't she just stop?" but Reasons to Be Happy demonstrates that it isn't that easy.

I think one of the deepest reasons for Hannah's bulimia is that she wishes to maintain control over some aspect of her life. Her mother's got cancer, Hannah's at a new school with a nasty group of girls and she's trying to fit in and not make waves — but the one thing she does have complete control over is what she puts into, and takes out of, her body. And I thought Hannah's name for her bulimia — her "SR," or secret remedy — was a great way to demonstrate how individuals might euphemize their disorder, to make it seem okay to them even though on some level they know it's dangerous. At first, having a secret that's all hers makes Hannah feel special, but as she realizes how deeply she's stuck it begins to scare her. She no longer has control over the mechanism she's been using to exert control.

The physical symptoms Hannah demonstrates are also accurate — the "chipmunk cheeks," marks on her knuckles from induced vomiting, missed menstruation (which, by the way, I did not realize happened with bulimia as well as anorexia before I read this book), and bruising under her eyes from broken blood vessels. I wasn't sure throughout, though, what her weight situation actually
was. Is she a healthy weight for her age/height? Is she thin? Overweight?

Validity Score: How psychologically accurate was Reasons to Be Happy?



Axis 5. Miscellaneous

I did think her aunt Izzy should have done more to get Hannah help. Yes, she takes her to a mental health professional, but Hannah doesn't see the therapist for very long before she's shipped off to Africa. While Africa does help Hannah to find herself again, and acts as a distraction, most teens won't be able to just run off to Africa if they have bulimia. Some more emphasis on the importance of getting professional help might have been more constructive.

Patient shares symptoms with: Purge by Sarah Darer Littman, Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Diagnosis: 3.5 shooting stars.

For more information about bulimia, see here.

Disclaimer: I received this book for review from the publisher.

For the full original version of this review, see my blog, A Tapestry of Words.