What do you think?
Rate this book
Losing Face
Losing Face takes the form of Word documents, interspersed with emails. It covers the accident and recovery of Cass, who sustains terrible facial injuries in a car crash, including the loss of an eye. Her friend Em supports her throughout and the two very different girls struggle in their own ways to cope as Cass undergoes surgery, eventually returning to a mixed reception in school. Throughout the story, friendship and values are challenged, particularly through Cass's relationships with her mother and with her boyfriend, Spider. Courage is redefined and the triumphant final chapters celebrate that life is worth living. New beginnings and new relationships are promised.
239 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2012
125 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 15, 2018
I really loved this YA book. It’s the story of two teenage girls, Cass and Em, who are trying to overcome the trauma of a road traffic accident. Caught up with a group of wayward teens, they bundle into two cars. Cass is delighted when Spider, the older boy she fancies, asks her to ride with him. Em travels with the more sensible Jock, but still the two cars race each other along the A14 until the inevitable happens and Spider crashes his car with devastating consequences.
The book is told from the alternating points of view of Cass, who loses an eye and is left with a devastating facial disfigurement, and Em who witnesses the crash and its immediate aftermath and tries to support her friend through the months of recovery. Both suffer from nightmares and flash backs and a social worker suggests they should write down their recollections. I particularly liked the way the story unravels through the girls’ email conversations.
I had the pleasure of buying this book directly from the author when she was speaking at the Bury St Edmunds Literary Festival. She’s a clinical psychologist and wrote the book to help young girls who have a facial disfigurement or another visual difference. It’s a rip-roaring story which covers many themes, including the value of friendships, bullying, the worth of the individual and the impact that a traumatic accident can have on the whole family.
The book is told from the alternating points of view of Cass, who loses an eye and is left with a devastating facial disfigurement, and Em who witnesses the crash and its immediate aftermath and tries to support her friend through the months of recovery. Both suffer from nightmares and flash backs and a social worker suggests they should write down their recollections. I particularly liked the way the story unravels through the girls’ email conversations.
I had the pleasure of buying this book directly from the author when she was speaking at the Bury St Edmunds Literary Festival. She’s a clinical psychologist and wrote the book to help young girls who have a facial disfigurement or another visual difference. It’s a rip-roaring story which covers many themes, including the value of friendships, bullying, the worth of the individual and the impact that a traumatic accident can have on the whole family.
December 22, 2014
Unfamiliar as I am with the YA genre, I confess to having been unsure about how I would react to Annie Try's style when I started to read Losing Face. I quickly discovered that my fears were unfounded. Written in the form of text messages and emailed ‘chapters’, it was quite unlike any book I had come across before. Far from detracting from the narrative, however, I found these first-person reactions to the terrible accident that shattered Cass’s life lent the story an intimacy and immediacy which was both profound and moving. I must commend the author for her skill in this respect.
But if the style was skilful, the observation of human nature was more so. The angst felt by Cass as she endeavoured to come to terms with the devastation of her facial injuries was a sentiment to which we may all relate. We are visual creatures and, no matter how critical we may profess to be about the prominence of ‘image’ in today’s world of fashion and celebrity, the fact is that we’re hard-wired to making snap judgements based on appearance. Indeed, our very identity may be threatened. ‘It doesn’t matter what you look like – it’s what’s in your head that counts,’ says Cass’s friend Em, at one point, realising the moment the words are out of her mouth that she’s made a mistake.
The subtle nuances as we observe Cass’s mother’s reactions to her daughter’s loss of self-image, are beautifully described, as is the unfailing concern and support of Cass’s friend, Em – a girl with her own traumas to contend with. Willing all three to reach a point of acceptance and reconciliation with what has happened, I found the book did not disappoint. On the contrary. It ticked all the boxes come the end. This is a book I would highly commend, and I look forward to reading Annie Try’s next novel.
But if the style was skilful, the observation of human nature was more so. The angst felt by Cass as she endeavoured to come to terms with the devastation of her facial injuries was a sentiment to which we may all relate. We are visual creatures and, no matter how critical we may profess to be about the prominence of ‘image’ in today’s world of fashion and celebrity, the fact is that we’re hard-wired to making snap judgements based on appearance. Indeed, our very identity may be threatened. ‘It doesn’t matter what you look like – it’s what’s in your head that counts,’ says Cass’s friend Em, at one point, realising the moment the words are out of her mouth that she’s made a mistake.
The subtle nuances as we observe Cass’s mother’s reactions to her daughter’s loss of self-image, are beautifully described, as is the unfailing concern and support of Cass’s friend, Em – a girl with her own traumas to contend with. Willing all three to reach a point of acceptance and reconciliation with what has happened, I found the book did not disappoint. On the contrary. It ticked all the boxes come the end. This is a book I would highly commend, and I look forward to reading Annie Try’s next novel.
January 17, 2018
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Losing Face is not the kind of book I'd normally read, neither romance or historical romance but I was engrossed from the very first page. Entirely 'unputable downable' It follows the tragic car accident of a very young teenager, Cass and her attempts to come to terms with the complete severity of her injuries with the help of her family and her best friend, Em or Emma. The book is written following a series of emails and short chapters. I thought that I would find this distracting but this isn't the case at all. This format is completely suitable for a dialogue of experiences between two very young girls. As a former psychologist, Annie Try uses all of her skills to get inside the minds of the two girls, especially Cass and she does it so well that I really feel I have known them both.
June 24, 2012
MY REVIEW
First of all where I got the book? I received this book to red and review from John Hunt Publishing, so thankyou for this beautiful book.
I like the cover which obviously represents the undamaged side of Cass's face, the side she is still happy to show the world after the accident.
I have to say I kept looking at the cover and wondering who it reminded me of and its, the actress from Home & Away that played "Sally". The cover also focuses on Cass's only eye as she has to have her right eye removed after the accident.
Now to the book, as always I will try my best to give my opinion without giving away any more than is discussed in the blurb. I'll be totally honest, I was unsure as to whether I would like the format, but I was pleasantly surprised as it works really well. You have a short e-mail from Cass to Em or vice versa and then a chapter or two of how they were feeling about certain events.
The car accident is awful and the injuries Cass is left with horrific for any teenage girl, in fact for any aged person to have to come to terms with.
I loved the chatty way the chapters and e-mails were written, you could really imagine the teens going through it all. You literally felt the girls moods, and emotions with them.
I seriously wanted to throttle the teacher that took the assembly "to prepare" the students for Cass's return to school. Why are some adults so dumb? I also want to seriously slap Miranda on behalf of Cass and Em too. Miranda is the "mean girl" in the school that picks on anyone that is "different" in any way. Em falls into that category as she lives with a foster mum. Of course after the accident Cass really falls into "different" category. I found it interesting that it seemed to be the guys such as Josh and Rob, in the book that handled Cass's accident and her feelings after it much better than some of the girls. Of course Spider you just want to shake as he is so very stupid with the comments he makes to Cass.
The book shows Cass, down, depressed, devastated, and at times feeling lonely. Yet the book is also very positive as its show Cass's acceptance of what has happened and her courage and bravery to deal with the many awkward incidents and obstacles she has to overcome to continue her life.
So did I enjoy the book? I loved it. Would I recommend it? Yes, it should be on the school curriculum to be read by all. Would I read more by Annie Try? Definitely.
First of all where I got the book? I received this book to red and review from John Hunt Publishing, so thankyou for this beautiful book.
I like the cover which obviously represents the undamaged side of Cass's face, the side she is still happy to show the world after the accident.
I have to say I kept looking at the cover and wondering who it reminded me of and its, the actress from Home & Away that played "Sally". The cover also focuses on Cass's only eye as she has to have her right eye removed after the accident.
Now to the book, as always I will try my best to give my opinion without giving away any more than is discussed in the blurb. I'll be totally honest, I was unsure as to whether I would like the format, but I was pleasantly surprised as it works really well. You have a short e-mail from Cass to Em or vice versa and then a chapter or two of how they were feeling about certain events.
The car accident is awful and the injuries Cass is left with horrific for any teenage girl, in fact for any aged person to have to come to terms with.
I loved the chatty way the chapters and e-mails were written, you could really imagine the teens going through it all. You literally felt the girls moods, and emotions with them.
I seriously wanted to throttle the teacher that took the assembly "to prepare" the students for Cass's return to school. Why are some adults so dumb? I also want to seriously slap Miranda on behalf of Cass and Em too. Miranda is the "mean girl" in the school that picks on anyone that is "different" in any way. Em falls into that category as she lives with a foster mum. Of course after the accident Cass really falls into "different" category. I found it interesting that it seemed to be the guys such as Josh and Rob, in the book that handled Cass's accident and her feelings after it much better than some of the girls. Of course Spider you just want to shake as he is so very stupid with the comments he makes to Cass.
The book shows Cass, down, depressed, devastated, and at times feeling lonely. Yet the book is also very positive as its show Cass's acceptance of what has happened and her courage and bravery to deal with the many awkward incidents and obstacles she has to overcome to continue her life.
So did I enjoy the book? I loved it. Would I recommend it? Yes, it should be on the school curriculum to be read by all. Would I read more by Annie Try? Definitely.
June 15, 2012
This is a story of friendship, family and overcoming adversity. Written in the form of MSN Messenger exchanges and emails, Annie Try’s novel tells the story of Cass who, following a horrific car accident, has to come to terms with the loss of an eye and severe facial scarring.
Cass is helped by her friend Em who is also having difficulties with her foster family and biological mother. Throw into the mix the usual issues like bullying, coursework, exams and boys and you have a realistic portrayal of teenage life.
Although I felt the possibility of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder could have been explored more fully, Try gets away with it because the first-person narrative allows her to say what the girls want to say – and omit what they may be holding back. These two girls make me remember what it felt like to be at school, thinking that everything that happened on any given day could potentially affect the rest of my life – but for Em and Cass that may actually be true.
The character of Cass’s shady “boyfriend” is written well – he’s so edgy and elusive and Try’s portrayal of him gives the reader a great insight into how confused Cass must be feeling.
It’s an original and insightful read.
Cass is helped by her friend Em who is also having difficulties with her foster family and biological mother. Throw into the mix the usual issues like bullying, coursework, exams and boys and you have a realistic portrayal of teenage life.
Although I felt the possibility of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder could have been explored more fully, Try gets away with it because the first-person narrative allows her to say what the girls want to say – and omit what they may be holding back. These two girls make me remember what it felt like to be at school, thinking that everything that happened on any given day could potentially affect the rest of my life – but for Em and Cass that may actually be true.
The character of Cass’s shady “boyfriend” is written well – he’s so edgy and elusive and Try’s portrayal of him gives the reader a great insight into how confused Cass must be feeling.
It’s an original and insightful read.
September 8, 2012
This book is a hidden gem. Set out as short emails and word documents written by two girls, they tell of story of 15-year-old Cass, her car accident, and her recovery with a "facial disfigurement".
It is a remarkable story, although it is fictional, it is written so realisiticly in the girls' own words.
The only problem with this book is that I wanted more. More of the story on the end, more on Spider and his feelings, and, just more. It becomes clear to me now that if I got what I wanted, and Annie Try wrote more, this book would never end. That shows just how good the book, writing and characters were, and how Cass and Em can never have a true ending.
That being said, the ending to this book was marvellous, and maybe that was why I wanted more. But I won't tell you the ending, you guys will have to read this amazing book and find out yourselves.
It is a remarkable story, although it is fictional, it is written so realisiticly in the girls' own words.
The only problem with this book is that I wanted more. More of the story on the end, more on Spider and his feelings, and, just more. It becomes clear to me now that if I got what I wanted, and Annie Try wrote more, this book would never end. That shows just how good the book, writing and characters were, and how Cass and Em can never have a true ending.
That being said, the ending to this book was marvellous, and maybe that was why I wanted more. But I won't tell you the ending, you guys will have to read this amazing book and find out yourselves.
March 29, 2012
An original and touching first novel by Annie Try, I enjoyed this a lot. The story is told in a series of emails between teenagers Cass and Em, in the aftermath of a life-changing crash that has left Cass disfigured. The exchanges are convincing, compelling and heartfelt, and the characters three-dimensional. I was drawn in from the start. An assured debut.
Want to read
May 24, 2012Oh man, I have got to get my hands on this book somehow!!!!! It sounds amazing! :)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews