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Both Sides
Alex is a 16-year-old girl whose world is suddenly turned upside down in Both Sides, by award-winning author Paul E. Stawski. Radical brain surgery is the only option. Time is running out and Alex's mind is racing: will she still be the same person when she comes out on the other side?
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2013
493 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 25, 2013
This book had me hooked from the first page. It is a very involving story about a girl who has been in an accident - and it's told from "inside her head." She is in a coma but she can hear the doctors discussing how to save her. It makes you wonder how much someone can really hear in a coma. And the doctors are talking about putting her brain in another girl's body. That would have been futuristic a few years ago but now they can do face transplants, so who knows what is next! A really good read!!
August 16, 2013
I read this book in one sitting! Stawski takes you on a page turning, psychologically troubling struggle of a girl trapped inside the body of someone she despises. Both Sides offers an eerie look at self-love and body image while recovering from a traumatic accident.
This is my first Goodreads Giveaway book and I am completely pleased!
This is my first Goodreads Giveaway book and I am completely pleased!
April 13, 2015
(Copy provided by Word Slinger Publicity and the Author - my thoughts are completely my own.)
Both Sides follows a girl named Alexandra Featherstone who gets into a ski accident when her lift falls and she along with another girl tumble to the ground. For the first couple chapters the story is narrated by Alex as she experiences this out of body experience where she can see everything that's happening including her broken body on the hospital bed. The doctors tell her parents that her body is broken beyond repair while the other girl in the accident, Sandra, is brain dead. They propose radical brain surgery, the process of transplanting Alex's brain into Sandra's body.
So that alone is a very interesting concept for a story especially with the surgery process of transplanting a brain to another body with the intention that the human coming out of the surgery is the one the brain belongs to. However, the delivery of this book didn't exactly meet my expectations. The writing style was really choppy which could have been for effect but didn't work for me. It could have been used to convey the fact that Alex was first in a coma and then underwent brain surgery and is now trying to adjust to her new body BUT it made some parts really difficult to read and the whole story seemed choppy.
Then there's Alex who I tried to connect with but ended up really annoying me. She's really whiny and judgemental and expects everything to just revolve around her. When she comes through surgery and wakes up - she throws a fit because she has Sandra's awful voice and her mousy hair. Her infatuation with outward beauty really started getting on my nerves and makes me wish that Sandra is the one who wakes up and not Alex. Despite that, Alex's character has a crazy strong narrative voice which really drives the story along.
There's also the whole concept of the virtual reality world that Alex creates to get in touch with her new self. It's this program where outsiders (doctors) can see and record everything, but can't see through Alex's eyes. Instead they see the world she creates with her mind. That fact alone is really confusing. Another thing that really confused me was the whole legal background behind this type of surgery. Usually, brain surgery occurs when the owner of that brain passes away and decides to donate his/her organ to one who needs it, but the owner is not connected as in personality take over connected. Where's the legality behind this? Sandra's parents try to interact with Alex but it's just assumed that Alex's parents have the guardian rights because Alex is the one coming out alive? There were just so many unanswered questions that the story kind of fell in on itself.
The ending was a step forward to a "Better Alex" as she adjusts to Sandra's body and gets dispatched from the hospital. I do own the second book so I'll definitely be picking it up in the near future to check out what happens next on Alex's journey.
Read my reviews at:
https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com
Both Sides follows a girl named Alexandra Featherstone who gets into a ski accident when her lift falls and she along with another girl tumble to the ground. For the first couple chapters the story is narrated by Alex as she experiences this out of body experience where she can see everything that's happening including her broken body on the hospital bed. The doctors tell her parents that her body is broken beyond repair while the other girl in the accident, Sandra, is brain dead. They propose radical brain surgery, the process of transplanting Alex's brain into Sandra's body.
So that alone is a very interesting concept for a story especially with the surgery process of transplanting a brain to another body with the intention that the human coming out of the surgery is the one the brain belongs to. However, the delivery of this book didn't exactly meet my expectations. The writing style was really choppy which could have been for effect but didn't work for me. It could have been used to convey the fact that Alex was first in a coma and then underwent brain surgery and is now trying to adjust to her new body BUT it made some parts really difficult to read and the whole story seemed choppy.
Then there's Alex who I tried to connect with but ended up really annoying me. She's really whiny and judgemental and expects everything to just revolve around her. When she comes through surgery and wakes up - she throws a fit because she has Sandra's awful voice and her mousy hair. Her infatuation with outward beauty really started getting on my nerves and makes me wish that Sandra is the one who wakes up and not Alex. Despite that, Alex's character has a crazy strong narrative voice which really drives the story along.
There's also the whole concept of the virtual reality world that Alex creates to get in touch with her new self. It's this program where outsiders (doctors) can see and record everything, but can't see through Alex's eyes. Instead they see the world she creates with her mind. That fact alone is really confusing. Another thing that really confused me was the whole legal background behind this type of surgery. Usually, brain surgery occurs when the owner of that brain passes away and decides to donate his/her organ to one who needs it, but the owner is not connected as in personality take over connected. Where's the legality behind this? Sandra's parents try to interact with Alex but it's just assumed that Alex's parents have the guardian rights because Alex is the one coming out alive? There were just so many unanswered questions that the story kind of fell in on itself.
The ending was a step forward to a "Better Alex" as she adjusts to Sandra's body and gets dispatched from the hospital. I do own the second book so I'll definitely be picking it up in the near future to check out what happens next on Alex's journey.
Read my reviews at:
https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com
November 5, 2013
I just knew from reading the description that I was going to be engrossed in this book once I started. I was not in the least bit wrong. This was a very interesting perspective to have written a story from and I was impressed that even with that being said, it was an easy read for me. I did not feel like I was confused or that I had to reread anything to get the point that the author was trying to make.
It is a very interesting concept to think about when the two main characters, Alex and Sandra, are involved in an accident on a school trip. One of the girls has brain damage and the other one has a body that will just never work the same again. The question then arises, do they take the healthy brain and transplant it into the healthy body? I don’t know what I would even have done or wanted done to me in a situation like this. The new girl would have the same brain but would have the body of another that she went to school with. It had me asking myself over and over if I would have wanted this done to me or would I rather just have been let go. The families would have to be traumatized after something like this and which family would get the “new girl”. It made for a very thought evoking read from the start, that’s for sure.
I loved that the author gave the perspective through Alex’s eyes as she lies there in a coma. Alex is fully aware of what is going on and being said around her and she is panicking inside. I would have been doing the same thing. There would be pure terror as other people were deciding my fate and I could do nothing to stop it even if I wanted to. I was also impressed with the amount of detail that the author went into when describing the scenes. He had to have put a lot of effort into making sure that everything he was talking about and describing was indeed correct. This book has brought my mind to asking tons of questions about what I would want for myself if put in the same situation with someone else. I know that as you read it, you will also be asking yourself the same questions.
I recommend this book for anyone that has ever had a tough go at life or just wanted to read a book that will make you think. You will be right there with Alex as she goes through the trials and tribulations of knowing that she has lost a lot and then what she now has to grin and become. I loved this book and I can not wait to get my hands on Taking Sides. I want to know more about the story right now. It will be worth the wait though! This one gets a FIVE star review from me!
I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
It is a very interesting concept to think about when the two main characters, Alex and Sandra, are involved in an accident on a school trip. One of the girls has brain damage and the other one has a body that will just never work the same again. The question then arises, do they take the healthy brain and transplant it into the healthy body? I don’t know what I would even have done or wanted done to me in a situation like this. The new girl would have the same brain but would have the body of another that she went to school with. It had me asking myself over and over if I would have wanted this done to me or would I rather just have been let go. The families would have to be traumatized after something like this and which family would get the “new girl”. It made for a very thought evoking read from the start, that’s for sure.
I loved that the author gave the perspective through Alex’s eyes as she lies there in a coma. Alex is fully aware of what is going on and being said around her and she is panicking inside. I would have been doing the same thing. There would be pure terror as other people were deciding my fate and I could do nothing to stop it even if I wanted to. I was also impressed with the amount of detail that the author went into when describing the scenes. He had to have put a lot of effort into making sure that everything he was talking about and describing was indeed correct. This book has brought my mind to asking tons of questions about what I would want for myself if put in the same situation with someone else. I know that as you read it, you will also be asking yourself the same questions.
I recommend this book for anyone that has ever had a tough go at life or just wanted to read a book that will make you think. You will be right there with Alex as she goes through the trials and tribulations of knowing that she has lost a lot and then what she now has to grin and become. I loved this book and I can not wait to get my hands on Taking Sides. I want to know more about the story right now. It will be worth the wait though! This one gets a FIVE star review from me!
I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
March 25, 2015
This was a book that sounded different than anything I have came across before. The idea of a brain transplant was amazing and I had to read into it. I was very surprised by how good it was.
Alex is a girl that I don't know what to think of. She seems so stubborn the whole time and seems to be very full of herself. When she finds out that she is going to be in Sandra's body she seems to go even more downhill. The way she talks though, you can't help but continue to read on throughout the pages. I have a feeling she is going to grow a lot in the next book into someone that will be wonderful.
Sandra you don't get to see much in the book. You get little glimpses of her, but I really don't know much about her. I would love to see more of her in the next book, hopefully!
The doctors seem to be pretty stubborn as well. Dr. Clark comes across very pushy and doing things that she might not be doing. Dr. Hausley seems very stuck up and sure of himself. It comes across the whole time and that annoys me a bit. Dr. B seemed to be my favorite but I didn't see her much after the surgery was over. It turned more into a Dr. Clark show after she woke up. I am still shocked at all they were able to do even if it was fictional. One day it might be able to happen in the real world.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was written in a way that you get right into Alex's head from the first page you get a glimpse at who she is. She is very witty and as I said above very stubborn. As you read, you get glimpses of fear, though I don't think she really wants you to see that side of her. She doesn't know where life is going to go and that seems to terrify her. She isn't the girl she was when the accident happened and she has so much more to go.
This is a book that anyone could enjoy. It is easy to read but has medical issues put throughout it. You are able to follow it no matter your medical education level. It makes you feel good to be able to follow it along. The author does a great job of writing it in a way that it flows and is easy to understand. You get to see that life isn't always how it seems and that you need to love the life you have. You may never know when it could all be changed forever.
The book was ended in a way that you know all the answers that you were waiting on in this book will show up in the next one. I can't wait to figure out what happens in the world of Alex and Sandra.
Alex is a girl that I don't know what to think of. She seems so stubborn the whole time and seems to be very full of herself. When she finds out that she is going to be in Sandra's body she seems to go even more downhill. The way she talks though, you can't help but continue to read on throughout the pages. I have a feeling she is going to grow a lot in the next book into someone that will be wonderful.
Sandra you don't get to see much in the book. You get little glimpses of her, but I really don't know much about her. I would love to see more of her in the next book, hopefully!
The doctors seem to be pretty stubborn as well. Dr. Clark comes across very pushy and doing things that she might not be doing. Dr. Hausley seems very stuck up and sure of himself. It comes across the whole time and that annoys me a bit. Dr. B seemed to be my favorite but I didn't see her much after the surgery was over. It turned more into a Dr. Clark show after she woke up. I am still shocked at all they were able to do even if it was fictional. One day it might be able to happen in the real world.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was written in a way that you get right into Alex's head from the first page you get a glimpse at who she is. She is very witty and as I said above very stubborn. As you read, you get glimpses of fear, though I don't think she really wants you to see that side of her. She doesn't know where life is going to go and that seems to terrify her. She isn't the girl she was when the accident happened and she has so much more to go.
This is a book that anyone could enjoy. It is easy to read but has medical issues put throughout it. You are able to follow it no matter your medical education level. It makes you feel good to be able to follow it along. The author does a great job of writing it in a way that it flows and is easy to understand. You get to see that life isn't always how it seems and that you need to love the life you have. You may never know when it could all be changed forever.
The book was ended in a way that you know all the answers that you were waiting on in this book will show up in the next one. I can't wait to figure out what happens in the world of Alex and Sandra.
November 12, 2013
My Review:
Both Side by Paul E. Stawski made me shiver! The entrapment is a living nightmare. Sandra’s body is dying while Alex has the health brain - Dr B wants to save someone.. Time is running out and there is only one solution. When reading this book, ethics, morals and regligious beliefs were far from my mind, instead, I agonized for what was going to take place.
It is very well written transporting the reader to all emotional levels. Families experiencing defeat and hope while Dr. B becomes a hero in my eyes. Then I wondered if one day, in the very near future, we shall witness such miracles.
I do recommend this book to just about anyone, including teens, who like engaging stories that can become reality – it’s working on monkeys. The Holidays/Christmas around the corner, give yourself a wonderful gift, Both Sides by Paul E. Stawski, or, perhaps as gift to someone special on your list. Happy Reading!
Adriana LG
Both Side by Paul E. Stawski made me shiver! The entrapment is a living nightmare. Sandra’s body is dying while Alex has the health brain - Dr B wants to save someone.. Time is running out and there is only one solution. When reading this book, ethics, morals and regligious beliefs were far from my mind, instead, I agonized for what was going to take place.
It is very well written transporting the reader to all emotional levels. Families experiencing defeat and hope while Dr. B becomes a hero in my eyes. Then I wondered if one day, in the very near future, we shall witness such miracles.
I do recommend this book to just about anyone, including teens, who like engaging stories that can become reality – it’s working on monkeys. The Holidays/Christmas around the corner, give yourself a wonderful gift, Both Sides by Paul E. Stawski, or, perhaps as gift to someone special on your list. Happy Reading!
Adriana LG
July 12, 2013
I won this book in the Goodreads Giveaway. I REALLY liked this book. It is the story of two girls who are in an accident as a cable car on a ski slope becomes dislodged. One is brain dead with the other organs being healthy. The other girl's brain is intact (she is able to hear, think, and feel those around her). In a coma, she must come to grips with the procedure being proposed by the doctor tending to her. Very well written; the author manages to get inside of the teenage girl's head and share her thoughts and feelings with clarity, humor and insight!
I cannot wait to read the sequel, "Taking Sides".
Thanks so much for this goo read!
I cannot wait to read the sequel, "Taking Sides".
Thanks so much for this goo read!
April 22, 2015
Imagine coming back to life in another body? Imagine the possibilities of a transferring a brain from a broken body into that of a body donor, one who had been brain dead. That's what this book is about.
Alex and Sandra, two teenagers, were riding to the top of a mountain when their cable car broke. Both girls were seriously injured. One was declared brain dead while the other has sustained massive injuries to the body. The first-ever brain transplant is attempted, and it's a success.
Or is it? How would you feel if you woke up wearing a different skin? Worse - wearing the body of someone you hated?
Talk about a perfect debate book.
Alex and Sandra, two teenagers, were riding to the top of a mountain when their cable car broke. Both girls were seriously injured. One was declared brain dead while the other has sustained massive injuries to the body. The first-ever brain transplant is attempted, and it's a success.
Or is it? How would you feel if you woke up wearing a different skin? Worse - wearing the body of someone you hated?
Talk about a perfect debate book.
July 18, 2013
Paul E. Stawski's novel, Both Sides, is a must read for many reasons. It's riveting plot twists make this book irresistible and I was unable to put it down. The entire story captured my attention and the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter made me want to read more. Fast paced and suspenseful, Both Sides is a must read for anyone looking for a great novel.
December 14, 2015
When I read the book description I just knew that this would be a book I would enjoy to read due to the unusual story line. I am pleased to say the book exceeded my expectations and I was gripped from page one.
Two girls, Alex and Sandra, from the opposite end of the social spectrum are involved in a tragic accident on a school trip, one girl is left brain damaged the other is left with a shattered and broken body. Do the surgeons leave both girls to die or do they transplant the healthy brain from one girl into the healthy body of the other. This is where the numerous 'what if' questions started as I asked myself throughout the book how I would feel, who would this patient now be, who would now be her parents, how this would affect family and friends and that's even before the whole ethics of the issue.
An absolutely fabulous read from such a talented author as he brings the whole story to you through the eyes of Alex as she lay both in her coma as well as her recovery efforts. You could feel Alex's sheer panic and terror as she is aware of all the goings on around her, feeling like she doesn't exist as everyone else makes decisions on her behalf. The feel of disgust being inside a body that she cannot bear to be in, her life that she took for granted will never be the same again.
As you read the book it becomes very clear that a lot of research has been done by the author for a story that will inevitably bring questions, discussions and debates to anyone who reads it as well as opening it up to those around them. I do have to include that I would absolutely love to take the virtual therapy that Alex undertook, to escape from the world into another place, how wonderful that would be.
A highly recommended thought provoking read as you feel as you are there besides Alex as she struggles to come to terms with all that she has lost and what she now has become. I cannot wait to read the next book to see how the author will carry the story on for Alex and all those affected by the tragedy.
Two girls, Alex and Sandra, from the opposite end of the social spectrum are involved in a tragic accident on a school trip, one girl is left brain damaged the other is left with a shattered and broken body. Do the surgeons leave both girls to die or do they transplant the healthy brain from one girl into the healthy body of the other. This is where the numerous 'what if' questions started as I asked myself throughout the book how I would feel, who would this patient now be, who would now be her parents, how this would affect family and friends and that's even before the whole ethics of the issue.
An absolutely fabulous read from such a talented author as he brings the whole story to you through the eyes of Alex as she lay both in her coma as well as her recovery efforts. You could feel Alex's sheer panic and terror as she is aware of all the goings on around her, feeling like she doesn't exist as everyone else makes decisions on her behalf. The feel of disgust being inside a body that she cannot bear to be in, her life that she took for granted will never be the same again.
As you read the book it becomes very clear that a lot of research has been done by the author for a story that will inevitably bring questions, discussions and debates to anyone who reads it as well as opening it up to those around them. I do have to include that I would absolutely love to take the virtual therapy that Alex undertook, to escape from the world into another place, how wonderful that would be.
A highly recommended thought provoking read as you feel as you are there besides Alex as she struggles to come to terms with all that she has lost and what she now has become. I cannot wait to read the next book to see how the author will carry the story on for Alex and all those affected by the tragedy.
November 7, 2013
Both Sides by Paul E. Stawski is bound to become a best seller with teens. Teens will love that is about a girl their age and that the point of view is from the teen’s perspective. I definitely found that the book sounded like a teen, and not an adult trying to sound like a teen. It is a quick read, and not full of long difficult paragraphs that most non-readers are more likely to read.
Teachers and parents will love the discussions that this book initiates. You have so many ethical questions like whether or not it is a good idea to transplant a brain. Then there is the concept of the soul – is it attached to the brain or is it separate. Another question would be is who are you. Is who you are based on the way you look or who you are inside. Who should have custody if you are a minor? Who should have to deal with the funeral and expenses? Which family will be responsible for all of the medical expenses? And so many more questions.
This is definitely a book that can generate plenty of critical thinking, while entertaining the reader. While I do not know if this fits in with “Common Core” standards (especially since they just want non fiction), I think it would be perfect for English classes. Kids would love reading this, and teachers would love all of the questions the story brings up. It can be related to the real world. Plenty of essay questions can be generated from the book. So, what is not to like about using this in the classroom.
Both Sides grabs your attention from the very beginning. You will have a hard time putting this one down. I can not wait for the next book. I definitely recommend this book. I know that is geared towards teens but I think just about anyone will enjoy this book. I have already passed this one on to an English teacher where I am a substitute teacher. However, this is one I will want back, and want to hang on to. I give this one 5 stars.
I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
Teachers and parents will love the discussions that this book initiates. You have so many ethical questions like whether or not it is a good idea to transplant a brain. Then there is the concept of the soul – is it attached to the brain or is it separate. Another question would be is who are you. Is who you are based on the way you look or who you are inside. Who should have custody if you are a minor? Who should have to deal with the funeral and expenses? Which family will be responsible for all of the medical expenses? And so many more questions.
This is definitely a book that can generate plenty of critical thinking, while entertaining the reader. While I do not know if this fits in with “Common Core” standards (especially since they just want non fiction), I think it would be perfect for English classes. Kids would love reading this, and teachers would love all of the questions the story brings up. It can be related to the real world. Plenty of essay questions can be generated from the book. So, what is not to like about using this in the classroom.
Both Sides grabs your attention from the very beginning. You will have a hard time putting this one down. I can not wait for the next book. I definitely recommend this book. I know that is geared towards teens but I think just about anyone will enjoy this book. I have already passed this one on to an English teacher where I am a substitute teacher. However, this is one I will want back, and want to hang on to. I give this one 5 stars.
I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
November 10, 2013
Let me caution you--should you choose to read this book, it will probably be very different from anything you have ever read before. But on the flip side, how many of us remember the old cartoons where they did a brain transplant? Or better still, have you ever speculated about what life would be like in someone else's body? As I read this book, I have to admit that I was a little unnerved at times since I realized that the day could actually come when science fiction becomes reality. After all, what George Orwell and Jules Verne wrote about has essentially come to pass.
As a young adult book, this book serves up a controversial story line that really insists that the reader thinks. There are no bedroom scenes, and there is some profanity (thanks for not spelling out the "f" word!). I was most intrigued about Alex's thoughts during the time she was in a coma. And although I had to somewhat suspend reality, I was never bored during the book, and I can hardly wait to read the sequel! The book made me consider so many things, and I doubt I will forget this story any time soon. I found myself truly wondering what it is that makes me who I am. Is it all about my brain, my body, or is it possibly something else? And that was the author's intention after all. He never takes a side; he is completely fair and balanced in his treatment of this issue.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
As a young adult book, this book serves up a controversial story line that really insists that the reader thinks. There are no bedroom scenes, and there is some profanity (thanks for not spelling out the "f" word!). I was most intrigued about Alex's thoughts during the time she was in a coma. And although I had to somewhat suspend reality, I was never bored during the book, and I can hardly wait to read the sequel! The book made me consider so many things, and I doubt I will forget this story any time soon. I found myself truly wondering what it is that makes me who I am. Is it all about my brain, my body, or is it possibly something else? And that was the author's intention after all. He never takes a side; he is completely fair and balanced in his treatment of this issue.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
November 4, 2013
Both Sides Review by Crunchy Green Adventures
~ Author Paul E Stawski offers readers a shocking concept: One girl… from two bodies.~
Alex is THE popular girl. At sixteen she does not follow the in crowd… she IS the in crowd. Her life is perfect. From head to toe, her style, her looks, even her home life seems perfect.
Until
Alex is on a school field trip to a ski resort, when she goes to get in the lift she expects to be with her best friend. However she gets forced to sit with a nobody Sandra. Sandra is plain, has zero style and quite frankly Alex is embarrassed to be seen sitting next to her.
Then
There is only darkness for Alex. She cannot move, or even open her eyes…but she can hear. And what she hears is extremely disturbing. The sounds of people searching for her, voices screaming, retching, and sobbing. Then again silence…. Between intermittent wakings Alex hears doctors speaking. They are discussing a never attempted plan- take one good brain, and put it in one good body-. Alex cannot protest, just wait.. Wait to know the outcome. Will she lives? How will she feel? But most importantly if she does live….who will she be?
I fell deeply in love with this book! I read it in one sitting not able to put it down! The characters were very well developed and the plot super engaging. I am on edge waiting for Mr. Stawski’s next book!
Disclosure: I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
~ Author Paul E Stawski offers readers a shocking concept: One girl… from two bodies.~
Alex is THE popular girl. At sixteen she does not follow the in crowd… she IS the in crowd. Her life is perfect. From head to toe, her style, her looks, even her home life seems perfect.
Until
Alex is on a school field trip to a ski resort, when she goes to get in the lift she expects to be with her best friend. However she gets forced to sit with a nobody Sandra. Sandra is plain, has zero style and quite frankly Alex is embarrassed to be seen sitting next to her.
Then
There is only darkness for Alex. She cannot move, or even open her eyes…but she can hear. And what she hears is extremely disturbing. The sounds of people searching for her, voices screaming, retching, and sobbing. Then again silence…. Between intermittent wakings Alex hears doctors speaking. They are discussing a never attempted plan- take one good brain, and put it in one good body-. Alex cannot protest, just wait.. Wait to know the outcome. Will she lives? How will she feel? But most importantly if she does live….who will she be?
I fell deeply in love with this book! I read it in one sitting not able to put it down! The characters were very well developed and the plot super engaging. I am on edge waiting for Mr. Stawski’s next book!
Disclosure: I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
November 11, 2013
I don't want to give the whole story away, so I'll try to control myself. I loved this book. I am so glad I read it and that my kids are wanting to read it too. The story grabbed me and dragged me into it, not letting me go until it was done. I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out.
Quick summary of the story. Alex and Sandra have an accident. One ends up brain dead and the other has a body so badly damaged that she isn't going to make it. A big shot doctor shows up to save the day by performing a brain transplant.
The book is told from Alex's perspective. She is trapped in her mind, experiencing a lot of what is happening, but unable to communicate with her family, friends, or the hospital staff. You experience it right along with her. This book is so well written that you almost feel like it is happening to you! Then after the transplant you watch Alex struggling to deal with everything that has happened and is happening to her.
Wonderful! I recommend this book to everyone that loves a great book. It delivers a wonderfully emotional story with well developed characters that you really feel for.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. I did not have to leave a positive review.
Quick summary of the story. Alex and Sandra have an accident. One ends up brain dead and the other has a body so badly damaged that she isn't going to make it. A big shot doctor shows up to save the day by performing a brain transplant.
The book is told from Alex's perspective. She is trapped in her mind, experiencing a lot of what is happening, but unable to communicate with her family, friends, or the hospital staff. You experience it right along with her. This book is so well written that you almost feel like it is happening to you! Then after the transplant you watch Alex struggling to deal with everything that has happened and is happening to her.
Wonderful! I recommend this book to everyone that loves a great book. It delivers a wonderfully emotional story with well developed characters that you really feel for.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. I did not have to leave a positive review.
April 18, 2015
This is a very quick read with a very intriguing story line. With all the debates in the news and medical journals about what coma patients can and cannot hear, Stawski creates a thrilling and thought-provoking story.
Written from the point of view of the patient, this really makes the narrative pop. It’s interesting to see (or hear) what the patient has to say about his/her pain, confusion, what they think of their treatment options, etc. It could be the cynical in me, but I felt the dialogue between the doctors (when they were with the patient and believed the patient couldn't hear them) could have been more offensive, nasty or heated as the two characters did have underlying issues. I felt because of a ground-breaking brain transplant that would flare up some more distressing emotions. I also felt the parents felt were not given enough page time. If I was a parent whose child was undergoing a brain transplant, I would have more to say. I hope for more development and emotion in this area in the next books.
The subject of transplanting a brain from one girl to another is so fresh and intriguing. Stawski tells this story with very little medical jargon, which is a relief. Too much information would bog down the delicate story line.
I eagerly await the next book in the series.
-- Tofts Reviews
Written from the point of view of the patient, this really makes the narrative pop. It’s interesting to see (or hear) what the patient has to say about his/her pain, confusion, what they think of their treatment options, etc. It could be the cynical in me, but I felt the dialogue between the doctors (when they were with the patient and believed the patient couldn't hear them) could have been more offensive, nasty or heated as the two characters did have underlying issues. I felt because of a ground-breaking brain transplant that would flare up some more distressing emotions. I also felt the parents felt were not given enough page time. If I was a parent whose child was undergoing a brain transplant, I would have more to say. I hope for more development and emotion in this area in the next books.
The subject of transplanting a brain from one girl to another is so fresh and intriguing. Stawski tells this story with very little medical jargon, which is a relief. Too much information would bog down the delicate story line.
I eagerly await the next book in the series.
-- Tofts Reviews
October 31, 2013
What if you there was a healthy body with no brain function and good brain function in a damaged body? Could you combine the two? This is what Both Sides by Paul E. Stawski delves into. Alex and Sandra are both in the same horrific accident. Yet, Sandra's body seems to be fine, but there is not brain activity. On the other side, Alex's brain is functioning normally, but her body can not be saved. Doctors try a radically new surgery and the results are surprising. Will Alex learn to function with her new body? And what about Sandra?
This book is easy to read and very interesting. While I don’t think that science will ever advance to the point that such a surgery is possible (plus the questions about what makes up the soul of a person), the author’s take on the possibility makes the book a real page turner. I did not want to put the book down until I found out what really happened to Alex/Sandra. Alex is definitely a self-centered teenager and having to deal with the major changes that come in her life causes her to reflect on her past. I gave this book to my teenage daughter to read after I was finished because I think she would enjoy it.
This book is easy to read and very interesting. While I don’t think that science will ever advance to the point that such a surgery is possible (plus the questions about what makes up the soul of a person), the author’s take on the possibility makes the book a real page turner. I did not want to put the book down until I found out what really happened to Alex/Sandra. Alex is definitely a self-centered teenager and having to deal with the major changes that come in her life causes her to reflect on her past. I gave this book to my teenage daughter to read after I was finished because I think she would enjoy it.
January 5, 2014
This book is a very intriguing book. It brings up a lot of moral and medical dilemmas and I had myself feeling different in this situation then I did in the past. This was an amazing story of a medical marvel. What would you do if you had a brain and no body, with a body and no brain? Would you save whoever you could? Where does this lead? Should all people that are brain dead give up their usable body parts? When does it stop? How do you even start a list? Are some body parts worth more than others? How do you know if they will never talk again? What if it was your loved ones with no body, or with no brain? Would you feel differently, depending on which one it was? I am giving this book a 5/5. It was extremely interesting to read what the characters were thinking. I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
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May 3, 2014
This book was a very unique experience for me, it is one of the first books that I have read where I felt that the main character was having a conversation with me. The story grabs you from the very beginning and holds you in a grip of emotions that sneak up and surprise you. The event that takes place and the story that unfolds is something I will never forget, quite possibly because the fact of this being someones true story is very real. But also that as science moves forward the ideas can also become very real.
Alex became almost a close friend through her horrifying ordeal. In the same breath I was able to hate, love, feel compassion, feel pity, and much more with each turn of the page. The reality of her situation caused me to think consistently about how often her condition can be happening. That is probably the most frightening thought, the thought that it CAN happen and it COULD happen to me.
Alex became almost a close friend through her horrifying ordeal. In the same breath I was able to hate, love, feel compassion, feel pity, and much more with each turn of the page. The reality of her situation caused me to think consistently about how often her condition can be happening. That is probably the most frightening thought, the thought that it CAN happen and it COULD happen to me.
March 15, 2014
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Can you imagine what it would be like to suddenly be conscious but trapped inside your own dying body? Now what if you could be saved - but by means of your brain being transplanted into the healthy body of another girl who was rendered brain-dead in the accident with you? Sounds a bit crazy and it is, but it is also the interesting premise of this novel.
While I did like the sound of this book, I found the writing to be too choppy for me to fully enjoy. I understand that that is how the narrator is meant to sound because the book is written from her thoughts, but it was hard to get over.
All in all, I think I will read the next installment of this "forthcoming series."
Also, to the author, thank you for signing the book!
Can you imagine what it would be like to suddenly be conscious but trapped inside your own dying body? Now what if you could be saved - but by means of your brain being transplanted into the healthy body of another girl who was rendered brain-dead in the accident with you? Sounds a bit crazy and it is, but it is also the interesting premise of this novel.
While I did like the sound of this book, I found the writing to be too choppy for me to fully enjoy. I understand that that is how the narrator is meant to sound because the book is written from her thoughts, but it was hard to get over.
All in all, I think I will read the next installment of this "forthcoming series."
Also, to the author, thank you for signing the book!
November 6, 2013
Ever wonder what it would like to have your mind awakened in someone else's body? Both Sides explores this concept. Who do you become? Are you the body? Are you the mind? Explore this far out concept in Both Sides by Paul E. Stawski.
This book takes you into the view of the "mind" that is being merged with the healthy body. Alex is a fairly typical "mean girl" and she is the "mind" that has a shot of being saved. Sandra is a pretty average "book worm" and hers is the body that survives.
As someone that deals with hundred of teenagers on a daily basis (as an high school English teacher), I wondered how some of my students would react if their friends were in this circumstance. Jen (both Sandra and Alex's friend) is my favorite character in this story. Yes, the main focus is on Alex, but I think Jen shines as the type of friend that everyone should be.
This book takes you into the view of the "mind" that is being merged with the healthy body. Alex is a fairly typical "mean girl" and she is the "mind" that has a shot of being saved. Sandra is a pretty average "book worm" and hers is the body that survives.
As someone that deals with hundred of teenagers on a daily basis (as an high school English teacher), I wondered how some of my students would react if their friends were in this circumstance. Jen (both Sandra and Alex's friend) is my favorite character in this story. Yes, the main focus is on Alex, but I think Jen shines as the type of friend that everyone should be.
October 31, 2013
The book was a little slow getting going, in my opinion, but once I got further into it (past chapter 1) I couldn’t put it down! WOW WOW WOW!!
This book is nothing like anything I have ever read before, and not something I would have looked twice at, had I not read the description!
There is a lot of discussion about this book & my husband even read it once I finished it!! I look forward to the second book in the series, because there are some questions that I thought were left unanswered.
The fact that the author made you feel like you are actually listening to a teenage girl talk!
How much of myself would still be me, if I were in a terrible accident? That’s one question this book has really made me think about!!
This book is nothing like anything I have ever read before, and not something I would have looked twice at, had I not read the description!
There is a lot of discussion about this book & my husband even read it once I finished it!! I look forward to the second book in the series, because there are some questions that I thought were left unanswered.
The fact that the author made you feel like you are actually listening to a teenage girl talk!
How much of myself would still be me, if I were in a terrible accident? That’s one question this book has really made me think about!!
October 22, 2013
A page turner from the very beginning.
I could not put this book down!
This is something unlike anything I have ever read before – or even gave a thought to previously.
It was a book that definitely created discussion, made you think, wanted you to know what was going to happen.
I enjoyed everything about this book and look forward to continuing the journey with the second book because there were definitely some things left unanswered in the book that I would love to follow up on.
It is definitely a book that makes you think about the ‘what ifs’ and the morals and ethics of such a situation.
All in all, great read that I highly recommend.
I could not put this book down!
This is something unlike anything I have ever read before – or even gave a thought to previously.
It was a book that definitely created discussion, made you think, wanted you to know what was going to happen.
I enjoyed everything about this book and look forward to continuing the journey with the second book because there were definitely some things left unanswered in the book that I would love to follow up on.
It is definitely a book that makes you think about the ‘what ifs’ and the morals and ethics of such a situation.
All in all, great read that I highly recommend.
November 1, 2013
This is a very well written, well researched book. It presents an ethical dilemma of what to do in a state where you have two girls but only one person between them. I was very drawn to this book. I, being an RN, probably have a different perspective of the book and how it is done than I do as a mother or say as a Christian. I do recommend the book. It is a great read and one that I think everyone needs to read. This is a question that will need to be answered in our own world soon enough.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review from Beck Valley Books; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review from Beck Valley Books; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 15, 2013
I received a copy of this book in the goodreads giveaway. This book is a great story about inner and outer struggles of this young girls mind. I think it should be a book that all young people should take the time to read and really think about the overall message. You really start considering the perspectives of not only the main character but all of the characters involved. It really brought tears to my eyes in a couple of places especially when she starts accepting her situation instead of fighting so hard against herself. Definitely a book I will have my teen daughter read.
October 29, 2013
Through the Fates she walks. She has no choice in the matter. Alex has a dying body, and Sandra’s brain is no longer functioning. As the time closes in to connect Alex’s mind to Sandra’s body, we are vividly given a window to see inside the fear, confusion and courage of this trapped mind. Paul E. Stawski clearly sets a trap for the reader. I was trapped in Alex’s mind. Overwhelmed to a point my heart beat wildly, my stomach clenched as she clashes with her need to survive and her distress of who she may become in the end. I promise, if you read ‘Both Sides’, you will ‘FEEL’ this story.
April 26, 2014
This was a quick and interesting read. I liked the story, but I had a hard time liking the main character. She's one of those selfish and mean people that I try to stay away from. I was very engrossed in what was going to happen next, though. So much so, that sometimes I would skip through the thinking parts and go right to the dialogue. I'll read the next one, because I'm interested in her recovery process and I'm hoping that magically she'll somehow become a better person.
October 12, 2013
Both Sides is a gripping page turner that held my curiosity from beginning to end. From the first page, Stawski plants you squarely in the mind of a teenage girl, Alex, who undergoes an incredible feat of medicine. I felt an authentic mix of emotions from Alex, but also connected with the other characters as well. I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to finding out what happens next in the sequel.
November 3, 2013
This book had a very intriguing plot. I think the author executed the book gracefully. using teenagers as the main characters made it even harder to put down. I can barely wait to read the second book and find out what life will be like for Alex and Sandra. Who's in control, Alex or Sandra? Will the law change their mind and consider Alex/Sandra a living person? Will Alex/Sandra get to stay with Alex's parents or will Sandra's parents fight for custody? Really good read!
October 22, 2013
This book was an easy ready and quite the page turner. It captured the emotions that any girl can relate to remembering their adolescence, as well as empathize with a very unique and heart wrenching situation. The medical aspects also made this unrealistic situation seem not only believeable but possible in this day and age of modern medicine. The ending left me wanting to read more, and I cannot wait to see what this up and coming author comes out with next!
October 30, 2013
Let me just start with WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! This book is not like anything I have read before. The medical, moral, and philosophical issues raised in this book were very interesting to me, and by themselves made for an interesting story. However, what makes this book amazing is how it truly makes you feel everything right along with the character. This book really made me think about how much of "me" would still be me if my body was not my own. I can NOT wait for the next book in this series!!!
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