What do you think?
Rate this book
Letters From a Concussed Girl
Vivienne Laveaux spends every day trying to be perfect. Deep down she can't help but wonder just how much of her flawless world is real. When a tragic accident at volleyball plunges her into her worst nightmare, Vivienne's fantasy shatters, and she is forced to begin anew.
Sylvie Peters practically rules the school. She has a reputation, and deep down, she knows it's not the good kind. When the choice to sneak out one night has fatal consequences, Sylvie's life spirals out of control. With every passing day, she bears witness to more of the disastrous consequences of that night – consequences of her own making. But then an opportunity presents Sylvie finds an escape in the form of her best friend's ex-boyfriend and a bucket list. She embarks on perhaps the most frightening journey of her life – the quest to be better.
Told over the course of one school year, this is the story of Vivienne and Sylvie – two girls who lost everything and found the strength to move forward.
Once sworn enemies, the pair become inextricably linked by fate, giving each other a gift so precious it leads to unexpected salvation.
Sylvie Peters practically rules the school. She has a reputation, and deep down, she knows it's not the good kind. When the choice to sneak out one night has fatal consequences, Sylvie's life spirals out of control. With every passing day, she bears witness to more of the disastrous consequences of that night – consequences of her own making. But then an opportunity presents Sylvie finds an escape in the form of her best friend's ex-boyfriend and a bucket list. She embarks on perhaps the most frightening journey of her life – the quest to be better.
Told over the course of one school year, this is the story of Vivienne and Sylvie – two girls who lost everything and found the strength to move forward.
Once sworn enemies, the pair become inextricably linked by fate, giving each other a gift so precious it leads to unexpected salvation.
476 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2024
5 people are currently reading
30 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
August 23, 2024
Letters from a Concussed Girl was an AMAZING read, one that I enjoyed reading from the start to the end. The character dynamics were both entertaining and realistic, which led to some amazing discussions and encounters that left the dialogue extremely entertaining. As for the ending, while bittersweet, was also EXACTLY the way the book needed to have ended, emphasizing the seriousness of injuries, while also including a sense of satisfacion in the end to show that while injuries are serious, recovery is by no means impossible. This, I feel, was the perfect message to end the book off with.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
I think the two main characters of this novel were extremely well written, and make quite enjoyable protagonists. Vivienne's character shows how terrible things can happen even when no one is at fault, and how the difficult the aftermath of this can be if you believe that you are alone. Vivienne suffers through her concussion for a long time because she knows that the people around her don't understand what she's going through, turning her into (as the book calls it) a sloth. Then she attends a virtual concussion seminar, where she hears the stories of others with similar experiences, even shares her own story, and gets a chance to see that she is not alone. This boosts her confidence and her hope, and she begins to try and be more social, which shows how important support is. While Vivienne appears to not fully be over the effects of her concussion by the end of the novel, her friendship with Amara shows just how far she's come as a character, reinforcing the importance of support. It's an extremely satisfying conclusion to everything Vivienne went through in the book, and the hint that maybe she may help finish off the bucket list with Amara shows promise for her future.
Sylvie's character, on the other hand, is entirely different. While Vivienne's experience was completely accidental, Sylvie's injury, and her character as a whole, is the personification of choices and their consequences, and the way her character is written is a beautiful demonstration of this. Her choices have been restricted for most of her life due to the debt her family owes Jeff, and because of this, she often tells herself that she has no choice in the matter. While this is true on most things, the choices she does make are the key choices that impact her story; choosing to sneak out to the party, choosing to get in the car with Charlie, choosing the try and complete the bucket list, and choosing not to do anything about her infection until the eleventh hour. The consequences of her choices lead her down a path of suffering, growth, but eventually acceptance. Had Sylvie chosen to not try and complete the bucket list, she never would have gotten her fishing hook infection, but she also never would have been able to overcome her guilty conscious. Sylvie was running on borrowed time throughout the events of the book, but in that time she was able to become the person that Eleanor had missed; the better person she promised to be. The final words of her last chapter, "I knew the time had come for me to choose, and so I did", as she accepts her death, show her making one final choice, one that finally puts her at peace. It is a bittersweet ending to her character, but it shows the full circle of the choices she made throughout the book.
Outside the two main characters and what the author did a great job of making them represent, there were many additional moments/elements of this book that stood out to me, pieces that the author brilliantly included, that made this novel so perfect.
- The Realism: This book excellently depicted a realistic scenario, most likely because it was based on the author's real experience. The dialogue among the characters was the right combination of realistic and fictionalized, which created extremely smooth dialogue, and even more satisfying arguements and confrontations.
- The Gore: There's extremely little gore in the novel, but the moment that really stands out to me was Sylvie's nightmare of Eleanor's bleeding body in the car crash. This moment shows how traumatized Sylvie is, and it also shocks the reader, because it describes the gore as Sylvie is seeing it, making us feel as if we are there seeing Sylvie's nightmare (or perhaps repressed memory) as it is playing out. Because there is so little gore in the book, having this one brief moment occur all of a sudden makes it all the more impactful, which is exactly how it should be. It's short, sudden, and shows how much guilt Sylvie is dealing with.
- The Fights: I'm gonna keep this short; seeing Sylvie punch Charlie was definetly a highlight. Even if he's dealing with his own trauma from the event, he definetly deserved it in that moment.
- The Ending: As I've mentioned before, this book couldn't have ended any better. While Sylvie's death is certainly tragic, it brings her story to a end in a way that makes sense and fits her character well. I've already explained how Sylvie is the perfect personification of choice and consequence, and the way she died was a sad but perfect conclusion to her character. Vivienne, on the other hand, has a less bittersweet ending, but equally symbolic of her character. Her dance with Amara at the end shows how far she's come, considering how little she could do at the start of her concussion. As a further point of satisfaction, that little hint that maybe Amara and Vivienne might finish the list together is as satisfying to hear as it is symbolic of Vivienne's growth. She went from a seemingly unwaverable opinion of Sylvie to wanting to help carry on her legacy through the bucket list. It's a surefire sign of a pleasent future for her and Amara.
Overall, this book has easily become one of my favourites, and I highly reccomend this to anyone looking for a great read. This book is easily 5 stars, and I hope that more people get a chance to see the brilliance of this novel.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPOILERS AHEAD:
I think the two main characters of this novel were extremely well written, and make quite enjoyable protagonists. Vivienne's character shows how terrible things can happen even when no one is at fault, and how the difficult the aftermath of this can be if you believe that you are alone. Vivienne suffers through her concussion for a long time because she knows that the people around her don't understand what she's going through, turning her into (as the book calls it) a sloth. Then she attends a virtual concussion seminar, where she hears the stories of others with similar experiences, even shares her own story, and gets a chance to see that she is not alone. This boosts her confidence and her hope, and she begins to try and be more social, which shows how important support is. While Vivienne appears to not fully be over the effects of her concussion by the end of the novel, her friendship with Amara shows just how far she's come as a character, reinforcing the importance of support. It's an extremely satisfying conclusion to everything Vivienne went through in the book, and the hint that maybe she may help finish off the bucket list with Amara shows promise for her future.
Sylvie's character, on the other hand, is entirely different. While Vivienne's experience was completely accidental, Sylvie's injury, and her character as a whole, is the personification of choices and their consequences, and the way her character is written is a beautiful demonstration of this. Her choices have been restricted for most of her life due to the debt her family owes Jeff, and because of this, she often tells herself that she has no choice in the matter. While this is true on most things, the choices she does make are the key choices that impact her story; choosing to sneak out to the party, choosing to get in the car with Charlie, choosing the try and complete the bucket list, and choosing not to do anything about her infection until the eleventh hour. The consequences of her choices lead her down a path of suffering, growth, but eventually acceptance. Had Sylvie chosen to not try and complete the bucket list, she never would have gotten her fishing hook infection, but she also never would have been able to overcome her guilty conscious. Sylvie was running on borrowed time throughout the events of the book, but in that time she was able to become the person that Eleanor had missed; the better person she promised to be. The final words of her last chapter, "I knew the time had come for me to choose, and so I did", as she accepts her death, show her making one final choice, one that finally puts her at peace. It is a bittersweet ending to her character, but it shows the full circle of the choices she made throughout the book.
Outside the two main characters and what the author did a great job of making them represent, there were many additional moments/elements of this book that stood out to me, pieces that the author brilliantly included, that made this novel so perfect.
- The Realism: This book excellently depicted a realistic scenario, most likely because it was based on the author's real experience. The dialogue among the characters was the right combination of realistic and fictionalized, which created extremely smooth dialogue, and even more satisfying arguements and confrontations.
- The Gore: There's extremely little gore in the novel, but the moment that really stands out to me was Sylvie's nightmare of Eleanor's bleeding body in the car crash. This moment shows how traumatized Sylvie is, and it also shocks the reader, because it describes the gore as Sylvie is seeing it, making us feel as if we are there seeing Sylvie's nightmare (or perhaps repressed memory) as it is playing out. Because there is so little gore in the book, having this one brief moment occur all of a sudden makes it all the more impactful, which is exactly how it should be. It's short, sudden, and shows how much guilt Sylvie is dealing with.
- The Fights: I'm gonna keep this short; seeing Sylvie punch Charlie was definetly a highlight. Even if he's dealing with his own trauma from the event, he definetly deserved it in that moment.
- The Ending: As I've mentioned before, this book couldn't have ended any better. While Sylvie's death is certainly tragic, it brings her story to a end in a way that makes sense and fits her character well. I've already explained how Sylvie is the perfect personification of choice and consequence, and the way she died was a sad but perfect conclusion to her character. Vivienne, on the other hand, has a less bittersweet ending, but equally symbolic of her character. Her dance with Amara at the end shows how far she's come, considering how little she could do at the start of her concussion. As a further point of satisfaction, that little hint that maybe Amara and Vivienne might finish the list together is as satisfying to hear as it is symbolic of Vivienne's growth. She went from a seemingly unwaverable opinion of Sylvie to wanting to help carry on her legacy through the bucket list. It's a surefire sign of a pleasent future for her and Amara.
Overall, this book has easily become one of my favourites, and I highly reccomend this to anyone looking for a great read. This book is easily 5 stars, and I hope that more people get a chance to see the brilliance of this novel.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2024
Letters from a Concussed Girl" is such an amazing story. Sylvie and Vivienne were so well written that they truly felt like real people, along with the background characters. I believe anyone going through life-altering changes, such as health conditions, should read this. Paulina, the author, completely understands what it’s like to navigate health issues in a world where the health system is severely flawed. The blend of heartbreak, grief, love, loneliness, friendship, and fun fits perfectly together.
This book is a poignant exploration of resilience and the complexities of recovery. Paulina’s reflections make the emotional and physical struggles relatable, and her ability to articulate these feelings create a deep connection with readers. Although the story involves a lot of heartbreak, especially near the end, I kept wishing for it to never end! I truly hope this book receives the recognition it deserves; I would 100% recommend it!
This book is a poignant exploration of resilience and the complexities of recovery. Paulina’s reflections make the emotional and physical struggles relatable, and her ability to articulate these feelings create a deep connection with readers. Although the story involves a lot of heartbreak, especially near the end, I kept wishing for it to never end! I truly hope this book receives the recognition it deserves; I would 100% recommend it!
Read
May 24, 2025Letters From a Concussed Girl is very clearly written by someone who cares deeply about her story and has great attention to detail. Well researched and emotional, this poignant book is perfect for readers of all ages and a uniquely personal exploration of misery and resilience. As a result of her highly realistic characters, Paulina has weaved a story as heartbreaking and tragic as it is relatable and at times, funny. I loved the dynamic between characters and the characters themselves, each of whom displayed a level of introspection that is very refreshing compared to most young adult novels, and reflective of the wisdom of the author herself. In this way, the reader becomes invested in each of the primary characters, even if they dislike them at first. Paulina transmits her own experience beautifully through the pages, all while deftly adding creative twists and exploring the perspectives and effects of life-altering accidents on many. Highly recommend!
May 5, 2025
One of my favourite things about this book was all the nuance involved in character development and how much Vivienne and Sylvie both grew naturally over the course of the story. I also really loved the connections made between the two of them at the end of the book!
Paulina’s personal history with concussions shone through in her ability to beautifully capture elements of this experience with words. As someone who’s been through similar things, I felt myself nodding several times while reading.
This author is definitely talented and someone to watch for future books! I’d particularly recommend this to anyone who’s been through a concussion or loves someone who has, but truly, I think this story would be accessible and enjoyable to many different people.
Paulina’s personal history with concussions shone through in her ability to beautifully capture elements of this experience with words. As someone who’s been through similar things, I felt myself nodding several times while reading.
This author is definitely talented and someone to watch for future books! I’d particularly recommend this to anyone who’s been through a concussion or loves someone who has, but truly, I think this story would be accessible and enjoyable to many different people.
March 22, 2025
“Letters from a Concussed Girl” is such an incredibly well written book. I loved the characters so much, and quickly found myself getting attached to them. It is such an inspiring book, and one that I will remember for many years in the future. I was hooked from the very first page to the very last one. I don’t give out five stars easily, but this book definitely deserves the five stars. I would even give it 6 stars if I could.
September 9, 2025
This is a surprisingly moving and authentic YA read. It’s about a girl whose life takes an unexpected turn and the friendships and choices that help her navigate the aftermath. The writing feels raw and real, and the story slowly unfolds in a way that keeps you hooked without revealing everything at once. This is a quiet, emotional read that lingers long after you close the book—perfect for anyone looking for something heartfelt and thoughtful.
July 18, 2024
Loved it. Its been a while since a book got me feeling this much and bouncing between joy, sadness, anger, pity, surprise and good out loud laughter. Each chapter leaves you wanting more. Book about life and how to navigate the complexity of grief, loss, relationships and high school. My teenage daughter as well as my mother-in-law both reading and enjoying it.
June 20, 2024
Excellent!!! I still can’t get over how good this book was. It’s funny, heartwarming, and informative in a tragic sort of way. The ending was so beautifully satisfying and left me with a bittersweet feeling inside. As someone who is no stranger to grief this book really resinated with me. Bravo!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews