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Confessions of a Teenage Leper
Abby Furlowe has plans. Big plans. She's hot, she's popular, she's a cheerleader and she's going to break out of her small Texas town and make it big. Fame and fortune, adoration and accolades. It'll all be hers.
But then she notices some spots on her skin. She writes them off as a rash, but things only get worse. She's tired all the time, her hands and feet are numb and her face starts to look like day-old pizza. By the time her seventeenth birthday rolls around, she's tried every cream and medication the doctors have thrown at her, but nothing works. When she falls doing a routine cheerleading stunt and slips into a coma, her mystery illness goes into overdrive and finally gets diagnosed: Hansen's Disease, aka leprosy.
Abby is sent to a facility to recover and deal with this new reality. Her many misdiagnoses mean that some permanent damage has been done, and all of her plans suddenly come tumbling down. If she can't even wear high heels anymore, what is the point of living? Cheerleading is out the window, and she might not even make it to prom. PROM!
But it's during this recovery that Abby has to learn to live with something even more difficult than Hansen's Disease. She's becoming aware of who she really was before and what her behavior was doing to others; now she's on the other side of the fence looking in, and she doesn't like what she sees. . .
But then she notices some spots on her skin. She writes them off as a rash, but things only get worse. She's tired all the time, her hands and feet are numb and her face starts to look like day-old pizza. By the time her seventeenth birthday rolls around, she's tried every cream and medication the doctors have thrown at her, but nothing works. When she falls doing a routine cheerleading stunt and slips into a coma, her mystery illness goes into overdrive and finally gets diagnosed: Hansen's Disease, aka leprosy.
Abby is sent to a facility to recover and deal with this new reality. Her many misdiagnoses mean that some permanent damage has been done, and all of her plans suddenly come tumbling down. If she can't even wear high heels anymore, what is the point of living? Cheerleading is out the window, and she might not even make it to prom. PROM!
But it's during this recovery that Abby has to learn to live with something even more difficult than Hansen's Disease. She's becoming aware of who she really was before and what her behavior was doing to others; now she's on the other side of the fence looking in, and she doesn't like what she sees. . .
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2018
5 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 8, 2018
This was a smaller novel but had quite a kick to it. It was the perfect dichotomy of both humour and being serious. From the beginning, this book had me laughing out loud from the humour of the main character Abby along with her brother Dean. Additionally, in both of their circumstances, there was a serious element but the author contrasted that with humour allowing the novel not to become too heavy.
As mentioned, this novel is very humorous but does have some depth to it. Some of that depth includes Abby discovering herself and growing from a superficial past as well as Dean's struggles and acceptance of his sexuality.
Overall, this was an incredibly quick read which was made even more quick due to the absence of chapter separations. I didn't think I would like that this novel didn't have sections divided but instead, it aided in the rapidity of my reading the story. I couldn't say to myself, 'I'll stop reading at the end of this chapter' so I just kept on reading. It was a very original story idea and I enjoyed it immensely.
As a side note, for those that enjoyed the novel, "Going Bovine" by Libba Bray, you may enjoy this read as well. It has been quite a long time since I read that novel but I remember it being similar in the fact that it featured a main character developing an unexpected and unconventional illness and following her journey (with humour mixed in).
***Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
As mentioned, this novel is very humorous but does have some depth to it. Some of that depth includes Abby discovering herself and growing from a superficial past as well as Dean's struggles and acceptance of his sexuality.
Overall, this was an incredibly quick read which was made even more quick due to the absence of chapter separations. I didn't think I would like that this novel didn't have sections divided but instead, it aided in the rapidity of my reading the story. I couldn't say to myself, 'I'll stop reading at the end of this chapter' so I just kept on reading. It was a very original story idea and I enjoyed it immensely.
As a side note, for those that enjoyed the novel, "Going Bovine" by Libba Bray, you may enjoy this read as well. It has been quite a long time since I read that novel but I remember it being similar in the fact that it featured a main character developing an unexpected and unconventional illness and following her journey (with humour mixed in).
***Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
June 22, 2018
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE LEPER by Ashley Little in exchange for my honest review.***
*The Kindle ARC was so poorly formatted reading was nearly impossible. Nearly every page had one of the words “advanced reader copy” in capital letters in the middle of the text interrupting the flow. I almost quit reading several times due to formatting. If I hadn’t enjoyed the story, I would have stopped reading and given up out of frustration.
3.5 STARS
Abby, a mean girl cheerleader, receives a visit from karma in the form of leprosy. After being diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease (leprosy) Abby begins treatment at a clinic in Louisiana where she comes to terms with her illness and reevaluates her life.
I never expected to read a contemporary novel about a teenager with leprosy, so I did some research on the illness before beginning. I love that Ashley Little chose such a familia word, but unknown illness for Abby’s journey. The subplot with her brother Dean’s “business”, while also unique, felt more sensational and less fleshed out.
Due to formatting I wasn’t sure whether Abby talked about her Hansen’s before her diagnosis in the early chapters because it looked like copy that had been accidentally dropped in. If it was by design, I wish Little would have waited to have Abby discuss. If not I hope the ARC can be cleaned up for readers to get a better feel.
*The Kindle ARC was so poorly formatted reading was nearly impossible. Nearly every page had one of the words “advanced reader copy” in capital letters in the middle of the text interrupting the flow. I almost quit reading several times due to formatting. If I hadn’t enjoyed the story, I would have stopped reading and given up out of frustration.
3.5 STARS
Abby, a mean girl cheerleader, receives a visit from karma in the form of leprosy. After being diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease (leprosy) Abby begins treatment at a clinic in Louisiana where she comes to terms with her illness and reevaluates her life.
I never expected to read a contemporary novel about a teenager with leprosy, so I did some research on the illness before beginning. I love that Ashley Little chose such a familia word, but unknown illness for Abby’s journey. The subplot with her brother Dean’s “business”, while also unique, felt more sensational and less fleshed out.
Due to formatting I wasn’t sure whether Abby talked about her Hansen’s before her diagnosis in the early chapters because it looked like copy that had been accidentally dropped in. If it was by design, I wish Little would have waited to have Abby discuss. If not I hope the ARC can be cleaned up for readers to get a better feel.
September 10, 2018
Review can be found on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada for this free copy of this book to read. This was the first book I have read by Ashley Little and it was fabulous. It definitely won’t be my last!
You think it’s hard having acne and braces and a stupid looking haircut? Try being a high school leper.
This book follows the story of young teenager Abby Furlowe. She is a senior in high school and seems to have it all. She is popular, pretty, smart, and is a cheerleader.
One day she notices a little red spot on her leg. She wonders what it is and hopes it will go away. After a while and the spot is still there she shows her mom. They decide she go to the doctor. She is given a prescription and told it should go away within a few weeks. A few weeks pass and the spot is still there… What could it be? Abby goes back to the doctor… again and again…
Eventually Abby is diagnosed with Leprosy, which is now called Hansen’s disease. Her body breaks out into sores and she gets them all over her body. They are sore, they hurt, and she can’t stand them! She feels ugly and feels her life as she knew it is over. Even her so called friends seem to want to have nothing to do with her anymore. How can she be a cheerleader now, and do all the normal things other girls her age can do, like go to prom, have a boyfriend, go to school even!?
Without giving too much away this was a fabulous book that I very much enjoyed reading. I enjoyed reading about Abby’s journey from diagnosis through to all of her treatment she had to undergo. It was a very informative book and entertaining to read at the same time. I loved the main characters and Abby’s spunky personality. She had a lot to go though and I couldn’t help but feel for her. I just wanted to give her a hug and tell her everything would be ok. I learned a lot from this book and about Hansen’s disease including the fact it is now called Hansen’s disease.
I very much recommend this book! You won’t be disappointed!
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada for this free copy of this book to read. This was the first book I have read by Ashley Little and it was fabulous. It definitely won’t be my last!
You think it’s hard having acne and braces and a stupid looking haircut? Try being a high school leper.
This book follows the story of young teenager Abby Furlowe. She is a senior in high school and seems to have it all. She is popular, pretty, smart, and is a cheerleader.
One day she notices a little red spot on her leg. She wonders what it is and hopes it will go away. After a while and the spot is still there she shows her mom. They decide she go to the doctor. She is given a prescription and told it should go away within a few weeks. A few weeks pass and the spot is still there… What could it be? Abby goes back to the doctor… again and again…
Eventually Abby is diagnosed with Leprosy, which is now called Hansen’s disease. Her body breaks out into sores and she gets them all over her body. They are sore, they hurt, and she can’t stand them! She feels ugly and feels her life as she knew it is over. Even her so called friends seem to want to have nothing to do with her anymore. How can she be a cheerleader now, and do all the normal things other girls her age can do, like go to prom, have a boyfriend, go to school even!?
Without giving too much away this was a fabulous book that I very much enjoyed reading. I enjoyed reading about Abby’s journey from diagnosis through to all of her treatment she had to undergo. It was a very informative book and entertaining to read at the same time. I loved the main characters and Abby’s spunky personality. She had a lot to go though and I couldn’t help but feel for her. I just wanted to give her a hug and tell her everything would be ok. I learned a lot from this book and about Hansen’s disease including the fact it is now called Hansen’s disease.
I very much recommend this book! You won’t be disappointed!
August 30, 2018
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I wish I could say that I liked this book, but I didn't. I don't know what I expected from this novel but it is definitely more than what I got from it. A totally superficial and cold - hearted mean girl goes from hot popular and a cheerleader to a person with a rare disease, leprosy. I couldn't relate to her at all. All she did was whine and complain about how her life had been perfect before her diagnosis. The story was unbelievable and unrealistic. The thing that happened with her newly gay brother was stupid and completely took away from the story of having Hansen's disease. I feel like the author just used the main character's brother as a plot device. I mean him doing webcamming then running away with a weird stranger was just totally cliche and probably hardly ever happens in real life. I also couldn't relate to any of the other characters at all either. Her best friend and her crush where she goes after she gets diagnosed, are just underdeveloped and a sorry excuse for characters because they have no substance. I feel like these two characters were just plot devices to move the story along. They also seemed like they were stock characters.
February 18, 2019
The plot device of Hansen's disease, aka leprosy, is definitely a unique one. There was quite a bit of interesting information on it, which was really what I enjoyed. The rest of the story fell flat with me, though I do appreciate the overall arc of the main character.
This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for honest feedback.
This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for honest feedback.
June 22, 2018
This was an interesting story of Abby, a “mean girl” in high school, who contracted Hansen’s Disease, previously known as leprosy. Abby and her friends spent time making fun of others, and when she became ill, her friends abandoned her. When she goes to Louisiana for treatment, she learns the real meaning of life.
The story was good and I’ll recommend it to my students. I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review.
The story was good and I’ll recommend it to my students. I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review.
August 9, 2018
"I was about to crumble. My best friends in the whole world had abandoned me when I needed them most. I had always thought that it would be a boy who broke my heart. But I was wrong."
Wow. I am impressed. I don't know what I was expecting in this book, but I ended it feeling great and pleased with what I just read.
So, in Confessions of a Teenage Leper. We follow Abby's story, who's been diagnosed with (you guessed it) leprosy, now known as Hansen's Disease. She's your typical pretty, blonde, high school cheerleader, and I'm not gonna lie, she was insufferable in the beginning. But obviously once you get diagnosed with a life-changing disease, your life changes. Her story was filled with high school drama and a unique sibling dynamic between her and her brother.
This book was an enjoyable read with some great lines that pack a punch. What threw me off at first was that it wasn't in chapters, but the writing in short segments worked will with this story and it fit as it told different segments of her life. The biggest win in this book is how Abby's character development was handled. She was a totally different person by the end, but she didn't just magically transform; we got to experience the process with her and see the changes come one by one.
I love how this book had a lot of focus on how important language and word choice is. Obviously, "leper" has two thousand of years stigma attached to it, so the use of "Hansen's disease patient" was emphasized over "leper." Abby, after adamantly calling herself a leper for so much of the book eventually gets this:
"I swear on my life," he said. "I won't tell anyone you're a leper."
"Hansen's disease patient," I said.
"Same thing."
"No, it's not."
It wasn't the same thing, I realized. It wasn't the same at all.
Abby's voice was just so authentic throughout the book too. She had so many emotions throughout this journey, and the writing really conveyed the her feelings. Honestly, I was so invested in this that I just flew through the book and enjoyed the rollercoaster of feelings.
I do have a few issues, but minor compared to how much I loved the overall story. My issues are mostly just things Abby says when she's still a shallow person near the beginning of the story. At one point, the word "anorexic" is just thrown out there as an adjective to describe her friends eating habits. Then the other issue is her biphobia when she finds out about her brother's sexuality. She expresses frustration that he "can't even make up [his] mind about who [he wants] to sleep with."
So these two issues here, I'm torn because yeah these are shitty things, but they're also tied in to how Abby was as a character in the beginning of the book. Because she was shitty. But she does grow. Dean's bisexuality isn't discussed later so I don't know how her thoughts on that improve, but with her overall development, I'd like to think she outgrow these thoughts too.
Then lastly, the issues with Dean aren't fleshed out nearly as much as they could've been and seem to be more of a quick way to add more drama into the story but don't give much depth. It was interesting and really unique, and definitely provided a compicated sibling dynamic, but the issues could've been either more thoroughly dealt with, or his issues could've been simplified. Overall, still an enjoyably side plot though.
So yeah, I really liked this book. It's a moving, informative read, and you really learn a lot about Hansen's disease. I'll be honest and say other than the classic biblical stories, I really didn't know anything else about it or even the fact that it was still a thing. I feel like I came out of this book knowing a lot more, while also having experienced a really good book. So yeah, I'd recommend this book.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review can also be found on my blog: https://emilykatereads.wordpress.com/...
Wow. I am impressed. I don't know what I was expecting in this book, but I ended it feeling great and pleased with what I just read.
So, in Confessions of a Teenage Leper. We follow Abby's story, who's been diagnosed with (you guessed it) leprosy, now known as Hansen's Disease. She's your typical pretty, blonde, high school cheerleader, and I'm not gonna lie, she was insufferable in the beginning. But obviously once you get diagnosed with a life-changing disease, your life changes. Her story was filled with high school drama and a unique sibling dynamic between her and her brother.
This book was an enjoyable read with some great lines that pack a punch. What threw me off at first was that it wasn't in chapters, but the writing in short segments worked will with this story and it fit as it told different segments of her life. The biggest win in this book is how Abby's character development was handled. She was a totally different person by the end, but she didn't just magically transform; we got to experience the process with her and see the changes come one by one.
I love how this book had a lot of focus on how important language and word choice is. Obviously, "leper" has two thousand of years stigma attached to it, so the use of "Hansen's disease patient" was emphasized over "leper." Abby, after adamantly calling herself a leper for so much of the book eventually gets this:
"I swear on my life," he said. "I won't tell anyone you're a leper."
"Hansen's disease patient," I said.
"Same thing."
"No, it's not."
It wasn't the same thing, I realized. It wasn't the same at all.
Abby's voice was just so authentic throughout the book too. She had so many emotions throughout this journey, and the writing really conveyed the her feelings. Honestly, I was so invested in this that I just flew through the book and enjoyed the rollercoaster of feelings.
I do have a few issues, but minor compared to how much I loved the overall story. My issues are mostly just things Abby says when she's still a shallow person near the beginning of the story. At one point, the word "anorexic" is just thrown out there as an adjective to describe her friends eating habits. Then the other issue is her biphobia when she finds out about her brother's sexuality. She expresses frustration that he "can't even make up [his] mind about who [he wants] to sleep with."
So these two issues here, I'm torn because yeah these are shitty things, but they're also tied in to how Abby was as a character in the beginning of the book. Because she was shitty. But she does grow. Dean's bisexuality isn't discussed later so I don't know how her thoughts on that improve, but with her overall development, I'd like to think she outgrow these thoughts too.
Then lastly, the issues with Dean aren't fleshed out nearly as much as they could've been and seem to be more of a quick way to add more drama into the story but don't give much depth. It was interesting and really unique, and definitely provided a compicated sibling dynamic, but the issues could've been either more thoroughly dealt with, or his issues could've been simplified. Overall, still an enjoyably side plot though.
So yeah, I really liked this book. It's a moving, informative read, and you really learn a lot about Hansen's disease. I'll be honest and say other than the classic biblical stories, I really didn't know anything else about it or even the fact that it was still a thing. I feel like I came out of this book knowing a lot more, while also having experienced a really good book. So yeah, I'd recommend this book.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review can also be found on my blog: https://emilykatereads.wordpress.com/...
September 20, 2018
Confessions of a Teenage Leper is a fantastic high school novel with a wonderful message. I would recommend this to all teenagers.
Abby's life in high school was perfect, she's popular, a cheerleader, and everyone wants to be her. But when Abby contracts leprosy after a long period of misdiagnosis, her whole life gets flipped upside down, and now she could never cheer again, and her so called friends won't even talk to her.
I won't lie, I was really afraid in the beginning of the book that I would not like Abby at all, but I was pleasantly surprised that I did not hate her. Yes she was a bit annoying in the beginning of the book, but her overall character development and her story really made her into an amazing character, and by the end of the novel I absolutely loved her. The way the author wrote about Abby was perfect, she felt like a teenage girl, but still one that I could relate to.
Also, another huge reason why I loved this book was because you could tell how much work Ashley Little put into researching Hansen's Disease. As someone in the medical field, it is so common for people to just wikipedia something and assume its correct, but most of the time its wrong and it ends up bothering me the whole book. Fortunately, this book had lots of correct information that also teaches the reader a bit about the disease. Although I may be biased in my opinion on this one.
This novel is very fast pace. If you're an avid reader and have a bit of time, you can easily finish this book in a couple hours or so. While it was nice because it told the story and got to the point, while keeping the reader entertained, I do think there could have been a bit more editing and just a bit more world-building and more juice to the story. It ended just a bit too fast for me.
Overall, I absolutely love this book and the message that it sends. This is my first book by Ashely Little, but I will definitely be on the lookout for her future books. I highly recommend this one to students, or anyone interested in learning more about Leprosy. And a huge thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with a copy for an honest review.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
Abby's life in high school was perfect, she's popular, a cheerleader, and everyone wants to be her. But when Abby contracts leprosy after a long period of misdiagnosis, her whole life gets flipped upside down, and now she could never cheer again, and her so called friends won't even talk to her.
I won't lie, I was really afraid in the beginning of the book that I would not like Abby at all, but I was pleasantly surprised that I did not hate her. Yes she was a bit annoying in the beginning of the book, but her overall character development and her story really made her into an amazing character, and by the end of the novel I absolutely loved her. The way the author wrote about Abby was perfect, she felt like a teenage girl, but still one that I could relate to.
Also, another huge reason why I loved this book was because you could tell how much work Ashley Little put into researching Hansen's Disease. As someone in the medical field, it is so common for people to just wikipedia something and assume its correct, but most of the time its wrong and it ends up bothering me the whole book. Fortunately, this book had lots of correct information that also teaches the reader a bit about the disease. Although I may be biased in my opinion on this one.
This novel is very fast pace. If you're an avid reader and have a bit of time, you can easily finish this book in a couple hours or so. While it was nice because it told the story and got to the point, while keeping the reader entertained, I do think there could have been a bit more editing and just a bit more world-building and more juice to the story. It ended just a bit too fast for me.
Overall, I absolutely love this book and the message that it sends. This is my first book by Ashely Little, but I will definitely be on the lookout for her future books. I highly recommend this one to students, or anyone interested in learning more about Leprosy. And a huge thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with a copy for an honest review.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
August 31, 2018
“Leprosy made me do it.”
*
Abby is the popular cheerleader every girl wants to be but when she is diagnosed with a skin disease, her life is anything but glamorous. As Abby falls in and out of love, loses friends and her virginity, her whole life is changing and it’s not for the better.
*
I really liked the beginning of the book as it kept the reader intrigued and wanting to know more about the life of Abby. Little really hit the nail right on the head as she really nailed the teenage persona in my opinion! Abby was scared, humiliated and worried throughout the entire book and this really kept the book in perspective for me. I also loved her new friend, whom you’ll meet in the book, Jane who is full of philosophical quotes that make you want to rethink your own life! Let’s just say I REALLY liked the characters!
*
Ashley Little made the characters relatable, witty and memorable as I couldn’t stop laughing at Abby’s brother Dean and his ridiculous life that he lives, you’ll have to read the book of you would never believe me. I did feel as though some parts of the book were dragging on as there is no real start and end to a chapters because well, there isn’t any! Each “chapter” is sectioned off from a giant letter and a few tabbed spaces which I found flowed well with the story, change is always good!
*
I would recommend this book to those who love some conflict between a teenager and her life. I know there is THOUSANDS of books with a conflict such as this one and I find the stories really powerful and creative and Ashley Little did an amazing job with Confessions of a Teenage Leper.
*
Abby is the popular cheerleader every girl wants to be but when she is diagnosed with a skin disease, her life is anything but glamorous. As Abby falls in and out of love, loses friends and her virginity, her whole life is changing and it’s not for the better.
*
I really liked the beginning of the book as it kept the reader intrigued and wanting to know more about the life of Abby. Little really hit the nail right on the head as she really nailed the teenage persona in my opinion! Abby was scared, humiliated and worried throughout the entire book and this really kept the book in perspective for me. I also loved her new friend, whom you’ll meet in the book, Jane who is full of philosophical quotes that make you want to rethink your own life! Let’s just say I REALLY liked the characters!
*
Ashley Little made the characters relatable, witty and memorable as I couldn’t stop laughing at Abby’s brother Dean and his ridiculous life that he lives, you’ll have to read the book of you would never believe me. I did feel as though some parts of the book were dragging on as there is no real start and end to a chapters because well, there isn’t any! Each “chapter” is sectioned off from a giant letter and a few tabbed spaces which I found flowed well with the story, change is always good!
*
I would recommend this book to those who love some conflict between a teenager and her life. I know there is THOUSANDS of books with a conflict such as this one and I find the stories really powerful and creative and Ashley Little did an amazing job with Confessions of a Teenage Leper.
August 20, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc.
This book had some great messages. And though it deals with some realistic things, it still had quirk. I enjoyed reading it. The pacing was good and the writing style was perfect. Abby's journey of self-discovery reminded me a little of It's Kind of a Funny Story, but in a good way.
This book had some great messages. And though it deals with some realistic things, it still had quirk. I enjoyed reading it. The pacing was good and the writing style was perfect. Abby's journey of self-discovery reminded me a little of It's Kind of a Funny Story, but in a good way.
July 25, 2019
I never expected to pick up a story like this. At first I thought it was gonna become some teenage Rom com gone unexpectedly haywire. It turned out that's not what it was.
It turned out that it's a book about how misdiagnosis helps a young girl with horrible disease understand that there's more to life than being pretty.
Read
September 24, 2019Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: It's Time to Put on Makeup
Drinking Buddy: No
MPAA Rating: Language, sexual situations, some crude humor
Talky Talk: Eh
Bonus Factors: Hansen's Disease, Webcam Boy
Bromance Status: Study Buddy
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: It's Time to Put on Makeup
Drinking Buddy: No
MPAA Rating: Language, sexual situations, some crude humor
Talky Talk: Eh
Bonus Factors: Hansen's Disease, Webcam Boy
Bromance Status: Study Buddy
Read the full book report here.
June 27, 2018
There's nothing particularly new about Confessions of a Teenage Leper. It's your classic story about a mean high school girl who, through personal misfortune, learns that there is more to life than beauty and popularity.
That being said, I enjoyed this book for what it was. Ashley Little does a great job of conveying the high school experience in a way that felt all too cringe-worthy and relatable. I also appreciated that I learned more about Hansen's Disease than I knew previously and I think it was a good choice of affliction for the protagonist, Abby, so that people can be more clearly educated about what the disease really is and how it still affects people today.
I felt that the side plots, specifically the one regarding Abby's brother, Dean, were a little baffling and didn't contribute a terrible amount to the overall story. We find out a couple of very extreme things about his character that should (and would, in the real world) have way more consequences than were shown here in this book. It seemed as though perhaps they were added for shock value alone, as they didn't propel the story forward.
This book doesn't reinvent the genre of YA 'high school mean girl turned good,' but it's an easy read that younger readers and teens will probably find enjoyable - even if they can predict the outcome.
I received this ARC as a courtesy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, I enjoyed this book for what it was. Ashley Little does a great job of conveying the high school experience in a way that felt all too cringe-worthy and relatable. I also appreciated that I learned more about Hansen's Disease than I knew previously and I think it was a good choice of affliction for the protagonist, Abby, so that people can be more clearly educated about what the disease really is and how it still affects people today.
I felt that the side plots, specifically the one regarding Abby's brother, Dean, were a little baffling and didn't contribute a terrible amount to the overall story. We find out a couple of very extreme things about his character that should (and would, in the real world) have way more consequences than were shown here in this book. It seemed as though perhaps they were added for shock value alone, as they didn't propel the story forward.
This book doesn't reinvent the genre of YA 'high school mean girl turned good,' but it's an easy read that younger readers and teens will probably find enjoyable - even if they can predict the outcome.
I received this ARC as a courtesy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2018
"Being on the other side makes you think about who you really were before. And let's just say, I was not a good Samaritan."
Abby is a popular cheerleader who gets Hansen’s Disease, previously known as leprosy. In this book we read about her life goes from where everyone wants to be her to nobody wanting to talk to her.
I'm going to be honest, Abby was a lot to take in and was not a good person. She was very self-centered and it took a while for her to realize that who she was before wasn't the only person she could be.
"I had leprosy. I was a leper."
Even though it did take her while to start to change, I think that's actually a good thing. It made it feel more real. I don't think feelings things like this would be easy to get over or accept in life. Could she have gone about things in a different way? Of course. But she was also a teenager, and when I was a teenager I remember my emotions running so deep and not being able to see the bigger picture of things.
While it's not a favorite of mine, I can respect it for what it showed me. I honestly learned a lot about Hansen's Disease from this novel. I do recommend picking this one up, especially if you're a contemporary reader.
Copy provided by Penguin Teen Canada for an honest review.
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Abby is a popular cheerleader who gets Hansen’s Disease, previously known as leprosy. In this book we read about her life goes from where everyone wants to be her to nobody wanting to talk to her.
I'm going to be honest, Abby was a lot to take in and was not a good person. She was very self-centered and it took a while for her to realize that who she was before wasn't the only person she could be.
"I had leprosy. I was a leper."
Even though it did take her while to start to change, I think that's actually a good thing. It made it feel more real. I don't think feelings things like this would be easy to get over or accept in life. Could she have gone about things in a different way? Of course. But she was also a teenager, and when I was a teenager I remember my emotions running so deep and not being able to see the bigger picture of things.
While it's not a favorite of mine, I can respect it for what it showed me. I honestly learned a lot about Hansen's Disease from this novel. I do recommend picking this one up, especially if you're a contemporary reader.
Copy provided by Penguin Teen Canada for an honest review.
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August 22, 2019
Confessions of a Teenage Leper by Ashley Little, 291 pages. Penguin Teen (Penguin), 2018. $18
Language: R (25+ swears, 12 F); Mature Content: R (Sex, Drugs, Drinking), Violence: R (Suicide, Fighting)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Abby is the teenage girl every girl wants to be: blonde, beautiful, a cheerleader; until she mysteriously contracts Hansen’s Disease! That’s right, she has Leprosy! Her whole world is turned upside down as this rare and horrible disease ravages her body and she has to discover who she wants to be, now that she isn’t pretty.
Confessions of a Teenage Leper takes on nearly all of the standard teenage hardships including drinking, drugs, homosexuality, virginity, self esteem, and family issues. Unfortunately, most of these are dealt with in a superficial way and are handled in an off the cuff short conversation or scene. Even Abby’s fight to be more than just a pretty cheerleader (a main plot point) is mostly speech without actions to back it up. I was really excited at the start of this book and became less and less so as it neared completion. I think it has merit to teens looking outside of themselves though and seeing that others have similar struggles and make poor choices too.
Dina W. - ELA teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Language: R (25+ swears, 12 F); Mature Content: R (Sex, Drugs, Drinking), Violence: R (Suicide, Fighting)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Abby is the teenage girl every girl wants to be: blonde, beautiful, a cheerleader; until she mysteriously contracts Hansen’s Disease! That’s right, she has Leprosy! Her whole world is turned upside down as this rare and horrible disease ravages her body and she has to discover who she wants to be, now that she isn’t pretty.
Confessions of a Teenage Leper takes on nearly all of the standard teenage hardships including drinking, drugs, homosexuality, virginity, self esteem, and family issues. Unfortunately, most of these are dealt with in a superficial way and are handled in an off the cuff short conversation or scene. Even Abby’s fight to be more than just a pretty cheerleader (a main plot point) is mostly speech without actions to back it up. I was really excited at the start of this book and became less and less so as it neared completion. I think it has merit to teens looking outside of themselves though and seeing that others have similar struggles and make poor choices too.
Dina W. - ELA teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
July 1, 2019
I received a copy of this book through the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing in August, and I am just now getting to writing my very short but truthful review. I have to be honest, I did not finish this book. I could not connect with the character in this book at all. I was very disappointed because I wanted so much to like this book, but I just did not. But that is to each his own, which does not mean that you would not enjoy this book.
September 6, 2018
This was something else. RTC! Keep an eye out for my blog tour stop!
March 1, 2019
The Good
* The topic of leprosy/Hansen's Disease was dealt with pretty well. There was a fair amount of information about both the disease itself and the history of people affected with it, without it ever feeling out of place. There was also a smooth transition from the term leprosy to the more modern (and less offensive) name, in a way that felt pretty realistic--offensive or not, a newly diagnosed person would absolutely focus on the leprosy label.
* Abby's transition from shallow mean girl to who she becomes post-diagnosis felt pretty authentic, and it was interesting to see her grappling with the realization that she wasn't a particularly nice person.
* Even though the message of "it's what's on the inside that counts" is patently obvious, and expressly stated on multiple occasions, it manages not to feel like it's beating you over the head with it. It's a lesson that Abby herself has to learn, so it makes sense she'd think about it, but a lot of it does unfold fairly naturally.
The Iffy
* While I liked Abby's transition from being a mean girl, she was pretty unlikable at the beginning of the book. Unlikable narrators aren't inherently bad--they can be pretty fascinating, in fact--and enough attention was paid to it that it seemed like she'd improve (which she did), but she was just unpleasant enough that I could see some people abandoning the book because of it.
* A lot of the relationship between Abby and her brother was pretty good, but it didn't quite come together as much as I'd hoped.
* I don't know what an actual 17 year old would be treated like at a real...uh, "leprosarium" seems to be one name for it(?), so it could be completely accurate, but it seems like she had fair less supervision and less counseling than I would expect.
* I'm not sure how I feel about the relationships between Abby and a couple of the people she meets at Carsville, namely Jane and Scott. There was nothing really wrong with Abby and Scott, but it felt very sparse. Jane, on the other hand...I was a little uncomfortable with the fact that she was 27 and she made jokes about Abby's dating/sex life. If they were around the same age, it would've been perfectly natural banter, but a 27 year old talking to a 17 year old like that is...questionable, especially when they've only just met. That said, they were two of only a handful of people in a very isolated place, going through a pretty uncommon experience, and I can imagine the age gap taking a back seat to that, so I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. But making Jane closer to, say, 21 would've made it a lot less iffy.
* I don't particularly care about swearing or graphic content or anything in books, but the first half had some that felt a bit gratuitous and that I 100% guarantee leads to some people abandoning the book before it starts to really get good.
The Bad
* A lot of things happen in this book that seem more for shock value or, I don't know, serious issue points or whatever, than actually being warranted in the story. The thing is, a leprosy diagnosis is already starting from a sensationalized point--it's a rare disease with an infamously stigmatized history. The added subplot about her brother just feels very over the top.
* I know it takes place in Texas, but the way homosexuality is dealt with feels a bit out of place for a book published in 2018. There's not really any blatant homophobia, just the sense that anyone finding out you're gay would basically be the worst thing ever. I'm also a little uncomfortable with some aspects of how the gay characters are portrayed. Also, is San Francisco still seen as a gay mecca the way it used to be? I mean, the image (and history) is still there, but it actually being seen as the only place a gay person can be themselves seems super dated (thankfully).
* All of the characters, aside from maybe Abby, were kind of flat and cliche. It wasn't bad enough to be a problem for me, but it made the book feel less significant than it should have.
* Similarly, while Abby's transition was portrayed nicely, oddly enough it was almost too much show and not enough tell. I wanted to see more of her actual thoughts on her diagnosis and her life as they evolved, not just the general sentiment.
All in all, it was a quick and engaging read. There are no actual chapters, just sections, which I'm pretty sure led to me reading it faster and reading more at a time than I would have otherwise.
* The topic of leprosy/Hansen's Disease was dealt with pretty well. There was a fair amount of information about both the disease itself and the history of people affected with it, without it ever feeling out of place. There was also a smooth transition from the term leprosy to the more modern (and less offensive) name, in a way that felt pretty realistic--offensive or not, a newly diagnosed person would absolutely focus on the leprosy label.
* Abby's transition from shallow mean girl to who she becomes post-diagnosis felt pretty authentic, and it was interesting to see her grappling with the realization that she wasn't a particularly nice person.
* Even though the message of "it's what's on the inside that counts" is patently obvious, and expressly stated on multiple occasions, it manages not to feel like it's beating you over the head with it. It's a lesson that Abby herself has to learn, so it makes sense she'd think about it, but a lot of it does unfold fairly naturally.
The Iffy
* While I liked Abby's transition from being a mean girl, she was pretty unlikable at the beginning of the book. Unlikable narrators aren't inherently bad--they can be pretty fascinating, in fact--and enough attention was paid to it that it seemed like she'd improve (which she did), but she was just unpleasant enough that I could see some people abandoning the book because of it.
* A lot of the relationship between Abby and her brother was pretty good, but it didn't quite come together as much as I'd hoped.
* I don't know what an actual 17 year old would be treated like at a real...uh, "leprosarium" seems to be one name for it(?), so it could be completely accurate, but it seems like she had fair less supervision and less counseling than I would expect.
* I'm not sure how I feel about the relationships between Abby and a couple of the people she meets at Carsville, namely Jane and Scott. There was nothing really wrong with Abby and Scott, but it felt very sparse. Jane, on the other hand...I was a little uncomfortable with the fact that she was 27 and she made jokes about Abby's dating/sex life. If they were around the same age, it would've been perfectly natural banter, but a 27 year old talking to a 17 year old like that is...questionable, especially when they've only just met. That said, they were two of only a handful of people in a very isolated place, going through a pretty uncommon experience, and I can imagine the age gap taking a back seat to that, so I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. But making Jane closer to, say, 21 would've made it a lot less iffy.
* I don't particularly care about swearing or graphic content or anything in books, but the first half had some that felt a bit gratuitous and that I 100% guarantee leads to some people abandoning the book before it starts to really get good.
The Bad
* A lot of things happen in this book that seem more for shock value or, I don't know, serious issue points or whatever, than actually being warranted in the story. The thing is, a leprosy diagnosis is already starting from a sensationalized point--it's a rare disease with an infamously stigmatized history. The added subplot about her brother just feels very over the top.
* I know it takes place in Texas, but the way homosexuality is dealt with feels a bit out of place for a book published in 2018. There's not really any blatant homophobia, just the sense that anyone finding out you're gay would basically be the worst thing ever. I'm also a little uncomfortable with some aspects of how the gay characters are portrayed. Also, is San Francisco still seen as a gay mecca the way it used to be? I mean, the image (and history) is still there, but it actually being seen as the only place a gay person can be themselves seems super dated (thankfully).
* All of the characters, aside from maybe Abby, were kind of flat and cliche. It wasn't bad enough to be a problem for me, but it made the book feel less significant than it should have.
* Similarly, while Abby's transition was portrayed nicely, oddly enough it was almost too much show and not enough tell. I wanted to see more of her actual thoughts on her diagnosis and her life as they evolved, not just the general sentiment.
All in all, it was a quick and engaging read. There are no actual chapters, just sections, which I'm pretty sure led to me reading it faster and reading more at a time than I would have otherwise.
September 26, 2018
For more reviews: http://literarylion.ca/
I love books that focus on lesser known diseases, and Hansen's Disease is something a lot of people believe only exists in the bible. I was thrilled to see a depiction of it in the present time, and I think Little handled it well. Some parts of it were a bit of an info dump but I think Little's heart was in the right place. She wanted to inform people about the disease and how those suffering have to live with it.
That said the actual story part of the book left much to be desired. The book is written sort of like a diary, but not. The character notes that she isn't using her real name and redacts her town name...about three times throughout the book. The redacting is used so sparingly that it shouldn't have been used at all. What was the point? Even if we later learn that this book is written by the main character (something obvious) it feels like it would be more in character for her to use her real name and hometown. It's just a strange detail to include and then forget about for a majority of the book.
Another side-effect of the book being written in character is that the timeline is a bit of a mess. At the beginning of the book it's clear that Abby knows she's going to get Hansen's Disease which right off the bat robs the story of the potential suspense. For about half the book Abby writes about not knowing what was wrong with her, and it's hard to be invested as an audience when we already know exactly what was wrong. However, when it comes to the Dean subplot Abby writes as though she has no idea how it'll happen or end. It's confusing that she's writing about an event in her past but seems in suspense despite not being in suspense about her illness.
The plot with Dean feels rushed and out of place. It feels like the author realized that the book had no real climax because they reveal Abby's illness on the first page so they needed another series of exciting events. When dealing with a serious topic like Hansen's disease the last thing that was needed was another serious topic like child pornography and exploitation tossed in without proper care. The plot with Dean is a sub plot meant to keep the book exciting, which means that it's not handled with the same care Abby's plot was. Dean experiences no negative consequences from something that leaves many people with a lifetime of emotional issues. There was no reason to extend it into the illegal and murky territory and not have him just be a sex worker.
The pacing of this book is just incredibly awkward. There's all this build up to Abby finding out what's wrong with her. There's a Dustin plot left dropped. The friend plot is mainly dropped. Most of Abby's recovery is time-skipped in favour of a romance plotline. The first half of the book is genuinely enjoyable, although it would have been more enjoyable if the title didn't spoil the suspense. The back half of the book is a mess, that would have been a drag to read if they hadn't introduced the ridiculous but exciting subplot. Both romances are weak and rushed. We know almost nothing about the boys except that they love Abby for some reason.
The thing that really ruined this book for me though was Abby's character arc. Say it with me: Illness doesn't make you a more profound person. Abby is a bully and not a good person, but Hansen's Disease makes her realize the error of her ways. This is a disgusting narrative. Getting a disease or an injury doesn't suddenly make you a good and/or inspiring person. We're told Abby learns to not judge people based on their appearances because she learned that ugly people can also be good! Wow. I would have been more supportive of an Abby that overcame Hansen's than the one who magically becomes the nicest person ever because having a disease is so humbling and eye opening.
I think Little definitely had noble intentions with this book, and there were certainly parts of it I enjoyed but overall the message feels a little patronising. People with Hansen's Disease aren't automatically more profound and sweet. Suffering doesn't automatically give you a good person award. The plot with Dean should have also been dropped.
I love books that focus on lesser known diseases, and Hansen's Disease is something a lot of people believe only exists in the bible. I was thrilled to see a depiction of it in the present time, and I think Little handled it well. Some parts of it were a bit of an info dump but I think Little's heart was in the right place. She wanted to inform people about the disease and how those suffering have to live with it.
That said the actual story part of the book left much to be desired. The book is written sort of like a diary, but not. The character notes that she isn't using her real name and redacts her town name...about three times throughout the book. The redacting is used so sparingly that it shouldn't have been used at all. What was the point? Even if we later learn that this book is written by the main character (something obvious) it feels like it would be more in character for her to use her real name and hometown. It's just a strange detail to include and then forget about for a majority of the book.
Another side-effect of the book being written in character is that the timeline is a bit of a mess. At the beginning of the book it's clear that Abby knows she's going to get Hansen's Disease which right off the bat robs the story of the potential suspense. For about half the book Abby writes about not knowing what was wrong with her, and it's hard to be invested as an audience when we already know exactly what was wrong. However, when it comes to the Dean subplot Abby writes as though she has no idea how it'll happen or end. It's confusing that she's writing about an event in her past but seems in suspense despite not being in suspense about her illness.
The plot with Dean feels rushed and out of place. It feels like the author realized that the book had no real climax because they reveal Abby's illness on the first page so they needed another series of exciting events. When dealing with a serious topic like Hansen's disease the last thing that was needed was another serious topic like child pornography and exploitation tossed in without proper care. The plot with Dean is a sub plot meant to keep the book exciting, which means that it's not handled with the same care Abby's plot was. Dean experiences no negative consequences from something that leaves many people with a lifetime of emotional issues. There was no reason to extend it into the illegal and murky territory and not have him just be a sex worker.
The pacing of this book is just incredibly awkward. There's all this build up to Abby finding out what's wrong with her. There's a Dustin plot left dropped. The friend plot is mainly dropped. Most of Abby's recovery is time-skipped in favour of a romance plotline. The first half of the book is genuinely enjoyable, although it would have been more enjoyable if the title didn't spoil the suspense. The back half of the book is a mess, that would have been a drag to read if they hadn't introduced the ridiculous but exciting subplot. Both romances are weak and rushed. We know almost nothing about the boys except that they love Abby for some reason.
The thing that really ruined this book for me though was Abby's character arc. Say it with me: Illness doesn't make you a more profound person. Abby is a bully and not a good person, but Hansen's Disease makes her realize the error of her ways. This is a disgusting narrative. Getting a disease or an injury doesn't suddenly make you a good and/or inspiring person. We're told Abby learns to not judge people based on their appearances because she learned that ugly people can also be good! Wow. I would have been more supportive of an Abby that overcame Hansen's than the one who magically becomes the nicest person ever because having a disease is so humbling and eye opening.
I think Little definitely had noble intentions with this book, and there were certainly parts of it I enjoyed but overall the message feels a little patronising. People with Hansen's Disease aren't automatically more profound and sweet. Suffering doesn't automatically give you a good person award. The plot with Dean should have also been dropped.
February 25, 2019
This book was informative about the causes and symptoms of Hansen's Disease, and the history of the Carville Leprosarium in Louisiana. But it read more like a book where the author found out about Carville and decided to write about a character with Hansen's Disease just to further explore the fascinating history and work of this place, rather than the author writing about a character who presented themselves with a story that needed to be told.
The main character, Abby, was not very likeable and did not exhibit enough growth to be likeable at the end either. She met nice people who were nice to her, and she was sad about the way her "friends" treated her, but there was no display of her change among her peers once she returned to normal life.
Still, the book was not bad. It was an interesting glimpse into Carville as fiction rather than nonfiction, and into a disease which most people don't realize still exists.
Side note: Currently, treatment may take place at the Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge. It is not a requirement for patients to go there and it is not a requirement that patients be isolated from friends and family. The book does not indicate it is written to occur in a different time period than present day, so the author may have taken a few liberties with the facts.
https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/treatment...
https://www.hrsa.gov/hansens-disease/...
Book description:
Abby Furlowe has plans. Big plans. She's hot, she's popular, she's a cheerleader and she's going to break out of her small Texas town and make it big. Fame and fortune, adoration and accolades. It'll all be hers.
But then she notices some spots on her skin. She writes them off as a rash, but things only get worse. She's tired all the time, her hands and feet are numb and her face starts to look like day-old pizza. By the time her seventeenth birthday rolls around, she's tried every cream and medication the doctors have thrown at her, but nothing works. When she falls doing a routine cheerleading stunt and slips into a coma, her mystery illness goes into overdrive and finally gets diagnosed: Hansen's Disease, aka leprosy.
Abby is sent to a facility to recover and deal with this new reality. Her many misdiagnoses mean that some permanent damage has been done, and all of her plans suddenly come tumbling down. If she can't even wear high heels anymore, what is the point of living? Cheerleading is out the window, and she might not even make it to prom. PROM!
But it's during this recovery that Abby has to learn to live with something even more difficult than Hansen's Disease. She's becoming aware of who she really was before and what her behavior was doing to others; now she's on the other side of the fence looking in, and she doesn't like what she sees. . .
The main character, Abby, was not very likeable and did not exhibit enough growth to be likeable at the end either. She met nice people who were nice to her, and she was sad about the way her "friends" treated her, but there was no display of her change among her peers once she returned to normal life.
Still, the book was not bad. It was an interesting glimpse into Carville as fiction rather than nonfiction, and into a disease which most people don't realize still exists.
Side note: Currently, treatment may take place at the Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge. It is not a requirement for patients to go there and it is not a requirement that patients be isolated from friends and family. The book does not indicate it is written to occur in a different time period than present day, so the author may have taken a few liberties with the facts.
https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/treatment...
https://www.hrsa.gov/hansens-disease/...
Book description:
Abby Furlowe has plans. Big plans. She's hot, she's popular, she's a cheerleader and she's going to break out of her small Texas town and make it big. Fame and fortune, adoration and accolades. It'll all be hers.
But then she notices some spots on her skin. She writes them off as a rash, but things only get worse. She's tired all the time, her hands and feet are numb and her face starts to look like day-old pizza. By the time her seventeenth birthday rolls around, she's tried every cream and medication the doctors have thrown at her, but nothing works. When she falls doing a routine cheerleading stunt and slips into a coma, her mystery illness goes into overdrive and finally gets diagnosed: Hansen's Disease, aka leprosy.
Abby is sent to a facility to recover and deal with this new reality. Her many misdiagnoses mean that some permanent damage has been done, and all of her plans suddenly come tumbling down. If she can't even wear high heels anymore, what is the point of living? Cheerleading is out the window, and she might not even make it to prom. PROM!
But it's during this recovery that Abby has to learn to live with something even more difficult than Hansen's Disease. She's becoming aware of who she really was before and what her behavior was doing to others; now she's on the other side of the fence looking in, and she doesn't like what she sees. . .
July 3, 2018
My full review can be found on the Epilie Aspie Chick blog!
If this story sounds really familiar, its because it is. This is not a very creative shell of a story here with the mean girl taught the lesson about what matters about life. However, there are some redeeming qualities to this story worth pointing out that do make it a fun, flirty read. Abby has a very complicated relationship with her brother, Dean. These two start out as total enemies who can never seem to get along with one another. As Abby gets diagnosed and Dean's life gets complicated, these two lean to work out their sibling hatred. Not only do they get along, they actually help each other out. I also enjoyed the format of this book with it being more in the form of talking rather than your typical chapters style. It has these breaks between small sections to keep things easy to chew off and stop as desired.
There are many issues with this book too though - plenty enough that they cannot be ignored. Abby is very bratty in the beginning and almost too much of a stereotype to the point its hard to swallow. Other characters continuously point out how shallow and empty of a person she is and although I know this was added to point out her flaws, it really served to point out the book's flaws.
In addition, the romantic angles with both Dustin and Scott were really mismanaged. Dustin starts out as a real hot option of a guy with a heart and then ends up disappearing off the romantic radar without so much as a reason why. Really? Considering how he ends up serving the story, I really think they should've just left him as a good friend and skipped the flirting altogether. As for Scott - he plays such an important role for Abby in making her comfortable post-diagnosis and learning to cope with her new life. However, we never really learn much about his backstory or his life beyond boot camp. Its a missed opportunity that by the end of the book I really found myself longing over. A LOT.
If this story sounds really familiar, its because it is. This is not a very creative shell of a story here with the mean girl taught the lesson about what matters about life. However, there are some redeeming qualities to this story worth pointing out that do make it a fun, flirty read. Abby has a very complicated relationship with her brother, Dean. These two start out as total enemies who can never seem to get along with one another. As Abby gets diagnosed and Dean's life gets complicated, these two lean to work out their sibling hatred. Not only do they get along, they actually help each other out. I also enjoyed the format of this book with it being more in the form of talking rather than your typical chapters style. It has these breaks between small sections to keep things easy to chew off and stop as desired.
There are many issues with this book too though - plenty enough that they cannot be ignored. Abby is very bratty in the beginning and almost too much of a stereotype to the point its hard to swallow. Other characters continuously point out how shallow and empty of a person she is and although I know this was added to point out her flaws, it really served to point out the book's flaws.
In addition, the romantic angles with both Dustin and Scott were really mismanaged. Dustin starts out as a real hot option of a guy with a heart and then ends up disappearing off the romantic radar without so much as a reason why. Really? Considering how he ends up serving the story, I really think they should've just left him as a good friend and skipped the flirting altogether. As for Scott - he plays such an important role for Abby in making her comfortable post-diagnosis and learning to cope with her new life. However, we never really learn much about his backstory or his life beyond boot camp. Its a missed opportunity that by the end of the book I really found myself longing over. A LOT.
September 11, 2018
Abby is an attractive, popular high school cheerleader. She plans to use cheerleading as a means to obtain a scholarship to college - where she plans to learn acting. Though she spends months experiencing an array of symptoms, it isn't until she ends up in a coma after a cheer stunt gone wrong that they finally discover the truth - she has leprosy, a.k.a. Hansen's Disease.
She is immediately dispatched to a Hansen Disease care facility where she must spend several weeks taking medication and learning to function with the disease. It is during this time she really begins to see what kind of person she was before the diagnosis. She struggles to understand why she got the disease, and how it will effect her future. She learns that her worth isn't based on looks alone, and she has more to offer than she thinks.
The story is told by Abby as a memoir, of sorts, about her life before, during, and after the disease. She's the popular, attractive, mean girl from high school. I imagine her as the person you hate, and some petty part of yourself is happy when she starts to get ugly and ignored. I loved the writing style. It fit so well with how teens talk, and didn't seem to be trying to be something more than what it was. It was an easy, fast read. There were times I wanted to punch Abby in the face. There's also a kind of sub-plot/side story regarding her brother that I think was unnecessary. Unnecessary for this story, not unnecessary as a story. His predicament drew me away from her story in a frustrating way. It isn't that I didn't care for him, or his circumstances, it's just that his story was a distraction. I would, however, read a book based on his circumstances.
As I sometimes say, "I laughed, I cried. It moved me, Bob." <--- (Stolen from Veggie Tales)
4/5
Stefanie Rae
She is immediately dispatched to a Hansen Disease care facility where she must spend several weeks taking medication and learning to function with the disease. It is during this time she really begins to see what kind of person she was before the diagnosis. She struggles to understand why she got the disease, and how it will effect her future. She learns that her worth isn't based on looks alone, and she has more to offer than she thinks.
The story is told by Abby as a memoir, of sorts, about her life before, during, and after the disease. She's the popular, attractive, mean girl from high school. I imagine her as the person you hate, and some petty part of yourself is happy when she starts to get ugly and ignored. I loved the writing style. It fit so well with how teens talk, and didn't seem to be trying to be something more than what it was. It was an easy, fast read. There were times I wanted to punch Abby in the face. There's also a kind of sub-plot/side story regarding her brother that I think was unnecessary. Unnecessary for this story, not unnecessary as a story. His predicament drew me away from her story in a frustrating way. It isn't that I didn't care for him, or his circumstances, it's just that his story was a distraction. I would, however, read a book based on his circumstances.
As I sometimes say, "I laughed, I cried. It moved me, Bob." <--- (Stolen from Veggie Tales)
4/5
Stefanie Rae
September 23, 2018
Title: Confessions of a Teenage Leper
Author: Ashley Little
Genre: YA
Rating: 3 out of 5
Abby Furlowe is determined that this will be her year. She’ll make the cheerleading team again—she’d better, all her plans for a future as an actor hinge on a prestigious cheerleading scholarship—enjoy parties with her two besties and continue to rule the school as one of the most beautiful and popular girls. Maybe even be named prom queen!
She doesn’t have time for her brother Dean and his secret life and drama. She doesn’t have time for her boyfriend’s sudden distance or the losers at school. And she certainly doesn’t have time for the weird numbness and spots that keep showing up on her skin. Until the numbness gets worse and she takes a fall while cheering, waking up to find her whole life has changed.
That weird numbness means she has Hansen’s Disease, or leprosy, and the diagnosis is now all Abby has time for. She’ll have to go away to a treatment center if she’s to get better—or have any hope of reclaiming her old life. But time away from everything gives Abby plenty of time to think, and she comes to realize what a horrible person she is. But who she was isn’t the person she has to be now, and some of the new people she meets at the treatment center help her come to terms with her new reality.
Based on the title, I sort of thought this book would be a funny read about a girl who ends up a social outcast, not a person who actually had the disease. It wasn’t. At all. For most of the book, Abby is a horrible person. Totally unlikable. Her mean-girl persona really made me want to put the book down, but she had a few bright spots, like saving her brother’s life, so I kept reading. Abby learns a lot, about the power of words, about family, about being a better person.
(Galley provided by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.)
More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day
Author: Ashley Little
Genre: YA
Rating: 3 out of 5
Abby Furlowe is determined that this will be her year. She’ll make the cheerleading team again—she’d better, all her plans for a future as an actor hinge on a prestigious cheerleading scholarship—enjoy parties with her two besties and continue to rule the school as one of the most beautiful and popular girls. Maybe even be named prom queen!
She doesn’t have time for her brother Dean and his secret life and drama. She doesn’t have time for her boyfriend’s sudden distance or the losers at school. And she certainly doesn’t have time for the weird numbness and spots that keep showing up on her skin. Until the numbness gets worse and she takes a fall while cheering, waking up to find her whole life has changed.
That weird numbness means she has Hansen’s Disease, or leprosy, and the diagnosis is now all Abby has time for. She’ll have to go away to a treatment center if she’s to get better—or have any hope of reclaiming her old life. But time away from everything gives Abby plenty of time to think, and she comes to realize what a horrible person she is. But who she was isn’t the person she has to be now, and some of the new people she meets at the treatment center help her come to terms with her new reality.
Based on the title, I sort of thought this book would be a funny read about a girl who ends up a social outcast, not a person who actually had the disease. It wasn’t. At all. For most of the book, Abby is a horrible person. Totally unlikable. Her mean-girl persona really made me want to put the book down, but she had a few bright spots, like saving her brother’s life, so I kept reading. Abby learns a lot, about the power of words, about family, about being a better person.
(Galley provided by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.)
More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day
August 13, 2018
This book deserves more credit than it's getting. The story delivered a realistic, complex, and entertaining course of events that I really enjoyed reading. The characters were interesting and dynamic. The disease conflict coupled nicely with the overall theme, and also with the subplots that sprang from it. The voice was clearly defined and consistent.
That being said, this story was far from perfect. It felt more like a second draft than a polished story. The resolution felt like it was slapped together for a deadline. Not to mention that the writing style could be perceived as dry and unimaginative if the reader did not care to imagine the events themself.
I didn't mind these things, I was actually pretty invested in the story, and I felt it was a worthwhile read about a topic that I was completely unknowledgeable about.
There was one little thing that really ground my gears. I don't know why I despised it so much but I just found it so lazy. Because my copy was an ARC, this might have been changed by the final publication (and I really hope that it was). Someone thought it would be a good idea to frame the story as if it had been written by the protagonist herself, and had used a fake name and blotted out the name of her hometown to protect her privacy or whatever. It was so clear that this whole aspect was an afterthought, and the editor just command-F'ed Austin and highlighted it black. And the protagonist's "fake name" was Abby, but her brother teased her and called her "scabby Abby" more than once? The whole thing just felt very lazy and broke most any sense of authenticity with the reader.
TL;DR: the editor had a stupid idea and it ruined so much. Otherwise, the story felt very unedited but definitely has a lot going for it. 3.5/5 stars
That being said, this story was far from perfect. It felt more like a second draft than a polished story. The resolution felt like it was slapped together for a deadline. Not to mention that the writing style could be perceived as dry and unimaginative if the reader did not care to imagine the events themself.
I didn't mind these things, I was actually pretty invested in the story, and I felt it was a worthwhile read about a topic that I was completely unknowledgeable about.
There was one little thing that really ground my gears. I don't know why I despised it so much but I just found it so lazy. Because my copy was an ARC, this might have been changed by the final publication (and I really hope that it was). Someone thought it would be a good idea to frame the story as if it had been written by the protagonist herself, and had used a fake name and blotted out the name of her hometown to protect her privacy or whatever. It was so clear that this whole aspect was an afterthought, and the editor just command-F'ed Austin and highlighted it black. And the protagonist's "fake name" was Abby, but her brother teased her and called her "scabby Abby" more than once? The whole thing just felt very lazy and broke most any sense of authenticity with the reader.
TL;DR: the editor had a stupid idea and it ruined so much. Otherwise, the story felt very unedited but definitely has a lot going for it. 3.5/5 stars
October 9, 2018
3.75 stars!
You can also read my review on my website here.
I received a copy via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
One of the biggest facts I have to mention about this book before I get into my review is its intensity. It is a book that may divide some readers because of the way the protagonist is written and how events are portrayed/approached. I had very strong mixed feelings about this book, but after some thought, I’ve hopefully been able to put my thoughts down a little better than they were in my head while I read.
Not too long ago, I watched a BooksandLala video where she mentioned our take on certain books and the issues they portray. Her video was called “Reading the Lowest Rated Books On My TBR”. She offered a theory similar to how we DNF books because we can’t separate our personal opinions of a topic and how the character is portrayed from why they were written in particular ways. Basically, if a character has a prejudice in a book is it because the author has a prejudice, or is it because the story itself has a character who has a prejudice–is the character just like this for the sake of the story? I’ve encountered this situation a few times with books I’ve read in the past and this point resonated with me.
When I started reading Confessions of a Teenage Leper by Ashley Little, BooksandLala’s discussion sat heavy in my mind. I found myself thinking more about the story and everything it was trying to say rather than just the fact that Abby is a horrible person. Or at least, she is at first.
Even the other characters around her are aware of how she is and it is continuously pointed out to her.
The difficulty with writing from the POV of a character who’s less than desirable is that the author needs to portray them as such. It wouldn’t make sense to have a sweet and kind character’s thought process, then have someone call them a “not-so-nice person”. This is an honest portrayal of Abby’s flaws and how they come back to bite her in a horrible twist of fate.
With that being said, Abby was a handful for a good half of the book. But one of the most fabulous things about Little’s book is how she portrays the character growth. Realistically, she has Abby growing steadily through experiences and through situations where she doesn’t even realize she’s growing. Her adamant inability to understand why she needs to change felt age appropriate, but her final acceptance showed growth and maturity.
Another aspect that was done nicely was the topic of Hansen’s disease. I’ve never read any other book with this kind of story and I feel like I learned a lot. When I read about its history and how people who suffered from it in the past were treated, my heart broke. The author uses terms for this disease that have since become outdated and offensive, such as leper and leprosy, making the story more jarring every time Abby used the words. Abby’s vehemence to refer to the diseases in this offensive way was sad but also fitting, because she is still in shock from her diagnosis and how much her life is changing. It also fit her persona at the beginning of the book.
I want to also note that the author apologizes at the end of the book for her use of these words. I’ve never seen an author apologize for using condemning language in their writing and it was oddly refreshing.
Another positive was the constant allusion to other issues explored. While this book sometimes had too much going on, there were some situations that are important to note. Little introduces topics such as Substance Abuse, Other forms of Abuse, Bullying, and the Fear of Failure.
She also has an LGBTQ+ character(s) that we could have, admittedly, learned more about. But there are other situations where Little introduces a topic, but then fails to return to it, or give it the proper focus it begs for.
As I mentioned, one of the downfalls of this book was how much was going on (a lot), but another downfall was how dramatic it was at times. While Abby is a teenager, she’s not exactly young. This being her diary, it read a little younger than the experiences portrayed. Also, some of the drama could have either been avoided, or it could have been explained different. But Abby’s personality is really intense and sometimes incredibly immature, so the drama is at times unavoidable, I guess.
In my strong opinion, this is a book that can’t be DNF’ed. Sure, the temptation may be high for some, but there is genuine character growth as the story progresses. There are some redemption arcs and other characters to meet, so the story and experiences can be put into perspective. It’s incredibly easy to dislike Abby, but hanging on makes it worthwhile. Also, this has some pretty intense messages that I think are important to read about, especially when there are so few books about Hansen’s disease (That I know of, please recommend any fictional books that feature this disease).
I recommend Confessions of a Teenage Leper to fans of diary entry style books (Epistolary books) and anyone who likes to see great character growth. This is a story where the mean girl learns what it’s like to be treated differently, and why compassion is such an important aspect of being human.
Happy reading!
You can also read my review on my website here.
I received a copy via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
One of the biggest facts I have to mention about this book before I get into my review is its intensity. It is a book that may divide some readers because of the way the protagonist is written and how events are portrayed/approached. I had very strong mixed feelings about this book, but after some thought, I’ve hopefully been able to put my thoughts down a little better than they were in my head while I read.
Not too long ago, I watched a BooksandLala video where she mentioned our take on certain books and the issues they portray. Her video was called “Reading the Lowest Rated Books On My TBR”. She offered a theory similar to how we DNF books because we can’t separate our personal opinions of a topic and how the character is portrayed from why they were written in particular ways. Basically, if a character has a prejudice in a book is it because the author has a prejudice, or is it because the story itself has a character who has a prejudice–is the character just like this for the sake of the story? I’ve encountered this situation a few times with books I’ve read in the past and this point resonated with me.
When I started reading Confessions of a Teenage Leper by Ashley Little, BooksandLala’s discussion sat heavy in my mind. I found myself thinking more about the story and everything it was trying to say rather than just the fact that Abby is a horrible person. Or at least, she is at first.
Even the other characters around her are aware of how she is and it is continuously pointed out to her.
The difficulty with writing from the POV of a character who’s less than desirable is that the author needs to portray them as such. It wouldn’t make sense to have a sweet and kind character’s thought process, then have someone call them a “not-so-nice person”. This is an honest portrayal of Abby’s flaws and how they come back to bite her in a horrible twist of fate.
With that being said, Abby was a handful for a good half of the book. But one of the most fabulous things about Little’s book is how she portrays the character growth. Realistically, she has Abby growing steadily through experiences and through situations where she doesn’t even realize she’s growing. Her adamant inability to understand why she needs to change felt age appropriate, but her final acceptance showed growth and maturity.
Another aspect that was done nicely was the topic of Hansen’s disease. I’ve never read any other book with this kind of story and I feel like I learned a lot. When I read about its history and how people who suffered from it in the past were treated, my heart broke. The author uses terms for this disease that have since become outdated and offensive, such as leper and leprosy, making the story more jarring every time Abby used the words. Abby’s vehemence to refer to the diseases in this offensive way was sad but also fitting, because she is still in shock from her diagnosis and how much her life is changing. It also fit her persona at the beginning of the book.
I want to also note that the author apologizes at the end of the book for her use of these words. I’ve never seen an author apologize for using condemning language in their writing and it was oddly refreshing.
Another positive was the constant allusion to other issues explored. While this book sometimes had too much going on, there were some situations that are important to note. Little introduces topics such as Substance Abuse, Other forms of Abuse, Bullying, and the Fear of Failure.
She also has an LGBTQ+ character(s) that we could have, admittedly, learned more about. But there are other situations where Little introduces a topic, but then fails to return to it, or give it the proper focus it begs for.
As I mentioned, one of the downfalls of this book was how much was going on (a lot), but another downfall was how dramatic it was at times. While Abby is a teenager, she’s not exactly young. This being her diary, it read a little younger than the experiences portrayed. Also, some of the drama could have either been avoided, or it could have been explained different. But Abby’s personality is really intense and sometimes incredibly immature, so the drama is at times unavoidable, I guess.
In my strong opinion, this is a book that can’t be DNF’ed. Sure, the temptation may be high for some, but there is genuine character growth as the story progresses. There are some redemption arcs and other characters to meet, so the story and experiences can be put into perspective. It’s incredibly easy to dislike Abby, but hanging on makes it worthwhile. Also, this has some pretty intense messages that I think are important to read about, especially when there are so few books about Hansen’s disease (That I know of, please recommend any fictional books that feature this disease).
I recommend Confessions of a Teenage Leper to fans of diary entry style books (Epistolary books) and anyone who likes to see great character growth. This is a story where the mean girl learns what it’s like to be treated differently, and why compassion is such an important aspect of being human.
Happy reading!
November 20, 2018
This synopsis sums this book up pretty well. I read through this book pretty quickly and it was paced very well but it was a bit annoying. Abby is a popular girl, who has it all, she is pretty, popular, and even a cheerleader - the perfect stereotype for a mean girl, and she is a mean girl (not the worst). She is stricken with this disease and her whole world turns upside down. Now, she is ugly and her friends start to abandon her.
The book is told through Abby, how she feels and everything she is going through. Instead of chapters it is written more like diary style, without any real headings, just breaks in the text and I think that is what made it such a quick read. There were god stopping points, but unlike books with chapters it was hard to convince yourself you were at a good stopping point.
Anywho, more about the plot: Abby's disease spread and the family trying to figure out what it is, was the most interesting part of the book and done really well. How she feels betrayed was also pretty spot-on. However, while some might feel sorry for her, she was whiny and still pretty mean to other people even while going through this process. Abby acts entitled and snobby through most of the book. There were also some points about graduating that were weird - she wants to go to LA for acting, so she is a cheerleader and wants a cheerleading scholarship to go to an LA school... and she doesn't realize she will have to then be a cheerleader at that school, why didn't she take up theater in her high school if she wanted to act? These were things that were hard for me to shake out and not be confused about. I completely understand how life-plans can be confusing but these were more common sense things.
All in all, this was an entertaining book, and if you are looking for something about disease and coping, this might be a healthy book to read. However, if the whiny teenage-girl thing is not something you can handle, this one will fall a little short.
The book is told through Abby, how she feels and everything she is going through. Instead of chapters it is written more like diary style, without any real headings, just breaks in the text and I think that is what made it such a quick read. There were god stopping points, but unlike books with chapters it was hard to convince yourself you were at a good stopping point.
Anywho, more about the plot: Abby's disease spread and the family trying to figure out what it is, was the most interesting part of the book and done really well. How she feels betrayed was also pretty spot-on. However, while some might feel sorry for her, she was whiny and still pretty mean to other people even while going through this process. Abby acts entitled and snobby through most of the book. There were also some points about graduating that were weird - she wants to go to LA for acting, so she is a cheerleader and wants a cheerleading scholarship to go to an LA school... and she doesn't realize she will have to then be a cheerleader at that school, why didn't she take up theater in her high school if she wanted to act? These were things that were hard for me to shake out and not be confused about. I completely understand how life-plans can be confusing but these were more common sense things.
All in all, this was an entertaining book, and if you are looking for something about disease and coping, this might be a healthy book to read. However, if the whiny teenage-girl thing is not something you can handle, this one will fall a little short.
September 22, 2018
I feel like I should give this book an extra star just because it takes on the topic of Hansen’s disease (leprosy), which is way outside the norm for YA novels. It’s not exactly a disease where you can suffer prettily.
It’s hard to like Abby, the narrator of the story. She’s shallow and vain at the start of the novel, the stereotypical mean cheerleader. Abby does have hidden depths—she saves her brother’s life when he chokes on his own vomit after drinking too much at a party—but they are VERY deeply hidden. She spends a lot of the book mired in self-pity, too. Of course, her illness (also rather stereotypically) does teach her some lessons about judging people based on their appearance and valuing people for their character. But she doesn’t turn into a saint at the end of the book, which at least was realistic.
I admit, mostly what kept me reading was the discussion of the disease itself. The progression of the symptoms, the way it was treated, the long-term damage—all interesting. The history of the stigma associated with the disease and the way people were confined at the leprosarium in Carville, Louisiana was very sad.
Overall, I thought this book was worth reading, even if the main character isn’t very likeable.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
It’s hard to like Abby, the narrator of the story. She’s shallow and vain at the start of the novel, the stereotypical mean cheerleader. Abby does have hidden depths—she saves her brother’s life when he chokes on his own vomit after drinking too much at a party—but they are VERY deeply hidden. She spends a lot of the book mired in self-pity, too. Of course, her illness (also rather stereotypically) does teach her some lessons about judging people based on their appearance and valuing people for their character. But she doesn’t turn into a saint at the end of the book, which at least was realistic.
I admit, mostly what kept me reading was the discussion of the disease itself. The progression of the symptoms, the way it was treated, the long-term damage—all interesting. The history of the stigma associated with the disease and the way people were confined at the leprosarium in Carville, Louisiana was very sad.
Overall, I thought this book was worth reading, even if the main character isn’t very likeable.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
September 12, 2018
*Spoiler free*
Everyone wishes they could be Abby Furlowe. The high school senior is athletic, smart and physically flawless. Abby is preparing to get a full ride to University for Southern California to chase her dream of acting when she is unexpectedly diagnosed with Hanson’s Disease, (formerly known as Leprosy). Abby goes from being the most popular girl in high school to being a social reject. After she is sent away to a medical treatment center, Abby develops a new understanding of what beauty really means. Not only does she find unconditional love at the treatment center, but she finds love for herself, something many people struggle with.
Confessions of a Teenage Leper is one of my new favorite books. Abby’s spunky personality drew me in immediately. Truthfully, Abby’s character is a lot to absorb. She isn’t exactly a likable character; she’s superficial and selfish. I found myself mentally condemning some of Abby’s thoughts and actions. Beginning with the diagnosis of Leprosy, I watched Abby develop from a “child” to a mature young woman.
This book is very emotional, especially for someone who puts themselves in other people’s shoes easily. What was different about this book was that as the reader, you were feeling everyone angry and confused thought right along with Abby. The whole situation seems unfair, you just can’t help it. People deal with these sort of situations all the time. Ashley Little has a special talent for making the reader experience Abby’s raw emotions. I quite admire this in an author. It’s makes the story more powerful.
Interestingly, one of the most intriguing things I found in this book was the relationship Abby had to her brother Dean. Just as anyone else, their relationship was bumpy. I found Dean’s character to be especially unique. He grows in the story just as much as his sister does. True love is not always romantic.
People are not well informed about Hanson’s disease, especially with a modern perspective. I felt this book was informative about the disease while also being enjoyable!
Anyone looking for an easy read about the internal struggles of teenagers, pick this one up now! Ashley’s writing is strong but easy to read. I recommend this book for ages 15 and up.
Everyone wishes they could be Abby Furlowe. The high school senior is athletic, smart and physically flawless. Abby is preparing to get a full ride to University for Southern California to chase her dream of acting when she is unexpectedly diagnosed with Hanson’s Disease, (formerly known as Leprosy). Abby goes from being the most popular girl in high school to being a social reject. After she is sent away to a medical treatment center, Abby develops a new understanding of what beauty really means. Not only does she find unconditional love at the treatment center, but she finds love for herself, something many people struggle with.
Confessions of a Teenage Leper is one of my new favorite books. Abby’s spunky personality drew me in immediately. Truthfully, Abby’s character is a lot to absorb. She isn’t exactly a likable character; she’s superficial and selfish. I found myself mentally condemning some of Abby’s thoughts and actions. Beginning with the diagnosis of Leprosy, I watched Abby develop from a “child” to a mature young woman.
This book is very emotional, especially for someone who puts themselves in other people’s shoes easily. What was different about this book was that as the reader, you were feeling everyone angry and confused thought right along with Abby. The whole situation seems unfair, you just can’t help it. People deal with these sort of situations all the time. Ashley Little has a special talent for making the reader experience Abby’s raw emotions. I quite admire this in an author. It’s makes the story more powerful.
Interestingly, one of the most intriguing things I found in this book was the relationship Abby had to her brother Dean. Just as anyone else, their relationship was bumpy. I found Dean’s character to be especially unique. He grows in the story just as much as his sister does. True love is not always romantic.
People are not well informed about Hanson’s disease, especially with a modern perspective. I felt this book was informative about the disease while also being enjoyable!
Anyone looking for an easy read about the internal struggles of teenagers, pick this one up now! Ashley’s writing is strong but easy to read. I recommend this book for ages 15 and up.
September 7, 2018
First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a copy of this book to review.
Confessions of a Teenage Leper was such a great read. I couldn't put it down for a second, I literally just finished it in one morning. I didn't really know what to expect when I received it and started reading but it definitely exceeded all my expectations. It was touching and heartbreaking. It made me think of things I hadn't thought of before and made me feel things so deeply. The writing as well the narrative being in first person really does a nice work of putting you in the main character's shoes; you feel Abby's frustration and despair and helplessness and it is painful - but in a good way, if you know what I mean.
I learned a lot about Hansen's disease from this book - how it's contracted, how it starts showing up, the treatment involved, that it can relapse and most importantly, the sentiments surrounding the L-word. When you are someone who hasn't been through an experience, you take it so lightly and you don't even realise what effect it could have on other people. Confessions of a Teenage Leper taught me that and I am thankful for it. It was a very, very beautiful story.
Confessions of a Teenage Leper was such a great read. I couldn't put it down for a second, I literally just finished it in one morning. I didn't really know what to expect when I received it and started reading but it definitely exceeded all my expectations. It was touching and heartbreaking. It made me think of things I hadn't thought of before and made me feel things so deeply. The writing as well the narrative being in first person really does a nice work of putting you in the main character's shoes; you feel Abby's frustration and despair and helplessness and it is painful - but in a good way, if you know what I mean.
I learned a lot about Hansen's disease from this book - how it's contracted, how it starts showing up, the treatment involved, that it can relapse and most importantly, the sentiments surrounding the L-word. When you are someone who hasn't been through an experience, you take it so lightly and you don't even realise what effect it could have on other people. Confessions of a Teenage Leper taught me that and I am thankful for it. It was a very, very beautiful story.
May 3, 2019
This is an easy read probably best suited to mid-teen girls. The story is about a teenage cheerleader who is one of the "it" girls at her school. She and her friends spend time making fun of other students during their lunch hour. They are presented as particularly shallow and selfish. The main character, Abby, becomes ill but the doctors have a difficult time figuring out what's wrong; as such, her illness goes undiagnosed for some time when eventually a cheerleading stunt gone wrong not only results in broken bones, but leads to the correct diagnosis of her illness: Hansen's disease (aka leprosy). Abby's friends abandon her and her isolation is even greater when she gets sent alone to a treatment centre. There she learns to come to terms with her illness, and realizes how her past behaviour towards others was wrong. The lesson that Abby learns is very predictable, but there are other aspects of the story that keep it entertaining. There is some mature content, including strong language, teen drinking and teen sex. The best thing about this book is the conversational style of writing that I think will hook young adults and make it perhaps an easier read for struggling or reluctant readers.
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