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Idiot
Idiot is a powerful coming of age story about a girl who beats the odds and moves between two worlds from a drug addicted mother to a nurturing adoptive family. Idiot forces you think about the choices we're all destined to make and strikes a perfect balance between love and loss.
Although Idiot was inspired by a true story, it is entirely a work of fiction. So many women could write stories of their own abuse and struggle trying to blend into young adulthood. This book transitions the reader from a young and unknowing girl to a beautiful young woman and provides a unique glimpse into the private life of Eva Langston through her diary entries.
This story was written with the hope it may help others ease into and through difficult transitions. Although abuse never goes away, it is sometimes dealt with in a manner that allows survivors to move forward and blossom.
This work is dedicated to all young people who haven’t yet found their way.
#ya #LGBTQ #na #young adult #new adult
Although Idiot was inspired by a true story, it is entirely a work of fiction. So many women could write stories of their own abuse and struggle trying to blend into young adulthood. This book transitions the reader from a young and unknowing girl to a beautiful young woman and provides a unique glimpse into the private life of Eva Langston through her diary entries.
This story was written with the hope it may help others ease into and through difficult transitions. Although abuse never goes away, it is sometimes dealt with in a manner that allows survivors to move forward and blossom.
This work is dedicated to all young people who haven’t yet found their way.
#ya #LGBTQ #na #young adult #new adult
264 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2018
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 2, 2018
3 (4 for most of it, until the adoption process/college experiences, which were unfortunately a little too unrealistic)
February 13, 2018
I am a special education teacher and am always looking for books that inspire my students to read. Many are higher achieving (have learning disabilities, but are high achievers). I've had a difficult time FINDING books beyond the popular fantasy novels that peek their interest. Not only is Idiot a shorter read, which none of them complained about (they all finished it-yay!!!), it's very interesting. I was given the book as an experiment to see if my students would actually read it. They did! This is the first time I've been chosen to participate in such an experiment, but I'd love to be given similar opportunities in the future. When Idiot is finally released, I'm adding it to my bookshelves in the classroom!
February 21, 2018
"Idiot" by Holly Smith is a story rooted in real events, which has blossomed into a gripping work of fiction. The book touches on several major social issues, like teen pregnancy, attempted mass school shooting, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Unfortunately, as recent events have shown, these remain ever more current and pressing. But beyond these, rises the life of a girl and her continual struggle with the hardship of life.
We are invited by Holly Smith on a very intimate journey, as we flick through the pages of Eva Langston’s diary. The first time we meet her, she is a troubled teenager trying to find a place for herself in life as she is spun around in the foster care system. Lacking a deeply coveted stability, she finds herself a constant misfit and on the verge of making some life threatening decisions. Her present is shadowed by a childhood marked by an abusive father, made bearable only by the presence of a loving mother and a loyal friend, Kami. But by dwelling into these memories in her journal, at the encouragement of her therapist, she starts working through them and slowly rises above.
The book is marked by a clear split in the general atmosphere and storyline. The second half is in an undeniably more optimistic tone, the scenery of Eva’s life has finally shifted from foster care to a loving family. This section explores how she is accepted by a group of people and how she now faces the new challenges with the help of a solid support system. Eva also engages in a romantic relationship, which helps her uncover new parts of herself. So, the main theme here is love on so many different levels.
While "Idiot" addresses many instances of abuse and pain, it is not about these, but about how to rise above. Help can come under different forms, from professional interventions, to support from friends and family. The important thing is to open up and allow others in. Other people are a crucial part of the healing process, but in the end, it is still a journey to be made alone.
We are invited by Holly Smith on a very intimate journey, as we flick through the pages of Eva Langston’s diary. The first time we meet her, she is a troubled teenager trying to find a place for herself in life as she is spun around in the foster care system. Lacking a deeply coveted stability, she finds herself a constant misfit and on the verge of making some life threatening decisions. Her present is shadowed by a childhood marked by an abusive father, made bearable only by the presence of a loving mother and a loyal friend, Kami. But by dwelling into these memories in her journal, at the encouragement of her therapist, she starts working through them and slowly rises above.
The book is marked by a clear split in the general atmosphere and storyline. The second half is in an undeniably more optimistic tone, the scenery of Eva’s life has finally shifted from foster care to a loving family. This section explores how she is accepted by a group of people and how she now faces the new challenges with the help of a solid support system. Eva also engages in a romantic relationship, which helps her uncover new parts of herself. So, the main theme here is love on so many different levels.
While "Idiot" addresses many instances of abuse and pain, it is not about these, but about how to rise above. Help can come under different forms, from professional interventions, to support from friends and family. The important thing is to open up and allow others in. Other people are a crucial part of the healing process, but in the end, it is still a journey to be made alone.
March 1, 2018
I was given this book as an experiment to see if my H.S. kids would read it (and like it). They did! I recommend this book for the YA cohort group.
March 29, 2018
The best form of character development in this novel is Eva’s writing voice. Since this book is written in 1st person, journal style, you really see Eva’s writing style when she’s writing for herself. There’s slang, the profanity, and her quips. Who wouldn’t be constantly annoyed in a rehab center when you’re convinced you’re the most sane person there?
Over the course of the novel, you can see Eva’s growth primarily through her voice. You can see she has learned to self-soothe and her world view is changing and broadening. Since Eva starts out as a teenager and the novel ends with her in her early twenties, it would make sense that her voice or writing style would change over time. Smith did a really great job of making this change gradual and natural.
I don’t give many 3/5 ratings here or on Goodreads for many reasons, but this novel unfortunately sits at a 3 for me. While it is short and easy for younger kids to pick up and relate to, I wasn’t sure the story could do enough for actual survivors of mental, verbal, and physical abuse. This was mainly because of the plot–or lack thereof.
The book is very plot-heavy towards the beginning. You ‘re with Eva in the rehab center and you wonder if she’s going to make it out or if she’ll recover from the years of abuse she went through. Then, she is miraculously adopted out of nowhere by the most perfect family ever. Since the journal entries don’t have dates, this came as a surprise and sort of stole any promise of tension or struggle. She still has a few quirks but it’s almost as if she’s completely “cured.”
This isn’t to say that I hate it when authors treat characters well, but this all happens around the 1/3 mark. The rest of the novel coasts with hardly any other major action or climax. I skipped ahead in some parts because things were too pleasant or predictable. There’s a mini story and climax towards the end, but it’s rushed, too.
I would imagine that a normal story about abuse, recover, and adoption would come with relapses along the way. I’ve never experience rehab, but based on other stories from friends and family, I understand that adoption can be a bumpy ride, especially when adopting a teenager from a rehab center.
Eva doesn’t have any obstacles–mental or physical–for the majority of the book. I wish I could’ve seen more about how she builds a relationship with her new parents and siblings, and the ups and downs of entering a new family.
My Final Thoughts
Ultimately, this is a breezy novel for young adults who want to learn more about abuse and the recovery process. It’s also a great way to discuss one’s sexuality and navigate the world once you have accepted yourself. However, it might leave kids and adults wanting more discussion on what happens after rehab–the most struggly part of the process.
Over the course of the novel, you can see Eva’s growth primarily through her voice. You can see she has learned to self-soothe and her world view is changing and broadening. Since Eva starts out as a teenager and the novel ends with her in her early twenties, it would make sense that her voice or writing style would change over time. Smith did a really great job of making this change gradual and natural.
I don’t give many 3/5 ratings here or on Goodreads for many reasons, but this novel unfortunately sits at a 3 for me. While it is short and easy for younger kids to pick up and relate to, I wasn’t sure the story could do enough for actual survivors of mental, verbal, and physical abuse. This was mainly because of the plot–or lack thereof.
The book is very plot-heavy towards the beginning. You ‘re with Eva in the rehab center and you wonder if she’s going to make it out or if she’ll recover from the years of abuse she went through. Then, she is miraculously adopted out of nowhere by the most perfect family ever. Since the journal entries don’t have dates, this came as a surprise and sort of stole any promise of tension or struggle. She still has a few quirks but it’s almost as if she’s completely “cured.”
This isn’t to say that I hate it when authors treat characters well, but this all happens around the 1/3 mark. The rest of the novel coasts with hardly any other major action or climax. I skipped ahead in some parts because things were too pleasant or predictable. There’s a mini story and climax towards the end, but it’s rushed, too.
I would imagine that a normal story about abuse, recover, and adoption would come with relapses along the way. I’ve never experience rehab, but based on other stories from friends and family, I understand that adoption can be a bumpy ride, especially when adopting a teenager from a rehab center.
Eva doesn’t have any obstacles–mental or physical–for the majority of the book. I wish I could’ve seen more about how she builds a relationship with her new parents and siblings, and the ups and downs of entering a new family.
My Final Thoughts
Ultimately, this is a breezy novel for young adults who want to learn more about abuse and the recovery process. It’s also a great way to discuss one’s sexuality and navigate the world once you have accepted yourself. However, it might leave kids and adults wanting more discussion on what happens after rehab–the most struggly part of the process.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews