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Just Like Ziggy
Anna thought she had finally made it through the worst...
After three long months in a psych ward, seventeen-year-old Anna returns home to a broken family that’s still unable to cope with the death of her older sister. Back in school, indifferent classmates and teachers leave her with no support; her confidence starts to sharply plummet. Does anyone care that she had been gone?
Overwhelmed by feelings of failure, Anna begins to contemplate the worst.
Progress is quickly slipping away as her life descends back into chaos. Can Anna rise above her tragic past and sway her family’s destiny before it’s too late? Get your copy now and witness the journey unfold in a sequel to the award winning novel, "The Fifth Floor".
“It is a story about acceptance and love, and is a compelling read.” - Mamtha Madhaven – Reader’s Favorite
After three long months in a psych ward, seventeen-year-old Anna returns home to a broken family that’s still unable to cope with the death of her older sister. Back in school, indifferent classmates and teachers leave her with no support; her confidence starts to sharply plummet. Does anyone care that she had been gone?
Overwhelmed by feelings of failure, Anna begins to contemplate the worst.
Progress is quickly slipping away as her life descends back into chaos. Can Anna rise above her tragic past and sway her family’s destiny before it’s too late? Get your copy now and witness the journey unfold in a sequel to the award winning novel, "The Fifth Floor".
“It is a story about acceptance and love, and is a compelling read.” - Mamtha Madhaven – Reader’s Favorite
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2016
12 people are currently reading
674 people want to read
About the author
Julie Oleszek
4 books46 followersJulie Oleszek is the author of The Fifth Floor trilogy and Pompey Hollow Road, but she is also a teacher and animal lover who enjoys traveling, gardening, and finding joy in the little things of life.
In addition, Julie hangs out with family and friends, is always on the lookout for a good plate of nachos, revels in the next best audiobook, and is mesmerized by midwestern thunderstorms.
Julie and her husband, Mike, enjoy watching Jeopardy and taking their dog, Bo, on walks.
Go to JulieOleszek.com to learn more about her award-winning novels.
In addition, Julie hangs out with family and friends, is always on the lookout for a good plate of nachos, revels in the next best audiobook, and is mesmerized by midwestern thunderstorms.
Julie and her husband, Mike, enjoy watching Jeopardy and taking their dog, Bo, on walks.
Go to JulieOleszek.com to learn more about her award-winning novels.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 20, 2017
JUST LIKE ZIGGY is the sequel to the autobiographical novel THE FIFTH FLOOR. Anna, a seventeen-year-old fresh out of a three month stay in a locked psychiatric unit decides her best way forward is to go off her meds, act combatively and lie to the adults trying to help her. She winds up back on the psych unit, where she finally confronts her sister's death.
In the first chapters, I thought Julie Oleszek's writing had improved from her debut, by shortly after she resorted back to telling and not showing the story. The editing on the kindle edition was horrible, often using quotation marks for apostrophes and other typos that should have been corrected.
As with THE FIFTH FLOOR the story of the family's coping with Liz's death was much more interesting than the way Oleszek told the account.
In the first chapters, I thought Julie Oleszek's writing had improved from her debut, by shortly after she resorted back to telling and not showing the story. The editing on the kindle edition was horrible, often using quotation marks for apostrophes and other typos that should have been corrected.
As with THE FIFTH FLOOR the story of the family's coping with Liz's death was much more interesting than the way Oleszek told the account.
January 22, 2020
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The book is a sequel to "The Fifth Floor".
In this novel, based on the author's own experiences in a large family changed by tragedy, Anna has a secret she is afraid to share about her older sister. In the family, emotions are kept tucked away, hidden, to cry is to be weak.
It is not surprising, then, when Anna enters her teenage years, that repressed emotions begin coming out in self-destructive ways.
The book takes place from her childhood in the 70's (the same as my own) and it brought back great memories of banana seat bicycles, great music, carefree days, and studying intensely for important tests in school. However, for Anna, a stint on the mental ward seems to confirm to Anna her own belief that she is weak, useless, and stupid. Smart, useful people don't end up on a mental ward.
This book brings to light the crisis of mental illness - a subject that is still whispered behind closed doors. That needs to change.
The story is heartwarming, tragic, and a peek into a large family dealing with a loss beyond all of their control.
In this novel, based on the author's own experiences in a large family changed by tragedy, Anna has a secret she is afraid to share about her older sister. In the family, emotions are kept tucked away, hidden, to cry is to be weak.
It is not surprising, then, when Anna enters her teenage years, that repressed emotions begin coming out in self-destructive ways.
The book takes place from her childhood in the 70's (the same as my own) and it brought back great memories of banana seat bicycles, great music, carefree days, and studying intensely for important tests in school. However, for Anna, a stint on the mental ward seems to confirm to Anna her own belief that she is weak, useless, and stupid. Smart, useful people don't end up on a mental ward.
This book brings to light the crisis of mental illness - a subject that is still whispered behind closed doors. That needs to change.
The story is heartwarming, tragic, and a peek into a large family dealing with a loss beyond all of their control.
March 14, 2017
Just Like Ziggy picks up right where the first book, The Fifth Floor, left off. The main character, Anna, is released from Advocate Hospital. Slowly, she begins to suffer from much of the same issues, such as anxiety, like she did in the first book & before she was released. When she goes home to her family, Anna still hasn't talked about her sister Liz's death or how to handle her self-destructive coping mechanisms. Anna soon finds herself readmitted to the fifth floor due to her behavior where her therapy continues.
On New Year's Day, ten years after Liz's death, Anna's family gathers with her while she is receiving treatment and they discuss their feelings about Liz's death and share their memory's & emotions together. They all begin to show signs of desperately wanting to change and Anna begins her long road to healing. Anna is now breaking the chains that bound her, just like Ziggy, the elephant she wanted to set free so long ago when she was a child after hearing her story of captivity for 30 years.
On New Year's Day, ten years after Liz's death, Anna's family gathers with her while she is receiving treatment and they discuss their feelings about Liz's death and share their memory's & emotions together. They all begin to show signs of desperately wanting to change and Anna begins her long road to healing. Anna is now breaking the chains that bound her, just like Ziggy, the elephant she wanted to set free so long ago when she was a child after hearing her story of captivity for 30 years.
Just Like Ziggy is a powerful story that depicts a real life family and how they try to cope with unspeakable loss. I think the author handled such a story as this with care. It was a very emotional tale that I'm glad I read. I was happy to see Anna recieve the help she so desperately needed and healing begin for both her & her family. I gave Just Like Ziggy a 4 star rating and believe that many people would love this book. I recommend it for those sixteen and over.
(I received this book for review.)
August 29, 2016
It would be the next thing to impossible to follow The Fifth Floor with a sequel of equal stature. In the attempt, an author must first work to retain the audience that enjoyed the first book enough to spend the dollars on the sequel.
I think Julie Oleszek did not realize who her first book's readers were when she penned Ziggy. The Fifth Floor opened the door to people whose primary interest was the psychology of trauma - the vast majority of them adults - but Just Like Ziggy dumps the main character into the young adult realm of teen angst. Where the progression of illness in the first book was solid, thorough and satisfyingly real, the second book seems much more arbitrary and disconnected.
I do not mean to say that this is not worthwhile. It is a good volume whose main problem is that it must compare to the lofty standard set by Oleszek's first book. Some characters are fleshed out and become very real, though I would like to know more about what lurks in the mind of Bridg, the youngest. The family dynamic is fascinating, with context drawn from the author's own large family experience. And there are still those compelling moments, though not so many, where the author connects to the heart. But a sense of contrivance lingers.
By contrast, The Fifth Floor dwelt solely in the heart.
The writing itself is high quality but my Kindle version contains an unexplained artifact: a great many apostrophes are converted to double quotes. Obviously a mass transform created the issue, but it"s distracting, particularly in a higher-priced volume burdened with great expectations.
I think Julie Oleszek did not realize who her first book's readers were when she penned Ziggy. The Fifth Floor opened the door to people whose primary interest was the psychology of trauma - the vast majority of them adults - but Just Like Ziggy dumps the main character into the young adult realm of teen angst. Where the progression of illness in the first book was solid, thorough and satisfyingly real, the second book seems much more arbitrary and disconnected.
I do not mean to say that this is not worthwhile. It is a good volume whose main problem is that it must compare to the lofty standard set by Oleszek's first book. Some characters are fleshed out and become very real, though I would like to know more about what lurks in the mind of Bridg, the youngest. The family dynamic is fascinating, with context drawn from the author's own large family experience. And there are still those compelling moments, though not so many, where the author connects to the heart. But a sense of contrivance lingers.
By contrast, The Fifth Floor dwelt solely in the heart.
The writing itself is high quality but my Kindle version contains an unexplained artifact: a great many apostrophes are converted to double quotes. Obviously a mass transform created the issue, but it"s distracting, particularly in a higher-priced volume burdened with great expectations.
December 4, 2016
A must read book.
I read the Fifth Floor a couple of years ago and was thrilled when I saw that Just Like Ziggy was being released soon. I emailed the author and purchased a signed copy for myself and finally read and finished the book. It was beyond the greatest books of 2016 that I've read. Looking forward to more books by the author.
I read the Fifth Floor a couple of years ago and was thrilled when I saw that Just Like Ziggy was being released soon. I emailed the author and purchased a signed copy for myself and finally read and finished the book. It was beyond the greatest books of 2016 that I've read. Looking forward to more books by the author.
December 12, 2019
A page turner
As much as I enjoyed The Fifth Floor, I worried my expectations would be too high but I was pleasantly surprised. Just Like Ziggy is about grief. The reader accompanies Anna (17 yrs old) as she finds herself and eventually processes her grief ; her struggles become a gift and opportunity for her siblings and parents as well.
The author has a very unique way of keeping the reader in the shadows of Anna through every step of her healing. We become her and feel her every emotion and hear her thoughts. It’s almost like a privilege... getting it before everyone else. [smiles]
This is a book I recommend to anyone but especially to teachers. In our western culture death is such an awkward word for too many. Anyone working with youths could benefit (for those who do not understand) learning more about the grieving process but especially children and bereavement. Many youth educators may not understand that a teenager may start grieving a loved one they may have lost 10 or more years ago and it may help to read some signs to help them.
A great read!
As much as I enjoyed The Fifth Floor, I worried my expectations would be too high but I was pleasantly surprised. Just Like Ziggy is about grief. The reader accompanies Anna (17 yrs old) as she finds herself and eventually processes her grief ; her struggles become a gift and opportunity for her siblings and parents as well.
The author has a very unique way of keeping the reader in the shadows of Anna through every step of her healing. We become her and feel her every emotion and hear her thoughts. It’s almost like a privilege... getting it before everyone else. [smiles]
This is a book I recommend to anyone but especially to teachers. In our western culture death is such an awkward word for too many. Anyone working with youths could benefit (for those who do not understand) learning more about the grieving process but especially children and bereavement. Many youth educators may not understand that a teenager may start grieving a loved one they may have lost 10 or more years ago and it may help to read some signs to help them.
A great read!
February 5, 2018
Need to read The Fifth Floor first. It took me longer to get emotionally invested in the first half of this book. I wasn't totally buying into the sneakiness and control issues Anna was having. But I also can't say there are too many "textbook" circumstances when it comes to mental struggles especially dealing with loss of a sibling. HOWEVER, I couldn't put it down in the 2nd half. I shed tears in the final third.
Some is a repeat from the first book, perhaps so this book can exist as a stand alone, but for me, it's best as part of the trilogy. We get to learn what happens next for Anna in her journey towards healing and we get more perspective on her parents and siblings. All understandable feelings and perspectives yet still tragic in how destructive a lack of communication can be.
Looking forward to reading All But One the final book of the trilogy where we learn more about what happened with Anna's neighbors from the fifth floor after they leave.
Some is a repeat from the first book, perhaps so this book can exist as a stand alone, but for me, it's best as part of the trilogy. We get to learn what happens next for Anna in her journey towards healing and we get more perspective on her parents and siblings. All understandable feelings and perspectives yet still tragic in how destructive a lack of communication can be.
Looking forward to reading All But One the final book of the trilogy where we learn more about what happened with Anna's neighbors from the fifth floor after they leave.
December 30, 2016
After reading “The Fifth Floor” by Julie Oleszek, I can’t refrain myself from reading her second book “Just Like Ziggy” to find out what could happen to Anna.. It turns out to be a good read with a very appropriate happy ending, despite what Anna has to fight and struggle to get to there. Whether one comes from a small or big family, whether one has a good or bad relationship with one’s family, it is (normally) “one’s family” that one can count on or turn to during one’s good or bad times eventually. Always have faith and believe in one’s family. This is what I learned from my own experience.
June 6, 2017
Must Read!
I downloaded her first book The fifth floor and loved it! I ended up buying a hard copy for my Daughter who is majoring in special education. I immediately downloaded Just like Ziggy when it was released. Although I've never lost a sibling, I did however, grow up in the 70's and experienced much of the same from my teachers. I had severe bouts of depression and was placed in psychiatric facilities, but unfortunately they were not nearly as helpful as one Anna was in. I think this book would be helpful to anyone who suffered a loss. It teaches how important patience and communication is.
I downloaded her first book The fifth floor and loved it! I ended up buying a hard copy for my Daughter who is majoring in special education. I immediately downloaded Just like Ziggy when it was released. Although I've never lost a sibling, I did however, grow up in the 70's and experienced much of the same from my teachers. I had severe bouts of depression and was placed in psychiatric facilities, but unfortunately they were not nearly as helpful as one Anna was in. I think this book would be helpful to anyone who suffered a loss. It teaches how important patience and communication is.
July 16, 2024
Emotional and real...a story that pull at your heart strings!
The second in a series addressing real life issues centered on grief, loss, trauma, family dynamics, and mental illness touched my heart. I listened to the audiobook and the author's use of dialogue feels so authentic in this story beautifully brought to life by the narrator's amazing performance.. Filled with anguish of a teen trying to cope in the face of adversity, this book details her process and growth, leading the reader to believe that we have the capacity to change, with the right guidance and help, and maybe even inspire others. Highly recommend this amazing story!
The second in a series addressing real life issues centered on grief, loss, trauma, family dynamics, and mental illness touched my heart. I listened to the audiobook and the author's use of dialogue feels so authentic in this story beautifully brought to life by the narrator's amazing performance.. Filled with anguish of a teen trying to cope in the face of adversity, this book details her process and growth, leading the reader to believe that we have the capacity to change, with the right guidance and help, and maybe even inspire others. Highly recommend this amazing story!
December 18, 2016
Wow, it could be because I could identify with some of the situations in this book, but I found it a powerful, moving, compelling read. Family dynamics impact us all in ways we may not even realize. Read The Fifth Floor first to really have an understanding of how incredible this book is.
March 13, 2018
This book is about trama and mental health. As. Nurse who has worked
with mental health I can relate to it. It all starts with the death
of the main characters sister and how the family focuses
on difficulties the hero go through. It's realistic and sad.
I received as a ARC. Really good book.
with mental health I can relate to it. It all starts with the death
of the main characters sister and how the family focuses
on difficulties the hero go through. It's realistic and sad.
I received as a ARC. Really good book.
December 12, 2023
Just Like Ziggy
By: Julie Oleszek
Narrated by: Kristen Jones
Series: The Fifth Floor
4 STARS
This book is a sequel to “The Fifth Floor.” It picks up where the previous book left off. Anna’s journey continues with many twists and turns. There were moments when I was in tears. Keep listening until the end. It is a beautiful story.
The narration was well done, by Kristen Jones. She voices the protagonist perfectly.
There’s very good teamwork between author and narrator. I’m hoping to find more from them in the future.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
By: Julie Oleszek
Narrated by: Kristen Jones
Series: The Fifth Floor
4 STARS
This book is a sequel to “The Fifth Floor.” It picks up where the previous book left off. Anna’s journey continues with many twists and turns. There were moments when I was in tears. Keep listening until the end. It is a beautiful story.
The narration was well done, by Kristen Jones. She voices the protagonist perfectly.
There’s very good teamwork between author and narrator. I’m hoping to find more from them in the future.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 7, 2017
Just could not get into it. Felt like I was missing something. Then I read that this was book 2 in a series. That's the problem. Got this free in a giveaway. Would not have read it right away if I knew there was a book 1.
October 3, 2017
An excellent reaf
Well written piece that explores mental illness, family relationships, memory, and more. Free of preachy magic solutions to real-world problems, and steers away from happy endings for the sake of happy endings.
Well written piece that explores mental illness, family relationships, memory, and more. Free of preachy magic solutions to real-world problems, and steers away from happy endings for the sake of happy endings.
February 17, 2018
Heart wrenching
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I can't say it's an enjoyable read as it's too incredibly heartbreaking. A very well-written story and an incredible look into the effects of trauma on mental health.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I can't say it's an enjoyable read as it's too incredibly heartbreaking. A very well-written story and an incredible look into the effects of trauma on mental health.
January 13, 2019
An inspirational story.
I read this author 's first book, The Fifth Floor and I knew I would have to read the sequel. I loved the second one just a little bit more, but both were emotional and raw. It took a day to read Just Like Ziggy, of course between the crying jags.
I read this author 's first book, The Fifth Floor and I knew I would have to read the sequel. I loved the second one just a little bit more, but both were emotional and raw. It took a day to read Just Like Ziggy, of course between the crying jags.
September 9, 2019
A continuation of the Fifth Floor which takes us deeper into the family issues. The author lets the reader inside her head to witness the process of healing an entire family. A must read in the trilogy.
February 14, 2024
This was another good story in this series. Dysfunction in a family after the death of a child leads to mental health issues in a teen.It was well narrated by Kristen Jones. I was given this book free for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
I finished Julie Oleszek's novel, The Fifth Floor, rooting for Anna, and I picked up just where I left off in Just Like Ziggy". As the novel gets started, we learn what happened to Anna after her release from The Fifth Floor of the hospital. As much as it would be great that all was now well, that is clearly not the case. Anna still hasn't really learned to deal with her sister Liz's death from 10 years ago. Anna feels like she changed in some ways, but in other ways, she is still a 17 year old, strong-willed, at times stubborn, teenager trying to figure things out and survive on her own terms.
Anna is beside herself when she realizes that her current actions are showing signs of desperation and despair and lands her back on The Fifth Floor. It is here after continued therapy, and an awakening from her family that Anna starts to heal. It is through Anna's healing process that her family begins to finally open up, share their experiences and emotions, and they too begin to heal. It's a long journey, but one that shows true emotions, the consequences of one's actions, and the importance of a loving and supportive family.
I've been a middle school/junior high teacher for over 25 years and have seen some of my students deal with extremely emotional and difficult issues. Both The Fifth Floor and Just Like Ziggy are great books for teens (and their families).
Anna is beside herself when she realizes that her current actions are showing signs of desperation and despair and lands her back on The Fifth Floor. It is here after continued therapy, and an awakening from her family that Anna starts to heal. It is through Anna's healing process that her family begins to finally open up, share their experiences and emotions, and they too begin to heal. It's a long journey, but one that shows true emotions, the consequences of one's actions, and the importance of a loving and supportive family.
I've been a middle school/junior high teacher for over 25 years and have seen some of my students deal with extremely emotional and difficult issues. Both The Fifth Floor and Just Like Ziggy are great books for teens (and their families).
December 9, 2016
I absolutely LOVE this book! I read the first book The Fifth Floor, and could not wait till this book came out. Such a great book. I recommend it to anyone! Like the first book, it is one of those "hard to put down" books.
April 5, 2018
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and enjoyed it immensely. I didn't realize this is the 2nd book in a series, however, I wasn't confused and could follow the plot easily. I enjoyed the book because I practice occupational therapy and it talked a lot about the group process in the mental health setting. The author did a wonderful job discussing how grief affects the main character and her family after a sibling/daughter passes away. Anyone who is interested in mental health should read this because I feel it provides a good depiction of what an individual with mental illness experiences.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews