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The Girl Who Wasn't There
I know what I saw.
Nothing ever happens on Kasia's street. And Kasia would know. Her illness keeps her home for days at a time, with little to do but watch the world from her bedroom window. So when she witnesses what looks like a kidnapping, she's not sure she can believe her own eyes...
So she sets out to find the only other witness. The girl in the window across the street. The girl who was also watching when things went down.
But what Kasia discovers shocks her more than the kidnapping itself.
There is no girl.
Nothing ever happens on Kasia's street. And Kasia would know. Her illness keeps her home for days at a time, with little to do but watch the world from her bedroom window. So when she witnesses what looks like a kidnapping, she's not sure she can believe her own eyes...
So she sets out to find the only other witness. The girl in the window across the street. The girl who was also watching when things went down.
But what Kasia discovers shocks her more than the kidnapping itself.
There is no girl.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
October 10, 2020
Today I looked out of the window—even though I know that I should—not and I was shocked. I saw the ghost of myself—looking back at me. A girl in the window opposite. She peered out, just as I did, her shadowy shape a mirror-image of mine, though her hair was light, her face pale. Is she a ghost, just as I am? Is this whole street maybe full of ghosts like me, and we know nothing of each other’s plight, or why we can neither live nor our souls rest in peace?
This was a nice little mystery wrapped inside of a girl with a chronic illness. Kasia has chronic fatigue syndrome (one of the many things I have as well) She has really bad side effects from her illness. I thought I was going to have a panic attack reading the book.
Anyway, Kasia witnessed a woman being taken away in a car. She tries to help by calling the police but nothing ever came from it. Come to find out, this book is about finding yourself, finding answers to a mystery, finding new friends and saving lives.
I thought it was a sweet little book for the most part.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for a digital copy of this book
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
BLOG:
https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
September 13, 2020
i feel like this was really good for a ya thriller but i got bored a lot and wasn’t enough thriller parts throughout the story, i also guessed the plot twist within the first few chapters which made the ending a bit of the bummer for me. i think if you’re in high school though you’d really enjoy it but if you read a lot of thrillers it’s just really predictable.
September 7, 2018
After reading the author's other book I Have No Secrets earlier this year, Girl In The Window caught my eye immediately on NetGalley. After one of my local libraries ordered a copy, I was first in line to borrow it! The main character is fourteen year old Kasia, a Polish girl living in the UK and was a student in secondary school. Sadly, a severe case of tonsillitis changes everything for her and her family. Now living with CFS and ME, Kasia struggles to go outside for long periods of time and stops taking GCSE classes. One day, she notices in a window of a house opposite hers a young girl. Other observations she notes is that this girl is never outside but others who live in that house go out everyday. Kasia decides to solve the mystery and try to hang out with school friends and a guy she has a crush on. The pacing was fast, exciting and interesting. I like Kasia as a character. There are some difficult topics in this read including Child Trafficking. Overall, a good read that left me keen to read Penny's next book!
August 29, 2023
For full review*ahem*rant, please visit link in bio! I would absolutely adore to know whether I'm the only one who thought of this book this way.
Okay, hear me out. I normally don't give low ratings and it PAINS me to have to do such a thing but man, this book got on my nerves! The writing was decent, the characters were (quoting a Goodreads person) dull, but the plot? The plot was the worst thing of all. The moment I read the first page I was like, crraaaaaapppp, this is going to be GOOD. But it wasn't, the first page is the only thing that kept me going, the only thing that gave me hope. Why do you sound so down? You may ask. Well, I've read about three crapy books this week, books I will not even DEIGN to mention, books which made me almost go into a book slump. So yes, I picked this one up with the fragile longing of it being halfway decent...and I guess it kind of was. Decent, I mean.
RATING: 🌟🌟🌟⭐⭐ 3.5
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! ABORT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YET!
OR READ IT AND LOVED IT! OR HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST RANTS!
Alright, let's begin with what I hated the most, shall we? The characters were soooo dull! Seriously, I mixed them with each other so continuously I myself worried that it was going to be a pain until I finished this book, and it kind of was. Let me explain, I absolutely adore when a sickness that only a minority of people suffer through is represented and shared with the world, I truly do. Perhaps that was one of the two highlights that made this story a bit better for me. I just didn't appreciate how...
Okay, hear me out. I normally don't give low ratings and it PAINS me to have to do such a thing but man, this book got on my nerves! The writing was decent, the characters were (quoting a Goodreads person) dull, but the plot? The plot was the worst thing of all. The moment I read the first page I was like, crraaaaaapppp, this is going to be GOOD. But it wasn't, the first page is the only thing that kept me going, the only thing that gave me hope. Why do you sound so down? You may ask. Well, I've read about three crapy books this week, books I will not even DEIGN to mention, books which made me almost go into a book slump. So yes, I picked this one up with the fragile longing of it being halfway decent...and I guess it kind of was. Decent, I mean.
RATING: 🌟🌟🌟⭐⭐ 3.5
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! ABORT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YET!
OR READ IT AND LOVED IT! OR HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST RANTS!
Alright, let's begin with what I hated the most, shall we? The characters were soooo dull! Seriously, I mixed them with each other so continuously I myself worried that it was going to be a pain until I finished this book, and it kind of was. Let me explain, I absolutely adore when a sickness that only a minority of people suffer through is represented and shared with the world, I truly do. Perhaps that was one of the two highlights that made this story a bit better for me. I just didn't appreciate how...
July 15, 2022
I went into this book expecting a thrilling mystery, with lots of clues and plot twists, with a really exciting reveal to wrap it all off (basically A Good Girl's Guide to Murder). That is not what I got at all, but it is still a beautiful story.
Who is the girl in the window?
I thought it sounded intriguing and grabbed it at the library without having any prior knowledge of it. It turned out so different than what the blurb promised, but I really enjoyed it all the same.
First, the characters. Our MC is 14-year-old Kasia who is bedridden with ME, a chronic illness that results in extreme fatigue after simple activities, meaning she is often not able to move. She got sick with it after getting tonsillitis 8 months ago and has been stuck at home since. She hates being so vulnerable and wishes she could return to school, to hang out with her BFF Ellie and try and woo her handsome crush, Josh.
Kasia really worked as a protagonist for me. She got really annoyed with her disease at times, lashing out at others to vent her frustration. But she is also deeply concerned when she thinks that the girl in the window that the title speaks of may be being mistreated. I enjoyed her narration, as it really gave me an insight into her disease, which I haven’t previously come across. Usually in books either mainly or partly about illness, the main characters have cancer, CF or some other famous disease. I have never read a book about ME before- in fact, I didn’t even know what it was before now!! So it was intriguing in that way. Kasia’s voice seemed really original and I really came to like her.
There are also lots of cool supporting characters- kind, supportive Nav, bubbly, loyal Ellie, kind Lia, Mom and Dad, her older brother Marek, Josh and the girl in the window, of course. They were all really well-developed and I enjoyed reading about them all. So, no problem there.
The writing style in this is simplistic (as usual), but still enjoyable. It is a very quick read, especially considering it is only 300 pages, but very powerful. Penny Joelson really packs an emotional punch as she explores two very concerning topics- human trafficking and ME. Yet she also managed to make it sweet, especially with the end and the romance blossoming with Nav. Usually I am not a big fan of romance, but this was just adorable and also very true to life. I liked how it only came in practically at the end, so it didn’t otherwise overtake the novel.
Lastly, the plot. I think the plot could have been a bit faster, as there were long stretches where the mystery was barely progressing, but it was good overall. I liked the elements of mystery, deep emotion and a little touch of romance, which gave it a very layered story. There wasn’t much of a true climax, but enough excitement throughout the novel to make up for it.
Overall, this was a very moving story of important issues, which was told in a very entertaining way. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.
Who is the girl in the window?
I thought it sounded intriguing and grabbed it at the library without having any prior knowledge of it. It turned out so different than what the blurb promised, but I really enjoyed it all the same.
First, the characters. Our MC is 14-year-old Kasia who is bedridden with ME, a chronic illness that results in extreme fatigue after simple activities, meaning she is often not able to move. She got sick with it after getting tonsillitis 8 months ago and has been stuck at home since. She hates being so vulnerable and wishes she could return to school, to hang out with her BFF Ellie and try and woo her handsome crush, Josh.
Kasia really worked as a protagonist for me. She got really annoyed with her disease at times, lashing out at others to vent her frustration. But she is also deeply concerned when she thinks that the girl in the window that the title speaks of may be being mistreated. I enjoyed her narration, as it really gave me an insight into her disease, which I haven’t previously come across. Usually in books either mainly or partly about illness, the main characters have cancer, CF or some other famous disease. I have never read a book about ME before- in fact, I didn’t even know what it was before now!! So it was intriguing in that way. Kasia’s voice seemed really original and I really came to like her.
There are also lots of cool supporting characters- kind, supportive Nav, bubbly, loyal Ellie, kind Lia, Mom and Dad, her older brother Marek, Josh and the girl in the window, of course. They were all really well-developed and I enjoyed reading about them all. So, no problem there.
The writing style in this is simplistic (as usual), but still enjoyable. It is a very quick read, especially considering it is only 300 pages, but very powerful. Penny Joelson really packs an emotional punch as she explores two very concerning topics- human trafficking and ME. Yet she also managed to make it sweet, especially with the end and the romance blossoming with Nav. Usually I am not a big fan of romance, but this was just adorable and also very true to life. I liked how it only came in practically at the end, so it didn’t otherwise overtake the novel.
Lastly, the plot. I think the plot could have been a bit faster, as there were long stretches where the mystery was barely progressing, but it was good overall. I liked the elements of mystery, deep emotion and a little touch of romance, which gave it a very layered story. There wasn’t much of a true climax, but enough excitement throughout the novel to make up for it.
Overall, this was a very moving story of important issues, which was told in a very entertaining way. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.
August 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this book - I am the parent of a child with a long term chronic condition and so could sympathise with Kasia’s struggle with ME. This leaves her with plenty of opportunity to see what goes on in her neighbourhood. It draws her into meeting and supporting her elderly next door neighbour and to questioning what is going on in the house opposite. She demonstrates that you can have a positive impact whatever your situation.
Kasha seemed very real to me - a typical teenager in so many ways but very adult in others.
The book introduced us to the issue of human trafficking in a low key but effective manner.
A good read which I will be purchasing for my school library.
Kasha seemed very real to me - a typical teenager in so many ways but very adult in others.
The book introduced us to the issue of human trafficking in a low key but effective manner.
A good read which I will be purchasing for my school library.
January 8, 2021
This was a quick read that took me 24 hours. I can’t really tell if it’s a YA novel or a thriller type novel. It’s fair to say that it’s probably a little bit of both. The chapters are short, and told from one perspective. It is a simple plot without too many twists and turns but still very enjoyable.
Kasia has a medical condition that keeps her homebound. It appears that there is somebody in the window across the street, but it’s so fleeting she can’t tell if it really happened or not. Being homebound and not being able to attend school has Kasia frustrated and angry but determined to get better so she can attend the next year. She makes friends with the boy next door and tells him about the person in the window across the street. Together they find out what’s going on.
Kasia has a medical condition that keeps her homebound. It appears that there is somebody in the window across the street, but it’s so fleeting she can’t tell if it really happened or not. Being homebound and not being able to attend school has Kasia frustrated and angry but determined to get better so she can attend the next year. She makes friends with the boy next door and tells him about the person in the window across the street. Together they find out what’s going on.
August 23, 2018
Loved the diverse cast of characters and the awareness this book will raise about ME. Couldn't put it down until I knew what had happened.
December 17, 2018
This was actually such an interesting novel! I don't usually read mystery books, so this was a change for me. I couldn't stop reading.. I wanted to know the ending!
Read
October 9, 2020Thank you so much to Penny Joelson and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC. The cover drew me in right away and I loved the way the book sounded. It seemed like a creepy and mysterious thriller but it didn’t end up being that way at all. This book seemed like it was actually written by a young adult itself, instead of just being the YA genre.
Thoughts: I got halfway done with this book but couldn’t finish. Nothing much happened and it definitely wasn’t a thriller. The story was about Kasia, a girl who is sick and stuck at home in bed. One night she sees a kidnapping...and then the story is mainly about Kasia’s life and the mundane tasks she does every day. The story was slow and not written in a way to grab the reader’s attention. I wanted to love this book but I couldn’t make myself keep going. It felt like I was reading about the chores I do in my everyday life, so it wasn’t much of an escape. Sadly a DNF for me.
Thoughts: I got halfway done with this book but couldn’t finish. Nothing much happened and it definitely wasn’t a thriller. The story was about Kasia, a girl who is sick and stuck at home in bed. One night she sees a kidnapping...and then the story is mainly about Kasia’s life and the mundane tasks she does every day. The story was slow and not written in a way to grab the reader’s attention. I wanted to love this book but I couldn’t make myself keep going. It felt like I was reading about the chores I do in my everyday life, so it wasn’t much of an escape. Sadly a DNF for me.
November 14, 2020
The first few pages jumped right into a kidnapping. I liked that this book didn’t waste any time getting into the action.
The way this story was written made me feel like I was confined with Kasia. I had so many questions that I couldn’t wait to get answers to. Was Kasia really sick, was there really someone watching her from across the street? I felt like the neighbors were hiding something, and I wanted to know what it was.
This book was a quick and easy read. It had short and quick chapters that kept me engaged. I liked that I felt like I was watching everything happening through Kasia’s eyes. This gave me Distubia vibes, which I am here for. When everything was revealed, I actually didn’t think it would take that turn and I was surprised by the ending. With that being said, although this was a quick read, I felt it dragged and kept mentioning Kasia’s illness. I wanted more, and the reveal was what made me change my rating.
The way this story was written made me feel like I was confined with Kasia. I had so many questions that I couldn’t wait to get answers to. Was Kasia really sick, was there really someone watching her from across the street? I felt like the neighbors were hiding something, and I wanted to know what it was.
This book was a quick and easy read. It had short and quick chapters that kept me engaged. I liked that I felt like I was watching everything happening through Kasia’s eyes. This gave me Distubia vibes, which I am here for. When everything was revealed, I actually didn’t think it would take that turn and I was surprised by the ending. With that being said, although this was a quick read, I felt it dragged and kept mentioning Kasia’s illness. I wanted more, and the reveal was what made me change my rating.
August 5, 2020
Penny Joelson won hearts with her debut novel "I Have No Secrets," which wonderfully articulated the perspective of a young girl with cerebral palsy in the midst of a page-turning mystery. She returns in "The Girl Who Wasn't There" with her now signature style. In it, we observe the journey of a young girl named Kasia who witnesses a possible crime while living with ME.
Joelson's work serves to familiarize the average reader with some of the mental and physical difficulties of those persons living with a chronic disease. The true gift of her writer, however, it that she does so while also portraying them as complete characters with thoughts, dialogues, and actions that any individual can relate to. This is a powerful stance for a children's author to take. "The Girl Who Wasn't There" reminded me of my initial thoughts when reading Joelson for the first time: these books would do well to be available in grade school libraries everywhere.
Not quite as masterful as her first, "The Girl Who Wasn't There" manages to capture the reader's attention, create thoughtful characters, and engage with an approachable writing style. However, some of the dialogue could use smoothing over and the author may have done better to focus her thematic elements, which wavered with rushed attempts at diverse inclusions near its end.
Penny Joelson is one to watch. I will gladly recommend her work to parents of young readers for many years to come.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opporunity to read a gifted review copy before release. This in no way affects my opinion. All reviews are 100% honest.
Joelson's work serves to familiarize the average reader with some of the mental and physical difficulties of those persons living with a chronic disease. The true gift of her writer, however, it that she does so while also portraying them as complete characters with thoughts, dialogues, and actions that any individual can relate to. This is a powerful stance for a children's author to take. "The Girl Who Wasn't There" reminded me of my initial thoughts when reading Joelson for the first time: these books would do well to be available in grade school libraries everywhere.
Not quite as masterful as her first, "The Girl Who Wasn't There" manages to capture the reader's attention, create thoughtful characters, and engage with an approachable writing style. However, some of the dialogue could use smoothing over and the author may have done better to focus her thematic elements, which wavered with rushed attempts at diverse inclusions near its end.
Penny Joelson is one to watch. I will gladly recommend her work to parents of young readers for many years to come.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opporunity to read a gifted review copy before release. This in no way affects my opinion. All reviews are 100% honest.
June 18, 2021
If you're looking for a gripping and twisty YA thriller, you won't really get that with this. Yes, it's a fast read, and the thriller aspects are incredibly dark for this being a younger age YA book, more for people 13+ than 16+ in terms of the writing style I'd say. But what surprised me was what I really got from this book - a very well depicted contemporary about a girl living with ME / CFS, a chronic illness, written by an author who also suffers from it. If you're looking for a good depiction of a teenager living with a condition like that, I recommend this book. However, do be aware of the dark themes, if you're really disturbed by ideas of child kidnapping and trafficking, avoid this one as it does discuss them.
January 20, 2019
I am glad i picked this book up. Its a different book than i usually read but i am grateful that the author has written a hapoy ending instead of leaving it with a cliff hanger or just maybe this will happen at the end like some books I've read. This is a great story to read, teaches you that no matter what NEVER give up and keep trying. Even doing a little each day will help you in the long end and you'll fell better and happier too.
'You make me realise that many things- even tiny things - can make our lives worthwhile' - Page 277.
'You make me realise that many things- even tiny things - can make our lives worthwhile' - Page 277.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2023
Cảm giác bị lừa. Nội dung chủ yếu chỉ xoay qjanh cuộc sống của một cô gái mắc bệnh. Chứ yếu tố mystery/thriller thì bình thường.
November 27, 2019
This book gets a 4.5 stars from me!! I really enjoyed it!!
As a teenager that suffers with the same illness as the MC, Kasia, this is a book where I could relate to the character's thoughts and feelings a lot. There have been many occasions where I've seen the question 'what book(s) can you relate to?' And it's honestly one I've never been able to answer. I've never understood it, never felt that connection when reading a book. Well, not until this book! I can honestly say that I could relate to Kasia's thoughts and feelings when it came to anything about her illness. Obviously, any thoughts she had about the mystery that this book is based around were not what I related to.
I loved how Penny Joelson incorporated this illness into a fictional story. She put it into a world that anyone could enjoy reading. It wasn't bombarded with facts about the illness; everything ME-related that Kasia experienced was introduced bit by bit, slowly fed to the reader, all while keeping to the mystery. Another reason I loved this is because I've never read a fiction book that has had a character who suffers with ME. EVER!! I don't know if it's because it's such a misunderstood illness and people who write the stories fear a backlash from reviewers, or if it's simply because knowledge about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis isn't wide-spread. It's probably a mixture of both. Either way, this book is the first that I read with this in.
I also liked how Penny Joelson wrote about a young person suffering with ME. As a teenager with it, I know how hard it is and how people don't believe us primarily because of our age and that we shouldn't be so tired at such a young age. She highlighted the struggles anyone with the illness goes through, but focused particularly on younger people with it. Thank you!
The only reason I knocked half a star off of my rating is because of the ease I had in reading this book. I know, that probably sounds ridiculous. Why would I rate it any less because I found it easy to read? It may not make sense to anyone else, but it does to me. I just like learning new words while reading and there was no new-to-me vocabulary in this book. That is my only criticism - and I don't think you can really call it a criticism, especially because this book is actually in the YA genre, so it should be easy to read.
Despite that minor negative point, I'm still going to read Penny Joelson's book, I Have No Secrets. It's one I'm really looking forward to reading.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book!! It had a great plot, the characters were all well developed and it kept me guessing until the very end. An easy, quick read that I recommend to everyone - because I think everyone should know more about ME. And also because the mystery is very enthralling. Kept me wanting to know the whole way through! My younger sister read it straight after me at my recommendation and loved it.
As a teenager that suffers with the same illness as the MC, Kasia, this is a book where I could relate to the character's thoughts and feelings a lot. There have been many occasions where I've seen the question 'what book(s) can you relate to?' And it's honestly one I've never been able to answer. I've never understood it, never felt that connection when reading a book. Well, not until this book! I can honestly say that I could relate to Kasia's thoughts and feelings when it came to anything about her illness. Obviously, any thoughts she had about the mystery that this book is based around were not what I related to.
I loved how Penny Joelson incorporated this illness into a fictional story. She put it into a world that anyone could enjoy reading. It wasn't bombarded with facts about the illness; everything ME-related that Kasia experienced was introduced bit by bit, slowly fed to the reader, all while keeping to the mystery. Another reason I loved this is because I've never read a fiction book that has had a character who suffers with ME. EVER!! I don't know if it's because it's such a misunderstood illness and people who write the stories fear a backlash from reviewers, or if it's simply because knowledge about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis isn't wide-spread. It's probably a mixture of both. Either way, this book is the first that I read with this in.
I also liked how Penny Joelson wrote about a young person suffering with ME. As a teenager with it, I know how hard it is and how people don't believe us primarily because of our age and that we shouldn't be so tired at such a young age. She highlighted the struggles anyone with the illness goes through, but focused particularly on younger people with it. Thank you!
The only reason I knocked half a star off of my rating is because of the ease I had in reading this book. I know, that probably sounds ridiculous. Why would I rate it any less because I found it easy to read? It may not make sense to anyone else, but it does to me. I just like learning new words while reading and there was no new-to-me vocabulary in this book. That is my only criticism - and I don't think you can really call it a criticism, especially because this book is actually in the YA genre, so it should be easy to read.
Despite that minor negative point, I'm still going to read Penny Joelson's book, I Have No Secrets. It's one I'm really looking forward to reading.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book!! It had a great plot, the characters were all well developed and it kept me guessing until the very end. An easy, quick read that I recommend to everyone - because I think everyone should know more about ME. And also because the mystery is very enthralling. Kept me wanting to know the whole way through! My younger sister read it straight after me at my recommendation and loved it.
June 26, 2021
3.5 stars
It was an incredibly easy read. The language was easy to understand which made it quite pleasant to go through, however... it was a bit underwhelming. I hoped for a good tension arc at the end which didn't come. I do really like the ME aspect of the book, but it was more about Kasia's struggle with ME than with the whole girl in the window storyline, which progressed quite slowly. Some things were a bit rushed over, while i thought it might be more interesting to talk about it in depth, which i found sad.
All in all, not a bad book, but i had hoped for more.
It was an incredibly easy read. The language was easy to understand which made it quite pleasant to go through, however... it was a bit underwhelming. I hoped for a good tension arc at the end which didn't come. I do really like the ME aspect of the book, but it was more about Kasia's struggle with ME than with the whole girl in the window storyline, which progressed quite slowly. Some things were a bit rushed over, while i thought it might be more interesting to talk about it in depth, which i found sad.
All in all, not a bad book, but i had hoped for more.
June 13, 2024
I was a bit disappointed by this book. It had a lot of potential and the characters were very likable, but the plot sort of fell flat. At times it just seemed unrealistic and implausible for certain characters to be doing certain things, which made it a bit frustrating to read. I did however enjoy the ending because it did tie up a number of loose ends.
December 4, 2020
3.5 stars
November 27, 2019
This book was absolutely amazing. It helped me understand more about ME, and how hard it is for people to live with. Thank you for writing this book. This has giving me more inspiration to watch the film unrest.
August 22, 2020
This is what a good piece of fiction does to me : bringing a happy vibe to my life!!!
The story of a 14 year old girl, the way she turns the life of people around her despite she being miserable is just filling the reader with hope on a different level . Throughly enjoyed reading this!!!
The story of a 14 year old girl, the way she turns the life of people around her despite she being miserable is just filling the reader with hope on a different level . Throughly enjoyed reading this!!!
March 17, 2019
I am 100% prepared for the comments I am going to get because I do not see how this book has a 4 star average!This book frustrated me so much!!!!! Kasia is an unlikable character whom I did have moments where I felt empathy with her illness but as explained below it felt all to contrived.
The issue I encountered with this story (that unfortunately continued) that I find difficult is the fact that at the start of the story she hadn't been downstairs in 10 weeks due to her illness and now that it serves the plot line she is at her neighbours house completely fine not 50 pages later, and as soon as the neighbour won't offer anymore information she remembers she sick. A little to convenient......i had hoped it wouldn't continue like this but it did, all these little inconsistencies that felt to convenient like:
Doesn't feel up to writing, can't get all her maths homework done but can investigate a mystery with no issue?
Doesnt have the energy to wash her hair but she can writer out Morse code and go to a party.
Is it the mental illness that (understandably) makes a lot of her actions contradictory? or is it the author using her mental illness when its needed and forgetting it when the story needs to progress? I dont know a lot about this disorder and im not in anyway shaming someone for having it! But i feel like if I had ME I may be a little in suites by this portrayal, not necessarily because of the factual parts of the use of this illness, but more the abuse of it to alter the story line. her ups and downs, her drama and pitfalls seemed to be too convenient and when she starts using her illness as a tantrum method to get her own way the story loses its credibility of taking mental illness seriously or discussing proper ways to address it.
There is a line where she says " sorry mum, I just want to be treated like I am normal for once not some delicate peice of china"
Hmmmm well the solution to that is don't throw a tantrum for 2 week where you stay in bed because you were tired and crabby because you went to a party that you (according to you and your illness) should not be healthy enough to go to and make it everyone else's fault when you cannot handle it but when a cute boy asks you out on a date act like your mature and don't need anyone to help you!!!!
This book has her feeling 12 when the story requires it and 18 when the story requires it. At no point did I remember she was 14. i get its hard for her but her complaining was getting on my nerves the most. The only reason I kept with the story was because I wanted to know what the mystery behind the girl in the window was..... Which although did not match the other 2 story lines running through the book, it was interesting enough and realistic until two 14 year Olds decide that rather than telling the police that they think someone is in danger and Kasia is almost purposefully killed by a hit and run, they instead take the law into their own hands! Big loud sigh sound!!!!
Sorry I have few positives with this. And is it ever explained why all of a sudden the daughter comes back into their lives or why she went away in the first place or was that just another plot assist to introduce Nav?
The issue I encountered with this story (that unfortunately continued) that I find difficult is the fact that at the start of the story she hadn't been downstairs in 10 weeks due to her illness and now that it serves the plot line she is at her neighbours house completely fine not 50 pages later, and as soon as the neighbour won't offer anymore information she remembers she sick. A little to convenient......i had hoped it wouldn't continue like this but it did, all these little inconsistencies that felt to convenient like:
Doesn't feel up to writing, can't get all her maths homework done but can investigate a mystery with no issue?
Doesnt have the energy to wash her hair but she can writer out Morse code and go to a party.
Is it the mental illness that (understandably) makes a lot of her actions contradictory? or is it the author using her mental illness when its needed and forgetting it when the story needs to progress? I dont know a lot about this disorder and im not in anyway shaming someone for having it! But i feel like if I had ME I may be a little in suites by this portrayal, not necessarily because of the factual parts of the use of this illness, but more the abuse of it to alter the story line. her ups and downs, her drama and pitfalls seemed to be too convenient and when she starts using her illness as a tantrum method to get her own way the story loses its credibility of taking mental illness seriously or discussing proper ways to address it.
There is a line where she says " sorry mum, I just want to be treated like I am normal for once not some delicate peice of china"
Hmmmm well the solution to that is don't throw a tantrum for 2 week where you stay in bed because you were tired and crabby because you went to a party that you (according to you and your illness) should not be healthy enough to go to and make it everyone else's fault when you cannot handle it but when a cute boy asks you out on a date act like your mature and don't need anyone to help you!!!!
This book has her feeling 12 when the story requires it and 18 when the story requires it. At no point did I remember she was 14. i get its hard for her but her complaining was getting on my nerves the most. The only reason I kept with the story was because I wanted to know what the mystery behind the girl in the window was..... Which although did not match the other 2 story lines running through the book, it was interesting enough and realistic until two 14 year Olds decide that rather than telling the police that they think someone is in danger and Kasia is almost purposefully killed by a hit and run, they instead take the law into their own hands! Big loud sigh sound!!!!
Sorry I have few positives with this. And is it ever explained why all of a sudden the daughter comes back into their lives or why she went away in the first place or was that just another plot assist to introduce Nav?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2018
This is a remarkable book by an accomplished story-teller, populated by a diverse and engaging cast of secondary characters, and weaving multiple plotlines together to create something truly riveting. It’s rare to read a book that so skilfully articulates the reality of chronic illness, whilst losing nothing from the pace of the narrative.
August 23, 2018
As someone who has ME, I was initially excited that a character in a book had the same condition as me, this was quickly followed by apprehension. Would this terribly misunderstood condition be done justice? In my opinion, yes. Yes it was. The way I experience the condition is different from how Kasia experiences it but that's ok, ME is a very variable condition both to the person experiencing it and from sufferer to sufferer. But I felt like it was portrayed really well from the delay in symptoms, to the isolation and how some people, even if they mean well, don't understand. Last Christmas I had a friend invite me to the cinema, I replied that I probably wouldn't be well enough, to which my friend replied that it was only sitting and watching a film. But it isn't just sitting and watching a film, it's the exertion of having to get up, get ready, leave the house, travel to the cinema etc. I find that I'm pretty much wiped out before I even leave the house and usually end up cancelling before I get out of the door. So the whole ordeal of Kasia trying to go the to the cinema was incredibly relatable. So was Kasia not being able to go to school and finding it difficult to watch her friends continue their lives while she feels left behind. I'm older than Kasia (I'm 23) but I had to suspend my studies from university (I was doing an MA in Creative Writing but most days I don't have the energy to read or write, *sobs quietly into a pillow*) but most of my friends have left uni now and are getting jobs, getting engaged etc, and I'm stuck at home, while my mum helps to look after me. It sucks. But it's also the hand I've been dealt, and much like Kasia at the end of the book, I know that just being positive won't help but if I take care of myself and I start to feel a little better it makes me so much more positive which in turn helps. I also loved the fact that by the end of the book she admits that she knows she might not get fully better and that she may have more relapses in the future and that this is just part of the condition because this is a journey I myself have been on very recently. I told a family member once that I may never get better, they told me I shouldn't be so negative, but I was being realistic. I may never get better. That's a fact I have had to come to terms with, but it doesn't stop me from trying to get better and trying to be positive. So this book gets five stars from me :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2018
A great story, raising awareness of how hard life can be when you have ME and live a mostly housebound (often bedbound) life and also how quiet streets can hold the darkest of secrets, but also the best of friends, The Girl in the Window has so much packed into it for just one short book. Although I found it didn't have as big an impact on me as I Have No Secrets did, I found it a really interesting and well written story of living with ME.
What I really loved about this book was how kind and caring Kasia was. I've been housebound myself for a while with Agoraphobia, so though I don't know how it feels like to have ME, I do know what it's like to be trapped at home and the boredom and the pain of living within four walls that Kasia feels is so very accurate. But despite how small her world has gotten she still reaches out to her neighbour and offers so much kindness to the lonely old woman who lives next door, completely changing the woman's life with a pureness of heart that is so wonderful to see. And of course that's not the only person Kasia reaches out to, there's the mysterious girl in the window....
The mystery of the girl across the street isn't so dramatic as I Have No Secrets. There's no real danger towards Kasia until near the end of the book. Most of the core mystery is just looking out of the window wondering about the girl she catches glimpses of, but this doesn't make it too slow like it would with another book. I think partly because Kasia's life is slow, really slow. The nature of her illness makes it so that it has to be. And so you fall quickly into Kasia's routine. It adds to the feel of the novel rather than detracts from it.
With this second fantastic book, Penny Joelson is fast becoming a favourite author of mine.
What I really loved about this book was how kind and caring Kasia was. I've been housebound myself for a while with Agoraphobia, so though I don't know how it feels like to have ME, I do know what it's like to be trapped at home and the boredom and the pain of living within four walls that Kasia feels is so very accurate. But despite how small her world has gotten she still reaches out to her neighbour and offers so much kindness to the lonely old woman who lives next door, completely changing the woman's life with a pureness of heart that is so wonderful to see. And of course that's not the only person Kasia reaches out to, there's the mysterious girl in the window....
The mystery of the girl across the street isn't so dramatic as I Have No Secrets. There's no real danger towards Kasia until near the end of the book. Most of the core mystery is just looking out of the window wondering about the girl she catches glimpses of, but this doesn't make it too slow like it would with another book. I think partly because Kasia's life is slow, really slow. The nature of her illness makes it so that it has to be. And so you fall quickly into Kasia's routine. It adds to the feel of the novel rather than detracts from it.
With this second fantastic book, Penny Joelson is fast becoming a favourite author of mine.
May 24, 2019
Penny Joelson has written an exceptionally clever thriller/mystery here. With our lead character being a girl who is housebound with serious health problems, Kasia herself feels that there is little she can do but look out of her bedroom window - ad some days not even that! He Chronic Fatigue Syndrome limits her so considerably and appears to be an "invisible" disability to many, with people thinking that she's lazy, it's all in her head.
When she spots a woman being bundled into a car, seemingly against her will, Kasia reports what she saw to the police. She lets them know that a neighbour opposite saw from her window too, but when the police follow it up they are told no girl lives in that house - just a couple and their baby.
Kasia's interest is sparked when she sees the girl at the window again, she wants to know who she is and why the family there would deny her existence. The reality she uncovers is dark and sinister but Penny writes about it with enough detail for older readers to understand the horror of what's going on without giving details that might distress or leave an impression on younger minds. That's not an easy thing to do, but Penny has a real gift with her writing. The pace is strong and you get swept up in the narrative, the characters and you are eager to see where the plot will take you next. Fantastic work.
When she spots a woman being bundled into a car, seemingly against her will, Kasia reports what she saw to the police. She lets them know that a neighbour opposite saw from her window too, but when the police follow it up they are told no girl lives in that house - just a couple and their baby.
Kasia's interest is sparked when she sees the girl at the window again, she wants to know who she is and why the family there would deny her existence. The reality she uncovers is dark and sinister but Penny writes about it with enough detail for older readers to understand the horror of what's going on without giving details that might distress or leave an impression on younger minds. That's not an easy thing to do, but Penny has a real gift with her writing. The pace is strong and you get swept up in the narrative, the characters and you are eager to see where the plot will take you next. Fantastic work.
December 2, 2020
I’ve had this book on my shelf for nearly two years. Yesterday, I felt it was calling at me to read it, so I picked it up! I read #GirlInTheWindow by @pennyjoelson in two hours. I had absolutely no idea that the illness (see back) the main character Kasia was suffering with was my own illness, M.E. I have NEVER seen representation of this illness in a book, it feels surreal! I could absolutely completely relate to Kasia, her pain, her exhaustion. Penny, thank you!!! The story of the ‘Girl In The Window’ had me hooked from the beginning, the girls story was utterly heart wrenching, and a huge wake up call to what goes on in the world, but extremely happy on this cases outcome! Rated ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on #goodreads completely recommended. #book #books #bookish #bookworm #bookshelf #bookstagram #booklover #cfs #cfsme #myalgicencephalomyelitis
February 28, 2021
Hot take: a premise full of potential but a story that reads more like the annotated outline for a book that was never finished. So many opportunities for fully fleshed out descriptions and chances to bring the reader into the action that ended up as single declarative “and then she/he/they...” style sentences.
For me, it lacked the build up and in-the-character action that makes thrillers enjoyable.
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
For me, it lacked the build up and in-the-character action that makes thrillers enjoyable.
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
October 28, 2020
I found this book extremely simple. It felt young, but dealt with extremely complicated and mature topics. The story jumped right in with no background, then dragged on about things that were insignificant. It was dotted with the main storyline for the beginning. I think it was cheesy and fairly boring, I scrolled through it. It lacked a lot of depth.
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