Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

Share your first impressions of Mosquitoland here

I am enjoying this book! A nice change from the creepiness of Eeny Meeny...which I likes very much BUT agree that it ended abruptly!

When I started this book I thought the writing was so fresh and different. Also very easy to read.

(You have to put up the other threads Matthew because I finished the book and ready to comment, lol!)

Dang! You guys are quick this month!

I'm already close to half way through as well- it's interesting and easy to read so far.

I just started. I really like this book, as well. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it. I love the visual descriptions of things like the scenery outside of the bus window. I also really like the perspective of Mim and the way she's telling us about the events like we're her non-judgmental friend. She's open, honest and playful.

I'm about done with the third chapter, though, and some of the melodrama is starting to grade on me a little bit. I remember that happened when we read "Paper Towns" (wow, that was a while ago). I started out intrigued by the teenage angst and defiance. Then over time I couldn't stand it was constantly the main character versus the world. That was the only book from the this group that I had to quit halfway through.

So far, in Mosquitoland that has been offset by the main character's enjoyment of Arlene and her general love for life.

I also am enjoying this so far, but I worry they the teen rebellion feeling might end up needing too much. We shall see!

Matthew wrote: "I also am enjoying this so far, but I worry they the teen rebellion feeling might end up needing too much. We shall see!"

I get what you and Joe are saying, but I think that whole angst and rebellion thing is off set by the characters she meets. Let me know what you guys think.

What the heck did I type!? Stupid auto-correct!

Oh, stuff is happening and yeah, I'm not too worried about the angst getting out of hand anymore.

Josen wrote: I get what you and Joe are saying
Mathew wrote: What the heck did I type!?

I don't know how you got what Mathew was saying, lol.

Hahaha! Truth be told, I wasn't exactly sure what Matthew was saying so I just kinda' glossed over it. :) (It worked for me in school, lol!)

Josen wrote: "Hahaha! Truth be told, I wasn't exactly sure what Matthew was saying so I just kinda' glossed over it. :) (It worked for me in school, lol!)"

Was: I also am enjoying this so far, but I worry they the teen rebellion feeling might end up needing too much. We shall see!

Should have been: I also am enjoying this so far, but I worry that the teen rebellion feeling might end up being too much. We shall see!

:)

Oh yeah see........that IS what I thought you meant. ;)

Loving it so far. You keep surprising me with YA books about teenagers I didn't think I'd enjoy. I love narrators who are almost annoyingly bright.

Christopher wrote: "Loving it so far. You keep surprising me with YA books about teenagers I didn't think I'd enjoy. I love narrators who are almost annoyingly bright."

Glad you are enjoying it so far. I usually take a leap of faith on my picks, so I love when they work out. But, even when they don't, it is interesting to hear why.

With this book, I definitely was drawn in right away by the characters.

Christopher wrote: "Loving it so far. You keep surprising me with YA books about teenagers I didn't think I'd enjoy. I love narrators who are almost annoyingly bright."

Lol I totally agree with the narrators part.

I just finished chapter 4. I was a bit shocked by the events. I was not expecting a mental illness. I was expecting this to be another "cookie-cutter" story of teenage rebellion and self-discovery. Maybe it will turn out that way (I'm in the early stages of the book). I am a bit disappointed that the drug mentioned is non-existent. Much like John Green creating a fictional book/author in "The Fault in Our Stars". I feel as though it's another situation of "I want to take a stand, but I'm afraid to offend anybody".

Richard wrote: "I feel as though it's another situation of "I want to take a stand, but I'm afraid to offend anybody."

Sadly - it is so easy to offend these days :(

Sometimes, I honestly wonder if it is just pure laziness. If it was important enough for me to include in my story, I would take the time to research it and do it right (or at least my version of right).

I thought the Abilitol was a dig at the pharmaceutical name branding and marketing to people despite it's efficacy. It came across to me as this underlying idea that her dad doesn't know what to do with her so he tries to control what's going on with her. The generic fly-by-night name only drove the point harder, to me.

"Focusyn"

Joe, I didn't even think about it that way. I just saw the name and immediately began googling to read about. That sets a new tone on the situation.

Joe - great way to describe it! That fits perfectly with the tone of the story.

There is even a part later in the book (maybe a little bit of a spoiler, but probably not) where she is telling a story from her past where her dad's only answer is not a helpful discussion or a shoulder to lay her head on . . . but he just hands her the bottle of pills. Probably a good representation of how a large portion of society feels they can easily handle their problems.

I'm not that far yet, but I can definitely agree with what you are saying Matthew. Not only with mental illness, but with anything. Many of my students are diagnosed with ADHD, but (and I'm not a medical professional) they are simply just children being children. Instead, they are medicated and forced to sit in a "box" draining any and all creativity from them.

Richard wrote: "Instead, they are medicated and forced to sit in a "box" draining any and all creativity from them."

Oh man, yeah. Luckily I got out of High School right as that was becoming a thing. It seems like everyone has a "diagnosable" problem and medication was just flying around. I sort of avoided that like the plague when I was a teenager, but the majority of my friends were on some kind of medication for some kind of disorder. As we've all grown older some swear their medication was a life saver (literally sometimes), but most claimed that the medication was a quick fix to a larger set of problems they couldn't emotionally handle until they were older or that they just grew out of naturally.

Joe wrote: "Richard wrote: "Instead, they are medicated and forced to sit in a "box" draining any and all creativity from them."

Oh man, yeah. Luckily I got out of High School right as that was becoming a thi..."

I believe medication can be helpful, but with it should come other mind maintenance. i.e. therapy, exercise, etc. Just hoping medication will solve everything is not the answer!

I don't have children of my own so I can only speak from the experience of being a child. I think the growing out of your parents care is far tougher than people let on and that in American culture you're pressed to do it really early. Most of the pressure comes from our peers. I don't know where all of this comes from, but my point is that do any of come out of childhood unscathed by the whole process. I'd like to say that there are people, but I don't really know any.

In the vein of what you're saying Mathew, I think additionally it'd be nice if we could adjust as a culture to understanding the plight of the young mind rather than trying to "fix" it.

Joe wrote: "In the vein of what you're saying Mathew, I think additionally it'd be nice if we could adjust as a culture to understanding the plight of the young mind rather than trying to "fix" it. "

I agree - and I agree with your statement that it is hard to find those who don't come out of childhood a little "bruised". I think the environment people come from can benefit them or make the worse in many ways. If the family is supportive, then they can get past things. If the family isn't, but they are strong willed, they may use the damage to learn how not to do things in the future. But, if they have no support and are not strong enough to face adversity on their own, they will need more help.

Where the problem comes at that point is just throwing medication at it.

I look back at my teenage years and medication was tossed my way a few times, but it didn't help. Now, though, with my knowledge, experience, family support, etc. I can approach adversity with a more logical and well thought out plan of attack. Even if that does involve medication, I have the maturity to approach it wisely and not solely rely upon it. I think the vulnerable teenagers, don't have the maturity to manage medication. Maybe with help they can, but the focus is just not there.

I hate to pool all teenagers into this group - I am sure there are some out there that can handle it and do have family to support them through. But the stories we here and the fiction we read is more often than not about those who could not.

Medication being "thrown" at children is something that I see on a daily basis. It is used as a "baby-sitter". This conversation reminds of the an episode in Season 2 of "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt". One of the characters has a rambunctious son who just needs attention and love, but the parents turn to a medication called dyziplen (pronounced discipline) instead. It turns them into a mindless zombie. Not that all situations are like that, but I thought it was a fairly accurate depiction of what happens to most.

I agree with you Matthew. There are times that medication is needed, but it should be never be used in isolation nor should it be the first resort. I think using medication first or only medication teaches reliance/blame on something or someone else.

"Have you tried Dyziplen. No, I'm not suggesting actual parenting."

Pretty much sums it up.

I bet parents walk right into doctor's offices now and the first thing they say is "I think my kid needs medication".

I may have said this as a joke when my kids were acting particularly crazy, but if it ever came to actual concern, I definitely would not go straight to that!

I was telling my sister that this book is making me nervous, having a teenage girl by herself on a long trip. If nothing happens to her then the story will likely stall out, but if something were to happen to her then.... My sister told me, "Aparently, you are too old for this book".
Other than my new found old lady status, I am enjoying Mim's voice. It feels very fresh and we'll see what these cast of characters get up to.

Welcome to the discussion, Heather! Glad to have someone else in the mix.

Yes.......a female to back me up lol!