This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Published by Entangled Teen
Released on December 4, 2018
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
The Delight
A debut author and some deep topics like a high school girl with an anxiety disorder and a high school guy hiding that he is homeless made this new YA Contemporary become a book I was curious to read.
Review
Paper Girl begins with two on-line chess partners who know nothing about each other, but meet up to play chess. Black Knight wishes to become friendly and chat, but Rogue remains aloof as she kicks his butt in chess.
In real life, Zoe doesn’t leave her family’s high rise apartment because she has agoraphobia and panic attacks about the world outside the apartment. She uses colored paper to design her study room walls like the solar system, homeschools, and her therapist comes to her. All that changes when she meets her new math tutor and he’s the guy she crushed on before her year hidden away began.
Jackson’s life is one big lie. He lies to everyone at school who think his life is great with sports, top of his classes, and friendly, nice-looking guy. When in reality, his dad started doing hard drugs after his mom died and home became a nightmare. He lives out of his car and pretends so he doesn’t end up in the foster system. He’s nearly eighteen and is college-bound. He picks up several jobs to make ends meet and save what he can for the future. Then he gets a really good job to tutor and meets Zoe, who is more trapped in her lonely life than he is in his.
This is a story that doesn’t try to dazzle or set the world on fire. It introduces two teens with their own private battles going on. They grow close and are friends. They help each other grow stronger and start dreaming again. It’s baby steps as it should be for what Zoey has going on in particular. Not much beyond these two is fleshed out for some time, but I thought that was another way of showing how isolated they have become. But, Zoey’s sister is there and urging her on. I rather found Zoey’s mom an enabler more than anything else. I was glad that Jackson and Zoey both had to face their personal demons and it happened in a way that was not easy, but ended up in a believable, rewarding way.
YA Warnings: no violence or sex, but moderate on language. Suggest for mid to older teen crowd.
Paper Girl will be a story that I’m glad I read and I cheered on this pair to win over their troubles. I’m always glad to see mental health issues, grief, and addictions addressed in a healthy, positive way. It didn’t grab me strongly and I did get inattentive a few times so I would set it down. But, ultimately, I was happy to come back to it and keep going with Zoey and Jackson’s story. I think those who enjoy a slow-burn character-driven YA with a friends to lovers style sweet romance will be the target group.
My thanks to Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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It’s nice to see a story that has one of the characters suffering from Agoraphobia since I suffer from that myself. I don’t see that often in books.
Yes, it was sweet story of friends. You would know better than me, of course, but I thought the author did a great job with her agoraphobia and what he was going through as a son of a man with addictions and living on the streets.
This sounds like a great read, I hadn’t heard of this one before. I like how you describe this one with the two teens who have their own struggles. I think that’s something a lot of people can relate to well. And it’s nice to see mental illness being addressed in books. Too bad it didn’t fully grab your attention and you had to set it down a few times. Great review!
It was a nice gently paced heartwarming story. I think it would make a nice Teen TV movie adaption. 🙂 They were relatable
Yes, it was slow at times. Probably a little bit because I do struggle with teen contemporaries with the way they tend to get stuck in their heads and overthink stuff. LOL
I like the premise for this one, and I like to see that things were resolved in a realistic way.
Great review!
I got a little nervous when I saw what topics the author was using, but yes, well handled. 🙂
Sounds like a good somewhat gritty story.
I was definitely pleasantly surprised when I picked it up to give it a try. 🙂
Sounds like a sweet read. I’m wondering if the on-chess guy was Jackson?
He might well have been… wink wink. 🙂
I admit I saw YA romance as the genre and thought I knew exactly what sort of novel this would be, however it looks like a much deeper read exploring unusual character situations. I rarely see homelessness even mentioned in fiction. One for the TBR, thanks for your thoughtful review 🙂
Yes, you and I had similar reactions. I’m not a big reader of YA contemporary, but once in a while I’ll pick it up if there seems to be substance in the storyline to make me think.
I agree about the homelessness. I’ve read another YA a few years ago that really nailed it good and also a gay romance that was also exceptional. But, that was it.
This sounds interesting. It sounds like both of the main characters are dealing with some pretty big issues. I would give this one a try.
Yes, they are dealing with heavy issues, but the writing style keeps things from becoming a huge downer. That was definitely a good thing.
While this wasn’t memorable, I am glad you enjoyed it and anything that draws attention to mental illness is a good thing.
I heartily agree. I think with a little more tension built into the story would have made it perfect, but the story as is was still a good solid read especially to inform about those harder topics involved.
This sounds sweet. I like that it touched on issues that readers can relate to.
It really was a nice feel good that did bring out some issues that people experience.
I had a good time with this one and the topics used.
Yes, you don’t read much about agoraphobia or what it’s like or homelessness so I was glad to get this book.
I can see why you were interested in this one. It would’ve nabbed me too! I’m glad it turned out to be a good read too 🙂
I’d like to take credit, but it just showed up in the mail. LOL I told Entangled Teen to surprise me now and then and they did. 🙂
I’m glad when there are real elements mixed in. Makes it a hair better
Nothing wrong with light fluffy YA contemporaries, but for me, I did love that those deeper elements were included. 🙂
This sounds good, great review! It is the type of YA I could read. Some of it is just gah. I don’t enjoy reading about high school for the most part. Anne – Books of My Heart
Yeah, I hear you about the teen scene particularly in high school settings. I’m usually not the target audience for YA contemporary, but once in a while… 🙂