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betweentheshelves 's review for:
I Am Not Alone
by Francisco X. Stork
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is marketed as a thriller, which I really don't think it is. Yes, there's sort of a mystery at it's core, but it doesn't read like a thriller. It reads more like general fiction than anything else. It definitely focuses more on the mental health aspects of both of our narrators.
The mental health rep is probably the best aspect of this book. There aren't a lot of YA books that deal with schizophrenia, so that representation is a bonus (I think it's done well, but I might refer to someone who is more knowledgeable on the subject). You can feel the anxiety building in Alberto's chapters, and it fits the pace of the novel well.
What I didn't believe was the sort of romance angle. There's a bit of insta love, and for the most part, it just didn't feel believable to me. Believable that maybe Grace felt a connection to Alberto, but leaving the romance angle out would have made it an overall better story (in my opinion).
All in all, this is a quick read, even it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.
The mental health rep is probably the best aspect of this book. There aren't a lot of YA books that deal with schizophrenia, so that representation is a bonus (I think it's done well, but I might refer to someone who is more knowledgeable on the subject). You can feel the anxiety building in Alberto's chapters, and it fits the pace of the novel well.
What I didn't believe was the sort of romance angle. There's a bit of insta love, and for the most part, it just didn't feel believable to me. Believable that maybe Grace felt a connection to Alberto, but leaving the romance angle out would have made it an overall better story (in my opinion).
All in all, this is a quick read, even it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Violence
Minor: Death of parent