Madeline’s world exists solely in her house and her books. She is a SCID kid, or as more commonly known, the girl in the bubble. She is allergic to the world and any outside contaminant could kill her. She has lived a happy, but secluded life, until she sees something that is missing. Real life people. When Olly moves next door, she sees a new life through the glass that she wishes she could belong in. Olly is the daredevil boy, with a difficult home life, who just wants to make the strange girl next door smile.

This story is very reminiscent of the old John Travolta movie The Boy in the Bubble. Similar plot line, but a different ending. It is well written and goes fast, it’s just not my normal type of book. So why did I read it? This book was labeled “problematic”. I hate this label. It’s just a step below banning a book. The particular subclass of problematic is “ablest”. According to Wikipedia this is defining a person by their disabilities and as inferior to those non-disabled. From reading what others have wrote, the main reason for the ablest label is that Madeline wants to get out of her bubble and experience a different life. She doesn't want to live with her disability, she wants it to go away. I too have allergies, but not ones that keep me locked inside my house for 18 years. So I can not speak for someone else. Do I wish my allergies would go away and I could breath better, yes. So in all honestly, I do not understand the ablest label, but I do not begrudge those who are offended. What I think what most annoys me is that when this was just a book, I didn’t hear about the label. However, this book will be a big screen movie either this month or next. The minute the trailers started playing in theaters, then there was a big deal about the label.

This is a fiction book. It does not go into detail of her disease, what it is, or even how it affects her childhood. Just her life as an 18 year old teenager who can not be touched by anyone but her mother and nurse. Overall, I liked the book. I think the ending could have been better developed, but overall it was solid. I see the appeal and why it will be a movie. But I do not see a reason for this book to be banned, and I would like to see the ablest label removed.