What do you do when everybody says you’re someone you’re not?
Alex wants change. Massive change. More radical than you could imagine.
Her mother is not happy, in fact she’s imploding. Her dad walked out.
Alex has turned vegetarian, ditched one school, enrolled in another, thrown out her clothes. And created a new identity. An identity that changes her world.
And Alex—the other Alex—has a lot to say about it.
Alex As Well is a confronting and heartfelt story of adolescent experience—of questioning identity, discovering sexuality, navigating friendships and finding a place to belong. Alex is a strong, vulnerable, confident, shy and determined character, one you will never forget.
With the same tenderness and insight as YA stars such as John Green and David Levithan, Alyssa Brugman has crafted a knockout story about identity, sexuality and family that speaks effortlessly to a universal teen experience.
Publishes in US: January 30th 2013 by Text Publishing
Genre: ya contemp
Source: netgalley
Series? No
Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound Book Depository Target.com
Author stalk away: ~site
I wanted to read this one because it sounds like an emotional and powerful story, one that needs to be heard.
So, I was pretty confused at times, and I think it was meant to be that way, because Alex is both a girl and a boy and feeling confused themselves. Alex was raised as a boy but now wanting to be more feminine. Thinking of it as two different people did help but I was trying to consolodate into one person, because that is the truth.
Being a mom, I can see to a certain extent where she was coming from, but then again, not really. She wasn't very supportive and you could tell that she didn't accept or try to understand what Alex was going through. She was selfish and thought that their actions, even at the age of three where no child really understands empathy, blaming them for getting into her crafting supplies and that she couldn't have an identity outside of her child.
The new school seemed to bring some actual friends into Alex's life, even if she is still hiding a lot from them. Some of them do end up being positive in their live, but others not so much, and not always what you would think.
I didn't enjoy the end. It felt abrupt to me and I wanted a more solid ending, but if you are okay with open endings then it might be more suited for you. I wanted a bit more character development and at least more of the parental relationships more repaired or at least hopeful. I did like the direction that one of the friendships and standing with parent ended though.
My question to you, my lovely readers:
Ever wanted a new identity?
