Thursday, January 22, 2015

Review: Alex As Well by Alyssa Brugman

Alex As Well by Alyssa Brugman

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.

”add

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. 

Bottom Line: Unique main character perspective.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Ever wanted a new identity?

19 comments:

  1. Hmm, this is a story needing to be told but it seems as though it wasn't executed very well. I'm glad you liked certain aspects - like the one friendship Alex made. Happy Thursday!

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  2. The synopsis is fairly confusing. I'm sorry the book didn't work out for you but at least more diverse stories are being told.


    Karen @For What It's Worth

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  3. Hmm. Don't know if this is the book for me. The synopsis wasn't very clear, and the fact that you got confused at times makes me hesitant. Thank you for your review :) I do admit, it does seem to have a unique point of view.

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  4. I'm drawn to news stories like this myself although honestly I think it's a little too weird and out there for me to truly empathize with it.

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  5. I think I will have to skip over this one even though it does sound very interesting! I love the theme of identity because I am always working on finding and building my own - working towards knowing who I am myself. And this sounds like someone who is having trouble with that journey. I just really don't like abrupt endings so I am not looking forward to that!

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  6. I don't know if this one is for me, but I do like the idea of it and what the story is about. I'm glad you enjoyed it!


    lovely review!

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  7. This is totally new to me, and what an interesting storyline. I am sorry the ending felt too abrupt.

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  8. I hadn't heard of this one before. It definitely sounds unique. I tend to like things to be wrapped up at the end of a book, so I am sorry to hear about the ending. Great to hear your thoughts.

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  9. Never thought about a new identity ever. This sounds a bit confusing, and I really don't care for open endings, unless there is a second book?

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  10. Not one I can see myself reading but never say never. I would however have to be in the right frame of mind to do so.


    http;//pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk

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  11. Even though I can see where this idea is coming from, I don't think that this was done in a right manner. Still I'm glad you enjoyed it. Great review :)

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  12. I'm not fully convinced about this one since it sounds pretty confusing and the open ending isn't my favourite either. Those just annoy me.

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  13. spam ~Brandi Kosiner
    http://blkosiner.blogspot.com (Brandi Breathes Books) http://katiekosiner.blogspot.com (Blog for my daughters Katie and Jillian)

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  14. It would be nice to have a new identity and live in a place where no one knows you...for some time. Coz after you'll miss your old life, right?

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  15. Oh boy! It would really hurt to read a story like this and not have a solid ending, although in real life this are very tough situations that rarely have a happy ending :(
    Interesting, but it makes me feel like it would make me really mad. I hate un-supportive parents when it comes to situations like this.

    Thanks Brandi.

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  16. Is this the condition where someone is born with both girl and boy parts/genes and then the parents have to make the choice? That would be tricky because how do your parents know when you're a newborn which way you'd sway internally? This sounds like a challenging read. I don't care for open endings even though they may be realistic, I like my nice tidy, wrapped up stories. This is fiction, after all! :)

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  17. I've seen this book around and it looks like very timely subject matter....

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  18. Hmm, not sure if I would like being confused.

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