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So why do I say this book is wonderful? It’s layered. With
GIRL AGAINST THE UNIVERSE, Paula Stokes gives us a sporty girl book featuring
tennis, a romance based on friendship, and a deeply serious look at mental
illness.
Maguire has been through a lot in her young life. In her
early teens her father, uncle and brother were killed in a car accident while
she walked away without a scratch. Later, a roller coaster careened off the
tracks and again she was fine in the midst of suffering. But when her candle
set the neighbor’s home on fire things became all to clear for Maguire. She was
bad luck, cursed. Her very presence was sure to injure others. At least that’s
what she believes. In order to control her world she does safety checks, avoids
public transportation, won’t drive with others and hides away from others. It’s
not until she meets a wonderful behavioral therapist that things start to
change for her.
Maguire’s concrete desire drives the plot and keeps the
reader squarely in Maguire’s court. “I want to see where my dad grew up, see my
grandma again, meet all my relatives” (Stokes, 28.) The problem? Grandma is in
Ireland and Maguire is sure if she’s on that plane, it’ll go down and no one
will survive. The reader realizes that the task is large but she is rooting for
Maguire every step of the way.
The reader isn’t the only one rooting for Maguire. Stokes has
surrounded Maguire with other characters who challenge and support her. The
romantic lead is tennis star, Jordy who also sees Dr. Leeds. The friendship
between Maguire and Jordy grows believably over time and while there are plenty
of references to Jordy’s hotness, I was pleased to see that Stokes allows these
teens with issues to take it slowly—and uses humor to build their relationship.
Maguire and Jordy have an easy banter that doesn’t feel forced or overly
scripted.
The other thing that evolves slowly is Maguire and Jordy’s
individual mental health treatment successes. There are no silver bullets when it comes to
dealing with mental health issues and early on in the book, when Maguire is
ready to be "fixed," Dr. Leeds explains that that isn’t how therapy works.
“You’re not a toaster, Maguire. You’re not here to be
fixed…The first thing you need to realize is that mental health is fluid. It’s
not like you have an infection and a doctor gives you antibiotics and then
you’re cured. No matter what the two of us accomplish together, you’re still
going to have good days and bad days…”(Stokes, 27.)
Maguire’s good days come through hard work. She creates a
series of goals to work through her PTSD and OCD issues. The goals are
presented in a list-form that is seamlessly integrated so it doesn’t stop the
flow of the story. (Way to go designers!)
I did have a few concerns: the friends in her new high
school sometimes feel like they stepped off a teen movie set, and there was one
point when I jotted down that a scene could have been slowed down to unpack the
emotional impact for Maguire.
The most important note I made was, “I don’t want to stop
reading!” and if you’re anything like me—GIRL AGAINST THE UNIVERSE, will be on
your shelf of sporty girl favorites.
Reading fiction heightens your awareness and is a catalyst
for connections. At the same time I read GIRL AGAINST THE
UNIVERSE (April 2016), the magazine Women’s Health published a fabulous article,
“Which
One of these Women Has Mental Illness,” about the stigmas and realities of
living with mental illnesses and the National Center for Health Statistics
released
their
report on suicide.
Suicide
rates in this country have consistently and constantly increased. A slow
rising line that symbolizes the mountain that seems insurmountable for so many who take
their own lives. If you are living with any type of mental illness including
anxiety, or depression, or if you know someone who is, please get help.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1‑800‑273‑TALK (8255)
SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline –1‑877‑SAMHSA7 (1‑877‑726‑4727)
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In the first book, The Gold Medal Mess, Alice, Kat, Max, Nico, and Luke are getting ready for the school Olympics when they find a note for someone threatening to cancel the games. After showing the note to adults, the kids decide to investigate themselves, piecing together clues along the way. I won't tell you want happens, but by the end the kids have a chance to participate in sports and solve a mystery and the reader can follow them along for the ride.
