[Review] Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

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Title: Say What You Will

Author: Cammie McGovern [ Twitter | Facebook | Website ]

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Young Adult Fiction - Realistic Contemporary

Release Date: June 3, 2014

Source: ARC, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.

Billed as a mix between The Fault in Our Stars and Eleanor & Park, I was equally intrigued and skeptical as I picked this up. I'm happy to report that yes, there is an awkward pairing and yes, there are characters with disabilities. Luckily for all books involved this is where the similarities end. 

Amy, born with cerebral palsy, and Matthew, with undiagnosed obsessive compulsive disorder, take center stage as our protagonists navigating their senior year of high school. After Matthew's frank encounter with Amy, during junior year, she convinces her mom to dump her adult assistants for school and hire classmates as her assistants in hopes of having a normal experience and making friends. With Amy's encouragement Matthew applies for the job and becomes one of four peer assistants. Overtime Amy and Matthew form a close friendship leading them through the adventures of prom, graduation and post-graduation life. I was so excited when I started reading and realized I was going to get both of their stories versus just Amy's. Another bonus for me is while the relationship between Amy and Matthew is an awesome ship, it's their personal journeys of living post-high school that made this story come full circle. 

This is what won me, in a big way... all of the "issues" in this novel are very typical "issues" teens have. They are not necessarily specific to the character's disability. Therefore doing two things, realizing that the characters are people first and drawing into focus the abilities before the disability. I would like to go into this more but it's really hard to do so without spoilers! 

Amy's mother is a big "X" in my book but I'm not a parent so this may seem unfair. As a character her overprotectiveness boarders obsessive and her constant meddling showcases a lack of faith and trust versus nurturing and preventative. In fact one of the biggest issues that comes up is mom's dislike for Matthew and inability to allow Amy a chance to fail. 

This plot is not what I could've envisioned at all and I blame my own ignorance for this shortcoming. As I read more and more I absorbed the authentic experience of living with CP or having OCD, and how much this becomes a characteristic versus something that is debilitating. Even the main characters underestimate each other's strength and what they "can handle". There are more twist and turns than I could imagine. Granted everything isn't roses but a couple thorns don't hurt either. 

In the end I really enjoyed this read and hope it starts a new trend in writing books about characters who happen to have a disability. 

Fav Quote

I worry what will happen if she doesn't learn what it feels like to not succeed. Has Amy ever failed at something? If not, she should learn how. It's an important lesson.

- chapter 36, subject to change in finished edition

In a Tweet

This read forced me to acknowledge my own ignorance and grow with the characters. The definition of why #WeNeedDiverseBooks #SayWhatYouWill
— Meghann (@BecomingBooks) June 9, 2014

3.5 Stars – I only cried once! A really awesome read that made me think, laugh and root for the protagonists all the way to the end!