Publisher: Dutton Juvenile, an imprint of Penguin
Genre: Young Adult Fiction - Contemporary, Social Issues, Magical Realism
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.
She certainly wouldn’t be at The Wooden Barn, a therapeutic boarding school in rural Vermont, living with a weird roommate, and signed up for an exclusive, mysterious class called Special Topics in English.
But life isn’t fair, and Reeve Maxfield is dead.
Until a journal-writing assignment leads Jam to Belzhar, where the untainted past is restored, and Jam can feel Reeve’s arms around her once again. But there are hidden truths on Jam’s path to reclaim her loss. - via Goodreads
While the story is told from Jam's point of view, I found the rest of the cast more interesting. The strong secondary lineup allows readers to explore why everyone is at the school and what Belzhar means to them. Sierra could easily carry an entire novel on her own. Most importantly for me we learn that everybody's pain is just that, it's theirs. There's no more or less since we all carry our pain individually.
"Is there no way out of the mind?"...
On that topic, I found it very easy to be judge-y while meeting all the characters and their backstories. In the end Meg Wolitzer's words transported me into each character's world to build walls of sympathy and understanding, and hope that they find a way out. I was rooting for everyone in the end as if I actually knew them.
Sylvia Path's Bell Jar is a major inspiration for the novel and the themes in the story. Knowing more about her brings you that much closer to the Special Topics in English class.
The catch took too long...
The last backstory to come to light is Jam's and for me it was too little, too late. I really feel that if the reveal would have been earlier there would've been more to explore in her healing. Instead my attachment to all her classmates was cemented and she became a conduit to tell their stories instead. Can I get a whole Sierra Belzhar????
I recommend this for...
Obviously, a big theme was Sylvia Plath so if you're her fan then this read will be appreciated. Also if you enjoy boarding schools tropes and or secret clubs, i.e. Dead Poets Society, you will probably enjoy Belzhar.
3.5 Stars - Everybody hurts sometimes...
Great review! I read her book The Interestings this summer and enjoyed it. Meg writes these really grand LONG epic-feeling stories with humanly flawed characters. I enjoy that in her writing. Have you read The Interestings?
ReplyDeleteI haven't! But I heard about it and this is actually my first read by Meg so hopefully I can read a few more of her books. - meghann
DeleteI think I may have to do a back-to-back reading of The Bell Jar and this one. It sounds like a fun time; although "fun" may not be the right word.
ReplyDeleteI've never read Bell Jar but now I feel like I should but like you said not exactly "fun" - meghann
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