Book Review: Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

Book Review: Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group

            Clarion Books

I am 38 years old and the mother of two children under ten. Some would wonder why I am reviewing a book rated as young adult and teens. I was drawn to the book because of the theme of mental illness. I assumed that it would be like a lot of books out there where someone was ill, they meet the love of their life, and then they are magically okay.

This is not that book. This is much better.

Norah suffers from a myriad of mental illnesses, agoraphobia and anxiety attacks being the most dominant. She hasn’t left her house in four years and her mother not only home schools her but she has become Norah’s best and only friend. Norah realizes what a burden she has become to her mother and she loves her all the more for it.

One day the delivery person dropping off Norah’s grocery leaves her order on the front porch. She is unable to get them herself even after trying to “fish” for them with a mop handle. New neighbor Luke comes to her rescue. The awkwardness of two teens meeting is amplified by Norah’s situation. She wants to hide in her house with embarrassment but Luke keeps coming back and slowly becomes Norah’s new friend.

The book walks you through Norah’s day to day issues but at no point does it drag or get boring. The portrayal of mental illness and Norah’s struggles are very realistic. You laugh with her, you cry with her, you feel happy with her when she starts feeling more than friendship for Luke, and your heart breaks for her when her illness and self doubts interfere with her blossoming relationship.

This book is honest and raw. It’s happy and sad and hopeful. The best part? Luke doesn’t heal Norah and she doesn’t magically overcome her issues. He opens her eyes and heart to the possibilities that are out there and she begins to heal and try to save herself. She starts to really look at herself and live…but she is doing it for herself and NOT for him.

Bring the tissues for the sad parts and be okay with laughing out loud at the good parts. This book is amazing in the fact that it portrays mental illness in a real and honest way. It shows the reader that even if you can’t wave a magic wand and make everything perfect that you can still have a brand of magic all your own.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, no matter what age you may be. I messaged my friend April as soon as I was done with it and urged her to read it ASAP. I urge you to do the same. You won’t regret it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.