by Andrew Norriss
Scholastic Inc, 2019. 240 pages. Young Adult.
15 year old Floyd is a rising tennis star, on track to playing in major tennis championships around the world. His parents couldn’t be more proud and nothing seems to be standing in his way. That is, until Mike shows up and walks onto the court during the middle of a match and continues to show up at the most inopportune and inconvenient places. Floyd can’t seem to shake him no matter what he does, and his very presence begins to take a serious toll on his ability to play.
A unique and approachable YA story about stress and mental illness, Mike, was a surprising book I could not put down. Without feeling depressing or heavy handed, it deftly navigates common coming of age emotions like being overwhelmed while trying to live up to expectations for your life that may not match with your own desires (Ok, adults feel that, too). An enjoyable read with characters and situations that felt real and relatable, even for those of us who are not burgeoning sports stars or tennis aficionados.
RC
2 comments:
I found this to be an approachable and engaging manner in which to discuss mental health. Both Mike and his parents were accepting of the changes, even though it took some readjusting. This was a good read about growing up and changing as you mature. The characters were my favorite part of this book. The plot felt too mature for teens and the writing style and vocabulary were on the simpler side. This would be a good book for someone who wants an older character, but is a quick read.
MIKE was a very readable and enjoyable story that tackled some tough topics - chiefly, mental illness. I really appreciated how the author kept the tone light and accessibly without sugar-coating or over-simplifying Floyd's struggles in mental health and the adjustments and frustrations that came as a result of his realizations about his life choices. This lovely book proves that simpler doesn't have to mean less complex. An easy read, this book could easily appeal to Middle School and High School age readers, especially reluctant readers. A great book to discuss as a family too!
MW
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