I read through a bunch of reviews here on GR and elsewhere to see if this was mentioned, and it was not: I have no idea whether or not Strube handled the character of Irwin (hydrocephalus) sensitively or accurately at all. Review publishers, it would be great if you'd occasionally get someone with lived experience to read and review on works such as this.

Harriet is a great character. All of the characters seem to be written with depth and empathy. The dialogue was a joy. I felt for Harriet so deeply as she tried to matter to a single adult human being in her life. It was a compelling read.

And yet, positioning Irwin's character as tragic felt like ableism to me.

Since I hadn't seen any discussion in reviews of this book, I looked it up, and haven't found any evidence in the peer-reviewed literature that adults who had congenital hydrocephalus have lower social functioning or impaired mental health compared to the rest of the population. Having Irwin be so suicidally depressed, so incredibly lonely, so perennially rejected, actually felt more like Strube's reactions to someone like Irwin and her assumptions about what such a life must be like. In fact one thing that's come across in the very nascent field of hydrocephalus and adult depression and anxiety is that it's related to the fear of dying. Like the rest of us, they like being alive and want to keep on doing it.

And the ending ... welp. I really can't get behind this idea that a young man who ended up with Harriet's physical heart after her death somehow magically ended up with her artistic drive, talent, and style. This went well beyond magic realism into sheer medical make-believe. Knowing people who have had organ transplants, I can't say I've ever seen any evidence of this kind of personality transfer.

And I have teenagers in my life with obvious physical differences and disabilities, who have complicated medical lives and a lot of pain--and no, they're not completely rejected by everyone in their peer group and living lives of total loneliness leading to suicidal ideation. Yes it sure is complicated, but this kind of tragic over-simplification and flattening does them no favours.

A lot of damage is caused by the kinds of ideas in this book. No matter how well-written it is, I can't recommend it. ( )

This is an astounding, brilliant, beautiful book that broke my heart and then stomped on it. How could you do that to me? But also, thank you. ( )

Eleven-year old Harriet is saving up to run away to Algonquin Park, near Ottawa. Her life is intolerable. Little brother Irwin, who idolizes Harriet but has hydrocephalus, takes all the time, attention, and caring her mother and her live-in boyfriend Gennady have to give. Her best friend shoplifts and wants to teach her to. Her father is too busy with his new wife's efforts to conceive to have time for Harriet and Irwin. Harriet loves to dumpster dive and make art out of her finds, but the adults in her life think the art is ugly, and they belittle her efforts. The oldsters living in her low-income apartment building pay her to run errands for them, but income is slow to trickle in, and they get angry when she raises her rates. At the same time, they're some of her best friends. As Harriet gets more and more desperate, she takes a step which leads to disaster.

The story is picked up several years later by Irwin, who has difficulty learning but is otherwise a nice kid who is avoided by just about everyone because of his head size. His best friends are also the people who live in the apartment building. Told from Irwin's point of view, many of the observations made by Harriet show surprising alternate interpretations. Like her, he is looking for a way to make his life bearable.

These two children, each affecting the other's life so profoundly, are two wonderful characters who leave a lasting impression. Harriet is very funny: bitter, sarcastic, and observant, her story drives the action. The tragedy which mars her life also affects the reader strongly, but by the end of the novel the reader finally gets some relief from the tension and some (welcome) tears. Highly recommended.

(E-book from NetGalley.com) ( )

I am not going to rehash the plot, the book description is a good start. Harriet is a very original character, a self sufficient young lady whose observations of those around her are vastly amusing. She sees and thinks things most people do not and her crude language will make many a parent cringe. They live in Sangria apartments, a low income place with single moms, or moms with rotters for husbands and a large assortment of senior citizens. Many characters, all we come to know in the course of the book, and some of them had me in stitches.

So life goes on, until it doesn't. While reading this I couldn't help wondering where this book was going but I was thoroughly shocked at the direction it took. Ten years later, and some of the characters are going on, some have left us and some are barely coping. This is written in a very amusing manner but there are many serious issues at play. There are layers upon layers and characters that are so very real, as are the issues they have to deal with.

A book that is not getting the attention it deserves in my opinion and I thank Elyse for bringing it to my attention. Finished this yesterday and have thought about it on and off all day. These characters will not leave you easily. A very good observation on how children view our actions, even when they make sense to us. A very good and well written read, a book that should have a huge impact on its readers.

ARC from Netgalley. ( )