The Nook
  • Home
  • About
  • Reviews
  • Contact

Review: Lorna Schultz Nicholson, "Fragile Bones: Harrison and Anna".

6/22/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Meet Harrison and Anna.

One is a fifteen-year-old boy with an uncanny ability to recite every bone in the skeletal system whenever he gets anxious ― and that happens a lot. The meaning of “appropriate behaviour” mystifies him: he doesn’t understand most people and they certainly don’t understand him.

The other is a graduating senior with the world at her feet. Joining the Best Buddies club at her school and pairing up with a boy with high-functioning autism is the perfect addition to her med school applications. Plus, the president of the club is a rather attractive, if mysterious, added attraction.

Told in the alternating voices of Harrison and Anna, Fragile Bones is the story of two teens whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways
This book was hard to review. Initially, I loved it. It was heartwarming and thought provoking. Unfortunately in this instance distance has not made my heart grow fonder. In fact, the more I think of it, the more I dislike it. Is it horribly written? No. Is it an awful book? Not at all. But, I definitely have some serious gripes.

Fragile Bones is written in the alternating perspectives of the two main characters, Harrison and Anna. Harrison, who has high functioning autism, is obsessed with naming bones and watching reruns of Grey's Anatomy. His perspective is written in a very matter of fact way, supposedly mimicking his train of thought as he navigates through life. For the most part this is done with sensitivity, however there are instances when it made me uncomfortable. I felt it stripped him down to nothing more than his autism. He is denied any real emotions or opinions, it is always the autism we hear. Whilst I empathised with Anna, I found her voice hard to find. Instead of a strong voice Anna's perspective was peppered with figurative language that seemed to serve solely to remind us of Harrison's inability to comprehend beyond the literal, rather than giving Anna any depth of character. 

I can respect this novel for aiming to highlight issues of diversity. It did illustrate wonderfully how disability affects the friends and family of those living with disabilities, and just how much prejudice and bullying can harm. I just don't feel that it really provided a voice for Harrison. Harrison is constantly misunderstood, even his own family constantly push him beyond his limits. Ultimately I think my main issue with this novel is it comes across as written about diversity, as opposed to being written for those who would identify with Harrison. 

Would I recommend this book? I don't know. Saying no seems harsh, because I do think this novel shines light on issues of diversity. I am just not sure it achieves what it set out to do. I would recommend The Rosie Project for those interested in reading about more developed diverse characters.

I give this novel 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Clockwise Press and Netgalley, who provided this ARC in return for an honest review.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Let's get social!

    Siobhan's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    Follow

    Archives

    January 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.