Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?

Product Information

Book Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Contemporary Fair warning: this book is not an easy read, especially if you’re dealing with mental heath issues on your own. Beware of the trigger warnings (listed below) and take care of yourself! The part with the kindness virus was pretty ridiculous to me, to be honest. I thought the idea itself was not well thought out by itself, plus I doubt people in that situation are so easily convinced to take time from their free therapy that normally is incredibly expensive and that a bunch of teens wouldn't use social media for that kind of project, which would have a far wider reach. As a mental health nurse in training, I have to say that I am so impressed with the way Holly has managed to portray Olive’s illness in this book. I managed to recognise her illness only a few chapters in as the book doesn’t actually specify Olive’s illness until quite far into the book as she doesn’t actually want to know what her diagnosis is. I thought this was such a great little addition to the book as there are people living with a mental illness who don’t necessarily want to put a label on their behaviour and it actually really interested me that Holly chose to take this approach.

EACH character with their flawed actions, reactions and outbursts seemed absolutely real. Holly Bourne does not sugar coat the recovery process or makes it magical. She keeps it frank and that is what makes this book stand out to me. The character growth of not only Olive’s but of the supporting characters like Lewis, Sophie, Hanna and Jamie was commendable. Small note: I’m on a blog hiatus from today-tomorrow to July, 7th and will only answer to comments and see your wonderful blogs again then. See you soon xx I think this book is such a powerful and a must read because it portrays such a powerful and heartfelt message that could really change the world some day. Holden, Lucy (19 June 2018). " 'Life isn't how it looks online.' Holly Bourne, the woman on a mission to end social-media envy". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460 . Retrieved 30 July 2018.

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Jamie grins and talks with his mouth full of egg. "You've got something weird and new that they haven't figured out yet?"

I’m a big fan of Holly Bourne and everything she writes. This book was no exception. It’s an uplifting story about the power of kindness and compassion.

Toys

The first half of the book is great and I enjoyed the characters, their dialogue, and the usual Holly Bourne humor and sarcasm. I even kept pausing to take note of quotable passages. But as soon as the characters (led by Olive, our main character) came up with their pseudo-superhero group which they call "Prime Numbers" to spread the "kindness" virus, it kind of went downhill from there. It was like the author was planning to write one thing and then ended up writing something else. I felt like it wasn't the direction she was shooting for but decided just to go through with it.

Trigger Warning: This book features suicide ideation, and discussion of sexual child abuse and selfharm.I think real kindness, real compassion, is having the strength to stop and try and see where another person is coming from. To try and work out why they’re being the way they’re being. It takes time and patience. It’s not easy, but that’s real kindness.” I think about prime numbers. How they don’t bend and shape themselves just so they can divide nicely into the world. They stand strong and unmalleable and refuse to have a pattern to them. They are snowflakes and the rest of the numbers are lemmings.” Not only do we follow Olive's journey, but since she was at a camp with others suffering from different mental health issues, we got to see and understand the side characters as well, see them coming together on a project and overcoming their differences. It was beautiful and enlightening.