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Some Kind of Happiness
by
THINGS FINLEY HART DOESN’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT
• Her parents, who are having problems. (But they pretend like they’re not.)
• Being sent to her grandparents’ house for the summer.
• Never having met said grandparents.
• Her blue days—when life feels overwhelming, and it’s hard to keep her head up. (This happens a lot.)
Finley’s only retreat is the Everwood, a forest kingdom that ...more
• Her parents, who are having problems. (But they pretend like they’re not.)
• Being sent to her grandparents’ house for the summer.
• Never having met said grandparents.
• Her blue days—when life feels overwhelming, and it’s hard to keep her head up. (This happens a lot.)
Finley’s only retreat is the Everwood, a forest kingdom that ...more
Hardcover, 374 pages
Published
May 17th 2016
by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
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Showing 1-30
This book is all kinds of lovely, and everyone needs to read it.
I've been undecided between giving this book three stars or just two: for one side, giving it two stars doesn't feel right, on the other, I don't think I'll ever read it again. But I think this was mostly a case of "it's not you book, it is me".
The main character is a precocious child of eleven, who is suffering from depression and anxiety among other things. But she doesn't have a name for that, and she doesn't know how to deal with it, so she creates this magical place to which she escapes.
I' ...more
This book made me cry. This book made me smile. This book made me hurt... this book... is not only incredibly powerful, but wonderfully written. Who even cares if it's "middle grade"
Pfft
It's so good.
I definitely don't agree with the a lot of the reasoning in this book... and I kept thinking "oh, oh, if you knew Jesus...!" But it's still such a lovely book. Go read it.
Pfft
It's so good.
I definitely don't agree with the a lot of the reasoning in this book... and I kept thinking "oh, oh, if you knew Jesus...!" But it's still such a lovely book. Go read it.
first of all, thank you to Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this wonderful and melancholy novel. I absolutely loved it.
full review is up here!
full review is up here!
I knew this was going to be a very feelsy book, but I had no idea that it was going to be one of the most emotionally touching stories I've ever read. PLEASE EXCUSE ME WHILE I CRY IN A CORNER FOR 1,382 YEARS.
Okay, first off, THE CHARACTERS. This is one of the most important factors of a book for me, and gosh, did this author outdo herself with these charries. I just want to hug Finley forever and let her know it's okay. (And Jack...don't even get me started on Jack.)
Another thing that absolutel ...more
Okay, first off, THE CHARACTERS. This is one of the most important factors of a book for me, and gosh, did this author outdo herself with these charries. I just want to hug Finley forever and let her know it's okay. (And Jack...don't even get me started on Jack.)
Another thing that absolutel ...more
Wow. I wish this existed when I was a kid. It's the most familiar depiction of depression I've ever read and made me sob more than once.
I ordered it in hardcover.
I ordered it in hardcover.
Beautiful book about families, secrets, and mental illness.
WHY WAS THAT SO AMAZING???? MY HEART AND MIND CANT COMPREHEND THE FEELS HOLY GUAC
Mild spoilers ahead...
It makes me sad the way this story, with so much potential, was wasted. I liked many things about it: a main character who is a 10 years old girl who suffers from anxiety, depression and panic attacks (I loved the idea of introduced kids to this topic!); the fantastic stories she writes about the Everwood, and how these stories mixed with reality; what means to be part of a family and how we fit or do not fit in it; Finley struggles to accept her parents' divorce; honesty, ...more
It makes me sad the way this story, with so much potential, was wasted. I liked many things about it: a main character who is a 10 years old girl who suffers from anxiety, depression and panic attacks (I loved the idea of introduced kids to this topic!); the fantastic stories she writes about the Everwood, and how these stories mixed with reality; what means to be part of a family and how we fit or do not fit in it; Finley struggles to accept her parents' divorce; honesty, ...more
Finley Hart is dropped off by her parents at her grandparents for the summer. This is the first she's ever met these people, and Finley is worried and anxious about this. She's also deeply worried and anxious because her parents are having difficulties, and want the summer to talk.
Finley meets not only her grandparents, but a slew of cousins and aunts. Finley isn't used to such a crowd of people, but soon finds herself making friends with first Gretchen, one of the cousins, and quickly the other ...more
Finley meets not only her grandparents, but a slew of cousins and aunts. Finley isn't used to such a crowd of people, but soon finds herself making friends with first Gretchen, one of the cousins, and quickly the other ...more
*ARC kindly provided by Claire Legrand - Author for review*
Some Kind of Happiness is my first experience on a Middle Grade (MG) book and I am happily surprised by how much this book made an impact on me. I love how the story was told - simple yet deep. The main topic was a direct shot to the heart. I love how refreshing it is to read a story told in the POV of a 10-year old girl.
The topic of depression and anxiety has been used by several books already. I have read my fair share of books dealing ...more
Some Kind of Happiness is my first experience on a Middle Grade (MG) book and I am happily surprised by how much this book made an impact on me. I love how the story was told - simple yet deep. The main topic was a direct shot to the heart. I love how refreshing it is to read a story told in the POV of a 10-year old girl.
The topic of depression and anxiety has been used by several books already. I have read my fair share of books dealing ...more
This book is beyond precious. I cannot believe it have already been three years since I first read it. And I am so happy I finally decided to read it a second time. Because this book was exactly what I needed right now. It's heartbreaking and fun and beyond adorable. I loved it to pieces, once more. It is simply perfection.
There is so much about this book that I love. I will try my best to share most of it, but not too much. If you have not read this one yet, you are truly missing out. As everyt ...more
There is so much about this book that I love. I will try my best to share most of it, but not too much. If you have not read this one yet, you are truly missing out. As everyt ...more
If you are afraid, sad, tired, or lonely if you feel lost or strange if you crave stories and adventure, and the magic possibility of a forest path-this book is for you
That is probably the best way to sum up this book. Mental health issues mentioned in the book and its integration with the magical land of Everwood was probably one of my purely magical experiences in a fictional world.
Wow. I finally have a book to get behind for this year's Newbery, and (considering Navigating Early) maybe even for this year's Printz. This is fantastic.
I've got two overarching reactions to this. The first is that this is throwback children's lit: it's a what-I-did-on-my-summer-vacation book. (That we have Enright and Lai and DeCamillo and now Legrand is testament to how much there is to be mined in these stories; this certainly isn't a denigration.) This is a family story, and it's warm and ...more
I've got two overarching reactions to this. The first is that this is throwback children's lit: it's a what-I-did-on-my-summer-vacation book. (That we have Enright and Lai and DeCamillo and now Legrand is testament to how much there is to be mined in these stories; this certainly isn't a denigration.) This is a family story, and it's warm and ...more
*eARC kindly provided by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via NetGalley*
My Review!
I’m not a fan of the middle grade genre. The few MG novels I’ve read in the last few years or so didn’t go that well. I mean, I liked the stories and all, but beyond that… nothing. I can’t even really explain why, but I do think the age is a big reason that they don’t work for me. I either find them completely unbelievable, or I can’t stand the voice, or I feel like I’m reading a children’s book (which I AM ...more
My Review!
I’m not a fan of the middle grade genre. The few MG novels I’ve read in the last few years or so didn’t go that well. I mean, I liked the stories and all, but beyond that… nothing. I can’t even really explain why, but I do think the age is a big reason that they don’t work for me. I either find them completely unbelievable, or I can’t stand the voice, or I feel like I’m reading a children’s book (which I AM ...more
4.5 stars
This book blew my mind. Finley was an amazing main character, and her entire "family life" dynamic was very, very real. From her parents who love her but not each other to her grandparents and cousins who are basically everyone's grandparents and cousins. SO well done!
I've never seen a book handle imagination and "darkness" so well, either. Cause Finley had both. Her stories are what keep her going when she curls up inside of herself and wants to hide from all the concerned adults. Ever ...more
This book blew my mind. Finley was an amazing main character, and her entire "family life" dynamic was very, very real. From her parents who love her but not each other to her grandparents and cousins who are basically everyone's grandparents and cousins. SO well done!
I've never seen a book handle imagination and "darkness" so well, either. Cause Finley had both. Her stories are what keep her going when she curls up inside of herself and wants to hide from all the concerned adults. Ever ...more
This book. THIS BOOK. I wasn’t expecting to gain a new favourite when I started reading this. Of course when I buy a book I’m always hoping to love it, but this book moved me deeply and I found I couldn’t stop thinking about it. So here I am, writing a review on here so that more poeple can learn about it!
I had been meaning to read this book ever since it was published last year, mostly because the cover looks amazing, but what gave me the final push to buy a copy when it was released as a paper ...more
I had been meaning to read this book ever since it was published last year, mostly because the cover looks amazing, but what gave me the final push to buy a copy when it was released as a paper ...more
Mar 03, 2015
Lyn *GLITTER VIKING*
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
2016,
contemporary,
cover-lust,
family,
stand-alone,
arc,
middle-grade,
a-5-star,
mental-illness,
author-love
This is a powerful, raw look at what it feels and looks like to have depression and/or anxiety when you do not have the words to describe it, or the clout with adults to explain that difference between moody and mentally unstable.
There was a lot that brought up some horrible feels of young Lyn struggling with her own anxiety. I wish I had a book like this when I was a elementary school. The side story of growing out of your comfort zone was entertaining and beautiful as well.
There was a lot that brought up some horrible feels of young Lyn struggling with her own anxiety. I wish I had a book like this when I was a elementary school. The side story of growing out of your comfort zone was entertaining and beautiful as well.
Finley is an eleven year old girl who is dealing with some tough stuff. Not only are her parents dropping her off with her grandparents for the summer, but she has never met them. Why? She wants to know why they don't have photos of her or their son, her dad around the house. And who are all these cousins, aunts and uncles?
Add to all that she has terrible blue days. The sadness overwhelms her although she doesn't think she has anything to be sad about. It has always been there. Even before her ...more
Add to all that she has terrible blue days. The sadness overwhelms her although she doesn't think she has anything to be sad about. It has always been there. Even before her ...more
one star taken off for the fact that Claire Legrand is not a Christian, and therefore I did not agree with a lot of her reasonings, or the solution to Finley's "darkness"
I was so torn about this rating for a while. I kept waffling back and forth between three and four crowns, but I finally settled on a 3 crown rating. I believe this book had a lot of great things going for it, and I thought the mental health rep was amazing, but there was just something about it that had me super disconnected from this read - especially in the latter half.
Things Done Really Well:
Mental health rep (Finley is dealing with anxiety and depression) that was amazingly done and so rea ...more
Things Done Really Well:
Mental health rep (Finley is dealing with anxiety and depression) that was amazingly done and so rea ...more
5/5 stars!
Claire Legrand? Disappointing me? Never!
This is definitely a new favorite for me! I loved this book from the first page to the last. I don't read a lot of MG anymore, but this is for sure how you do it.
I wish this book would have been out when I was younger, because I truly found myself in these pages. In Finely, in her family, and in the Everwood. The way mental health was talked about and shown in this story really connected to how I felt when I was a child, struggling, but not unde ...more
Claire Legrand? Disappointing me? Never!
This is definitely a new favorite for me! I loved this book from the first page to the last. I don't read a lot of MG anymore, but this is for sure how you do it.
I wish this book would have been out when I was younger, because I truly found myself in these pages. In Finely, in her family, and in the Everwood. The way mental health was talked about and shown in this story really connected to how I felt when I was a child, struggling, but not unde ...more
I cried immensely over this.
One of my greatest fears is being in the next room, unknowingly, while my child is uncontrollably depressed. This is basically that book.
Finley Hart, a blonde eleven-year old with an active imagination, has never met her father's side of the family. The Harts. So when her parents hint at their upcoming divorce, and thus drop her off at her grandparents' house alone without much to grasp onto. Finley is surrounded by complete strangers. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandp ...more
One of my greatest fears is being in the next room, unknowingly, while my child is uncontrollably depressed. This is basically that book.
Finley Hart, a blonde eleven-year old with an active imagination, has never met her father's side of the family. The Harts. So when her parents hint at their upcoming divorce, and thus drop her off at her grandparents' house alone without much to grasp onto. Finley is surrounded by complete strangers. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandp ...more
This middle grade book tackles some very heavy topics, focusing on Finley’s anxiety and depression. It also covers divorce, family schisms, mysterious deaths, and secret-keeping. The result is a somewhat dark, but ultimately hopeful middle grade read. First off, I want to say that I think Legrand does an excellent job of describing Finley’s feelings of depression and her self-doubt and anxiety that often stem from that. She realizes that she shouldn’t feel so sad all the time, and she feels a lo
...more
"UM HELLO YES THIS DESCRIPTION SOUNDS LIKE ALL THAT I WANT AND NEED TO READ PLEASE CAN THE BOOK LIVE UP TO WHAT IM ALREADY NEEDING?? PLZ N THX"
So now that I've read this insta-cover-love book, I can say that the above comment remains true. Some Kind of Happiness was everything I wanted and more in a book. It had mystery, adventure, unbreakable friendship, secrets, and SUPER realistic representation of mental illness. I really fell in love with Finley and her occasional flow of conscious thoughts ...more
So now that I've read this insta-cover-love book, I can say that the above comment remains true. Some Kind of Happiness was everything I wanted and more in a book. It had mystery, adventure, unbreakable friendship, secrets, and SUPER realistic representation of mental illness. I really fell in love with Finley and her occasional flow of conscious thoughts ...more
This book is important.
This book is so, so, so important.
It is the story of a girl who likes words, lists, forests, and writing; a girl who has days when everything is dark and heavy and she cannot breathe. It is the story of family and love; of family and secrets and selfishness; of family and trying and failing and trying again. It is the story of magic, of darkness, of learning and growing.
If I could give this book six stars, I would.
Finley's "blue days" were so real and raw and relateable. S ...more
This book is so, so, so important.
It is the story of a girl who likes words, lists, forests, and writing; a girl who has days when everything is dark and heavy and she cannot breathe. It is the story of family and love; of family and secrets and selfishness; of family and trying and failing and trying again. It is the story of magic, of darkness, of learning and growing.
If I could give this book six stars, I would.
Finley's "blue days" were so real and raw and relateable. S ...more
Did you find this review helpful? Find more of my reviews at Pop! Goes The Reader!
Eleven-year-old Finley Hart has a secret. Two, actually. The first i ...more
She is coming, whistled the Everwood winds.
She is coming, rustled the Everwood leaves.
“Who?” the creatures of the forest asked. “Who is coming?”
The little orphan girl, groaned the trees. She carries a great sadness inside her. We must put our hope in her nevertheless.
And the guardians stood at the edge of the wood and gazed into the sun, waiting.
Eleven-year-old Finley Hart has a secret. Two, actually. The first i ...more
This truly might be my shortest review ever. Here is why, this book with here is a must read. It is absolutely refreshing and has such a RAW, EMOTIONAL, and POWERFUL message that needs to be heard and read about it. Claire Legrand came up with a story that punches you right in the gut and makes you think about life through a magnify glass. Some Kind of Happiness as of right now is without a doubt my favorite Legrand books so far. Please please if you have not read this yet, I encourage you to pi
...more
3.75
I had personal nitpicks with the way family was depicted (blood =/= everything) as well as (some) confusing character dynamics, but a very important middle grade book that treats MI with respect and is highly relatable.
I had personal nitpicks with the way family was depicted (blood =/= everything) as well as (some) confusing character dynamics, but a very important middle grade book that treats MI with respect and is highly relatable.
Probably the best book I read. This book was so exciting, mysterious, and beautifully written. The story about a very internal girl, Finley Hart, is very exciting to read. When I am reading this, I cannot stop reading it because I am so curious what will happen next. So once I read it until midnight. I strongly recommend this book to realistic fiction, fiction, or fantasy readers and lovers. The story jumps between fiction and fantasy. This book is totally amazing.
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Readers also enjoyed
Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn't stop thinking about the stories in her head. A native Texan, she is now a writer and librarian living in central New Jersey.
Her first novel is THE CAVENDISH HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, one of the New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing in 2012. She is also the author of THE YEAR OF SHADOWS, a ghost story for mid ...more
Her first novel is THE CAVENDISH HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, one of the New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing in 2012. She is also the author of THE YEAR OF SHADOWS, a ghost story for mid ...more
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“I suppose most things in a person's life are good for a while, even if that doesn't last very long. Maybe that is why, even after something has gone wrong, we spend so much time trying to fix it. Because we remember when it wasn't broken.”
—
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“I start to worry that I should be saying something. Most of the time I think I could be perfectly content without saying a single word, but no one else seems to function that way. There is so much talking in the world, and so much expectation to talk, even if you do not feel like talking. I find it overwhelming.”
—
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