What do you think?
Rate this book
Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling
This novel-in-verse—at once literary and emotionally gripping—follows the unfolding friendship between two very different teenage girls who share a hospital room and an illness.
Chess, the narrator, is sick, but with what exactly, she isn’t sure. And to make matters worse, she must share a hospital room with Shannon, her polar opposite. Where Chess is polite, Shannon is rude. Where Chess tolerates pain silently, Shannon screams bloody murder. Where Chess seems to be getting slowly better, Shannon seems to be getting worse. How these teenagers become friends, helping each other come to terms with their illness, makes for a dramatic and deeply moving read.
Chess, the narrator, is sick, but with what exactly, she isn’t sure. And to make matters worse, she must share a hospital room with Shannon, her polar opposite. Where Chess is polite, Shannon is rude. Where Chess tolerates pain silently, Shannon screams bloody murder. Where Chess seems to be getting slowly better, Shannon seems to be getting worse. How these teenagers become friends, helping each other come to terms with their illness, makes for a dramatic and deeply moving read.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2014
26 people are currently reading
3630 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
January 31, 2024
5 / 5 stars
Coming to terms with being chronically ill is a very messy process. We have to acknowledge that the future we thought we had been entitled to is no longer ours. We have to find our new place in the world and acknowledge that even that future is simply an idea rather than a promise.
I don't have Crohn's, the illness both girls have, so I can't speak on the specific representation. I also don't have a similar experience to either girl with my illness, but the important thing to me is that I loved it and saw myself in both of their journeys. At the end of the day, I will never be a Main Character – in other words, see my exact experience in a character – unless I write a memoir, but I can still feel connected and seen and appreciated through OwnVoices representation of people in my marginalizations.
That conflict and journey of crip discovery is handled so well. It takes a certain amount of care and vulnerability to discuss such a unique process, and I'm grateful this is out there for Sick people and nondisabled / healthy people alike.
It also uplifts Sick communities and friendships in an authentic way. The mentorship, protection, fear, anger, advice, love, and advice. It felt more than real because that's what our little community of chronically ill people is.
The writing fits this process and community incredibly. The poetry allows it to be cerebral while the format makes the growing and underlying connection tender and wonderful for me to read.
Honestly, though. No one is surprised that I loved this. It plays with style and format while representing about something I'm always looking for more rep of, chronic illnesses.
Coming to terms with being chronically ill is a very messy process. We have to acknowledge that the future we thought we had been entitled to is no longer ours. We have to find our new place in the world and acknowledge that even that future is simply an idea rather than a promise.
I don't have Crohn's, the illness both girls have, so I can't speak on the specific representation. I also don't have a similar experience to either girl with my illness, but the important thing to me is that I loved it and saw myself in both of their journeys. At the end of the day, I will never be a Main Character – in other words, see my exact experience in a character – unless I write a memoir, but I can still feel connected and seen and appreciated through OwnVoices representation of people in my marginalizations.
That conflict and journey of crip discovery is handled so well. It takes a certain amount of care and vulnerability to discuss such a unique process, and I'm grateful this is out there for Sick people and nondisabled / healthy people alike.
It also uplifts Sick communities and friendships in an authentic way. The mentorship, protection, fear, anger, advice, love, and advice. It felt more than real because that's what our little community of chronically ill people is.
The writing fits this process and community incredibly. The poetry allows it to be cerebral while the format makes the growing and underlying connection tender and wonderful for me to read.
Honestly, though. No one is surprised that I loved this. It plays with style and format while representing about something I'm always looking for more rep of, chronic illnesses.
January 26, 2016
Books in verse might not be for me.....
December 15, 2017
When I first picked up this book I had extremely high expectations. It is hard to find books that specifically cover IBD, and I was hoping to feel deeply moved and connected to the novel. Instead I simply found that the book was only a grazing of stereotypical teenage emotions in the time of any disease. Very little of the book actually touched on the hardships of learning to live with chronic illness. Instead, meager things such as petty relationships and worries about friends reactions were at the forefront. Some readers may find this relatable, but the book almost seemed like a slap in the face to me as a teenager with ulcerative colitis. All in all, a rating of 2 stars is generous, and only given because I was pleased to find a central character that has IBD.
August 26, 2014
I've long been a fan of novels in verse, and this new verse novel by Lucy Frank comes with a twist. TWO GIRLS STARING AT THE CEILING is the story of Chess, who is hospitalized the night after what should have been a high-school-movie-esque-party-turned-romance. But everything went impossibly wrong, and now she's sharing a room with a sad old lady and one of the angriest girls she's ever met. Chess' room mate Shannon has a story to tell, too. And her no bullshit way of thinking -- and talking -- is crossing the curtain that divides their living space in the hospital. Here's the twist: In this novel, the aforementioned curtain is represented by a line down the page. Each girl has her own space, her thoughts and her dialogue on whichever side of the curtain she happens to be standing. It could be considered nothing more than a clever gimmick, but the story is strong enough to power past this label.
Chess is so embarrassed by her evening gone awry. And when she finally comes out of her meds-induced delirium, finding herself parked in a hospital room, she pretty much wishes she could just disappear. Chess never wants to see her crush again, and doesn't even want her friends to visit. (A bestie's brand new dress was ruined in the mortifying incident that landed her in the ER.) And she definitely doesn't want anyone to know her diagnosis: Chron's disease. Known also by it's way less appealing (and much more humiliating) name, inflammatory bowel disease.
The thing is, Shannon isn't going to let her wallow. Shannon has been through what Chess is dealing with, and she's not going to pull any punches when it comes to giving unsolicited advice, going hard on the hospital staff, or asking for exactly what she wants. Chess is a please-and-thank-you sort of girl. But maybe there's something she can learn from her bristly room mate. Her diagnosis -- something she's been trying to avoid, ignoring the pain, telling herself that every incident has been a coincidence -- is terrifying. But maybe, with Shannon at her side, she can find the strength (despite the "evil juice" that is her medication) to face the rest of her life.
For fans of Sonya Sones and Wendy Mass, this is the type of book that sticks with you, opening up the world of an underrepresented illness and creating characters that are not only in the story but in your heart. Reluctant readers will love the unusual style and format, and verse novel lovers will gobble this one up as well. Get it on your shelves for fall!
Chess is so embarrassed by her evening gone awry. And when she finally comes out of her meds-induced delirium, finding herself parked in a hospital room, she pretty much wishes she could just disappear. Chess never wants to see her crush again, and doesn't even want her friends to visit. (A bestie's brand new dress was ruined in the mortifying incident that landed her in the ER.) And she definitely doesn't want anyone to know her diagnosis: Chron's disease. Known also by it's way less appealing (and much more humiliating) name, inflammatory bowel disease.
The thing is, Shannon isn't going to let her wallow. Shannon has been through what Chess is dealing with, and she's not going to pull any punches when it comes to giving unsolicited advice, going hard on the hospital staff, or asking for exactly what she wants. Chess is a please-and-thank-you sort of girl. But maybe there's something she can learn from her bristly room mate. Her diagnosis -- something she's been trying to avoid, ignoring the pain, telling herself that every incident has been a coincidence -- is terrifying. But maybe, with Shannon at her side, she can find the strength (despite the "evil juice" that is her medication) to face the rest of her life.
For fans of Sonya Sones and Wendy Mass, this is the type of book that sticks with you, opening up the world of an underrepresented illness and creating characters that are not only in the story but in your heart. Reluctant readers will love the unusual style and format, and verse novel lovers will gobble this one up as well. Get it on your shelves for fall!
March 16, 2017
Interesting format, keeping what happens on each side of the hospital room on its respective side of the page. I also appreciate that Frank decided to tackle an unusual topic. There are a lot of YA books about girls with all kinds of illnesses, but I can't think of any others that cover Crohn's.
February 17, 2021
I want to start of by saying that I loved the idea of this book. The concept of having a line down the page to represent the hospital curtain between the two main characters was such an immersive idea that really played a unique part in the story. I also felt it was a great concept to discuss characters with Crohn’s Disease, which is definitely underrepresented in the world of Young Adult Literature.
However, this book just fell short for me in a few areas.
I felt with the author writing this book in poetry format, it left for many gaps in the storyline of the main characters. Taking into account this being a short novel, I still felt the author tiptoed around some of the plot points that would’ve really transformed this book into a STORY. For example, the author was extremely vague about the event that landed the main character in the hospital in the first place. I recognize this might be a difficult topic to discuss, but this could’ve been such a powerful moment for readers to sympathize and relate to the situations this young girl has been in.
Another problem I had with this book was the formatting. The way the story was written also left confusion on many occasions as to which character was speaking and what exactly was taking place or being discussed about at any given time. Locations and conversations sometimes felt like they were just copied and pasted all over the place and I felt myself having a hard time keeping up with the plot because the facts/opinions were being delivered to me from all directions.
The last issue I had with this book was that I wanted more development from some of the characters. The problematic characters just stayed problematic (although this is realistic in some ways), while other characters felt very flat and stereotypically written to fill the standard personalities of any story. We have a solid outline for neglectful mother, child in denial, girl who uses being rude as a personality trait, kind grandparents, snobby but ‘supportive’ friends, and the list goes on. I expected some development for at least a few of these characters given the premise of the novel being a girl diagnosed with a disease she never knew she’d have to cope with. Isn’t that a VERY impactful event in a persons life that would come with at least some development and secondhand impact on others?
Overall, I think some of the writing choices themselves hurt this novel from the potential the concept. However, I still felt I got to have a unique reading experience from the novel and I appreciate having read it.
However, this book just fell short for me in a few areas.
I felt with the author writing this book in poetry format, it left for many gaps in the storyline of the main characters. Taking into account this being a short novel, I still felt the author tiptoed around some of the plot points that would’ve really transformed this book into a STORY. For example, the author was extremely vague about the event that landed the main character in the hospital in the first place. I recognize this might be a difficult topic to discuss, but this could’ve been such a powerful moment for readers to sympathize and relate to the situations this young girl has been in.
Another problem I had with this book was the formatting. The way the story was written also left confusion on many occasions as to which character was speaking and what exactly was taking place or being discussed about at any given time. Locations and conversations sometimes felt like they were just copied and pasted all over the place and I felt myself having a hard time keeping up with the plot because the facts/opinions were being delivered to me from all directions.
The last issue I had with this book was that I wanted more development from some of the characters. The problematic characters just stayed problematic (although this is realistic in some ways), while other characters felt very flat and stereotypically written to fill the standard personalities of any story. We have a solid outline for neglectful mother, child in denial, girl who uses being rude as a personality trait, kind grandparents, snobby but ‘supportive’ friends, and the list goes on. I expected some development for at least a few of these characters given the premise of the novel being a girl diagnosed with a disease she never knew she’d have to cope with. Isn’t that a VERY impactful event in a persons life that would come with at least some development and secondhand impact on others?
Overall, I think some of the writing choices themselves hurt this novel from the potential the concept. However, I still felt I got to have a unique reading experience from the novel and I appreciate having read it.
February 7, 2017
I don't read much novel-in-verse, but this was great. Really appreciated the thoughtful and respectful chronic illness representation with not one, but two main characters. I don't have Chrohn's, specifically, but some of the lines especially about being young and ill, or about not being able to trust your body really resonated with me.
June 4, 2017
Well this was a journey. I was definitely skeptical going into this book. Picked it up thinking it was a mental health book. It's not. It's a fictional story about Crohn's disease in verse. Which is super random. 3 stars.
Let's start this review off with the book itself. I love the cover. I love that the front and back of the book is a picture of two different patients. I love that the title goes up the naked spine. That title reminds me of the curtain between the two girls in the hospital room. Which brings me to the format of this book. I love that the story/dialogue is separated by a line down the middle of the page. The line represents the curtain. The first page of the book explains how to read the story which I found helpful.
Now let's talk about the contents of the book. As a story it was just okay. It's about two girls who have Crohn's disease. Chess doesn't know anything about the disease. Is taking the whole thing pretty hard. Shannon has had it for awhile. Is the veteran. She is also loud, negative and the typical cliche "bad girl" patient. I've read books like this before where there are two teens around the same age. The veteran/ all knowing kid that has to show the ropes to the new comer.
How did I like it written in verse? Well this is my first taste at a book written this way. I wasn't digging it at the beginning, but towards the end I got used to it. Did it make the story better, being written in verse? Not really. I enjoyed the visual of the line/curtain, but that could have been done in a regular written novel as well. Reading the story in verse kind of made it choppy. Because there is no he said/ she said, I didn't know who was talking. I knew when our main characters were talking but that's about it.
Lastly let's talk about the Crohn's disease aspect of the book. There is nothing in the book that says the author is close to the disease. All it says is that it's entirely fictional and she tried her best with the help of a doctor to get the medical details right. So why write about it? I've heard about Crohn's briefly on HOUSE the t.v. Show. I'm sure teens out there dealing with this autoimmune disease will be interested in reading a book that they can relate to. I just kept saying how random. Maybe this book will bring more awareness to this disease.
I found the book just okay. I would need to read more by Lucy Frank to get an idea on how I like her writing.
Let's start this review off with the book itself. I love the cover. I love that the front and back of the book is a picture of two different patients. I love that the title goes up the naked spine. That title reminds me of the curtain between the two girls in the hospital room. Which brings me to the format of this book. I love that the story/dialogue is separated by a line down the middle of the page. The line represents the curtain. The first page of the book explains how to read the story which I found helpful.
Now let's talk about the contents of the book. As a story it was just okay. It's about two girls who have Crohn's disease. Chess doesn't know anything about the disease. Is taking the whole thing pretty hard. Shannon has had it for awhile. Is the veteran. She is also loud, negative and the typical cliche "bad girl" patient. I've read books like this before where there are two teens around the same age. The veteran/ all knowing kid that has to show the ropes to the new comer.
How did I like it written in verse? Well this is my first taste at a book written this way. I wasn't digging it at the beginning, but towards the end I got used to it. Did it make the story better, being written in verse? Not really. I enjoyed the visual of the line/curtain, but that could have been done in a regular written novel as well. Reading the story in verse kind of made it choppy. Because there is no he said/ she said, I didn't know who was talking. I knew when our main characters were talking but that's about it.
Lastly let's talk about the Crohn's disease aspect of the book. There is nothing in the book that says the author is close to the disease. All it says is that it's entirely fictional and she tried her best with the help of a doctor to get the medical details right. So why write about it? I've heard about Crohn's briefly on HOUSE the t.v. Show. I'm sure teens out there dealing with this autoimmune disease will be interested in reading a book that they can relate to. I just kept saying how random. Maybe this book will bring more awareness to this disease.
I found the book just okay. I would need to read more by Lucy Frank to get an idea on how I like her writing.
Read
July 6, 2014I read the eGalley of this one, and the author's note about the format made me wonder if I'd miss something...and from other reviews, it looks like the lack of formatting on the eReader might be okay? I had no problem following this at all.
Told through the voices of Chess and Shannon, this novel in verse is about two girls dealing with crohn's disease, one who has been working with the illness for a long time and one who, after an unfortunate incident with a boy she was beginning to like, is newly diagnosed. It's fast paced and engaging, and the two voices are distinct and interesting. It's primarily ABOUT the time in the hospital and about the diagnoses; there's not a whole lot else going on, which isn't a bad thing.
Readers who are interested in stories about chronic illness but don't want a cancer story will find a lot to dig into here. I don't love the verse format here, but I think for the story, it suits -- if this had been standard prose, it wouldn't have been a full book. There are details about what crohns does, and I think that honesty and forthrightness in the story is fitting. Teens especially who read this and may relate will appreciate the candidness, and those who aren't familiar will find it interesting (I take issue with the effects of illness being "interesting" for the sake of being interesting or propelling the plot, but it WORKS here because crohns isn't one of those things that is widely talked about and it's something that, as Chess discovers, can be really tough to talk about or accept as part of being human and dealing WITH chronic issues).
Told through the voices of Chess and Shannon, this novel in verse is about two girls dealing with crohn's disease, one who has been working with the illness for a long time and one who, after an unfortunate incident with a boy she was beginning to like, is newly diagnosed. It's fast paced and engaging, and the two voices are distinct and interesting. It's primarily ABOUT the time in the hospital and about the diagnoses; there's not a whole lot else going on, which isn't a bad thing.
Readers who are interested in stories about chronic illness but don't want a cancer story will find a lot to dig into here. I don't love the verse format here, but I think for the story, it suits -- if this had been standard prose, it wouldn't have been a full book. There are details about what crohns does, and I think that honesty and forthrightness in the story is fitting. Teens especially who read this and may relate will appreciate the candidness, and those who aren't familiar will find it interesting (I take issue with the effects of illness being "interesting" for the sake of being interesting or propelling the plot, but it WORKS here because crohns isn't one of those things that is widely talked about and it's something that, as Chess discovers, can be really tough to talk about or accept as part of being human and dealing WITH chronic issues).
November 20, 2014
Literary Merit: Excellent
Grades: 8-12
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Highly Recommended for libraries and schools
While the physical format of the book may be daunting to some readers, it will inevitably intrigue and fascinate others. Told in verse physically divided on the page in a representation of the curtain separating the characters' hospital room, this novel tells the story of two girls' very different struggles with Crohn's disease. The narration is well-written and easy to follow. The 2 girls are quite different, and their voices really reflect that. They have different outlooks on their disease and treatment, which is really fascinating to see. I really enjoyed the novel, particularly because I got to see the inside of a long-term hospital stay from the perspective of 2 teenage girls. All of the typical teenage issues are stripped away because these girls are struggling to simply survive and be healthy. Their struggle is something that teens with chronic health issues could definitely relate to.
Grades: 8-12
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Highly Recommended for libraries and schools
While the physical format of the book may be daunting to some readers, it will inevitably intrigue and fascinate others. Told in verse physically divided on the page in a representation of the curtain separating the characters' hospital room, this novel tells the story of two girls' very different struggles with Crohn's disease. The narration is well-written and easy to follow. The 2 girls are quite different, and their voices really reflect that. They have different outlooks on their disease and treatment, which is really fascinating to see. I really enjoyed the novel, particularly because I got to see the inside of a long-term hospital stay from the perspective of 2 teenage girls. All of the typical teenage issues are stripped away because these girls are struggling to simply survive and be healthy. Their struggle is something that teens with chronic health issues could definitely relate to.
Read
July 17, 2017“Teenagers’ bodies are already battlegrounds in our society and on a personal level, and I really related to Chess’s shifting experience: she’s been unhappy with her weight in the past, then found a new accommodation with her body through running, and now she has to get to know it all over again as the Crohn’s makes her weight drop. Having Crohn’s in your teens can mean you go from worrying about whether you’re growing in all the right ways to worrying about whether you’ll grow at all.”
Read contributor Angeline B. Adams' full review at Disability in Kidlit.
Read contributor Angeline B. Adams' full review at Disability in Kidlit.
May 26, 2017
The author did a great job writing about a rather sensitive topic. What threw me off was the formatting and the flow of the story. I usually enjoy stories written in verse but this one was just a little off for me. The different perspectives were really interesting though, and I loved the subtle similarities and differences!
March 19, 2022
2.5⭐
Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling follows two teenagers who befriend each other while hospitalised for Crohn's disease. This a unique novel-in-verse, with a vertical line (meant to represent a curtain) down the center of several pages to show the two girls conversing from their hospital beds.
I think the "How To Read This Book" part was unnecessary, however. I would have known to read the book across instead of down when needed, but the instructions only confused me instead of helping me.
Same goes for the rest of the book — very confusing despite the potential of a strong plot and themes. I had difficulty following what the characters were saying and what was happening, which made me lose interest in the story. I even had no idea who some of the characters were and remained clueless after finishing the book.
This YA novel does provide some insight on Crohn's disease, a condition that is largely unrepresented. Although I had to Google to find out more about it after finishing the book because again, it was more confusing than informative.
Overall, it's a rather flat read that's severely lacking in many areas. If you are new to novels-in-verse, this book might turn you off the genre so I would not recommend it. Loved the final page though.
Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling follows two teenagers who befriend each other while hospitalised for Crohn's disease. This a unique novel-in-verse, with a vertical line (meant to represent a curtain) down the center of several pages to show the two girls conversing from their hospital beds.
I think the "How To Read This Book" part was unnecessary, however. I would have known to read the book across instead of down when needed, but the instructions only confused me instead of helping me.
Same goes for the rest of the book — very confusing despite the potential of a strong plot and themes. I had difficulty following what the characters were saying and what was happening, which made me lose interest in the story. I even had no idea who some of the characters were and remained clueless after finishing the book.
This YA novel does provide some insight on Crohn's disease, a condition that is largely unrepresented. Although I had to Google to find out more about it after finishing the book because again, it was more confusing than informative.
Overall, it's a rather flat read that's severely lacking in many areas. If you are new to novels-in-verse, this book might turn you off the genre so I would not recommend it. Loved the final page though.
September 9, 2020
Told in verse, this novel offers the perspective of two young women hospitalized for the same condition. Both Shannon and Chess have Crohn's disease—Chess is diagnosed for the first time and struggles with what that means for her life and Shannon has had so many surgeries that her anger boils over readily. Separated by a curtain in the hospital, each struggles and embraces their diagnosis by turns and as the curtain comes down a new understanding between the two emerges.
The most interesting part of the book is how space is delineated. There's a line on the page to represent the hospital partition separating their beds, and there's a helpful page at the beginning on how to read the conversation as it crosses that line. While this was a quick and easy read, the characterization felt a bit lackluster or one note for each of the two main characters. I cannot speak to the accuracy of the representation of Crohn's disease, but do think Frank does a good job at trying to describe the feeling and sensations of Chess' experience in particular. I just wanted more depth and development all around.
The most interesting part of the book is how space is delineated. There's a line on the page to represent the hospital partition separating their beds, and there's a helpful page at the beginning on how to read the conversation as it crosses that line. While this was a quick and easy read, the characterization felt a bit lackluster or one note for each of the two main characters. I cannot speak to the accuracy of the representation of Crohn's disease, but do think Frank does a good job at trying to describe the feeling and sensations of Chess' experience in particular. I just wanted more depth and development all around.
March 24, 2021
At first, I thought the content of the story is daunting due to its cover and the mention of some disease I'm not familiar with. When I began reading it I had to get used to the hospital setting and the unique writing in verse. Later, it got me laughing a bit, thanks to Shannon, the other girl on the other side of the curtain. It may take time for first-timers to get through the story, but it's worthwhile.
March 29, 2022
i think this could have benefited from being written in a different format. being written in verse left it underdeveloped.
August 10, 2019
I've really never been a big fan of books written in verse. However, I absolutely loved this book. I read this towards the end of a medical scare when I wasn't sure what was wrong with me. One of my doctors really thought I had Crohn's and had scheduled an endoscopy and colonoscopy for me. I was thirteen years old and freaking out (which turned out to be the problem). This book helped to calm down my little hypochondriac self and realize that yeah, I was in pain, but other people have it so much worse. Yeah, I had to have an MRE, colonoscopy, and other procedures, but at least I had access to all this medical care. I had friends who wouldn't have ditched me because of Crohn's and a family and medical team who was determined to find out what was wrong and help me. In the end, all I have to say is that this book helped me through a tough time.
Also, if you wanted to know what was wrong with me: I was diagnosed with really severe anemia (I still have it) from blood loss and lack of nutrients. Then one of my iron pills messed up stomach because I hadn't been taking them with food. But mainly all of the pain just came from anxiety.
Also, if you wanted to know what was wrong with me: I was diagnosed with really severe anemia (I still have it) from blood loss and lack of nutrients. Then one of my iron pills messed up stomach because I hadn't been taking them with food. But mainly all of the pain just came from anxiety.
August 10, 2019
I am torn about this book. There are so few books, especially fiction, about Crohn's, that I want to rate it higher. Thank you for writing about a disease that is still one of the things that people tend to suffer in silence. However, several aspects detract from this novel in verse. First is the format. Usually I am a big fan of novels in verse, but the format of this one was off-putting and confusing. When the author has to explain the formatting and how to read the book, this is a clue that maybe it's not quite right. The line down the middle of each page totally threw me - it took so long before the second character came into play that I really didn't get it.
Secondly, this book dealt mainly with the character's reaction to her diagnosis. Crohn's is a chronic illness. Day-in and day-out, every single day of your life. There was nothing in here about LIVING with Crohn;s beyond, "you'll be OK." Really diminished what people living with the disease LIVE with.
Thirdly, the superficiality of the Chess's typical teen worries didn't really do it in context.
Secondly, this book dealt mainly with the character's reaction to her diagnosis. Crohn's is a chronic illness. Day-in and day-out, every single day of your life. There was nothing in here about LIVING with Crohn;s beyond, "you'll be OK." Really diminished what people living with the disease LIVE with.
Thirdly, the superficiality of the Chess's typical teen worries didn't really do it in context.
November 29, 2016
Having Crohn's myself, I absolutely adored this story, the first I've ever read relating to Crohn's that wasn't informational. At first, it was confronting to see so many aspects about this disease laid out there in a way that felt almost too familiar. But that quickly passed and became the sort of familiarity that has you nodding and cheering and feeling a sort of relief that you didn't have to say all of this stuff yourself.
All in all, I can't recommend this book highly enough, whether you're living with, interested in, or supporting someone with this or a similar disease, or just want a short but hard-hitting read.
All in all, I can't recommend this book highly enough, whether you're living with, interested in, or supporting someone with this or a similar disease, or just want a short but hard-hitting read.
January 16, 2017
This book hit a bit close to home since I was diagnosed at 16 like Chess. I remember having similar feelings and thoughts as her, but my disease was more severe like Shannon. Like Shannon I was rushed into emergency surgery on my 17th birthday which saved my life. This book was a walk down memory lane. I wish I would have had something like this to read when I was sick and undiagnosed or even newly diagnosed to help take some of the negative stigma and loneliness that comes with having IBD.
December 28, 2013
This review is based on an ARC provided to me by the publisher.
An excellent novel in verse, appropriate for 8th grade and up. Chess and Shannon have only their illness in common. As they both recuperate from medial crises they teach one another to endure. The story flows beautifully, unfolding at just the right pace.
An excellent novel in verse, appropriate for 8th grade and up. Chess and Shannon have only their illness in common. As they both recuperate from medial crises they teach one another to endure. The story flows beautifully, unfolding at just the right pace.
July 21, 2016
A verse novel, with damaged teenage girls in a hospital setting?! This book is captivating, quick and entertaining. A perfect YA combo
February 2, 2017
Good Read
Very quick, good read. The layout took a but together used to but definitely worth the read! Very easy to connect with the characters.
Very quick, good read. The layout took a but together used to but definitely worth the read! Very easy to connect with the characters.
March 19, 2022
Ok, so I actually ended up reading this since it was so short. I was surprised that it was actually alright. Let's discuss:
Pros:
- Her family and friends are absolutely insufferable about the main character's diagnosis, an extremely accurate experience and probably my favorite part of the book. I think her thoughts about how her family reacted are very accurate and I definitely related to her.
- Very real portrayal of annoying doctors and nurses lol.
- Shannon is a likeable character and provides a good contrast to the main character, who is well-developed but sometimes annoying.
- Doesn't fall into the trope of romanticizing illness. Not sure how you'd romanticize IBD, but I'm sure someone could do it. *cough* John Green *cough*
- A lot of people in other reviews are complaining because they feel like this book didn't teach them enough about the disease, but also:
1) it's about the emotional toll of dealing with a chronic illness that can be embarrassing and extremely frustrating. It's not WedMD. If you want to learn more about something, do your own research instead of getting it from a literal poetry YA book. Idk what people were expecting from this.
2) The main character's denial and refusal to learn about it is a very important part of her personality and it would've been weird otherwise. I felt that this was a strong point of the novel and I liked that it didn't feel like it was preaching to me.
- The ending was cute and hopeful :)
Cons:
- This was way too overdramatic lmao. Girl is on steroids for 4 days and the author is acting like her emotional state is completely controlled by it. I think perhaps the experience of having a traumatic diagnosis may have made her more upset than the drugs she was taking. It felt like everything was brushed off as a side effect for the joke but it fell flat for me. The whole "evil juice" thing was very annoying. It's not that bad.
- would have liked to see more about her relationship with her family instead of some random boy that she's so concerned about. It's YA so I'm not surprised but I am disappointed.
- The supposed "climax" of this story was so predictable from page 1 that it had no emotional impact for me personally. I get that it's a teenage girl's worst nightmare and humiliating, but we all saw it coming. Also, it would've been interesting to see her get some self-esteem instead of being happy that the boy still wanted to be with her after that. Why wouldn't he? She has a literal disease and was going through a health crisis. Her conversation with the boy at the end of the book fell flat for me because it felt like the whole situation was brushed off. I would've liked to see him talk about it.
- This book could've been a NOVEL instead of some weird poetry thing?? Why was this written in verse? NOT a fan of the format of this book at all. If it were written as a novel, the relationship between the two girls could've been more fleshed out.
- Personally would have liked to see some more humor in this novel. I think it probably could've been more approachable and less dramatic.
- Why are the doctors and everyone in the hospital so vague about the treatment options? Why are they releasing her with ONLY steroids and nothing else? Why are they telling her she can cupcakes but no fruit? Lol. Granted, this was written in 2014 so I'll give it a pass, but it makes me wonder what kind of awful experiences the author had with uninformed doctors and ineffective medical treatment.
Overall, decent yet extremely niche book. I was expecting worse and was pleasantly surprised. It's probably not gonna have much of an impact on people who haven't got IBD or another chronic illness, but it personally attacked me tbh.
Pros:
- Her family and friends are absolutely insufferable about the main character's diagnosis, an extremely accurate experience and probably my favorite part of the book. I think her thoughts about how her family reacted are very accurate and I definitely related to her.
- Very real portrayal of annoying doctors and nurses lol.
- Shannon is a likeable character and provides a good contrast to the main character, who is well-developed but sometimes annoying.
- Doesn't fall into the trope of romanticizing illness. Not sure how you'd romanticize IBD, but I'm sure someone could do it. *cough* John Green *cough*
- A lot of people in other reviews are complaining because they feel like this book didn't teach them enough about the disease, but also:
1) it's about the emotional toll of dealing with a chronic illness that can be embarrassing and extremely frustrating. It's not WedMD. If you want to learn more about something, do your own research instead of getting it from a literal poetry YA book. Idk what people were expecting from this.
2) The main character's denial and refusal to learn about it is a very important part of her personality and it would've been weird otherwise. I felt that this was a strong point of the novel and I liked that it didn't feel like it was preaching to me.
- The ending was cute and hopeful :)
Cons:
- This was way too overdramatic lmao. Girl is on steroids for 4 days and the author is acting like her emotional state is completely controlled by it. I think perhaps the experience of having a traumatic diagnosis may have made her more upset than the drugs she was taking. It felt like everything was brushed off as a side effect for the joke but it fell flat for me. The whole "evil juice" thing was very annoying. It's not that bad.
- would have liked to see more about her relationship with her family instead of some random boy that she's so concerned about. It's YA so I'm not surprised but I am disappointed.
- The supposed "climax" of this story was so predictable from page 1 that it had no emotional impact for me personally. I get that it's a teenage girl's worst nightmare and humiliating, but we all saw it coming. Also, it would've been interesting to see her get some self-esteem instead of being happy that the boy still wanted to be with her after that. Why wouldn't he? She has a literal disease and was going through a health crisis. Her conversation with the boy at the end of the book fell flat for me because it felt like the whole situation was brushed off. I would've liked to see him talk about it.
- This book could've been a NOVEL instead of some weird poetry thing?? Why was this written in verse? NOT a fan of the format of this book at all. If it were written as a novel, the relationship between the two girls could've been more fleshed out.
- Personally would have liked to see some more humor in this novel. I think it probably could've been more approachable and less dramatic.
- Why are the doctors and everyone in the hospital so vague about the treatment options? Why are they releasing her with ONLY steroids and nothing else? Why are they telling her she can cupcakes but no fruit? Lol. Granted, this was written in 2014 so I'll give it a pass, but it makes me wonder what kind of awful experiences the author had with uninformed doctors and ineffective medical treatment.
Overall, decent yet extremely niche book. I was expecting worse and was pleasantly surprised. It's probably not gonna have much of an impact on people who haven't got IBD or another chronic illness, but it personally attacked me tbh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2019
This was a simultaneously interesting and mortifying book that upholds gender conventions. Mortifying, because Crohn's disease is all about bowel symptoms, and that's not exactly a pleasant topic, and interesting because it elaborates upon the good patient/bad patient dichotomy that is so pervasive in nursing ethics. I think it's important--if you're planning on reading this--to really be aware of the fact that these are two women suffering. Chess gets even skinnier--thank goodness, she thought she'd be fat when she leaves! And Shannon admits to stopping her medication in the midst of her pregnancy and is now paying the price years later. Not only that, but Chess wants nothing more than to leave, and she thinks that if she's compliant--uncomfortable, but compliant--she might leave faster. But Shannon knows how hospitals usually work, and she knows how they usually discount not only women's pain, but repeat-patient's pain. So she's loud. She's aggressive. She wants effective treatment, and she wants to know exactly what everybody is doing to her body.
Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling also has a really interesting style. It's written in verse, with a line straight down the middle to act as a privacy curtain. On the left is Chess's narrative, and when Shannon becomes her roommate, the right side is representative of Shannon's narrative. When the curtain is drawn back, there is no more line. Which makes for a really interesting and aesthetically-pleasing means of style.
Overall, this was a really intriguing novel which analyzes the way in which diseases and dis/abilities can be invisible, and how they don't have to be one's entire identity upon diagnosis. Not only that, but how are the diseases gendered post-diagnosis? What is the "right" way to be a patient when you have to advocate for yourself? A great, quick read that leaves a lot to be interpreted.
Review cross-listed here!
Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling also has a really interesting style. It's written in verse, with a line straight down the middle to act as a privacy curtain. On the left is Chess's narrative, and when Shannon becomes her roommate, the right side is representative of Shannon's narrative. When the curtain is drawn back, there is no more line. Which makes for a really interesting and aesthetically-pleasing means of style.
Overall, this was a really intriguing novel which analyzes the way in which diseases and dis/abilities can be invisible, and how they don't have to be one's entire identity upon diagnosis. Not only that, but how are the diseases gendered post-diagnosis? What is the "right" way to be a patient when you have to advocate for yourself? A great, quick read that leaves a lot to be interpreted.
Review cross-listed here!
January 4, 2017
Another book in my quest to read a book about someone like me.
This book would get 2 stars, if that, if it wasn't about chronic illness.
More on that later.
Things I did while reading this book:
1. "who's talking now?"
2. "they've had all of two conversations in what universe are they friends??"
3. "seriously who the heck is talking??"
Top three reactions:
1.
2.
3.
Summary:
Chess gets sick. She shares a room with Shannon, who is also sick. Shannon is very vocal about being sick and angry about it (fair enough). Chess is more quite and polite, though she absolutely wants none of her friends to be around her when she's sick. Somehow we're supposed to believe they're the best of friends after two whole conversations. Whatever.
The Characters:
Chess was so annoying. But I get where she's coming from, I guess. She was overwhelmed and scared. And when IBS and IBD are treated as jokes in the media, it makes you feel like you should be embarrassed for having digestive issues (as you may have guessed, I do. We don't know what's gonig on right now. But it's probably not Crohn's. Definitely less serious. Still not fun).
Let me say, while I've got you here: you shouldn't. You're sick. People who love you, people worth having around, they'll get that.
Shannon though.
I have Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). I haven't had an extended hospital stay due to those (though I did get my appendix out a few months ago). However, I've had the JHS since I was born and the POTS for over a year now. Both were diagnosed around a year ago. But I've had symptoms for awhile. And when you're sick for awhile, and eventually told it will never ever get better (and will likely get worse), that sucks. Especially when you're young (I'm 20 as of October 2016).
So man do I feel Shannon's anger. And I'm not as sick as her.
And she advocates for herself. Loudly if necessary. That's so important, and yet so many people are demonized for it. Like because you're sick you're supposed to just grin and take it. Let other people, sometimes even doctors, walk all over you because they're so sure they know what's best. I'm not great at standing up for myself. It's nice to see a character who's not demonized in the narrative for being loud and demanding what she needs.
Get 'em, Shannon.
I love Shannon so much, guys.
The Writing:
^^ me basically the entire time.
I don't really like poetry in most cases. I admit this. But I can totally enjoy books in verse despite my obstacle. Ellen Hopkins for example. Her books have other issues, but the verse format I don't think is one. So it's not that I dislike books in verse.
It's that I disliked this particular verse.
I spent the entire book wondering who was talking, what was happening, and what the heck Chess was doing. You can write books in verse and have some description, people. The characters felt suspended in space for most of the book. Which worked in the beginning, when Chess was supposed to be out of it. But for the rest of the time, I didn't like it.
The Plot:
So there was not much of this.
Let's start with what I didn't like. There's really just one big thing, and then I can get on to why I gave this book four stars instead of two.
Shannon and Chess. It felt to me like they had one conversation, maybe two, and then Chess decided they were friends. She kept trying to talk to Shannon and when Shannon didn't respond I was sitting there thinking "it's because she barely knows you, what were you expecting??" I don't know, there was not much chemistry and not much exploring the relationship. The whole thing felt very superficial.
Now onto the good parts.
I mentioned my two chronic illnesses above. Plus a potential third one. I use a cane sometimes. I'm not quiet about being sick because letting people ignore it gets me nowhere. The parts of this book about being sick, forever, and being young, were the best parts. How Chess' family kept coming in and saying "oh, my neighbor/great aunt/best friend's favorite son has what you have and they do this and they're fine." Yeah people do that ALL THE FREAKING TIME. And when you're really sick, when your knees hurt like hell and there's nothing you can do about it, hearing that "oh so-and-so does yoga and it cured her" is really not helpful. Or fun to listen to. So yeah, a lot of this book was so accurate in that regard. And we need more books about chronic illness in my opinion. Because there are a lot more of us than people seem to realize. Since, like Orange Croc Doc said, you can't always see that we're sick on the outside.
Chess had some helpful doctors. Where do you find them? I could use a few, thanks.
Conclusion:
This book is important. I want everyone to read this book.
That doesn't mean it's at all perfect. I'm still looking for that book that nails chronic illness on the head and doesn't sacrifice storytelling or characterization for it.
I realize that this review sounds like I hated the book. Like I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I was trying to review it as I would any other book. It's a good book in that I think it does what it set out to do. Show people what it's like to be young and sick forever. Forever is hard at 17, like Chess, or 19, like me. Especially when everyone around you is telling you that these are the best years of your life, when you're young and healthy. And you're not.
So yeah, in my opinion, it has some issues. But it's an important book. And we need more like it.
Anyone want to write a book about JHS and POTS? No? Just me, I guess.
4.0 out of 5 stars.
This book would get 2 stars, if that, if it wasn't about chronic illness.
More on that later.
Things I did while reading this book:
1. "who's talking now?"
2. "they've had all of two conversations in what universe are they friends??"
3. "seriously who the heck is talking??"
Top three reactions:
1.
2.
3.
Summary:
Chess gets sick. She shares a room with Shannon, who is also sick. Shannon is very vocal about being sick and angry about it (fair enough). Chess is more quite and polite, though she absolutely wants none of her friends to be around her when she's sick. Somehow we're supposed to believe they're the best of friends after two whole conversations. Whatever.
The Characters:
Chess was so annoying. But I get where she's coming from, I guess. She was overwhelmed and scared. And when IBS and IBD are treated as jokes in the media, it makes you feel like you should be embarrassed for having digestive issues (as you may have guessed, I do. We don't know what's gonig on right now. But it's probably not Crohn's. Definitely less serious. Still not fun).
Let me say, while I've got you here: you shouldn't. You're sick. People who love you, people worth having around, they'll get that.
Shannon though.
I have Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). I haven't had an extended hospital stay due to those (though I did get my appendix out a few months ago). However, I've had the JHS since I was born and the POTS for over a year now. Both were diagnosed around a year ago. But I've had symptoms for awhile. And when you're sick for awhile, and eventually told it will never ever get better (and will likely get worse), that sucks. Especially when you're young (I'm 20 as of October 2016).
So man do I feel Shannon's anger. And I'm not as sick as her.
And she advocates for herself. Loudly if necessary. That's so important, and yet so many people are demonized for it. Like because you're sick you're supposed to just grin and take it. Let other people, sometimes even doctors, walk all over you because they're so sure they know what's best. I'm not great at standing up for myself. It's nice to see a character who's not demonized in the narrative for being loud and demanding what she needs.
Get 'em, Shannon.
I love Shannon so much, guys.
The Writing:
^^ me basically the entire time.
I don't really like poetry in most cases. I admit this. But I can totally enjoy books in verse despite my obstacle. Ellen Hopkins for example. Her books have other issues, but the verse format I don't think is one. So it's not that I dislike books in verse.
It's that I disliked this particular verse.
I spent the entire book wondering who was talking, what was happening, and what the heck Chess was doing. You can write books in verse and have some description, people. The characters felt suspended in space for most of the book. Which worked in the beginning, when Chess was supposed to be out of it. But for the rest of the time, I didn't like it.
The Plot:
So there was not much of this.
Let's start with what I didn't like. There's really just one big thing, and then I can get on to why I gave this book four stars instead of two.
Shannon and Chess. It felt to me like they had one conversation, maybe two, and then Chess decided they were friends. She kept trying to talk to Shannon and when Shannon didn't respond I was sitting there thinking "it's because she barely knows you, what were you expecting??" I don't know, there was not much chemistry and not much exploring the relationship. The whole thing felt very superficial.
Now onto the good parts.
I mentioned my two chronic illnesses above. Plus a potential third one. I use a cane sometimes. I'm not quiet about being sick because letting people ignore it gets me nowhere. The parts of this book about being sick, forever, and being young, were the best parts. How Chess' family kept coming in and saying "oh, my neighbor/great aunt/best friend's favorite son has what you have and they do this and they're fine." Yeah people do that ALL THE FREAKING TIME. And when you're really sick, when your knees hurt like hell and there's nothing you can do about it, hearing that "oh so-and-so does yoga and it cured her" is really not helpful. Or fun to listen to. So yeah, a lot of this book was so accurate in that regard. And we need more books about chronic illness in my opinion. Because there are a lot more of us than people seem to realize. Since, like Orange Croc Doc said, you can't always see that we're sick on the outside.
Chess had some helpful doctors. Where do you find them? I could use a few, thanks.
Conclusion:
This book is important. I want everyone to read this book.
That doesn't mean it's at all perfect. I'm still looking for that book that nails chronic illness on the head and doesn't sacrifice storytelling or characterization for it.
I realize that this review sounds like I hated the book. Like I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I was trying to review it as I would any other book. It's a good book in that I think it does what it set out to do. Show people what it's like to be young and sick forever. Forever is hard at 17, like Chess, or 19, like me. Especially when everyone around you is telling you that these are the best years of your life, when you're young and healthy. And you're not.
So yeah, in my opinion, it has some issues. But it's an important book. And we need more like it.
Anyone want to write a book about JHS and POTS? No? Just me, I guess.
4.0 out of 5 stars.
March 25, 2019
This is gonna be weird for me to rate.
While the book itself didn’t surprise me in any way, it helped me feel seen and a few quotes really resonated with me. I highly recommend this short book to anyone who deals with chronic illness, especially if you have a GI related illness. While I don’t suffer with Crohn’s, I realize how much we (people with chronic illness) suffer through on a daily basis and how we just gotta keep pushing through and fighting, no matter how difficult it gets. Along with that, this book helped me remember my worth and how I shouldn’t give a shit and worry about if a boy doesn’t want me because of my illness. I am not my chronic illness. My illness does not define me. Why should I worry about a boy not liking me? I am sick FOREVER and I’m worried someone won’t like me because of it? Fuck that. Thank you to this author for helping me realize this sooner. 💗
While the book itself didn’t surprise me in any way, it helped me feel seen and a few quotes really resonated with me. I highly recommend this short book to anyone who deals with chronic illness, especially if you have a GI related illness. While I don’t suffer with Crohn’s, I realize how much we (people with chronic illness) suffer through on a daily basis and how we just gotta keep pushing through and fighting, no matter how difficult it gets. Along with that, this book helped me remember my worth and how I shouldn’t give a shit and worry about if a boy doesn’t want me because of my illness. I am not my chronic illness. My illness does not define me. Why should I worry about a boy not liking me? I am sick FOREVER and I’m worried someone won’t like me because of it? Fuck that. Thank you to this author for helping me realize this sooner. 💗
June 19, 2021
I read this book because my adult daughter has Crohn’s and I wanted an insight into how having a chronic illness and the inner turmoils and struggles she might face make her feel. In fact I saw shades of her in both characters, her quiet stoicism before diagnosis, her anger, her fear, her self advocacy and sheer determination.
I really wanted more of Shannon’s story.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the format, but it certainly made for an easy read and flowed beautifully.
This book won’t really tell you too much about what Crohn’s is, but if someone important to you has an autoimmune disease, or other type of Invisible illness, read it and understand that even if they don’t look sick to you, even if they seem to be coping fine, chances are they probably aren’t. Their good days, are not the same.
I gave it five stars mostly because there aren’t enough books out there like this and I want to amplify it. Thank you Lucy, the simple fact that this book exists is going to help quite a few people feel seen, really seen.
I really wanted more of Shannon’s story.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the format, but it certainly made for an easy read and flowed beautifully.
This book won’t really tell you too much about what Crohn’s is, but if someone important to you has an autoimmune disease, or other type of Invisible illness, read it and understand that even if they don’t look sick to you, even if they seem to be coping fine, chances are they probably aren’t. Their good days, are not the same.
I gave it five stars mostly because there aren’t enough books out there like this and I want to amplify it. Thank you Lucy, the simple fact that this book exists is going to help quite a few people feel seen, really seen.
March 24, 2020
Loved the idea of the formatting of this book! I'm big on visual creativity in narrative prose. I felt pulled to this one simply based on my personal experiences with Crohn's; I think Frank does a good job of touching on some of the small details of hospitalizations during Crohn's issues and the physical and emotional impact of medications like prednisone. Although I like the idea behind the visual representation of the layout, some parts didn't seem to follow the setup-- dialogue I would expect on one side of the page was on the other?
July 17, 2020
I really wanted to give this book four stars, but had to bump it down to three due to how long it took me to get into it. Once I got used to reading the different format, it was a little easier.
There are few books about diseases and medical diagnosis, though, and I did appreciate that being the theme of this book.
There are few books about diseases and medical diagnosis, though, and I did appreciate that being the theme of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews