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Cursed
14 year old Erica "Ricky" Bloom, is newly diagnosed with a painful chronic illness and pretty pissed off about it. Her body hurts constantly, her family’s a mess and the boy she’s crushing on seems completely clueless. The best coping mechanisms she can come up with are cursing and cutting school. But when her truancy is discovered she must struggle to catch up in school to avoid a far worse horror: repeating ninth grade.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2019
46 people are currently reading
1342 people want to read
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June 22, 2019
"It’s just . . . why does it have to hurt so much? Why does it have to hurt at all? Why do I have to deal with this . . . stuff?"
Much thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.
📖 Buy This Book: Amazon ♡ Barnes & Noble ♡ Kobo 📖
📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: Young Adult.
📚 POV: First Person.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Bullying. Cursing (Duh.) Divorce. Illnesses, doctors and treatments.
⚠ Read if: you are a fan of Nicola Yoon or John Green.
Cursed is an amazing #OwnVoices Young Adult novel that took me by surprise. We have read so many books discussing various physical and mental illness but this is a first one that revolves around juvenile arthritis.
“The only people who think of arthritis as minor aches and pains are people who don’t have it.”Personally, I am aware of how intense the pain is because my dad suffers from gouty arthritis. He really cannot walk because of the pain and inflammation that its hard to imagine kids going through that kind of pain especially in the worse cases.
Cursed talked about the journey of Erica aka Ricky, who was bombarded with too many changes at the same time: her parent's divorce, changing homes, changing schools, and her disease.
At first I was uncomfortable with how angry the book's mood was. Ricky was so mad with the world that her thoughts were so heavy to read. I really struggled with that, because I tend to feel so much for characters and I was contemplating to DNF this for my mental health.
But, I wanted to understand Ricky. And I wanted to root for her. I wanted to believe that somewhere along the way she will find the balance that she needs and be happier, in general.
I am so happy that I decided to push through because I am so proud of Ricky. I won't spoil too much, but it was a wonderful journey to read. I love that she had a great support system. Her family clearly loves her a lot. She made a good friend in Oliver, too. I love so many elements in this book, including the writing style and the support characters. I especially love the speech she made in class, and how the ending was made in general.
This is a great book, and I hope this will be required reading in middle school or high school students.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌻 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Hero:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Heroine:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Romance:⭐⭐⭐⭐✩
🌻 Pacing:⭐⭐⭐⭐✩
🌻 Ending:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Page Turner:⭐⭐⭐⭐✩
🌻 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4.81/5 ☁
Review also appears on my blog.
September 4, 2020
I think it is great that books about little known teen illness get written. Ricky has juvenile arthritis and is at times in a huge amount of pain. It affects her mobility and therefore restricts her ability to participate properly in many activities.
I had to push through the first half of the novel as her anger at being cursed with this illness made for unpleasant reading. She is 14, but some of her tantrums and hissy fits read more like a 10 year old. I know she is in pain and frustrated yet some of the lashing out sessions had a distinctly bratty feel about them.
As Ricky managed to push through the difficult adjustment period I felt more connected to her journey. She started to accept her illness and worked to make her life better through accepting help and advocating for herself in regards to her medical care. I ended up feeling quite proud of her. A good book about over coming adversity.
I had to push through the first half of the novel as her anger at being cursed with this illness made for unpleasant reading. She is 14, but some of her tantrums and hissy fits read more like a 10 year old. I know she is in pain and frustrated yet some of the lashing out sessions had a distinctly bratty feel about them.
As Ricky managed to push through the difficult adjustment period I felt more connected to her journey. She started to accept her illness and worked to make her life better through accepting help and advocating for herself in regards to her medical care. I ended up feeling quite proud of her. A good book about over coming adversity.
October 9, 2018
Cursed by Karol Silverstein is an exceptional book. I read it in a single sitting over 4 hours on a Friday night because I couldn't put it down. As a high school special education teacher, I fully intend on purchasing a class set for my 9th and 10th grade English Support class to read.
The protagonist Ricky is a complex and multi-dimensional character with clear motivations and drives. The plot is engaging and every character adds an important dimension to the story and the development of the protagonist. I loved the thematic content. I believe that this book will help my students build empathy with their peers. My students will not only relate to the personal and family struggles of the protagonist, but will understand the stresses that come along with being in the 9th grade.
I was blessed to get a chance to go through the advanced reading copy and am so excited for the publication of this book.
The protagonist Ricky is a complex and multi-dimensional character with clear motivations and drives. The plot is engaging and every character adds an important dimension to the story and the development of the protagonist. I loved the thematic content. I believe that this book will help my students build empathy with their peers. My students will not only relate to the personal and family struggles of the protagonist, but will understand the stresses that come along with being in the 9th grade.
I was blessed to get a chance to go through the advanced reading copy and am so excited for the publication of this book.
Read
August 2, 2020Dnf'ed @ pg 102
This books is not for me. I picked it up as someone who suffers from chronic illnesses and I like to find rep on books, but I just couldn't relate to the main character. She came out as bratty, and yes, I know, she is struggling and learning to live with a disability, and she begans to change, but... the books is not for me.
Probably it's directed to a more junior audience or sth.
This books is not for me. I picked it up as someone who suffers from chronic illnesses and I like to find rep on books, but I just couldn't relate to the main character. She came out as bratty, and yes, I know, she is struggling and learning to live with a disability, and she begans to change, but... the books is not for me.
Probably it's directed to a more junior audience or sth.
April 28, 2019
I initially wasn't exactly sure about this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. I found it quite engaging, the writing felt light and easy to read despite the fact that the subject it tackled at times was everything but light and easy to read. I thought the characters were well-developed, they had a nice dynamic, and they were definitely easy to connect to. The plot was interesting, paced well - it kept my attention throughout.
The story was realistic, captivating, and to me it was very relatable. It's just such a hopeful story, but in an unusual way, and it's a must-read for every fan of YA fiction, especially if you suffer from chronic pain.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*Rating: 5/5 stars
YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW ME ON: MY BLOG | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
The story was realistic, captivating, and to me it was very relatable. It's just such a hopeful story, but in an unusual way, and it's a must-read for every fan of YA fiction, especially if you suffer from chronic pain.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*Rating: 5/5 stars
YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW ME ON: MY BLOG | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
August 11, 2020
First and foremost- I am so grateful this book exists! I’ve never seen chronic pain so accurately, honestly, and fully represented in a book before. Honestly, it rarely seems to come up even in books with disability/chronic illness rep. We ultimately learn that Erica, who goes by the nickname Ricky, has juvenile arthritis but I also thought it was neat that this isn’t revealed right away. I liked this both because it helps keep the book open and so relatable to people with a wide variety of painful conditions but also because that rang true to me as well. The way Ricky first explains the ignorance surrounding chronic disease and even that some illnesses get lots of sympathy and ribbons and fundraisers while others are more boring or less understood, it reminded me of the way I also tend to explain the specifics of my illness over the name. It’s easier that way when most have never heard of my diseases (which are a great deal rarer than juvenile arthritis) and because frankly every patient is different, what truly matters isn’t the name but how we are affected and how we experience the disease.
Ricky is in the 9th grade. Her parents have recently divorced and around the same time she was diagnosed with her disease. She’s in a lot of pain and has been bullied a lot for the way she walks. And she’s angry. And struggling. She’s quite snarky and swears a lot. At the start of the book she’s been skipping school but gets found out. She’s also attending a different school now that she lives with her dad after the divorce. So it’s getting back to school where our story really takes off. There’s still bullying and pain but she also meets and befriends Oliver who is a cancer survivor and a wee bit of a medical know-it-all, as so many of us tend to be after years spent in hospitals and clinics. But Oliver is great for Ricky. He teaches her to be an empowered and to self advocate. There’s also her speech teacher Mr. Jenkins who begins to work with her after school on catching up. He also ends up being a big supporter and though he’s strict- he ends up having a big impact and even gets her to tone down the swearing.
I loved this. I loved the relationships and the way Ricky grows and evolves and learns to cope with her illness and pain. I love the realism of her anger and snark. I still carry a lot of that myself. And it turns some people off, another reviewer with chronic illness DNFed for that and referred to it as immature. I don’t think it’s a maturity thing. I think it’s rather common for folks who develop a significant chronic illness. It’s also one way of coping with the pain and frustration. Of course, many of us learn to tone it down or only snark with other sick folks who get it. (I deeply and dearly miss my friend Caroline who passed in October. She and I would snark and bitch away together and we both needed that sometimes!) It is true that Ricky has a lot to learn and she does. And she begins to see hope in her life. Still, when a severe illness knocks you down like that as a teenager, it takes time to adjust.
Not only that- but one of the toughest things about young and sick and what feeds the bitterness and anger in many of us is that we don’t have representation. There’s never really anyone for us to look to as a role model or example of how to manage the illness and live a full life. It’s hard to even know what you’re capable of when you’re alone in it. Representation of all kinds matter but with disability and illness especially, it’s such a powerful thing. So often we don’t even know anyone else around is who is sick or disabled. It’s so isolating in a way that is beyond the isolation faced by most other marginalized groups. THIS is what makes a book like this one so powerful. This is why we needs hundreds and thousands more books by and about disabled and/or chronically ill folks. There are so many sick teens out there who have no idea that they still have a voice, that they aren’t all alone, that their life isn’t entirely ruined. Even as a 30-something this was such a powerful read and one that rang so true and relatable- both to myself as a teen and even to me now.
High on my list as a go-to disability/illness recommendation for other disabled folks. I just books like this that center disabled reality and lived experiences weren’t so wildly rare. Publishers, if you’re listening, more like this!!!
Ricky is in the 9th grade. Her parents have recently divorced and around the same time she was diagnosed with her disease. She’s in a lot of pain and has been bullied a lot for the way she walks. And she’s angry. And struggling. She’s quite snarky and swears a lot. At the start of the book she’s been skipping school but gets found out. She’s also attending a different school now that she lives with her dad after the divorce. So it’s getting back to school where our story really takes off. There’s still bullying and pain but she also meets and befriends Oliver who is a cancer survivor and a wee bit of a medical know-it-all, as so many of us tend to be after years spent in hospitals and clinics. But Oliver is great for Ricky. He teaches her to be an empowered and to self advocate. There’s also her speech teacher Mr. Jenkins who begins to work with her after school on catching up. He also ends up being a big supporter and though he’s strict- he ends up having a big impact and even gets her to tone down the swearing.
I loved this. I loved the relationships and the way Ricky grows and evolves and learns to cope with her illness and pain. I love the realism of her anger and snark. I still carry a lot of that myself. And it turns some people off, another reviewer with chronic illness DNFed for that and referred to it as immature. I don’t think it’s a maturity thing. I think it’s rather common for folks who develop a significant chronic illness. It’s also one way of coping with the pain and frustration. Of course, many of us learn to tone it down or only snark with other sick folks who get it. (I deeply and dearly miss my friend Caroline who passed in October. She and I would snark and bitch away together and we both needed that sometimes!) It is true that Ricky has a lot to learn and she does. And she begins to see hope in her life. Still, when a severe illness knocks you down like that as a teenager, it takes time to adjust.
Not only that- but one of the toughest things about young and sick and what feeds the bitterness and anger in many of us is that we don’t have representation. There’s never really anyone for us to look to as a role model or example of how to manage the illness and live a full life. It’s hard to even know what you’re capable of when you’re alone in it. Representation of all kinds matter but with disability and illness especially, it’s such a powerful thing. So often we don’t even know anyone else around is who is sick or disabled. It’s so isolating in a way that is beyond the isolation faced by most other marginalized groups. THIS is what makes a book like this one so powerful. This is why we needs hundreds and thousands more books by and about disabled and/or chronically ill folks. There are so many sick teens out there who have no idea that they still have a voice, that they aren’t all alone, that their life isn’t entirely ruined. Even as a 30-something this was such a powerful read and one that rang so true and relatable- both to myself as a teen and even to me now.
High on my list as a go-to disability/illness recommendation for other disabled folks. I just books like this that center disabled reality and lived experiences weren’t so wildly rare. Publishers, if you’re listening, more like this!!!
May 20, 2020
This is such a refreshing read! It's one of the first books I've read with a main character who has chronic pain, where it's actually a central topic of the book. And seeing as the rep for this is own voices, I really appreciated that.
While I don't have a chronic illness myself, the title "cursed" - being used by the MC to describe her chronically ill body - seems a little iffy. But I did love seeing a disabled character portrayed in a way that's not stereotypical and in a way that centers her as a person, and not as an inspiration or someone to pity for others. She gets to be angry, and she gets to resent how she feels and what she's unable to do.
"I guess it's no big deal to them. It's obviously not suddenly going to be a main topic of conversation [...]. Thank God. But at the same time, I feel a tinge of disappointment, like maybe I want them to care a little. But do I?"
Aspects of the book were very relatable for me, because being autistic, I have some similar experiences. Of course you never want people to make a huge deal about it and treat you differently once they find out, but on the other hand... it also sort of stings when they brush it off like it's nothing. And that happens all the time. You tell someone you're autistic (and I imagine it's the same with a lot of disabilities and chronic illnesses) and maybe you give an example of what you struggle with, and then they'll immediately project it onto themselves and say something like "oh yeah, I get that too!" Which is probably meant to be supportive and accepting, but it feels a lot more like erasure and dismissal.
I also loved some of the on-page discussions, like about how medical professionals aren't always best equipped to deal with chronic pain, and how it should be okay to try to find a doctor who's a good match for you.
Before picking up this book, I actually didn't expect to enjoy it a lot, but I did want to give it a shot. And I'm so pleasantly surprised! There's a lot of character development as well, and not just in the main character, but in her parents as well.
Rep: chronic illness/chronic pain
CWs: (internalized) ableism, bullying, cancer, hospitals, mention of panic attacks
While I don't have a chronic illness myself, the title "cursed" - being used by the MC to describe her chronically ill body - seems a little iffy. But I did love seeing a disabled character portrayed in a way that's not stereotypical and in a way that centers her as a person, and not as an inspiration or someone to pity for others. She gets to be angry, and she gets to resent how she feels and what she's unable to do.
"I guess it's no big deal to them. It's obviously not suddenly going to be a main topic of conversation [...]. Thank God. But at the same time, I feel a tinge of disappointment, like maybe I want them to care a little. But do I?"
Aspects of the book were very relatable for me, because being autistic, I have some similar experiences. Of course you never want people to make a huge deal about it and treat you differently once they find out, but on the other hand... it also sort of stings when they brush it off like it's nothing. And that happens all the time. You tell someone you're autistic (and I imagine it's the same with a lot of disabilities and chronic illnesses) and maybe you give an example of what you struggle with, and then they'll immediately project it onto themselves and say something like "oh yeah, I get that too!" Which is probably meant to be supportive and accepting, but it feels a lot more like erasure and dismissal.
I also loved some of the on-page discussions, like about how medical professionals aren't always best equipped to deal with chronic pain, and how it should be okay to try to find a doctor who's a good match for you.
Before picking up this book, I actually didn't expect to enjoy it a lot, but I did want to give it a shot. And I'm so pleasantly surprised! There's a lot of character development as well, and not just in the main character, but in her parents as well.
Rep: chronic illness/chronic pain
CWs: (internalized) ableism, bullying, cancer, hospitals, mention of panic attacks
August 20, 2019
"Cursed is for those kids and others living with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities—as well as anyone who wants to better understand what it's like to live with chronic pain."
Ricky's story does just that. It covers what it's like to be diagnosed, to be in daily, hourly, moment by moment pain, to have others not get it, or worse, ostracize you for it, treatment, ups and downs, finding a doctor you truly trust, and feeling, well, kinda cursed. It also has a compelling, relatable, lovestruck, sassy, funny narrator navigating uncertainty and struggle and, like the best books for teens, is about finding your way in the world as Ricky learns to cope, to hope, to discover and lift her voice for herself and to lift it in the service of being a good friend. I loved Ricky—and Oliver and Mr. Jenkins. I think any reader would too.
Ricky's story does just that. It covers what it's like to be diagnosed, to be in daily, hourly, moment by moment pain, to have others not get it, or worse, ostracize you for it, treatment, ups and downs, finding a doctor you truly trust, and feeling, well, kinda cursed. It also has a compelling, relatable, lovestruck, sassy, funny narrator navigating uncertainty and struggle and, like the best books for teens, is about finding your way in the world as Ricky learns to cope, to hope, to discover and lift her voice for herself and to lift it in the service of being a good friend. I loved Ricky—and Oliver and Mr. Jenkins. I think any reader would too.
February 6, 2019
Cursed is a book about chronic pain without noble suffering and soapy dramatics. It's simple, frank, and angry, and as a person with chronic pain, it absolutely hit home. Ricky is angry that her arthritis hurts her, causes her to get bullied at school, and that her doctors won't listen to her. But as she begins to seize control of her own treatment, she realizes that even though her chronic pain won't go away, she can make the best of a situation that will never be ideal. Cursed is never preachy or traditionally uplifting, but it is hopeful in a realistic way that felt satisfying to me.
September 24, 2021
As someone with chronic pain, I nearly cried while reading this book several times. I've never felt so represented by a character or seen by an author. I've felt so so many of the feelings the protagonist Ricky has felt: denial, anger, sadness, frustration, and particularly that feeling of being cursed.
In addition to the representation, this is also just a really well crafted book! Ricky is an engaging narrator who quickly pulls you into the story and causes you to sympathize with her without feeling sorry for her. She owns her bad decisions and her good ones, and talks and feels like a real teenager in 2020. She talks SO much like some of my younger friends. I sped through this book very quickly because I just was dying to see what happened next and how she dealt with it all. Highly recommend, particularly to anyone with a chronic pain or illness issue.
In addition to the representation, this is also just a really well crafted book! Ricky is an engaging narrator who quickly pulls you into the story and causes you to sympathize with her without feeling sorry for her. She owns her bad decisions and her good ones, and talks and feels like a real teenager in 2020. She talks SO much like some of my younger friends. I sped through this book very quickly because I just was dying to see what happened next and how she dealt with it all. Highly recommend, particularly to anyone with a chronic pain or illness issue.
February 17, 2024
It was alright. Had to read for school
May 22, 2020
4.5 stars. I have taken a very long time to sit with this book and review it and while it's been a while since I have read it, every part of the story has stuck with me. If you have a chronic illness/condition or if you know someone who suffers from that (a classmate, friends, family member, etc.) this is a MUST READ. I was originally drawn to this book because I too suffer from chronic pain. Therefore I can say first hand that the portrayal of the conditions which people with chronic conditions face is wholly accurate and extremely well done. I didn't just relate to Ricky (our main character), I felt for her also. I cannot stress enough how wonderful this book is for understanding and learning about chronic illnesses. Whether you are a teenager or an adult, this story will touch you and teach you at the same time and should be read by everyone as it's filled with insight, compassion, and love. Highly recommend!
July 4, 2019
YA is not my usual kind of book but as someone with a chronic illness, I had to give it a read. I am all about having more Chronic illness/disability representation out there especially more stories that don’t revolve around that person being cured because that isn’t real life.
I actually really enjoyed this book and I thought it portrayed being a teenager with a chronic illness really well. It showed how difficult everyday things such as getting up and dressed can be as well as how hard we have to fight for accommodations and decent health care. I loved that there was more to the story though. Her illness was just part of her life and she was still a "normal teen" with an interesting plot.
I found some parts hard to read having been there myself but it was so great getting to see Ricky grow and adapt. I think this is such a great book for any young people struggling with their diagnosis. It shows that it’s okay to ask for help and that it can get better.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review
I actually really enjoyed this book and I thought it portrayed being a teenager with a chronic illness really well. It showed how difficult everyday things such as getting up and dressed can be as well as how hard we have to fight for accommodations and decent health care. I loved that there was more to the story though. Her illness was just part of her life and she was still a "normal teen" with an interesting plot.
I found some parts hard to read having been there myself but it was so great getting to see Ricky grow and adapt. I think this is such a great book for any young people struggling with their diagnosis. It shows that it’s okay to ask for help and that it can get better.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review
April 4, 2024
YA novel about Ricky, a fourteen year old girl who is dealing with juvenile arthritis, her parents’ divorce, and going to a new school all at the same time. The description sounds a bit depressing, but it really wasn’t. There are humorous bits scattered throughout the story, so it doesn’t feel too heavy.
The writing was very good, with fully-developed characters that felt real. The descriptions of her arthritis pain made me really feel what she was going through. Ricky is a great character and her story is definitely worth reading.
The writing was very good, with fully-developed characters that felt real. The descriptions of her arthritis pain made me really feel what she was going through. Ricky is a great character and her story is definitely worth reading.
August 11, 2020
This book brought a lot of things to light. Ricky is so... angry for basically half of the book, and I don’t blame her. When you think of the word “Arthritis” you don’t realise how serious it is. It’s not just some sore bones. This was a really enjoyable read about finding yourself and accepting yourself for who you are and adapting. 5/5
January 9, 2020
TLDR; “Cursed” features AMAZING disability representation that had me either bawling my eyes out or on the verge of crying for most of this book. However, although the disability rep was great, it was still a very much white, cis, straight, middle class centered narrative with limited and very poor nods to diversity. (Also beware of frequent casual use of ableist slurs related to mental illness) The book took a while to get into because the way Ricky was mistreated at the beginning of the book just made me too angry, but once that got better, “Cursed” ended up being a very wholesome, sweet, and cheesy (maybe even tad bit too much? LOL) read.
💖LIKES💖
💖Spot on, relatable representation. I spent most of the book with a huge lump in throat, constantly on the verge of tears (or actively crying). And a lot of those scenes weren’t particularly emotional either, I choked up a lot just because the representation was so casually realistic (and therefore somehow felt more raw).
Some specific disability topics represented:
💛Abandonment Trauma– “Cursed” brought up the reality of how easily able-bodied “friends” can abandon those who are newly disabled, and the shame and fear that comes with that abandonment. Because of those experiences, Ricky subconsciously learns that she has to do everything in her power to hide her disability from others while also being wary and detached from any potential friends, which both exhausts and isolates her.
💛Relating with Able-Bodied People– wanting people to care but also not wanting it to be a big deal; knowing your disability is a big part of you and feeling like you can’t fully express yourself with able-bodied people.*
”I guess it’s no big deal to them. It’s obviously not suddenly going to be a main topic of conversation, like it is with Oliver, Thank God. But at the same time, I feel a tinge of disappointment, like maybe I want them to care a little. But do I?” (p 141)
*There’s a deeper feeling to this passage that I can’t quite put into words properly…
💛Relating with Disabled People– never wanting to talk about disability.
”Really, I don’t want to talk to him later because all he’ll want to talk about is the stupid new medicine and how great everything is going to be soon… Sometimes I just want a break from talking about health stuff all the time.” (p 1743
Personally, I want more disabled friends who I can relate to and have solidarity with but I find that when I am in the presence of disabled people, I never want to talk about disability because it bums me out too much and often try to steer the conversation towards anything but.
💛Giving disabled folks (minors, especially) full autonomy over their body and medical choices.
“Cursed” makes sure to show both what a bad and good doctor looks like.
BAD– speaks only to a patients’ guardian and treats minors/disabled folks like they can’t talk or decide things for themselves, cares more about getting patients in and out of the office quickly than giving patients proper care
GOOD– talks directly to patients regardless of ability or age, prioritizes the preferences of a patient over that of a parent/caretaker, and thoroughly talks patients through medical choices they have and their concerns about them.
This is so important because for disabled folks, getting the right medical provider and medical care can sometimes mean the difference between life and death, or, at the very least, the difference between a miserable, hopeless existence and a thriving wellbeing & livelihood.
💛Coping mechanisms– when Ricky would start veering off into negative disability thoughts, she would imagine Oliver telling her to “stay in the present.”
I love this because
a.) They were mentioned both frequently and casually, showing that coping mechanisms can both be useful and easy.
b.) The fact that it was Oliver, a disabled friend, who introduced that coping strategy to her, instead of a medical professional– like yes to crip wisdom!!!
💛(Internalized) Desirability Politics
”The last student to speak is the guy on crutches. I’m sort of dying to hear him talk but I feel queasy too. What if people think that’s what I’ll end up looking like? What if that is what I end up looking like?… His voice sounds totally normal. I guess I was expecting some sort of speech impediment, like maybe he’d have a strange voice to match his broken body. Just thinking that makes me feel ashamed of myself.” (p 251)
Being newly disabled means you have a SHIT TON of internalized ableism to unlearn, because you’ve absorbed all the ableist messages of society your entire life up until that point. Part of that is clinging onto looking/seeming able-bodied for as long as you can, and not associating yourself with “actually” (i.e. visibly) disabled people. I appreciate that “Cursed” didn’t shy away from the fact that even disabled people can be ableist (ESPECIALLY disabled people because our disability prejudices can be intensified by our internalized ableism). It’s something that I don’t see mentioned a lot and is definitely something I’m personally trying to overcome as well.
Anyways, one bad thing about great representation is that it reminds me of how much disability support I’ve lacked (and continue to lack) throughout my life. Reading this I kept thinking, how different would my life have been if I had had (or have) the same support that Ricky gets in this book? Parents that actively seek healthcare for their children (instead of forbidding them from accessing it, in my case), able-bodied friends who participate in acts of solidarity for them, close disabled friends and easy access to a large disability community. So many disabled folks don’t have this kind of support, and it really, really sucks.
💖Realistically wholesome. As in, whatever sweet moments there were in the book were never used to disguise the harsh reality and general sucki-ness of being (newly) disabled (& also having newly divorced parents). “Cursed” emphasized that It’s possible to go through a crappy period of your life / deal with crappy things and still have small moments of happiness (and it truly is SO important for disabled folks to hold onto our joy and the love we have in our lives in such an inaccessible world).
🤷♀️NEUTRAL🤷♀️
🤷♀️Romance. There were hints of a love square (YUCK) but fortunately it was dealt with in a bearable way, without jealousy/competition/toxic masculinity/helpless heroine, etc etc. Other than that, I liked how naturally Ricky and Oliver’s relationship progressed, and how the book didn’t water down the tensions that arose between them.
🤷♀️Debut-novel-esque writing. There were some scenes/interactions that felt forced/unnatural/awkward but I want to cut this book some slack as it IS a debut novel and the writing never stopped me from completely bawling my eyes out throughout the book.
🤷♀️Cheesiness. Some scenes were so cheesy that it was almost cringey. But a.) I fucking love happy endings and b.) as with the writing, it still didn’t stop me from crying all my bodily fluids out.
⛈️DISLIKES⛈️
⛈️The ANGER
Starting this book was so difficult because the only emotion I felt for the first ~70 pages was just anger; like full on RAGE. The mistreatment Ricky suffered at the hands of her parents, medical professionals, classmates, and teachers… all of that got me in a really bad headspace. Also my need for revenge/vindication was at an all time high but those needs were never truly satisfied lol.
There were also personal feelings of anger and resentment that came up (re: the flipside of great representation). Reading scenes where Ricky gets mistreated (even ones where she gets treated well!) brought up moments in my life where people treated me just as badly/never treated me that well.
⛈️“Diversity” and lack of.
a.) The “oh-so-casual” mentions of diversity were so sad and clearly written by a white person who wanted those extra diversity brownie points without trying too hard.
Exhibit A: “At lunch I’d steal peeks at the Center City Barbies, who for the record, aren’t all white, blond and perfect. Actually they are a mix of sizes and races.” (p 12)
Exhibit B: [when introducing a new character] “She’s got beautiful light-brown skin, just like Julio’s.” (p 197) (lol this is the only way white people know how to describe POC smh)
b.)Although the disability rep was inarguably amazing, it was still a very white/cis/straight/middle class centered narrative.
⛈️Ableist slurs– in terms of mental illness (crazy, insane, etc) and their casual use in the story. Very disappointing for a disability focused story.
💖LIKES💖
💖Spot on, relatable representation. I spent most of the book with a huge lump in throat, constantly on the verge of tears (or actively crying). And a lot of those scenes weren’t particularly emotional either, I choked up a lot just because the representation was so casually realistic (and therefore somehow felt more raw).
Some specific disability topics represented:
💛Abandonment Trauma– “Cursed” brought up the reality of how easily able-bodied “friends” can abandon those who are newly disabled, and the shame and fear that comes with that abandonment. Because of those experiences, Ricky subconsciously learns that she has to do everything in her power to hide her disability from others while also being wary and detached from any potential friends, which both exhausts and isolates her.
💛Relating with Able-Bodied People– wanting people to care but also not wanting it to be a big deal; knowing your disability is a big part of you and feeling like you can’t fully express yourself with able-bodied people.*
”I guess it’s no big deal to them. It’s obviously not suddenly going to be a main topic of conversation, like it is with Oliver, Thank God. But at the same time, I feel a tinge of disappointment, like maybe I want them to care a little. But do I?” (p 141)
*There’s a deeper feeling to this passage that I can’t quite put into words properly…
💛Relating with Disabled People– never wanting to talk about disability.
”Really, I don’t want to talk to him later because all he’ll want to talk about is the stupid new medicine and how great everything is going to be soon… Sometimes I just want a break from talking about health stuff all the time.” (p 1743
Personally, I want more disabled friends who I can relate to and have solidarity with but I find that when I am in the presence of disabled people, I never want to talk about disability because it bums me out too much and often try to steer the conversation towards anything but.
💛Giving disabled folks (minors, especially) full autonomy over their body and medical choices.
“Cursed” makes sure to show both what a bad and good doctor looks like.
BAD– speaks only to a patients’ guardian and treats minors/disabled folks like they can’t talk or decide things for themselves, cares more about getting patients in and out of the office quickly than giving patients proper care
GOOD– talks directly to patients regardless of ability or age, prioritizes the preferences of a patient over that of a parent/caretaker, and thoroughly talks patients through medical choices they have and their concerns about them.
This is so important because for disabled folks, getting the right medical provider and medical care can sometimes mean the difference between life and death, or, at the very least, the difference between a miserable, hopeless existence and a thriving wellbeing & livelihood.
💛Coping mechanisms– when Ricky would start veering off into negative disability thoughts, she would imagine Oliver telling her to “stay in the present.”
I love this because
a.) They were mentioned both frequently and casually, showing that coping mechanisms can both be useful and easy.
b.) The fact that it was Oliver, a disabled friend, who introduced that coping strategy to her, instead of a medical professional– like yes to crip wisdom!!!
💛(Internalized) Desirability Politics
”The last student to speak is the guy on crutches. I’m sort of dying to hear him talk but I feel queasy too. What if people think that’s what I’ll end up looking like? What if that is what I end up looking like?… His voice sounds totally normal. I guess I was expecting some sort of speech impediment, like maybe he’d have a strange voice to match his broken body. Just thinking that makes me feel ashamed of myself.” (p 251)
Being newly disabled means you have a SHIT TON of internalized ableism to unlearn, because you’ve absorbed all the ableist messages of society your entire life up until that point. Part of that is clinging onto looking/seeming able-bodied for as long as you can, and not associating yourself with “actually” (i.e. visibly) disabled people. I appreciate that “Cursed” didn’t shy away from the fact that even disabled people can be ableist (ESPECIALLY disabled people because our disability prejudices can be intensified by our internalized ableism). It’s something that I don’t see mentioned a lot and is definitely something I’m personally trying to overcome as well.
Anyways, one bad thing about great representation is that it reminds me of how much disability support I’ve lacked (and continue to lack) throughout my life. Reading this I kept thinking, how different would my life have been if I had had (or have) the same support that Ricky gets in this book? Parents that actively seek healthcare for their children (instead of forbidding them from accessing it, in my case), able-bodied friends who participate in acts of solidarity for them, close disabled friends and easy access to a large disability community. So many disabled folks don’t have this kind of support, and it really, really sucks.
💖Realistically wholesome. As in, whatever sweet moments there were in the book were never used to disguise the harsh reality and general sucki-ness of being (newly) disabled (& also having newly divorced parents). “Cursed” emphasized that It’s possible to go through a crappy period of your life / deal with crappy things and still have small moments of happiness (and it truly is SO important for disabled folks to hold onto our joy and the love we have in our lives in such an inaccessible world).
🤷♀️NEUTRAL🤷♀️
🤷♀️Romance. There were hints of a love square (YUCK) but fortunately it was dealt with in a bearable way, without jealousy/competition/toxic masculinity/helpless heroine, etc etc. Other than that, I liked how naturally Ricky and Oliver’s relationship progressed, and how the book didn’t water down the tensions that arose between them.
🤷♀️Debut-novel-esque writing. There were some scenes/interactions that felt forced/unnatural/awkward but I want to cut this book some slack as it IS a debut novel and the writing never stopped me from completely bawling my eyes out throughout the book.
🤷♀️Cheesiness. Some scenes were so cheesy that it was almost cringey. But a.) I fucking love happy endings and b.) as with the writing, it still didn’t stop me from crying all my bodily fluids out.
⛈️DISLIKES⛈️
⛈️The ANGER
Starting this book was so difficult because the only emotion I felt for the first ~70 pages was just anger; like full on RAGE. The mistreatment Ricky suffered at the hands of her parents, medical professionals, classmates, and teachers… all of that got me in a really bad headspace. Also my need for revenge/vindication was at an all time high but those needs were never truly satisfied lol.
There were also personal feelings of anger and resentment that came up (re: the flipside of great representation). Reading scenes where Ricky gets mistreated (even ones where she gets treated well!) brought up moments in my life where people treated me just as badly/never treated me that well.
⛈️“Diversity” and lack of.
a.) The “oh-so-casual” mentions of diversity were so sad and clearly written by a white person who wanted those extra diversity brownie points without trying too hard.
Exhibit A: “At lunch I’d steal peeks at the Center City Barbies, who for the record, aren’t all white, blond and perfect. Actually they are a mix of sizes and races.” (p 12)
Exhibit B: [when introducing a new character] “She’s got beautiful light-brown skin, just like Julio’s.” (p 197) (lol this is the only way white people know how to describe POC smh)
b.)Although the disability rep was inarguably amazing, it was still a very white/cis/straight/middle class centered narrative.
⛈️Ableist slurs– in terms of mental illness (crazy, insane, etc) and their casual use in the story. Very disappointing for a disability focused story.
December 5, 2020
I never thought I'd see myself represented in a YA book this way. I don't have juvenile arthritis like Ricky, so our experiences aren't entirely comparable, but I do have a different chronic illness that involves joint pain. I found myself recognizing so much of Ricky's life, from the making adjustments in the way she sits so that her joints will hurt less later (and sometimes forgetting and facing the consequences) to the anger and frustration towards her illness that sometimes takes over. So many little things that are such an ingrained part of my life now, but that I've never seen matched so closely in fiction. (And on the subject of representation, Ricky is Jewish as well! Her religion doesn't play a large part in the story, but I find characters who share multiple marginalized identities with me so rarely that I was very pleasantly surprised.)
Disability isn't something that's often represented in YA fiction, and chronic illness even less so. When these are represented, they're often handled poorly, falling into tired tropes or ableist clichés. It's so refreshing to read a chronically ill main character from an author who gets it.
Ricky's arthritis isn't presented as a good thing by any means. But it's also not presented as a tragedy. It's a fact of her life that she's learning how to deal with.
My actual enjoyment of this book might be closer to 4 stars (I didn't much care for the romantic subplot, and that dominated in some areas), but this book is so important and is going to stick with me for so long that I'm sure it will be a 5-star read in retrospect, so I'll just go ahead and say that now.
CW: bullying, ableism, sexual assault
I recieved an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Disability isn't something that's often represented in YA fiction, and chronic illness even less so. When these are represented, they're often handled poorly, falling into tired tropes or ableist clichés. It's so refreshing to read a chronically ill main character from an author who gets it.
Ricky's arthritis isn't presented as a good thing by any means. But it's also not presented as a tragedy. It's a fact of her life that she's learning how to deal with.
My actual enjoyment of this book might be closer to 4 stars (I didn't much care for the romantic subplot, and that dominated in some areas), but this book is so important and is going to stick with me for so long that I'm sure it will be a 5-star read in retrospect, so I'll just go ahead and say that now.
CW: bullying, ableism, sexual assault
I recieved an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2020
I absolutely adored this book! As someone who has an autoimmune arthritis disease/ physical disability and chronic pain, this book made me feel so seen. I have never before found a book about a young person with arthritis. The protagonist's experience was so relatable and aligned so similarly to ways that I have experienced arthritis and chronic pain. Though the protagonist was a somewhat unreliable narrator, was sarcastic, and sometimes unlikable, I could understand what lead her to feel that way and react in those ways. It is so hard to explain to someone who has never experienced chronic pain or arthritis, what it actually feels like. This book does an amazing job of explaining that experience.
Not only did I love the own voices arthritis disability rep, I also just loved the other characters in the book like her best friend Oliver, her sister Danny, her sister's girlfriend, her parents, her second doctor, and her Public Speaking teacher. They all felt like real, complex characters with motivations and wants that I could understand.
I honestly want everyone to read this book!
Not only did I love the own voices arthritis disability rep, I also just loved the other characters in the book like her best friend Oliver, her sister Danny, her sister's girlfriend, her parents, her second doctor, and her Public Speaking teacher. They all felt like real, complex characters with motivations and wants that I could understand.
I honestly want everyone to read this book!
October 29, 2020
I loved this book and could not put it down. Ricky was the perfect mix of teen angst, humor, pain (physical and emotional), spunk, and more. I liked the friendship she develops with Oliver to understand different sides of youth medical conditions. And sometimes when called to do so, kids can be kind, not just total bullying buttheads! And Ricky has the best big sister!
November 17, 2020
I loved the attitude 14 year old Ricky, and how strong she was in dealing with her chronic pain. I also enjoyed the Philadelphia setting.
September 29, 2020
A YA novel about chronic illness written by someone with chronic illness, and it shows! I totally get why this won the Schneider Award. As someone with a chronic illness myself, it was beyond refreshing to see the experience, especially those first disorienting months after onset/diagnosis, so candidly portrayed. More like this please!
March 26, 2021
Such a great story that caused many emotions for me as a reader. The best kind of book!
August 22, 2019
I loved this book and wished it was on more reader’s radars! Can’t wait to review it on my blog and read her next book!
March 21, 2023
This was a really good book about living with chronic pain because it was really inspiring to read a book about how a child navigates their life dealing with health issues and having to persevere when life becomes extremely tough. This would be a really good book to introduce to students, I think they can gain a really important perspective from it.
Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️
Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️
July 8, 2019
Here is a marvelous and heart-rending debut by Karol Silverstein, the story of Ricky (Erica, Roo or Ricky Raccoon), newly struggling from a chronic illness and newly starting a 'junior high' as a ninth-grader after a move because of her parent's divorce, thus all new kids. According to Ricky, she is definitely CURSED!
It's hard for me, an older adult, to understand that every movement can be excruciating for a young teen and perhaps even harder for classmates to 'get it'. That's what makes this story so important to have in the classroom. With juvenile arthritis, Ricky's in constant pain, has to move to her father's "batch-pad" to avoid stairs at her mother's home. She's tired of too many unkind looks at her new school and, sad and frustrated, she cuts school for six straight weeks! Yes, she's found out and now must make up the work or end up in this horrible school another year. Slowly one friendship happens with a boy also teased, named Oliver, one who wears a Captain America hoodie and clips a small teddy bear to his backpack. Why he does is one thing Ricky needs to discover and until then, she ignores him, too, but slowly warms to his quirky and upbeat attitude. One other punishment that turns out to be a blessing is a demand from her strict speech teacher that she spend three after-school sessions a week with him if she is serious about passing his class.
Silverstein brings Ricky's real world to the reader with sympathy, showing the times that are so hard one can understand when this teen erupts into cursing, wanting only to huddle under the covers. However, she also allows Ricky to see in time that she's in charge of her life, not the disease. I enjoyed Ricky telling her story very much!
Thanks to Charlesbridge for the copy!
It's hard for me, an older adult, to understand that every movement can be excruciating for a young teen and perhaps even harder for classmates to 'get it'. That's what makes this story so important to have in the classroom. With juvenile arthritis, Ricky's in constant pain, has to move to her father's "batch-pad" to avoid stairs at her mother's home. She's tired of too many unkind looks at her new school and, sad and frustrated, she cuts school for six straight weeks! Yes, she's found out and now must make up the work or end up in this horrible school another year. Slowly one friendship happens with a boy also teased, named Oliver, one who wears a Captain America hoodie and clips a small teddy bear to his backpack. Why he does is one thing Ricky needs to discover and until then, she ignores him, too, but slowly warms to his quirky and upbeat attitude. One other punishment that turns out to be a blessing is a demand from her strict speech teacher that she spend three after-school sessions a week with him if she is serious about passing his class.
Silverstein brings Ricky's real world to the reader with sympathy, showing the times that are so hard one can understand when this teen erupts into cursing, wanting only to huddle under the covers. However, she also allows Ricky to see in time that she's in charge of her life, not the disease. I enjoyed Ricky telling her story very much!
Thanks to Charlesbridge for the copy!
June 25, 2019
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reading copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This book had it all. An unforgettable main character, a beautiful and important message, and a lot of entertaining anecdotes along the way. This is the most genuine YA book I've read in a while. Ricky feels so real to me with all of her quirks and sayings. She was also painfully relatable because I remember being a 14 year old and I was not rainbows and sunshine all the time. I was stubborn and got in lots of bad moods just like Ricky. But on top of the standard teenage angst, Ricky is also in constant pain from her Juvenile Arthritis. So you can understand why she's a little angry at the world, yet she is still a very likeable character. In fact, I thought she was hilarious and I'd love to be friends with her. I really felt like I was transported into a 14-year-olds brain while reading this, it so perfectly captured the thoughts of someone that age.
Ricky showed a lot of growth throughout the book and I was proud of her (look at me talking like I'm friends with her) for learning how to be a better friend and daughter. Ricky had to learn how to navigate tricky social situations at school and some difficult family problems as well. I sometimes forgot that the characters were as young as they were because they did deal with tough issues and usually were pretty mature about them. To me, I prefer when characters act too mature than not mature enough. I would have liked to see more of what Ricky was like before her diagnoses, but that would be my biggest addition. I really, really enjoyed this book and its satisfying conclusion and I know that many others will too.
This book had it all. An unforgettable main character, a beautiful and important message, and a lot of entertaining anecdotes along the way. This is the most genuine YA book I've read in a while. Ricky feels so real to me with all of her quirks and sayings. She was also painfully relatable because I remember being a 14 year old and I was not rainbows and sunshine all the time. I was stubborn and got in lots of bad moods just like Ricky. But on top of the standard teenage angst, Ricky is also in constant pain from her Juvenile Arthritis. So you can understand why she's a little angry at the world, yet she is still a very likeable character. In fact, I thought she was hilarious and I'd love to be friends with her. I really felt like I was transported into a 14-year-olds brain while reading this, it so perfectly captured the thoughts of someone that age.
Ricky showed a lot of growth throughout the book and I was proud of her (look at me talking like I'm friends with her) for learning how to be a better friend and daughter. Ricky had to learn how to navigate tricky social situations at school and some difficult family problems as well. I sometimes forgot that the characters were as young as they were because they did deal with tough issues and usually were pretty mature about them. To me, I prefer when characters act too mature than not mature enough. I would have liked to see more of what Ricky was like before her diagnoses, but that would be my biggest addition. I really, really enjoyed this book and its satisfying conclusion and I know that many others will too.
December 1, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Silverstein tackles a challenging subject with sensitivity and a great deal of humor. I don't read a lot of YA and was completely absorbed by the story and by Ricky, the engaging and irreverent main character. Although Ricky is unusual in being a teen with a serious illness that causes chronic pain, she nevertheless is a typical (and, I think, relatable) teen in many other ways, including desperately wanting to fit in and be accepted by the "cool kids."
Read
November 4, 2019The writing just didn't do it for me. It was incredibly stilted, and very obvious an adult trying to write like a teenager. Dashes were overused, as were teen buzzwords and slang. I DNFed this with a quickness.
June 17, 2019
A hugely impressive contemporary own voices YA book, Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein is an empowering and emotional read that will speak to people of all ages.
Erika, better known as Ricky, is 14 and trying to come to terms with her parent's divorce, but even worse that that she is coming to terms with a diagnosis that will impact every day of her life. It's only been a few months but she's already changed schools and lost all her friends , embarrassed herself and had to deal with unendurable pain and frustration, and just to add insult to injury she is still in middle school despite most kids her age having moved on, because her new school is a three year middle school. Its no wonder that she has decided that school is not for her, and has not gone to class for weeks , but unfortunately despite her best scheming and plotting the truth is bound to come out. In order to graduate with her class and avoid either Summer school or yet another year of middle school, she is going to have to put in a serious amount of work, not just academically, but on herself too.
It is rare to find a YA book focused on a character with chronic pain, and as someone who suffers from a similar condition to Erica ( though I am a *cough* few years older , I can attest to how accurate the description of pain and it's impact on even the smallest aspects of your life, really is . I found myself wincing, not just in empathy but also in recognition. I loved that Erika grew, not so much into a tolerance of her condition, but an acceptance of it., in a positive way, where she found ways to work around it to do the things she wanted to do. Another important feature that I appreciated was her increasing confidence in her ability to advocate for herself, both when dealing with her doctors and with teachers at school.The message of being and advocate for your own health, and the importance of having a medical practitioner who listens to you is one that is really important. It is really refreshing to have a character like RIcky be allowed to be angry and frustrated, so much more realistic that the more stereotypical inspirational character she could have been. Sadly it is also a very realistic book in terms of the challenges she faces in school, and the amount of pushing she and her Dad have to do to get the most basic of accommodations like a key for the school elevator and an understanding that she may need more time to move between classrooms. While the focus of the book is on RIcky, the author has not shortchanged the other characters, and their relationships with RIcky are well crafted and very believable. The most interesting of these were her developing friendship with classmate Ollie, and the grudgingly earned mutual respect between her and her teacher. It's also important to note that while Ricky may dealing with a few more physical issues that most teens, she is also dealing with issues like crushes , bullying and learning what it means to be a good friend, and learning a lot about herself along the way, including the importance of not ignoring the fact that other people have problems too, even when your problems seem so much bigger.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Erika, better known as Ricky, is 14 and trying to come to terms with her parent's divorce, but even worse that that she is coming to terms with a diagnosis that will impact every day of her life. It's only been a few months but she's already changed schools and lost all her friends , embarrassed herself and had to deal with unendurable pain and frustration, and just to add insult to injury she is still in middle school despite most kids her age having moved on, because her new school is a three year middle school. Its no wonder that she has decided that school is not for her, and has not gone to class for weeks , but unfortunately despite her best scheming and plotting the truth is bound to come out. In order to graduate with her class and avoid either Summer school or yet another year of middle school, she is going to have to put in a serious amount of work, not just academically, but on herself too.
It is rare to find a YA book focused on a character with chronic pain, and as someone who suffers from a similar condition to Erica ( though I am a *cough* few years older , I can attest to how accurate the description of pain and it's impact on even the smallest aspects of your life, really is . I found myself wincing, not just in empathy but also in recognition. I loved that Erika grew, not so much into a tolerance of her condition, but an acceptance of it., in a positive way, where she found ways to work around it to do the things she wanted to do. Another important feature that I appreciated was her increasing confidence in her ability to advocate for herself, both when dealing with her doctors and with teachers at school.The message of being and advocate for your own health, and the importance of having a medical practitioner who listens to you is one that is really important. It is really refreshing to have a character like RIcky be allowed to be angry and frustrated, so much more realistic that the more stereotypical inspirational character she could have been. Sadly it is also a very realistic book in terms of the challenges she faces in school, and the amount of pushing she and her Dad have to do to get the most basic of accommodations like a key for the school elevator and an understanding that she may need more time to move between classrooms. While the focus of the book is on RIcky, the author has not shortchanged the other characters, and their relationships with RIcky are well crafted and very believable. The most interesting of these were her developing friendship with classmate Ollie, and the grudgingly earned mutual respect between her and her teacher. It's also important to note that while Ricky may dealing with a few more physical issues that most teens, she is also dealing with issues like crushes , bullying and learning what it means to be a good friend, and learning a lot about herself along the way, including the importance of not ignoring the fact that other people have problems too, even when your problems seem so much bigger.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
September 12, 2019
Have you ever felt cursed? You know you have. Now, imagine that you are a fourteen year old girl whose parents are getting a contentious divorce. Feeling cursed, right? Imagine you are a fourteen year old girl whose parents are getting divorced and you have to move into a tiny apartment and start a new school where 9th grade is part of junior high when you thought you’d be in high school. Yup, feeling really cursed. Imagine you are a fourteen year old girl whose parents are getting a divorce, you are at a new school, all your old friends have ghosted you and your new classmates bully you. Enough already! That’s eff-ed up!
That’s Erica (Ricky) Bloom’s life as the new novel, “Cursed” by Karol Ruth Silverstein opens. In addition to all that, Ricky has been diagnosed with a painful and debilitating chronic disease. Some days she cannot even get out of bed. How would you react? Would you curse at every person and object in your path? Would you vent fury on your clueless parents? Would you stop going to school? Would you feel sorry for yourself? Probably. I would. Ricky, being a normal human, does all those things.
But eventually, Ricky needs to adjust to her new reality. Chronic means not getting cured; chronic means living forever with a condition that makes it hard to move. Some days will be worse than others and there are treatments that help, but Ricky’s life and body are forever changed. And so Ricky has to decide who she is: am I a wallower or am I pick-myself-upper? It’s not easy to pick yourself up. It means accepting help, standing up for yourself, offering help to others and making hard decisions. It means advocating for yourself and forming your team. Wallowing seems easier, and it is in the short term. But wallowing means disengaging from life, soliciting pity and giving up on your dreams. Ricky is brave; her journey is extremely difficult. And that is the beauty of this book. Ricky finds out that she is a person of character. She accepts help, begrudgingly at first, then she becomes a person who offers help, she creates a community and learns to work with her parents and doctors to create the best life possible. She makes some huge mistakes along the way, but she accepts responsibility for her actions.
In my own life, I know wallowers and I know pick-yourself-uppers. Wallowers live in their small world relying upon the kindness of strangers. Pick-yourself uppers are out in the world living their best lives. They are teachers and writers and musicians and artists. They have their bad days and that’s when family and friends rally round; not out of pity, but because pick-yourself-uppers will cry for a while, but then make you smile, maybe tell a joke. You know they will be there for you when you need help. I love this book because it tells the truth-- for most people with chronic illnesses there is no magic cure; I love this book because it is optimistic-- no matter your challenges, a person can live a full and meaningful life; I love this book because it is beautifully written; I love this book because it is a darn good story.
Karol Silverstein’s #ownvoices novel is a painful, loving, beautiful journey. I recommend this book to everyone who is a human.
That’s Erica (Ricky) Bloom’s life as the new novel, “Cursed” by Karol Ruth Silverstein opens. In addition to all that, Ricky has been diagnosed with a painful and debilitating chronic disease. Some days she cannot even get out of bed. How would you react? Would you curse at every person and object in your path? Would you vent fury on your clueless parents? Would you stop going to school? Would you feel sorry for yourself? Probably. I would. Ricky, being a normal human, does all those things.
But eventually, Ricky needs to adjust to her new reality. Chronic means not getting cured; chronic means living forever with a condition that makes it hard to move. Some days will be worse than others and there are treatments that help, but Ricky’s life and body are forever changed. And so Ricky has to decide who she is: am I a wallower or am I pick-myself-upper? It’s not easy to pick yourself up. It means accepting help, standing up for yourself, offering help to others and making hard decisions. It means advocating for yourself and forming your team. Wallowing seems easier, and it is in the short term. But wallowing means disengaging from life, soliciting pity and giving up on your dreams. Ricky is brave; her journey is extremely difficult. And that is the beauty of this book. Ricky finds out that she is a person of character. She accepts help, begrudgingly at first, then she becomes a person who offers help, she creates a community and learns to work with her parents and doctors to create the best life possible. She makes some huge mistakes along the way, but she accepts responsibility for her actions.
In my own life, I know wallowers and I know pick-yourself-uppers. Wallowers live in their small world relying upon the kindness of strangers. Pick-yourself uppers are out in the world living their best lives. They are teachers and writers and musicians and artists. They have their bad days and that’s when family and friends rally round; not out of pity, but because pick-yourself-uppers will cry for a while, but then make you smile, maybe tell a joke. You know they will be there for you when you need help. I love this book because it tells the truth-- for most people with chronic illnesses there is no magic cure; I love this book because it is optimistic-- no matter your challenges, a person can live a full and meaningful life; I love this book because it is beautifully written; I love this book because it is a darn good story.
Karol Silverstein’s #ownvoices novel is a painful, loving, beautiful journey. I recommend this book to everyone who is a human.
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