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Ready to Fall
When Max Friedman's mother dies of cancer, instead of facing his loss, he imagines that her tumour has taken up residence in his brain. It's a terrible tenant - isolating him from family, distracting him in school, and taunton him mercilessly about his manhood. With the tumour in charge, Max implodes, slipping farther and farther away from reality.
Finally, Max is sent to the artsy, off-beat Baldwin School to regain his footing. He joins a group of theatre misfits in a steam-punk production of Hamlet where he becomes friends with Fish, a girl with pink hair and a troubled past, and The Monk, an edgy upperclassman who refuses to let go of the things he loves. For a while, Max almost feels happy. But his tumour is always lurking in the wings - until one night it knocks him down and Max is forced to face the truth, not just about the tumour, but about how hard it is to let go of the past. At turns lyrical, haunting, and triumphant, Ready to Fall is a story of grief, love, rebellion and starting fresh from acclaimed author Marcella Pixley.
Finally, Max is sent to the artsy, off-beat Baldwin School to regain his footing. He joins a group of theatre misfits in a steam-punk production of Hamlet where he becomes friends with Fish, a girl with pink hair and a troubled past, and The Monk, an edgy upperclassman who refuses to let go of the things he loves. For a while, Max almost feels happy. But his tumour is always lurking in the wings - until one night it knocks him down and Max is forced to face the truth, not just about the tumour, but about how hard it is to let go of the past. At turns lyrical, haunting, and triumphant, Ready to Fall is a story of grief, love, rebellion and starting fresh from acclaimed author Marcella Pixley.
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2017
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1355 people want to read
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November 25, 2017
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a while before writing this review because admittedly I didn’t know how to write it. Ready to Fall is a narrative that deals with grief in a way I have never seen before. There is something about the writing that makes the emotion feel so raw. There were times I had to put down the book and call it a day because I couldn’t handle reading it due to its intensity.
Ready to Fall focuses on the story of Max Friedman, and how he is dealing with the loss of his mom to cancer. Max Friedman’s character is so complex, and reading from his point of view can be overwhelming at times. Shortly after his mom’s death from brain cancer, Max is so convinced that the brain tumor took residence in his brain after his mom’s and it spirals down from there.
The humanization of the brain tumor was so twisted in an interesting way. Parts where Max would talk about how the brain tumor was lazing around in his brain, kicking up its feet and watching TV gave me so chills. It is so twisted, but it’s the kind of twisted where we really understand what Max is going through.
Aside from that, the plot also features Shakespeare! I’m a really big Shakespeare fan and have been reading ARCs that feature his plays (Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills) and I personally enjoy them. It is also fitting because Hamlet fits in so well with Max’s story. So if you’re a big Shakespeare fan, I highly recommend this book.
I honestly loved this book with its interesting premise and writing style but there was a big miss for me here, and it was the love story. I thought it was too cliché and completely unnecessary. It belittles Max’s journey to healing. I greatly disliked Fish (and honestly.. who names their kid Fish?!) She reminded me too much of a manic pixie dream girl and I hated it. Her involvement with Max overshadowed his healing process. Had the love story been scrapped off or at least made less cliché I would have given this at least 4 stars.
Nonetheless, I still recommend this book because it does portray mental health and grief very well.
Ready to Fall is set to be released on 28 November 2017.
When you’re done, bury me next to her so I don’t have to be alone
It took me a while before writing this review because admittedly I didn’t know how to write it. Ready to Fall is a narrative that deals with grief in a way I have never seen before. There is something about the writing that makes the emotion feel so raw. There were times I had to put down the book and call it a day because I couldn’t handle reading it due to its intensity.
Ready to Fall focuses on the story of Max Friedman, and how he is dealing with the loss of his mom to cancer. Max Friedman’s character is so complex, and reading from his point of view can be overwhelming at times. Shortly after his mom’s death from brain cancer, Max is so convinced that the brain tumor took residence in his brain after his mom’s and it spirals down from there.
The humanization of the brain tumor was so twisted in an interesting way. Parts where Max would talk about how the brain tumor was lazing around in his brain, kicking up its feet and watching TV gave me so chills. It is so twisted, but it’s the kind of twisted where we really understand what Max is going through.
Aside from that, the plot also features Shakespeare! I’m a really big Shakespeare fan and have been reading ARCs that feature his plays (Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills) and I personally enjoy them. It is also fitting because Hamlet fits in so well with Max’s story. So if you’re a big Shakespeare fan, I highly recommend this book.
I honestly loved this book with its interesting premise and writing style but there was a big miss for me here, and it was the love story. I thought it was too cliché and completely unnecessary. It belittles Max’s journey to healing. I greatly disliked Fish (and honestly.. who names their kid Fish?!) She reminded me too much of a manic pixie dream girl and I hated it. Her involvement with Max overshadowed his healing process. Had the love story been scrapped off or at least made less cliché I would have given this at least 4 stars.
Nonetheless, I still recommend this book because it does portray mental health and grief very well.
Ready to Fall is set to be released on 28 November 2017.
August 21, 2024
If you want something easy and quick to read with a bit of unique-ness here you go (lol idek what I'm saying so humor me XD)
January 7, 2018
Max's mother has lost her battle with cancer. Max doesn't know how to deal with life without his mom and imagines her tumor has taken residence inside his head. This makes it impossible for him to concentrate. The tumor is mean and is constantly taunting him. Living with this secret makes it difficult for Max to trust his family and friends and he distances himself from everyone around him. Max's father doesn't know what's going on with his son, but he acknowledges something has to be done to get him out of the negative spiral he is in. That's why he sends Max to the artistic Baldwin School to get back on his feet.
Max is still dealing with the tumor inside his head, but at his new school he makes friends nonetheless and he manages to fall in love. Max even joins the school's theater group and together they're performing Hamlet. Working on their own version of the play brings Max some distraction, but the tumor is always ready to strike and mess him up. On one dramatic night everything comes to the surface, will Max be able to beat his demons or will the tumor have a hold over him indefinitely?
Ready to Fall is a beautiful impressive story. Max is a great guy. He's kind, he's intelligent and he's sweet. He's also living with a big secret, he thinks his mother's tumor is inside his head. I had tears in my eyes when I read about his struggles. He's such a gentle soul and Marcella Pixley makes it easy for her readers to feel the pain her passing is giving him. She describes this in a fantastic open and original way that blew me away. Because of the creativity of her story there's enough lightness and I loved how well she balances sadness, careful and tentative happiness and hope. The result is a brilliant story.
Ready to Fall deals with many interesting topics. Marcella Pixley writes about teenage love, moving on after a tragic event, not being able to communicate, domestic problems and tense situations in a gorgeous descriptive way. She makes it possible for her readers to get really close to Max and know everything there is to know about him, which is something I greatly admired about her story. She skillfully peels off every layer of emotion Max is going through. At the same time he meets many interesting people and they all have their special features that are making the story even better. This makes Ready to Fall a compelling story. It's also poignant, thought-provoking, touching and fascinating. I highly recommend this gem of a book.
Max is still dealing with the tumor inside his head, but at his new school he makes friends nonetheless and he manages to fall in love. Max even joins the school's theater group and together they're performing Hamlet. Working on their own version of the play brings Max some distraction, but the tumor is always ready to strike and mess him up. On one dramatic night everything comes to the surface, will Max be able to beat his demons or will the tumor have a hold over him indefinitely?
Ready to Fall is a beautiful impressive story. Max is a great guy. He's kind, he's intelligent and he's sweet. He's also living with a big secret, he thinks his mother's tumor is inside his head. I had tears in my eyes when I read about his struggles. He's such a gentle soul and Marcella Pixley makes it easy for her readers to feel the pain her passing is giving him. She describes this in a fantastic open and original way that blew me away. Because of the creativity of her story there's enough lightness and I loved how well she balances sadness, careful and tentative happiness and hope. The result is a brilliant story.
Ready to Fall deals with many interesting topics. Marcella Pixley writes about teenage love, moving on after a tragic event, not being able to communicate, domestic problems and tense situations in a gorgeous descriptive way. She makes it possible for her readers to get really close to Max and know everything there is to know about him, which is something I greatly admired about her story. She skillfully peels off every layer of emotion Max is going through. At the same time he meets many interesting people and they all have their special features that are making the story even better. This makes Ready to Fall a compelling story. It's also poignant, thought-provoking, touching and fascinating. I highly recommend this gem of a book.
November 25, 2017
I've wanted to try Marcella Pixley's books for a while now. Therefore, when the opportunity arose to read and review Ready to Fall, her latest addition to YA contemporary, I instantly said yes. I loved the title, I loved the cover, and the premise sounded intriguing albeit heartbreaking.
The Result? Ready to Fall is amazing - one of my favorite YA contemporaries of the year. It's gorgeously written, captivating, and poignant.
I'll be up front: Ready to Fall is not an easy read by any means. It's haunting. It's emotional. It's even a bit draining. Marcella Pixley brings to life Max's sadness, confusion, and hurt. My heart broke for him, but at the same time, I could feel the hope slowly building, good starting to replace the bad, and that, my friends, that gradual transition and fresh start, is what made Ready to Fall such a worthwhile read.
When we're first introduced to Max he's a disaster. He's failing school, drawing rather than listening during his classes, and distancing himself from his father. His only constant companion is the tumor inside of his head, the one that jumped from his mother's head to his during the funeral. He knows he's off his rocker, that he may in fact be going nuts, but he can't stop it or ask for help.
At first, I struggled with Max's character. I understand that coping takes many different forms, but I just wished Max would reach out and get help. It broke my heart that he was in such a rough place. As soon as he starts his new school, everything begins to change for Max. He starts opening up and trying new things. He makes new friends and even forms a mentor-mentee relationship with one of the teachers. This transition was gradual yet so amazing and worthwhile to see. I loved seeing his friendships with Fish and the Monk develop as well as seeing him begin to fit in at his new school.
Last but not least, the writing. Marcella Pixley is an incredibly talented writer. I thought she did an amazing job of getting the voice of a teenager down-pat. I also loved the way she brought a fresh approach to a typical novel focusing on grief. The fake tumor aspect was interesting and did a lot for the plot. I also loved the focus on Hamlet the play. It tied in well with overall story.
Overall, Ready to Fall is a book I can't help but suggest this Fall. Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and John Green, Ready to Fall shows that while life doesn't always have a clean cut happily-ever-after ending, there's always happiness to be found.
Grade: A-
The Result? Ready to Fall is amazing - one of my favorite YA contemporaries of the year. It's gorgeously written, captivating, and poignant.
I'll be up front: Ready to Fall is not an easy read by any means. It's haunting. It's emotional. It's even a bit draining. Marcella Pixley brings to life Max's sadness, confusion, and hurt. My heart broke for him, but at the same time, I could feel the hope slowly building, good starting to replace the bad, and that, my friends, that gradual transition and fresh start, is what made Ready to Fall such a worthwhile read.
When we're first introduced to Max he's a disaster. He's failing school, drawing rather than listening during his classes, and distancing himself from his father. His only constant companion is the tumor inside of his head, the one that jumped from his mother's head to his during the funeral. He knows he's off his rocker, that he may in fact be going nuts, but he can't stop it or ask for help.
At first, I struggled with Max's character. I understand that coping takes many different forms, but I just wished Max would reach out and get help. It broke my heart that he was in such a rough place. As soon as he starts his new school, everything begins to change for Max. He starts opening up and trying new things. He makes new friends and even forms a mentor-mentee relationship with one of the teachers. This transition was gradual yet so amazing and worthwhile to see. I loved seeing his friendships with Fish and the Monk develop as well as seeing him begin to fit in at his new school.
Last but not least, the writing. Marcella Pixley is an incredibly talented writer. I thought she did an amazing job of getting the voice of a teenager down-pat. I also loved the way she brought a fresh approach to a typical novel focusing on grief. The fake tumor aspect was interesting and did a lot for the plot. I also loved the focus on Hamlet the play. It tied in well with overall story.
Overall, Ready to Fall is a book I can't help but suggest this Fall. Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and John Green, Ready to Fall shows that while life doesn't always have a clean cut happily-ever-after ending, there's always happiness to be found.
Grade: A-
January 3, 2018
Max starts his sophomore year after his mother died of cancer in the summer, filling his sketchbook with drawings of corpses and eyeballs. He slowly flunks out of honors classes, completely disengaged from just about everything. What he’s engaged with instead is a conversation with the tumor in his own head which he believes switched residence from his mom’s brain to his own. This commentary, though, has humor, which makes it seem that Max may recover. But then he switches schools to a private academy which caters to the intellectual. His grandmother and father are sometimes similarly isolated in their grief, and Max’s depression gives him insights that lead to his involvement in the school’s production of Macbeth. All the characters are flawed and struggling, from the girl Fish, to Max’s English teacher, and yet maybe if enough flawed people care about you, they will catch you when you fall.
January 3, 2018
This book was one of my favorites of 2017. Ending the year on a high note!
I felt connected (if only vaguely) to almost all of Max's circumstances.
I'm a Christian who has celebrated Jewish holidays with my best friend (who is Messianic Jewish) almost all my life. It's a huge part of my life.
I've been immersed in the arts since as long as I can remember (especially drawing, writing, and theater). They are a part of who I am (I've thought of pursuing every one as a career).
And I have known the tragedy of cancer far too often, never as close as a parent (thank the Lord) but I've felt and seen the pain it brings to those who are closest to the one fighting it.
This book felt almost like home. Even the voice of the main character felt familiar. Max processed things like I would. Through story and imagery. And it felt believable!
This book was amazing. Especially for me.
I felt connected (if only vaguely) to almost all of Max's circumstances.
I'm a Christian who has celebrated Jewish holidays with my best friend (who is Messianic Jewish) almost all my life. It's a huge part of my life.
I've been immersed in the arts since as long as I can remember (especially drawing, writing, and theater). They are a part of who I am (I've thought of pursuing every one as a career).
And I have known the tragedy of cancer far too often, never as close as a parent (thank the Lord) but I've felt and seen the pain it brings to those who are closest to the one fighting it.
This book felt almost like home. Even the voice of the main character felt familiar. Max processed things like I would. Through story and imagery. And it felt believable!
This book was amazing. Especially for me.
January 16, 2022
The book started off with some really emotional moments with the mum passing away. Thereafter, the main character falls into depression and manifest it as a form of talking tumor in his head. He did in the end get out of it when a doctor show him a CT scan. I think that overall ifs a very easy book to read but there are certain character development that has been left incomplete, like what about Thomas throw bridge the 4th, the monk relationship with the fish etc. I guess it’s a pretty decent read with a happy ending
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2017
I'm finished with Ready to Fall: I love the way Marcella Pixley executes such a complex range of emotions through the medium of survivor's guilt. The teacher in me LOVES that she makes classic literature relevant to the problems today's teens are facing. In fact, I really want to create a unit around this novel. The emotionally charged prose will will leave you haunted.
February 7, 2018
Pros: strong writing, realistic portrayal of terminal illness and grief, complex and appealing family characters (grandmother, Max's parents), male character being vulnerable and trying to achieve emotional health.
Cons: full of the absolute worst cliches of YA. A Manic Pixie Dream Girl, sporting pink hair, relentless cheer and whimsical physical movements, existing to share her pain, and a romantic relationship, with the protagonist. A Gary Stu protagonist rendered mute and catatonic by grief who somehow nevertheless manages to attract the unconditional friendship and allegiance of every other character in the book. A washed-up genius-with-no-social-skills "mentor" who harasses female staff and gets drunk with underage students but it's all good because he has awesome literary insight and Tells It Like It Is. A completely unnecessary love triangle between protagonist, leader of the pack of cool kids and Manic Pixie Dream Girl, in which MPDG choose the protagonist because....why again? They connect through their shared emotional pain and, incidentally, both being extraordinary young writers magically able to express that pain through raw talent alone, consistently producing great work despite the stress of mental illness and abusive parents? Oh, and of course all the main characters get starring roles in the school production of Hamlet. Everything is just so unrealistically presented--no one spends any time *working* for their healing or success--protagonist doesn't get help or therapy to work through his grief and serious emotional problems, MPDG doesn't get help for her home life, no one invests effort or practice into becoming great writer or actors.
Cons: full of the absolute worst cliches of YA. A Manic Pixie Dream Girl, sporting pink hair, relentless cheer and whimsical physical movements, existing to share her pain, and a romantic relationship, with the protagonist. A Gary Stu protagonist rendered mute and catatonic by grief who somehow nevertheless manages to attract the unconditional friendship and allegiance of every other character in the book. A washed-up genius-with-no-social-skills "mentor" who harasses female staff and gets drunk with underage students but it's all good because he has awesome literary insight and Tells It Like It Is. A completely unnecessary love triangle between protagonist, leader of the pack of cool kids and Manic Pixie Dream Girl, in which MPDG choose the protagonist because....why again? They connect through their shared emotional pain and, incidentally, both being extraordinary young writers magically able to express that pain through raw talent alone, consistently producing great work despite the stress of mental illness and abusive parents? Oh, and of course all the main characters get starring roles in the school production of Hamlet. Everything is just so unrealistically presented--no one spends any time *working* for their healing or success--protagonist doesn't get help or therapy to work through his grief and serious emotional problems, MPDG doesn't get help for her home life, no one invests effort or practice into becoming great writer or actors.
November 24, 2017
This was another of my Can't-Wait Wednesday picks, and I when I looked back at the all the reasons for why I wanted to read this book, I have to admit, I would highlight all those things as "pros", because they are some of the elements I really liked, but there were additional things that made this a great reading experience for me as well.
•Pro: The way Pixley handled Max's grief was so real, yet so odd. He exhibited all the common symptoms - withdrawal, weight loss, anger - but his grief also took the form of an imaginary tumor, which he believed transferred from his mother to him, and the interactions with the "tumor" though quite strange, had a lot of real emotion attached to them. It was interesting and different, and it added an extra dimension to Max's grief, which he had to work through.
•Pro: This book was filled with some intriguing and complicated characters. Fish, Ms. Pruitt, The Monk, the twins, Grandma Jean, Dad, Mr. Cage, and Ms. Grossman all added something special to the story. I was especially fond of Fish, because she and Max shared that common bond of having "lost" their mothers, and she was an important stepping stone to his healing process.
•Pro: Speaking of mothers. The tears!!! Every time Max shared something about his mom, I got a little verklempt. He shared beautiful and tender moments with me, but he also shared some final and painful moments. The love and adoration he had for his mother was unquestionable, but I knew, that he knew, he was very loved by her too.
•Pro: This school was as awesome as I thought it would be, and Pixley did an incredible job weaving a tapestry of pain and grief that included Kafka and Hamlet.
•Con: Though hopeful, the ending left me with some loose ends, and I like rather tidy endings. I was not too frustrated though, so minor con.
•Pro: The title comes from a trust exercise, which Max and the other thespians engaged in, and I really think it was quite brilliant to use this as the litmus test for where Max was on his healing journey.
•Pro: I was impressed by the story and the writing. Pixley loaded this book with vivid imagery and whip smart dialog. The words grabbed me and pulled me right in.
•Pro: I cared so much for Max, Dad, Grandma, and Fish. I wanted them all to find some happiness and healing, and I reveled in every good thing that happened to them.
Overall: The pain, grief, and loss that Max was wrestling with brought tears to my eyes, as did the joy and peace he eventually found.
*I would like to thank the publisher for the review copy of this book.
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•Pro: The way Pixley handled Max's grief was so real, yet so odd. He exhibited all the common symptoms - withdrawal, weight loss, anger - but his grief also took the form of an imaginary tumor, which he believed transferred from his mother to him, and the interactions with the "tumor" though quite strange, had a lot of real emotion attached to them. It was interesting and different, and it added an extra dimension to Max's grief, which he had to work through.
•Pro: This book was filled with some intriguing and complicated characters. Fish, Ms. Pruitt, The Monk, the twins, Grandma Jean, Dad, Mr. Cage, and Ms. Grossman all added something special to the story. I was especially fond of Fish, because she and Max shared that common bond of having "lost" their mothers, and she was an important stepping stone to his healing process.
•Pro: Speaking of mothers. The tears!!! Every time Max shared something about his mom, I got a little verklempt. He shared beautiful and tender moments with me, but he also shared some final and painful moments. The love and adoration he had for his mother was unquestionable, but I knew, that he knew, he was very loved by her too.
•Pro: This school was as awesome as I thought it would be, and Pixley did an incredible job weaving a tapestry of pain and grief that included Kafka and Hamlet.
•Con: Though hopeful, the ending left me with some loose ends, and I like rather tidy endings. I was not too frustrated though, so minor con.
•Pro: The title comes from a trust exercise, which Max and the other thespians engaged in, and I really think it was quite brilliant to use this as the litmus test for where Max was on his healing journey.
•Pro: I was impressed by the story and the writing. Pixley loaded this book with vivid imagery and whip smart dialog. The words grabbed me and pulled me right in.
•Pro: I cared so much for Max, Dad, Grandma, and Fish. I wanted them all to find some happiness and healing, and I reveled in every good thing that happened to them.
Overall: The pain, grief, and loss that Max was wrestling with brought tears to my eyes, as did the joy and peace he eventually found.
*I would like to thank the publisher for the review copy of this book.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
March 7, 2018
"Shhh, says the tumor, twirling his impossible fingers through the cracks in my brain. Don't tell a soul."
Max Friedman's Mom has died of cancer.
Instead of normal ways of grieving, Max takes in the tumor for himself.
Now Max is convinced he has brain cancer.
This tumor humiliates him, isolates him from relationships, and conceals his grief from anyone.
But then, after Max transfers to a new school, something smaller, artsy, and almost made for him, things become different. There are fancy dramatic friends along the way, like a whimsical troubled girl named Fish with pink hair, a passionate obsessive freak named The Monk, and a critical carefree creative writing teacher named Dr. Cage.
Nobody knows the truth about what goes on inside Max's head. Only Max and the tumor.
THAT'S IT. This book is perfect. It just is.
It has everything I love. Quirky, unique characters that just jump out of the page. You can hear their voices. You can see them flail around and live a little. Then the storytelling. Everything from Max's little five-year-old POV to a more broken, delusional style of writing. Just genius. There is something about this story that is just different to me. It's inspiring. It makes me want to do something with my life, which, I know, sounds stereotypical, but really. I can't even put my thoughts into coherent sentences. I love Pixley's raw writing style. There is love and ache and comfort and humor and just everything.
And come on, I'm a sucker for Hamlet references.
I'm so awestruck by Ready To Fall. It is everything I could probably ask for in a book.
"They don't say I wish it was my face in that coffin. They don't goad my mother's favorite tumor the way I am doing, silently in my mind. Please. Take me next. My brain is delicious. You can eat it with mustard. Because this world would be a heinous thing to think before your own mother's funeral when you're supposed to be thinking about her. Psst. Hey there. I promised I would take care of you. You want somewhere to live for a while? My brain is ripe. It will fill your belly. Come eat. And when you're done, bury me next to her so I don't have to be alone."
Max Friedman's Mom has died of cancer.
Instead of normal ways of grieving, Max takes in the tumor for himself.
Now Max is convinced he has brain cancer.
This tumor humiliates him, isolates him from relationships, and conceals his grief from anyone.
But then, after Max transfers to a new school, something smaller, artsy, and almost made for him, things become different. There are fancy dramatic friends along the way, like a whimsical troubled girl named Fish with pink hair, a passionate obsessive freak named The Monk, and a critical carefree creative writing teacher named Dr. Cage.
Nobody knows the truth about what goes on inside Max's head. Only Max and the tumor.
THAT'S IT. This book is perfect. It just is.
It has everything I love. Quirky, unique characters that just jump out of the page. You can hear their voices. You can see them flail around and live a little. Then the storytelling. Everything from Max's little five-year-old POV to a more broken, delusional style of writing. Just genius. There is something about this story that is just different to me. It's inspiring. It makes me want to do something with my life, which, I know, sounds stereotypical, but really. I can't even put my thoughts into coherent sentences. I love Pixley's raw writing style. There is love and ache and comfort and humor and just everything.
And come on, I'm a sucker for Hamlet references.
I'm so awestruck by Ready To Fall. It is everything I could probably ask for in a book.
"They don't say I wish it was my face in that coffin. They don't goad my mother's favorite tumor the way I am doing, silently in my mind. Please. Take me next. My brain is delicious. You can eat it with mustard. Because this world would be a heinous thing to think before your own mother's funeral when you're supposed to be thinking about her. Psst. Hey there. I promised I would take care of you. You want somewhere to live for a while? My brain is ripe. It will fill your belly. Come eat. And when you're done, bury me next to her so I don't have to be alone."
March 31, 2018
I was immediately pulled in by the synopsis of this book. I knew it wasn’t going to be a particularly easy book to read because of its subject matter. I thought this book was an incredibly emotional read, but it was so compelling at the same time.
In Ready To Fall we are introduced to Max who is in a bad way after losing his mother to cancer. He’s not doing well at school, distancing himself from everyone and is also utterly convinced that his mother’s tumour has transferred over to his brain. The reader finds themselves completely urging Max to reach out and get some support but he is so damaged by grief. Gradually, Max begins to learn how to move on with his life after starting a new school, making new friends and opening up to one of the teachers. I appreciated how slowly Max stated to heal. It was realistic and made the book more believable.
This is the first time that I’ve read Marcella Pixley’s writing. I very much enjoyed her writing style. I found myself both sympathising with Max and rooting for him to speak out and get help. I feel like she perfectly portrayed Max’s grief and his confusion/worry over ‘his’ tumour. I thought this was a highly original way to demonstrate how Max was dealing with his loss. I also felt for Max’s father, who was clearly struggling as well but trying to hold things together for Max.
The only reason I didn’t rate this book any higher was because I didn’t really buy into the relationship in this story. I felt like it was a little unnecessary! That said, this book is well worth reading for its unique take on grief.
In Ready To Fall we are introduced to Max who is in a bad way after losing his mother to cancer. He’s not doing well at school, distancing himself from everyone and is also utterly convinced that his mother’s tumour has transferred over to his brain. The reader finds themselves completely urging Max to reach out and get some support but he is so damaged by grief. Gradually, Max begins to learn how to move on with his life after starting a new school, making new friends and opening up to one of the teachers. I appreciated how slowly Max stated to heal. It was realistic and made the book more believable.
This is the first time that I’ve read Marcella Pixley’s writing. I very much enjoyed her writing style. I found myself both sympathising with Max and rooting for him to speak out and get help. I feel like she perfectly portrayed Max’s grief and his confusion/worry over ‘his’ tumour. I thought this was a highly original way to demonstrate how Max was dealing with his loss. I also felt for Max’s father, who was clearly struggling as well but trying to hold things together for Max.
The only reason I didn’t rate this book any higher was because I didn’t really buy into the relationship in this story. I felt like it was a little unnecessary! That said, this book is well worth reading for its unique take on grief.
April 30, 2018
After high school sophomore Max Friedman loses his mother to cancer, he becomes convinced that her tumor has moved into his own brain. Things go poorly for the boy as his tumor speaks to him, often belittling him and leaving him confused. When he transfers to Baldwin School, he is taken up by a group of thespians who are producing a steam-punk version of Hamlet. Despite all his challenges and the grief and delusions that have a firm grasp on him, Max falls hard for Fish, a creative spirit whose pink hair and free-spirited ways are in sharp contrast to her home life and the secrets that lurk there. Despite the fact that several of the characters have secrets that don't want revealed, they come out, and readers will move through the book with a certain sense of impending doom even while seeing possibilities for everything to work out. In the end, it is clear that it may be those secrets and the darkness that lies within all of us that make us more human and compel others to reach out to us. I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this one or encountered this particular way of coping with grief and loss. This one left me reeling and thinking about how hard it is to let go of others or of our own fears. I have to say that I'd have had a lot of trouble with that trust exercise the drama kids did.
January 6, 2018
This is a fantastic read with a lot of HEART. Marcella Pixley is a talented writer who not only "gets" adolescents, but also understands grief, mental illness, and the sweetness of humanity. Even though I am a 41 year old woman, I felt like I could emotionally relate to the main character Max, who is a 16 year old boy - I think that this is because Marcella captures the inner workings of his mind so beautifully as he grapples with the death of his mother, insecurity, and the struggle to connect with others. I loved the way that the story spirals and weaves the past with the present and also how it parallels the story of Hamlet. Ready To Fall is a page-turner that you should start reading today - You'll be glad you did!
February 21, 2022
Genuinely so good, I have never related more to a character than I did with max. It just felt so so so so real and genuine.
The writing style was kind of weird but it made me laugh and cry over and over again.
I just really disliked the pacing of the book and wished it was longer but faster, also felt like the relationship part of it was quite unnecessary and very sudden.
Also I read this in year 7 and really liked it but I couldn’t remember much so I read it again.
The writing style was kind of weird but it made me laugh and cry over and over again.
I just really disliked the pacing of the book and wished it was longer but faster, also felt like the relationship part of it was quite unnecessary and very sudden.
Also I read this in year 7 and really liked it but I couldn’t remember much so I read it again.
November 24, 2020
To many annoying troupes and honesty kind of got annoying
December 23, 2017
Strong intense and slightly off-beat.
July 26, 2018
This book was absolutely amazing. At first I was disturbed by things he thought but later I understood. I was brought to tears even at parts that weren't sad. The emotion was so raw and real I felt I could touch it through the pages. I've never read a book that made me so sad but happy at the same time. Just amazing to me.❤️
January 7, 2020
As readers of this blog know, I am a huge fan of small presses as I believe they are able to push boundaries, regardless of genre. Readers of this blog also know that I am not especially a huge fan of YA literature. I feel that the same tropes are repeated constantly: feelings are blown up to melodramatic levels, constant mentions of popular culture, use of deus ex machina and then the happy ending. However Ready to Fall is published by indie publisher Pushkin Press as part of their YA branch so I was curious to see if indie publisher YA differs from material coming out from the more mainstream presses.
It turns out that my theory is correct. Ready to Fall is, indeed, a very good book even to someone who does not like YA. Topics such as mental health and cancer are discussed. So is the concept of the social outcast and we get a dose of Shakespeare as well.
Although comparisons are cheap, I was reminded of John Green at times, except without the smugness. Pixley has a breezy flowing style and manages to actually go deep into the topic. In this case it is main protagonist Max, who believes that he has inherited the tumor that killed his mother. This phantom tumor is the root of all of Max’s problems, his bad grades, his inability to interact with his peers and when his dad transfers him to a more artsy school his problems still occur.
Max is a fully realised character, who has his good moments and bad ones but the other people in the novel are just as ‘real’ there’s Max’s love interest Fish, a girl who has a murky past and The Monk, a boy who helps Max come out of his shell but also has his own problems and there’s creative writing teacher, Mr. Cage who also tries to get Max to overcome is problems albeit in rather unconventional ways.
Obviously Max has to start to face reality and Pixley pulls this off well. The first way is through a steampunk rendition of Hamlet but then the ‘proper’ reveal is a moment filled with emotion and is well crafted. Unlike most YA novels there isn’t closure so I was pleased to see how the novel ended.
For a book of this genre I was impressed. Ready to Fall is an enjoyable read that avoids a good number of YA tropes and it further cements proof of how small presses are the future of innovative publishing.
It turns out that my theory is correct. Ready to Fall is, indeed, a very good book even to someone who does not like YA. Topics such as mental health and cancer are discussed. So is the concept of the social outcast and we get a dose of Shakespeare as well.
Although comparisons are cheap, I was reminded of John Green at times, except without the smugness. Pixley has a breezy flowing style and manages to actually go deep into the topic. In this case it is main protagonist Max, who believes that he has inherited the tumor that killed his mother. This phantom tumor is the root of all of Max’s problems, his bad grades, his inability to interact with his peers and when his dad transfers him to a more artsy school his problems still occur.
Max is a fully realised character, who has his good moments and bad ones but the other people in the novel are just as ‘real’ there’s Max’s love interest Fish, a girl who has a murky past and The Monk, a boy who helps Max come out of his shell but also has his own problems and there’s creative writing teacher, Mr. Cage who also tries to get Max to overcome is problems albeit in rather unconventional ways.
Obviously Max has to start to face reality and Pixley pulls this off well. The first way is through a steampunk rendition of Hamlet but then the ‘proper’ reveal is a moment filled with emotion and is well crafted. Unlike most YA novels there isn’t closure so I was pleased to see how the novel ended.
For a book of this genre I was impressed. Ready to Fall is an enjoyable read that avoids a good number of YA tropes and it further cements proof of how small presses are the future of innovative publishing.
July 6, 2018
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2018/0...
When you’re in those early stages of grief, you’re not thinking rationally are you … things that make sense to you seem totally bizarre to others. Max thinks that as he is saying his goodbye to his mum while she lies in her open casket that her tumour has transferred to him. It is the only thing he has left of her. Unable to grieve, there’s a change in his behaviours and as he starts to fail at school, family friend Lydie suggests creative Baldwin school. Max loves to sketch and they are hoping this new start will help him. Already living with his loss and of course going through hormonal/developmental changes, he now has to work out the dynamics and where he fits in at his new school.
I had so many feels for Max as he navigates life without his mum. And obviously with his dad grieving too, he’s not emotionally available for Max. It’s not only Max’s grief which I felt but oh his memories of how his mum showed her love for him and made him feel safe. For most, letting go of childhood is a gradual process but when you have no choice …
As with all friendship groups, the group that Max is on the periphery of already have their roles. Monk in the Alpha role draws Max in, thinking he is similar to him. When the conflict comes, it’s actually a positive thing (although it doesn’t feel like it at the time!). Rehearsals for Hamlet are also key scenes – so much emotion!
Ready to Fall is such a poignant story with the focus on loss and grief which takes the reader (alongside Max) on a journey of unacknowledged feelings to acceptance and hope. Marcella Pixley has captured the tangle of emotions perfectly. I read the last couple of chapters through tears. Beautiful.
Highly recommended if you enjoy a YA story ALSO if you or someone you know is going through their own grieving cycle of losing a mum. Ready to Fall will definitely help you and give you hope.
When you’re in those early stages of grief, you’re not thinking rationally are you … things that make sense to you seem totally bizarre to others. Max thinks that as he is saying his goodbye to his mum while she lies in her open casket that her tumour has transferred to him. It is the only thing he has left of her. Unable to grieve, there’s a change in his behaviours and as he starts to fail at school, family friend Lydie suggests creative Baldwin school. Max loves to sketch and they are hoping this new start will help him. Already living with his loss and of course going through hormonal/developmental changes, he now has to work out the dynamics and where he fits in at his new school.
I had so many feels for Max as he navigates life without his mum. And obviously with his dad grieving too, he’s not emotionally available for Max. It’s not only Max’s grief which I felt but oh his memories of how his mum showed her love for him and made him feel safe. For most, letting go of childhood is a gradual process but when you have no choice …
As with all friendship groups, the group that Max is on the periphery of already have their roles. Monk in the Alpha role draws Max in, thinking he is similar to him. When the conflict comes, it’s actually a positive thing (although it doesn’t feel like it at the time!). Rehearsals for Hamlet are also key scenes – so much emotion!
Ready to Fall is such a poignant story with the focus on loss and grief which takes the reader (alongside Max) on a journey of unacknowledged feelings to acceptance and hope. Marcella Pixley has captured the tangle of emotions perfectly. I read the last couple of chapters through tears. Beautiful.
Highly recommended if you enjoy a YA story ALSO if you or someone you know is going through their own grieving cycle of losing a mum. Ready to Fall will definitely help you and give you hope.
July 26, 2017
This book was good. I liked that the main character is male because that only seems to happen these days in dual POV books, so that was refreshing.
The beginning was heartbreaking and I genuinely felt Max's pain and I felt so sorry for him. I think what I most felt sorry for was that the adults in his life didn't get him help. It was very, very evident that he wasn't coping with his mother's death and instead of taking him to therapy, he transferred to another school. It worked out in this situation, but barely. The only person who seemed to want to help him was Dr. Cage, who was the best adult in this whole book.
The story flowed well and the writing was really nice. I was engaged the whole time and I wasn't bored. The secondary characters were okay, but not developed enough for me. We don't learn anything about their history or background which was a missed opportunity in my opinion.
Why three stars then, you ask? Because it was too much like The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It was completely unoriginal in that regard. You have a mentally unstable teenage boy who is befriended by the quirky, artistic girl and her friends. He has a crush on the girl and she flirts with him back. And there's even a stage performance at the end (Rocky Horror in Perks vs Hamlet in this one). It honestly turned me off to it.
That being sad, it IS a good book. I don't think it dives enough into Max coping with his grief and instead it almost disappears instantly, like here one day and gone the next, so if you're looking for a book that really dives deep into mental health issues, this isn't entirely a good book for that. However, if you liked Perks and want something similar, definitely read this one.
Overall, yes I do recommend it.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The beginning was heartbreaking and I genuinely felt Max's pain and I felt so sorry for him. I think what I most felt sorry for was that the adults in his life didn't get him help. It was very, very evident that he wasn't coping with his mother's death and instead of taking him to therapy, he transferred to another school. It worked out in this situation, but barely. The only person who seemed to want to help him was Dr. Cage, who was the best adult in this whole book.
The story flowed well and the writing was really nice. I was engaged the whole time and I wasn't bored. The secondary characters were okay, but not developed enough for me. We don't learn anything about their history or background which was a missed opportunity in my opinion.
Why three stars then, you ask? Because it was too much like The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It was completely unoriginal in that regard. You have a mentally unstable teenage boy who is befriended by the quirky, artistic girl and her friends. He has a crush on the girl and she flirts with him back. And there's even a stage performance at the end (Rocky Horror in Perks vs Hamlet in this one). It honestly turned me off to it.
That being sad, it IS a good book. I don't think it dives enough into Max coping with his grief and instead it almost disappears instantly, like here one day and gone the next, so if you're looking for a book that really dives deep into mental health issues, this isn't entirely a good book for that. However, if you liked Perks and want something similar, definitely read this one.
Overall, yes I do recommend it.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 21, 2018
It has taken me an abnormally long time to get around to renewing this sucker, mostly because I haven't had Wi-Fi for a week and have been insanely busy with settling into a new job. Because of this, and the two-day delay in my review, I might have some trouble recalling details about this book. Please bear with me if my thoughts are a bit scattered; tis' the life of a traveling librarian! Though parts of this book felt contrived and needlessly quirky, I still found myself enjoying the message and characters quite a bit. This novel felt very much like something John Green would write, with both gut-wrenching moments and an upbeat positivity that is extremely infectious to the reader.
Ready to Fall follows the story of Max Friedman, a high school sophomore who has just suffered the devastating loss of his mother to cancer. Upon her death, Max imagines that his mother's tumor has taken root in his brain, infecting his brain and taking control of his thoughts. With the vicious tumor now in charge, Max begins to lose himself: his grades start slipping, he stops caring about his friends and family, and he finds himself drowning in a deep depression that nobody can seem to shake.
Hoping to help him shake his grief, Max's father enrolls him in a new, artsy private school. While there, Max meets a new host of new friends, including the quirky and mesmerizing Fish (for whom he feels an instant attraction). After being coerced by his new friends into joining the cast of the school's steampunk rendition of Hamlet, Max soon begins to come alive, realizing that it's possible to look forward to a future after harrowing loss.
Without a doubt, the best part of this book is the way it handles loss and grief, which is different for every individual. In Max's case, he becomes almost schizophrenic, feeling a tumor that isn't there and personifying it in his mind. While I couldn't relate to this (I experience personal loss very differently), I can imagine this metaphorical take on grief could be extremely healing for some readers. The "tumor" is described as a rude tenant, making a mess in Max's mind while verbally berating him at every turn. In that sense, it almost seems like the tumor represents depression, feeding catastrophic thoughts to Max while keeping him from enjoying his former life. This was cleverly done, and helped to explain difficult emotions in a way that was very easy to visualize.
I also enjoyed the comparisons to Hamlet throughout the book, as Shakespeare's play also famously deals with both grief and madness, paralleling Max's emotional journey throughout the story. As I said before, the writing can be pretentious and unrealistic (no high school students would actually act like the students in this book), but it does capture the pieces of Hamlet that continue to make it a gripping story in today's society. Max is cast as the ghost of Hamlet's father in the play, which is fitting for him because he feels like a ghost himself after losing his mother.
As he and his classmates rehearse, Max slowly learns more about himself and his own grief through the character he is portraying onstage, culminating in the progression of his healing progress. I have to give Pixley a lot of credit for this creative use of classic literature and metaphor, as it made Max's grief very easy to understand. It might also help someone struggling to appreciate Hamlet understand why it's so compelling as a piece of theater, which is an added bonus.
Other than the sometimes over-the-top writing, however, the thing that irked me the most was the forced romantic sub-plot. I've seen this idea floating around in other reviews, and I have to agree that Fish (short for Felicia) is a stereotypical manic pixie dream girl. She has a tragic past, yet hides her feelings by acting quirky and bubbly. She's edgy, thoughtful, deep, and has bubblegum-pink hair. She's not a bad character, per say, but it often feels like Pixley is trying way too hard to be John Green when writing both Fish AND Monk. Even the nicknames in the book are ridiculous, as I can't think of a single high school student who would call their friends Fish or Monk. To be fair, however, I haven't been in high school for a very long time, so things might have changed since my time there.
This leads me to the romance. I hate to say it, but I really didn't feel like Fish and Max had any real chemistry. It felt like every "moment" between them was being forced for the sake of having a romance, though this novel would have worked perfectly well without one. I feel like the story would have been much stronger if it had focused solely on Max's grief and healing process, leaving out the romantic subplot entirely. What was wrong with Fish being his good friend? Friendships are just as important as any other relationship when it comes to personal healing and re-entering society, and the forced romance almost takes away from this idea.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had fun (if unrealistic) characters, a gripping plot, and a healing message for those who might have experienced deep loss in their lives. Though I was not personally moved by Max's grief, I could easily see this novel helping a high school student who has experienced a recent, devastating loss. This novel takes an interesting approach to the subject of grief and loss, and one that I found to be both refreshing and creative. I would recommend this to fans of John Green, as this felt very much like a John Green book. There are quirky characters, as well as both touching and humorous moments. The story has a positive message, and might help someone going through a similar struggle.
While I would be extremely cautious about reading this if you've lost a parent (or any close relative) to cancer, it might help you through your own grieving process if you're brave enough to try it out. I think this book could use a trigger warning, however, as anyone prone to depression who has suffered great loss could also be negatively impacted by what Max is going through in this story. This is the first book by Marcella Pixley that I've read, and I must say that (despite its flaws) it was a captivating story from beginning to end. I will definitely be on the look-out for more of her work in the future!
Ready to Fall follows the story of Max Friedman, a high school sophomore who has just suffered the devastating loss of his mother to cancer. Upon her death, Max imagines that his mother's tumor has taken root in his brain, infecting his brain and taking control of his thoughts. With the vicious tumor now in charge, Max begins to lose himself: his grades start slipping, he stops caring about his friends and family, and he finds himself drowning in a deep depression that nobody can seem to shake.
Hoping to help him shake his grief, Max's father enrolls him in a new, artsy private school. While there, Max meets a new host of new friends, including the quirky and mesmerizing Fish (for whom he feels an instant attraction). After being coerced by his new friends into joining the cast of the school's steampunk rendition of Hamlet, Max soon begins to come alive, realizing that it's possible to look forward to a future after harrowing loss.
Without a doubt, the best part of this book is the way it handles loss and grief, which is different for every individual. In Max's case, he becomes almost schizophrenic, feeling a tumor that isn't there and personifying it in his mind. While I couldn't relate to this (I experience personal loss very differently), I can imagine this metaphorical take on grief could be extremely healing for some readers. The "tumor" is described as a rude tenant, making a mess in Max's mind while verbally berating him at every turn. In that sense, it almost seems like the tumor represents depression, feeding catastrophic thoughts to Max while keeping him from enjoying his former life. This was cleverly done, and helped to explain difficult emotions in a way that was very easy to visualize.
I also enjoyed the comparisons to Hamlet throughout the book, as Shakespeare's play also famously deals with both grief and madness, paralleling Max's emotional journey throughout the story. As I said before, the writing can be pretentious and unrealistic (no high school students would actually act like the students in this book), but it does capture the pieces of Hamlet that continue to make it a gripping story in today's society. Max is cast as the ghost of Hamlet's father in the play, which is fitting for him because he feels like a ghost himself after losing his mother.
As he and his classmates rehearse, Max slowly learns more about himself and his own grief through the character he is portraying onstage, culminating in the progression of his healing progress. I have to give Pixley a lot of credit for this creative use of classic literature and metaphor, as it made Max's grief very easy to understand. It might also help someone struggling to appreciate Hamlet understand why it's so compelling as a piece of theater, which is an added bonus.
Other than the sometimes over-the-top writing, however, the thing that irked me the most was the forced romantic sub-plot. I've seen this idea floating around in other reviews, and I have to agree that Fish (short for Felicia) is a stereotypical manic pixie dream girl. She has a tragic past, yet hides her feelings by acting quirky and bubbly. She's edgy, thoughtful, deep, and has bubblegum-pink hair. She's not a bad character, per say, but it often feels like Pixley is trying way too hard to be John Green when writing both Fish AND Monk. Even the nicknames in the book are ridiculous, as I can't think of a single high school student who would call their friends Fish or Monk. To be fair, however, I haven't been in high school for a very long time, so things might have changed since my time there.
This leads me to the romance. I hate to say it, but I really didn't feel like Fish and Max had any real chemistry. It felt like every "moment" between them was being forced for the sake of having a romance, though this novel would have worked perfectly well without one. I feel like the story would have been much stronger if it had focused solely on Max's grief and healing process, leaving out the romantic subplot entirely. What was wrong with Fish being his good friend? Friendships are just as important as any other relationship when it comes to personal healing and re-entering society, and the forced romance almost takes away from this idea.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had fun (if unrealistic) characters, a gripping plot, and a healing message for those who might have experienced deep loss in their lives. Though I was not personally moved by Max's grief, I could easily see this novel helping a high school student who has experienced a recent, devastating loss. This novel takes an interesting approach to the subject of grief and loss, and one that I found to be both refreshing and creative. I would recommend this to fans of John Green, as this felt very much like a John Green book. There are quirky characters, as well as both touching and humorous moments. The story has a positive message, and might help someone going through a similar struggle.
While I would be extremely cautious about reading this if you've lost a parent (or any close relative) to cancer, it might help you through your own grieving process if you're brave enough to try it out. I think this book could use a trigger warning, however, as anyone prone to depression who has suffered great loss could also be negatively impacted by what Max is going through in this story. This is the first book by Marcella Pixley that I've read, and I must say that (despite its flaws) it was a captivating story from beginning to end. I will definitely be on the look-out for more of her work in the future!
October 18, 2017
This book was neither here nor there. I think the love I had for Max and his family evenly balanced the dislike I had for his special snowflake group of friends who got on my nerves to an extreme degree. That makes it a three.
November 16, 2017
This book's a beauty! Deeply moving, evocative, quirky, it captures the pain in life but especially the love. The characters are nuanced and were so easy for me to care about. And the writing? Gorgeous!
November 28, 2017
Full review!
When Max's mother dies in the summer before his Sophomore year of high school, Max becomes convinced that the tumor that killed her has taken up residence in his own brain and it is a terrible tenant. Trouble in his school leads him to switch to a local artsy private school while he struggles against his own mind, works his way through grief, makes new friends, and has to redefine his relationships with his remaining family members.
Max is a really great character. He is well developed, interesting, and dynamic in a way that really kept me interested in the book. I felt very invested in Max's life and relationships. His grief felt very real to me, which was probably because his grief was given such a physical presence in the book as he thinks about and interacts with the tumor he believes he has. His sadness and heartbreak was almost tangible and that sharp emotional realism was the shining point of this book.
Unfortunately, I thought that a lot of the other components of this book were a little bit underbaked. I just wanted more depth and more development with almost every plot point in this book. I wanted to see more about his changing relationship with his father and grandmother, his developing connections with his friends, and his friends' relationships with one another. I would have loved to see secondary characters that were more thoroughly developed. I was just very interested in Max and the people around him and while I felt like Max was written as a full, dynamic person, I ended up not really buying the other characters as quite so real or genuine.
There are just some really fundamental questions about his relationships that were never addressed. Like, what does he actually have in common with his new friends? How are he and his father reforming their relationship in light of their grief? How does what's going on in his mind impact other people?
Max's foundation had just been shaken and every relationship in his life had to be redefined. Honestly, I would have happily read a much longer book if it had included this secondary development.
Over all, I think this book was well worth the read just for Max as a character, which is really fantastic. This book tackles a very hard subject and it really does well in capturing Max's grief, which is such an intangible and indefinable thing that the book is admirable for having accomplished it.
When Max's mother dies in the summer before his Sophomore year of high school, Max becomes convinced that the tumor that killed her has taken up residence in his own brain and it is a terrible tenant. Trouble in his school leads him to switch to a local artsy private school while he struggles against his own mind, works his way through grief, makes new friends, and has to redefine his relationships with his remaining family members.
Max is a really great character. He is well developed, interesting, and dynamic in a way that really kept me interested in the book. I felt very invested in Max's life and relationships. His grief felt very real to me, which was probably because his grief was given such a physical presence in the book as he thinks about and interacts with the tumor he believes he has. His sadness and heartbreak was almost tangible and that sharp emotional realism was the shining point of this book.
Unfortunately, I thought that a lot of the other components of this book were a little bit underbaked. I just wanted more depth and more development with almost every plot point in this book. I wanted to see more about his changing relationship with his father and grandmother, his developing connections with his friends, and his friends' relationships with one another. I would have loved to see secondary characters that were more thoroughly developed. I was just very interested in Max and the people around him and while I felt like Max was written as a full, dynamic person, I ended up not really buying the other characters as quite so real or genuine.
There are just some really fundamental questions about his relationships that were never addressed. Like, what does he actually have in common with his new friends? How are he and his father reforming their relationship in light of their grief? How does what's going on in his mind impact other people?
Max's foundation had just been shaken and every relationship in his life had to be redefined. Honestly, I would have happily read a much longer book if it had included this secondary development.
Over all, I think this book was well worth the read just for Max as a character, which is really fantastic. This book tackles a very hard subject and it really does well in capturing Max's grief, which is such an intangible and indefinable thing that the book is admirable for having accomplished it.
November 13, 2017
Ready to Fall
This touching novel follows the life of Max, its teenage protagonist, in the year after his mother's death from cancer. A compulsive type, Max convinces himself that his mother's cancer has migrated into his brain. The imagined tumor makes Max unable to function as a family member, friend, or student. When he enters a therapeutic private school, Max is introduced to a colorful cast of new friends and teachers who help him to overcome his anxiety.
The book is beautifully written with especially clever and humorous dialogue. Max is at the center of the action, but the supporting characters, especially the wonderfully drawn love interest, Fish, are indispensable to the story. As usual, Pixley evokes the pain and joy of adolescence in a remarkably timeless (gadget-free) manner. Some of the action and plot evokes classic 80s movies such as Stand by Me and Ordinary People (I'm sure Pixley read the books; I didn't).
The title refers to trust falls, an exercise that actors and other youth groups use to build community spirit and confidence. Max finds himself welcomed into a world of quirky, lovable weirdos in the acting community at his new school. The theater troupe tackles Hamlet, a play and a character which confronts the existential crisis Max is facing.
I was quite moved and entertained by this book. As a middle level educator, I found it to be very authentic, and imagine it will be a big hit with young adult readers.
This touching novel follows the life of Max, its teenage protagonist, in the year after his mother's death from cancer. A compulsive type, Max convinces himself that his mother's cancer has migrated into his brain. The imagined tumor makes Max unable to function as a family member, friend, or student. When he enters a therapeutic private school, Max is introduced to a colorful cast of new friends and teachers who help him to overcome his anxiety.
The book is beautifully written with especially clever and humorous dialogue. Max is at the center of the action, but the supporting characters, especially the wonderfully drawn love interest, Fish, are indispensable to the story. As usual, Pixley evokes the pain and joy of adolescence in a remarkably timeless (gadget-free) manner. Some of the action and plot evokes classic 80s movies such as Stand by Me and Ordinary People (I'm sure Pixley read the books; I didn't).
The title refers to trust falls, an exercise that actors and other youth groups use to build community spirit and confidence. Max finds himself welcomed into a world of quirky, lovable weirdos in the acting community at his new school. The theater troupe tackles Hamlet, a play and a character which confronts the existential crisis Max is facing.
I was quite moved and entertained by this book. As a middle level educator, I found it to be very authentic, and imagine it will be a big hit with young adult readers.
February 4, 2019
Ok... lot of thoughts on this. Here's a hopefully coherent list:
● overall a pretty good YA realistic fiction. Unique, and a nice break from my usual dystopian future fare.
● I read this in about two or three days. A quick read.
● Max was a likeable character. The death of his mother leaves him sad, vulnerable, and convinced that the tumor that took her life is now living in his brain. The conflict hinges on this. You can't help but feel sympathy for him, so it was nice to see him triumph over this struggle in the end.
● A warning if purple prose bothers you. This is all from Max's POV, so it might be hard to imagine any teen thinks like that, but I thought it added to the offbeat quirkyness of his character.
● I could not keep track of all his friends. I read their names, but couldn't remember what they looked like or other distinguishing features. On the same note, I have never met a teen as wierd as these were. I get that they're supposed to go to a school for "wierd" kids, but this was taking it a step past plausibility.
● I really liked the adults in this book. Yeah, they made a few mistakes, but for the most part they were responsible, funny, kind, helpful, etc.
● Happy, feel-good ending. I enjoyed this more than I usually enjoy this specific genre.
● overall a pretty good YA realistic fiction. Unique, and a nice break from my usual dystopian future fare.
● I read this in about two or three days. A quick read.
● Max was a likeable character. The death of his mother leaves him sad, vulnerable, and convinced that the tumor that took her life is now living in his brain. The conflict hinges on this. You can't help but feel sympathy for him, so it was nice to see him triumph over this struggle in the end.
● A warning if purple prose bothers you. This is all from Max's POV, so it might be hard to imagine any teen thinks like that, but I thought it added to the offbeat quirkyness of his character.
● I could not keep track of all his friends. I read their names, but couldn't remember what they looked like or other distinguishing features. On the same note, I have never met a teen as wierd as these were. I get that they're supposed to go to a school for "wierd" kids, but this was taking it a step past plausibility.
● I really liked the adults in this book. Yeah, they made a few mistakes, but for the most part they were responsible, funny, kind, helpful, etc.
● Happy, feel-good ending. I enjoyed this more than I usually enjoy this specific genre.
May 28, 2020
Surprisingly wonderful!! So often it is the case that books about high schoolers come off to me personally as if the author has not spent enough time with teenagers as of late. Especially with theatre being involved, I was all prepared to cringe at clichés, but Pixley did not disappoint. She was able to capture the true spirit of teenagers, painting them as intelligent, independent, and adventurous. She also depicted the feeling of being in a play so well: the trust, togetherness, hard hitting emotions, and collective pride. Her theatre kids weren’t outcasts or geeks, they were just real people. I personally loved that all the characters were allowed to have realistic problems and complex relationships. The author avoided unrealistic drama or misunderstandings blown out of proportion for the sake of plot. For a YA novel, that feels like a big compliment. Max felt so real, especially in his imaginative copy mechanism for grief. I felt like I was really inside his mind! Overall, Ready to Fall was a nice easy read which still managed to pull heartstrings and have a strong message.
December 1, 2017
I received and eARC of this through NetGalley.
After Max's mother dies, the cancerous brain tumor that killed her sets up residence in Max's brain. The tumor is a terrible tenant and makes it impossible for Max to live a normal life. In order to keep Max from failing, he is sent to a more progressive school with a stronger focus on...(I am not really quite sure why this environment was better, only that it was different). With the help of a new friend The Monk and pretty girl/possible love interest Fish, Max begins to come out of his grief and begins interacting with the world.
I had some problems with this book, but there were also areas that I enjoyed. I did enjoy the writing style. I took issue with several of the characters, like the tumor and Mr. Cage (his last hurrah just didn't sit well with me. The way it came up, the way it went down, and the treatment of it afterwards). I found myself enjoying the story more as it went on.
After Max's mother dies, the cancerous brain tumor that killed her sets up residence in Max's brain. The tumor is a terrible tenant and makes it impossible for Max to live a normal life. In order to keep Max from failing, he is sent to a more progressive school with a stronger focus on...(I am not really quite sure why this environment was better, only that it was different). With the help of a new friend The Monk and pretty girl/possible love interest Fish, Max begins to come out of his grief and begins interacting with the world.
I had some problems with this book, but there were also areas that I enjoyed. I did enjoy the writing style. I took issue with several of the characters, like the tumor and Mr. Cage (his last hurrah just didn't sit well with me. The way it came up, the way it went down, and the treatment of it afterwards). I found myself enjoying the story more as it went on.
November 20, 2017
For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSrZy...
Max Friedman has a brain tumor...at least he thinks he has a brain tumor. Max's mother just died from brain cancer and at her funeral he made a mental promise to take in her tumor. The tumor has become a constant companion to Max and has caused him to act up and almost fail out of school. To try to save Max's academic future his father enrolls him in the Baldwin School, a progressive school where he meets Fish, The Monk and Mr. Cage. Will Max's new environment save him or will his phantom tumor win?
I had such a mixed reaction to this book. It is very beautifully written and was, at times, almost lyrical. Plus, it is one of the few books I can remember that features a teen boy dealing with his emotions which is something we should see more of in YA books. However, I thought the story moved slowly verging on dragging at some points. Plus, many of the character actions turned them into caricatures making it hard to care about them and making the drama of the book feel like a melodrama. Yet, even with the issues I had with this this book I appreciate the author's writing style and I will read future work by this author.
I received an eARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Max Friedman has a brain tumor...at least he thinks he has a brain tumor. Max's mother just died from brain cancer and at her funeral he made a mental promise to take in her tumor. The tumor has become a constant companion to Max and has caused him to act up and almost fail out of school. To try to save Max's academic future his father enrolls him in the Baldwin School, a progressive school where he meets Fish, The Monk and Mr. Cage. Will Max's new environment save him or will his phantom tumor win?
I had such a mixed reaction to this book. It is very beautifully written and was, at times, almost lyrical. Plus, it is one of the few books I can remember that features a teen boy dealing with his emotions which is something we should see more of in YA books. However, I thought the story moved slowly verging on dragging at some points. Plus, many of the character actions turned them into caricatures making it hard to care about them and making the drama of the book feel like a melodrama. Yet, even with the issues I had with this this book I appreciate the author's writing style and I will read future work by this author.
I received an eARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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