What do you think?
Changing Ways #2
Breaking Free
After a six-week stint in a residential treatment facility, sixteen-year-old Grace Edwards is finally ready to return to her normal life. With a boyfriend who adores her and her best friend Lou by her side, the possibilities seem endless. But Grace soon realizes that the real world is much harder to navigate than she had anticipated. Overwhelmed by social expectations, complicated family dynamics, and confusing relationships, she finds herself yearning for her old ways of dieting and cutting. Now she’s faced with the ultimate dilemma – a choice between relapse and recovery. It shouldn’t be a hard decision. After all, she’s not supposed to want to stay sick. But sickness is familiar. Sickness is safe. Living, on the other hand, terrifies her, and as dark memories resurface, will she have the strength to carry on . . . or will she collapse under the weight of her mental illness?
270 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2019
About the author
Julia Tannenbaum
3 books28 followersJulia Tannenbaum is the author of The Changing Ways Series, a young adult trilogy that chronicles a teenager’s journey to overcome anorexia. Drawing from personal experiences, she self-published her debut novel Changing Ways when she was eighteen years old. She is an advocate for mental health and disability awareness whose essays have appeared in a variety of newspapers, magazines, and blogs, including the Hartford Courant and OC87 Recovery Diaries. She lives in Vermont.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 24, 2020
3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 for the concept and important subject matter.
What drew me to this book was its focus on recovery, the very point where so many other books, fiction and non, seem to cut off at or gloss over. Yet so much more important than how one develops a mental health problem is how one heals and works their way back up. I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel from this perspective and I so appreciated it and know it would’ve meant a lot to me as a teen recovering from some of my own (albeit slightly different) struggles. This book is actually a sequel, something I hadn’t realized when I requested in on Net Galley but for the most part, it was easy to follow and get into so works well as a stand-alone novel. It is worth saying, though, that when I read over the synopsis of the first story, it seems focused more on self injury whereas this one is much more about recovery from anorexia. The cutting comes up a couple of times but seems more to be something she’s already past.
Grace is 17 and at the opening of the book, she’s in her final day of a six week stay in an eating disorder treatment facility. She is nervous about going back home because inside the treatment facility life is very regimented and controlled whereas life outside is much more chaotic, and as anyone who’s ever been in any form of mental health treatment knows, that chaos of everyday life seems especially intense as you’re heading back into it. Luckily she is well supported, first through a partial hospitalization program, then through intensive outpatient treatment. She also has a supportive mom, though things are tough between them and Grace feels like she’s disappointed her. Then there’s her younger brother Jamie, someone who is clearly very important in Grace’s life.
I really enjoyed reading this one because it rang true both in terms of eating disorder and mental illness recovery and the teen prospective in general. I was surprised to learn the author is only just out of high school herself but I think it’s amazing she’s hit the ground running and is no doubt, writing exactly the kinds of books, that like me, she wishes she could have read as a teen.
I really liked the focus on family in this book. Grace’s mother is so supportive- driving her into Manhattan for treatment, eating meals with her, just generally doing her best for Grace. It was sometimes hard to read how much Grace clashes with her mom but as she heals and grows, Grace finally starts to see how lucky she is. Then there is her amazing little brother- a nail painting, fashionista of a kid. He was such a sweet and unique character and I loved his story arc.
What was also nice is that as Grace is dealing with her own problems- learning to stop counting calories, to open up her diet, and eat all her meals- she also gets to see that everyone has problems and she’s not so alone. That was another thing I really liked about this book. There’s her best friend who has her own struggles with her parents, her boyfriend who is recovering from anorexia himself, her brother, and a number of others. Even her mother and mother’s boyfriend end up sharing some of their own teenage troubles and I thought that was fantastic. I think being a teen with serious mental health issues can be so isolating but part of both growing up and healing involves recognizing you’re not the only one. We really get to see Grace grow so much in this book, all around, too.
All that said, I did have a few issues with the writing. There’s a little too much focus on what everyone is wearing and some boring, unnecessary details like the cost of food (maybe the entire ordering process altogether), the seemingly endless slicing of fruit, etc. I get that body image and food issues are important to the story but some of these things just felt like unnecessary details that did nothing to further the story. Also there’s a lot of mentions of social media specifics yet the author gets some of the finer details wrong- you can’t share entire “albums” of photos on Instagram. And you don’t “@“ people when replying to Facebook messages. Interestingly, since social media as a trigger or tough point in the anorexia and mental health points isn’t even really touched upon, I think the story could’ve avoided the mentions altogether but that’s a matter of opinion. Then there were a few things that got left out that I really wanted more of. What happened with Grace’s dad? At the opening of the book we find that Grace has never opened up in treatment about this though her mother wants her to. We kind of dance around the subject and something happens late into the book that I thought would finally address this but it just fizzles out. It kind of distracted me because o was constantly thinking this was important and trying to figure out what happened and I never got an answer. Maybe that’s covered in the first book (same with the minute by minute game she teaches her brother? That would’ve been a great scene, regardless!) but it seems like were lead to believe it’s an important part of Grace’s struggles so I’d really like to see more on that. More delving in deep, less clothing details.
Still, I’m so glad I read this one and glad it’s out there for teens who need it. There are some especially poignant and on point, relatable lines about recovery that I think make this book really special. The one below was perhaps my favorite and sums up the whole struggle of recovery so well-
“It’s like I’m caught between two worlds, and I can’t decide which I’d rather live in. It shouldn’t be a hard decision—after all, I’m not supposed to want to stay sick—yet it is. Sickness is familiar; sickness is safe; sickness is expectable. Living, on the other hand, is scary as hell.”
What drew me to this book was its focus on recovery, the very point where so many other books, fiction and non, seem to cut off at or gloss over. Yet so much more important than how one develops a mental health problem is how one heals and works their way back up. I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel from this perspective and I so appreciated it and know it would’ve meant a lot to me as a teen recovering from some of my own (albeit slightly different) struggles. This book is actually a sequel, something I hadn’t realized when I requested in on Net Galley but for the most part, it was easy to follow and get into so works well as a stand-alone novel. It is worth saying, though, that when I read over the synopsis of the first story, it seems focused more on self injury whereas this one is much more about recovery from anorexia. The cutting comes up a couple of times but seems more to be something she’s already past.
Grace is 17 and at the opening of the book, she’s in her final day of a six week stay in an eating disorder treatment facility. She is nervous about going back home because inside the treatment facility life is very regimented and controlled whereas life outside is much more chaotic, and as anyone who’s ever been in any form of mental health treatment knows, that chaos of everyday life seems especially intense as you’re heading back into it. Luckily she is well supported, first through a partial hospitalization program, then through intensive outpatient treatment. She also has a supportive mom, though things are tough between them and Grace feels like she’s disappointed her. Then there’s her younger brother Jamie, someone who is clearly very important in Grace’s life.
I really enjoyed reading this one because it rang true both in terms of eating disorder and mental illness recovery and the teen prospective in general. I was surprised to learn the author is only just out of high school herself but I think it’s amazing she’s hit the ground running and is no doubt, writing exactly the kinds of books, that like me, she wishes she could have read as a teen.
I really liked the focus on family in this book. Grace’s mother is so supportive- driving her into Manhattan for treatment, eating meals with her, just generally doing her best for Grace. It was sometimes hard to read how much Grace clashes with her mom but as she heals and grows, Grace finally starts to see how lucky she is. Then there is her amazing little brother- a nail painting, fashionista of a kid. He was such a sweet and unique character and I loved his story arc.
What was also nice is that as Grace is dealing with her own problems- learning to stop counting calories, to open up her diet, and eat all her meals- she also gets to see that everyone has problems and she’s not so alone. That was another thing I really liked about this book. There’s her best friend who has her own struggles with her parents, her boyfriend who is recovering from anorexia himself, her brother, and a number of others. Even her mother and mother’s boyfriend end up sharing some of their own teenage troubles and I thought that was fantastic. I think being a teen with serious mental health issues can be so isolating but part of both growing up and healing involves recognizing you’re not the only one. We really get to see Grace grow so much in this book, all around, too.
All that said, I did have a few issues with the writing. There’s a little too much focus on what everyone is wearing and some boring, unnecessary details like the cost of food (maybe the entire ordering process altogether), the seemingly endless slicing of fruit, etc. I get that body image and food issues are important to the story but some of these things just felt like unnecessary details that did nothing to further the story. Also there’s a lot of mentions of social media specifics yet the author gets some of the finer details wrong- you can’t share entire “albums” of photos on Instagram. And you don’t “@“ people when replying to Facebook messages. Interestingly, since social media as a trigger or tough point in the anorexia and mental health points isn’t even really touched upon, I think the story could’ve avoided the mentions altogether but that’s a matter of opinion. Then there were a few things that got left out that I really wanted more of. What happened with Grace’s dad? At the opening of the book we find that Grace has never opened up in treatment about this though her mother wants her to. We kind of dance around the subject and something happens late into the book that I thought would finally address this but it just fizzles out. It kind of distracted me because o was constantly thinking this was important and trying to figure out what happened and I never got an answer. Maybe that’s covered in the first book (same with the minute by minute game she teaches her brother? That would’ve been a great scene, regardless!) but it seems like were lead to believe it’s an important part of Grace’s struggles so I’d really like to see more on that. More delving in deep, less clothing details.
Still, I’m so glad I read this one and glad it’s out there for teens who need it. There are some especially poignant and on point, relatable lines about recovery that I think make this book really special. The one below was perhaps my favorite and sums up the whole struggle of recovery so well-
“It’s like I’m caught between two worlds, and I can’t decide which I’d rather live in. It shouldn’t be a hard decision—after all, I’m not supposed to want to stay sick—yet it is. Sickness is familiar; sickness is safe; sickness is expectable. Living, on the other hand, is scary as hell.”
July 10, 2021
3 stars.
Still enjoyed reading this but it was much less focused on Grace's Anorexia and self harm and more on just daily life of a teenager.
I enjoy Jamie, Grace's little brother and his story.
Still enjoyed reading this but it was much less focused on Grace's Anorexia and self harm and more on just daily life of a teenager.
I enjoy Jamie, Grace's little brother and his story.
January 19, 2020
I didn't know this was the second book in the series when i requested it and made me a bit confused and lost with the story and the main character.. The story had some good elements men lacked emotions, and felt packed too much here and there. I didn't get enough character development or time to get to know and like the characters either, sadly.
August 15, 2021
Breaking free is a young adult fiction. It is the second book of its series and continues with Grace, a sixteen-year-old struggling with the world around her. Social expectations and family drama are taking a toll on her. She is overwhelmed and has to make hard choices for her life.
Mental illness is prominently the subject matter here. Although Grace is determined and brave, we get to know a vulnerable side of her, and it was interesting to read how the story is going to end.
I kept thinking about how this is going to continue as a third book. It was written very well and described in a manner where it is very easy to connect with the protagonist.
The book is a testament for all young adult teenagers under pressure due to school, age, image, family and other related issues.
I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys reading books about mental illness and depression.
Mental illness is prominently the subject matter here. Although Grace is determined and brave, we get to know a vulnerable side of her, and it was interesting to read how the story is going to end.
I kept thinking about how this is going to continue as a third book. It was written very well and described in a manner where it is very easy to connect with the protagonist.
The book is a testament for all young adult teenagers under pressure due to school, age, image, family and other related issues.
I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys reading books about mental illness and depression.
January 9, 2020
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for giving me an Arc to review
I really enjoyed this sequel to the first book Changing ways. Although I sometimes had trouble with some of the things that were happening. I would have liked a trigger warning for some things. But I worked through it and could really enjoy the book.
The book picked up right where it left up and really did a good job of describing how living with anorexia is and how it effects boys and girls in the current society.
The book was shelved under LGBTQ+ representation, but I was actually dissapointed. It was such a small section in the book that I don't think it can be shelved under a LGBTQ+ book.
Another problem I had with the book is that there was that car accident in the end. It felt like too much. The book is already filled with heavy problems surrounding eating disorders, and drunk driving just didn't fit into the story. This could have been left out and saved for the next book if it ever happens.
Overall I enjoyed the book and finished it in record time. I really hope there will be another book in this series.
I really enjoyed this sequel to the first book Changing ways. Although I sometimes had trouble with some of the things that were happening. I would have liked a trigger warning for some things. But I worked through it and could really enjoy the book.
The book picked up right where it left up and really did a good job of describing how living with anorexia is and how it effects boys and girls in the current society.
The book was shelved under LGBTQ+ representation, but I was actually dissapointed. It was such a small section in the book that I don't think it can be shelved under a LGBTQ+ book.
Another problem I had with the book is that there was that car accident in the end. It felt like too much. The book is already filled with heavy problems surrounding eating disorders, and drunk driving just didn't fit into the story. This could have been left out and saved for the next book if it ever happens.
Overall I enjoyed the book and finished it in record time. I really hope there will be another book in this series.
August 9, 2020
Two and a half stars. I think Breaking Free picks up roughly where Changing Ways left off, although it's been long enough since I read Changing Ways that I'm struggling to remember the details. (Reading them closer together might have been helpful.)
By the time the book opens, Grace is out of eating-disorder treatment (her first or second stint? I'm not sure). She's physically and mentally healthier, but she's not entirely out of the woods yet. I appreciate that the book addresses that liminal space: when the immediate crisis is over but the slower-burning crisis is not. At times it felt a bit after-school special, though (the modern version of 80s YA Issue Fiction—more measured and without a Miracle Therapist to swoop in, etc., but making sure to pack in the lessons): Grace's gradual improvement, her brother's exploration of identity (possibly my favourite moment in the book: ), a drunk-driving accident shoved in at the end. And endless recountings of who is eating what—which is not unrealistic for Grace to notice, but I'm not sure how much it added.
So...has its moments? I wish this had felt more like a standalone than a continuation of the first book, but I'm still happy to see books about eating disorders that are in a greyer area, not the Worst Case Doctors Have Ever Seen.
By the time the book opens, Grace is out of eating-disorder treatment (her first or second stint? I'm not sure). She's physically and mentally healthier, but she's not entirely out of the woods yet. I appreciate that the book addresses that liminal space: when the immediate crisis is over but the slower-burning crisis is not. At times it felt a bit after-school special, though (the modern version of 80s YA Issue Fiction—more measured and without a Miracle Therapist to swoop in, etc., but making sure to pack in the lessons): Grace's gradual improvement, her brother's exploration of identity (possibly my favourite moment in the book: ), a drunk-driving accident shoved in at the end. And endless recountings of who is eating what—which is not unrealistic for Grace to notice, but I'm not sure how much it added.
So...has its moments? I wish this had felt more like a standalone than a continuation of the first book, but I'm still happy to see books about eating disorders that are in a greyer area, not the Worst Case Doctors Have Ever Seen.
June 28, 2021
Breaking Free gives readers a peak into the life of a (successfully) recovering anorexic. Readers who are not familiar or acquainted with the disorder, or the challenges associated with any mental health for that matter, won’t bat an eyelash because the struggles depicted in the book may seem, at times, like extremely ordinary everyday experiences.
People often grumble about having to think what to have for dinner but we only really have to consider our appetite, our budget, and what’s easy. Then, how exhausting it must be to deliberate over the calories of what we put in our body when it’s every three hours of our waking moment? What’s more difficult for Grace is resisting the urge to do so. This invisible shackle was one of many that was holding our main character back from living a full life – hence the title.
References to popular streaming services (cough: Netflix) and trendy TV shows are smart plot instruments that make this book more relatable to the target audience.
What I loved most about Julia Tannenbaum’s writing on Grace’s struggles is that it was not romanticised. It was matter of fact, which I deeply appreciate. Romanticising mental health struggles can be useful and gets the message through to some readers. Other times, it gets in the way.
Breaking Free helps readers understand the process of recovery from a personal perspective and is a great addition to the bookshelf of any young adult and tween.
Thanks to Weaponry Co-op for providing me with a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and are based on the advanced digital review copy.
Content Warning(s): Self-harm; Anorexic & anxiety thought patterns
People often grumble about having to think what to have for dinner but we only really have to consider our appetite, our budget, and what’s easy. Then, how exhausting it must be to deliberate over the calories of what we put in our body when it’s every three hours of our waking moment? What’s more difficult for Grace is resisting the urge to do so. This invisible shackle was one of many that was holding our main character back from living a full life – hence the title.
References to popular streaming services (cough: Netflix) and trendy TV shows are smart plot instruments that make this book more relatable to the target audience.
What I loved most about Julia Tannenbaum’s writing on Grace’s struggles is that it was not romanticised. It was matter of fact, which I deeply appreciate. Romanticising mental health struggles can be useful and gets the message through to some readers. Other times, it gets in the way.
Breaking Free helps readers understand the process of recovery from a personal perspective and is a great addition to the bookshelf of any young adult and tween.
Thanks to Weaponry Co-op for providing me with a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and are based on the advanced digital review copy.
Content Warning(s): Self-harm; Anorexic & anxiety thought patterns
April 15, 2021
🕯️Breaking free is a second sequel of Changing ways. Changing ways, basically indicates the ways, how one can change a stereotype. And, breaking free, implies no orthodoxy thinking can bind a human being from flying.
🕯️This is a story of 17 year old girl, Grace. Who was sent to mental asylum. After, she was found hurting herself. Now, she is free from that place, and she entered in the real world. Which she found difficult to navigate with.
🕯️She came to her home, with her boyfriend, who adores her. And her best friend, Lou. She found, difficult to be adjusted in the real life, because of the social expectations, family dynamics, and her ill mental condition.
🕯️After seeing all these, she again started harming herself, cutting her, dieting. She has a fear of over eating and from the people who over eats. Now, she is in the delima of recovery and relapse. What will she do? Will she be strong enough to pass this phase, like a blow of wind. Or, she will be again on the same path, where she has passed.
🕯️In this time period, Grace, develops a healthy relationship with her mother. They both grows together. Which, I really liked the most. The book, shows about the depression, and mental illness. Which, the society always ignore.
🕯️There is a little part, of LGBTQ community. Which was really impressive. The language is very lucid, and the book cover is very attractive.
🕯️This is a story of 17 year old girl, Grace. Who was sent to mental asylum. After, she was found hurting herself. Now, she is free from that place, and she entered in the real world. Which she found difficult to navigate with.
🕯️She came to her home, with her boyfriend, who adores her. And her best friend, Lou. She found, difficult to be adjusted in the real life, because of the social expectations, family dynamics, and her ill mental condition.
🕯️After seeing all these, she again started harming herself, cutting her, dieting. She has a fear of over eating and from the people who over eats. Now, she is in the delima of recovery and relapse. What will she do? Will she be strong enough to pass this phase, like a blow of wind. Or, she will be again on the same path, where she has passed.
🕯️In this time period, Grace, develops a healthy relationship with her mother. They both grows together. Which, I really liked the most. The book, shows about the depression, and mental illness. Which, the society always ignore.
🕯️There is a little part, of LGBTQ community. Which was really impressive. The language is very lucid, and the book cover is very attractive.
March 14, 2021
Book : Breaking Free
Author : Julia Tannenbaum (@julia.tannenbaum
)
Format : PDF File
Overall Rating : 5/5
The book is written by Julia Tannenbaum and is a part of her series Changing ways. Teenage mental illness is something that is to be taken care of. In the book breaking free, the author enlightens the world about teenage metal illness.
In the book Breaking Free" the author takes us through the journey of Grace who struggles to recover from mental illness while being a healing teen. She is found brave and strong as she re enters her family, continues her school and rejoices her friendships.
The author has inked it all with her very own experience. And it is absolutely true because someone at some point of time does go through such illness. The book has many turns and is interesting. It will defiantly be relatable to all those who read it. ! Kudos to the author.
I like how the author has made the book absolutely unique and enlightened the issues which are highly important to be looked after. I felt bad as Grace suffers so much but I was elated as she doesn't give
I love the concept and I loved the book. Must read for all. To know what more is hidden go grab your copies and give it a read
Happy reading
Author : Julia Tannenbaum (@julia.tannenbaum
)
Format : PDF File
Overall Rating : 5/5
The book is written by Julia Tannenbaum and is a part of her series Changing ways. Teenage mental illness is something that is to be taken care of. In the book breaking free, the author enlightens the world about teenage metal illness.
In the book Breaking Free" the author takes us through the journey of Grace who struggles to recover from mental illness while being a healing teen. She is found brave and strong as she re enters her family, continues her school and rejoices her friendships.
The author has inked it all with her very own experience. And it is absolutely true because someone at some point of time does go through such illness. The book has many turns and is interesting. It will defiantly be relatable to all those who read it. ! Kudos to the author.
I like how the author has made the book absolutely unique and enlightened the issues which are highly important to be looked after. I felt bad as Grace suffers so much but I was elated as she doesn't give
I love the concept and I loved the book. Must read for all. To know what more is hidden go grab your copies and give it a read
Happy reading
February 11, 2020
Grace is struggling with anorexia however upon being released from her treatment facility to back home she soon eggs caught up in other issues, her best friend who goes out drinking and nearly drives too, her mum and her boyfriend moving in, her brother whose showing signs of being gay and acting out as well as her boyfriend who she's now not sure about after something happens...
Grace soon has to get to grips that she's being watched when she eats, told what to eat or try to eat as well as challenging herself as she won't get to college if she can't prove she's doing better and willing to get better, but can faking it initially help her really make herself better over time?
I liked seeing how Grace learns to live again out of treatment as it can be daunting and hard I know first hand how it is and this book portrayed it perfectly in my eyes as you have to get a sense of purpose for life back again and try to keep yourself positive to keep making progress as Grace does by going back to college and making friends.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
Grace soon has to get to grips that she's being watched when she eats, told what to eat or try to eat as well as challenging herself as she won't get to college if she can't prove she's doing better and willing to get better, but can faking it initially help her really make herself better over time?
I liked seeing how Grace learns to live again out of treatment as it can be daunting and hard I know first hand how it is and this book portrayed it perfectly in my eyes as you have to get a sense of purpose for life back again and try to keep yourself positive to keep making progress as Grace does by going back to college and making friends.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
January 7, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this novel.
Right. Perhaps it's because I haven't read the first book but I wasn't a massive fan of this novel.
+ The writing: the writing was very straightforward and easy to read. In that sense, this book is easy to finish and once you can take to the beach and or read before bed without feeling overwhelmed.
- The writing: because the writing was so easy, it lacked flair and emotion. This book is about a difficult topic and because of that I expected the language to be more beautiful. Sure, simple language and sentence structure is good to get the story going but it didn't hook me in.
- The story of the girl drunk-driving: I don't understand why that was put in the book. It served no purpose within the story. If anything, if they had highlighted her ED, that would have been more relevant.
- The story: A lot of sections are glossed over or briefly mentioned when they could have been given much more space. This drastically reduced the quality of the novel.
Right. Perhaps it's because I haven't read the first book but I wasn't a massive fan of this novel.
+ The writing: the writing was very straightforward and easy to read. In that sense, this book is easy to finish and once you can take to the beach and or read before bed without feeling overwhelmed.
- The writing: because the writing was so easy, it lacked flair and emotion. This book is about a difficult topic and because of that I expected the language to be more beautiful. Sure, simple language and sentence structure is good to get the story going but it didn't hook me in.
- The story of the girl drunk-driving: I don't understand why that was put in the book. It served no purpose within the story. If anything, if they had highlighted her ED, that would have been more relevant.
- The story: A lot of sections are glossed over or briefly mentioned when they could have been given much more space. This drastically reduced the quality of the novel.
January 12, 2020
This book was so easy to get into. The writing style made the pages turn quickly and really made you feel for Grace.
This book looks at mental health and eating disorders. It looks at sexuality and acceptance. It covers highschool tests and the stress of scoring enough to get into the college of your choice.
Breaking Free is easy to read, fast paced and filled with real feeling characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy.
This book looks at mental health and eating disorders. It looks at sexuality and acceptance. It covers highschool tests and the stress of scoring enough to get into the college of your choice.
Breaking Free is easy to read, fast paced and filled with real feeling characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy.
November 3, 2020
I never read the previous book, but Breaking Free starts with Grace getting released from her treatment facility and re-starting her "normal" life again.
This Julia Tannenbaum book is a wonderful read, following Grace through the "recovery" process as she learns to deal with her eating issues.
This is a heartfelt, honest look at living with an eating disorder. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in reading on the topic. It is definitely a worthwhile read for teens.
This Julia Tannenbaum book is a wonderful read, following Grace through the "recovery" process as she learns to deal with her eating issues.
This is a heartfelt, honest look at living with an eating disorder. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in reading on the topic. It is definitely a worthwhile read for teens.
January 13, 2020
Breaking Free is a powerful book for young readers and for older readers who want to celebrate quality young adult fiction. A fleshed-out central character, clear prose, and real-world conflicts punctuate the narrative.
I will gladly share this book with those I know who are interested in sharing strong fiction with adolescent readers. Well done.
I will gladly share this book with those I know who are interested in sharing strong fiction with adolescent readers. Well done.
January 4, 2020
A full review is available on my blog Reading Recluses, here.
I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way.
“Out here can be scary but at least I have independence and privacy and my friends and my phone. It’s those things that make staying worthwhile.”
Breaking Free was a really interesting book. Most books about eating disorders focus on the descent into the disorder rather than recover, which is what makes this super unique. I think it’s really important to have literature out there about recovery to show to teens struggling with issues like these that it is possible to get better.
“You can’t. Until he wants to get better, nothing you say can or do will make a difference.”
Breaking Free also had good representation of disabilities and sexuality. All the characters were complex and not defined by any single aspect of the identity, which is the best way to write diverse characters.
The relationship between Grace and her mother was tenuous and complex. Even still, the love her mother felt for was evident even when they didn’t get along. Breaking Free does a good job at showing the effect of eating disorders on not only the individual affected but everyone in their life.
One flaw in the book is the jargon used in the book. The teenager slang sounded quite outdated at times. However at some times, the author totally got the teenage experience with little details just the actual writing surrounding it was unnatural. Also there was simply too much emphasis placed on unimportant aspects, like describing what the characters were wearing. The book would flow so much better if exposition unrelated to character development or plot was removed. At times, the book would sound a little clinical when describing self harm or eating disorders but as the book went on, this was less evident.
Age: 12+
Rating: 35/100
Warnings: self-harm, eating disorders, mental illness, depression
I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way.
“Out here can be scary but at least I have independence and privacy and my friends and my phone. It’s those things that make staying worthwhile.”
Breaking Free was a really interesting book. Most books about eating disorders focus on the descent into the disorder rather than recover, which is what makes this super unique. I think it’s really important to have literature out there about recovery to show to teens struggling with issues like these that it is possible to get better.
“You can’t. Until he wants to get better, nothing you say can or do will make a difference.”
Breaking Free also had good representation of disabilities and sexuality. All the characters were complex and not defined by any single aspect of the identity, which is the best way to write diverse characters.
The relationship between Grace and her mother was tenuous and complex. Even still, the love her mother felt for was evident even when they didn’t get along. Breaking Free does a good job at showing the effect of eating disorders on not only the individual affected but everyone in their life.
One flaw in the book is the jargon used in the book. The teenager slang sounded quite outdated at times. However at some times, the author totally got the teenage experience with little details just the actual writing surrounding it was unnatural. Also there was simply too much emphasis placed on unimportant aspects, like describing what the characters were wearing. The book would flow so much better if exposition unrelated to character development or plot was removed. At times, the book would sound a little clinical when describing self harm or eating disorders but as the book went on, this was less evident.
Age: 12+
Rating: 35/100
Warnings: self-harm, eating disorders, mental illness, depression
November 19, 2019
It must be so difficult to be a teenager in today's society. The constant interruptions via electronic media was something we did not experience 55 - 60 years ago.
But that is not the point of Julia's book. Written as a fictional story, we follow Grace as she struggles through her treatment and recovery. She fights with herself, family, and friends. Until she realized the loving friend her mother had been, she couldn't stop her internal fighting.
The dedication her mother showed was not recognized easily. Laboring through recovery was a trial for the entire family. The lives of Grace's family and friends kept on, with some tragedies.
Grace begins to show understanding of her mental illness, manifested as an eating disorder. The story did not close for Grace. We are hopeful for her.
Thank you Julia.
But that is not the point of Julia's book. Written as a fictional story, we follow Grace as she struggles through her treatment and recovery. She fights with herself, family, and friends. Until she realized the loving friend her mother had been, she couldn't stop her internal fighting.
The dedication her mother showed was not recognized easily. Laboring through recovery was a trial for the entire family. The lives of Grace's family and friends kept on, with some tragedies.
Grace begins to show understanding of her mental illness, manifested as an eating disorder. The story did not close for Grace. We are hopeful for her.
Thank you Julia.
March 27, 2024
TW: Eating Disorder Rep, Sf Harm, Terminal Illness, loss of a loved one, Homophobic Content & Bullying
Books: Changing Ways Trilogy by Julia Tannenbaum
➡️Book 1: Changing Ways 4 🌟
Our sixteen year old main protagonist, Grace Edwards, starts school and is struggling with the stress of being a teenager trying to ace in studies and social life. Her relationship with her mother starts straining and she’s trying to cope with everything by beginning to control her diet and sf harming.
➡️ Book 2: Breaking Free 5 🌟
Grace is being treated in a treatment facility with close supervision of her mother and she’s trying really hard. It’s super stressful to read this sequel and I can see what people with this health condition go through. Nevertheless, it is a realistic representation read.
➡️ Book 3: Choosing Life 5 🌟
I absolutely love the final book. It wraps up everything well. The interactions between the characters- the friends, the romantic aspects, parent child, siblings, colleagues and family - are quite realistic.
If you are expecting romance, there’s not much in this series. I wouldn’t recommend this trilogy as romance fiction.
The series is heavily mental health/eating disorder based & how the ones who are struggling with such conditions in their day to day lives; what can be done, what approach as family and friends can take to help; how to avoid being controlling and getting overwhelmed when trying to be of help.
I hope the author writes more books in the future.
Books: Changing Ways Trilogy by Julia Tannenbaum
➡️Book 1: Changing Ways 4 🌟
Our sixteen year old main protagonist, Grace Edwards, starts school and is struggling with the stress of being a teenager trying to ace in studies and social life. Her relationship with her mother starts straining and she’s trying to cope with everything by beginning to control her diet and sf harming.
➡️ Book 2: Breaking Free 5 🌟
Grace is being treated in a treatment facility with close supervision of her mother and she’s trying really hard. It’s super stressful to read this sequel and I can see what people with this health condition go through. Nevertheless, it is a realistic representation read.
➡️ Book 3: Choosing Life 5 🌟
I absolutely love the final book. It wraps up everything well. The interactions between the characters- the friends, the romantic aspects, parent child, siblings, colleagues and family - are quite realistic.
If you are expecting romance, there’s not much in this series. I wouldn’t recommend this trilogy as romance fiction.
The series is heavily mental health/eating disorder based & how the ones who are struggling with such conditions in their day to day lives; what can be done, what approach as family and friends can take to help; how to avoid being controlling and getting overwhelmed when trying to be of help.
I hope the author writes more books in the future.
February 8, 2020
"Sickness is familiar; sickness is safe; sickness is expectable. Living, on the other hand, is scary as hell."
This book hit hard and I mean that in the best way possible. Grace is one of the strongest narrators I've encountered in a long time even though she spends most of the novel doubting her strength.
I loved how real this felt. It didn't hold back to spare anyone's feelings and rightly so. Eating disorders are real and I love seeing another book on the topic. It also did a great job representing the LGBTQ community!
One of my favorite things about Breaking Free was seeing Grace and her mother grow together. Their relationship isn't always perfect but you see them both try to make it work and in the end, it really does.
You also get a firsthand account of what it's like to be in treatment and recovering from an eating disorder.
The only thing I didn't love was the references to overweight people BUT Grace is a teenager with an eating disorder and the fact that she sees overweight people as something to fear is realistic.
Apparently this is a sequel, too! I wouldn't have realized without reading reviews because it really stands on its own quite well. Now I'm off to get the first one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
This book hit hard and I mean that in the best way possible. Grace is one of the strongest narrators I've encountered in a long time even though she spends most of the novel doubting her strength.
I loved how real this felt. It didn't hold back to spare anyone's feelings and rightly so. Eating disorders are real and I love seeing another book on the topic. It also did a great job representing the LGBTQ community!
One of my favorite things about Breaking Free was seeing Grace and her mother grow together. Their relationship isn't always perfect but you see them both try to make it work and in the end, it really does.
You also get a firsthand account of what it's like to be in treatment and recovering from an eating disorder.
The only thing I didn't love was the references to overweight people BUT Grace is a teenager with an eating disorder and the fact that she sees overweight people as something to fear is realistic.
Apparently this is a sequel, too! I wouldn't have realized without reading reviews because it really stands on its own quite well. Now I'm off to get the first one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
August 12, 2019
Changing Ways blew me away with its insight and intensity. Breaking Free took the journey through mental illness to a place called recovery that I didn't really understand until now. Tannenbaum's writing is direct and honest. She writes the experiences of her protagonist Grace in a skillful way that makes me feel like I'm in her head and living her disease. There has to be more for Grace and I await the next book in the series to find out what happens next.
January 9, 2020
I met Julia at an event and bought both of her books. Lovely young woman. I'm not one to read YA, but I loved her novels. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. Would highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews