Being is Better

Better Together #1

by Marjorie Jackson.

Fourteen-year-old Amber has battled medical challenges – specifically epilepsy – her whole life. Due to her physical limitations, she has no friends, but does her best to trudge through each day with a smile.

Fellow “middle-school senior” Missy has struggles of her own. Following her brother’s death in Afghanistan, her father uprooted them from everything familiar, only to divorce Missy’s mother and move away, leaving Missy friendless and angry, forced to care for her deeply depressed mother.

Two girls with different pasts, both fighting loneliness.

Can they learn to overcome life’s struggles and tragedies? Can they find each other and battle teen awkwardness together?

Genres: Young Adult

314 pages, Paperback

Published October 16, 2021

About the author

Somewhat of a late blooming author, Marjorie "Marji" Jackson wrote her Better Together Duology in her fifties. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, she was a passionate crafter and volunteer.

She lived with her family in beautiful, rural Colorado amongst the deer and the antelope, before succumbing to a rare breast cancer in January 2021, which she had fought for two years with grace.

Reviews

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book might be aimed toward high school kids. I was wrong. It is for any age. What a great author. I couldn't stop from turning the pages. When I reached the last page of this book I wanted more. It took me back to my high school days, what friends I had, understanding now what could have been going on in the lives of those I grew up with but never realized. The author has done a wonderful job of telling a story in alternating points of view. This author created two separate stories that merge into one. Amber suffers from seizures. No one wants to be friends with her so she remains invisible. Missy comes from a very dysfunctional family after the loss of her brother. She too has been invisible for so long. Her solution is to change herself to make herself noticed. Unfortunately she attacks the wrong type of friends. Things change when the two meet and start talking. Friendship can heal so many hurts. This is a book of raw pain, hope, and true friendship. I went through similar circumstance doing my elementary, junior high, and high school years. Highly recommend.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amber and Missy are both 14 year old girls facing a unique set of challenges as they enter their last year of middle school. Amber has epilepsy, an invisible medical condition that mostly makes her blank out, be tired all the time and have memory issues. Lately, however, her seizures have been getting worse, some leading to injury and causing her to miss even more school. Missy's family moved to town after her brother died fighting in Afghanistan. The death proved too much for Missy's mother though, and she retreated into her grief while Missy's father moved on and moved away. Amber and Missy suffer in their loneliness, but soon realize that a true friend may be what they need to help them through this time.


Being is Better is a heartfelt middle grade novel about the hardships of this difficult part of life and the power of friendship. Told in alternating points of view between Amber and Missy, the story goes deep into their lives to gain understanding and connection to each of the girls. Amber's struggles with epilepsy are well written, showing the physical, mental and social tolls of the invisible medical condition. Missy's family situation is another hidden difficulty that many families silently go through. Missy's mother's depression was written in a way that didn't put the blame on anyone and showed the gravity of the situation. While the girl's individual stories are compelling, I was waiting for a while for something exciting to happen. The girls don't even meet until about 70% of the way through the story and finally some magic happens. It was amazing to see what happened when Missy and Amber began to believe and trust in themselves. With a major breakthrough near the end of the story, I know there is more to Amber and Missy's journey to come.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and inspiring story of two teenage girls. They are so different as is their problem. Will they find friendship in each other. Can’t wait for the next book.

[Joann 'bartunek' prashek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid 5 stars, sure wish I could give it MORE. I'm already looking forward to book #2, "Beyond Invisible." A big thanks to Goodreads for the copy of the book. An easy read filled with emotion, fitting in and friendship (or the lack of it) suitable for all ages

[Maggie - Busy Moms Read Too · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heart warming story of two teens who are hurt and lonely for different reasons. Although the reasons are different, they come together to bond over their pain and turn it into something beautiful. Their friendship is sweet and I enjoyed reading about their lives coming together.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story of two teenagers with different medical problems. How they gravitate towards each other. Heartwarming story.

[OJ Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic ride of Friendship
I am in love with this book. Positive waves, motivation, grounded realism, and the healing power of true friendship abound in this book.
I was hesitant to read this book since it required me to step outside of my comfort zone. Being is Better is the only book that can convince me to leave my comfort zone. Although this novel lacks romance or other romantic undertones, I am glad I decided to read it. But I'm sure there will be romance in the following book.

The storyline of this book is about 14-year-old Ambar's epilepsy and Missy's dealing with her trauma difficulties. Amber is trying to come to grips with her health issues and loneliness. Missy is a jumbled mess, broken from the inside out, searching for anything that might fix her problems. One dream unites them both: finding one true forever friend.

Connecting with Amber is too easy for me. From childhood, I saw epilepsy issues in my family frequently dealing with and suffering. But not quite the same as Amber. Even if you've never heard of it, it's explained in simple words. Amber is vibrant, mature, and courageous enough never to give up hope for her version of ordinary life and fulfill any of her wishes.

Missy or Melissa is an overwhelmed package of emotions. I have a hard time first understanding her reasoning or choices, but it only makes her seem like a teenager, and reading her portion helps me to understand her better. Missy has a mysterious past and all the family issues that only make her lose herself slowly.

The blurb, title, and cover all pique my interest enough to make me want to read this book. I did want to figure out what these meant, and it didn't let me down. Amber and Missy are spelling out every detail of them.

The story is narrated from the perspectives of Amber and Missy. I was frightened in the midst of the book when the book's tale turned out to be friendship converted into true love, and I am so relieved that it is solely about two girls' honest friendship and support for each other. Missy's limited perspective in parts of the book's later chapters disappointed me. It would offer me some lighter space, If Mase, Missy, and Amber had more interactions that allowed me to comprehend their blossoming bonds and feelings.

Being is better by Marjorie Jackson's writing style, which is straightforward and easy to read despite the fact that she is telling a complex story. The book provides me with incredible moments that twist into tragic incidents filled with raw emotional pain and a heavy heart.

Being is better to start with a slow pace of both of their individual lives' glimpses. That helps me understand more about them. I was curious as to when Amber and Missy would meet. The process of starting or approaching to make friends takes me back to my teenage life; it's explained beautifully. I can't stop my hot, fat tears from resting on my cheeks and smiling with them in the last chapter. I read the book in one go and couldn't come out of it until I gave them words.

I'm excited to read Beyond Invisible, the sequel to this novel, to learn more about Amber accepting her life the way it is and controlling her escalating seizures and Missy's crush blossoming into love, and the mystery surrounding Frankie finally uncovered.

Check Full Review here- https://ojreads18.blogspot.com/2021/1...

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being Is Better is such a heartwarming story. The story is about two girls, Amber and Missy, who are in their last year of middle school. They each tell their individual stories for most of the book before they meet each other. I enjoyed reading each of their stories and then their ultimate friendship.
Amber is a 14 year old girl who suffers from epilepsy and just wants to be a normal girl. She has an amazing family that include her parents, brother and her Nana. Amber has seizures that make her blank out. She has been to many different doctors and not one seems to be able to help her. Amber’s epilepsy causes her to miss school a lot and does cause her to have some injuries from blanking out. She is tired a lot and just doesn’t have the energy to keep up with others.
Missy is also a 14 year old girl who has recently moved to a new city. Her brother passed away, her dad moved away and her mom has been struggling a lot with her son passing away. Missy is an artist and just wants to find a friend that she can hang out with and talk to. I really admired her strength. The way she dealt with all that was going on in her life took a lot of courage.
After we get to hear about their individual stories than Amber and Missy finally meet one day at school when Missy introduces herself to Amber. They just click and become great friends. Throughout the remainder of the book they are able to help each other with their individual struggles. Amber’s family really takes in Missy and makes her feel as though she is part of their family.
This was just an amazing, well written story. I enjoyed reading it so much and didn’t want to stop reading. I am excited to read the next book and see how their story continues. I highly recommend reading this story.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible to give this book 100 stars because I totally I would! I absolutely adored it!! If I could use one word to describe this book it would be “inspiring”. The plot itself is so touchingly intense, between understanding the physical/emotional demands of epilepsy as well as the heart wrenching emotions of losing a loved one, this story was definitely exceptional. I just love a book where the author can make me laugh out loud in one chapter and have me crying in the next, and Being Is Better brought it all. More importantly the two main characters displayed an uncommon amount of inner strength. In fantasy stories we read about the beautiful heroin who battles the evil king, but in this story we got to see the reality of everyday life and how two teenage girls battled internal demons far more daunting than an evil king and helped each other find happiness and friendship every step of the way. I usually don’t gravitate towards books where romance isn’t the main theme, but this book was the ultimate exception. This story genuinely shows how friendship can truly be the greatest healing therapy. I loved how the story offered both Missy and Amber’s perspectives. Because of the dual perspective I was able to connect with each girl on a personal level that honestly made me feel like I was also one of their friends. The complexity behind each of the main characters’ backgrounds was incredibly detailed and made for such an interesting story that I couldn’t get enough of; good thing book two comes out in just a few days! 

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being is Better was a story that was packed with emotion, one that had me hooked once I was sucked into the story. While I did enjoy this one, I opted to round my three-point-five-star rating down instead of up when I stopped to think about it. Most, however, are sure to be a lot less picky than I was.

While I adored the messages involved with this story, the reason I didn’t round my rating up was because I feel it took a bit too long for the friendship element of this storyline to become the focus. I loved all the detail that came before, yet I felt things moved a little too quickly once the friendship happened. A friendship I was hugely invested in. It really brought the characters to life and hit hard, which was why I wish there had been a wee bit more on that front. It’s likely all of that will come in the second book, though, which is what my fingers are crossed for.

All in all, this was an emotionally charged book that is sure to grip many.

[Oji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the way story rolled. Waiting for next book to come. Different but wonderful book.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The author has done a wonderful job of telling a story in alternating points of view. Not only will I put this book on my shelves at school, but will also use is to teach POV in a story. This author created two separate stories that merge into one. Amber suffers from seizures. No one wants to be friends with her so she remains invisible. Missy comes from a very dysfunctional family after the loss of her brother. She too has been invisible for so long. Her solution is to change herself to make herself noticed. Unfortunately she attacks the wrong type of friends. Things change when the two meet and start talking. Friendship can heal so many hurts. I have a sister and a niece who both suffer from the way Amber does. I could sympathize with her family. I have seen Missy's situation in the lives of so many of my students. Not all of them turn out the way Missy's does. This is a book of raw pain, hope, and true friendship. I am looking forward to reading the second book "Beyond Invisible" which comes out just a couple of days before Thanksgiving. This is a definite must-read book.

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is about two young girls dealing with two different heartfelt situations. It shares their struggles and friendship. Very very good!!!!

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pull out the tissue box because these pages go to the heart and demonstrate the beauty of friendship, especially in the more difficult moments of life.

Two girls, Amber and Missy, are heading into the last year of middle school. Both have problems they're doing their best to deal with. Both are very lonely. Finding a friend isn't something either has really considered, nor have they really tried. But sometimes, life finds a way to pull two together in the most unexpected way.

The story is told from two points of view: Amber's and Missy's. To keep things simple, the girl's name is printed large and bold whenever the switch occurs or a new chapter begins. But these two have such different personalities and situations that it's not hard to figure out, who is who. While Amber is more laid back and has, in many respects, a more serious issue thanks to her difficult form of epilepsy, Missy is more fire than ice a she tries her best to fit in with expectations she can't really meet just to get some peace from her family. The two are both easy to sympathize with, very different, and, yet, similar. Each is trying to do the best they can. Neither wants to hurt or disappoint anyone.

Both girls come across extremely natural, making each one easy to connect with and know. The author spends about half the book with the girls not aware of the others' existence and dwells on their individual problems and lives. This gave both tons of depth and let the reader know them inside and out. It did slow things down quite a bit, though, too. I found myself skipping over paragraphs, wondering when the two would finally meet. But the pacing also allowed Amber and her condition, to come across extremely well and be handled with the necessary care. That was very well done.

The value of friendship is a strong message in these pages, but it's not the only one. Amber's determination and positive attitude are inspiring. Missy deals with tough family themes such as the loss of a sibling, parents' divorce, and watching a parent go through deep depression. While she struggled , there were many inspiring moments from her side, too, and lessons for life.

The girls spend a lot of time interacting with their families, which was nice to see. They also spend quite a bit of time during the first chapters interacting with their doctors. Little time was spent with anything else, and I did wonder how their lives outside of these two areas were, especially since both were attending school and other activities...none of which were shown. A large span of time passes in these chapters, and although each of the girls main activities over the summer was hit upon, I missed getting to know more about what each did. For example, Amber volunteers to help with dogs, but only talks excitedly about it. The reader doesn't really get to experience it with her.

All in all, this is a potent book with more than a few touching moments. Amber and Missy are girls to root for and cheer on as they each inspire in their own way. And neither is easy to forget even after the last page has been read. I received a complimentary copy and found the author's handling of the characters and themes very well done.

[M. K. French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Amber has dealt with epilepsy and has no friends. She still trudges through every day, until she meets Missy, whose father uprooted the family after her brother's death in Afghanistan, only to abandon them. Both are lonely and struggle with being teenage girls without friends.

Amber was inspired by the author's own daughter, and there are facts about epilepsy and how to care for seizures at the back of the book. Amber and Missy don't meet right away, so we get a chance to see their everyday lives. Amber has seizures medications can't control, weakness, and memory loss. She can't relate well to others; we later find out that prior friends tried inviting her places, but she wasn't always able to make it. She hated the fact that she wound up ditching them, and ultimately gave up. Missy was forced to see a therapist, who she didn't connect to and actually lied to. Then came drama club and the popular girls who bought into the persona she put forth. This didn't make either of them happy, and when Missy reached out first to become friends, they slowly got to know each other and who they were underneath the quiet facade they presented in middle school.

It's hard being a teenager, let alone one with issues. Invisible illnesses, whether it's epilepsy or grief, take their toll and make it harder to connect with others. These are kind girls with a lot of big things on their minds, and they carry this weight throughout the entire novel. Finding each other and becoming friends doesn't automatically change the circumstances of their pains, but having that support makes it easier to cope. Friendship lightens the load and gives them hope for the future, as well as someone else to care for and fight for. This is a great book for middle schoolers and one that any kid will connect with.