REVIEW – ARE WE ALL LEMMINGS AND SNOWFLAKES? by Holly Bourne

Posted August 15, 2018 by Emma in 5 Stars, Book Review, Contemporary, Holly Bourne, UKYA, Usborne Publishing / 2 Comments

Holly Bourne’s book are always my most anticipated, as soon as finished the latest from her, I’m craving for more. I was so excited when it came through the door from Usborne, I really am so very lucky. It’s not unknown that she is my favourite author.

Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?
by Holly Bourne
Publisher – Usborne Publishing
Release Date – August 9th 2018
Buy – Amazon | Book Depository

Welcome to Camp Reset, a summer camp with a difference. A place offering a shot at “normality” for Olive, a girl on the edge, and for the new friends she never expected to make – who each have their own reasons for being there. Luckily Olive has a plan to solve all their problems. But how do you fix the world when you can’t fix yourself?

There is no need for an introduction for this author. Holly Bourne is the leading lady of UKYA and her latest book honestly doesn’t compare to her others, it’s truly her best. I don’t say that lightly, I mean yes I say that about every book she writes but Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? has combined the greats of her collection of books in her latest novel.

Olive doesn’t want to be Nothing or Everything in her world. Her emotions goes from one extreme to another and her crazy brain and she calls it can’t find the middle. It doesn’t know balance and that’s what Olive needs! She doesn’t like labels. She lives life through emotions and highs or lows, she either sleep all day or she doesn’t at all. So after stopping herself from being suicidal she is sent to Camp Reset, a government-led treatment trial. There will be others like her but it’s the hope of finally being able to mend herself, to not be like this again that drives within her.
Olive is a brave and sensational young woman. Sometimes you don’t really know how to take Olive at first, she loves photography though, seeing her through a camera lens lens and developing them calms her. She’s an emotional rollercoater – the way she uses humour and jokes to cover how she feels.  She’s unable to stand still, she’s like one of those po-go sticks, pulsing with energy. Oh and she hates labels and she thinks she’s a failure. Living with mental health is one things, figuring out what she may have is another, so she just knows she has a strange brain and needs support to help it, to understand it. What I loved was that, Olive is the catalyst of the novel, she’s the main character, the main instigator in starting a revolution and that’s why she is an inspiration to young people and readers everywhere.
Who I really loved was Olive’s friends like Ally, her best and only friend who was always there for her and who is unafraid of telling it how it is and that’s why Olive loves her. Then you have others Olive met at Camp Reset, I won’t go though all the characters but there are some that really shined like Sophie who just lifted my heart, her vulnerability to life but the camp and her friends like Olive let her overcome her mental illness in small steps. Her confidence and strength grew and grew, it really made the novel. Then you have Lewis, Jamie and the rest of The Prime Numbers, each with their own vulnerabilities, their persona that it’s hard to grow attached to them. The Prime Numbers defines the book.
The representation of mental health in Holly’s book’s is very impressive. What I find is that Holly’s writing and narrative of her characterization of Olive was very moving and the impact of metal health on individuals and the world just makes it more intense at times. The emotional attachment you have with Olive and also The Prime Numbers but also more than that the joy you experience as it comes to an end. This book is more than just mental health, it’s about being kind to yourself, it’s about having some hope in this very complicated and sometimes dark world, it’s about appreciating and spreading the love and happiness you feel that others don’t feel so alone.
I’m a reader entranced by Holly’s stories she writes, to me it’s more of an understanding of mental health, it’s makes me realise that this is the world we are living in and we all need to help, to support younger people more. Working with young people every day as a librarian has opened my eyes to so much with what they go through and knowing that Holly’s books has not only found a place in my heart but also a place for others to resonate, a story for them to relate too gives me hope, that the world is a much kinder place to have Holly representing it in YA. She’s opened up YA to everyone. It was like we didn’t think to talk about mental health, friendships, reality until Holly came around.
I LOVE Holly’s writing. There’s something about it that just sings to your soul. Holly brings out all the emotion from page 1, her writing style is singular and unique. No one I’ve read, writes with such insight and sincerity and then BAM – insert the humour. It cracks me up every time but it just makes the it that more realistic and more human to read. With each of Holly’s book there’s always a moral to live by and which stays with you after finishing this book. This one is powerful and life affirming and changing is sharing kindness and it starts with yourself.
Holly Bourne is waiting at the top of the avalanche waiting for us to join her. This book truly moved me in a way that Holly’s books haven’t before. This is her greatest achievement and it’s shines with hope, friendship, kindness and strength. This book defines Holly Bourne at her best!
Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don’t forget to join in in the #KindnessIsContagious virus on Twitter.Thank you to Usborne and Holly for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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2 responses to “REVIEW – ARE WE ALL LEMMINGS AND SNOWFLAKES? by Holly Bourne

  1. Ah this sounds so good!

    The anxiety rep in Am I Normal Yet? was amazing, so I'm sure Holly represents mental health wonderfully in this book too!

  2. Ah I have yet to read a Holly Bourne book *hides in embarrasment* but I know they are dearly loved and treasured, and seemingly never a bust! This review was totally what I need to prioritise finally reading a Holly Bourne book. Is it just me or does she always have a new book out?

    Great review <3

    – Sunny @ A Sunny Spot