A captivating and powerful exploration of the opioid crisis—the deadliest drug epidemic in American history—through the eyes of a college-bound softball star. Edgar Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a visceral and necessary novel about addiction, family, friendship, and hope.
When a car crash sidelines Mickey just before softball season, she has to find a way to hold on to her spot as the catcher for a team expected to make a historic tournament run. Behind the plate is the only place she's ever felt comfortable, and the painkillers she's been prescribed can help her get there.
The pills do more than take away pain; they make her feel good.
With a new circle of friends—fellow injured athletes, others with just time to kill—Mickey finds peaceful acceptance, and people with whom words come easily, even if it is just the pills loosening her tongue.
But as the pressure to be Mickey Catalan heightens, her need increases, and it becomes less about pain and more about want, something that could send her spiraling out of control.
My Review:
This was a really great book, about addiction and sports and someone who works hard, and doesn't know how to interact outside of her chosen specialty. Mickey is always fine, she is independent, and this car accident right before her senior season put a wrench in her plans that she wasn't going to let beat her.
There were a few moving parts to Mickey's addiction. There was her need to get back into playing ball, not disappointing her team and her mom. Once she healed, it wasn't about the pain anymore, but the withdrawal. The fact that she doesn't know how to socialize, and the Oxy gave her that confidence, I can really see that happening.
In fact, that Mickey got addicted, it's so easy to see. And a little terrifying, because it's something that could happen to any of us, have an injury, get prescribed drugs, get addicted to them. I've been lucky, no major injuries besides a broken bone, and when I had my wisdom teeth removed, the pain wasn't bad enough to take the strong stuff. But I could see it happening, and it's scary. And eye-opening.
Sometimes it was really hard to read this book. We could see Mickey going on a downward spiral-sure, there were some good moments, like when she was playing softball, but then there were the bad moments, like pawning off her mom's wedding ring. And knowing it would get worse before it got better-after all, there was that from the future prologue-it was tough. It edged into pushing one of my buttons, which is a reason why it took me so long to getting around to reading this book, but I pushed past my weirdness. And the ending was pretty positive, if uncertain, and the best that could be hoped for, because addiction is a tricky beast.
This was a really enjoyable book, though not for everyone, and I couldn't put it down!
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Read: May 17th, 2020
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good and I enjoy her books and it's a SAC 2020 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Published: March 12th 2019
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| 5/5 Hearts |
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| 5/5 Books |
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| 5/5 Stars |
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