This is a beautifully written YA novel about helping others and discovering yourself in the process. The writing style was everything I could have asked for and more a must read.

Much of Hurricane Season was an engaging read, and overall, I enjoyed the book. Fig’s longing to connect with her father through art and her protection of him and their family unit from the reaches of those in social services who would think of themselves as rescuing her ring true. The connections of his mental illness with Van Gogh’s and her seeing herself in the role of his savior as Van Gogh’s brother was to him adds a believable and interesting angle. The neighbor Mark gives needed relief from her bearing all the burden herself and his gay relationship with her father comes naturally.

For me, Fig’s gay sexuality was kind of one problem too many, and I thought it actually took away from the story. I will not be blogging about the book since I do not blog about books I can’t give a wholehearted recommendation to my reader.

Thank you for letting me read the book since the well-written book kept me turning pages. I will recommend it one-on-one to those I think would enjoy it.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Title: Hurricane Season
Author: Nicole Melleby
Genre: Middle grade contemporary
Rating: 3.5 stars
Trigger/content warnings: abandonment by a parent (Fig's mother, in the past), mental illness (bipolar disorder), some bullying, self harm, fear of losing one's mind, fear of someone taking their life (talks on suicide), neglect of a child (even though Fig's dad loves her very much, he is not well and therefore Fig has to fend for herself sometimes and look after him as well), anxiety, OCD (constant ear tugging). strong feelings of guilt.

Representation: No characters are explicitly identified. Our main character, Fig, is questioning her identity and sexuality, she likes girls more than boys and has crushes on girls in the book. There is also a romantic relationship between Fig's dad and their neighbour Mark, both have been in relationships with women before, nothing said about if they have been in relationships with any other gender in the past.


I am really struggling to rate this book, on the one hand, the writing style was beautiful and this book dealt with some very important topics, but on the other hand, I had some problems.

This is the story of Fig, an 11-year-old girl who lives with her father, Tim. Tim struggles with his mental illness, not fully understanding why he is the way he is or how to get help. When social services intervene, Fig is desperate to help her dad so he isn't taken away from her. Help comes in the form of Mark, their new neighbour across the street.

This book takes a look into the other side of living with mental illness, the side of loving someone who suffers and how it affects you as a person. Fig loves her dad, but his mental illness has affected her. She is constantly worrying, basically becoming her father's caregiver. She practically has the weight of the world on her 11 YO shoulders and it's obviously not healthy at all.



First I am going to talk about the things I liked
-The writing style was beautiful. I was so emersed in the story.
-So fast paced. I finished this in one sitting!
-I really commend the author for tackling such important topics in this book, especially for a middle-grade novel.
-The strong focus on art and Van Gogh in particular. I only know the basics about Van Gogh, but this book goes deeper into his life. As Fig tries desperately to understand her father, she connects to the artist, in particular, Theo (Van Gogh's brother) and the letters they write back and forth to each other.
-The bipolar rep. As someone with a loved one who has bipolar, I connected to this book on that level. I personally found the representation accurate.
- This was surprisingly a very beautiful and impactful read.
-I was so glad when Tim decided to get Fig help too, in the form of a therapist. Fig obviously had a lot to deal with and having someone to talk to outside of family would benefit her in the long run.


Things I didn't like
-Danny. Fig's supposed "best friend". I didn't like him at all. When Fig declines to be his girlfriend, he decides he doesn't like "no" and then completely ignores her and cuts her off.
-There was a moment in the book where Fig's dad is just coming down from a manic episode to find that Mark and Fig are sitting together on the coach. He then proceeds to accuse Mark of being a predator and Fig's response is "Honestly, even if Mark were a neighbourhood predator, her dad wasn't exactly all that threatening." for some reason, I didn't like this. Because the thing is, Mark could have been anyone and to brush it off so easily is worrying.
-Another thing, Fig goes to a Halloween party. Now, I may be in my twenties, but I never went to a party at 11 years old that had drugs and alcohol. I had sleepovers and cake and coca cola, not beer and drugs. Maybe that's just me, maybe that's what kids are doing these days, but that sure is worrying if so.
-The book (and Fig) focuses too much on her dad. I felt as though the focus was never on Fig, it was always on her dad. I know that's easy to say from someone who has never had to look after a parent with mental illness, but I felt like it was bordering on toxic and unhealthy. I felt like the story wasn't about her at all, all she really learns about herself was the fact that she liked girls over boys.


Overall, this book certainly packed a punch. I would recommend giving this a go if it sounds like something you would enjoy. If you like MG books that handle deep topics, this could be for you!

Review to be posted on my blog closer to the release date.

Beautiful story about family and mental illness. This diverse read should be a staple in middle school classrooms.

Beautifully written middle-grade book. Loved the depth of the characters. A book that many will be able to relate to and learn from.

Mini review:

I received this E-ARC via Algonquin Young Readers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF

Trigger warning: Mention of ‘sick’ parent. Most likely mental illness. And child services. Till the point I read.

When I heard about this book through the publisher I was sold! I was so excited and happy when I got an arc. Unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

I didn’t like the writing style. And didn’t much care for the plot or the characters. I can’t speak for the mental illness rep. Though from other reviewers I’ve heard it’s good.

Still recommend.

This is a beautifully written book that touches your heart. In Fig’s life, hurricane season represents the everyday survival of the constant storms at home and school. Her Father is mentally ill, and as the literal hurricanes form and strengthen, his mental illness seems to over take him as well. Fig tries to understand what is going on in his mind by studying the life and art of Vincent Van Gogh. Like Van Gogh, her father is an artist. He is a talented musician that has lost touch with most of reality. He experiences life differently, sees the world is colors that Fig can’t understand and as she studies Van Gogh, she is afraid her father’s life will end the same way. However, Fig finds friendships and help in unexpected places, a neighbor, a teacher in school, a friend at school. She learns to open her heart and trust others. She learns about different types of love and friendships and how these relationships change people.

This is a beautiful and authentic look at one girl's struggle with growing up, coming out, and dealing with her father's mental illness. Highly recommended for middle grade collections.

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for an eARC of this book.

Fig lives with her father, who was an accomplished pianist but has been unable to finish a piece for many years. Fig's life revolves around caring for his erratic moods, and never being sure which dad she's going to encounter. She longs to understand him, and takes to learning about Van Gogh and art to see if she can understand her dad better. When a new neighbor across the street helps save Fig's dad one night during a storm, and becomes a regular fixture in their lives, Fig doesn't know how to step back and let someone else in to care for them. She feels like she's losing the power to manage their situation at a time when it matters most.

I really love seeing more books written for middle grade readers where mental illness is a focus, and this story thoughtfully shows the impact of bipolar disorder on a family. I will be recommending this book to readers who enjoyed Where the Watermelons Grow and will definitely add it to my library's collection in May.

Fig (given name Finola) and her father Tim live along the coast in New Jersey. Her father was an up and coming composer and performer before Fig's birth, but after her arrival, her mother left and her father struggled with the creative process. He has good days and bad days, and is especially disturbed by storms, which frequent their area at certain times of year. When her father comes to school in a very agitated state looking for Fig, her art teacher calls children's protective services and has the family under watch. Fig feels that if she can keep everything together at home and do well on an art project about Van Gogh, her father will seem competent and they will be able to stay together. She gets help from an unlikely source, new neighbor Mark, who rescues her father from a storm and slowly starts helping the two put some coping mechanisms in place. Fig is able to let Mark handle some issues, and relaxes enough to try to make some friends, including Danny, who "like likes" her. However, when her father comes to a Halloween party looking for her, again in an agitated state, Mark takes even more action and makes sure that the father goes to a doctor and gets the help he so desperately needs. Adjusting to the medication isn't easy, but it does seem to improve things, as does the stable presence of Mark. Tim and Mark become romantically involved, children's protective services are pleased that Tim is making progress, and Fig is able to turn her attention back to the academic and social aspects of middle school.
Strengths: It was refreshing to see a child in crisis at a moment when concerned adults were beginning to get involved. Fig's life has been difficult, but when it starts to become impossible, there are people there to help her. I think this is an important reassurance for young readers and a reminder that they should go to trusted adults if they have problems. Fig's attitude is understandable, and she tries her best to hold things together by being the adult but also trying her best in school. She is lonely for friends, but not romantically interested in Danny, mainly because she's 11, but also because she has a crush on an older girl who works at the library. Van Gogh and his problems are worked into the story in an interesting way, and the cover is a nice reflection of that theme.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of issues. The dad's bipolar disorder, Fig's abandonment by her mother, Mark and Tim's relationship, Fig's questioning of her sexuality, and even a passing mention of Danny's father being in drug rehab. That's all fine; it's all appropriate to this age group, but by mentioning so many different things, it makes each one of them seem less believable to readers who may have no background knowledge about some of them. Having Fig's father be gay or bisexual is one thing, but to also have Fig be questioning makes both situations seem more unlikely and forced.
What I really think: This was well written and enjoyable, but I will have to see if I need more books of this kind. With a limited budget, I can buy only a small percentage of each type of book, and books with sad issues and children overcoming adversity make up a large number of 2019 releases.

After her father, seemingly out of control, disrupts her art class at school, Fig and her father are once again under the watchful eye of social services. Desperate to keep them together as well as understand what is happening to her father, Fig struggles to learn more about her father's bipolar disorder. With support from a new neighbor, Fig hopes her father will get the help he needs, but it is not without unexpected events and relationships for both her and her father.

Hurricane Season is a powerful novel! As Fig works to understand her father's bipolar disorder as well as his relationship with their new neighbor, she also makes an important discovery about herself. This is a beautiful, emotional book that many will find deep connections to.

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC. This middle grade is everything I love in a book. Fig saves the cat in the first couple pages, the characters are complex and interesting, the storyline is simple yet deep, and the writing is just absolutely beautiful.

I was so invested in Fig and her dad and the honest portrayal of what it’s like living with someone with mental illness—the chaos and confusion of it all. I honestly didn’t want the book to end. I thoroughly enjoyed the addition of learning about Van Gogh alongside Fig.

While I loved this book with my whole heart, there are some components that could make it difficult as a read aloud for a classroom teacher—which I hate—but it is reality. I think there are more students than we realize who could connect with Fig and her story on multiple levels, and I’m over the moon so many middle grade books are taking these kinds of risks to ensure that their books represent the realities many kids face rather than pretending like life is perfect.

Bravo on your debut, Nicole Melleby.

Book: Hurricane Season
Author: Nicole Melleby
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers, for providing me with this ARC.

I must say I was very surprised with this one. To me, a lot of times middle school reads can be kind of iffy. It seems like a lot of middle school books almost want to shelter kids for the world or make it seem so much simpler than it actually is. What I really liked about Hurricane Season was that it didn’t do any of that. It deals with real issues: mental illness and sexuality. These are real things that real middle schoolers are dealing with and it’s such a shame that it’s not put into this ban of books very often. What’s even more messed up is the number of schools that will not allow books like this into their buildings-mine being one of them.

Enough about that…

Fig is our main character. She is a sixth grader, living with a single dad who has a mental illness. She tries her best to play it off as not being as bad as it really is. I mean, she is really afraid that she is going to be placed into foster care and never see her dad again. Now, she really doesn’t present her dad’s illness as being his fault. She tells everyone that he can’t help it, which is true. This is a lot more insightful than most people. A lot of people really don’t understand that people with mental illness really can’t help it and that they do need help. What I like about Fig is how she tries to take care of everything herself and really steps up. A lot of people her age would not be able to deal with what she is dealing with. Yes, she does break and all of that, but it doesn’t take away from her strength. I think, that as a teacher, that Fig is a great role model for all ages. She is also joined by a great cast of characters, but I can’t go anymore into that what I have because I don’t want to spoil it.

The book goes through so many different levels. What really makes all of this come to life is Nicole’s beautiful writing. I mean, there is such an emotional punch there that really makes you feel the pain and the joy of the book. The last book that really made me feel this way was Wonder. As I was reading this, I was actually thinking of Wonder because this reminded me so much of it. I love just how something very real is put on the page and how much you just end up feeling. Gasp, I just really can’t describe it; you just need to read this book. Just do it….

Again, this is a middle grade book, but really all levels of readers will enjoy this. it is very well written and done that it is really hard to put down. If you liked Wonder, then I think you will like this one.
So, Hurricane Season comes out on May 7, 2019. I really do hope that this goes down as one of the most talked about books of 2019, because it does deserve it.

In this book, I found a story that was interesting, but not enthralling. Fig, the main character, is likable and clearly illustrated as needing help. Her father was likable in the way that most characters are when they not in their right minds and I truly believed he loved Fig. I thought that Mark was just a nice guy who was helpful. Yet the fact that both men who were married are described as kissing had me looking back to see what I missed. I was not expecting that aspect in the book. I think it would have been better if it were just a book about Fig, her father and Mark finding their way. I think that addition brought up a whole issue that was casually mentioned and treated tritely.

I highly recommend this book! Fog, the main character, is someone the reader instantly connects with and empathizes with. The topics of mental health and sexuality are sensitively and expertly handled. The writing is beautiful. I loved all of the information about VanGogh.

Juvenile literature is so hard to get just right but Melleby nails it with Hurricane Season. The emotions she conveys are huge but handled in a way not to overwhelm young readers, yet just enough to have them relate and understand.

Hurricane Season is a great middle grades read. I often describe this type of realistic fiction book to my students as "Kids with Problems". Many students in this age group like to read about other kids with problems- like their own, but also different problems too. Fig aka Finola lives with her mentally ill father. He is clearly loving and a musical genius. But untreated mental illness has made his life and Fig's too, very difficult. Fig is at an age where she doesn't want to be different or embarrassed by her father. Her mother took off when Fig was born, so Fig has been the responsible parent in the household. Things start to change as hurricane season approaches- always a difficult time mentally for Fig’s dad Tim. Fig makes a new friend Danny, meets a kind new neighbor named Mark, and develops a crush. This book is a great coming of age novel for middle grades!

Fib, a small sixth grader, is trying to manage her home life with a musician father who hasn't written anything since she was born and an absent mother. Her father's erratic behavior has caused concern among neighbors and teachers and she is feeling that she might be separated from her father by child protective services. When a new neighbor moves in and starts to help Fig take her of her father, she realizes that she needs more than the constant stress and worry that her father causes and the story follows her journey through school and home as she discovers what it's like to be a kid and let adults take care of adult concerns.

Nicole Melleby explores the blossoming of a sixth grade girls abilities and passions in this nuanced and delicate novel. Fig must balance her love for her father, her feelings of inadequacy in the face of the other girls, and new understandings about herself.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.