Girl Against the Universe - Softcover

Stokes, Paula

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062379976 ISBN 13: 9780062379979

Publisher: HarperTeen, 2017

Synopsis

From the author of The Art of Lainey and Liars, Inc. comes a fresh, contemporary story about a girl coping with PTSD and the boy who wants to help her move on from the past. Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen or Jenny Han.

Sixteen-year-old Maguire knows the universe is against her. No matter how many charms she buys off the internet or good luck rituals she performs each morning, horrible things happen when she's around. Like that time the roller coaster jumped off its tracks. Or the time her brother, father, and uncle were all killed in a car crash—and Maguire walked away with barely a scratch. Despite what her therapist tells her, Maguire thinks it’s best to hide out in her room, far away from anyone she might accidentally hurt. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star who wants to help her break her unlucky streak. Maguire knows that the best thing she can do for him is to stay away, but it turns out staying away may be harder than she thought.

About this title

From the Author:

Three things you should know about Girl Against the Universe
1. This is a book about mental illness.It's not immediately apparent from the sales copy above, but main character Maguire is suffering from PTSD, specifically survivor's guilt. After being in multiple serious accidents where everyone but her was injured or killed, Maguire worries obsessively that she might be a "bad luck charm" to anyone who gets close. To help combat her anxiety, she has developed unhealthy coping mechanisms like isolating herself from people and obsessively checking her environment for hazards. The first four chapters of the book are Maguire beginning a course of cognitive behavioral therapy after yet another accident pushes her to her breaking point.
2. This is a funny and uplifting story.A lot of mental illness books are dark and gritty reads with depressing storylines and negative portrayals of therapy. Maguire's issues are treated seriously and respectfully, and the book's therapist is competent and helpful without doing all the work for her. There are places where she is suffering from panic attacks or engaging in compulsive behaviors that might feel all too real to readers with similar issues, but early reviewers have described the story as "hopeful" and "healing." There are plenty of lighthearted funny moments to balance out the darker places. If you are struggling with anxiety and/or dealing with grief, Maguire's journey will probably both comfort and inspire you.
3. The romance does not "cure" the mental illness.As someone with anxiety, I can tell you that most of the time a new romantic relationship exacerbates one's current struggles by adding additional stress and expectations. There is a romance in this book, but it begins as a friendship, and Maguire has no problem telling Jordy that she's not healthy enough to date anyone at first. Even after they later become involved, Jordy supports her as she works through her therapy challenges, but she is the one who drives her journey toward healing, a journey which continues long after the final pages of this book.

About the Author:

Paula Stokes is the author of Hidden Pieces; This Is How It Happened; Girl Against the Universe; Liars, Inc.; and The Art of Lainey. Paula lives in Portland, Oregon. You can find her online at www.authorpaulastokes.com or on Twitter and Instagram @pstokesbooks.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperTeen
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0062379976
• ISBN 13: 9780062379979
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 416