Overview

"Two teenagers. Two very bumpy roads taken that lead to Heartland Academy. Justin was just having fun, but when his dad walked in on him with a girl in a very compromising position, Justin's summer took a quick turn for the worse. His parents' divorce put Justin on rocky mental ground, and after a handful of Tylenol lands him in the hospital, he has really hit rock bottom. Emmy never felt like part of her family. She was adopted from China. Her parents and sister tower over her and look like they came out of a Ralph Lauren catalog--and Emmy definitely doesn't. After a scandalous photo of Emmy leads to vicious rumors around school, she threatens the boy who started it all on Facebook. Justin and Emmy arrive at Heartland Academy, a reform school that will force them to deal with their issues, damaged souls with little patience for authority. But along the way they will find a ragtag group of teens who are just as broken, stubborn, and full of sarcasm as themselves. In the end, they might even call each other friends. A funny, sad, and remarkable story, A Really Awesome Mess is a journey of friendship and self-discovery that teen readers will surely sign up for. ""Alte"

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9781606845431

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Reviews

High school students Emmy and Justin meet at Heartland Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for kids with emotional problems. Emmy has an eating disorder and lacks self-esteem, while Justin battles depression and suicidal tendencies. They soon make a connection with each other while working out their emotional problems. With professional help, and the help of new found friends, both teenagers work through their struggles. It is a journey of self-discovery coupled with humorous teen antics, as well as overcoming personal obstacles. This book touches on relevant teen issues such as cyberbullying, adoption, eating disorders, anger problems, suicide, and depression. It offers hope to those who are facing some of these same issues. This realistic fiction has sexual themes and some profanity making it more suitable for older teens. Highly Recommended. --starred, Library Media Connection --Journal Upon arrival at Heartland Academy, Emmy and Justin both think their respective parents are overreacting. So what if Chinese American adoptee Emmy threatened a racist, sexist bully on Facebook and got expelled from school for online harassment? And Justin's suicide attempt wasn't serious; otherwise, he would have used something stronger than Tylenol. But it doesn't matter: once admitted to Heartland, the only way out of the program is through it. The book is penned in chapters of alternating point of view, with Emmy and Justin building a bond with each other and the rest of their ragtag anger-management group, which includes a selective mute, a surly abuse survivor, a compulsive liar, and a gaming addict. Together, members of this little unit scheme get out of 'assland academy' by teaming up and confronting the demons they'd purposefully ignored (see Justin's severe depression and Emmy's anorexia). The bawdy, witty, and sarcastic style balances out the intense therapy discourse and the pensive self-reflection found elsewhere in this irreverent take on mental health, recovery, and wellness. --Booklist --Journal Alternating between scenes of broad humor and deep emotion, the authors present a realistic perspective on the flaws we all carry with us, and the way friendships can form and strengthen under any circumstances. --VOYA --Journal

Alternating between scenes of broad humor and deep emotion, the authors present a realistic perspective on the flaws we all carry with us, and the way friendships can form and strengthen under any circumstances. --VOYA --Journal Upon arrival at Heartland Academy, Emmy and Justin both think their respective parents are overreacting. So what if Chinese American adoptee Emmy threatened a racist, sexist bully on Facebook and got expelled from school for online harassment? And Justin's suicide attempt wasn't serious; otherwise, he would have used something stronger than Tylenol. But it doesn't matter: once admitted to Heartland, the only way out of the program is through it. The book is penned in chapters of alternating point of view, with Emmy and Justin building a bond with each other and the rest of their ragtag anger-management group, which includes a selective mute, a surly abuse survivor, a compulsive liar, and a gaming addict. Together, members of this little unit scheme get out of 'assland academy' by teaming up and confronting the demons they'd purposefully ignored (see Justin's severe depression and Emmy's anorexia). The bawdy, witty, and sarcastic style balances out the intense therapy discourse and the pensive self-reflection found elsewhere in this irreverent take on mental health, recovery, and wellness. --Booklist --Journal High school students Emmy and Justin meet at Heartland Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for kids with emotional problems. Emmy has an eating disorder and lacks self-esteem, while Justin battles depression and suicidal tendencies. They soon make a connection with each other while working out their emotional problems. With professional help, and the help of new found friends, both teenagers work through their struggles. It is a journey of self-discovery coupled with humorous teen antics, as well as overcoming personal obstacles. This book touches on relevant teen issues such as cyberbullying, adoption, eating disorders, anger problems, suicide, and depression. It offers hope to those who are facing some of these same issues. This realistic fiction has sexual themes and some profanity making it more suitable for older teens. Highly Recommended. --starred, Library Media Connection --Journal

Upon arrival at Heartland Academy, Emmy and Justin both think their respective parents are overreacting. So what if Chinese American adoptee Emmy threatened a racist, sexist bully on Facebook and got expelled from school for online harassment? And Justin's suicide attempt wasn't serious; otherwise, he would have used something stronger than Tylenol. But it doesn't matter: once admitted to Heartland, the only way out of the program is through it. The book is penned in chapters of alternating point of view, with Emmy and Justin building a bond with each other and the rest of their ragtag anger-management group, which includes a selective mute, a surly abuse survivor, a compulsive liar, and a gaming addict. Together, members of this little unit scheme get out of 'assland academy' by teaming up and confronting the demons they'd purposefully ignored (see Justin's severe depression and Emmy's anorexia). The bawdy, witty, and sarcastic style balances out the intense therapy discourse and the pensive self-reflection found elsewhere in this irreverent take on mental health, recovery, and wellness. --Booklist --Journal High school students Emmy and Justin meet at Heartland Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for kids with emotional problems. Emmy has an eating disorder and lacks self-esteem, while Justin battles depression and suicidal tendencies. They soon make a connection with each other while working out their emotional problems. With professional help, and the help of new found friends, both teenagers work through their struggles. It is a journey of self-discovery coupled with humorous teen antics, as well as overcoming personal obstacles. This book touches on relevant teen issues such as cyberbullying, adoption, eating disorders, anger problems, suicide, and depression. It offers hope to those who are facing some of these same issues. This realistic fiction has sexual themes and some profanity making it more suitable for older teens. Highly Recommended. --starred, Library Media Connection --Journal Alternating between scenes of broad humor and deep emotion, the authors present a realistic perspective on the flaws we all carry with us, and the way friendships can form and strengthen under any circumstances. --VOYA --Journal

"""Alternating between scenes of broad humor and deep emotion, the authors present a realistic perspective on the flaws we all carry with us, and the way friendships can form and strengthen under any circumstances."" --VOYA --Journal ""High school students Emmy and Justin meet at Heartland Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for kids with emotional problems. Emmy has an eating disorder and lacks self-esteem, while Justin battles depression and suicidal tendencies. They soon make a connection with each other while working out their emotional problems. With professional help, and the help of new found friends, both teenagers work through their struggles. It is a journey of self-discovery coupled with humorous teen antics, as well as overcoming personal obstacles. This book touches on relevant teen issues such as cyberbullying, adoption, eating disorders, anger problems, suicide, and depression. It offers hope to those who are facing some of these same issues. This realistic fiction has sexual themes and some profanity making it more suitable for older teens. Highly Recommended."" --starred, Library Media Connection --Journal ""Upon arrival at Heartland Academy, Emmy and Justin both think their respective parents are overreacting. So what if Chinese American adoptee Emmy threatened a racist, sexist bully on Facebook and got expelled from school for online harassment? And Justin's suicide attempt wasn't serious; otherwise, he would have used something stronger than Tylenol. But it doesn't matter: once admitted to Heartland, the only way out of the program is through it. The book is penned in chapters of alternating point of view, with Emmy and Justin building a bond with each other and the rest of their ragtag anger-management group, which includes a selective mute, a surly abuse survivor, a compulsive liar, and a gaming addict. Together, members of this little unit scheme get out of 'assland academy' by teaming up and confronting the demons they'd purposefully ignored (see Justin's severe depression and Emmy's anorexia). The bawdy, witty, and sarcastic style balances out the intense therapy discourse and the pensive self-reflection found elsewhere in this irreverent take on mental health, recovery, and wellness."" --Booklist --Journal"

Author Information

Trish Cook is the author of Notes from the Blender, So Lyrical, and Overnight Sensation. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and daughters. You can visit her online at www.trishcook.com. Brendan Halpin is the author of Notes from the Blender, How Ya Like Me Now, Forever Changes, and Donorboy, an Alex Award Winner. He lives in Boston with his wife, Suzanne, their three children, and their dog. You can visit him online at www.brendanhalpin.com.

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