Temptation, depression, seduction, betrayal ... Not what Stephanie was expecting at fifteen years of age. Uprooted from her happy, all-girl high school life with a dream filled future and thrown into an unfriendly co-ed school, Stephanie spirals into depression.
When charismatic high school senior, Jason notices her, Stephanie jumps in feet first and willingly puts all her faith and trust in him, a boy she barely knows. Every choice she makes and turn she takes leads her towards a dangerous path. Her best friend is never far away and ready to catch her … but will she push Tabbie too far away when she needs her most?
This novel contains adult themes.
Recommended reading audiences 15+
About Michelle
http://michelledennisevans.com
Spiralling Out of Control via Amazon
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My review
Set in Australia, this is a story about a fifteen year old girl named Stephanie who spirals out of control and goes from popular student with so much potential, to a drop out involved with sex and drugs. After moving away from all her friends in Sydney, Steph finds herself bullied at the new school, neglected by her parents, and in desperate need to find a connection with someone, anyone.
I love the occasional use of verse scattered throughout the novel. The poetry sometimes portrayed more raw emotion in its simplicity than the main body of the novel. I got the impression this was because, since the story is written through Steph's point of view, she was more able to express herself through the freedom of verse than she could with her family and friends.
Because I became so deeply invested in the character of Stephanie, the story became increasingly difficult to read as I watched her fall further into her downward spiral. I kept wondering what would make Steph wake up and take control. At each terrible event, I'd think, 'this is it', but she kept making catastrophic decisions and all the adults around her turned a blind eye, or made things worse.
It's a heart wrenching story of how easy it is to fall so far. It's an unsettling read, but one that will stay with me for a long while.
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80 comments:
Great review. The book does sound disturbing and would tax a reader by the sounds of it.
Have been glued to the tv watching the bushfire reports. Must be horrendous down there. Wow,so close to home for you! So sad with the loss of houses. Hopefully, no one else will lose their life.
Thank you so much for reviewing my book on your blog today. xx
Sounds like a cute book. Beautiful cover too.
Those bushfires... awful! :-( I have family in NSW - they're all ok but still how scary!
Yay for Michelle - poor Stephanie!!
Take care
x
Not my type of read, but I wish Michelle all the best with it.
Prayers for those affected by the fires.
Sounds like a good book, but hard to read. So hope that they get those fires under control.
Shared! When I pray this morning, I'll put South Wales into it.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
At that age, it's easy to fall into a spiral of self-destruction. After being a foster parent, I understand the mentality that goes with that behavior.
Ooh, occasional verse sounds really unique. I love that! Stories like these are such great value to the YA age group. Helps them believe that someone else might actually understand how they feel. It's so easy to fall into the clutches of self-destruction without even seeing it.
sad to hear about the fires in your country, Lyndy!
PS is your house safe? :(
All those fires, horrible indeed. Hope it gets under control soon
Hi, Lynda,
Spiralling does sound like an intense read.
I heard about the fires on the news and the homes lost. My prayers are with those families. Hope the fire-fighters gain the upper hand soon.
A book that can keep you thinking about it when your done is great praise.
My prayers go to those in New South Wales as well. It's looks pretty close to you, I hope you are ok.
Sounds like a tough and meaningful read--thanks for the review! And sending good thoughts to those in the fires--scary!
Your wildfires have made the news here, too. Stay safe.
Great review of Michelle's novel.
Wonderful review of Michelle's novel - it makes me ache to think of reading it, but then I know good books like that are worth the heartache if they take you through it meaningfully.
I'll be praying for those affected by the wildfires. Stay safe.
The book sounds like it deals with issues of great relevance to young people. When a book sticks in your craw I think it's a sign of a good story that has been well told.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Great to see Michelle's book here; I too really enjoyed the verse parts, and wondered what it would take to wake the MC from her downhill slide. Ugh, so sorry to hear of the bush fires; great photo, however.
This sounds like a deep and moving novel. Thanks for sharing it!
Best of luck, Michelle!
Good luck, Michelle, and definitely good luck to those involved in the terrible fires.
A very good intro and review of Michelle's book.
And I am just stunned by the impact on the atmosphere of those bush fires. What a photo, Lyn!
The book sounds sad. I can't take people who continually make wrong decisions and ruin their lives. I gave up a college path toward being a clinical psychologist for this reason - you can't help those who won't help themselves. :(
It is sad when teens lose their way but such stories must be told in hopes of helping others. Both the cover and story are attention grabbing Michelle. My condolences to all those affected by the fires.
It is curious how connected we can get to a character in a book and actually dread reading about any harm that comes to them. Sounds like good writing to me. :)
And I was wondering if those fires were anywhere near you. That was how our summer went last year in Colorado. We lost hundreds of homes to fires. This year it was flash-flooding. Enough! Fingers crossed they get those fires put out soon.
Congrats to Michelle and best of luck with the book. I agree with LG that it sounds like good writing when readers get this invested in a character.
Very sorry about the fires, what a terrible situation.
We've been having news of the fire, so terrifying.
Congrats to Michelle. The story sounds great.
Fantastic review! Congratulations to Michelle. :)
My condolences to everyone affected by the fires.
Congrats to Michelle! And what a great review!
So sorry to hear about the fires! I hope they get them out soon.
Congrats Michelle! It sounds like a very compelling read.
I love the cover too! thank you x
yes... Stephanie does go through quite a bit!
Thanks Alex .. and thank you for your prayers - our fire-fighters are working hard!
Thanks Natalie - yes it's a great book if I do say so myself :P
Thanks for your prayers x
I'm a poet... just had to slip a couple it :D I hope both teens and parents get some insights from this book.
I hate that too many of our youth do spiral into self destruction - so hard to see it happen
thanks for your prayers
I thought the review was great too Carol :D
please do read it :D
I hope readers agree with your thoughts Arlee :D
Thanks Carol xx
Thanks so much JJ
Thank you so much C. Lee
Lexa, that is true - and it breaks my heart.
I'm glad the cover and review grabbed your attention Sheena-kay. I hope you have the chance to read the book xx
It's also hard for the author to keep the character in the darkness and not rescue them (with an unrealistic plot)
Thank you Julie. xx
Thank you Kelly, I hope you find a moment to read my novel.
Thanks Christine
Thanks Cherie. We need rain! We need the wind to stop! Fire is so devastating - I live miles away but the whole of Australia aches when something like this happens
Thank you so much! xx
Congrats and best of luck to Michelle!
I'm currently safely away from the fires. It's just the smoke from them causing health problems in a lot of Sydney-siders.
Thankfully there's a gentle breeze in Sydney today, blowing away the smoke at last! Although the forecasts are bad for tomorrow, so the fears of more fires continue.
I'm glad the National Park I live near hasn't been touched by fires so far. They did close it though as precaution.
You are most welcome, Michelle.
Yes, house is smokey but safe. :)
Thanks so much, Joy. I didn't realise the news had travelled so far.
Yep, currently all good, just a little smokey. Thanks for the prayers.
Congrats Michelle... your book sounds wonderful:)
The fires are so scary... I live south of Sydney and we're getting so much smoke over our place.
Thank you so much Armchair!
Thanks T.F. I'm on the Gold Coast... we have grass crunching under our feet - our country needs rain! But not the flooding variety ... please!
Beautiful cover. Sounds like an emotionally intense read!
Thank you Rachel, I am so happy with the cover.
keep us posted, dear, we need to know you're safe. I've just seen at the news that they've connected two fires there so that they could control them better.
Intriguing story. Although I don't typically read this genre of book, the tragedy of the storyline sounds universal.
I love stories like that- the ones that grip on and don't let go.
Sounds like a tear-jerker. What I want to know is with so many fabulous writers and terrific storylines, why is TV so terrible?
Great review, Lynda. This one sounds wonderful.
I saw this book on another blog earlier on. Sounds intriguing. Congrats to Michelle...
Hope you're safe Lynda! Take care.
Temptation, depression, seduction, betrayal - sounds like teenage years to me. :)
Universal is a good way to define it - thanks Mark
Awesome Melanie - I hope you find the time to read it :D
That is a good question Joylene. :\ I do hope you read it. xx
Thanks Michelle x
That was the aim, Libby. :D
yeah there's so much extreme here.
Currently firefighters are battling 60 fires, 18 of which are uncontained. It's a mighty hot day today and the winds are really bad. While there are still people and property in danger, I'm ok where I am. Thanks, Dezzy.
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