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Chronically Dolores
Dolores Mendoza is not thriving. She was recently diagnosed with a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis. The painful disease isn't life-threatening, but it is threatening to ruin her life.
Just when things seem hopeless, Dolores meets someone poised to change her fate. Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones is glamorous, autistic, and homeschooled against her will by her overprotective mother. After a rocky start, the girls form a tentative partnership. Beautiful, talented Terpsichore will help Dolores win back her ex-best friend, Shae. And Dolores will convince Terpsichore's mom that her daughter has the social skills to survive public school. It seems like a foolproof plan, but Dolores isn't always a reliable narrator, and her choices may put her in danger of committing an unforgivable betrayal.
Making her fiction debut, award-winning author Maya Van Wagenen (Popular) tells Dolores's story with humor, heartache, and an occasional bit of telenovela flair.
Just when things seem hopeless, Dolores meets someone poised to change her fate. Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones is glamorous, autistic, and homeschooled against her will by her overprotective mother. After a rocky start, the girls form a tentative partnership. Beautiful, talented Terpsichore will help Dolores win back her ex-best friend, Shae. And Dolores will convince Terpsichore's mom that her daughter has the social skills to survive public school. It seems like a foolproof plan, but Dolores isn't always a reliable narrator, and her choices may put her in danger of committing an unforgivable betrayal.
Making her fiction debut, award-winning author Maya Van Wagenen (Popular) tells Dolores's story with humor, heartache, and an occasional bit of telenovela flair.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2024
About the author
Maya Van Wagenen
5 books350 followersMaya Van Wagenen lives in the Atlanta area with her fiancée, three cats, and a dog. When she’s not writing, she enjoys quilting, knitting, costume design, reading, and binge-watching detective procedural dramas.
At fifteen, Maya became a New York Times bestselling author after Penguin Dutton published her eighth-grade journal—Popular. The book went on to win the American Library Association’s YALSA award for excellence in nonfiction, making her the youngest author and first memoirist to receive this honor. Maya’s second book and first novel, Chronically Dolores, is inspired by her experiences as a young person with an incurable bladder condition. Maya is passionate about bringing visibility to youth with chronic illness and validating the questions, fears, and absurdities that accompany a lifelong diagnosis in childhood.
At fifteen, Maya became a New York Times bestselling author after Penguin Dutton published her eighth-grade journal—Popular. The book went on to win the American Library Association’s YALSA award for excellence in nonfiction, making her the youngest author and first memoirist to receive this honor. Maya’s second book and first novel, Chronically Dolores, is inspired by her experiences as a young person with an incurable bladder condition. Maya is passionate about bringing visibility to youth with chronic illness and validating the questions, fears, and absurdities that accompany a lifelong diagnosis in childhood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 5, 2024
When I tell you this is EASILY one of my favorite books of 2024 I mean it. I did not know what to expect going into this book, but it kept my attention from beginning to end. CW: bullying, ableism, controlling/borderline abusive parent, financial abuse, descriptions of chronic illness.
Chronically Dolores follows main character Delores who is adjusting to life after she accidently pees on herself at school due to her chronic bladder illness called IC (Interstitial Cystitis). With no friends to hang out the summer before her freshman year of high school, the impending loss of her best friend and the relationship between her parents growing more tense on a daily basis, Dolores seems to lose all hope until she meets Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones. With her her assistance, Dolores is convinced she'll be able to win back her best friend. Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned and Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones has a thing or two to teach Dolores about true friendship, self-love, confidence, and finding one's voice.
What Worked: EVERYTHING. It's been a while since I've picked up a YA book that's made me feel such a wide variety of emotions. Wagenen who has struggled with IC and is also autistic, writes her characters with a level of authenticity that is both refreshing and unexpected. While I'm not the target audience for this novel, it is clear that Wagenen took the time to capture the experiences of teens who are not only trying to figure out the every day ups and down of life, but also those experiences that may have additional added pressures. Dolores struggles a lot through this book and I appreciated that it took some hard lessons for her character development to fully take shape. Also, the relationship between Dolores and Terpsichore was BEAUTIFUL. Although Dolores didn't necessarily begin their relationship with the best of intentions, she does recognize Terpsichore as a person who deserves to live life to the fullest extent. Terpsichore's mother was not only overprotective, but treated autism as a debilitating disease that would prevent Terpsichore from being able to interact with anyone outside the family. Dolores tries over and over to break that stereotype and pushes Terpsichore's mother to recognizer her for the amazing person that she is. The two girls learn a lot of themselves and each other through the course of their relationship.
Overall, this book was well written, fun, engaging, and REAL. There is no perfect ending for the relationship between Dolores' parents and there is no perfect ending to relationship between Terpsichore and her mother. However, it felt like an appropriate ending for such a phenomenal story. I highly recommend checking out the authors note where Wagenen describes her personal experiences and it's influence on the construction of this book. This is one that I would recommend to younger YA audiences. It's been hard to do that lately so it was nice to see a book where the character is on the younger side of YA, but still deals with things related to the teen experience.
Chronically Dolores follows main character Delores who is adjusting to life after she accidently pees on herself at school due to her chronic bladder illness called IC (Interstitial Cystitis). With no friends to hang out the summer before her freshman year of high school, the impending loss of her best friend and the relationship between her parents growing more tense on a daily basis, Dolores seems to lose all hope until she meets Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones. With her her assistance, Dolores is convinced she'll be able to win back her best friend. Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned and Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones has a thing or two to teach Dolores about true friendship, self-love, confidence, and finding one's voice.
What Worked: EVERYTHING. It's been a while since I've picked up a YA book that's made me feel such a wide variety of emotions. Wagenen who has struggled with IC and is also autistic, writes her characters with a level of authenticity that is both refreshing and unexpected. While I'm not the target audience for this novel, it is clear that Wagenen took the time to capture the experiences of teens who are not only trying to figure out the every day ups and down of life, but also those experiences that may have additional added pressures. Dolores struggles a lot through this book and I appreciated that it took some hard lessons for her character development to fully take shape. Also, the relationship between Dolores and Terpsichore was BEAUTIFUL. Although Dolores didn't necessarily begin their relationship with the best of intentions, she does recognize Terpsichore as a person who deserves to live life to the fullest extent. Terpsichore's mother was not only overprotective, but treated autism as a debilitating disease that would prevent Terpsichore from being able to interact with anyone outside the family. Dolores tries over and over to break that stereotype and pushes Terpsichore's mother to recognizer her for the amazing person that she is. The two girls learn a lot of themselves and each other through the course of their relationship.
Overall, this book was well written, fun, engaging, and REAL. There is no perfect ending for the relationship between Dolores' parents and there is no perfect ending to relationship between Terpsichore and her mother. However, it felt like an appropriate ending for such a phenomenal story. I highly recommend checking out the authors note where Wagenen describes her personal experiences and it's influence on the construction of this book. This is one that I would recommend to younger YA audiences. It's been hard to do that lately so it was nice to see a book where the character is on the younger side of YA, but still deals with things related to the teen experience.
March 18, 2024
This was a great #ownvoices YA debut about family, friendship and learning to live with a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis (IC). Dolores is from a Mexican American family struggling to make ends meet and while everyone else in her family is dealing with their own problems, she turns to a Catholic priest in a confessional booth for advice.
Advice on how to get back her former best friend, advice on how to deal with her chronic pain and the embarrassment her IC causes at school plus how she can be a better friend to her new autistic homeschooled acquaintance, Terpischore.
Great on audio narrated by Victoria Villarreal with an note read by the author and highly recommended for fans of writers like Jen Wilde or Sonora Reyes. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Advice on how to get back her former best friend, advice on how to deal with her chronic pain and the embarrassment her IC causes at school plus how she can be a better friend to her new autistic homeschooled acquaintance, Terpischore.
Great on audio narrated by Victoria Villarreal with an note read by the author and highly recommended for fans of writers like Jen Wilde or Sonora Reyes. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
March 3, 2024
Dolores has a chronic disease, for which there is no cure. It means she is often in pain, and has to go pee a lot. And the worst part is that last year, she had a pee accident, where she slipped on pee, because she wasn’t fast enough, and gave herself a concussion. She thinks if she can just get her best friend to talk to her again, that it won’t matter if she is the laughing stock of her class.
But her old friend wants nothing to do with her.
And then she meets Terpsichore, an autistic teen, who wants to be a clothing designer for broadway shows. Only her mother wants to keep her homeschooled, and not have her be bullied.
The author is also autistic, as well as having the same chronic disease as the main character, so she knows from where she writes. I did like how naturally Terpsichore is with dealing with social interactions. Sounds very familiar.
I also like the interaction Dolores has with a local priest in a confessional. She basically goes there because she heard it is a way to talk to someone without having to see them, and they will give you advice. She was not brought up religious.
Lots of other stuff going on in the story, but I thought it was well written, and gave both points of view of how friendships can change, and how we often don’t see what others see.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published ont he 26th of March 2024.
But her old friend wants nothing to do with her.
And then she meets Terpsichore, an autistic teen, who wants to be a clothing designer for broadway shows. Only her mother wants to keep her homeschooled, and not have her be bullied.
The author is also autistic, as well as having the same chronic disease as the main character, so she knows from where she writes. I did like how naturally Terpsichore is with dealing with social interactions. Sounds very familiar.
I also like the interaction Dolores has with a local priest in a confessional. She basically goes there because she heard it is a way to talk to someone without having to see them, and they will give you advice. She was not brought up religious.
Lots of other stuff going on in the story, but I thought it was well written, and gave both points of view of how friendships can change, and how we often don’t see what others see.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published ont he 26th of March 2024.
May 17, 2024
this was one of my most anticipated reads for this year, and i was very disappointed that it didn’t live up to my expectations /: i didn’t connect with dolores or terpsichore at all, and found almost all the characters to be annoying.
i ended up skipping to the end just to find out how it ends.
i ended up skipping to the end just to find out how it ends.
May 24, 2024
I decided to stay up late and finish it. This book was excellent! I knew nothing going into it, besides the fact that the protagonist has interstitial cystitis (I’d seen the author post on the IC subreddit). I was not expecting such complex, layered characters and plot. Despite dealing with serious topics, the book is also so funny. The author just seems to “get” teenagers/takes their anxieties and problems seriously.
On a personal note, although I’m the elderly age of 32, it felt so good to feel seen and have the pain of IC acknowledged. I would have loved to have read a book like this when I was first diagnosed; it’s very validating.
P.S. I listened to the audiobook, and I loved the narrator.
On a personal note, although I’m the elderly age of 32, it felt so good to feel seen and have the pain of IC acknowledged. I would have loved to have read a book like this when I was first diagnosed; it’s very validating.
P.S. I listened to the audiobook, and I loved the narrator.
April 20, 2024
Tried this book twice. Took it out of the library multiple times in case it was me, and I am going through a lot medically right now so it could be bad timing. I appreciate it for what it is, chronic illness representation, but I just couldn't connect to this one.
April 25, 2024
I received this ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This one took me a little longer to get through than I had hoped. Not due to the story itself, but due to my own experience with more than usual migraines during my time reading this book. Reading a book in which the main character has their own health affliction and experiencing your own while reading is a new and interesting experience. Reminiscent of having he flu while reading Stephen King's The Stand.
Our main character, Dolores, has been diagnosed with IC (interstitial cystitis) which affects her bladder and causes a lot of pain and discomfort. At 14, while trying to navigate life as a teenager/finding yourself/understanding school and relationships, adding in a diagnosis which will be with you for the rest of your life doesn't make things any easier. Struggling to find comfort, dealing with dysfunctional family dynamics and a family that doesn't understand you, embarrassment at school and an ending friendship, Dolores is faced with how to move forward. Enter Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, who is autistic with dreams bigger than Dolores could ever imagine. The current work in progress is how to convince her over-protective and over-bearing mother to allow her to attend a regular high school. Can the girls team up and help each other to navigate this world of being different?
As an added bonus, Maya Van Wagenen isn't writing a book of imagination alone or even from interviews with those who have experienced the topics she is writing about. She has first hand experience of what it's like to identify as autistic and experience life with IC. She is able to write from a place of true understanding, making the characters real and even more relatable.
If you have felt different or had a difficult time in your youth of fitting in or navigating friendships, this read could a cathartic experience. With relatable characters who you truly root for.
Long live Jeremy!
This one took me a little longer to get through than I had hoped. Not due to the story itself, but due to my own experience with more than usual migraines during my time reading this book. Reading a book in which the main character has their own health affliction and experiencing your own while reading is a new and interesting experience. Reminiscent of having he flu while reading Stephen King's The Stand.
Our main character, Dolores, has been diagnosed with IC (interstitial cystitis) which affects her bladder and causes a lot of pain and discomfort. At 14, while trying to navigate life as a teenager/finding yourself/understanding school and relationships, adding in a diagnosis which will be with you for the rest of your life doesn't make things any easier. Struggling to find comfort, dealing with dysfunctional family dynamics and a family that doesn't understand you, embarrassment at school and an ending friendship, Dolores is faced with how to move forward. Enter Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, who is autistic with dreams bigger than Dolores could ever imagine. The current work in progress is how to convince her over-protective and over-bearing mother to allow her to attend a regular high school. Can the girls team up and help each other to navigate this world of being different?
As an added bonus, Maya Van Wagenen isn't writing a book of imagination alone or even from interviews with those who have experienced the topics she is writing about. She has first hand experience of what it's like to identify as autistic and experience life with IC. She is able to write from a place of true understanding, making the characters real and even more relatable.
If you have felt different or had a difficult time in your youth of fitting in or navigating friendships, this read could a cathartic experience. With relatable characters who you truly root for.
Long live Jeremy!
February 7, 2024
4.25⭐️
Rep: autism, interstitial cystitis
Thank you Penguin Teen for the physical ARC!
I really enjoyed this! It was such a fun YA contemporary that’s so accurate to the experience of being a middle schooler/rising high schooler, especially one who feels different because of their health.
I really liked both the MCs-Dolores and Terpischore were both great characters and I enjoyed both of their internal monologues, especially Terpischore’s! Their respective struggles I think were done well and I loved seeing them come together and become best friends.
This book was heartwarming and super fun-it does touch on a few serious topics but not too much for a YA book in any way!
All in all, this was really good and I definitely recommend!! so glad I got the chance to read an ARC🤍
Rep: autism, interstitial cystitis
Thank you Penguin Teen for the physical ARC!
I really enjoyed this! It was such a fun YA contemporary that’s so accurate to the experience of being a middle schooler/rising high schooler, especially one who feels different because of their health.
I really liked both the MCs-Dolores and Terpischore were both great characters and I enjoyed both of their internal monologues, especially Terpischore’s! Their respective struggles I think were done well and I loved seeing them come together and become best friends.
This book was heartwarming and super fun-it does touch on a few serious topics but not too much for a YA book in any way!
All in all, this was really good and I definitely recommend!! so glad I got the chance to read an ARC🤍
March 14, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Dutton Books for Young Readers for a free eARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion. As someone with an invisible and incurable illness, Chronically Dolores made me feel seen. The main character, Dolores, is a teen who struggling with a friend breakup, a public embarrassment, and a chronic illness. The author gives us a believable and relatable character who deals with her illness with humor all while mourning the loss of her old life.
June 20, 2024
I loved this! One of the best YA novels I've read in awhile. The writing was fantastic and the audiobook was great! I cared about all the characters so deeply. There were so many funny moments that made me laugh out loud while at the same time, this book covered so many important topics in such a genuine and real way. Chronically Dolores speaks about living with a chronic illness, navigating friendships, autism, toxic family dynamics, and discovering who you are. It's obvious that the author put so much care into these characters and this story. I will definitely be on the look out for more books from Maya Van Wagenen! 5/5.
March 2, 2024
This one was kinda lukewarm for me. I, as an anxious being, would love to have access to the bathroom rating and description binder that Dolores creates. And Terpsichore's creativity was fun to see.
The other characters felt a little too stereotypical and flat, especially the dramatic helicopter mother. And it was tough to figure out exactly what was happening with the "cut scenes" and Dolores' imaginings rewriting her reality.
The other characters felt a little too stereotypical and flat, especially the dramatic helicopter mother. And it was tough to figure out exactly what was happening with the "cut scenes" and Dolores' imaginings rewriting her reality.
February 7, 2024
I liked how it touched on chronic illness, neurodivergence, and family stressors. I did feel like it had a bit too many themes happening all at once and that was what tripped me up as a reader.
February 22, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Dutton Brooks / Penguin Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Maya Van Wagenen's "Chronically Dolores" offers a relatable glimpse into the lives of two young girls navigating the complexities of friendship, health, and self-discovery. Dolores Mendoza, grappling with a chronic bladder condition, finds solace and companionship in Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, a homeschooled girl with autism. Together, they embark on a journey of healing and growth, facing challenges and forging a deep bond along the way. Before going into this book, I had never heard of interstitial cystitis, and I was definitely able to learn more about this condition through the story. Because the story is from Dolores’s POV, there isn’t a super in-depth look into the condition, but I thought the descriptions were well-developed and vivid to allow the reader to better understand both the condition and Dolores herself.
The book excels in its portrayal of complex and authentic characters. Dolores and Terpsichore are both multifaceted and relatable, each struggling with their own set of challenges and insecurities. If you are a teen reader or remember the complicated life of being a 14-year-old who may have had a public humiliation moment in school (who hasn’t?), then you will definitely relate to Dolores and her experiences. Van Wagenen deftly explores the nuances of their friendship, capturing the joy, humor, and stresses that arise as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence. This is definitely a younger YA book, which works as Dolores is just about to enter high school; I might even classify this book as a MG novel as well. The characters felt realistic, like they were actual teenagers, as well as their thoughts/experiences. When Dolores would imagine certain events like they were from Spanish soap operas felt like something I would have done when I was younger.
I really enjoyed the exploration of disability and neurodiversity. Through Dolores and Terpsichore's experiences, Van Wagenen sheds light on the unique challenges faced by individuals living with chronic illnesses and autism, really showing that there is no “magical cure” to chronic pain. The book offers a sensitive and insightful portrayal of these issues, creating feelings of empathy and understanding among readers.
I will say that Dolores's unreliable narration takes a little getting used to with certain recollections she has of past events. As stated earlier, she likes to imagine events as if they’re from soap operas, which means that she sometimes embellishes what actually happened. This sometimes made me confused as to what was actually going on in the novel, especially with the perspectives of the other characters. While the story is a bit limited with just Dolores’s POV, it also adds an intriguing layer of complexity, inviting you to question the truth behind her recollections and motivations.
Overall, "Chronically Dolores" strikes a delicate balance between lighthearted humor and reflection as one begins to grow up and move on, making it an engaging read for young adult audiences. While touching on serious themes such as chronic illness and family stressors, the book maintains a sense of optimism and resilience that left me feeling satisfied with the ending.
Maya Van Wagenen's "Chronically Dolores" offers a relatable glimpse into the lives of two young girls navigating the complexities of friendship, health, and self-discovery. Dolores Mendoza, grappling with a chronic bladder condition, finds solace and companionship in Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, a homeschooled girl with autism. Together, they embark on a journey of healing and growth, facing challenges and forging a deep bond along the way. Before going into this book, I had never heard of interstitial cystitis, and I was definitely able to learn more about this condition through the story. Because the story is from Dolores’s POV, there isn’t a super in-depth look into the condition, but I thought the descriptions were well-developed and vivid to allow the reader to better understand both the condition and Dolores herself.
The book excels in its portrayal of complex and authentic characters. Dolores and Terpsichore are both multifaceted and relatable, each struggling with their own set of challenges and insecurities. If you are a teen reader or remember the complicated life of being a 14-year-old who may have had a public humiliation moment in school (who hasn’t?), then you will definitely relate to Dolores and her experiences. Van Wagenen deftly explores the nuances of their friendship, capturing the joy, humor, and stresses that arise as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence. This is definitely a younger YA book, which works as Dolores is just about to enter high school; I might even classify this book as a MG novel as well. The characters felt realistic, like they were actual teenagers, as well as their thoughts/experiences. When Dolores would imagine certain events like they were from Spanish soap operas felt like something I would have done when I was younger.
I really enjoyed the exploration of disability and neurodiversity. Through Dolores and Terpsichore's experiences, Van Wagenen sheds light on the unique challenges faced by individuals living with chronic illnesses and autism, really showing that there is no “magical cure” to chronic pain. The book offers a sensitive and insightful portrayal of these issues, creating feelings of empathy and understanding among readers.
I will say that Dolores's unreliable narration takes a little getting used to with certain recollections she has of past events. As stated earlier, she likes to imagine events as if they’re from soap operas, which means that she sometimes embellishes what actually happened. This sometimes made me confused as to what was actually going on in the novel, especially with the perspectives of the other characters. While the story is a bit limited with just Dolores’s POV, it also adds an intriguing layer of complexity, inviting you to question the truth behind her recollections and motivations.
Overall, "Chronically Dolores" strikes a delicate balance between lighthearted humor and reflection as one begins to grow up and move on, making it an engaging read for young adult audiences. While touching on serious themes such as chronic illness and family stressors, the book maintains a sense of optimism and resilience that left me feeling satisfied with the ending.
March 7, 2024
Really 3.5.
A contemporary YA novel that address several #OwnVoice issues.
The last day of middle school wasn't what Dolores hoped it would be. Thanks to her interstitial cystitis (a bladder condition), she wet her pants in front of her classmates before she had the chance to race to the bathroom. If that weren't bad enough, she slipped in the puddle and hit her head, which meant she couldn't slink away but had to leave school in ambulance. How's a 14-year-old supposed to outlive *that*?
Unfortunately, that wasn't all Dolores had to face that summer: her BFF was ghosting her, her parents were fighting, and she was forced to attend a "sad kids" workshop. At the workshop, she spots a girl about her own age. When they later meet, Dolores learns that she's not the only kid who is having rough time.
Terpsichore is on the autism spectrum, and her overbearing and overprotective mother insists on homeschooling and forbids Terpsichore to make friends or do anything that other young teens do. Though it would seem that Dolores and Terpsichore have nothing in common, they form an unlikely alliance, each vowing to help the other get what she wants.
Overall, I liked the book; Dolores's maturation and gradual ability to see life and events straight on, without her previous dramatic and rose-colored slant, was believable and relatable. She was contending with a chronic disease, living in poverty, and loneliness. The book included enough humor and one-liners to soften the harder themes.
Terpsichore faced other problems: her loneliness was brought on by her mother's complete lack of faith in Terpsichore's abilities to live in the world and in how others would treat her. While Terpsichore was aware that the odds were against her, she wanted to at least have the chance to follow her dreams.
Other plot lines were Dolores's brother's crush on a guy and her parents' failing relationship. In the course of the summer, Dolores talks with a priest in a confessional, comes to understand a failing friendship, and learns that not everyone is who they seem to be on the surface.
I have two issues with the book's ending: The first involves Dolores's relationship with her ex-BFF, Shae: The second involves Dolores's parents:
The author's note at the end explains the #OwnVoice aspects of the book, including interstitial cystitis, being on the spectrum, and LBGTQ relationships.
The audiobook was performed by Victoria Villarreal whose accents and characterizations were well done. She delivered the humor well and didn't veer into the overdramatic during the more intense scenes.
Thanks to the publishers for review copies in various formats.
A contemporary YA novel that address several #OwnVoice issues.
The last day of middle school wasn't what Dolores hoped it would be. Thanks to her interstitial cystitis (a bladder condition), she wet her pants in front of her classmates before she had the chance to race to the bathroom. If that weren't bad enough, she slipped in the puddle and hit her head, which meant she couldn't slink away but had to leave school in ambulance. How's a 14-year-old supposed to outlive *that*?
Unfortunately, that wasn't all Dolores had to face that summer: her BFF was ghosting her, her parents were fighting, and she was forced to attend a "sad kids" workshop. At the workshop, she spots a girl about her own age. When they later meet, Dolores learns that she's not the only kid who is having rough time.
Terpsichore is on the autism spectrum, and her overbearing and overprotective mother insists on homeschooling and forbids Terpsichore to make friends or do anything that other young teens do. Though it would seem that Dolores and Terpsichore have nothing in common, they form an unlikely alliance, each vowing to help the other get what she wants.
Overall, I liked the book; Dolores's maturation and gradual ability to see life and events straight on, without her previous dramatic and rose-colored slant, was believable and relatable. She was contending with a chronic disease, living in poverty, and loneliness. The book included enough humor and one-liners to soften the harder themes.
Terpsichore faced other problems: her loneliness was brought on by her mother's complete lack of faith in Terpsichore's abilities to live in the world and in how others would treat her. While Terpsichore was aware that the odds were against her, she wanted to at least have the chance to follow her dreams.
Other plot lines were Dolores's brother's crush on a guy and her parents' failing relationship. In the course of the summer, Dolores talks with a priest in a confessional, comes to understand a failing friendship, and learns that not everyone is who they seem to be on the surface.
I have two issues with the book's ending: The first involves Dolores's relationship with her ex-BFF, Shae: The second involves Dolores's parents:
The author's note at the end explains the #OwnVoice aspects of the book, including interstitial cystitis, being on the spectrum, and LBGTQ relationships.
The audiobook was performed by Victoria Villarreal whose accents and characterizations were well done. She delivered the humor well and didn't veer into the overdramatic during the more intense scenes.
Thanks to the publishers for review copies in various formats.
August 7, 2024
Dolores' interstitial colitis means a lot of things. Her body often betrays her, sometimes in important situations. She has to plan her life (and outings) around toilet access -- and maintains a toilet directory with ratings and reviews. As if life as an almost high-schooler weren't hard enough! After ending 8th grade with an incident her classmates won't soon forget, Dolores is mortified and down one BFF. Enter Terpsichore, an autistic homeschooled girl with fashion-design dreams and an overprotective helicopter mom. The events that follow turn out to be just what everyone needs.
It has:
- many forms of diverse rep, including LGBT, neurodiversity, chronic illness
- sitcom-style comedic moments (I'd love to watch this as an actual TV show)
- Are You There, God? vibes + so much more
- a dog named Crockpot
There were a couple things that confused me about this book, and one thing that just wasn't for me.
1. What is the significance of Dolores' tendency to...selectively remember / confabulate in her memories? Did any of the pre-book stuff happen differently from how it was told to us by Dolores? I'm confused because Dolores seemed to notice her unreliable memory near the end of the book (after Terpsichore pointed it out) and tried to self-correct it from then on. Were we told anything else unreliably through her lens? Was it supposed to be a sign of neurodiversity occurring in Dolores? Is she schizophrenic? Confused here.
2. While I greatly enjoyed the humor of the "plays" used to flash back to past memories, I'm now even more confused. I thought they were exaggerated recountings for comedic effect, that Dolores was intentionally embellishing them because everything is dramatic when you're 14. Not that she actually believed that's how the situations played out. I was also confused by these scenes because I thought maybe Dolores wanted to be a director/actor or involved in plays, but I don't think anything like this was ever mentioned. If Dolores didn't have the directing/acting bug, why did Van Wagenen depict her memories this way?
3. The thing I didn't care for was how Johann's character was treated -- like a punchline. While I enjoy plenty of diversity in my books, Johann was forced into a stereotype and never got to shine as his own person, a character who lives a regular life and has his own problem, and just happens to be German. He's also constantly referred to as "the German" instead of by his name, as "Mateo's friend," or anything else to separate him from that one token identity. I don't know why the author made this choice when she wrote so many other living, breathing characters that break free of their labels, and when she herself represents so many diverse identities.
June 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Dolores's voice was fresh. I really liked the family interactions; they all felt very authentic, and there wasn't a convo between her and Matteo that didn't have me laughing out loud. I LOVED Terpsichore! And I absolutely hated her mother. The portrayals of chronic illness and autism were thoughtful, sensitive, and authentic without every seeming preachy or like the author was sacrificing story for the sake of message.
Two tiny things, and maybe they are both different examples of the same thing, stopped this from being a five-star review for me. It seemed like there were a few issues that were presented but never fully dealt with. The two that bothered me were Dolores's lack of hygiene and later, her embellished memory movie scripts. The hygiene thing was obviously, to my adult mind, a symptom of depression, but without that explicitly being stated, it kind of seemed like she was just a gross, slovenly person, and I don't think that was the intention. I don't know if teens would recognize that as a warning sign of clinical depression, and that's kind of an important thing to get across. And Dolores's realization that her memories were embellished and subsequent freak-out that she couldn't remember things the way they really happened were very confusing. I found myself wondering, is she actually delusional? Are we finding out that she's an unreliable narrator? It seemed like that wasn't the case, and it was just the normal selective memory/embellishment that everyone does in their heads. But it was so dramatically presented and then so suddenly dropped that it felt very jarring and confusing.
So it seems like there were a few mental health issues that were brought up but not fully explored, which is totally understandable in a book so jam-packed with other issues, most of which were very well handled. It's really a small quibble, but those little missteps just stood out against the rest which was so well done.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. I wish the title and cover were different, since I think both might be a hindrance to teens actually picking up this book.
Two tiny things, and maybe they are both different examples of the same thing, stopped this from being a five-star review for me. It seemed like there were a few issues that were presented but never fully dealt with. The two that bothered me were Dolores's lack of hygiene and later, her embellished memory movie scripts. The hygiene thing was obviously, to my adult mind, a symptom of depression, but without that explicitly being stated, it kind of seemed like she was just a gross, slovenly person, and I don't think that was the intention. I don't know if teens would recognize that as a warning sign of clinical depression, and that's kind of an important thing to get across. And Dolores's realization that her memories were embellished and subsequent freak-out that she couldn't remember things the way they really happened were very confusing. I found myself wondering, is she actually delusional? Are we finding out that she's an unreliable narrator? It seemed like that wasn't the case, and it was just the normal selective memory/embellishment that everyone does in their heads. But it was so dramatically presented and then so suddenly dropped that it felt very jarring and confusing.
So it seems like there were a few mental health issues that were brought up but not fully explored, which is totally understandable in a book so jam-packed with other issues, most of which were very well handled. It's really a small quibble, but those little missteps just stood out against the rest which was so well done.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. I wish the title and cover were different, since I think both might be a hindrance to teens actually picking up this book.
May 28, 2024
Dolores Mendoza’s family is struggling financially, and her parents’ marriage is falling apart. A year ago, she was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis after a bladder accident made her a pariah. Dolores meets Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, who is autistic. Terpsichore wants to fake a friendship to prove to her possessive mom that she’s capable of attending public school and can stop home schooling. The answer to their problems seems clear: Dolores will win back her former best friend, Shae. Gorgeous and autistic Terpsichore will win her independence. What could go wrong? Dolores’ chronic illness frequently cause trouble for herself.
Her creative first-person narration includes transcripts from her confessional conversations with a priest. Her reviews of local bathroom are hilarious. . Dolores is in an ongoing standoff with her illness and comes to no pat resolutions about her body.
The author has written an insightful, funny and coming of age story. The fake friendship was great. It gave me smiles and hope for a true friendship between the two girls. It also made me think of how easily people can judge others that are different and don’t realize their loss. It’s a book that I will be getting to give to a teenager I know. The author writes about the themes of growing apart from old friends, confronting painful ideas of embarrassment and rejection, learning to find accommodations and self-advocate, and understanding that people aren’t always what they seem, the author’s debut is a standout with both wide appeal and important representation.
Disclaimer: I received an arc from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Her creative first-person narration includes transcripts from her confessional conversations with a priest. Her reviews of local bathroom are hilarious. . Dolores is in an ongoing standoff with her illness and comes to no pat resolutions about her body.
The author has written an insightful, funny and coming of age story. The fake friendship was great. It gave me smiles and hope for a true friendship between the two girls. It also made me think of how easily people can judge others that are different and don’t realize their loss. It’s a book that I will be getting to give to a teenager I know. The author writes about the themes of growing apart from old friends, confronting painful ideas of embarrassment and rejection, learning to find accommodations and self-advocate, and understanding that people aren’t always what they seem, the author’s debut is a standout with both wide appeal and important representation.
Disclaimer: I received an arc from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
March 25, 2024
4.5 stars
I loved this book! And as someone with chronic illness, and also someone who used to teach students with autism, I was thrilled to see the lead characters and how accurately they're portrayed. I wish this coming-of-age book had been around when I was teaching, as I would've recommended it to my students, as well as the library.
Dolores has a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis, and she becomes friends with Terpsichore, a homeschooled girl with autism and an overprotective mother. Together, they learn how to, and help each other, navigate life's challenges.
I loved Dolores's bathroom ratings, and it's definitely something that many people would love to see published! Overall, this book is a wonderful reminder that no one should be defined, or held back, just because they have a disability. It's possible to still find joy in life. This is a wonderful message for anyone, but particularly the target audience. Dolores and Terpsichore are well-developed, complex characters. The author demonstrates the ups and downs of friendship and adolescence. While the target audience is young adult (YA), this could likely work for the upper middle grade (MG) audience, as well. It's clear that the author is writing from experience, and she doesn't try to force a "cure" on chronic pain and illness. Instead, they're handled in a sensitive and enlightening manner. The right amount of humor is combined with teenage reflection on life, chronic illness, family, relationships, etc. to create an engaging and highly enjoyable read.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
I loved this book! And as someone with chronic illness, and also someone who used to teach students with autism, I was thrilled to see the lead characters and how accurately they're portrayed. I wish this coming-of-age book had been around when I was teaching, as I would've recommended it to my students, as well as the library.
Dolores has a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis, and she becomes friends with Terpsichore, a homeschooled girl with autism and an overprotective mother. Together, they learn how to, and help each other, navigate life's challenges.
I loved Dolores's bathroom ratings, and it's definitely something that many people would love to see published! Overall, this book is a wonderful reminder that no one should be defined, or held back, just because they have a disability. It's possible to still find joy in life. This is a wonderful message for anyone, but particularly the target audience. Dolores and Terpsichore are well-developed, complex characters. The author demonstrates the ups and downs of friendship and adolescence. While the target audience is young adult (YA), this could likely work for the upper middle grade (MG) audience, as well. It's clear that the author is writing from experience, and she doesn't try to force a "cure" on chronic pain and illness. Instead, they're handled in a sensitive and enlightening manner. The right amount of humor is combined with teenage reflection on life, chronic illness, family, relationships, etc. to create an engaging and highly enjoyable read.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
March 30, 2024
This is a tough book to read for several reasons. Dolores, our protagonist, lives in an apartment over the family's failing print shop with her mom, dad and 20-year-old brother. She has been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder condition that causes frequent urination and a lot of pain. When she has a very public accident in middle school, she suddenly becomes an outcast and everything she thought she had changes.
Enter Terpsichore, who is autistic and desperate for a best friend who might help her convince her overbearing mother she is not a delicate flower to be hidden away from the world. She and Dolores become friends, Dolores in order to regain her friendship with her now lost BFF and Terpsichore to go to high school in the fall. Except nothing turns out the way it is supposed to.
Terpsichore's mom made me want to throw the book across the room. At times so did Dolores. Middle school is hard enough without a chronic bladder condition but the selfishness exhibited by these characters broke my heart. Of course things appear to improve over the course of the story but the heavy subject matter continued to stay with me even after I had finished the book.
Certainly a provocative story. I also thought there was quite a bit of inappropriate language tolerated by Dolores' family that might not be suitable for younger readers.
This is a well written take on multiple different struggles of adolescence. It is a book I would read again. My favorite parts were the banter between Dolores and her brother. You could feel the family love there.
My thanks to Dutton Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this ARC.
Enter Terpsichore, who is autistic and desperate for a best friend who might help her convince her overbearing mother she is not a delicate flower to be hidden away from the world. She and Dolores become friends, Dolores in order to regain her friendship with her now lost BFF and Terpsichore to go to high school in the fall. Except nothing turns out the way it is supposed to.
Terpsichore's mom made me want to throw the book across the room. At times so did Dolores. Middle school is hard enough without a chronic bladder condition but the selfishness exhibited by these characters broke my heart. Of course things appear to improve over the course of the story but the heavy subject matter continued to stay with me even after I had finished the book.
Certainly a provocative story. I also thought there was quite a bit of inappropriate language tolerated by Dolores' family that might not be suitable for younger readers.
This is a well written take on multiple different struggles of adolescence. It is a book I would read again. My favorite parts were the banter between Dolores and her brother. You could feel the family love there.
My thanks to Dutton Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this ARC.
April 25, 2024
Dolores Mendoza is a Mexican American teenager living with interstitial cystitis, a disease that is causing holes in her bladder lining. The book begins with a confessional to a Catholic priest, and then a drive with a grandmother who doesn't understand Dolores's condition. I liked her bathroom ratings. Her last day of middle school didn't end how she wanted it to:
"Dolores's face is contorted into a mask of pain as she fills in the last bubble on her Scantron. She flips her test and stands up, victorious. But it's too late! A river of humiliation trickled down her legs. We zoom in as her mouth opens, letting out a despairing wail. "NOOOO!"". Pretty much she really had to go to the bathroom (because of her IC and also she drank a whole bottle of water) during her state testing, and when she finished her test, it was too late. Also, she slipped in the puddle and fell down, so she couldn't even escape to finish what she had started in a toilet. An ambulance had to come, and now the other kids call her Dolores-on-the-floor-es because she peed on the floor and slipped in it.
Strengths:
-Good chronic illness rep.
-I had never heard of IC before, and this book was very informative about it.
-Good for middle grade readers going through friendship changes.
Weaknesses:
-The writing wasn't clear. I get what the author was going for with the telenovela format, but it was hard to read. The abrupt scene changes were difficult to get used to.
-Terpsichore's name was hard to pronounce.
-I wanted some more closure with Shae.
3 stars.
"Dolores's face is contorted into a mask of pain as she fills in the last bubble on her Scantron. She flips her test and stands up, victorious. But it's too late! A river of humiliation trickled down her legs. We zoom in as her mouth opens, letting out a despairing wail. "NOOOO!"". Pretty much she really had to go to the bathroom (because of her IC and also she drank a whole bottle of water) during her state testing, and when she finished her test, it was too late. Also, she slipped in the puddle and fell down, so she couldn't even escape to finish what she had started in a toilet. An ambulance had to come, and now the other kids call her Dolores-on-the-floor-es because she peed on the floor and slipped in it.
Strengths:
-Good chronic illness rep.
-I had never heard of IC before, and this book was very informative about it.
-Good for middle grade readers going through friendship changes.
Weaknesses:
-The writing wasn't clear. I get what the author was going for with the telenovela format, but it was hard to read. The abrupt scene changes were difficult to get used to.
-Terpsichore's name was hard to pronounce.
-I wanted some more closure with Shae.
3 stars.
September 21, 2024
A YA ownvoices fiction debut by Maya VW.
🚽
Dolores Mendoza just had the most embarrassing thing happen to her: she lost control of her bladder at school. Realizing she has interstitial cystitis (IC), which is a chronic bladder condition, causes her lots of pain and the loss of her best friend who thinks they need space now. When her mom suggests a friendship seminar Dolores meets Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, a glamorous, autistic, homeschooled girl who just wants to go to high school like everyone else her age. Too bad her overbearing mother thinks she can’t handle it. The girls make a deal to help one another out, but Dolores’ memories aren’t quite what she always thinks they are and in the end she isn’t sure what she wants to get out of her deal with Terpsichore.
🧻
What a fabulous story with so much representation! I love that both characters represent the author, as she discusses her childhood in the Author’s Note. I also enjoyed a book written at the freshman age, as so many YA titles write characters who are older. I adored Terpsichore’s character so much and I can’t wait to see what Van Wagenen writes next.
CW: classism, chronic illness, ableism, medical content, bullying, alcohol, medical trauma, toxic friendship, panic attacks, sexism, injury
*it read a little low like MG characters but they did YA things like curse and flip each other off. It was a bit odd.
🚽
Dolores Mendoza just had the most embarrassing thing happen to her: she lost control of her bladder at school. Realizing she has interstitial cystitis (IC), which is a chronic bladder condition, causes her lots of pain and the loss of her best friend who thinks they need space now. When her mom suggests a friendship seminar Dolores meets Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, a glamorous, autistic, homeschooled girl who just wants to go to high school like everyone else her age. Too bad her overbearing mother thinks she can’t handle it. The girls make a deal to help one another out, but Dolores’ memories aren’t quite what she always thinks they are and in the end she isn’t sure what she wants to get out of her deal with Terpsichore.
🧻
What a fabulous story with so much representation! I love that both characters represent the author, as she discusses her childhood in the Author’s Note. I also enjoyed a book written at the freshman age, as so many YA titles write characters who are older. I adored Terpsichore’s character so much and I can’t wait to see what Van Wagenen writes next.
CW: classism, chronic illness, ableism, medical content, bullying, alcohol, medical trauma, toxic friendship, panic attacks, sexism, injury
*it read a little low like MG characters but they did YA things like curse and flip each other off. It was a bit odd.
February 28, 2024
I came across this book in a NetGalley email (ie I got an ARC), and immediately became intrigued with the title. I am a chronically ill Girlie, say less. I am also self diagnosed autistic, and when I saw that, I was sold even more.
I enjoyed this story. it got me in my messy disability feelings.
There is something so beautiful about finding the people who understand and love you even when its not convenient. When you don't feel the need to shrink yourself or hide things about your needs. There is a scene where Dolores is worried about sleeping over at Terpsichore's house, and shes worried she will get up too many times at night. the immediate reassurance that its okay.
the fact she rates bathrooms. A nice nod to bathroom maps! thats a thing people do. Dolores doesnt know it yet, but she is coming to the same realizations as people before her. the community before the community!
Overall, I really liked this book, and the author knows her shit about disability culture, and especially about finding disabled joy <3
I enjoyed this story. it got me in my messy disability feelings.
There is something so beautiful about finding the people who understand and love you even when its not convenient. When you don't feel the need to shrink yourself or hide things about your needs. There is a scene where Dolores is worried about sleeping over at Terpsichore's house, and shes worried she will get up too many times at night. the immediate reassurance that its okay.
the fact she rates bathrooms. A nice nod to bathroom maps! thats a thing people do. Dolores doesnt know it yet, but she is coming to the same realizations as people before her. the community before the community!
Overall, I really liked this book, and the author knows her shit about disability culture, and especially about finding disabled joy <3
August 3, 2024
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Dolores has a bladder condition called interstitial cystitis, which caused her to wet herself at school. She is ostracized and made fun of leading up to her freshman year of high school. Then she meets Terpsichore, a girl with autism who Dolores is convinced can help her win her best friend back.
I listened to this on audio, and I think the narrator did a great job with these characters. It did take me quite a while to get through this one, it felt like it dragged quite a bit. I thought the confessionals with the priest and Dolores was a fun way to introduce things into the story. Terpsichore was my favourite part of this story. She was so sweet, and a great friend to Dolores who taught her some important lessons. I hated Shae, and didn't fully understand Dolores' fascination with her, or her need with being friends with her again.
Overall, it was an okay read, but it didn't blow me out of the water in anyway.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Dolores has a bladder condition called interstitial cystitis, which caused her to wet herself at school. She is ostracized and made fun of leading up to her freshman year of high school. Then she meets Terpsichore, a girl with autism who Dolores is convinced can help her win her best friend back.
I listened to this on audio, and I think the narrator did a great job with these characters. It did take me quite a while to get through this one, it felt like it dragged quite a bit. I thought the confessionals with the priest and Dolores was a fun way to introduce things into the story. Terpsichore was my favourite part of this story. She was so sweet, and a great friend to Dolores who taught her some important lessons. I hated Shae, and didn't fully understand Dolores' fascination with her, or her need with being friends with her again.
Overall, it was an okay read, but it didn't blow me out of the water in anyway.
October 14, 2024
I liked the book, Dolores's maturation and gradual ability to see life and events straight on, without her previous dramatic and rose-colored slant, was believable and relatable. She was contending with a chronic disease, living in poverty, and loneliness. The book included enough humor and one-liners to soften the harder themes.
Terpsichore is on the autism spectrum, and her overbearing and overprotective mother insists on homeschooling and forbids Terpsichore to make friends or do anything that other young teens do. Though it would seem that Dolores and Terpsichore have nothing in common, they form an unlikely alliance, each vowing to help the other get what she wants.
Both the main characters are two girls going through different challenges that bring them together. They decide to help each other by faking a friendship that flourishes as they learn more about each other.
The story follows chronic illnesses while telling a light-hearted friendship story. I enjoyed my first time reading from this author, Maya Van Wagenen.
Thank you, NetGalley for this book for an honest review!! I wanted to read it because of the cover. Thank you.
Terpsichore is on the autism spectrum, and her overbearing and overprotective mother insists on homeschooling and forbids Terpsichore to make friends or do anything that other young teens do. Though it would seem that Dolores and Terpsichore have nothing in common, they form an unlikely alliance, each vowing to help the other get what she wants.
Both the main characters are two girls going through different challenges that bring them together. They decide to help each other by faking a friendship that flourishes as they learn more about each other.
The story follows chronic illnesses while telling a light-hearted friendship story. I enjoyed my first time reading from this author, Maya Van Wagenen.
Thank you, NetGalley for this book for an honest review!! I wanted to read it because of the cover. Thank you.
March 13, 2024
This is an excellent YA or teen novel about what it’s like to live with a chronic medical condition or on the autism spectrum. Dolores, our protagonist, defines herself by the painful bladder condition interstitial cystitis, and blames the betrayal by her best friend, as well as the absence of any other friends on her condition. Until she meets Terpischore, a girl with autism. Somehow this unlikely pair forge a bond that shows the reader that being an outsider, in a host of ways, doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you; an important lesson for young women in middle and high school in these fraught times where it seems like belonging is the key to happiness.
Characters are great, their slings and arrows of outrageous fortune beautifully captured, the multiple storylines are wonderfully woven together. Highly recommended.
I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.
Characters are great, their slings and arrows of outrageous fortune beautifully captured, the multiple storylines are wonderfully woven together. Highly recommended.
I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.
March 22, 2024
This book is about 2 girls going through personal struggles. Dolores has a chronic condition that causes her pain and makes her need to use the bathroom a lot. She had an incident at school the previous year when she couldn’t make it to the bathroom and peed in class. To top it off she slipped in the mess & fell and hit her head. Now her best friend is distancing herself from her. Terpsichore is autistic and is homeschooled. She desperately wants to go to school, but has an overprotective mom who thinks she will get made fun of. The two girls decide they can help each other by faking a friendship. Dolores will get back in with her friend group and Terpsichore will show her mom she can make friends. I enjoyed the story and found the characters likable. Even with the storyline of a chronic illness there were lots of funny, light moments with these girls growing into young women. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
March 27, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Groups, Dutton Books, and Maya Van Wagenen for allowing me to read the ARC of Chronically Dolores.
Delores Mendoza, a teen with a bladder illness, had an accident at school, causing Shae, her best friend, to quit hanging out with her. What looks like the saddest, most boring summer ever, changes when Delores meets Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, a mildly autistic girl, who is home-schooled and kept at home except to go out with her mother. The girls make big plans for Delores to convince “Terps” mother to allow her to go to public school, and “Terps” will help heal her friendship with Shae. Things get out-of-control when the girls go to a party without permission, “Terps” mother shows up, and drags her home. Has Delores lost her only friend? Will her family survive financial issues? Will “Terps” find a way to be out of her house and go to public school? This is an interesting, thought-provoking book.
Delores Mendoza, a teen with a bladder illness, had an accident at school, causing Shae, her best friend, to quit hanging out with her. What looks like the saddest, most boring summer ever, changes when Delores meets Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, a mildly autistic girl, who is home-schooled and kept at home except to go out with her mother. The girls make big plans for Delores to convince “Terps” mother to allow her to go to public school, and “Terps” will help heal her friendship with Shae. Things get out-of-control when the girls go to a party without permission, “Terps” mother shows up, and drags her home. Has Delores lost her only friend? Will her family survive financial issues? Will “Terps” find a way to be out of her house and go to public school? This is an interesting, thought-provoking book.
May 15, 2024
This book mashes together a lot of things that, if I told you about all of them, would make it sound like a huge mess. Yet somehow, Van Wagenen has made the entire story work. Both Dolores and Terpsichore are clear, wonderful voices and I loved Dolores' messiness and Terpsichore's uptight neatness in both communication and how they live. The additional messiness of Dolores' relationship with religion echoes some other struggles in her life, but I loved the portrayal of the priest and his responses to Dolores' confessions. I'm also a fan of how Terpsichore fairly effortlessly fit into Dolores' family and with the other kids at the party. Although she is obviously a bit weird by teen standards, they are all willing to take her in on her own merits. Then throw in the parents' disintegrating relationship and Mateo's failure to launch and the misunderstood neighbors.... There is a whole lot to love here that all got integrated very smoothly.
February 26, 2024
I haven’t read a YA book in awhile, but I really enjoyed this one. Initially, I wanted to read it to see if it was something my daughter would enjoy (I think she would in a few years when she’s older/closer to being a teenager). As an autistic mom with of an autistic daughter, I was curious to see how autism would be portrayed in this book. While it can look differently for each person, I found this book to accurately depict our experiences with both autism and chronic illness. This is a book I wish I would have had as a young teenager to feel like I wasn’t so alone.
I would note that LGBTQ themes are present in this book. Nothing graphic, but knowing that some parents choose to avoid books with that, I wanted to share since I wasn’t aware from the summary of the book.
Thanks NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC- this was a fun read and all views expressed are my own.
I would note that LGBTQ themes are present in this book. Nothing graphic, but knowing that some parents choose to avoid books with that, I wanted to share since I wasn’t aware from the summary of the book.
Thanks NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC- this was a fun read and all views expressed are my own.
March 27, 2024
Dolores life wasn't always easy and now it’s even more off kilter. She’s been diagnose with a chronic bladder condition that has her feeling hopeless. She meets Terpsichore a girl who is home schooled because she’s autistic and her mother is over protective. Terpsichore wants to help Dolores survive high school and show her the best parts to life.
Both the main characters are two girls going through different challenges that bring them together. They decide to help each other by faking a friendship that flourishes as they learn more about each other.
The story follows chronic illnesses while telling a light hearted friendship story.
Both the main characters are two girls going through different challenges that bring them together. They decide to help each other by faking a friendship that flourishes as they learn more about each other.
The story follows chronic illnesses while telling a light hearted friendship story.
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