Review of It's Safe Not to Hide
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- Stephanie Elizabeth
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 2989
- Joined: 18 Jul 2018, 15:41
- Currently Reading: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
- Bookshelf Size: 212
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-stephanie-elizabeth.html
- Latest Review: Do You Remember Me? by Wm M Crouch
Review of It's Safe Not to Hide
Being a teenager can be difficult, especially when grappling with an abusive parent, death, gender identity confusion, and illness. Four teens—Willow, Libby, JI, and Samra—bond over their mutual hardships while still having some fun along the way. The college’s psychologist, Sally, looks forward to her sessions with these effervescent, albeit troubled, teens every week, hoping she can guide them through their challenges.
Still, some situations are becoming dire, and Sally worries for their wellbeing. Willow’s reticence about her father’s abuse could be putting her in harm’s way; the loss of YI’s father is taking him down a self-destructive path, and Libby feels the plight of having leukemia. Samra seems way over her head, being groomed by a much older man.
Will Sally be able to unearth the truth of what’s going on behind closed doors before it’s too late?
It’s Safe Not to Hide by Pamela Woodford is a coming-of-age book that follows four friends facing adversity. The novel is written from the third-person perspective, alternating between the characters. As a result, the reader is transported into the minds of all four teens and their school psychologist. The themes of friendship, grief, and love are addressed throughout the book.
While I thought this book had a lot of promise, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected and had mixed feelings. For one, the bond between the friends seemed insincere and sufficient backstory was left out, particularly regarding the friendship between Samra and the other group members. A good chunk of the first part focused on Willow, Libby, and YI’s relationship. Still, Samra’s introduction to the group was rushed. One minute it was just the three, and then her character appeared with little explanation.
Further, I had difficulty identifying with any of the characters because the perspectives moved around constantly. For example, I’d empathize with Willow’s destructive family life; then, I would have to refocus my attention on YI’s grief in the next paragraph and switch gears again as Sally tried to make sense of it all. Perhaps by focusing on fewer characters or alternating perspectives less frequently, readers will have an easier time resonating with each individual.
Another thing that I found disappointing was the way Willow interacted with others. She constantly used profanity, and for me, it became excessive. While I understand she was supposed to give off a rough-around-the-edges vibe, it could have been portrayed more efficiently through her mannerisms and the way she said things.
Despite the book’s shortcomings, I thought the author did a great job depicting what it was like to be a teen, mainly regarding confusion about identity and navigating romantic relationships. Willow’s desire to be a boy one day and a girl the next aptly illustrated her inner struggle. Samra’s lack of experience was apparent when being courted by someone much older. In addition, there were no issues with spelling or grammar; the book was exceptionally edited.
That being said, I have chosen to give It’s Safe Not to Hide a rating of three out of five stars—deducting two stars due to continuous changes in perspective, which hindered my reading experience. In addition, the overuse of profanity also affected my rating.
As mentioned above, I have mixed feelings about the book. Still, I recommend it to readers who enjoy coming-of-age books, particularly ones with heavy-hitting topics. Conversely, the language could be problematic for sensitive readers; therefore, please approach the story cautiously.
******
It's Safe Not to Hide
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
- Amy Luman
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 4986
- Joined: 29 Mar 2021, 14:05
- Currently Reading: Time Before Time
- Bookshelf Size: 1015
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amy-luman.html
- Latest Review: All the Targets by Noah Bond
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
- Patty Allread
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 833
- Joined: 14 Jan 2022, 15:23
- Favorite Book: The Problems of Work
- Currently Reading: Bird by Bird
- Bookshelf Size: 82
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-patty-allread.html
- Latest Review: Hinduism by Dr Hiro G. Badlani
-
- Posts: 154
- Joined: 02 Feb 2023, 08:06
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 21