Page Count: 452
Published on: April 1, 2014
Published by: Harper Teen
Genre(s): Contemporary, Mental Illness, YA, Novella, Realistic Fiction, Magical Realism
Source: Print: Paperback: via author
Genre(s): Contemporary, Mental Illness, YA, Novella, Realistic Fiction, Magical Realism
Source: Print: Paperback: via author
Age Rating: PG-13
Trigger Warnings: Depression, Suicide, Eating Disorders, Child Sexual Abuse
My Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads synopsis:
On the eve of her senior year in high school, Rachael learns that Leif, the boy she’s had a crush on for over a year — who disappeared the previous spring after showing signs of a worsening depression — is coming back to school.
Rachael knows a little something about depression. Hers comes in the form of a two-hundred-pound lion, named Sheba. At first, it seems like their shared experience with depression might bring Rachael and Leif together, but Sheba has other ideas. Rachael soon realizes that if she can’t get Sheba under control, she stands to lose a lot more than just her first crush.
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Hey, guys!
Jessica Barnett sent me her novella to read and write an honest review, and I was really interested to see how she dealt with the topic of mental illness in her story. I'm actually really in love with the way she wrote her characters and how she dealt with the personification of mental illness and the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The Queen of Sheba follows Rachael as she begins her senior year. When Rachael learns that her long-time crush will be returning for their senior year, Rachael just wants to go about her year; to work hard and go out with the guy she likes. Her life is soon turned around when Sheba begins to take over her life.
In this book, people's depression is represented by a physical manifestation of a certain animal...Rachael's being a female lion named Sheba. I thought this was a really beautiful way to represent depression because it enables the readers to fully understand the physical toll depression has on the person. It was probably my favorite part of the novella. I wasn't a huge fan of most of the characters, but Rachael was really solid and her character growth was really wonderfully done. It was a pretty good story and I look forward to what Barnett does next.
I know this was a pretty short review, but I feel like if you have even the slightest urge to read this novella, then you should. The story is lovely and the representation of mental illness is done really well. I don't want to spoil any of the story, so I recommend this book for anyone who wants an excellent short read.
Happy reading!
Olivia
~LivTheBookNerd~
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