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Wishbones
Feather Tucker has two wishes:
1) To get her mum healthy again
2) To win the Junior UK swimming championships
When Feather comes home on New Year’s Eve to find her mother – one of Britain’s most obese women- in a diabetic coma, she realises something has to be done to save her mum’s life. But when her Mum refuses to co-operate Feather realises that the problem run deeper than just her mum’s unhealthy appetite.
Over time, Feather’s mission to help her Mum becomes an investigation. With the help of friends old and new, and the hindrance of runaway pet goat Houdini, Feather’s starting to uncover when her mum’s life began to spiral out of control and why. But can Feather fix it in time for her mum to watch her swim to victory? And can she save her family for good?
1) To get her mum healthy again
2) To win the Junior UK swimming championships
When Feather comes home on New Year’s Eve to find her mother – one of Britain’s most obese women- in a diabetic coma, she realises something has to be done to save her mum’s life. But when her Mum refuses to co-operate Feather realises that the problem run deeper than just her mum’s unhealthy appetite.
Over time, Feather’s mission to help her Mum becomes an investigation. With the help of friends old and new, and the hindrance of runaway pet goat Houdini, Feather’s starting to uncover when her mum’s life began to spiral out of control and why. But can Feather fix it in time for her mum to watch her swim to victory? And can she save her family for good?
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2017
5 people are currently reading
971 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Macgregor
10 books165 followersI was brought up in Germany, France and England by a mother who never stopped telling stories. From the moment I was old enough to hold a pen, I set about writing my own, often late into the night – or behind my Maths textbook at school. My maiden name is Virginia Woods: I was named after two great women, Virginia Wade and Virginia Woolf, in the hope I would be a writer and a tennis star. My early years were those of a scribbling, rain-loving child who prayed for lightning to strike my tennis coach.
After studying at Oxford, I started writing regularly whilst working as an English Teacher and Housemistress. I now write full time for both adults and young adults. My fiction tackles contemporary issues, often through the lens of family life.
My debut novel, 'What Milo Saw,' came out in 2014: it reflects the humour and tragedy of contemporary Britain through four very different voices: 9 year old Milo, 92 year old Lou (Milo’s Gran), 27 year old Sandy (Milo’s mum) and 24 year old Tripi (a Syrian refugee). It explores a range of issues from the nursing home crisis in the UK, coping as a single mum, being a refugee to living with a disability - Milo has a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigementosa which means he has no periphery vision - but, paradoxically, he picks up on more of what's going on than those around him, especially in his Gran's nursing home.
My second novel, 'The Return of Norah Wells' came out in 2016: it tells the story of a mother who walked out on her young family and came back six years later expecting to pick up where she left off . The novel takes place over a May bank holiday and, like Milo, is told through several points of view: Willa (7), Ella (14), Norah (The Mother Who Left), Fay (The Mother Who Stayed) and Adam - the dad. It's a real family drama and I hope that it will lead to some interesting discussions amongst my readers about what it means to be a mum today.
My third novel, 'Born To Be Yours', tells the story of seven year old Jonah, a Kenyan boy abandoned at Heathrow airport. He is taken in by social services and matched with Rosie and Sam Keep, a British couple who long to have child to call their own. As the three of them are brought together they are thrown into a drama which will challenge their notions of what it means to be a family and Rosie and Sam have to confront the hardest question of all: how far are they prepared to go for someone who isn't their own child?
I'm working on my fourth novel for adults, 'Forgetting You', about a man found in Regent's Park with no memory of who he is or where is from. This will be out in 2018.
In 2017 I published my first Young Adult novel, 'Wishbones'. It's been a dream of mine to write for both adults and young adults. The story is also contemporary: it's about fourteen year old Feather Tucker who lives with her morbidly obese mother who has been given six months to live. Feather sees it as her duty to save her mother's life but as she begins to dig into her parents' past to find out why her mother got so sick, Feather's life and that of the people in the small village where she and her family live, change forever.
I live currently live in Concord, New Hampshire, with my husband, Hugh, my two little girls, Tennessee Skye and Somerset Wilder and a wonderful white dogcat (he comes on walks with us), Seb. I love to write in coffee shops and I walk every day, which is as much part of my creative process as putting words on the page. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that readers are enjoying my stories so please get in touch and share your experience of reading my novels.
Do also take a look at my website (www.virginiamacgregor.com) where you can find out more about my life as a writer, upcoming books and events.
After studying at Oxford, I started writing regularly whilst working as an English Teacher and Housemistress. I now write full time for both adults and young adults. My fiction tackles contemporary issues, often through the lens of family life.
My debut novel, 'What Milo Saw,' came out in 2014: it reflects the humour and tragedy of contemporary Britain through four very different voices: 9 year old Milo, 92 year old Lou (Milo’s Gran), 27 year old Sandy (Milo’s mum) and 24 year old Tripi (a Syrian refugee). It explores a range of issues from the nursing home crisis in the UK, coping as a single mum, being a refugee to living with a disability - Milo has a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigementosa which means he has no periphery vision - but, paradoxically, he picks up on more of what's going on than those around him, especially in his Gran's nursing home.
My second novel, 'The Return of Norah Wells' came out in 2016: it tells the story of a mother who walked out on her young family and came back six years later expecting to pick up where she left off . The novel takes place over a May bank holiday and, like Milo, is told through several points of view: Willa (7), Ella (14), Norah (The Mother Who Left), Fay (The Mother Who Stayed) and Adam - the dad. It's a real family drama and I hope that it will lead to some interesting discussions amongst my readers about what it means to be a mum today.
My third novel, 'Born To Be Yours', tells the story of seven year old Jonah, a Kenyan boy abandoned at Heathrow airport. He is taken in by social services and matched with Rosie and Sam Keep, a British couple who long to have child to call their own. As the three of them are brought together they are thrown into a drama which will challenge their notions of what it means to be a family and Rosie and Sam have to confront the hardest question of all: how far are they prepared to go for someone who isn't their own child?
I'm working on my fourth novel for adults, 'Forgetting You', about a man found in Regent's Park with no memory of who he is or where is from. This will be out in 2018.
In 2017 I published my first Young Adult novel, 'Wishbones'. It's been a dream of mine to write for both adults and young adults. The story is also contemporary: it's about fourteen year old Feather Tucker who lives with her morbidly obese mother who has been given six months to live. Feather sees it as her duty to save her mother's life but as she begins to dig into her parents' past to find out why her mother got so sick, Feather's life and that of the people in the small village where she and her family live, change forever.
I live currently live in Concord, New Hampshire, with my husband, Hugh, my two little girls, Tennessee Skye and Somerset Wilder and a wonderful white dogcat (he comes on walks with us), Seb. I love to write in coffee shops and I walk every day, which is as much part of my creative process as putting words on the page. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that readers are enjoying my stories so please get in touch and share your experience of reading my novels.
Do also take a look at my website (www.virginiamacgregor.com) where you can find out more about my life as a writer, upcoming books and events.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 1, 2017
"Depression is sneaky. It hides, waiting for something to happen to knock you off your stride and then it pounces. And once it's got its claws in you, it swallows you whole."
4.5/5 stars
Plot:
Feather’s mum eats. A lot. So much that one day she comes home to find her mum lying on the floor, unable to move, her mouth foaming. When Feather’s mum is taken to the hospital, where she lies in a diabetic coma, she and her father have to face the facts. Josi is life-threateningly obese and if they don’t help her, they may not have her around for much longer.
Feather makes a plan: to get her mum better, whatever it takes. So why isn’t her dad supporting her? And why won’t her mum talk to her, about what made her start eating in the first place? Everybody seems to know but Feather, and she is determined to find out what they’re hiding from her.
Characters:
Feather loves her mum, swimming, and her best friend Jake. She is confident and doesn’t beat around the bush. On the other hand she is a teenager, she seeks love and support and can only take so much. Most of all, she is brave and an amazing example for what it means to love unconditionally.
Josi is Feather’s mum. She loves Feather, Prawn Cocktail crisps and her TV shows. She hasn’t left the house in years. She knows what people think of her and doesn’t want their eyes on her. So she stays inside, trying to blend out life outside the house and forgetting about the past.
Clay is the new guy in town, and he loves cooking, going on runs and other things his mother disapproves of. When he was very young, he’s lived here before, but something happened and he and his mother moved to America. Clay, like Josi, struggles with what happened years ago, but while Josi grows bigger and bigger, he fades into nothingness.
This could be the typical YA novel. But it’s so much more than that. Excellent pacing and a light writing style make it easy to read this book in one sitting (at least that’s what I did). Then again the author manages to address so many heavy topics, but doesn’t let the reader lose hope.
The biggest topic of them all: Eating disorders. A topic the YA genre is still lacking in, especially when it comes to fatphobia. Obese people are made fun of in the most hateful ways. All people see is someone unhealthy and unworthy of their attention. What people ignore is, that there is more than just fat to a person. It’s dehumanizing.
Virginia MacGregor doesn’t leave it at that, though. She shows us that anorexia, the opposite of what Josi is going through, is something men sometimes deal with, too. Eating disorders are nothing to be made fun of. They stem from something deeper, they come from or are symptoms of depression and it’s not something to be cured with the wave of a hand. It’s a process. There’s setbacks. It’s anything but easy. But it’s possible to get better.
Virginia MacGregor addresses so many things with this book. Depression and eating disorders, immigration and loneliness, sexuality and mental health. Too much really, to put all of it in this review. The author ignores antiquated gender roles and fragile masculinity. Let them all dance like they want, wear what they like, be who they are. She sends some very strong and heart-warming messages out there and I hope that many readers will love this book for its realness and bravery.
This story really touched me. In the beginning I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. Feather is a stubborn character, Houdini is a strange pet and this novel could’ve turned out to be weird and unrealistic. But what it did turn out to be was this wonderful and encouraging story. Personally, I think the ending was a little too happy, a little too long. I would have wished for it to be shorter and more open. But I can’t really criticise a happy ending, can I?
I really hope Wishbones is going to receive the big attention it deserves, and that future readers will love it as much as I did.
P.S.: While reading this I listened to this song by Birdy and Rhodes. It fits perfectly.
Find more of my books on Instagram
4.5/5 stars
Plot:
Feather’s mum eats. A lot. So much that one day she comes home to find her mum lying on the floor, unable to move, her mouth foaming. When Feather’s mum is taken to the hospital, where she lies in a diabetic coma, she and her father have to face the facts. Josi is life-threateningly obese and if they don’t help her, they may not have her around for much longer.
Feather makes a plan: to get her mum better, whatever it takes. So why isn’t her dad supporting her? And why won’t her mum talk to her, about what made her start eating in the first place? Everybody seems to know but Feather, and she is determined to find out what they’re hiding from her.
Characters:
Feather loves her mum, swimming, and her best friend Jake. She is confident and doesn’t beat around the bush. On the other hand she is a teenager, she seeks love and support and can only take so much. Most of all, she is brave and an amazing example for what it means to love unconditionally.
Josi is Feather’s mum. She loves Feather, Prawn Cocktail crisps and her TV shows. She hasn’t left the house in years. She knows what people think of her and doesn’t want their eyes on her. So she stays inside, trying to blend out life outside the house and forgetting about the past.
Clay is the new guy in town, and he loves cooking, going on runs and other things his mother disapproves of. When he was very young, he’s lived here before, but something happened and he and his mother moved to America. Clay, like Josi, struggles with what happened years ago, but while Josi grows bigger and bigger, he fades into nothingness.
This could be the typical YA novel. But it’s so much more than that. Excellent pacing and a light writing style make it easy to read this book in one sitting (at least that’s what I did). Then again the author manages to address so many heavy topics, but doesn’t let the reader lose hope.
The biggest topic of them all: Eating disorders. A topic the YA genre is still lacking in, especially when it comes to fatphobia. Obese people are made fun of in the most hateful ways. All people see is someone unhealthy and unworthy of their attention. What people ignore is, that there is more than just fat to a person. It’s dehumanizing.
Virginia MacGregor doesn’t leave it at that, though. She shows us that anorexia, the opposite of what Josi is going through, is something men sometimes deal with, too. Eating disorders are nothing to be made fun of. They stem from something deeper, they come from or are symptoms of depression and it’s not something to be cured with the wave of a hand. It’s a process. There’s setbacks. It’s anything but easy. But it’s possible to get better.
Virginia MacGregor addresses so many things with this book. Depression and eating disorders, immigration and loneliness, sexuality and mental health. Too much really, to put all of it in this review. The author ignores antiquated gender roles and fragile masculinity. Let them all dance like they want, wear what they like, be who they are. She sends some very strong and heart-warming messages out there and I hope that many readers will love this book for its realness and bravery.
This story really touched me. In the beginning I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. Feather is a stubborn character, Houdini is a strange pet and this novel could’ve turned out to be weird and unrealistic. But what it did turn out to be was this wonderful and encouraging story. Personally, I think the ending was a little too happy, a little too long. I would have wished for it to be shorter and more open. But I can’t really criticise a happy ending, can I?
I really hope Wishbones is going to receive the big attention it deserves, and that future readers will love it as much as I did.
P.S.: While reading this I listened to this song by Birdy and Rhodes. It fits perfectly.
Find more of my books on Instagram
April 29, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl whose mother was morbidly obese.
Feather was a loving girl, and it was obvious how much she cared about her mother. I thought her attempts to help her mother lose weight were well-meant, even if she didn’t understand that her mother wasn’t quite as motivated as she was.
The storyline in this was about feather trying to get her mother to lose weight after being in a diabetic coma. All the way through the book was an air of mystery though, over what exactly it was that her mother was hiding from her, and why other people seemed to have more of an insight into her mother and her problems than Feather did. The pace in this felt quite slow though, and I did want answers a lot quicker than we got them.
The ending to this had a few shocking revelations, and I was pleased that we finally got some answers.
6.25 out of 10
“I ate to survive. I ate to numb the sadness, to give me the strength to face another day.”
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl whose mother was morbidly obese.
Feather was a loving girl, and it was obvious how much she cared about her mother. I thought her attempts to help her mother lose weight were well-meant, even if she didn’t understand that her mother wasn’t quite as motivated as she was.
The storyline in this was about feather trying to get her mother to lose weight after being in a diabetic coma. All the way through the book was an air of mystery though, over what exactly it was that her mother was hiding from her, and why other people seemed to have more of an insight into her mother and her problems than Feather did. The pace in this felt quite slow though, and I did want answers a lot quicker than we got them.
The ending to this had a few shocking revelations, and I was pleased that we finally got some answers.
6.25 out of 10
August 9, 2017
“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.”
----Laurell K. Hamilton
Virginia Macgregor, an English author, has penned an extremely encouraging and soul stirring young adult contemporary fiction called, Wishbones that explores the life of a teenage girl, who wants to fix her mom and dad's relationship, by helping her obese and depressed mom to feel and get better, but fate have other plans for her, when after a night out, her mother falls sick, and her family is pushed to the edge off the limits. And not to mention, there are lots of things that she doesn't know yet, knowing which will forever change her life. An uplifting YA story about sexuality, eating disorder, depression, relationships and encouragement that is a must read.
Synopsis:
Feather Tucker has two wishes:
1)To get her mum healthy again
2) To win the Junior UK swimming championships
When Feather comes home on New Year’s Eve to find her mother – one of Britain’s most obese women- in a diabetic coma, she realizes something has to be done to save her mum’s life. But when her Mum refuses to co-operate Feather realises that the problem run deeper than just her mum’s unhealthy appetite.
Over time, Feather’s mission to help her Mum becomes an investigation. With the help of friends old and new, and the hindrance of runaway pet goat Houdini, Feather’s starting to uncover when her mum’s life began to spiral out of control and why. But can Feather fix it in time for her mum to watch her swim to victory? And can she save her family for good?
Feather Tucker is a 14 year old teenage swimming prodigy girl, who after a night out with her only friend, Jake, finds out her mom, Josi on the floor, who has not left her room as well as her bed in the last 5 years. Feather immediately gets help for her mother who is obese and as result Josi had to be craned out of the room. Later in the hospital, Feather finds out that her mother is diabetic and has only a few months to live, so she decides to fix her parents' broken relationship. But sadly her parents, both her mom and dad are not that much interested to fix their already faded away relationship. Moroever, Josi is in no mood to lose her weight or to feel better, and that is when Feather chances upon a box of untold past, and that takes the wind out of her chest. Feather can't believe the lies that her parents have fed her over the years and not to mention, the village where she lives, also knows about it and that's why they always turned a bling eye towards her mom's condition. Can Feather make her mother get better? And with that upcoming swimming championship, can Feather win her battles?
This is the kind of book that every teenager and every parent must give it a read, as this empowering story will not only inspire the struggling souls but will also enlighten every readers' minds and souls. The story is absolutely brilliant and power enough to impact lives, although some of the things are not depicted under sensitive or thoughtful light, especially the gay relationship, yet the family relationships and issues with obesity and depression are very much well addressed in the story line. This absorbing story simply stole my heart away, and especially the bright and extremely mature protagonist, whose sweetness yet her determination makes her one hell of a kickass young heroine of this book.
The writing style is extremely exquisite and articulate and is laced with enough emotions to move the readers deeply, and not only that, the prose is also very easy to comprehend with. The narrative is wrapped tightly with sensitivity and sympathy that will only make the readers contemplate with the characters' plight and also the dialogues are penned in a realistic manner. The pacing is really fast, although the only flaw of this book is that it lacks a bit of depth about certain key characters, as a result, it feels quite incomplete upon reading the book.
The characters are well developed, laced with enough realism in their demeanor to make them relatable in the eyes of the readers. The main character, Feather, is a mature girl, despite of her tender age, yet her determination to get her mom better and her shock and her fight against her own family's lies is strikingly depicted by the author. Feather is a thoughtful and brave young girl, and her struggles with her family are flawlessly penned by the author. Feather is like an epitome for every other young girls with dreams and infinite battles to fight everyday. The rest of the characters felt very dull, as they lacked depth, especially, Josi, who could have been explored more and that would have made her very realistic and interesting.
In a nutshell, this is a must read and very poignant book that will only inspire and enlighten young souls who have every day family drama and struggles to fight with, besides their own personal dreams and challenges.
Verdict: An extremely engrossing contemporary young adult book about family problems, eating disorder, ambitions and depressions.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Harper Collins India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Laurell K. Hamilton
Virginia Macgregor, an English author, has penned an extremely encouraging and soul stirring young adult contemporary fiction called, Wishbones that explores the life of a teenage girl, who wants to fix her mom and dad's relationship, by helping her obese and depressed mom to feel and get better, but fate have other plans for her, when after a night out, her mother falls sick, and her family is pushed to the edge off the limits. And not to mention, there are lots of things that she doesn't know yet, knowing which will forever change her life. An uplifting YA story about sexuality, eating disorder, depression, relationships and encouragement that is a must read.
Synopsis:
Feather Tucker has two wishes:
1)To get her mum healthy again
2) To win the Junior UK swimming championships
When Feather comes home on New Year’s Eve to find her mother – one of Britain’s most obese women- in a diabetic coma, she realizes something has to be done to save her mum’s life. But when her Mum refuses to co-operate Feather realises that the problem run deeper than just her mum’s unhealthy appetite.
Over time, Feather’s mission to help her Mum becomes an investigation. With the help of friends old and new, and the hindrance of runaway pet goat Houdini, Feather’s starting to uncover when her mum’s life began to spiral out of control and why. But can Feather fix it in time for her mum to watch her swim to victory? And can she save her family for good?
Feather Tucker is a 14 year old teenage swimming prodigy girl, who after a night out with her only friend, Jake, finds out her mom, Josi on the floor, who has not left her room as well as her bed in the last 5 years. Feather immediately gets help for her mother who is obese and as result Josi had to be craned out of the room. Later in the hospital, Feather finds out that her mother is diabetic and has only a few months to live, so she decides to fix her parents' broken relationship. But sadly her parents, both her mom and dad are not that much interested to fix their already faded away relationship. Moroever, Josi is in no mood to lose her weight or to feel better, and that is when Feather chances upon a box of untold past, and that takes the wind out of her chest. Feather can't believe the lies that her parents have fed her over the years and not to mention, the village where she lives, also knows about it and that's why they always turned a bling eye towards her mom's condition. Can Feather make her mother get better? And with that upcoming swimming championship, can Feather win her battles?
This is the kind of book that every teenager and every parent must give it a read, as this empowering story will not only inspire the struggling souls but will also enlighten every readers' minds and souls. The story is absolutely brilliant and power enough to impact lives, although some of the things are not depicted under sensitive or thoughtful light, especially the gay relationship, yet the family relationships and issues with obesity and depression are very much well addressed in the story line. This absorbing story simply stole my heart away, and especially the bright and extremely mature protagonist, whose sweetness yet her determination makes her one hell of a kickass young heroine of this book.
The writing style is extremely exquisite and articulate and is laced with enough emotions to move the readers deeply, and not only that, the prose is also very easy to comprehend with. The narrative is wrapped tightly with sensitivity and sympathy that will only make the readers contemplate with the characters' plight and also the dialogues are penned in a realistic manner. The pacing is really fast, although the only flaw of this book is that it lacks a bit of depth about certain key characters, as a result, it feels quite incomplete upon reading the book.
The characters are well developed, laced with enough realism in their demeanor to make them relatable in the eyes of the readers. The main character, Feather, is a mature girl, despite of her tender age, yet her determination to get her mom better and her shock and her fight against her own family's lies is strikingly depicted by the author. Feather is a thoughtful and brave young girl, and her struggles with her family are flawlessly penned by the author. Feather is like an epitome for every other young girls with dreams and infinite battles to fight everyday. The rest of the characters felt very dull, as they lacked depth, especially, Josi, who could have been explored more and that would have made her very realistic and interesting.
In a nutshell, this is a must read and very poignant book that will only inspire and enlighten young souls who have every day family drama and struggles to fight with, besides their own personal dreams and challenges.
Verdict: An extremely engrossing contemporary young adult book about family problems, eating disorder, ambitions and depressions.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Harper Collins India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
March 14, 2017
This book intrigued me from the off. Unique, heartbreaking, frustrating storyline about the relationship between a girl and her parents. They battle very unique situations and the whole book was a joy to read. Fantastic writing. I wanted to adopt Feather, and she will stay with me for a long time.
April 21, 2017
Simultaneously lighthearted/fun and heavy/serious, this was a beautiful little contemporary. I can't believe it took me so long to get into; once I got going it only took me two days to finish it!
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for a review!
RTC.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for a review!
RTC.
May 22, 2017
I can totally relate to Wishbones! Feather Tucker is fourteen years old and has a mum who weighs 500 pounds and does not ever leave the house. Feather comes home on New Years Eve to her mother in a diabetic coma that totally n threatened her life. Feathers life is further complicated by the fact she has a enormous crush on a new boy in town and her friendship with Jake and nthe loveable runaway goat Houdini. This is a lovely novel with lots of ups and downs. I highly recommend this book for readers of young adult and new adult contemporary works.
Read
October 17, 2025A stand-out YA novel and one that I think you all should look out for next year!
March 19, 2017
If ever there was a book to make you think about how you treat your family members then this one will really get you thinking. I almost gave up around 8% because I was so angry at Feather's mother. This book brings in how important it is to have a firm knit of friends around you, and also dispels that ever burning issue. What do other's think of me? Is it enough to make me never want to leave the house again? Am I worried about what other people will think about what I look like? Am I concerned that others will laugh and joke about the way I look? There are a whole host of other problems going on in Wishbones, from anorexia to immigrants to ignorance, this book throws everything in and more.
First and foremost, meet Feather. She's an exceptional girl, fourteen years old and a complete sweetheart. She's got an older head on her shoulders, mainly because of her mother's condition. She loves her mum, Josi, very much. She washes her mum's hair, brushes it daily for her, makes sure her mum is up and dressed before Feather even thinks about herself and school. She enjoys sitting and watching tv with her mum as they laugh and joke about the shows they watch.
But Feather carries a huge burden. She's lost most of her friends because of her mum. Her only friend is Jake, who she's known since a baby. Josi and Jake's mum were best friends but had a big falling out which puts more pressure on Jake and Feather.
Then there are the people in the village who are all very good to Feather but over time Feather starts to realise they're all keeping secrets from her. Of course, everyone in this book throw her off by saying 'Speak to your mother.' Except Josi won't speak to Feather. She won't say anything.
The story begins at New Year when Josi has an accident. She's unconscious on the floor in a room she hasn't left in five years. To Feather's dismay Josi has to be craned out of her house because she's so morbidly obese she can't be carried out. Feather knows her mum would hate this. Josi hates hospitals. Feather is sure its her fault but after speaking to the nurses (or overhearing them) she finds out her mother has at most six months to live because of diabetes and her obesity. Feather puts together a plan. Get her mum healthy again. Feather can't bear the thought of life without her mum.
She tries to get her dad to help but he's reluctant. Instead Feather turns to Jake who promises he'll do what he can. When Josi comes home Feather starts putting her plan into practice but no matter how hard she tries, her mum and her dad don't want Feather's nutritious food, nor agree when Feather takes her mum's TV away, or puts her dads bed in the front room with her mum's bed. Surely her mum and dad must love each other and want to be together instead of sleeping in separate rooms like they have been doing for the last five years.
All her good intentions come to a head when Feather finds a box of photos that apparently shouldn't exist. Her parents always told Feather they didn't take any pictures when she was small. The photos prove that her mum was once fit and healthy and her dad helped in the community. They weren't the people they are now.
Slowly Feather unravels this trail of lies she's been told over the years, and the shock near the end puts Feather over the edge. She's had to pay for events that happened years past. But everyone thinks because she doesn't know, it cannot hurt her.
This book was a tale of agony and redemption. It's hurtful, harrowing and yet helpful in the same turn. I found myself incredibly angry in parts and partly sad in others. But at no time did I think there wasn't a solution that could be found. This is an excellent example of people living and reliving their worst nightmares and dwelling on them without moving forward. If only they'd sought guidance, they wouldn't have put Feather through all her misery.
I've given this 5 out of 5 not because it was a fantastic escapism story that I usually enjoy but because there are so many poignant stigmas which I think this book helps lift.
Above all I learned this. You cannot look into the past to live your future. The past is gone. All you can do is move on with one foot then the other.
Feather's village life is wonderfully colourful and depicted beautifully in Wishbones. A must read book!
First and foremost, meet Feather. She's an exceptional girl, fourteen years old and a complete sweetheart. She's got an older head on her shoulders, mainly because of her mother's condition. She loves her mum, Josi, very much. She washes her mum's hair, brushes it daily for her, makes sure her mum is up and dressed before Feather even thinks about herself and school. She enjoys sitting and watching tv with her mum as they laugh and joke about the shows they watch.
But Feather carries a huge burden. She's lost most of her friends because of her mum. Her only friend is Jake, who she's known since a baby. Josi and Jake's mum were best friends but had a big falling out which puts more pressure on Jake and Feather.
Then there are the people in the village who are all very good to Feather but over time Feather starts to realise they're all keeping secrets from her. Of course, everyone in this book throw her off by saying 'Speak to your mother.' Except Josi won't speak to Feather. She won't say anything.
The story begins at New Year when Josi has an accident. She's unconscious on the floor in a room she hasn't left in five years. To Feather's dismay Josi has to be craned out of her house because she's so morbidly obese she can't be carried out. Feather knows her mum would hate this. Josi hates hospitals. Feather is sure its her fault but after speaking to the nurses (or overhearing them) she finds out her mother has at most six months to live because of diabetes and her obesity. Feather puts together a plan. Get her mum healthy again. Feather can't bear the thought of life without her mum.
She tries to get her dad to help but he's reluctant. Instead Feather turns to Jake who promises he'll do what he can. When Josi comes home Feather starts putting her plan into practice but no matter how hard she tries, her mum and her dad don't want Feather's nutritious food, nor agree when Feather takes her mum's TV away, or puts her dads bed in the front room with her mum's bed. Surely her mum and dad must love each other and want to be together instead of sleeping in separate rooms like they have been doing for the last five years.
All her good intentions come to a head when Feather finds a box of photos that apparently shouldn't exist. Her parents always told Feather they didn't take any pictures when she was small. The photos prove that her mum was once fit and healthy and her dad helped in the community. They weren't the people they are now.
Slowly Feather unravels this trail of lies she's been told over the years, and the shock near the end puts Feather over the edge. She's had to pay for events that happened years past. But everyone thinks because she doesn't know, it cannot hurt her.
This book was a tale of agony and redemption. It's hurtful, harrowing and yet helpful in the same turn. I found myself incredibly angry in parts and partly sad in others. But at no time did I think there wasn't a solution that could be found. This is an excellent example of people living and reliving their worst nightmares and dwelling on them without moving forward. If only they'd sought guidance, they wouldn't have put Feather through all her misery.
I've given this 5 out of 5 not because it was a fantastic escapism story that I usually enjoy but because there are so many poignant stigmas which I think this book helps lift.
Above all I learned this. You cannot look into the past to live your future. The past is gone. All you can do is move on with one foot then the other.
Feather's village life is wonderfully colourful and depicted beautifully in Wishbones. A must read book!
October 25, 2020
Я, если честно, не уловила при прочтении, что Фезер всего 14, так как прямо автор возраст ее не называет. Поняла я это только под конец, сложив два и два. Когда я воспринимала Фезер (и – главное – ее друзей) как подростка лет 16-17, все было логично. А вот теперь то, что Джейк перевстречался с половиной школы в таком возрасте, мне кажется странным (хотя, кажется, он старше Фезер)… Но в любом случае, все поведение подростков и романтика в их отношениях теперь как-то тоже в голове у меня не укладываются. Сцена с поцелуем в конце – вообще какой-то бред.
Но в остальном книга мне, в целом, понравилась. Довольно необычно (хоть местами и очень предсказуемо). Опять же – книги этого автора явно не для всех. Но зато не шаблонно. Хотя я, будучи подростком, никогда бы такую книгу среди YA-шек на прочтение не выбрала. Кому лет так в 16 интересно читать про то, как девочка спасает свою мать, которая ест все подряд, от смерти от диабета? История явно для аудитории постарше… И то не для каждого (на Goodreads всего 190 оценок за 3,5 года, реально это никому просто не интересно по аннотации, хотя сама книга ничего).
Персонажи несколько своеобразные, но описаны реалистично. Мне понравилось. Автор вообще делает ставку на эмоции и отношения в своих книгах, и это у нее выходит неплохо.
В общем, вполне ничего, но я уверенна, что книга не будет у нас популярна (она уже страшно непопулярна).
Итоговая оценка: 7/10
Но в остальном книга мне, в целом, понравилась. Довольно необычно (хоть местами и очень предсказуемо). Опять же – книги этого автора явно не для всех. Но зато не шаблонно. Хотя я, будучи подростком, никогда бы такую книгу среди YA-шек на прочтение не выбрала. Кому лет так в 16 интересно читать про то, как девочка спасает свою мать, которая ест все подряд, от смерти от диабета? История явно для аудитории постарше… И то не для каждого (на Goodreads всего 190 оценок за 3,5 года, реально это никому просто не интересно по аннотации, хотя сама книга ничего).
Персонажи несколько своеобразные, но описаны реалистично. Мне понравилось. Автор вообще делает ставку на эмоции и отношения в своих книгах, и это у нее выходит неплохо.
В общем, вполне ничего, но я уверенна, что книга не будет у нас популярна (она уже страшно непопулярна).
Итоговая оценка: 7/10
February 14, 2023
I have had this book for far too long but I've finally gotten round to reading it! I had no clue what this book would be about going into it, only that it was a YA Contemporary, and unfortunately it did read like that at times, in dealing with extremely sensitive topics with an attempt to be especially nuanced about it, but it just didn't seem like it brought anything particularly new to the conversation. I always think books surrounding a character's weight have to be handled carefully, but you could see Feather's love for her mother shining through every thought she had and every decision she made towards her. I did really admire her perseverance, especially when it seemed that she was the only one who hadn't given up on her mother. However, I found myself enjoying the secondary characters' storylines more than Feather's teenage struggles with her parents, and it did fall flat for me at times.
May 22, 2017
oh, boy, do I have a strong opinion on this book.
First of all, I should mention the triggers that could be in this book: diet talk, fatphobia, healthism, obesity mention, BMI mention, eating disorders, death, medical talk, depression. I'm not sure if I left anything out, to be honest.
Well, I don't really want to go on and write a long review because this book does not deserve that work from me. As a fat person who is classified as "morbidly obese" by the BMI (the BMI is bullshit, don't believe in it, people are not triangles) and who is mentally ill, this book was offensive. Let me explain this because the way it is written doesn't make it easy to see all those issues.
There is something that I should give to the author and that is that the writing is pretty addicting. It's really easy and fast to read, so you just keep reading. The chapters are pretty short too, so it's even a faster read.
I picked this up because it deals with eating disorders. I actually thought that it was going to deal with binge eating, which is something that I've gone through (and still am) and I wanted to see my experience on paper. However, I was disappointed, really disappointed. I guess and I can say that I've been lucky because it wasn't a triggering read for me.
This is so obviously written by a skinny person it hurts. I also disliked with a passion the main character's voice. I know that she is young and she doesn't know better but it still annoyed the shit out of me. However, we are talking about a fat person's experience with life and it's pretty boring to see it through the eyes of someone who is skinny and doesn't understand what is going on. The thing that hurt me the most is that no one even tries to give the main character's mom the actual help that she needs. No one suggests that she goes to therapy to help her deal with grief in a healthier way. She is just thrown into a weight-loss group without her consent. This is so bad. People who binge eat do not need to lose weight, people who binge eat need to see a therapist and work on what makes them binge eat. The message that the book gives is the wrong one. Losing weight doesn't stop the binge eating. I cannot get over this, especially because the character who has anorexia gets to go to specialists and get professionals to take care of him, which is something that is not even suggested for the fat person who is also dealing with an eating disorder. This is bad because it's sending mixed messages to a young audience.
Something else that really got on my nerves is the way she is constantly called morbidly obese and how the BMI is talked about like it's the most accurate thing in the world. The BMI is outdated and being fat does not mean that you are unhealthy. All the talk about how she is unhealthy because she is fat is really healthist and harmful. Also, all the information about how being fat puts you at a higher risk of getting health issues is false. Furthermore, seeing how the "weight loss surgeries" are talked about here is disgusting. Those surgeries are dangerous and don't generally work. The obesity epidemic is also a lie spread by the pharmaceutical industry so they can make more money.
First of all, I should mention the triggers that could be in this book: diet talk, fatphobia, healthism, obesity mention, BMI mention, eating disorders, death, medical talk, depression. I'm not sure if I left anything out, to be honest.
Well, I don't really want to go on and write a long review because this book does not deserve that work from me. As a fat person who is classified as "morbidly obese" by the BMI (the BMI is bullshit, don't believe in it, people are not triangles) and who is mentally ill, this book was offensive. Let me explain this because the way it is written doesn't make it easy to see all those issues.
There is something that I should give to the author and that is that the writing is pretty addicting. It's really easy and fast to read, so you just keep reading. The chapters are pretty short too, so it's even a faster read.
I picked this up because it deals with eating disorders. I actually thought that it was going to deal with binge eating, which is something that I've gone through (and still am) and I wanted to see my experience on paper. However, I was disappointed, really disappointed. I guess and I can say that I've been lucky because it wasn't a triggering read for me.
This is so obviously written by a skinny person it hurts. I also disliked with a passion the main character's voice. I know that she is young and she doesn't know better but it still annoyed the shit out of me. However, we are talking about a fat person's experience with life and it's pretty boring to see it through the eyes of someone who is skinny and doesn't understand what is going on. The thing that hurt me the most is that no one even tries to give the main character's mom the actual help that she needs. No one suggests that she goes to therapy to help her deal with grief in a healthier way. She is just thrown into a weight-loss group without her consent. This is so bad. People who binge eat do not need to lose weight, people who binge eat need to see a therapist and work on what makes them binge eat. The message that the book gives is the wrong one. Losing weight doesn't stop the binge eating. I cannot get over this, especially because the character who has anorexia gets to go to specialists and get professionals to take care of him, which is something that is not even suggested for the fat person who is also dealing with an eating disorder. This is bad because it's sending mixed messages to a young audience.
Something else that really got on my nerves is the way she is constantly called morbidly obese and how the BMI is talked about like it's the most accurate thing in the world. The BMI is outdated and being fat does not mean that you are unhealthy. All the talk about how she is unhealthy because she is fat is really healthist and harmful. Also, all the information about how being fat puts you at a higher risk of getting health issues is false. Furthermore, seeing how the "weight loss surgeries" are talked about here is disgusting. Those surgeries are dangerous and don't generally work. The obesity epidemic is also a lie spread by the pharmaceutical industry so they can make more money.
May 1, 2018
The main character, Feather shows appreciation of beauty because even though her mother weighs 37 stone, she still loves her mother.
August 27, 2021
Beautiful
July 21, 2017
Great YA book with lots of relevant issues for adolescents that the author bravely took on.
June 9, 2017
Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2017/05...
I had read Virginia Macgregor's previous books, so I knew her style was something special, with thought-provoking topics and very complex characters but this time the story is intended for the YA audience. I have been reading this genre a lot lately, so I was very curious to see how this author handled it.
The first difference I noticed from her previous books is that this one is narrated only by one character, Feather. We only get her point of view in the story and as everyone is adamant of keeping secrets from her, we don't know what is going on until we have read quite a lot of the story. I think that this worked well though. It really helped me to get Feather and her frustration at not being told about "adult problems".
Feather is a really determined and stubborn teen. As it says in the blurb, she has two wishes, to make her mum lose weight and get healthy and to win a swimming championship, and she will stop at nothing to get these wishes. It was both inspiring and heart-breaking to read about her. Especially heart-breaking because all her efforts were not really well received by her parents. This annoyed me quite a bit at the beginning as I didn't understand how her parents could be so irresponsible and careless. But as we got to know them too and we slowly discovered all their secrets, I started understanding everything and I ended up caring a lot for them.
This story handles really heavy topics, focusing especially in eating disorders, but also loneliness, mental health and immigration. The main message I got from the story is a really strong one, how these illnesses can touch anybody and how important it is to have the support of your family and friends. But also it talks about how important it is to feel good with oneself, no matter how you look, how you dress, how "different" you are.
Feather and her parents are not the only characters in this story though, from their goat pet to the new boy who has just moved from NYC, this book is full of unique people (and animals) that will touch many hearts. As I said, it took me a while to get into this story but once it got going, it was completely worth it. A very special novel that will resonate with many readers.
I had read Virginia Macgregor's previous books, so I knew her style was something special, with thought-provoking topics and very complex characters but this time the story is intended for the YA audience. I have been reading this genre a lot lately, so I was very curious to see how this author handled it.
The first difference I noticed from her previous books is that this one is narrated only by one character, Feather. We only get her point of view in the story and as everyone is adamant of keeping secrets from her, we don't know what is going on until we have read quite a lot of the story. I think that this worked well though. It really helped me to get Feather and her frustration at not being told about "adult problems".
Feather is a really determined and stubborn teen. As it says in the blurb, she has two wishes, to make her mum lose weight and get healthy and to win a swimming championship, and she will stop at nothing to get these wishes. It was both inspiring and heart-breaking to read about her. Especially heart-breaking because all her efforts were not really well received by her parents. This annoyed me quite a bit at the beginning as I didn't understand how her parents could be so irresponsible and careless. But as we got to know them too and we slowly discovered all their secrets, I started understanding everything and I ended up caring a lot for them.
This story handles really heavy topics, focusing especially in eating disorders, but also loneliness, mental health and immigration. The main message I got from the story is a really strong one, how these illnesses can touch anybody and how important it is to have the support of your family and friends. But also it talks about how important it is to feel good with oneself, no matter how you look, how you dress, how "different" you are.
Feather and her parents are not the only characters in this story though, from their goat pet to the new boy who has just moved from NYC, this book is full of unique people (and animals) that will touch many hearts. As I said, it took me a while to get into this story but once it got going, it was completely worth it. A very special novel that will resonate with many readers.
May 13, 2017
First off i have to say WOW. This book was incredible. Anyone who knows me knows i love descriptive books and the author just gripped me from the first chapter. As i was reading i just kept imaging this as a movie and i already have my dream cast. This story at its core is about grieving and the way that people sometimes and carry it. As someone who has had to experience these things through family members this book came off so realistic. Felt as if she was telling my story which lead almost quite a few tears but i managed to keep them in. I also appreciate the fact that she chose to focus on both side of the spectrum by having one character whose morbidly obese and another character whose suffering from anorexia. Before this book i have never read a book that featured male anorexia which i feel is extremely important. Its a topic that i haven't see in any other books and TV/film. I love when you can't see the twist coming and the author played me I did not see it coming she set the twist up in a way that made you think something else was going to happen. That left me totally shocked when it actually happened. I would recommend this book to everybody. It has easily moved its way to the top of my best of 2017 list and i look forward to reading more of this authors works.
February 9, 2017
One of the best YA Books I've read in a long time
I only planned to read the first few chapters of Wishbones just to get a feel for it, as I received ten new books at once, but once I've read the first page I just couldn't stop.
Who was this girl with an obese mother? There must be people out there in the world and what a hot topic to discuss. Eating disorders are becoming increasingly common and Macgregor tackles this delicate subject with a sensitivity that I have not come across before. She also looks at relationships with food from both ends of the spectrum as you come across a character with anorexia as well.
Feather, the main character I loved. She was kind, thoughtful and honest without appearing twee or disingenuous. She was not the main subject of the "issue" being dealt with but close enough to be very effected by it as I can imagine lots of young people will be able to relate to.
There are a few twists and turns at then end, which I think were well plotted and again very addictive storytelling.
Would definitely recommend.
I only planned to read the first few chapters of Wishbones just to get a feel for it, as I received ten new books at once, but once I've read the first page I just couldn't stop.
Who was this girl with an obese mother? There must be people out there in the world and what a hot topic to discuss. Eating disorders are becoming increasingly common and Macgregor tackles this delicate subject with a sensitivity that I have not come across before. She also looks at relationships with food from both ends of the spectrum as you come across a character with anorexia as well.
Feather, the main character I loved. She was kind, thoughtful and honest without appearing twee or disingenuous. She was not the main subject of the "issue" being dealt with but close enough to be very effected by it as I can imagine lots of young people will be able to relate to.
There are a few twists and turns at then end, which I think were well plotted and again very addictive storytelling.
Would definitely recommend.
October 28, 2017
Well, this was a fun read, but it certainly didn't blow me away or something. I loved how the book tried to tackle as much topics as it could. I would say, the book is mostly about Depression, anxiety/stress, eating disorder, and it also tried to tackle some LGBTQ+ issues, which I believe wasn't done right. I felt like it was forced, like the author was thinking "oh, let me throw in some gay characters for the sake of diversity". I have mixed feelings about this book, I think i just feel "meh" about it.
June 7, 2017
Originally posted on:> http://www.laurapatriciarose.co.uk/20...
Wishbones was read with a heavy heart. If there was ever a book to draw out so many emotions, it's this. Feather's Mum is obese and hasn't set foot outside her home for thirteen years. Things have been ticking along just fine, or so Feather has been lead to believe until her Mum, Josi lapses into a diabetic coma. Feather knows she must do all she can to get her Mum healthy again, not as easy said than done. When her Mum isn't as cooperative as Feather would have hoped, she begins to realise that the problem runs deeper than her size. She decides to make it her mission to get to the bottom of how her Mum's weight spiralled out of control, but again this isn't as simple as it sounds, especially when Josi won't talk to her. It soon starts to seem that everyone except Feather knows what happened all those years ago, but she is determined to find out the truth.
Eating disorders are a topic that have been in the media for many years now, but are a surprisingly lacking subject in YA, especially when it comes to obesity. There is a horrible stigma around obese people in that they are simply greedy and have no willpower. What people forget is that there is a person behind all that and that problems can run deeper than simply overeating. Virginia portrays that through Josi, that although you will find yourself feeling incredibly frustrated with her and initially thinking that she is selfish, you are quick to realise that they stem from depression and cannot be made better simply because someone tells you you need to get better. You can completely see Feather's point of view though in that she just wants her Mum to get better because she doesn't want to lose her.
There were some other characters in Wishbones that you won't expect, but this wouldn't have been the story it was without them. There's Jake, Feather's only and best friend in the world. Mrs Zas, Ukranian costume shop owner, Houdini, Feather's unusual pet and Clay who is dealing with something similar to Josi and has an interconnecting story of his own.
There are a lot of heavy topics in Wishbones that when my own life isn't going so great, really hit home. However it got me thinking outside of my own little box as it were and made me realise that there is never a clear cut solution to everything, just as Feather discovers.
Wishbones may make for some hard reading but it also has some heartwarming messages to take away. It's important not to overlook the good things that you have in your life, as it's easy to get brought down by the bad.
A tough read, but an important one and another YA author giving a true voice to those topics that the media heavily distort.
Wishbones was read with a heavy heart. If there was ever a book to draw out so many emotions, it's this. Feather's Mum is obese and hasn't set foot outside her home for thirteen years. Things have been ticking along just fine, or so Feather has been lead to believe until her Mum, Josi lapses into a diabetic coma. Feather knows she must do all she can to get her Mum healthy again, not as easy said than done. When her Mum isn't as cooperative as Feather would have hoped, she begins to realise that the problem runs deeper than her size. She decides to make it her mission to get to the bottom of how her Mum's weight spiralled out of control, but again this isn't as simple as it sounds, especially when Josi won't talk to her. It soon starts to seem that everyone except Feather knows what happened all those years ago, but she is determined to find out the truth.
Eating disorders are a topic that have been in the media for many years now, but are a surprisingly lacking subject in YA, especially when it comes to obesity. There is a horrible stigma around obese people in that they are simply greedy and have no willpower. What people forget is that there is a person behind all that and that problems can run deeper than simply overeating. Virginia portrays that through Josi, that although you will find yourself feeling incredibly frustrated with her and initially thinking that she is selfish, you are quick to realise that they stem from depression and cannot be made better simply because someone tells you you need to get better. You can completely see Feather's point of view though in that she just wants her Mum to get better because she doesn't want to lose her.
There were some other characters in Wishbones that you won't expect, but this wouldn't have been the story it was without them. There's Jake, Feather's only and best friend in the world. Mrs Zas, Ukranian costume shop owner, Houdini, Feather's unusual pet and Clay who is dealing with something similar to Josi and has an interconnecting story of his own.
There are a lot of heavy topics in Wishbones that when my own life isn't going so great, really hit home. However it got me thinking outside of my own little box as it were and made me realise that there is never a clear cut solution to everything, just as Feather discovers.
Wishbones may make for some hard reading but it also has some heartwarming messages to take away. It's important not to overlook the good things that you have in your life, as it's easy to get brought down by the bad.
A tough read, but an important one and another YA author giving a true voice to those topics that the media heavily distort.
June 9, 2017
Feather worries about her mother. She's morbidly obese and lapsed into a diabetic coma. If she doesn't change her eating habits she'll only have a few more months left to live. Feather wants to save her mother and comes up with a plan to look after her and make her lose weight. However, both her mother and her father aren't cooperative at all. Feather wants to know why. They're keeping something from her and she's made it her sole purpose to find out what it is.
Feather lives in a small village called Willingdon. Her best friend Jake is the only other teenager in the village, but that changes when Clay arrives. Clay is struggling with his weight as well, he's dangerously skinny. While Feather is trying to deal with her family problems Jake is slowly starting to spend more time with Clay. Will his friendship with Feather survive and will Feather eventually find out her family's secret?
Feather is a sweet girl. She's a bit naïve, she's a talented swimmer, she loves with all her heart and she gives everything of herself to the people who are important to her. She fights for what she believes in and her determination knows no bounds. Feather is a special person and she's a wonderful main character. She never tires, she keeps trying new things and she's coming up with plan after plan. Feather never gives up. My heart ached for her sometimes, because she doesn't get as much appreciation as she should. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what people were keeping from her and hoped she'd be able to sort things out, so her wishes would come true.
Wishbones is an original story about a complex topic, weight issues. A lot of people are struggling with eating disorders and Virginia MacGregor has written an impressive story about this. There's more behind it than just the problems with food itself and she explains this in a fantastic empathic way. She's honest and direct and she knows what she's writing about. I greatly admired the important subject she's chosen for her story and the amazing way she describes it. Fear and hope are the main emotions Feather has to deal with and she keeps looking for the silver linings, which made me feel bittersweet. Wishbones is a heartwarming story filled with depth, energy and complicated situations. It has plenty of interesting twists and turns and a beautiful ending. I highly recommend this unique book.
Feather lives in a small village called Willingdon. Her best friend Jake is the only other teenager in the village, but that changes when Clay arrives. Clay is struggling with his weight as well, he's dangerously skinny. While Feather is trying to deal with her family problems Jake is slowly starting to spend more time with Clay. Will his friendship with Feather survive and will Feather eventually find out her family's secret?
Feather is a sweet girl. She's a bit naïve, she's a talented swimmer, she loves with all her heart and she gives everything of herself to the people who are important to her. She fights for what she believes in and her determination knows no bounds. Feather is a special person and she's a wonderful main character. She never tires, she keeps trying new things and she's coming up with plan after plan. Feather never gives up. My heart ached for her sometimes, because she doesn't get as much appreciation as she should. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what people were keeping from her and hoped she'd be able to sort things out, so her wishes would come true.
Wishbones is an original story about a complex topic, weight issues. A lot of people are struggling with eating disorders and Virginia MacGregor has written an impressive story about this. There's more behind it than just the problems with food itself and she explains this in a fantastic empathic way. She's honest and direct and she knows what she's writing about. I greatly admired the important subject she's chosen for her story and the amazing way she describes it. Fear and hope are the main emotions Feather has to deal with and she keeps looking for the silver linings, which made me feel bittersweet. Wishbones is a heartwarming story filled with depth, energy and complicated situations. It has plenty of interesting twists and turns and a beautiful ending. I highly recommend this unique book.
July 6, 2017
Going into Virginia Macgregor's Wishbones, I wasn't sure if I was going to love it or hate it. It wasn't exactly my normal read but the subject matter as well as Feather's name caught my attention.
As it turns out, Wishbones is the type of book that I love to come across but rarely do: a book that truly takes me by surprise in the best way possible. Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, Wishbones had me hooked from the first word until the very last.
My favorite aspect of Wishbones? Feather, the main character.
At the start of the story, Feather is slightly timid, simply focused on taking care of her mother, hanging out with her best friend, and improving her swimming technique. After the scare of New Year's Eve, however, Feather decides that things need to change for her mother, and with that, the rebirth of Feather occurs.
Over the course of this book, Feather becomes determined, fearless, and relentless, starting a series of plans to help her mother become healthy again and to find out what exactly trigged her all those years ago. While some of Feather's plans were abrasive and rash, it was easy to see that Feather meant well, that she truly just loved her mother and wanted her to have a long, healthy life. I admired that about her. I know from personal experience - as I'm sure many people do - that it's incredibly hard to see someone close to you health deteriorate, you want to help them so badly but at the same time there's only so much you can do and say...it's basically the expression of "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." I thought Virginia did a fanatic job of capturing this frustration as well as hope through the voice of Feather.
In addition to Feather, Virginia introduces a whole cast of other characters. I loved seeing the different personalities of Feather's small town. From the glamorous yet mysterious Mrs Zas to the stern, seemingly angry Rev Cootes to the mysterious newcomer, all were well developed and really brought the town and book to life. I enjoyed seeing how each of this characters added to Feather's story as well as added their own subplots in as well.
The plot of this book focused on two very different types of eating disorders - anorexia and obesity. Both are hard topics but I thought Virginia did a great job of approaching them. She didn't make this an "after-school special" type of book nor did she act like there was this ultimate cure all to these characters' problems. Instead, she made it true-life, believable....she showed the ups and downs to weight loss and weight gain...and most importantly, she showed that there is no one solution or cure all. Instead, dealing with this issues means different things to different people, and that sometimes truly helping doesn't mean coming up with a 10-step plan but offering a listening ear as well as love and kindness. Also, surprising to me, there was a mystery in this as well. I don't want to say much about it in fear of spoiling anything, but it really brought some good suspense towards the end, as I tried to figure out what exactly Feather's mom was hiding.
In all, Wishbones is a book that is perfect for young adults and adults alike. Ultimately a coming-of-age tale at its heart, Virginia Macgregor's Wishbones perfectly captures one girl's transformative year.
Grade: B+
As it turns out, Wishbones is the type of book that I love to come across but rarely do: a book that truly takes me by surprise in the best way possible. Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, Wishbones had me hooked from the first word until the very last.
My favorite aspect of Wishbones? Feather, the main character.
At the start of the story, Feather is slightly timid, simply focused on taking care of her mother, hanging out with her best friend, and improving her swimming technique. After the scare of New Year's Eve, however, Feather decides that things need to change for her mother, and with that, the rebirth of Feather occurs.
Over the course of this book, Feather becomes determined, fearless, and relentless, starting a series of plans to help her mother become healthy again and to find out what exactly trigged her all those years ago. While some of Feather's plans were abrasive and rash, it was easy to see that Feather meant well, that she truly just loved her mother and wanted her to have a long, healthy life. I admired that about her. I know from personal experience - as I'm sure many people do - that it's incredibly hard to see someone close to you health deteriorate, you want to help them so badly but at the same time there's only so much you can do and say...it's basically the expression of "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." I thought Virginia did a fanatic job of capturing this frustration as well as hope through the voice of Feather.
In addition to Feather, Virginia introduces a whole cast of other characters. I loved seeing the different personalities of Feather's small town. From the glamorous yet mysterious Mrs Zas to the stern, seemingly angry Rev Cootes to the mysterious newcomer, all were well developed and really brought the town and book to life. I enjoyed seeing how each of this characters added to Feather's story as well as added their own subplots in as well.
The plot of this book focused on two very different types of eating disorders - anorexia and obesity. Both are hard topics but I thought Virginia did a great job of approaching them. She didn't make this an "after-school special" type of book nor did she act like there was this ultimate cure all to these characters' problems. Instead, she made it true-life, believable....she showed the ups and downs to weight loss and weight gain...and most importantly, she showed that there is no one solution or cure all. Instead, dealing with this issues means different things to different people, and that sometimes truly helping doesn't mean coming up with a 10-step plan but offering a listening ear as well as love and kindness. Also, surprising to me, there was a mystery in this as well. I don't want to say much about it in fear of spoiling anything, but it really brought some good suspense towards the end, as I tried to figure out what exactly Feather's mom was hiding.
In all, Wishbones is a book that is perfect for young adults and adults alike. Ultimately a coming-of-age tale at its heart, Virginia Macgregor's Wishbones perfectly captures one girl's transformative year.
Grade: B+
July 23, 2017
This review was originally posted on Spinatale Reviews.
I don't usually read a lot of YA contemporary but I decided to give this one a chance. Wishbones is the story of a girl who tries to help her morbidly obese mother lose weight after a seriously medical incident. There is mystery, drama, and just a little bit of love.
The pacing of this book was slow so it sometimes was hard to keep my focus. The mystery also dragged on a little longer than I thought was plausible for such a small town. However, the slow pacing did allow for a greater exploration of Feather and her Mother's day-to-day life and Feather's attempts to help her mother lose weight. You could tell that the author is well informed regarding eating disorders as she did an excellent job portraying them in a realistic way that showed respect and empathy without shying away from the harm they can cause. The ending of the book had a few shocking revelations. It seemed that things got wrapped up too neatly in the end but it is a YA contemporary fiction novel so I can't really fault it for that.
Feather was a pretty interesting character. I admired her spunk and determination but I didn't understand all of her decisions or actions. The whole romance subplot wasn't my favorite but I liked the way the author worked in an LGBT relationship. The secondary characters were just as quirky as you'd expect for a small-town story. Wishbones was an interesting book that I'm glad I read.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I don't usually read a lot of YA contemporary but I decided to give this one a chance. Wishbones is the story of a girl who tries to help her morbidly obese mother lose weight after a seriously medical incident. There is mystery, drama, and just a little bit of love.
The pacing of this book was slow so it sometimes was hard to keep my focus. The mystery also dragged on a little longer than I thought was plausible for such a small town. However, the slow pacing did allow for a greater exploration of Feather and her Mother's day-to-day life and Feather's attempts to help her mother lose weight. You could tell that the author is well informed regarding eating disorders as she did an excellent job portraying them in a realistic way that showed respect and empathy without shying away from the harm they can cause. The ending of the book had a few shocking revelations. It seemed that things got wrapped up too neatly in the end but it is a YA contemporary fiction novel so I can't really fault it for that.
Feather was a pretty interesting character. I admired her spunk and determination but I didn't understand all of her decisions or actions. The whole romance subplot wasn't my favorite but I liked the way the author worked in an LGBT relationship. The secondary characters were just as quirky as you'd expect for a small-town story. Wishbones was an interesting book that I'm glad I read.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
May 22, 2017
When this review copy came in the mail, I didn't know what to think. On Twitter people talk about the concerns of eating disorder representation.
Feather is a plucky teenager, who loves her parents and swimming. Josi, her mother, binges compulsively on prawn crisps and pineapple syrup. Her dad spends his time doing plumbing jobs. Things come to a crashing halt, however, when Feather finds his mother unconscious and has to call 999 (the UK version of 911) on New Year's Eve, accidentally standing up her friend Jake. At the hospital, some nurses blab that Josi only has six months to live with diabetes and unhealthy habits. Feather decides she doesn't want her mother to die. In the meantime a new boy comes to town with his own secrets.
Adults make a habit of not telling Feather the truth. Feather by luck hears what the nurses say, but they refuse to tell her when she confronts them. Her dad promises to stick to the healthy diet but sneaks prawn crisps and the TV to her mother. Neighbor Steph has pledged support but keeps mum about a great secret. Local journalist Allen makes it a point to take pictures of Josi when possible and refuses to be decent about it. But Feather finds that sticking to her guns and demanding the truth, while painful, if often necessary.
This book is for those who have been in Feather's place. Taking care of someone who won't take care of themselves is quite a chore, emotionally and physically. Feather has to do this with the assumption that loving her mother will help. Love isn't enough, however, to bury secrets she uncovers. Understanding from both sides also needs to happen. That understanding can take a lifetime.
Feather is a plucky teenager, who loves her parents and swimming. Josi, her mother, binges compulsively on prawn crisps and pineapple syrup. Her dad spends his time doing plumbing jobs. Things come to a crashing halt, however, when Feather finds his mother unconscious and has to call 999 (the UK version of 911) on New Year's Eve, accidentally standing up her friend Jake. At the hospital, some nurses blab that Josi only has six months to live with diabetes and unhealthy habits. Feather decides she doesn't want her mother to die. In the meantime a new boy comes to town with his own secrets.
Adults make a habit of not telling Feather the truth. Feather by luck hears what the nurses say, but they refuse to tell her when she confronts them. Her dad promises to stick to the healthy diet but sneaks prawn crisps and the TV to her mother. Neighbor Steph has pledged support but keeps mum about a great secret. Local journalist Allen makes it a point to take pictures of Josi when possible and refuses to be decent about it. But Feather finds that sticking to her guns and demanding the truth, while painful, if often necessary.
This book is for those who have been in Feather's place. Taking care of someone who won't take care of themselves is quite a chore, emotionally and physically. Feather has to do this with the assumption that loving her mother will help. Love isn't enough, however, to bury secrets she uncovers. Understanding from both sides also needs to happen. That understanding can take a lifetime.
Read
June 27, 2017Graded By: Lacey
Cover Story: Teal Me A Story
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Childhood Diary
Bonus Factors: Loyal Pets, Manorexia
Relationship Status: Support Group Buddies
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Teal Me A Story
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Childhood Diary
Bonus Factors: Loyal Pets, Manorexia
Relationship Status: Support Group Buddies
Read the full book report here.
Read
May 25, 2021The story intrigued me from the very beginning. Its clear that everyone is keeping a huge secret from Feather, and i was just as frustrated at everyone one, just like Feather.
This book was heartbreaking.
Its been a long while since i’ve read a book in one-sitting! It was fun reading this entire book in bed while tears streamed down my face.
This book was heartbreaking.
Its been a long while since i’ve read a book in one-sitting! It was fun reading this entire book in bed while tears streamed down my face.
May 21, 2017
Until now, Feather's love has been unconditional. But when her mother collapses, the aftermath reveals many things that she never could have imagined and Feather finds it harder and harder to accept things as they are. I really loved Feather's character, she tries so hard to help those she loves and sees so much of the good on people.
The part when Rev Cootes invites Feather in for tea, I felt so emotional in anticipation of what might come next. I had to stop reading quite a few times throughout the book so I wouldn't start bawling on the train.
The part when Rev Cootes invites Feather in for tea, I felt so emotional in anticipation of what might come next. I had to stop reading quite a few times throughout the book so I wouldn't start bawling on the train.
August 28, 2019
Lovely story. Nice, quick read.
August 29, 2017
Not my kinda book but I still enjoyed it.
June 23, 2017
Oh my God.
1. A book that treats compulsive over-eating and dangerously high weight-gain like an eating disorder?
2. A book that addresses the fact that but that there's very little noticeable support or literature available for them?
3. A book that has a male character
HOW RARE INDEED IS A BOOK LIKE THIS.
I loved it, honestly. Compulsive over-eating/obesity as a serious health condition that needs to be addressed is sorely underrepresented in YA fiction (*cough*everyone'safraidofbeinglabeledasaFatShamer*COUGH*). I'm not even joking. Try looking up YA fiction about compulsive over-eating and you'll find maybe two or three books. Maybe. Meanwhile, you'll find loads of YA fiction about anorexia and bulimia. So I'm unbelievably glad to find a book that tackles the topic with the kind of seriousness it deserves.
Just... Overall, very good, very emotionally complex book. I felt so bad for Feather, having to bounce around town knowing that people are keeping things secret from her, and even worse that, especially at first, she seemed like the only one who really, truly understood how precarious her mom's situation was and wanted to put 100% effort into fixing it.
1. A book that treats compulsive over-eating and dangerously high weight-gain like an eating disorder?
2. A book that addresses the fact that but that there's very little noticeable support or literature available for them?
3. A book that has a male character
HOW RARE INDEED IS A BOOK LIKE THIS.
I loved it, honestly. Compulsive over-eating/obesity as a serious health condition that needs to be addressed is sorely underrepresented in YA fiction (*cough*everyone'safraidofbeinglabeledasaFatShamer*COUGH*). I'm not even joking. Try looking up YA fiction about compulsive over-eating and you'll find maybe two or three books. Maybe. Meanwhile, you'll find loads of YA fiction about anorexia and bulimia. So I'm unbelievably glad to find a book that tackles the topic with the kind of seriousness it deserves.
Just... Overall, very good, very emotionally complex book. I felt so bad for Feather, having to bounce around town knowing that people are keeping things secret from her, and even worse that, especially at first, she seemed like the only one who really, truly understood how precarious her mom's situation was and wanted to put 100% effort into fixing it.
June 23, 2017
This was a really difficult book to rate. The author began with some really realistic scenarios and really made you care about the characters, but then it flew off the rails. As a parent, I didn't find the big secret believable at all. How on earth, between three parents (two moms and a dad) were two three year olds and a one year old left alone??? I have three kids and I would never, ever let them wander around like that. Three adults should have been able to keep track of these kids. Also, Clay was a really sympathetic character in the beginning and the subject of male anorexia is almost untouched, because it doesn't fit the narrative. But, the token homosexuality thrown in made the character not believable. The CDC says that only 3% of the population is gay, bi or questioning, so the fact that every book and every show has to have gay characters just really overrepresents them. It's become groan worthy and really detracted from the story. There was so much good to this story before it became too much. A simpler plot line would have sufficed. Obviously, it isn't really realistic in the setting or the fact that an entire town would have been able to completely hide Feather's history, but I wanted to believe and in the end I couldn't. Still unique and interesting though.
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