
Reach for this book when your teenager feels defined by a single label, medical condition, or physical limitation and is struggling to carve out an identity beyond it. This story follows fifteen-year-old Harris, a boy with spinal muscular atrophy who uses a power wheelchair, as he moves to a new school and attempts to reinvent himself using a color-coding system for personality types. It is a witty and poignant exploration of how we choose to be seen by others. Parents will appreciate the book's honest look at the desire for independence, the complexities of professional-patient boundaries, and the universal awkwardness of high school romance. While it addresses serious themes of physical disability and medical ethics, the tone remains humorous and relatable for older teens aged 14 and up. It provides a vital perspective on navigating the world with a disability while maintaining the same social aspirations and flaws as any other teenager.
Themes of professional boundary-crossing and manipulation in a caregiving relationship.
Typical high school crushing and some kissing.
A supporting character struggles with prescription drug misuse.
The book deals directly and secularly with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The approach is realistic rather than inspirational, focusing on the logistical and social frustrations of disability. There is a subplot involving professional boundaries and a character who struggles with addiction, which is handled with a mix of realism and consequence.
A high schooler who feels like they are being put in a box by their peers or parents. It is perfect for the teen who loves witty, fast-paced contemporary fiction and enjoys stories with diverse perspectives.
Parents should be aware of a subplot involving a nurse's professional misconduct and some mild substance use mentioned by secondary characters. Reading the chapters where Harris and Miranda's relationship shifts would be beneficial for context. A parent might see their child withdrawing from family activities or expressing deep frustration that their physical needs are overshadowing their social or emotional desires.
Younger teens (14) will focus on the humor and the 'quest' for a girlfriend. Older teens (17-18) will better grasp the nuance of the power dynamics between Harris and his caregiver, as well as the flaws in Harris's rigid categorization of people.
This book distinguishes itself by allowing its protagonist to be judgmental, flawed, and obsessed with normal teen things like pizza and dating, while using a unique synesthesia-adjacent metaphor for personality. """
Harris moves from California to New Jersey, determined to be seen as more than just a medical case. He uses a system where people's favorite colors dictate their compatibility with him. He hires Miranda, a charismatic nursing student, to help him navigate school without his mom, and begins a pursuit of Nory, a girl who refuses to fit into his color categories. However, Harris must eventually confront the reality that people (and himself) are more complex than a single shade.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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