Phantom Adolescence


Fiction - Literary
295 Pages
Reviewed on 08/15/2017
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

Phantom Adolescence by Michele Asseo is an inspiring story of loss, family, and healing. What happens when tragedy befalls a family? Jean Rayson is a typical teenage girl, fascinated with modeling. It’s no wonder she’d love to stay put, an issue of Vogue fluttering before her. It doesn’t matter if she reads it or not, but the images of the models inspire her. Such is her world until her younger brother dies in the summer. Mathew, on the other hand, has gradually developed an aloof attitude, having lived in two homes and not finding life so easy with his mother. But he begins to look at life differently after the death of his younger brother. As their family totters towards breaking point, Jean and Mathew each undergo exceptional transformation, taking responsibility to embrace the pain and journey towards healing. In their own way, each chooses to not let their family down. It’s for the reader to find out how.

This is one of the best books I have read this year on family dynamics and it is interesting to see how the author weaves the themes of love, family, loss, compassion, and healing into the well-imagined plot. The characters are wonderful and each of them has an inspiring journey that will have readers thinking about their own responses to loss and tragedy in their family. The characters are real and easy to sympathize with. Michele Asseo’s writing is excellent and the descriptions are vivid and compelling. I fell in love with the prose right from the very beginning of the story. The author makes the images beautiful, the characters interesting, and the story gripping, thanks to her wonderful gift for strong writing and storytelling, deft and balanced. Phantom Adolescence is engaging, inspiring, and delightful. It’s a must-read.

Ori aviram

Indeed a must read!!

Alex

Agree with Arya all the way

hina

sensitive and inspiring .

Abigail

Agree with every word! Amazing book!