Wishbones

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.

A brilliant book written about a tough tough subject. A YA book that certainly has a place in the world. Enjoyed this and would recommend it to all!

Feather was a small and light baby, her mum however is obese and seemingly always has been on the larger side of the scale which over time has attracted local press attention as her mum has many phobias and one means she can't leave their house and she actually hasn't in thirteen years.
(This reminded me of Tracy's mum in Hairspray.)
Virginia has her best friend Jake and his mum, Steph around for her to rely on. Jake has a girlfriend we learn early on as Feather nearly full on kisses him as she leaves to go home to celebrate new years at home with her parents.
Unfortunately, events take a turn for the worst and Feather's mum is rushed into hospital, resulting in the village watching on as a crane is used through the living room window to reach her mum and get her out. This is a wake up calk for Feather who sets out on getting her mum healthy again after learning her mum weights over 30 stone. She tries to entice her mum to eat healthy foods, invites the local slimming group round and wishes her mum would make friends again especially with Steph.
Throughout the novel the issues surrounding weight gain such as depression and postnatal depression arise as well as the issues surrounding weight loss in the form of character, Clay whom feels guilt over past events and suffers severely with anorexia.
The novel is great for raising awareness around the mostly silent issue of male anorexia and also pushes the point that it's never just about the food, it's mental abuse we often use towards ourselves in the form of past horrible memories and feeling towards ourselves.
The book has a brilliant mystery woven into it around the issue of Clay arriving and Feather's mum acting weird around him raising Feather's awareness that's things aren't right.
There is a great contrast between healthy and competitive swimming in Feather and proving that passions shared through families can keep them together even if one takes a step back and how families share the same interests.

This book is sure to be a hit with many of us young adults and teens alike. This book was sent to me by the publishers for review and I can't rate highly enough that this book is one of 2017's best to come out this year for sure.

WISHBONES is an important book which faithfully describes what it is to be a teenager in the 21st Century. Over the course of a few life-changing months, best friends Feather and Jake learn about themselves, their families, secrets and love. This book will be a perfect resource for young teenagers looking to learn about eating disorders as well as enjoying a story about different types of friendship. Full of mysteries and a fantastic cast of characters including a goat called Houdini and the amazing Mrs Zas, WISHBONES made me question my own beliefs and judgments of other people.

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.

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!