The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone

— An enjoyable read with an interesting format (it's like a documentary), but I really disliked the stereotypical characters and the romanticization of mental illness.

Didn't enjoy this book. The story was not engaging, the characters were not likeable.

I started reading this with an eye toward maybe booktalking it to junior high kids. After the first few chapters I was pretty sure it wasn't quite appropriate for most kids at that grade level, but tragically I was hooked and had to keep reading! It was such a page-turner and such an interesting use of the mixed-media format. It reminded me a little bit of [b:Chopsticks 10710392 Chopsticks Jessica Anthony https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364073067s/10710392.jpg 15620818] in that way. And also, like [b:Paper Towns 6442769 Paper Towns John Green https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349013610s/6442769.jpg 3364505], it felt a bit like an investigation into the “manic pixie dream girl” trope and what that means for the dream girl in question. Also like [b:I Am Princess X 17408897 I Am Princess X Cherie Priest https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415300641s/17408897.jpg 24250459] it's a mixed media mystery with important friendships! ALSO it's a little bit paranormal... or is it?! I think a lot of tweens & teens looking for a mystery would really get into this. There's some non-explicit sex and some partying and just, well, adult behavior that made me reluctant to booktalk to a whole group of junior high kids but I don't think it's more than the kind of stuff in, say, John Green's books, which a lot of junior high kids have already read.