Book Review: Picture a Girl

By Jenny Manzer 

4 stars 

Picture a Girl is a short novel following 11-year-old Addie and her little brother Billy and their hard week without their mother, who has a history of leaving due to depression and alcoholism. Addie struggles with the weight of taking care of herself and her brother, along with the fear of where her mother has gone. Throughout the week, Addie and Billy must lie to keep themselves and their mother safe, protecting themselves from if they get taken away from her because their mother isn't around. Addie creates a plan to earn some money by doing the thing that both she and her mother love, surfing, where she competes in a competition meant for teenage girls. 

This book majorly depicts how another's alcoholism can affect those around them, especially their children, with how Addie and Billy struggle during the week that their mother is gone, slowly running out of food and time as their landlord demands rent. It shows very well how Addie both resents and loves her mother and how she's afraid, too, afraid of being taken away or afraid that her mother is leaving because of her. Overall, this book is very good at displaying how alcohol can affect others, especially loved ones, with small hints at the problem starting in the first few chapters. This book is an amazing look into the world of Addie and Billy and their everyday struggles, and I recommend this book if you aren't sensitive to topics of abuse or depression. 

Reviewed by Martin 

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