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On the Bright Side
A hopeful novel about love, disability, and the inevitability of change by the author of Give Me a Sign.
Ellie’s Deaf boarding school just shut down, forcing her to leave the place she considered home and return to her hearing family. Back in a mainstream school, Ellie quickly becomes the subject of hateful rumors. That’s when her guidance counselor pairs her with Jackson, a student who’s supposed to help her adjust. Can the boy who tries to say the right things, and gets it all wrong, be the lifeline Ellie needs?
Jackson has been avoiding his teammates ever since some numbness in his legs cost them an important soccer match. With his senior year off to a lonely start, he’s intrigued when he’s asked to help the new girl, initially thinking it will be a commendable move on his part. Little does he know Ellie will soon be the person he wants most by his side when the strange symptoms he’s experiencing amount to a life-changing diagnosis.
Exploring what it means to build community, Anna Sortino pens a story about the fear of the unknown and the beauty of the unexpected, all wrapped up in a poignant romance that will break your heart and put it back together again.
Ellie’s Deaf boarding school just shut down, forcing her to leave the place she considered home and return to her hearing family. Back in a mainstream school, Ellie quickly becomes the subject of hateful rumors. That’s when her guidance counselor pairs her with Jackson, a student who’s supposed to help her adjust. Can the boy who tries to say the right things, and gets it all wrong, be the lifeline Ellie needs?
Jackson has been avoiding his teammates ever since some numbness in his legs cost them an important soccer match. With his senior year off to a lonely start, he’s intrigued when he’s asked to help the new girl, initially thinking it will be a commendable move on his part. Little does he know Ellie will soon be the person he wants most by his side when the strange symptoms he’s experiencing amount to a life-changing diagnosis.
Exploring what it means to build community, Anna Sortino pens a story about the fear of the unknown and the beauty of the unexpected, all wrapped up in a poignant romance that will break your heart and put it back together again.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2024
About the author
Anna Sortino
2 books331 followersAnna Sortino is the author of Give Me a Sign and On the Bright Side. She writes stories about disabled characters living their lives and falling in love.
Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Anna has since lived in different cities from coast to coast, spending her free time exploring nature with her dog or reading on the couch with her cat.
Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Anna has since lived in different cities from coast to coast, spending her free time exploring nature with her dog or reading on the couch with her cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
July 4, 2024
2024 reads: 187/250
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
ellie’s deaf boarding school just shut down, and now she’s forced to return to her hearing family and a mainstream school. she’s paired up with jackson, who’s meant to help her adjust to the school. jackson is going through changes of his own, though—his soccer team lost an important match after jackson tripped on air, and now he’s avoiding his teammates. he’s intrigued by the new girl, and she quickly becomes the person he wants by his side the most when his strange symptoms start to heighten.
i loved these characters so much. on one hand, we have ellie, whose confidence i deeply admired. unfortunately, her hearing family never wanted to learn ASL, so she feels isolated as soon as she gets home from boarding school. on the other hand, jackson’s parents are a bit too involved, and not in ways that are always helpful. in the story, he finds out he has MS. anna sortino mentioned in the author’s note that this is a diagnosis she’s also getting used to, and i think she showed throughout the book how personal jackson’s story is.
i loved give me a sign, so i was really excited when this book was announced! i’m not going to try to figure out which one i liked better, because they’re different books and i enjoyed them for different reasons. with that said, i would say that anyone who enjoyed give me a sign is likely to enjoy this one, and vice versa. i can’t wait for whatever’s next from anna sortino!
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
ellie’s deaf boarding school just shut down, and now she’s forced to return to her hearing family and a mainstream school. she’s paired up with jackson, who’s meant to help her adjust to the school. jackson is going through changes of his own, though—his soccer team lost an important match after jackson tripped on air, and now he’s avoiding his teammates. he’s intrigued by the new girl, and she quickly becomes the person he wants by his side the most when his strange symptoms start to heighten.
i loved these characters so much. on one hand, we have ellie, whose confidence i deeply admired. unfortunately, her hearing family never wanted to learn ASL, so she feels isolated as soon as she gets home from boarding school. on the other hand, jackson’s parents are a bit too involved, and not in ways that are always helpful. in the story, he finds out he has MS. anna sortino mentioned in the author’s note that this is a diagnosis she’s also getting used to, and i think she showed throughout the book how personal jackson’s story is.
i loved give me a sign, so i was really excited when this book was announced! i’m not going to try to figure out which one i liked better, because they’re different books and i enjoyed them for different reasons. with that said, i would say that anyone who enjoyed give me a sign is likely to enjoy this one, and vice versa. i can’t wait for whatever’s next from anna sortino!
May 31, 2024
4.5-5⭐️
July 12, 2024
"If this year's taught us anything, there's more important things than always going full speed."
okay this was not bad. it had a cute plot, nice writing style, and the characters—well, most of them—were cool. i especially liked how we have a mmc with MS and a fmc who is deaf. we definitely need more books with that kind of representation.
i will say, ellie's character annoyed me sometimes. also, some parts of the book felt like they were dragging. specific chapters were literally all words with no plot.
overall though, it was an enjoyable read. if you're into YA romance set in high school where the main characters have their own issues (which they try to fix together), then this is for you.
"There's a lot about my life I wouldn't recognize even a year ago. So much I wouldn't have expected. I don't know what comes next. Then again, no one ever really does. But I'm ready to find out."
3.5 stars. it's got its ups and downs—the characters and pacing could be a lot better—but still very cute nontheless!!
December 3, 2023
4.5⭐️
Rep: deaf, MS
Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for an e-ARC! I enjoyed the author’s first book Give Me A Sign, but this was even better in my opinion! Not only is this a YA contemporary about deaf pride, this also deals with MS and the diagnosis’ physical and emotional journey. I can’t speak for MS specifically, but seeing Jackson’s life change so fast after being diagnosed was very relatable and would be for anyone with a chronic illness.
Besides the rep, this was a super cute YA high school romance!
The only negative thing I have to say is that Ellie’s character annoyed me a bit, especially in the first half.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this one, and I’m excited to see more from this author!
Rep: deaf, MS
Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for an e-ARC! I enjoyed the author’s first book Give Me A Sign, but this was even better in my opinion! Not only is this a YA contemporary about deaf pride, this also deals with MS and the diagnosis’ physical and emotional journey. I can’t speak for MS specifically, but seeing Jackson’s life change so fast after being diagnosed was very relatable and would be for anyone with a chronic illness.
Besides the rep, this was a super cute YA high school romance!
The only negative thing I have to say is that Ellie’s character annoyed me a bit, especially in the first half.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this one, and I’m excited to see more from this author!
July 1, 2024
1 Sentence Summary: Ellie’s Deaf boarding school just shut down and now she has to start senior year in a mainstream public school; to help her adjust, the guidance counselor pairs her with Jackson, the school’s star soccer player who has problems of his own and is keeping the strange new numbness in his legs a secret; despite a rocky start, Ellie & Jackson soon become friends and even more, a safe place for the other to lean on during difficult times.
My Thoughts: The representation in this book was so wonderful! I loved the nuanced exploration of different experiences with disability—we have Ellie who has been Deaf her whole life and then Jackson who gets a sudden diagnosis later in life.
I loved the Deaf representation and all the challenges presented of growing up as the only Deaf person in a hearing family and a largely hearing world. Also, I know ASL so it was cool to read the descriptions of the signs and know what they were.
My only complaint is that it could be a bit more developed; for example, the side characters were all pretty one dimensional and the romance wasn’t super fleshed out. Some conflicts got resolved too easily as well.
This was an enjoyable read and I think it’s so important especially for young people to have positive disability representation like this, which I haven’t seen very much in YA books.
Overall, more of a 4.5 stars, but I’ll round up to 5!
Recommend to: Anyone who wants to read a cute YA coming-of-age romance with fantastic disability representation!
(Warnings: swearing)
***
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
My Thoughts: The representation in this book was so wonderful! I loved the nuanced exploration of different experiences with disability—we have Ellie who has been Deaf her whole life and then Jackson who gets a sudden diagnosis later in life.
I loved the Deaf representation and all the challenges presented of growing up as the only Deaf person in a hearing family and a largely hearing world. Also, I know ASL so it was cool to read the descriptions of the signs and know what they were.
My only complaint is that it could be a bit more developed; for example, the side characters were all pretty one dimensional and the romance wasn’t super fleshed out. Some conflicts got resolved too easily as well.
This was an enjoyable read and I think it’s so important especially for young people to have positive disability representation like this, which I haven’t seen very much in YA books.
Overall, more of a 4.5 stars, but I’ll round up to 5!
Recommend to: Anyone who wants to read a cute YA coming-of-age romance with fantastic disability representation!
(Warnings: swearing)
***
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Want to read
September 8, 2023"In this contemporary YA romance, after the deaf institute she attends is shut down, Ellie must start senior year at a new school where she meets and falls for Jackson, who is going through a disability diagnosis of his own."
April 22, 2024
good thing I didn’t have plans tonight because I would’ve canceled them to keep reading this book… seriously I read it all in one sitting which I NEVER do
such a beautiful story about change and growing up, and how nothing ever plays out quite the way we expect it to
(also loved the subtle tie in to Give Me A Sign!)
thank you Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the ARC! so excited for this one’s release- July 2!
such a beautiful story about change and growing up, and how nothing ever plays out quite the way we expect it to
(also loved the subtle tie in to Give Me A Sign!)
thank you Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the ARC! so excited for this one’s release- July 2!
April 12, 2024
I really really enjoyed this one! I was a big fan of Give Me a Sign by the same author, so I had high expectations for this book and it did not disappoint. I think she has officially become an auto buy author for me and I can’t wait to read what she writes next. I could not put this book down once I started and I read most of it in one day. It was such a quick and easy read that really sucked you in and left you needing to know what happened to the characters next.
There were so many amazing things about this book that I would love to talk about. This book talked heavily about disability from two very different viewpoints. It had one character who has been deaf her whole life and who has embraced it and loves to celebrate her own deafness. She has formed a beautiful relationship with her deafness, which has fed into her personality and relationships with others. She has also found a community that supports her needs and really makes her happy. Then on the other side of the story, we have a character who is experiencing disability for the first time. He is suffering from unexpected symptoms and uncertainty until he finally gets an MS diagnosis. He has to grapple with what this diagnosis means for himself and his future. He also has to come to terms with the fact that this disability will not go away and is something that he will have to live with for the rest of his life. This dichotomy between the two characters really shows the range of disability experiences and exposes readers to a whole new range of ideas. However, between both characters they still have similarities and their own frustrations and challenges that really bring them together and teach them to lean on each other.
One theme that showed up a lot in this story was how others respond to one’s disability and the effects that can have. Both main characters had a variety of reactions to their disabilities, both positive and negative, and it was very impactful to see the different things that some people may experience and how those interactions can really impact them. It is very important to think about your words and actions and the impact it can have on others.
The romance was also very cute and I loved the themes of friendship, connection, finding your voice, strength, and change throughout the story.
I really think that there is something for everyone in this book and I would absolutely recommend it. Whether you have a disability, you want to learn more, or you just want to read a cute YA romance, I would definitely pick this book up.
I can not wait for the release date so more people can get their hands on this book.
There were so many amazing things about this book that I would love to talk about. This book talked heavily about disability from two very different viewpoints. It had one character who has been deaf her whole life and who has embraced it and loves to celebrate her own deafness. She has formed a beautiful relationship with her deafness, which has fed into her personality and relationships with others. She has also found a community that supports her needs and really makes her happy. Then on the other side of the story, we have a character who is experiencing disability for the first time. He is suffering from unexpected symptoms and uncertainty until he finally gets an MS diagnosis. He has to grapple with what this diagnosis means for himself and his future. He also has to come to terms with the fact that this disability will not go away and is something that he will have to live with for the rest of his life. This dichotomy between the two characters really shows the range of disability experiences and exposes readers to a whole new range of ideas. However, between both characters they still have similarities and their own frustrations and challenges that really bring them together and teach them to lean on each other.
One theme that showed up a lot in this story was how others respond to one’s disability and the effects that can have. Both main characters had a variety of reactions to their disabilities, both positive and negative, and it was very impactful to see the different things that some people may experience and how those interactions can really impact them. It is very important to think about your words and actions and the impact it can have on others.
The romance was also very cute and I loved the themes of friendship, connection, finding your voice, strength, and change throughout the story.
I really think that there is something for everyone in this book and I would absolutely recommend it. Whether you have a disability, you want to learn more, or you just want to read a cute YA romance, I would definitely pick this book up.
I can not wait for the release date so more people can get their hands on this book.
March 14, 2024
I was not prepared to enjoy this book as much as I did.
Accessibility in the workplace is something I am passionate about. I went into this book blind and was ecstatic to find this was about disabilities and accessibility awareness wrapped all into a YA romance.
‘I’m too exhausted to educate you today’ is an entire mood and one that so many people exist within after spending their day navigating a world that isn’t created to accommodate their needs and interacting with people that don’t care to learn about how to better interact with them to create a workplace, school where inclusion is the standard.
I really enjoy how the author made this a subtle theme throughout the book, gave a nod to how quickly being different ostracizes someone from the rest of their classmates or coworkers because it requires more effort to understand their needs, and also discussed ‘anybody can become disabled at any time’. This was such a well written, well timed book.
My heart broke for the FMC in a hearing family that never attempted to accommodate her needs.
My soul ached for the MMC fighting for his parent’s approval while denying what is happening to his body.
I would recommend this to anybody who works in DEI, disability advocacy, knows anybody with a disability and wants to have a deeper self awareness as they interact with the general public that disabilities are not just visible.
Thank you to #Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this gem as an ARC.
Accessibility in the workplace is something I am passionate about. I went into this book blind and was ecstatic to find this was about disabilities and accessibility awareness wrapped all into a YA romance.
‘I’m too exhausted to educate you today’ is an entire mood and one that so many people exist within after spending their day navigating a world that isn’t created to accommodate their needs and interacting with people that don’t care to learn about how to better interact with them to create a workplace, school where inclusion is the standard.
I really enjoy how the author made this a subtle theme throughout the book, gave a nod to how quickly being different ostracizes someone from the rest of their classmates or coworkers because it requires more effort to understand their needs, and also discussed ‘anybody can become disabled at any time’. This was such a well written, well timed book.
My heart broke for the FMC in a hearing family that never attempted to accommodate her needs.
My soul ached for the MMC fighting for his parent’s approval while denying what is happening to his body.
I would recommend this to anybody who works in DEI, disability advocacy, knows anybody with a disability and wants to have a deeper self awareness as they interact with the general public that disabilities are not just visible.
Thank you to #Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this gem as an ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2024
Thank you Edelweiss and PRH for the DRC of probably my most anticipated book of the year!
I was so excited for this one. On The Bright Side follows Ellie, a deaf teen whose all-deaf boarding school she has spent the last several years at is shut down by the state, forcing her to attend her local public school, Amber High, for her senior year. Suddenly stripped of her deaf community, Ellie struggles to find her footing again. Her parents don’t know ASL and refuse to learn, and she doesn’t know any other deaf students at her new school. Ellie feels a bit lost and alone until she meets Jackson, the boy the guidance counselor asks to show her around. Jackson has been experiencing some strange symptoms that his parents are choosing to ignore: numbness in his legs, brain fog, dizziness, headaches, and more. When his legs give out at a soccer championship match, costing the team the game, he distances himself from the rest of the team, allowing him to get to know Ellie more. When his symptoms progress and he gets a life-changing diagnosis, Ellie ends up being someone he can really count on.
Ellie and Jackson really lean on each other throughout this book. Ellie knows that she can count on Jackson to be a distraction from her disaster of a home life and that he will never get annoyed with her for not being able to hear something the first few times like her parents. When Jackson gets a diagnosis, he counts on Ellie to help him navigate being a disabled teen.
One of the things I really loved about this book was how nuanced the discussions around disability were. I loved that we saw Ellie working to build a new deaf community for herself where she could freely use ASL. I loved that the story went through her struggles with her parents, like needing to explain to them why she might actually not want to wear her hearing aid or implant receiver. But the best part of this was Ellie explaining disability pride to Jackson. This part of the book actually made me cry. Explaining the nuances between accepting the cards life has dealt you and accepting your disability but also not wanting to be in pain was so important. Ellie explains to Jackson that she doesn’t want a cure for her deafness. She doesn’t want to live in a world where people are trying to eradicate all disabilities. At the same time, she explains that she doesn’t want Jackson to live in pain. She doesn’t want him to not find a cure, but she still wants him to accept himself the way he is.
Beyond that conversation, I loved that Ellie acknowledged that she doesn’t know disability as a loss like Jackson does. She acknowledges that she has always been deaf and doesn’t know what it’s like to lose any of her senses. I also love that she acknowledged that not everyone who is deaf identifies with the disabled label but that personally, she does. I loved that she clarified that disability isn’t a bad thing or offensive and I loved that she brought up that anyone can become disabled at any moment.
As someone who has a chronic illness that is not that well known among the general public, I also really connected with Jackson. I felt for him when he was afraid that people were judging him using a cane when he looked otherwise healthy, when he wished he could have something that people at least understood, when he struggled to own the fact that he had a disability, and especially when he said he felt a bit lighter when he finally got answers even though that meant bad news. I really resonated with that strange kind of relief.
I think the only thing that made me not give book this a perfect rating was the writing style. I wanted to read about these characters without being told exactly what everyone was thinking. I want to be shown emotions rather than reading an exact definition of each of them. That’s my only critique! I really enjoyed Ellie and Jackson’s relationship, I loved watching Ellie from her own deaf community in a new place, and I loved watching Jackson slowly find a community of his own.
These kids felt so teenager but so grown up at the same time, and I think that says something about being a disabled teenager. Sometimes being disabled means you need to grow up a little faster, but it doesn’t mean you need to totally cut out being a kid, making friends, falling in love, and having fun.
I was so excited for this one. On The Bright Side follows Ellie, a deaf teen whose all-deaf boarding school she has spent the last several years at is shut down by the state, forcing her to attend her local public school, Amber High, for her senior year. Suddenly stripped of her deaf community, Ellie struggles to find her footing again. Her parents don’t know ASL and refuse to learn, and she doesn’t know any other deaf students at her new school. Ellie feels a bit lost and alone until she meets Jackson, the boy the guidance counselor asks to show her around. Jackson has been experiencing some strange symptoms that his parents are choosing to ignore: numbness in his legs, brain fog, dizziness, headaches, and more. When his legs give out at a soccer championship match, costing the team the game, he distances himself from the rest of the team, allowing him to get to know Ellie more. When his symptoms progress and he gets a life-changing diagnosis, Ellie ends up being someone he can really count on.
Ellie and Jackson really lean on each other throughout this book. Ellie knows that she can count on Jackson to be a distraction from her disaster of a home life and that he will never get annoyed with her for not being able to hear something the first few times like her parents. When Jackson gets a diagnosis, he counts on Ellie to help him navigate being a disabled teen.
One of the things I really loved about this book was how nuanced the discussions around disability were. I loved that we saw Ellie working to build a new deaf community for herself where she could freely use ASL. I loved that the story went through her struggles with her parents, like needing to explain to them why she might actually not want to wear her hearing aid or implant receiver. But the best part of this was Ellie explaining disability pride to Jackson. This part of the book actually made me cry. Explaining the nuances between accepting the cards life has dealt you and accepting your disability but also not wanting to be in pain was so important. Ellie explains to Jackson that she doesn’t want a cure for her deafness. She doesn’t want to live in a world where people are trying to eradicate all disabilities. At the same time, she explains that she doesn’t want Jackson to live in pain. She doesn’t want him to not find a cure, but she still wants him to accept himself the way he is.
Beyond that conversation, I loved that Ellie acknowledged that she doesn’t know disability as a loss like Jackson does. She acknowledges that she has always been deaf and doesn’t know what it’s like to lose any of her senses. I also love that she acknowledged that not everyone who is deaf identifies with the disabled label but that personally, she does. I loved that she clarified that disability isn’t a bad thing or offensive and I loved that she brought up that anyone can become disabled at any moment.
As someone who has a chronic illness that is not that well known among the general public, I also really connected with Jackson. I felt for him when he was afraid that people were judging him using a cane when he looked otherwise healthy, when he wished he could have something that people at least understood, when he struggled to own the fact that he had a disability, and especially when he said he felt a bit lighter when he finally got answers even though that meant bad news. I really resonated with that strange kind of relief.
I think the only thing that made me not give book this a perfect rating was the writing style. I wanted to read about these characters without being told exactly what everyone was thinking. I want to be shown emotions rather than reading an exact definition of each of them. That’s my only critique! I really enjoyed Ellie and Jackson’s relationship, I loved watching Ellie from her own deaf community in a new place, and I loved watching Jackson slowly find a community of his own.
These kids felt so teenager but so grown up at the same time, and I think that says something about being a disabled teenager. Sometimes being disabled means you need to grow up a little faster, but it doesn’t mean you need to totally cut out being a kid, making friends, falling in love, and having fun.
July 4, 2024
4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Finished this book in a day! I could not put it down. I absolutely loved Ellie and Jackson so much! Their interactions and easy banter felt so organic, and I love how easily they slipped into each other’s orbits.
Ellie having to go to a completely different high school for her senior year is brutal, and the lack of support and understanding she not only got from the school but from her family made my heart so soft for her. Having so much constant conversation about blatant ableism or wanting her to wear her implants at all times and dismiss that she cannot hear what they are saying at some points and being dismissed was so frustrating. I loved that she was able to make such close friends with Shay and the other girls that welcomed her with open arms into their little found family. I love that Shay was such a great friend to help Ellie spread her wings and use her independence in such a healthy way, especially creating some distance and boundaries with her family.
Jackson’s process to finding out what has been happening to him and receiving his diagnosis had me so stressed. I have a few people in my life that struggle with chronic illness/pain and have still not received clear diagnoses. When Jackson finally gets a clear diagnosis, he explains that it’s a relief to finally know what’s been going on with his body and why so much has been out of his control. I also love how he took charge of his health and chose which treatments he would be doing, instead of allowing his parents to pick and choose for him when they would’ve gone against what Jackson originally wanted to do.
I think Sortino was able to be so vulnerable in her writing these two sweet characters, their struggles, and their love story. Watching them struggle both internally and externally with their issues and disabilities created such a safe and organic space to read and be a part of. This is my second book I’ve read by this author, and I cannot wait to read more!!!
CW: ableism, chronic illness, medical content, bullying, vomit, injury/injury detail
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Finished this book in a day! I could not put it down. I absolutely loved Ellie and Jackson so much! Their interactions and easy banter felt so organic, and I love how easily they slipped into each other’s orbits.
Ellie having to go to a completely different high school for her senior year is brutal, and the lack of support and understanding she not only got from the school but from her family made my heart so soft for her. Having so much constant conversation about blatant ableism or wanting her to wear her implants at all times and dismiss that she cannot hear what they are saying at some points and being dismissed was so frustrating. I loved that she was able to make such close friends with Shay and the other girls that welcomed her with open arms into their little found family. I love that Shay was such a great friend to help Ellie spread her wings and use her independence in such a healthy way, especially creating some distance and boundaries with her family.
Jackson’s process to finding out what has been happening to him and receiving his diagnosis had me so stressed. I have a few people in my life that struggle with chronic illness/pain and have still not received clear diagnoses. When Jackson finally gets a clear diagnosis, he explains that it’s a relief to finally know what’s been going on with his body and why so much has been out of his control. I also love how he took charge of his health and chose which treatments he would be doing, instead of allowing his parents to pick and choose for him when they would’ve gone against what Jackson originally wanted to do.
I think Sortino was able to be so vulnerable in her writing these two sweet characters, their struggles, and their love story. Watching them struggle both internally and externally with their issues and disabilities created such a safe and organic space to read and be a part of. This is my second book I’ve read by this author, and I cannot wait to read more!!!
CW: ableism, chronic illness, medical content, bullying, vomit, injury/injury detail
June 14, 2024
This is a book that needs to be put in the hands of every Young Adult ASAP!
Representation: Deaf Awareness, Multiple Sclerosis
Thank you Penguin Teen for an early digital copy of this story!
Rating: 4.5
As a family member of someone with MS, this book represented the illness beautifully. The author fully encaptures the trials and unexpected hardships of someone with the symptoms. As someone working in the school system who loves advocating for equal education, the awareness the characters bring about hard and loss of hearing is eye-opening for every reader.
Now let's talk about the light-hearted part: the romance! I loved watching the relationship unfold between Jackson and Ellie. They were so sweet together and had such a unique but fresh romance. However, the mid-story conflict Ellie created for everyone had me (as well as Jackson) super frustrated. I was almost at a 5 stars but the conflict took me out of it for a second so I have gone to a 4.5! I have rounded up on Goodreads and other platforms because this author deserves it for gorgeous storytelling.
Representation: Deaf Awareness, Multiple Sclerosis
Thank you Penguin Teen for an early digital copy of this story!
Rating: 4.5
As a family member of someone with MS, this book represented the illness beautifully. The author fully encaptures the trials and unexpected hardships of someone with the symptoms. As someone working in the school system who loves advocating for equal education, the awareness the characters bring about hard and loss of hearing is eye-opening for every reader.
Now let's talk about the light-hearted part: the romance! I loved watching the relationship unfold between Jackson and Ellie. They were so sweet together and had such a unique but fresh romance. However, the mid-story conflict Ellie created for everyone had me (as well as Jackson) super frustrated. I was almost at a 5 stars but the conflict took me out of it for a second so I have gone to a 4.5! I have rounded up on Goodreads and other platforms because this author deserves it for gorgeous storytelling.
July 24, 2024
An incredibly moving, #ownvoices, dual POV, YA romance about Ellie, a born deaf teen girl forced to go to regular school when her deaf school closes and Jackson, the hearing boy she slowly befriends and falls for who is experiencing symptoms that eventually lead to a new MS diagnosis.
With great autoimmune disease and chronic pain rep and a heartbreakingly toxic family situation in which Ellie's parents don't make an effort to accommodate or understand their disability, this is without a doubt my new favorite from author Anna Sortino!
Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Alison Gervais and Ann Clare LeZotte. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. This is a great book to read for Disability Pride Month in July or any time of the year!
With great autoimmune disease and chronic pain rep and a heartbreakingly toxic family situation in which Ellie's parents don't make an effort to accommodate or understand their disability, this is without a doubt my new favorite from author Anna Sortino!
Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Alison Gervais and Ann Clare LeZotte. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. This is a great book to read for Disability Pride Month in July or any time of the year!
June 19, 2024
This book was so good! I loved Ellie and Jackson. Usually I’m picky with romance in contemporary YA, but Anna Sortino knows how to do it well. Ellie’s found family and new home made me very emotional, and the intervention was 💯 Jackson’s diagnosis and all his confused feelings about the present and future was very real. I loved the chronic illness rep and the unpredictability of life when you’re dealing with symptoms that pop up without warning sometimes. I think I loved this book even more than Give Me A Sign. Excited to see what Anna Sortino writes next!
March 2, 2024
This was such a beautiful and sweet story, and I loved Jackson and Ellie so so much. I might have liked this even more than Give Me a Sign!
July 5, 2024
Well written! That starlight chili sure sounds yummy 😋
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 22, 2024DNFing this for a variety of reasons:
- the MC is so incredibly cranky and selfish 24/7. I get that she has some HARD things going on relating to her Deafness and going to a new school, but I was not happy reading her POV. I needed her to do something nice and look outside herself for me to cheer her on.
- all the adults in this book are either idiots or ableists, INCLUDING HER PARENTS. Made me so stressed every time an adult came into the scene because I knew an argument or injustice was coming. Drove me crazy. I know this happens in real life, but it just made me either roll my eyes or want to tear the book apart. Also the love interest’s parents are also clueless and “supplement granola parents”…… like how many horrible adults can we get in one book? Not a pleasant reading experience.
- overall, this book has me questioning if I like YA at all. It has to be done well, and I can’t handle teens complaining every single page while being so self centered. Give me Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, where Demon goes through every horrible thing imaginable as a kid and teen, yet I still want to root for him because I know he’s kind and noble. Idk. I think this book will strike a chord with Deaf people, and they’ll hopefully be able to relate to the MC more.
- the MC is so incredibly cranky and selfish 24/7. I get that she has some HARD things going on relating to her Deafness and going to a new school, but I was not happy reading her POV. I needed her to do something nice and look outside herself for me to cheer her on.
- all the adults in this book are either idiots or ableists, INCLUDING HER PARENTS. Made me so stressed every time an adult came into the scene because I knew an argument or injustice was coming. Drove me crazy. I know this happens in real life, but it just made me either roll my eyes or want to tear the book apart. Also the love interest’s parents are also clueless and “supplement granola parents”…… like how many horrible adults can we get in one book? Not a pleasant reading experience.
- overall, this book has me questioning if I like YA at all. It has to be done well, and I can’t handle teens complaining every single page while being so self centered. Give me Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, where Demon goes through every horrible thing imaginable as a kid and teen, yet I still want to root for him because I know he’s kind and noble. Idk. I think this book will strike a chord with Deaf people, and they’ll hopefully be able to relate to the MC more.
June 16, 2024
Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC and Penguin Teen for the ARC of On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino. All opinions are my own.
On the Bright Side is a great coming of age story with romance and an exploration of disabilities.
As an adult, I am not the target audience for this book, but I do think I still got a lot out of this book. If I had read it as a teenager, I might have loved it more though.
I really appreciated the dual points of view in this story because Ellie and Jackson had such different upbringings and situations they were going through. I think I enjoyed reading from Jackson’s POV a little more though because he was just so sweet and likable.
I didn’t dislike Ellie, but I found her a bit irritating at the beginning of the story. She acted as if everyone was against her without even knowing people very well. I do think she grew as a character throughout the story though.
Ellie’s family was terrible, and I felt bad for the lack of support she received at home. No one should ever feel lesser than because of their disabilities.
Jackson’s parents were a little better, but I hated how they kept dismissing Jackson’s health problems. It did such a disservice to him, and it made it feel like they didn’t know their son at all.
I appreciated the friendship between Ellie and Jackson. I liked that they didn’t let other’s opinions affect their opinions of each other. Even though they had such different lives, I think they really complemented each other.
In the past, I’ve read several other books with deaf protagonists. While there are definitely similarities to those books, I liked the author’s approach in this story and how she talked about disabilities as a whole. The stigma associated with various disabilities was discussed, and I found it interesting to read about someone who was new to their disability versus someone who was used to it.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and really enjoyed the narration. I also appreciated the sound effects that denoted when a character was signing versus speaking verbally.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA contemporary stories.
On the Bright Side is a great coming of age story with romance and an exploration of disabilities.
As an adult, I am not the target audience for this book, but I do think I still got a lot out of this book. If I had read it as a teenager, I might have loved it more though.
I really appreciated the dual points of view in this story because Ellie and Jackson had such different upbringings and situations they were going through. I think I enjoyed reading from Jackson’s POV a little more though because he was just so sweet and likable.
I didn’t dislike Ellie, but I found her a bit irritating at the beginning of the story. She acted as if everyone was against her without even knowing people very well. I do think she grew as a character throughout the story though.
Ellie’s family was terrible, and I felt bad for the lack of support she received at home. No one should ever feel lesser than because of their disabilities.
Jackson’s parents were a little better, but I hated how they kept dismissing Jackson’s health problems. It did such a disservice to him, and it made it feel like they didn’t know their son at all.
I appreciated the friendship between Ellie and Jackson. I liked that they didn’t let other’s opinions affect their opinions of each other. Even though they had such different lives, I think they really complemented each other.
In the past, I’ve read several other books with deaf protagonists. While there are definitely similarities to those books, I liked the author’s approach in this story and how she talked about disabilities as a whole. The stigma associated with various disabilities was discussed, and I found it interesting to read about someone who was new to their disability versus someone who was used to it.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and really enjoyed the narration. I also appreciated the sound effects that denoted when a character was signing versus speaking verbally.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA contemporary stories.
December 14, 2023
I really like how the author shows the differences of two different disabilities. She has a way of captivating me with her stories. I enjoy how she italicizes whenever ASL is used in the story. It helps me visualize the conversation in my head. I liked how the two main characters didn't always understand what was going on with the other but then opened up and let each other in. This book is a fantastic read.
April 3, 2024
Sometimes I’ll pick up a book and it just clicks. I don’t want to put it down, I’m so invested in the characters and their lives that I just need to know what happens next. That’s definitely what happened for me with this book.
This is told in a dual POV between Ellie, a Deaf teenager born to a hearing family, who had been attending a Deaf school until it shut down, and Jackson, a soccer star who is beyond overworked and going through some really complicated things with his body (which we will get into a little bit later). They meet when Ellie is transferred to Jackson’s high school and even though things get off it a rough start, their friendship is really special.
Now, I wasn’t too sure how I felt about Ellie at first, because she is just this ball of attitude but it makes sense. She’s spent years going to Brandview and that was ripped out from under her. She went from being fully submersed in Deaf culture, able to communicate easily with her friends using ASL, to being back home with her frankly ableist parents and stuck being the only Deaf kid at her school. I’d have attitude too. Her parents really made everything worse… like a lot worse, they’re awful.
Jackson is a completely different story, because I loved him from the moment he came onto the page. His parents are a little overbearing and for a lot of the book he’s overworked between soccer, workouts with his dad, random events, and school. He’s also struggling a little with his body. There are some things happening to him physically and we go on this journey with him as he gets diagnosed with MS.
There are so many things that happen throughout the book but the one thing that’s clear from page 1 is that both Ellie and Jackson have big hearts. They’re both incredibly supportive of each other and I just adored their dynamic.
I’m also going to say that this book really made it click in my head that I am drawn to books where at least one character has a complicated relationship with their parents. I love that for me.
But the tl;dr is basically: read the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the gifted eARC of this book.
This is told in a dual POV between Ellie, a Deaf teenager born to a hearing family, who had been attending a Deaf school until it shut down, and Jackson, a soccer star who is beyond overworked and going through some really complicated things with his body (which we will get into a little bit later). They meet when Ellie is transferred to Jackson’s high school and even though things get off it a rough start, their friendship is really special.
Now, I wasn’t too sure how I felt about Ellie at first, because she is just this ball of attitude but it makes sense. She’s spent years going to Brandview and that was ripped out from under her. She went from being fully submersed in Deaf culture, able to communicate easily with her friends using ASL, to being back home with her frankly ableist parents and stuck being the only Deaf kid at her school. I’d have attitude too. Her parents really made everything worse… like a lot worse, they’re awful.
Jackson is a completely different story, because I loved him from the moment he came onto the page. His parents are a little overbearing and for a lot of the book he’s overworked between soccer, workouts with his dad, random events, and school. He’s also struggling a little with his body. There are some things happening to him physically and we go on this journey with him as he gets diagnosed with MS.
There are so many things that happen throughout the book but the one thing that’s clear from page 1 is that both Ellie and Jackson have big hearts. They’re both incredibly supportive of each other and I just adored their dynamic.
I’m also going to say that this book really made it click in my head that I am drawn to books where at least one character has a complicated relationship with their parents. I love that for me.
But the tl;dr is basically: read the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the gifted eARC of this book.
June 8, 2024
Super cute story! I wanted to read this because of the cover, which perfectly encapsulates the vibes of this book. Ellie and Jackson have different perspectives on disability, but they are both done extremely well. This would also be a super helpful introduction to some common disability studies concepts.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2024
Anna Sortino is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Last year, I read Give Me a Sign, and I absolutely loved reading a book that incorporated deaf culture. (I am not deaf myself, but do have hearing loss, which I wear a hearing aid for.) So since I loved her debut so much, I was excited to see On the Bright Side available to request on Netgalley. To be honest, I didn't even read the synopsis, but I knew I'd enjoy the book.
Give Me a Sign is a YA romance between Ellie, who is deaf, and Jackson, who is eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Sortino developed these two characters with beauty and grace, and created a romantic pair that readers will root for. I don't know much about MS, so I enjoyed the book the representation. Though the book is fiction, Sortino pulled details from her own life to create an authentic character. I feel like this book provided me with an entry level amount of knowledge about MS, and it actually made me want to learn more about the disease.
Give Me a Sign was one of my favorite books of 2023, and while we are only a quarter of the way through 2024, I can already tell that On the Bright Side will be one of my favorites for this year. The book has not released yet, but I am already excited to see what Sortino has in store for her third book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Give Me a Sign is a YA romance between Ellie, who is deaf, and Jackson, who is eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Sortino developed these two characters with beauty and grace, and created a romantic pair that readers will root for. I don't know much about MS, so I enjoyed the book the representation. Though the book is fiction, Sortino pulled details from her own life to create an authentic character. I feel like this book provided me with an entry level amount of knowledge about MS, and it actually made me want to learn more about the disease.
Give Me a Sign was one of my favorite books of 2023, and while we are only a quarter of the way through 2024, I can already tell that On the Bright Side will be one of my favorites for this year. The book has not released yet, but I am already excited to see what Sortino has in store for her third book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2024
After reading give me a sign, I was really glad I got the chance to read the ARC for on the bright side.
I really loved this book and once I started it was hard to put down. As with all of Anna’s work, the disability representation is amazing and gives me a new perspective. As a partner of a hard of hearing person, Anna’s books really make me think critically about the accessibility of the world around me even in terms of my own relationship and household.
I highly recommend reading this book both for the information and experiences that clearly shine through the characters, but for a YA rom com that will have you giggling and kicking your feet throughout.
I really loved this book and once I started it was hard to put down. As with all of Anna’s work, the disability representation is amazing and gives me a new perspective. As a partner of a hard of hearing person, Anna’s books really make me think critically about the accessibility of the world around me even in terms of my own relationship and household.
I highly recommend reading this book both for the information and experiences that clearly shine through the characters, but for a YA rom com that will have you giggling and kicking your feet throughout.
November 21, 2023
This was a decent read! I had loved Give Me A Sign and I do think this one is a little bit of a step down from that. The development in both the characters and the relationship fell a little flat for me.
That being said, I loved Ellie and Jackson! They both changed so much in the book and their romance was cute!
There is deaf rep and MS rep in this book. I'm not in the position to comment on the rep but wanted to make people aware of it.
I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, I loved Ellie and Jackson! They both changed so much in the book and their romance was cute!
There is deaf rep and MS rep in this book. I'm not in the position to comment on the rep but wanted to make people aware of it.
I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2024
thank you to st. putnam’s group for young readers and penguin teen for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
after reading give me a sign last year, i was really looking forward to sortino’s next release. if i knew one thing, it would pull at my heartstrings and it would have amazing disability rep. and i was not disappointment in those aspects when i read on the bright side.
here, we follow ellie, a teen girl who’s the only deaf in her family, struggling to adjust to a new school her senior year. and jackson, a soccer playing teen, who’s life begins to change before his eyes as he undergoes a diagnosis of a lifelong disability. together, they both grow and learn, and learn to love one another despite their hardships and any communications they may have since jackson doesn’t know sign and ellie’s hearing aids + cochlear implants can only go so far.
i truly loved seeing their story lines, ellie, learning to navigate living at home again for the first time in five years. adjusting to a hearing school. and trying to immerse herself in as much of a deaf culture as she’s able to. now, as i have and will continue to say, i am not deaf. nor do i know anyone direclty who is. so i won’t comment specifically on the accuracy of the rep. but what i can say, is that i truly feel for ellie. she spends a lot of the book trying to get her family to even somewhat communicate in a way that she can process, without much luck. often leading to arguments and coldness. i loved seeing ellie grow in her confidence, in having her community. to the point where she was able to start to have that open communication with her family. and i’d like to think that someday in their future, her parents are learning ASL and doing all the right things.
i don’t know if i loved ellie’s or jackson’s story more. i think possibly jackson, just because his diagnosis odyssey just hit so close to home. i can deeply understand jackson’s sheer relief when there’s just an answer for his problems. that he can know why the reason’s his body may have failed out on him. while it was tough at times to read him get his MS diagnosis, i know that his story is invaluable to share. i don’t have MS either, although i do deal with a lot of symptoms he does. so i can truly understand the difficulty when your body shuts down on you to the point of being bedridden. to me, his story felt so authentic to the chronic illness/pain that i, and many others, deal with. and i appreciate that despite his parent’s apprehensive feelings towards medical care that they did not stop him from getting the treatments he needs. it’s a good was to show how jackson deserved his own agency for his health, regardless of how old he is at diagnosis.
and of course, as much as i adore ellie and jackson separately, i adore them even more together. following their relationship grow. from the very messy bits, to the sweet and beautiful ones. i think they show each other that when you care for the person, you will stick with them through the difficult times. whether that means, from literally being bedridden with pain and fatigue. i truly loved seeing them have the chance to work through their difficult emotions separately when needed, and together when requested. truly, what we all need!
clearly, i really enjoyed this one. and i highly recommend this one, especially to understand the difficulties of undergoing a diagnosis for a chronic illness. jackson was “lucky” to be diagnosed so early in his odyssey. but it does truly show how long it can take, like when he was turned away at his first urgent care appointment. i think it’s so insightful, while also having an escapism feeling through their budding romance.
it had it’s moments that were questionable (ellie and her ex storyline mostly. and i also wish liam’s character was addressed). but overall i think this is a lovely little book.
after reading give me a sign last year, i was really looking forward to sortino’s next release. if i knew one thing, it would pull at my heartstrings and it would have amazing disability rep. and i was not disappointment in those aspects when i read on the bright side.
here, we follow ellie, a teen girl who’s the only deaf in her family, struggling to adjust to a new school her senior year. and jackson, a soccer playing teen, who’s life begins to change before his eyes as he undergoes a diagnosis of a lifelong disability. together, they both grow and learn, and learn to love one another despite their hardships and any communications they may have since jackson doesn’t know sign and ellie’s hearing aids + cochlear implants can only go so far.
i truly loved seeing their story lines, ellie, learning to navigate living at home again for the first time in five years. adjusting to a hearing school. and trying to immerse herself in as much of a deaf culture as she’s able to. now, as i have and will continue to say, i am not deaf. nor do i know anyone direclty who is. so i won’t comment specifically on the accuracy of the rep. but what i can say, is that i truly feel for ellie. she spends a lot of the book trying to get her family to even somewhat communicate in a way that she can process, without much luck. often leading to arguments and coldness. i loved seeing ellie grow in her confidence, in having her community. to the point where she was able to start to have that open communication with her family. and i’d like to think that someday in their future, her parents are learning ASL and doing all the right things.
i don’t know if i loved ellie’s or jackson’s story more. i think possibly jackson, just because his diagnosis odyssey just hit so close to home. i can deeply understand jackson’s sheer relief when there’s just an answer for his problems. that he can know why the reason’s his body may have failed out on him. while it was tough at times to read him get his MS diagnosis, i know that his story is invaluable to share. i don’t have MS either, although i do deal with a lot of symptoms he does. so i can truly understand the difficulty when your body shuts down on you to the point of being bedridden. to me, his story felt so authentic to the chronic illness/pain that i, and many others, deal with. and i appreciate that despite his parent’s apprehensive feelings towards medical care that they did not stop him from getting the treatments he needs. it’s a good was to show how jackson deserved his own agency for his health, regardless of how old he is at diagnosis.
and of course, as much as i adore ellie and jackson separately, i adore them even more together. following their relationship grow. from the very messy bits, to the sweet and beautiful ones. i think they show each other that when you care for the person, you will stick with them through the difficult times. whether that means, from literally being bedridden with pain and fatigue. i truly loved seeing them have the chance to work through their difficult emotions separately when needed, and together when requested. truly, what we all need!
clearly, i really enjoyed this one. and i highly recommend this one, especially to understand the difficulties of undergoing a diagnosis for a chronic illness. jackson was “lucky” to be diagnosed so early in his odyssey. but it does truly show how long it can take, like when he was turned away at his first urgent care appointment. i think it’s so insightful, while also having an escapism feeling through their budding romance.
it had it’s moments that were questionable (ellie and her ex storyline mostly. and i also wish liam’s character was addressed). but overall i think this is a lovely little book.
June 11, 2024
Love the inclusivity!
On the Bright Side is a YA romance that beautifully captures the highs and lows of having a disability.
Ellie has lived the majority of her life at her Deaf boarding school. But, when the school unexpectedly shuts down, her life and future plans become uncertain.
Forced to move back home to her unsupportive family and to be mainstreamed into public school, she is feeling more and more isolated.
That is until the school guidance counselor assigns her to Jackson, to help her adapt to her new school.
Jackson is a soccer player but after losing feeling in his legs and costing his team the championship, he is avoiding his teammates at all costs.
When the opportunity arises to help the new girl at school, Ellie, he happily accepts.
But when he’s faced with a life changing diagnosis, he is torn between wanting Ellie by his side and pushing her away.
I cannot say enough great things about this book. I absolutely loved how inclusive it is.
I love how through Ellie we get to see the struggles she has being deaf in a hearing family. I love that stands up for herself, and ends up finding a community to support her.
I also absolutely loved how the author wrote about Jackson’s struggles before, during, and after the events leading up to his diagnosis. It was so relatable.
I was not a fan of the parents of Ellie or Jackson. While they were well written, and all were driving forces for various purposes in the novel, I just personally did not like them and I truly felt awful for both Ellie and Jackson. As a mother of two young boys with disabilities, I cannot imagine making my child’s life more difficult because I refuse to accept a diagnosis.
That much being said, I did love that the characters were able to overcome the difficulties that both sets of parents had with their respective disabilities.
I’d like to thank Penguin Publishing, Anna Sortino, and NetGalley for the early copy of On The Bright Side in exchange for my honest thoughts and feedback.
On the Bright Side is a YA romance that beautifully captures the highs and lows of having a disability.
Ellie has lived the majority of her life at her Deaf boarding school. But, when the school unexpectedly shuts down, her life and future plans become uncertain.
Forced to move back home to her unsupportive family and to be mainstreamed into public school, she is feeling more and more isolated.
That is until the school guidance counselor assigns her to Jackson, to help her adapt to her new school.
Jackson is a soccer player but after losing feeling in his legs and costing his team the championship, he is avoiding his teammates at all costs.
When the opportunity arises to help the new girl at school, Ellie, he happily accepts.
But when he’s faced with a life changing diagnosis, he is torn between wanting Ellie by his side and pushing her away.
I cannot say enough great things about this book. I absolutely loved how inclusive it is.
I love how through Ellie we get to see the struggles she has being deaf in a hearing family. I love that stands up for herself, and ends up finding a community to support her.
I also absolutely loved how the author wrote about Jackson’s struggles before, during, and after the events leading up to his diagnosis. It was so relatable.
I was not a fan of the parents of Ellie or Jackson. While they were well written, and all were driving forces for various purposes in the novel, I just personally did not like them and I truly felt awful for both Ellie and Jackson. As a mother of two young boys with disabilities, I cannot imagine making my child’s life more difficult because I refuse to accept a diagnosis.
That much being said, I did love that the characters were able to overcome the difficulties that both sets of parents had with their respective disabilities.
I’d like to thank Penguin Publishing, Anna Sortino, and NetGalley for the early copy of On The Bright Side in exchange for my honest thoughts and feedback.
June 29, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.5)
Thank you @penguinteen @prhaudio @netgalley for the gifted books 🫶🏻 #penguinteenpartner #PRHAudioPartner #netgalley
Ellie’s Deaf boarding school closure forces her back to her hearing family and a mainstream school filled with hateful rumors. Paired with Jackson, a lonely senior with mysterious symptoms, she finds an unexpected ally. Together, they navigate the fear of the unknown, discovering community and a poignant romance that heals their hearts.
The feeling of this book is utterly heartfelt and uniquely hopeful. The characters are dealing with typical teenage struggles—worried about college, strained parental relationships, fitting in—but their diagnosis add such a mature depth to their understanding of life and others. I loved their charmingly romantic moments ☺️ She’s bookish—loves libraries and knitting (but I promise that point wasn’t over-emphasized)—and he’s a wealthy star athlete. Though the stories elements are completely different, this book had a similar feeling to Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen- warm, heartfelt, & nuanced.
Perfect for you if you like:
Nuanced discussions about disability
Teen characters that feel equally their age and grown up
“Tender, honest, and utterly human”
Similar to:
Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen
The Fault in our Stars by John Green
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️explicit language (very infrequent), disability diagnosis, strained relationship with parents, ableism
Thank you @penguinteen @prhaudio @netgalley for the gifted books 🫶🏻 #penguinteenpartner #PRHAudioPartner #netgalley
Ellie’s Deaf boarding school closure forces her back to her hearing family and a mainstream school filled with hateful rumors. Paired with Jackson, a lonely senior with mysterious symptoms, she finds an unexpected ally. Together, they navigate the fear of the unknown, discovering community and a poignant romance that heals their hearts.
The feeling of this book is utterly heartfelt and uniquely hopeful. The characters are dealing with typical teenage struggles—worried about college, strained parental relationships, fitting in—but their diagnosis add such a mature depth to their understanding of life and others. I loved their charmingly romantic moments ☺️ She’s bookish—loves libraries and knitting (but I promise that point wasn’t over-emphasized)—and he’s a wealthy star athlete. Though the stories elements are completely different, this book had a similar feeling to Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen- warm, heartfelt, & nuanced.
Perfect for you if you like:
Nuanced discussions about disability
Teen characters that feel equally their age and grown up
“Tender, honest, and utterly human”
Similar to:
Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen
The Fault in our Stars by John Green
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️explicit language (very infrequent), disability diagnosis, strained relationship with parents, ableism
June 5, 2024
I loved the author’s previous book, Give Me a Sign, and had high hopes for this one. On the Bright Side was a hopeful and cute coming of age YA novel. I really appreciated the deaf and MS rep and I thought the author captured the teenage highs and lows very well. These characters make mistakes and stumble, but they also find themselves and grow.
The romantic subplot between Ellie and Jackson fell a bit flat for me, but what really intrigued me were the relationships they had with each of their families and friends (for better and for worse). I loved Ellie’s found family friend group and how supportive and understanding they were. The book is overall very hopeful, but there are some somber moments as well. I thought the ending was very fitting and I liked that it didn’t try to wrap everything up in a tidy bow.
I mainly listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration by Jesse Inocalla and Elizabeth Robbins. Both gave emotional performances and Elizabeth Robbins was especially fantastic as Ellie.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4 stars
CW: ableism, collapsing/loss of mobility, hospitalization and medical tests, multiple sclerosis, grief, strained/estranged relationship with parents/family
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*
The romantic subplot between Ellie and Jackson fell a bit flat for me, but what really intrigued me were the relationships they had with each of their families and friends (for better and for worse). I loved Ellie’s found family friend group and how supportive and understanding they were. The book is overall very hopeful, but there are some somber moments as well. I thought the ending was very fitting and I liked that it didn’t try to wrap everything up in a tidy bow.
I mainly listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration by Jesse Inocalla and Elizabeth Robbins. Both gave emotional performances and Elizabeth Robbins was especially fantastic as Ellie.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4 stars
CW: ableism, collapsing/loss of mobility, hospitalization and medical tests, multiple sclerosis, grief, strained/estranged relationship with parents/family
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*
May 6, 2024
On the Bright Side was a quick read that I enjoyed. Through Ellie, it dives into Deaf culture and the frustrations a Deaf person faces in an ableist world. Ellie is independent and maybe a little stubborn, but her frustrations with unsupportive parents and classmates were understandable. She has to make some tough choices along the way but shows a lot of strength through it. Jackson was a very likeable character, and I loved how he made the effort to connect with Ellie when other classmates just wanted to gossip and assume. Jackson is faced with his own unexpected and scary diagnosis, and it was interesting to share his journey that portrayed his fears and frustrations while still providing optimism about the future. I think an important takeaway from this story is understanding how not all disabilities are obvious, and anyone can become disabled at any time, so it goes a long way to show compassion to others.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the advance review copy of On the Bright Side! All opinions expressed are completely my own.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the advance review copy of On the Bright Side! All opinions expressed are completely my own.
June 30, 2024
This was such a sweet book. On the Bright Side is about Ellie who attends a deaf boarding school that is now getting shut down. Due to this she is required to go back home and attend public school. She meets Jackson, a student who was assigned to help her. Jackson has been recently getting symptoms that is greatly impacting his health greatly. I thought it was very kind that he did his best to learn American Sign Language to communicate with Ellie and make her feel welcomed. Jackson is so attentive, thoughtful, and kind. Ellie made sure to check in on Jackson and let him know she was there if he needed anything. I really liked that it was dual pov because you get to see their perspectives on what they each go through.
I loved seeing how Jackson and Ellie’s relationship developed. The found family with Ellie’s new friend was also incredibly heartwarming. Jackson and Ellie are so cute together and supportive of one another.
Release date: July 2nd!!
Thank you Penguin Teen for the arc!
I loved seeing how Jackson and Ellie’s relationship developed. The found family with Ellie’s new friend was also incredibly heartwarming. Jackson and Ellie are so cute together and supportive of one another.
Release date: July 2nd!!
Thank you Penguin Teen for the arc!
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