April is in Year 8 and is struggling to fit in: she finds lessons tricky and whilst her classmates are all discussing which boys they want to go out with, she just wants to draw or rescue a stray animal. Navigating the year is made easier with her friend, Ben, by her side, but as the pressure mounts, how will April react?
I read Lily's first novel, When I Feel Blue in 2022 and was captivated by Ben's story (you can read my review here) so it was a delight to see that Lily had written a book about April who we met in When I Feel Blue.
April lives with dyspraxia which means that reading and organisation are just two of the things that she finds tricky. It quickly becomes apparent that the confident young girl we met when she befriended Ben, isn't actually as confident as she may have appeared and that having dyspraxia is something that embarrasses her. School is difficult and her feelings for different situations were insightful - I was incredibly pleased to see Mr M being so supportive (however, if I ever meet Mrs Williams, she will certainly be getting a piece of my mind!). In lessons, she feels as though she is wading through treacle and that they may as well be in a foreign language which means that she is frequently in trouble and often in detention. To add to the pressures she is feeling, she doesn't feel ready to date anybody but she feels the pressure to conform so this is something else she has to navigate. It really is a difficult time for her. Where April truly shines is in the way she cares for animals and her drawing skills, both of which come to the fore in the course of the book.
April really shows us what life is like for those who live with dyspraxia and I know that this will help those who have dyspraxia see themselves, but will also be an important read for others (both children and adults) as a way to help them understand what friends and classmates experience.
It was also wonderful to see Ben again and to see how he is getting on. I was so pleased to see that their friendship was going strong, but within the course of the book their are bumps that need to be navigated (I'm saying no more!).
As well as being a brilliant insight into dyspraxia (including how it can impact other family members), the book is a reminder that we all grow up at different times. Whilst some are ready to date boys and gossip about who they fancy, others need more time - and both are perfectly normal. April is a shining example of the importance of being yourself and not being afraid to march to the beat of your own drum - a truly important message for readers to hear.
Last Friday, I did an assembly about empathy and reminded the school that reading is one of the best ways to build empathy skills. When I Feel Red is the perfect book to build anyone's empathy skills and I know it will be a book in demand once it goes onto my trolley. It is a powerful, heart-warming read and I guarantee that April is a character who will stay with you long after you've finished the last chapter. I know she will provide comfort and joy to many a reader once the book publishes on the 15th February.
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