Anything but Ordinary

Samantha Young's The Fragile Ordinary is anything BUT ordinary.

Comet Caldwell is perpetually, painfully shy. Even though her fashion choices and writer's notebooks show her fiercely creative soul, that essential part of her is locked away behind her own fear.

With only two real friends, Comet has contented herself with occasional social outings- usually when she senses that her seclusion is making her friends a little antsy. She's desperately anxious about saying the wrong thing and has a lot of trouble fitting in with people outside of her tiny circle.

The Fragile Ordinary tells the story of how Comet learns to live again, how she (albeit kind of slowly) bursts out of the bubble that she's isolated herself in for a long time. As is the case with many YA books (I feel, at least), this starts with a boy. Not just ANY boy, but Tobias King- the seemingly "bad" American student who's recently moved to Scotland.

The Fragile Ordinary is packed with quiet moments and intimate conversations. It's not the kind of teen novel that's fueled by chaotic parties and people funneling beer as quickly as possible.

The beauty of The Fragile Ordinary is in the conversations between the characters and Comet's narration. It's easy to get swept up into her world, and before I knew it, I had read the book in a single day.

At first, it might seem like The Fragile Ordinary is just a cute, contemporary teen romance. It is SO much more than that. It's a book about friendship, family, knowing one's worth, and learning how to ACTIVELY EXPERIENCE life instead of just escaping it.

Young's characters are wonderful and realistic and heartbreaking.

Comet really resonated with me, her shyness and how she used books to escape made me feel for her. She's feisty, creative, and brilliant, and it's so hard for her to figure her way out of this bubble that she's created around herself. I liked that she would have these moments of complete self-awareness, questioning how she had contributed to the current status quo of her life. I loved that Young didn't make Comet blameless. There are moments, so many moments, where the people in her life- from her parents to her friends- don't "show up" for her, but Comet also plays a role in how her relationships have all become a bit stuck.

Out of the "supporting" characters, I have to say that Stevie just broke my heart. Part of this is personal- I see one of my family members reflected in him so strongly- but much of it is due to how real he truly is. Even at his worst moments, I was rooting for Stevie. He's trapped by circumstance, Through only a handful of moments, Young crafts a young man who can be kind, loyal, and thankful. A young man whose potential is dimmed by the pain of the rest of his life around him. It was a little difficult for me to read about him because he and his situation were just so gritty and real.

Even when it evokes something sad in me, I have to acknowledge the beauty of a book that makes you FEEL instead of simply being a distraction.

I got lost in The Fragile Ordinary, and it was worth every second of reading.