Name: Charlotte J. Ruth's review of Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne
Item: Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?
Rating: 4
Author: Charlotte J. Ruth

Holly Bourne

Welcome to Camp Reset, a summer camp with a difference. A place offering a shot at ¿normality¿ for Olive, a girl on the edge, and for the new friends she never expected to make ¿ who each have their own reasons for being there. Luckily Olive has a plan to solve all their problems. But how do you fix the world when you can¿t fix yourself? A raw and compelling exploration of mental health, friendship and the power of compassion from the acclaimed Holly Bourne.

Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?

Welcome to Camp Reset, a summer camp with a difference. A place offering a shot at “normality” for Olive, a girl on the edge, and for the new friends she never expected to make – who each have their own reasons for being there. Luckily Olive has a plan to solve all their problems. But how do you fix the world when you can’t fix yourself? A raw and compelling exploration of mental health, friendship and the power of compassion from the acclaimed Holly Bourne.

Lidé svůj hluk prostě musejí sdílet. Tady máte můj NIKDX NEKONČÍCÍ HLUK. Existuju. Jsem jedním z příliš mnoha lidí a potřebuju dát najevo, že existuju, a tak řvu a vydávám svůj pitomý zbytečný hlasitý hluk.

Amie Golding

Charlotte J. Ruth

Eleanor Luhar

I cannot believe it's been four months since I read this book! Again, this will only be a quick review. I found this book at my local library and having read Holly Bourne before, I knew I'd enjoy it. It's about mental health, too (as many of her books are), so that was another reason I picked it up.
Olive has had problems with her mental health for years but refuses to be told her diagnosis. She goes through phases of extreme 'happiness' (otherwise known as mania) followed by severe depressive episodes. When she's offered a free place at an experimental new treatment centre, she is more than happy to accept. She doesn't know exactly what's wrong with her, but she's desperate to find the cure.
While at the facility - called Camp Reset - Olive makes some interesting friends. She also finds herself in a manic state without even realising it, and focuses all her energy on an innovative algorithm she believes can cure or prevent mental illnesses. Of course, this leads to a huge crash, which prevents Olive from partaking in the grand finale of her and her friends' plan to spread happiness.
Throughout her treatment, Olive goes through a lot of things. She faces rejection and learns to help others. She also begins to work on her attitudes towards herself.
The main thing I've got to say about this book is the relatability of it. The thoughts that Olive has, and the way they cycle round her head on repeat, were incredibly close to home. When something bad happens, her first reaction is to blame and hate herself. I related to her character so, so much in this way.
I also really liked how Olive is not the stereotypical 'nice' girl. She's not quiet and quirky and lovable. She's a bit of a bitch sometimes, quite frankly. But mental illnesses don't give you a free pass to being a jerk. They often make people more of a jerk, honestly. It's important to acknowledge this. It's important to think about how your actions affect others, even though it's hard when you don't care about yourself or anything at all.
This was a fantastic portrayal of mental illness, and of recovery. It didn't have a perfect ending - Olive acknowledges how she's got so much farther to go, and that her journey to recovery is only just beginning. She also learns how there is no easy cure, which I think people forget sometimes. 4.5 stars!

Tiffany

** spoiler alert **
           Holly is brilliant!
His story really hits hard while reading. You feel so much for Olive and what she’s going through, like you’re truest reading Olives diary. 
Camp Reset is obviously something that is going on int he works already, but it’s an interesting take. I’m not sure show many have the bracelets.
Finding out Olives diagnosis of Bipolar was no surprise - I had a feeling from the first chapter. But the way she decided to blame herself for her birth and her mums illness took me by surprise. It also made me think; she had to be resuscitated after birth, that would have messed with her brain, right? But that can’t be how bipolar happens? Or a way it happens…. Can it? 
Golly really made me think about mental illnesses and how we don’t know much about them, even though all we hear about is the “hidden” disabilities people have.
Like Sophie’s. Or even Hannah’s on the smell of drains; I hate the smell of drains but it doesn’t impact my life and I can’t see how it could impact someone’s life…. But of course it can. No two brains are wired the same.
I loved the variety of people she wrote about. Even Jamie. Even if he was the same type of guy she writes about - band, longer hair, “emo phase”. I want to read more of her books to make sure she doesn’t just write about these. I was not interested in these boys when I was a teen, there are so many other “stereotypes” you can write about.
But when Jamie cried…. I balled my eyes out. Bless him.

But yes. Brilliant book and she’s brilliant at raising awareness of mental illness in this book and also others. Plus all the “normal” things teenagers go through.

Ella Bouic

Once again this book is incredible. Holly bourne was able to bring to light a major issue of mental health but from the perspective of someone who suffers from mental health. Love the fact that we don’t actually know Olive’s mental health issue as it eliminates any stereotypes and we can really get a true insight into what it’s like to have mental health. The story line itself is good and really makes you think about everyday and life and how you can change things to support others. #KindnessIsContagious

Stefie 

The message of this book is important and I can see how this book can make a huge impact in people’s life. So my rating is not based on that, but rather on the whole basic elements of rating a book.
I enjoy It Only Happens in the Movie, but this one unfortunately is not for me. The writing style is good but I feel like this book is too long.
The main character, Olive, I honestly don’t know how to feel about her. Also, the ending made me feel like... not satisfied?
This is also happened with the ending at It Only Happen in The Movie, I am not satisfied with it. I don’t know why.

My favorite character in the book is Sophie. She is just amazing. I love her character development.

All in all it’s 3 stars from me. It’s not a bad book at all, but it’s not something that I love as much as I hope for :)

As I said before, this book is an important read. There are a lot of message that really could help a lot people. So, please grab them and read it ♥️

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc of this book :)

Amie Golding &
Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne

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Amie Golding &Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne

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Amie Golding &
Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne