The Glass Girl
Kathleen Glasgow
The Glass Girl
Kathleen Glasgow
Everyone in Bella's life needs something from her. Her mom needs her to help around the house, her dad needs her to not make waves, her ex needs her to not be so much. The only person who never needed anything from her was her grandmother -- she just needed her to be Bella. Now her grandmother is dead.
There's one thing that eases the pressure, though. Alcohol smooths the sharp edges of Bella's life and makes it all so much easier. What's the big deal? Everyone drinks. And Bella knows she can stop whenever she wants -- she just needs to get through Thanksgiving.
But that night changes everything. A Thanksgiving party and too many drinks land her, unconscious, on her front steps, where her mother finds her in the early hours of the morning. When she wakes up in the hospital with a fractured cheekbone and no memory of the night before, it's clear that it's time to deal with reality. And for Bella, reality means going to rehab.
Gorgeously written and deeply compassionate, Kathleen Glasgow's The Glass Girl is a candid exploration of the forces pushing a girl toward a dangerous path of addiction, and her gradual acceptance that she must face what she's been trying to erase before she can really get better.
Review
Nicole Vasilev
In The Glass Girl, Kathleen Glasgow delivers a deeply moving exploration of addiction through the eyes of 15-year-old Bella. Overwhelmed by the demands from her divorced parents and broken by being called ‘too much’ by her ex, Bella seeks refuge with the one person who has never demanded anything from her: her grandmother. But now her grandmother is gone.
The only thing that helps her take off the pressure is alcohol. She doesn’t see the harm in it – after all, everyone drinks. She believes she can quit at any time she chooses. But when she gets black-out drunk after Thanksgiving dinner, it becomes clear things are out of hand. She needs help. Which means rehab.
Glasgow’s writing is raw and compassionate, capturing Bella’s descent into addiction and the start of her journey towards recovery. This story doesn’t hide from harsh topics around substance abuse, and it is important to know that before going into the novel. However, it is also a journey of self-discovery, offering a message of hope, and showing that recovery, though difficult, is possible with the right support.
The wider cast of characters were my favourite part of this novel, including Bella’s family and the people she meets in rehab. They add a whole new depth to the story that I wasn’t expecting, in particular highlighting how addiction can impact these relationships.
The Glass Girl is an honest story about addiction, and how important it is to accept help, making it a compelling read for older teenagers aged 15+ and adults.
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