Heroine

This was such a great story about such a difficult topic- drug abuse. The ending totally made me cry alligator tears.

4.5 starsI've read three books by this author and once again, I am impressed with her writing talent. Addiction is a topic that has been explored in many fiction books, but yet after reading this book, I felt like it was covered it in a way that was unique but also very realistic. A worthwhile read for sure.High school senior Mickey is determined to have a standout softball season this year. The better she plays, the more likely she will receive scholarship offers for college. But a car accident leaves her badly injured right before the start of the season. Mickey is determined to not miss a game and she needs to quickly get her body in shape. Physical therapy by itself isn't going to get her where she needs to be so she turns to painkillers.Despite the fact the story is about a teenager with an addiction, for the most part I didn't feel like this was a heavy read and I actually think that is one of the strengths of the novel. Don't get me wrong, there are some emotional moments in the book, but I never felt overwhelmed by the story. It was straightforward and was a realistic portrayal of how easy it is to slip into addiction. When comparing it to other books I have read on the topic, this one managed to get all the main points across but in a way that was easier to mentally process. That's my opinion though as maybe other readers will find it to be a difficult read.What was fascinating to me was Mickey became addicted to painkillers because she had goals and she wasn't going to let anything stand in her way. She wanted the ability to function like she did before the accident and painkillers were supposed to aid her in getting back to normal. The author took a unique approach as most stories would have focused on a teenager using painkillers only as a coping mechanism rather than trying to achieve something. I think as a society we tend to associate teenage drug use with only partying but in doing so you are forgetting about all the kids who are using things like painkillers just to get through life. The story hits close to home because you realize Mickey could be anyone you know.Definitely recommend as a good book to show how easy it is to slip into drug addiction.

I often avoid "issue" books, because I don't want to feel sad, depressed, or hopeless due to the significant trials the main character must overcome. Funnily enough, I'd much rather read a horror or thriller. What does that say about me?But . . . as a fan of Mindy McGinnis, I wanted to read this book for two reasons: 1) She wrote it, and 2) the opioid crisis is an epidemic in our country.In case you were confused about the spelling of the book's title . . .heroine means: "a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities ... and/or ... the chief female character in a book, play, or movie, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathize."heroin means: "a highly addictive analgesic drug derived from morphine, often used illicitly as a narcotic producing euphoria. ... from Latin heros ‘hero’ (because of its effects on the user's self-esteem)."her means: "used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a female person previously mentioned."(definitions from Oxford)The cover is SO PERFECT for this story. The main character starts out as such a heroine - the girl admired and idealized for her outstanding achievements and promising future. Then she's injured and needs pain medicine to help her recover. And then . . . we are up close and personal to watch her journey into heroin use. Then who is she? Someone "her" friends used to know, someone "previously mentioned."In HEROINE, Mindy McGinnis sheds light on an epidemic that is happening on a daily basis in many, if not most, neighborhoods across our country. The people addicted to these drugs are not scary-looking creeps hanging out in darkened alleyways. Addicts are our neighbors, our friends, our family . . . people we admire, people we love, people we associate with, and people who are keeping a deadly secret, often suffering alone.HEROINE shows step-by-step how someone becomes addicted--the needs, cravings, wants, and lies.This story is very gritty with language and details, but I still highly recommend it, unless you're a recovering addict. I would imagine this story would be triggering for anyone with substance addiction concerns. The narration goes into detail about the entire process. It is eye-opening and heart-breaking. If you've never had addiction issues, you'll be left with a better understanding of the epidemic and with more empathy for those involved.

Regularly I hope to read a book that brings bgs me to a state of virtual access through words, this fits the script. A brilliant overview of young people and illicit drugs in a very present way. Buy and enjoy.

This book is pain. You know what you're in for right from the start, the prologue makes sure of that. It all starts with pain medication after an accident. From there on, you will watch the main character bury herself in a grave of pills, needles, lies and betrayal, so deep she might never get out. 95% of the book is a downward spiral. And the things is, you just don't know if she can dig herself out again. If you have read a McGinnis novel before, you know it's entirely possible that the ending will only mean more pain. Or death. Both are legitimate possibilities.I'll be honest here: this is my least favourite of Mindy's books and I have a pretty good theory why that's so. I blame Mickey, the main character. She is a distant person, someone who only ever seems to know who she is when she is on the field playing softball - or when she is using. But when she isn't, she is a quiet person who doesn't know what to say or how to behave. Which I usually don't mind. Just because you're not an outgoing person, it doesn't mean you have nothing to say. But you see the world through Mickey's eyes and it all feels distant and too far away.I only really enjoyed the parts of the book where Mickey hangs out with her best friend, when the plot actually moves forward, when things are happening. Because that's the thing, nothing much happened apart from Mickey falling deeper and deeper into her drug addiction. Of course, that's the whole point of the book: to depict the reality of someone who relies on drugs, who becomes an addict, who doesn't (want to) see another way out. (This, of course, is not applicable to everyone. It only shows an example of what addiction can look like.) But that doesn't mean that the book has to be so devoid of colour. Because Mindy McGinnis can write breathtaking stories, she can construct the most fascinating characters. It showed in the prologue, it showed in the first few chapters, it showed in the last few chapters. But the pages in between couldn't hook me as much.I also need to add that I struggled to read some parts of the book, especially those that show the drug use in close detail. I just hate talk about needles and veins - it makes me feel sick. But that doesn't have any influence on my rating, I simply can't handle these things very well.My review shouldn't discourage you, though. If the blurb speaks to you and if you want to know more, read it. It's a tough book, and I'm sure it took a lot of effort to write it. I'm already anxiously waiting for Mindy's next book. I can't wait to hear what she's got up her sleeve.