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The In-Between
When Elanor's near-death experience opens a door to a world inhabited by bold, beautiful Madeline, she finds her life quickly spiraling out of control
Fourteen-year-old Elanor Moss has always been an outcast who fails at everything she tries―she's even got the fine, white scars to prove it. Moving was supposed to be a chance at a fresh start, a way to leave behind all the pain and ugliness of her old life. But, when a terrible car accident changes her life forever, her near-death experience opens a door to a world inhabited by Madeline Torus . . . Madeline is everything Elanor isn' beautiful, bold, brave. She is exactly what Elanor has always wanted in a best friend and more―their connection runs deeper than friendship. But Madeline is not like other girls, and Elanor has to keep her new friend a secret or risk being labeled "crazy." Soon, though, even Elanor starts to doubt her own sanity. Madeline is her entire life, and that life is drastically spinning out of control. Elanor knows what happens when your best friend becomes your worst enemy. But what happens when your worst enemy is yourself?
With her debut novel, The In-Between , Barbara Stewart presents a bold new voice in teen fiction.
Fourteen-year-old Elanor Moss has always been an outcast who fails at everything she tries―she's even got the fine, white scars to prove it. Moving was supposed to be a chance at a fresh start, a way to leave behind all the pain and ugliness of her old life. But, when a terrible car accident changes her life forever, her near-death experience opens a door to a world inhabited by Madeline Torus . . . Madeline is everything Elanor isn' beautiful, bold, brave. She is exactly what Elanor has always wanted in a best friend and more―their connection runs deeper than friendship. But Madeline is not like other girls, and Elanor has to keep her new friend a secret or risk being labeled "crazy." Soon, though, even Elanor starts to doubt her own sanity. Madeline is her entire life, and that life is drastically spinning out of control. Elanor knows what happens when your best friend becomes your worst enemy. But what happens when your worst enemy is yourself?
With her debut novel, The In-Between , Barbara Stewart presents a bold new voice in teen fiction.
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2013
13 people are currently reading
1396 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Stewart
2 books6 followersThis particular Barbara Stewart is the author of THE IN-BETWEEN and WHAT WE KNEW
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
September 16, 2013
Sometimes a great idea is not enough.
Let me ask you: do you rate logically after weighing up all the literary pros and cons of a book and assessing its creativity and originality? Or do you rate emotionally based on your own personal reaction to a book? You see, I find it difficult to do anything but the latter. And I do appreciate that this book has a lot to offer. It's crept rather quietly onto the goodreads scene out of nowhere and is already making waves on Kirkus and in the early GR reviews. I can see why. The idea is genius and, as I became more aware of what the author was doing, I found myself pleading with the book at every turn to become a new favourite. Sadly, though, I think this is a fantastic idea that fails on the execution. Only time will tell if I'm in the minority.
The real question is: how many points do you earn for originality? Especially when enjoyment was scarce? I found this story to be incredibly dry in its telling, lacking any depth of emotion to keep me invested in the journey of the characters. I like my characters. They are possibly the most important thing for me in a novel and my interest quickly dies if I don't care about them. And this book more than most relies on the reader's desire to find out what is going on. The ambiguity of the novel should be a driving force, pushing you onwards on your quest for answers, and yet it was a barrier for me that prevented me forming a connection to any of the characters. Or perhaps it was a lack of character connection that made me uninterested in finding out the answers... who knows? Chicken or the egg.
But the idea. WOAH, the idea. This book does something I love. It questions the nature of reality, mental illness and the supernatural. It makes you unsure of what is real and unsure of who is alive and who is dead. Is Madeline a ghost? Or a product of Elanor's imagination? And, in the end, what's the difference? It suggests the possibility that mental illness could actually be a blurring of worlds - is "crazy" merely what happens when people straddle the line between this world and the next? Ellie's story is nothing if not creative. It all starts when Ellie, her parents and her cat are in a car accident. They were moving to a smaller town for a fresh start after Ellie suffered from depression and eventually attempted suicide. The car accident is just the start of this bizarre story that leads us to question pretty much everything that happens afterwards, including the arrival of Madeline and whether or not she even exists.
The In-Between will appeal to readers who appreciate it when authors do something different. This book explores several interesting concepts and raises numerous questions. But I think it lacks a spark. A spark that interests me in the characters and the story. I feel it is not so much a novel as it is a genius concept and I'm not sure that "different" can always be called "good". Though I finished feeling it was necessary to compliment the author's originality, I never once experienced excitement at what the next page might hold.
Let me ask you: do you rate logically after weighing up all the literary pros and cons of a book and assessing its creativity and originality? Or do you rate emotionally based on your own personal reaction to a book? You see, I find it difficult to do anything but the latter. And I do appreciate that this book has a lot to offer. It's crept rather quietly onto the goodreads scene out of nowhere and is already making waves on Kirkus and in the early GR reviews. I can see why. The idea is genius and, as I became more aware of what the author was doing, I found myself pleading with the book at every turn to become a new favourite. Sadly, though, I think this is a fantastic idea that fails on the execution. Only time will tell if I'm in the minority.
The real question is: how many points do you earn for originality? Especially when enjoyment was scarce? I found this story to be incredibly dry in its telling, lacking any depth of emotion to keep me invested in the journey of the characters. I like my characters. They are possibly the most important thing for me in a novel and my interest quickly dies if I don't care about them. And this book more than most relies on the reader's desire to find out what is going on. The ambiguity of the novel should be a driving force, pushing you onwards on your quest for answers, and yet it was a barrier for me that prevented me forming a connection to any of the characters. Or perhaps it was a lack of character connection that made me uninterested in finding out the answers... who knows? Chicken or the egg.
But the idea. WOAH, the idea. This book does something I love. It questions the nature of reality, mental illness and the supernatural. It makes you unsure of what is real and unsure of who is alive and who is dead. Is Madeline a ghost? Or a product of Elanor's imagination? And, in the end, what's the difference? It suggests the possibility that mental illness could actually be a blurring of worlds - is "crazy" merely what happens when people straddle the line between this world and the next? Ellie's story is nothing if not creative. It all starts when Ellie, her parents and her cat are in a car accident. They were moving to a smaller town for a fresh start after Ellie suffered from depression and eventually attempted suicide. The car accident is just the start of this bizarre story that leads us to question pretty much everything that happens afterwards, including the arrival of Madeline and whether or not she even exists.
The In-Between will appeal to readers who appreciate it when authors do something different. This book explores several interesting concepts and raises numerous questions. But I think it lacks a spark. A spark that interests me in the characters and the story. I feel it is not so much a novel as it is a genius concept and I'm not sure that "different" can always be called "good". Though I finished feeling it was necessary to compliment the author's originality, I never once experienced excitement at what the next page might hold.
November 8, 2013
Wow this book was… something. After a near-death experience, Elanor has a new visitor. Someone who becomes her best friend, almost like a sister. But this person is not actually real, is she? Is Elanor mentally unstable? Or is she being haunted? Also, what is happening during her blackouts? This story was so strange at times; definitely a mind-f*ck. Nothing is ever made clear, leaving you to question every single thing - her sanity especially. It's what I loved most about it, but unfortunately it's what will make this book a hit or miss for many.
The In-Between, based on the generally low rating from my friends so far, is obviously not a book everyone will enjoy. Its got a fairly slow pace with ambiguous string of events and a lack of concrete answers. There's a lot of "make of it as you wish" conclusions. However, instead of being irritated by this I was thoroughly fascinated. Mental illness is, in actuality, very hard to diagnose, not to mention constantly questioned by the sick person in many cases. I'm sure you've heard of a case where a schizophrenic person refused to take meds with full belief that the doctor was a conspirator and the meds were used to control them. When you're sick, you don't get black or white answers. You question you sanity, you question you diagnosis, you wonder if what you're seeing is real and everyone simply refuses to believe you. Told in the voice of a perturbed teenage girl, this is the uncertainty we journey into inside this novel. I, for one, found this incredibly compelling. Elanor is your perfect unreliable narrator; she unsettled me, and I loved it.
As a narrator, Elanor was brilliantly written as a mentally ill character. Her thoughts felt very disordered, often as convinced of the truth as she was questioning her mental stability. Her story is told through several journals spanning different stages of her post-accident recovery. This allows us to get deep within her thoughts. We know only what she knows, we question everything she questions. Not only is she seeing this sister of hers, she's also experiencing blackouts, death threats, and other ominous happenings that turn this story into a disturbing thriller.
Now, don't expect an action-packed, intense read. This book's pace is kept on the slow end, where we spend much of our time into the psychological side of things. It's an exploration into the mentally ill… or is it? Those who are big fans of psychological thrillers do need to check out this one!
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
The In-Between, based on the generally low rating from my friends so far, is obviously not a book everyone will enjoy. Its got a fairly slow pace with ambiguous string of events and a lack of concrete answers. There's a lot of "make of it as you wish" conclusions. However, instead of being irritated by this I was thoroughly fascinated. Mental illness is, in actuality, very hard to diagnose, not to mention constantly questioned by the sick person in many cases. I'm sure you've heard of a case where a schizophrenic person refused to take meds with full belief that the doctor was a conspirator and the meds were used to control them. When you're sick, you don't get black or white answers. You question you sanity, you question you diagnosis, you wonder if what you're seeing is real and everyone simply refuses to believe you. Told in the voice of a perturbed teenage girl, this is the uncertainty we journey into inside this novel. I, for one, found this incredibly compelling. Elanor is your perfect unreliable narrator; she unsettled me, and I loved it.
As a narrator, Elanor was brilliantly written as a mentally ill character. Her thoughts felt very disordered, often as convinced of the truth as she was questioning her mental stability. Her story is told through several journals spanning different stages of her post-accident recovery. This allows us to get deep within her thoughts. We know only what she knows, we question everything she questions. Not only is she seeing this sister of hers, she's also experiencing blackouts, death threats, and other ominous happenings that turn this story into a disturbing thriller.
Now, don't expect an action-packed, intense read. This book's pace is kept on the slow end, where we spend much of our time into the psychological side of things. It's an exploration into the mentally ill… or is it? Those who are big fans of psychological thrillers do need to check out this one!
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
September 16, 2013
I'm going to discuss the plot in depth, but the nothing more than what the synopsis already tells us, though it might be slightly spoilery, it won't be enough to hide the review. Quotations subject to change as this is an uncorrected copy from Netgalley. I finished this a few of days ago, and I'm still struggling to figure out how to explain this book. Here goes nothing.
The story is about Ellie, and basically, her descent into madness. We never know if it's mental illness she suffers from, something paranormal, or just exacerbated hormones. I realize how that sounds, but I still have no idea, even though I feel as though her issue was mental health related. Is she schizophrenic, bipolar, multiple personalities, anxiety disorder, head trauma, or perhaps a combination of several of these? It's hard to say because Ellie is an extremely unreliable narrator; she's supposed to be, the entire story is told by means of her journal entries, so limited information is the way it goes.
We know right away that she is suffering from some sort of mental illness because she tells us about her attempted suicide, and how her parents are moving so they can all have a fresh start. Before they can make it to their new home they are involved in a fatal car crash, though who dies isn't clear for some time, if ever really. At first it was her mother that died, and her father is completely unable to move forward. Was it severe depression that was affecting her, because we find out that her father was depressive as well.
Worse even than when I tried to die. It's like all those other bouts of depression were just tremors, little quakes. Losing Mom is too big. The world is crashing down and all he can do is stand and watch, alone and terrified, powerless to go on living.As we watch father and daughter struggle to come to terms with their loss, Ellie meets Madeline Torus, and instantly has a connection with her. Madeline just waltzed in to Ellie's room wanting to listen to music and hang out, but Ellie didn't find this odd, no, in fact she basked in the attention from this girl. She admired the way Madeline dressed, the way she could dance, the way she held herself, and most importantly Ellie loved the way she felt when she was with Madeline. The line between friendship, lover(?), and obsession is blurred between these two for the entire book even when . Let me share a sampling of quotes to give you an idea of what I mean here:
I'm here, but I'm not Mom. I can't talk to him the way she talked to him.
My purpose is clear. There's a reason why I survived the accident. Her name is Madeline Torus.After she met Madeline and tried to deal with the fact that her father is unable to care for her, or himself, suddenly things change, and it's not her mother who had died in the crash, but rather her father. She was suffering from head trauma. I had a hard time believing that this was "real" life because I couldn't tell what was real and wasn't anymore, or ever really.
But she's safe now. I would never hurt her, not in a million years. Not my Madeline. My stone angel. I will always be hers. She will always be mine. Forever and ever.
[...] I'll do my homework and watch TV and then take a pill so Madeline and I will become one.
Madeline kisses me on the lips. Not like a boy. Closer. We are meant to be forever.
Regarding her mental illness, if that is even what's wrong with her, there was no healthy resolution. She was forced into therapy when her mom found her after she had been cutting, apparently severely, but the help didn't seem to really help her. I didn't feel that Ellie went through any kind of change, or ever recognized that she had a problem. I think the story worked the way she left it, other than the very end, but it would have been nice to see Ellie become healthy, well, healthier, in the end. I was left wondering if that's what it felt like to suffer from extreme psychotic disorders, and it was frightening and depressing.
The strangeness in this book was both an asset and a hindrance for me. I generally like my answers, but I also really like creepy and dark, and that's part of what has held me back from trying to review this. On one hand it's everything I look for in a book: grey, creepiness, dark, twisted, and uncomfortable. On the other hand it's ambiguity was almost too much for me.
I think this is a really strong debut; the writing captured the voice of a disturbed girl with perfection, and the subject was fascinating, if a bit hard to suffer through. If you like a story that makes you uncomfortable, and has a serious dose of creepy, then you will probably like this.
November 4, 2013
This book is so real that's scary. I have several books that revolve around the same thing as this one but I have never felt the way I feel right now. My heart is in shambles and I'm not sure how long it will take it to mend.
The story, oh my this story. Ellie is trying to start over. She is in middle school and to put it nicely she is a social outcast. After her attempted suicide her family picks up everything and moves. Then the unthinkable happens, when Ellie wakes up her new beginning isn't the one she was prepared for and things quickly start unraveling.
This whole story was a mind twist and very creepy. In the beginning I just wanted to figure out what was going on and then when Ellie woke up for the second time I was like OH I get it! Yeah I wasn't even close to figuring everything out. By the end I was almost in tears and if you know me then you know that I am not a crier so this was huge. I cried not only for Ellie, but for her mom and Madeline. You honestly have no clue where things are going until the very end and let me tell you they explode at the end. Everything comes together in a very crazy way, but it makes perfect sense. In any other story I am not sure I would have bought the ending, but Ms.Stewart has a wonderful way with words and she created such indepth characters that you just have to believe it.
Normally in YA books the parents aren't ever really around, but Ellie's mom was there from the beginning and I really loved her role in this. Yes she said some things that weren't called for, but in the end she just wanted to help her daughter the best way she knew how. She wasn't perfect but at least she held her ground and kept to being a parent rather than a friend to Ellie. Her role could have gone downhill very fast after learning about a certain life altering situation, but she just really took it in stride and never looked back. Major props to the author for letting this character be just a mom.
This book fits onto my must read shelf nicely. It is creepy with an insane reality added on that will definitely leave you thinking. This will not be my last book by this author I promise you that!
The story, oh my this story. Ellie is trying to start over. She is in middle school and to put it nicely she is a social outcast. After her attempted suicide her family picks up everything and moves. Then the unthinkable happens, when Ellie wakes up her new beginning isn't the one she was prepared for and things quickly start unraveling.
This whole story was a mind twist and very creepy. In the beginning I just wanted to figure out what was going on and then when Ellie woke up for the second time I was like OH I get it! Yeah I wasn't even close to figuring everything out. By the end I was almost in tears and if you know me then you know that I am not a crier so this was huge. I cried not only for Ellie, but for her mom and Madeline. You honestly have no clue where things are going until the very end and let me tell you they explode at the end. Everything comes together in a very crazy way, but it makes perfect sense. In any other story I am not sure I would have bought the ending, but Ms.Stewart has a wonderful way with words and she created such indepth characters that you just have to believe it.
Normally in YA books the parents aren't ever really around, but Ellie's mom was there from the beginning and I really loved her role in this. Yes she said some things that weren't called for, but in the end she just wanted to help her daughter the best way she knew how. She wasn't perfect but at least she held her ground and kept to being a parent rather than a friend to Ellie. Her role could have gone downhill very fast after learning about a certain life altering situation, but she just really took it in stride and never looked back. Major props to the author for letting this character be just a mom.
This book fits onto my must read shelf nicely. It is creepy with an insane reality added on that will definitely leave you thinking. This will not be my last book by this author I promise you that!
October 10, 2019
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Original premise. Ambiguous and poignant story, with a surprising early twist and a subsequent, creepy crescendo.
Cons: Gloomy atmosphere. Flawed main character.
WARNING! Attempted suicide, self-harm, death of a parent, depression, fat-shaming, some ableism.
Will appeal to: Those who like eerie stories and unreliable narrators.
A couple of random thoughts before I start...1) despite the protagonist's age (she's 14) and the lack of sex, this book is definitely dark enough to be shelved as "upper YA"; 2) there's an instance of "it's" instead of "its" in Ch.38. Just saying. *sighs*
TWIST 'N' SPIN
This is a difficult book to review without giving away the early twist and the final denouement...that is...the thing that's been building up for the whole time, and yet makes you do a double take in the end, because you hadn't thought that far ahead - or you simply weren't sure to what extent the concept of "unreliable narrator" applied to Elanor "Ellie" Moss. So I'll try to keep my review short (yeah, good luck with that 😜) and sweet. Ellie is a damaged character with a suicide attempt in her past, a weak father, a strong mother, and an ex-best friend who betrayed her (or was never a real friend to begin with). Her story walks a fine line between mental trouble and magical realism, under the guise of a supposed haunting, but not only (I can't be more specific because SPOILERS, but the "situation" I'm NOT mentioning has everything to do with the early twist, which I think was genius BTW). What I can say is, TIB plays with a few familiar themes/premises and manages to spin a fresh tale out of them. The "mental vs. paranormal" trope may feel overused at this point (and even predatory or detrimental in some cases), but this story elevates it to the next level. Also because (and this is NOT a spoiler) Ellie's mental issues pre-date both the first and the second twist, and the ending leaves the door open for an interpretation that doesn't rely on the main character's mental health (actually, that's the one I personally endorse). [...]
Whole review here.
Pros: Original premise. Ambiguous and poignant story, with a surprising early twist and a subsequent, creepy crescendo.
Cons: Gloomy atmosphere. Flawed main character.
WARNING! Attempted suicide, self-harm, death of a parent, depression, fat-shaming, some ableism.
Will appeal to: Those who like eerie stories and unreliable narrators.
A couple of random thoughts before I start...1) despite the protagonist's age (she's 14) and the lack of sex, this book is definitely dark enough to be shelved as "upper YA"; 2) there's an instance of "it's" instead of "its" in Ch.38. Just saying. *sighs*
TWIST 'N' SPIN
This is a difficult book to review without giving away the early twist and the final denouement...that is...the thing that's been building up for the whole time, and yet makes you do a double take in the end, because you hadn't thought that far ahead - or you simply weren't sure to what extent the concept of "unreliable narrator" applied to Elanor "Ellie" Moss. So I'll try to keep my review short (yeah, good luck with that 😜) and sweet. Ellie is a damaged character with a suicide attempt in her past, a weak father, a strong mother, and an ex-best friend who betrayed her (or was never a real friend to begin with). Her story walks a fine line between mental trouble and magical realism, under the guise of a supposed haunting, but not only (I can't be more specific because SPOILERS, but the "situation" I'm NOT mentioning has everything to do with the early twist, which I think was genius BTW). What I can say is, TIB plays with a few familiar themes/premises and manages to spin a fresh tale out of them. The "mental vs. paranormal" trope may feel overused at this point (and even predatory or detrimental in some cases), but this story elevates it to the next level. Also because (and this is NOT a spoiler) Ellie's mental issues pre-date both the first and the second twist, and the ending leaves the door open for an interpretation that doesn't rely on the main character's mental health (actually, that's the one I personally endorse). [...]
Whole review here.
October 31, 2013
Actual rating is 2.5
What an odd little book this was. I had heard that it was a pretty good mind-fuck from a few people before picking The In-Between up and somehow I still managed to get even more than I expected. This is definitely a story that plays with your mind and makes you question what is real or not which made it a pretty good book to read just before Halloween. While I did find myself spooked and wanting to know exactly what was going on I can’t say that I connected emotionally to the story or to any of the characters.
We meet Ellie just as she is waking up from being in a horrific car crash while moving to a new town with her parents. I don’t want to really get into the plot here because there is so much that I can spoil you on but what I can say is that we are told the story in three separate parts. These are defined by Ellie’s journals, she gets a new one at the beginning of each section and each one tells a very different story with some elements overlapping very well. The whole idea behind the story is fascinating, and one that is really quite frightening in it’s possibility to really happen. There were a few scenes that I read late at night with my husband sleeping beside me and I found myself having to turn on the light when I got up to go to the bathroom and check on the kids.
While all of what I mentioned so far is pretty high praise of the novel I do have to say that I failed to connect on an emotional level with it. Ellie goes through a lot of bullying in the story and it deals heavily with suicide but I always felt like I was reading a shopping list of emotions. I guess this could have something to do with the fact that we were supposed to be reading her journal but it just didn’t work for me. I felt like I was reading a bullet list of what was going on and like I didn’t get to delve into the situations enough to really feel them.
This book is heavy on atmosphere and the short clipped writing does well to leave your thoughts lingering on what is really going on but unfortunately there was a downside to that as well. I do think that with this being such a short read it is worth the time if you are looking for something unlike anything else you have ever read. But if you are looking for something that will give you the feels & send out raw emotion that is palpable I don’t think that this is the place to look.
An Advanced Reader's Copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
--
You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.
What an odd little book this was. I had heard that it was a pretty good mind-fuck from a few people before picking The In-Between up and somehow I still managed to get even more than I expected. This is definitely a story that plays with your mind and makes you question what is real or not which made it a pretty good book to read just before Halloween. While I did find myself spooked and wanting to know exactly what was going on I can’t say that I connected emotionally to the story or to any of the characters.
We meet Ellie just as she is waking up from being in a horrific car crash while moving to a new town with her parents. I don’t want to really get into the plot here because there is so much that I can spoil you on but what I can say is that we are told the story in three separate parts. These are defined by Ellie’s journals, she gets a new one at the beginning of each section and each one tells a very different story with some elements overlapping very well. The whole idea behind the story is fascinating, and one that is really quite frightening in it’s possibility to really happen. There were a few scenes that I read late at night with my husband sleeping beside me and I found myself having to turn on the light when I got up to go to the bathroom and check on the kids.
While all of what I mentioned so far is pretty high praise of the novel I do have to say that I failed to connect on an emotional level with it. Ellie goes through a lot of bullying in the story and it deals heavily with suicide but I always felt like I was reading a shopping list of emotions. I guess this could have something to do with the fact that we were supposed to be reading her journal but it just didn’t work for me. I felt like I was reading a bullet list of what was going on and like I didn’t get to delve into the situations enough to really feel them.
This book is heavy on atmosphere and the short clipped writing does well to leave your thoughts lingering on what is really going on but unfortunately there was a downside to that as well. I do think that with this being such a short read it is worth the time if you are looking for something unlike anything else you have ever read. But if you are looking for something that will give you the feels & send out raw emotion that is palpable I don’t think that this is the place to look.
An Advanced Reader's Copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
--
You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.
April 12, 2014
Sometimes I'm really envious of young people today, they have such a wide range of fiction to choose from, far more than was available when I was in my teens. I seemed to make the transition from children's books to adult fiction in one huge leap. One day I was reading The Famous Five and Nancy Drew and then all of a sudden my bookshelves were filled with Judith Krantz and Shirley Conran. Thinking back, that is quite a leap!
Barbara Stewart's debut novel The In-Between is not the easiest story to read. With dark and difficult themes, it is a story that will made the reader question the lead character Ellie thoughout.
Ellie and her family are moving away. They are going to make a new start and Ellie has promised to become New Ellie. Old Ellie was overweight, she was drab and she tried to take her own life. New Ellie will lose weight, be bright and funny. She will wear colourful clothes and she will do well at school.
Whilst on this journey to the New Beginning, the new, brighter future is snatched away in moments. A car accident leaves Ellie with just one parent - they are certainly going to start anew, but not as planned.
When Ellie meets Madeline, she can't quite believe that such a pretty and clever girl could want to be friends with her. It's at this point that the reader begins to wonder just what is happening. It's clear that Madeline is not just the girl next door - is this all some sort of supernatural episode, or is Ellie suffering from some sort of psychosis?
There is a sense of disorder about The In-Between, but this just emphasises Ellie's state of mind, and for me, the questioning and the uncertainty were what made the story all the more enjoyable. I'm sure though that many readers will hate this, and I'm positive that this novel is going to be a 'love it' or 'hate it' type of book.
The beauty of this novel is that it will be a very different story for each reader, depending on what the reader chooses to believe. I'm not a huge fan of paranormal fiction, and I want to believe that Ellie was suffering episodes of psychosis brought on by a mental illness. There are certain descriptions that ring so true for me, having worked with young adults with mental illness I recognise many of the things that Ellie claims, and some of her behaviours. Other readers will disagree, and see ghosts and spirits. And that's fine, and that's what is so clever about The In-Between.
Dark, uncomfortable yet oddly compelling at the same time. The In-Between is very well written, absorbing story that will certainly create a lot of debate.
Barbara Stewart's debut novel The In-Between is not the easiest story to read. With dark and difficult themes, it is a story that will made the reader question the lead character Ellie thoughout.
Ellie and her family are moving away. They are going to make a new start and Ellie has promised to become New Ellie. Old Ellie was overweight, she was drab and she tried to take her own life. New Ellie will lose weight, be bright and funny. She will wear colourful clothes and she will do well at school.
Whilst on this journey to the New Beginning, the new, brighter future is snatched away in moments. A car accident leaves Ellie with just one parent - they are certainly going to start anew, but not as planned.
When Ellie meets Madeline, she can't quite believe that such a pretty and clever girl could want to be friends with her. It's at this point that the reader begins to wonder just what is happening. It's clear that Madeline is not just the girl next door - is this all some sort of supernatural episode, or is Ellie suffering from some sort of psychosis?
There is a sense of disorder about The In-Between, but this just emphasises Ellie's state of mind, and for me, the questioning and the uncertainty were what made the story all the more enjoyable. I'm sure though that many readers will hate this, and I'm positive that this novel is going to be a 'love it' or 'hate it' type of book.
The beauty of this novel is that it will be a very different story for each reader, depending on what the reader chooses to believe. I'm not a huge fan of paranormal fiction, and I want to believe that Ellie was suffering episodes of psychosis brought on by a mental illness. There are certain descriptions that ring so true for me, having worked with young adults with mental illness I recognise many of the things that Ellie claims, and some of her behaviours. Other readers will disagree, and see ghosts and spirits. And that's fine, and that's what is so clever about The In-Between.
Dark, uncomfortable yet oddly compelling at the same time. The In-Between is very well written, absorbing story that will certainly create a lot of debate.
November 7, 2013
Sometimes I'm just not sure how I feel about a book. Barbara Stewart's debut THE IN-BETWEEN is one of those rare books. Elanor Moss, her mother, and father were in a car wreck on their way to their new home. Ellie and one of her parents survived. But ever since the accident, Ellie's been seeing this girl, Madeline, around - her other half, who has a plan for her.
I liked the unreliability of the narrator. There's a question of whether the things happening are supernatural, all in Ellie's head, or some combination of both. Ellie has a family history of depression and a recent tragic event, on top of a friendship that went horribly awry and led to a suicide attempt in her old hometown. Ellie needs help, but it's hard to know what kind of help she needs.
The writing is wonderfully poetic and creates a terrific atmosphere. THE IN-BETWEEN is well suited to more elaborate prose, reflecting the chaos in Ellie's head and the confusing atmosphere. It's a nice atmosphere, one that portends bad things coming, but also offers hope for Ellie.
But did I enjoy THE IN-BETWEEN? Not that much. I read it quite quickly because I didn't feel an urge to linger over the words, no matter how pretty they are. I had my ideas about what was real and what wasn't fairly early, and I cared more about what would happen next than deciphering the veracity of Ellie's journals. At the same time, I felt there was a lot to enjoy about THE IN-BETWEEN.
This book didn't work for me. But I'm glad I read it, because I always enjoy books that take chances. THE IN-BETWEEN is a strange book. I think that makes it less suited to wide audiences, but at the same time will make it more meaningful for the people it clicks with. I'm not sure I've read another YA novel that approached (probable) mental illness quite like this. And I just want to love books that are ambitious, even if they fall short.
If THE IN-BETWEEN sounds like your kind of thing, give it a read. If not, it isn't essential.
I liked the unreliability of the narrator. There's a question of whether the things happening are supernatural, all in Ellie's head, or some combination of both. Ellie has a family history of depression and a recent tragic event, on top of a friendship that went horribly awry and led to a suicide attempt in her old hometown. Ellie needs help, but it's hard to know what kind of help she needs.
The writing is wonderfully poetic and creates a terrific atmosphere. THE IN-BETWEEN is well suited to more elaborate prose, reflecting the chaos in Ellie's head and the confusing atmosphere. It's a nice atmosphere, one that portends bad things coming, but also offers hope for Ellie.
But did I enjoy THE IN-BETWEEN? Not that much. I read it quite quickly because I didn't feel an urge to linger over the words, no matter how pretty they are. I had my ideas about what was real and what wasn't fairly early, and I cared more about what would happen next than deciphering the veracity of Ellie's journals. At the same time, I felt there was a lot to enjoy about THE IN-BETWEEN.
This book didn't work for me. But I'm glad I read it, because I always enjoy books that take chances. THE IN-BETWEEN is a strange book. I think that makes it less suited to wide audiences, but at the same time will make it more meaningful for the people it clicks with. I'm not sure I've read another YA novel that approached (probable) mental illness quite like this. And I just want to love books that are ambitious, even if they fall short.
If THE IN-BETWEEN sounds like your kind of thing, give it a read. If not, it isn't essential.
December 29, 2016
Going by the blurb, this book had some real potential. The premise was well thought out and the style of writing feels like being trapped inside an obsessive and disturbed teenage girls' head. But the execution was a little disappointing. It started well and ended well but overall was not what I was expecting it to be.
December 9, 2013
Stumbled upon this on NetGalley. Summary appealed, so I requested and was granted permission. Thankfully, I finished it before it could expire.
Maybe because they share the same publisher, Barbara Stewart's writing reminds me of Emily Murdoch's, with their poetry. But while If You Find Me's Carey's troubles were in the past, The In-Between's Ellie's are just beginning. An attempted suicide, a tragic accident, and Ellie's world changes. Are the happenings psychological or paranormal? Just when you think it's the former, something's revealed to signal the latter. The answer: a combination of both.
Although fourteen years old, Ellie seems more like sixteen. Do people still keep paper journals nowadays?
The In-Between is such a pleasant surprise, appealing to my dual loves of weird medical stuff and psychological suspense. A majestic stand-alone in a market full of series, Barbara Stewart has crafted such a welcome reprieve that I sped through eagerly.
Maybe because they share the same publisher, Barbara Stewart's writing reminds me of Emily Murdoch's, with their poetry. But while If You Find Me's Carey's troubles were in the past, The In-Between's Ellie's are just beginning. An attempted suicide, a tragic accident, and Ellie's world changes. Are the happenings psychological or paranormal? Just when you think it's the former, something's revealed to signal the latter. The answer: a combination of both.
Although fourteen years old, Ellie seems more like sixteen. Do people still keep paper journals nowadays?
The In-Between is such a pleasant surprise, appealing to my dual loves of weird medical stuff and psychological suspense. A majestic stand-alone in a market full of series, Barbara Stewart has crafted such a welcome reprieve that I sped through eagerly.
January 5, 2019
A little too much teenage angst for me but otherwise ok.
July 9, 2023
What the fuck did I just read? DNF
October 21, 2013
Different! If I had to find one word to sum up this book that is the word I would use. It is meandering, confusing and compellingly different. In an interesting but slow-paced way.
First Line:
“I was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.”
My Recap of The In-Between:
Elanor has a near death experience, loses one parent and possibly her mind. She gains a new friend Madeline who is visible only to her which leads to the premise of this book....is Elanor possessed or psychotic?
My Thoughts on The In-Between:
I kind of don’t know where to start! This book is a mind bender; you are never really sure what is going on. So is Elanor possessed or psychotic? It is one of those books where you need to read it yourself and make up your own mind. I will say that my opinion swayed several times during the book and even now that I have hung my hat on one theory, I don’t think it would take much argument to persuade me differently.
Elanor is not a very likable character and as you spend the whole book in her head, it can make for an uncomfortable read. She hates herself and is plagued by dark, depressive, brooding thoughts. Elanor’s father has a history of depression which cast a dark shadow over her younger years however she seemed to be happy enough until her best friend rejected her in favour of a more popular friend. This seemed to start a downward spiral of melancholic behaviour that ended up in a failed suicide attempt. After this her parents move to a new town and this is where the book starts and we come in. On route to their new home, their car crashes, one parent dies and Elanor has a near death experience.
And after that, what happens next is anyones guess! Her new friend Madeline is either a ghost or a figment of Elanor’s imagination and my mind was wrecked trying to figure out which I believed. It becomes obvious very quickly that Madeline is the polar opposite to Elanor; she is trendy, popular, a dutiful daughter – all the things that Elanor strives and fails to be.
Her other friend Autumn comes across as a bit of wet rag, Elanor is meaner than mean to her but she still remains friendly. It was a little like watching Elanor kicking a faithful dog who despite all the rough treatment stays for the rare moments of affection. There is a teeny tiny bit of romance too and it is awkward and believable. No one who loathes herself and is as insecure and confused as Elanor is could possibly have any other type of relationship so it adds an interesting element to the book and gives us a fresh insight in to how others see Elanor.
The pace of the book is a slow, painfully slow at times which is one of my biggest issues with it. Most of the book is the thoughts from Elanor’s head and there is very little action. I’d break it down as maybe 70% thoughts and 30% action. There are a couple of twists that set my mind reeling from shock so these help with the pacing issue as they keep you interested and invested in the story. However, I would have liked less telling and more showing.
There is a reference to M C Escher's art work who I wasn't familiar with. I looked them up though and loved what I saw and I feel thinking about the different perspectives you use to view this art, gives you a good hint to look at this book from all angles.
Overall this book feels unique and thought-provoking and is an uncomfortable visit into the mind of a very troubled and unhappy teenager. It won’t make you feel good but it will make you think and will challenge you to work out what you believe. I love that there is no cookie-cutter answer to what is going on, instead the book leaves you to make up your own mind.
Who should read The In-Between?
For all who like thought-provoking, issue-heavy books within the YA genre, this is one with a difference and one I’d recommend if you can cope with a slow paced plot. I also think it would be a great book club read as it would be a great one to theorise and speculate about.
First Line:
“I was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.”
My Recap of The In-Between:
Elanor has a near death experience, loses one parent and possibly her mind. She gains a new friend Madeline who is visible only to her which leads to the premise of this book....is Elanor possessed or psychotic?
My Thoughts on The In-Between:
I kind of don’t know where to start! This book is a mind bender; you are never really sure what is going on. So is Elanor possessed or psychotic? It is one of those books where you need to read it yourself and make up your own mind. I will say that my opinion swayed several times during the book and even now that I have hung my hat on one theory, I don’t think it would take much argument to persuade me differently.
Elanor is not a very likable character and as you spend the whole book in her head, it can make for an uncomfortable read. She hates herself and is plagued by dark, depressive, brooding thoughts. Elanor’s father has a history of depression which cast a dark shadow over her younger years however she seemed to be happy enough until her best friend rejected her in favour of a more popular friend. This seemed to start a downward spiral of melancholic behaviour that ended up in a failed suicide attempt. After this her parents move to a new town and this is where the book starts and we come in. On route to their new home, their car crashes, one parent dies and Elanor has a near death experience.
And after that, what happens next is anyones guess! Her new friend Madeline is either a ghost or a figment of Elanor’s imagination and my mind was wrecked trying to figure out which I believed. It becomes obvious very quickly that Madeline is the polar opposite to Elanor; she is trendy, popular, a dutiful daughter – all the things that Elanor strives and fails to be.
Her other friend Autumn comes across as a bit of wet rag, Elanor is meaner than mean to her but she still remains friendly. It was a little like watching Elanor kicking a faithful dog who despite all the rough treatment stays for the rare moments of affection. There is a teeny tiny bit of romance too and it is awkward and believable. No one who loathes herself and is as insecure and confused as Elanor is could possibly have any other type of relationship so it adds an interesting element to the book and gives us a fresh insight in to how others see Elanor.
The pace of the book is a slow, painfully slow at times which is one of my biggest issues with it. Most of the book is the thoughts from Elanor’s head and there is very little action. I’d break it down as maybe 70% thoughts and 30% action. There are a couple of twists that set my mind reeling from shock so these help with the pacing issue as they keep you interested and invested in the story. However, I would have liked less telling and more showing.
There is a reference to M C Escher's art work who I wasn't familiar with. I looked them up though and loved what I saw and I feel thinking about the different perspectives you use to view this art, gives you a good hint to look at this book from all angles.
Overall this book feels unique and thought-provoking and is an uncomfortable visit into the mind of a very troubled and unhappy teenager. It won’t make you feel good but it will make you think and will challenge you to work out what you believe. I love that there is no cookie-cutter answer to what is going on, instead the book leaves you to make up your own mind.
Who should read The In-Between?
For all who like thought-provoking, issue-heavy books within the YA genre, this is one with a difference and one I’d recommend if you can cope with a slow paced plot. I also think it would be a great book club read as it would be a great one to theorise and speculate about.
November 6, 2013
Whoa....This is definitely a story that will only appeal to a certain amount of readers. I'm not sure how many will like it. I however found it pretty fascinating and couldn't put the book done. The story will have you questioning pretty much every thing that's happening whether or not it's real or in Elanor's mind. It was definitely a page turner for me and kept me thinking and guessing and had me second guessing myself all throughout the book.
We know in the beginning that Elanor and her parents are driving to their new home trying to start a new chapter in their life from an incident that happened in the past. On the way to their new home an accident happens leaving Elanor's mom dead, father alive (so we think in the beginning) and she's having problems grasping reality in some ways and having us as readers have a hard time grasping it too.
Throughout the story we see that Elanor meets Madeline, a girl who just walks into her room and wants to hang out with her. It's weird because Elanor doesn't find Madeline's entrance weird at all leaving us readers wondering whether or not this character really exists. There are times where Elanor wakes up and doesn't remember what happened during her black outs, There were a few times where I put the book done because I was trying to think of how some of the things could be and found myself picking it back up because I had to finish the chapter to find out.
This book will leave you wanting more and not really getting all the answers you want, just seeing that there is some type of mentally illness with Elanor. This is a story that gets you from the beginning and have you questioning what you're reading as you're reading it. I loved it!
http://www.justusgirlsblog.com/2013/1...
We know in the beginning that Elanor and her parents are driving to their new home trying to start a new chapter in their life from an incident that happened in the past. On the way to their new home an accident happens leaving Elanor's mom dead, father alive (so we think in the beginning) and she's having problems grasping reality in some ways and having us as readers have a hard time grasping it too.
Throughout the story we see that Elanor meets Madeline, a girl who just walks into her room and wants to hang out with her. It's weird because Elanor doesn't find Madeline's entrance weird at all leaving us readers wondering whether or not this character really exists. There are times where Elanor wakes up and doesn't remember what happened during her black outs, There were a few times where I put the book done because I was trying to think of how some of the things could be and found myself picking it back up because I had to finish the chapter to find out.
This book will leave you wanting more and not really getting all the answers you want, just seeing that there is some type of mentally illness with Elanor. This is a story that gets you from the beginning and have you questioning what you're reading as you're reading it. I loved it!
http://www.justusgirlsblog.com/2013/1...
May 31, 2013
I generally like supernatural stories. This book read like a diary of a very disturbed young individual. I finished the book without a real sense of what the story was about. It started like a book about teen depression and suicide. Then it became confusing with ghosts or multiple personalities (still not sure). It ended and it wasn't very clear if what she thought was true or made it all up. I wouldn't really recommend this book unless you don't like to know what is going on and just use your own imagination.
May 6, 2013
Seriously. I couldn't stop reading once I got started. Read it in one sitting and absolutely loved it! I'm not usually a fan of so much narration over dialogue, but in THE IN-BETWEEN it worked. Such an intriguing concept, and fantastically creepy. There were definitely moments when I felt watched and I rarely ever get freaked out by books. Everyone needs to check this one out. You don't want to miss the awesomeness.
January 25, 2016
This was a pretty confusing book. Especially between part one and two. I was hoping for more of a spiritual vibe. It's an interesting book but could have been a lot better in terms of explaining what the accident had to do with Ellie's state of mind.
May 11, 2015
Weird and Creepy, but somehow falls short.
July 3, 2025
CONTENT WARNING: This book contains depictions of domestic, sexual, and physical abuse and explores themes of grief and loss which may be distressing to some readers.
Set on a future Earth where magic has been stripped from humans due to their past misuse, this young adult romantasy novel follows Tennaya, who lives with her father, abusive stepmother, and her (quite frankly adorable) younger brother. While she struggles with her home life, she also experiences predatory abuse from her boss at work. Friends enter her life and introduce her to magic and how to use it. It’s through this that she meets Aletheia, a demon/goddess who has been trapped by the Fates. Tennaya, who also sees Aletheia in unexplained lucid dreams, is the only one who can see her. The two, in O’Dowd’s words, together encounter: ‘grief, abuse, difficulty with change and the resilience of personal sacrifice as they both explore [Tennaya’s] world and those beyond’ (O'Dowd, 2024).
While the book does explore darker themes, as warned above, O’Dowd does an incredible job at bringing forth the central theme of queer found family which makes this read memorable. O’Dowd has stated their purpose for writing ‘The In-Between’ was to bring more LGBTQ+ representation to the genre (O'Dowd, 2024) and I believe they do a fantastic job.
I do wish there was more context for the magic system within this world - particularly the Veturcaela which plays a significant role. I felt like I was plunged straight in without much context, and as such I initially found it difficult to delve into. However, once I had accepted the flow of the story, ‘The In-Between’ was a joy to read and I was absorbed. For me, the book's greatest strength lies in O’Dowd’s grounded, richly drawn characters who surround Tennaya. Her relationship to her brother Tabby, her friends – notably Irene, Amaya, and Rylan - and her father feel real, raw, and as if they have had life breathed into them. They kept me from wanting to close the book altogether.
A fun point of structural choice I appreciated was the use of contrasting fonts to distinguish between Tennaya and Aletheia's perspectives. I thought this was not only a great practical device, but a funny one, and loved that the book allows you to realise the distinction yourself.
O’Dowd mentions that their influences include the masterful TJ Klune, the steampunk action-adventure television series Arcane: League of Legends, and Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Angel and this shines through their work. I especially found myself comparing it to Clockwork Angel before knowing this. I wish this book had existed 10 years ago when I was reading stories like Clockwork Angel. It would have meant the world to teenage me, especially in terms of queer representation and emotional depth.
I highly recommend that everybody reads this. We need more books that both celebrate queer themes and unflinchingly tackle difficult topics like abuse - and I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Note: I received this book through volunteering with Arkbound Books, but all thoughts are entirely my own.
References:
O'Dowd, M. 'The In-Between.' YouTube video, 2:28. Posted by Arkbound Publishing, July 11, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XLjM...
Set on a future Earth where magic has been stripped from humans due to their past misuse, this young adult romantasy novel follows Tennaya, who lives with her father, abusive stepmother, and her (quite frankly adorable) younger brother. While she struggles with her home life, she also experiences predatory abuse from her boss at work. Friends enter her life and introduce her to magic and how to use it. It’s through this that she meets Aletheia, a demon/goddess who has been trapped by the Fates. Tennaya, who also sees Aletheia in unexplained lucid dreams, is the only one who can see her. The two, in O’Dowd’s words, together encounter: ‘grief, abuse, difficulty with change and the resilience of personal sacrifice as they both explore [Tennaya’s] world and those beyond’ (O'Dowd, 2024).
While the book does explore darker themes, as warned above, O’Dowd does an incredible job at bringing forth the central theme of queer found family which makes this read memorable. O’Dowd has stated their purpose for writing ‘The In-Between’ was to bring more LGBTQ+ representation to the genre (O'Dowd, 2024) and I believe they do a fantastic job.
I do wish there was more context for the magic system within this world - particularly the Veturcaela which plays a significant role. I felt like I was plunged straight in without much context, and as such I initially found it difficult to delve into. However, once I had accepted the flow of the story, ‘The In-Between’ was a joy to read and I was absorbed. For me, the book's greatest strength lies in O’Dowd’s grounded, richly drawn characters who surround Tennaya. Her relationship to her brother Tabby, her friends – notably Irene, Amaya, and Rylan - and her father feel real, raw, and as if they have had life breathed into them. They kept me from wanting to close the book altogether.
A fun point of structural choice I appreciated was the use of contrasting fonts to distinguish between Tennaya and Aletheia's perspectives. I thought this was not only a great practical device, but a funny one, and loved that the book allows you to realise the distinction yourself.
O’Dowd mentions that their influences include the masterful TJ Klune, the steampunk action-adventure television series Arcane: League of Legends, and Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Angel and this shines through their work. I especially found myself comparing it to Clockwork Angel before knowing this. I wish this book had existed 10 years ago when I was reading stories like Clockwork Angel. It would have meant the world to teenage me, especially in terms of queer representation and emotional depth.
I highly recommend that everybody reads this. We need more books that both celebrate queer themes and unflinchingly tackle difficult topics like abuse - and I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Note: I received this book through volunteering with Arkbound Books, but all thoughts are entirely my own.
References:
O'Dowd, M. 'The In-Between.' YouTube video, 2:28. Posted by Arkbound Publishing, July 11, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XLjM...
January 4, 2023
it was good, it reminds me of my paranoid issue because my mom found out that i had paranoid thoughts or issue mental then, she told me i had paranoid thoughts. so since i was around 14-13 yrs old that i used to think abt suicidal thoughts until i think 15 yrs old, i stopped thinking about suicidal but there is problem that i had paranoid thoughts. by the way ikr it's not easy or process recover to overcome but we can overcome from paranoid. it inspire me<3
tw : paranoid / suicidal thoughts / i won't give you spoilers. ‼️
tw : paranoid / suicidal thoughts / i won't give you spoilers. ‼️
May 12, 2021
Another multi-night bedtime novel with my daughters. For some reason, their book club subscriptions are really into fantasy genres lately. This one was pretty good. Kept our attention. Never felt like quitting it. Was happy with the ending :)
April 19, 2019
Not even gonna bother writing anything.
February 1, 2020
It's an odd book. I cannot tell if the main character can see ghosts or has a disorder that makes her believe she sees her sister. A lot of the book confuses me. It's a bit depressive.
June 28, 2021
One of my all time favorite books.
April 20, 2022
4.5 stars
July 5, 2022
Call me bland or tasteless, but this was confusing as hell. Appreciated the thought and creativity put into it, even though I fell asleep halfway through.
September 8, 2013
3.5.
Ellie, along with her mom, dad, and her cat, were in a car accident in the Poconos. They were moving from a small town in Pennsylvania to a smaller town in New York, where dad was taking a new job, mom was studying for her real estate license, and where Ellie could get a fresh start. Fourteen-year-old Ellie was -- and is -- troubled. Best friend Priscilla wasn't the friend she thought she was, and she went through her life in a state of unease, disappointment, and ultimately, she attempted suicide as a means out. But the car accident puts everything into a different type of tail spin. Just as things felt like they could be a fresh start, they're not.
Then Madeline arrives.
Madeline was everything Ellie ever wanted to be. Stylish. Fun. A little bit wild and unashamed. This was not just who Ellie hoped to be in her new town, but Madeline was also the kind of person Ellie wanted to be friends with. They spent countless hours together, and it was Madeline who Ellie opened up to about everything: her broken friendships back in her old town, everything. Ellie and Madeline's relationship bordered on obsessive; Ellie couldn't stop thinking about her and desiring to be with her at all times. She even let Madeline tattoo her body with an "ME" over he heart -- "ME" standing, of course, for "Madeline" and "Ellie." Mostly.
Ellie can't stop thinking about Madeline. Can't stop embodying her spirit. Can't stop embodying her.
Stewart's book is wonderfully complex -- as a reader you're never sure what reality Ellie is taking you through. There are many layers to this cake, and each one makes sense alone. Together, they blur the lines between reality and madness, between mental illness and the supernatural. I love books that do this, forcing the reader to consider the lines between what mental illness is and what the supernatural may be. In many ways, Stewart's novel is reminiscent of Nova Ren Suma's Imaginary Girls or 17 & Gone because of this.
There aren't answers here, either, so spending time trying to find an explanation isn't worthwhile. The story is about that unknowing, that line in between the real world and the not-so-real world. Is there a distinction? Should there be one? Does it matter?
Of course, Ellie offers ideas.
Stewart's writing is crisp, tight, and completely believable. Many YA books featuring younger teen protagonists can miss the mark. Here, Ellie is 14. Though the book does tackle the creepy head on, and though Ellie does discuss the book is suitable for younger teen readers. The story is a trip, and because it's not one which has any solid resolution, it will frustrate those readers who seek answers. Fortunately, readers who love darker stories, who love horror and the supernatural and ghosts, will be very satisfied with how many possibilities exist in this book. Because what is living? What is death? Can we exist in a world between the two of them and interact with both sides? Does mental illness hold the power to allow both sides in?
Longer review to come.
Ellie, along with her mom, dad, and her cat, were in a car accident in the Poconos. They were moving from a small town in Pennsylvania to a smaller town in New York, where dad was taking a new job, mom was studying for her real estate license, and where Ellie could get a fresh start. Fourteen-year-old Ellie was -- and is -- troubled. Best friend Priscilla wasn't the friend she thought she was, and she went through her life in a state of unease, disappointment, and ultimately, she attempted suicide as a means out. But the car accident puts everything into a different type of tail spin. Just as things felt like they could be a fresh start, they're not.
Then Madeline arrives.
Madeline was everything Ellie ever wanted to be. Stylish. Fun. A little bit wild and unashamed. This was not just who Ellie hoped to be in her new town, but Madeline was also the kind of person Ellie wanted to be friends with. They spent countless hours together, and it was Madeline who Ellie opened up to about everything: her broken friendships back in her old town, everything. Ellie and Madeline's relationship bordered on obsessive; Ellie couldn't stop thinking about her and desiring to be with her at all times. She even let Madeline tattoo her body with an "ME" over he heart -- "ME" standing, of course, for "Madeline" and "Ellie." Mostly.
Ellie can't stop thinking about Madeline. Can't stop embodying her spirit. Can't stop embodying her.
Stewart's book is wonderfully complex -- as a reader you're never sure what reality Ellie is taking you through. There are many layers to this cake, and each one makes sense alone. Together, they blur the lines between reality and madness, between mental illness and the supernatural. I love books that do this, forcing the reader to consider the lines between what mental illness is and what the supernatural may be. In many ways, Stewart's novel is reminiscent of Nova Ren Suma's Imaginary Girls or 17 & Gone because of this.
There aren't answers here, either, so spending time trying to find an explanation isn't worthwhile. The story is about that unknowing, that line in between the real world and the not-so-real world. Is there a distinction? Should there be one? Does it matter?
Of course, Ellie offers ideas.
Stewart's writing is crisp, tight, and completely believable. Many YA books featuring younger teen protagonists can miss the mark. Here, Ellie is 14. Though the book does tackle the creepy head on, and though Ellie does discuss the book is suitable for younger teen readers. The story is a trip, and because it's not one which has any solid resolution, it will frustrate those readers who seek answers. Fortunately, readers who love darker stories, who love horror and the supernatural and ghosts, will be very satisfied with how many possibilities exist in this book. Because what is living? What is death? Can we exist in a world between the two of them and interact with both sides? Does mental illness hold the power to allow both sides in?
Longer review to come.
March 5, 2022
Loved! Could not put down!
November 16, 2013
'The In-Between' is a creepy and mind-bending young adult debut novel. It follows main character Elanor "Ellie" Moss as she and her parents set out for a fresh start in a new state. On the way there, Ellie and her parents are in a terrible car accident. When Ellie wakes, she learns that her father survived the wreck but her mother did not. Ellie and her father move into the new house and try to move on with their lives, with Ellie's father growing more and more despondant and Ellie growing lonelier and sadder every day. That is, until Madeline shows up one day at Ellie's house. Madeline is everything that Ellie wants to be - thin, beautiful, outgoing, brave. She can't understand why someone like Madeline would want to be friends with a girl like her. But Madeline understands Ellie better than anyone else in the world and Ellie feels like she has been completed. Things begin to turn even stranger when Ellie wakes again to another life - one where her mother survived the crash and her father did not. She remembers bits of her life while she was "in-between" - her life with her dad, things that happened at their house, and Madeline. Ellie tries to remember more about the mysterious girl from this other place and eventually Madeline comes back to her. Ellie begins to experience strange happenings and occurrences, which makes her doubt her own sanity as well as Madeline's intent. Is she really crazy like everyone thinks? Or is Madeline right about the two of them and their unusual connection?
This book is a hard one for me to review. It was really different and unique - like nothing I've ever read before. I didn't know what to expect and I was kind of confused the majority of the time. It was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't - what was true and what was imagined. I suppose that was part of the author's plan for the book, in which case it was executed with great precision. The plot was truly original and mind bending - a blend of paranormal, contemporary, and thriller all at once. The relationship between Ellie and Madeline is fascinating and really intriguing - I really loved how the author took it somewhere unexpected. The ending blew my mind - Madeline's plan and the events that take place - it all fit perfectly with the rest of the book. The characters were well written and had great personalities with distinct flaws and strengths, which helped them to be realistic and accessible to me as a reader. The author used vivid details and descriptions to really engage the reader and bring them into Ellie's world and mind - so much so that it was hard to get back out after the book was over. There's so much to this story - some makes sense, some doesn't until after you've finished, and some continue to puzzle me long after finishing. I know this review sounds really vague and confusing, but I don't want to have any spoilers or ruin anything for readers. Overall, this was an exceptional debut and an author you'll definitely want to be watching. Definitely recommended for fans of strange and creepy thrillers along with paranormal fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a hard one for me to review. It was really different and unique - like nothing I've ever read before. I didn't know what to expect and I was kind of confused the majority of the time. It was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't - what was true and what was imagined. I suppose that was part of the author's plan for the book, in which case it was executed with great precision. The plot was truly original and mind bending - a blend of paranormal, contemporary, and thriller all at once. The relationship between Ellie and Madeline is fascinating and really intriguing - I really loved how the author took it somewhere unexpected. The ending blew my mind - Madeline's plan and the events that take place - it all fit perfectly with the rest of the book. The characters were well written and had great personalities with distinct flaws and strengths, which helped them to be realistic and accessible to me as a reader. The author used vivid details and descriptions to really engage the reader and bring them into Ellie's world and mind - so much so that it was hard to get back out after the book was over. There's so much to this story - some makes sense, some doesn't until after you've finished, and some continue to puzzle me long after finishing. I know this review sounds really vague and confusing, but I don't want to have any spoilers or ruin anything for readers. Overall, this was an exceptional debut and an author you'll definitely want to be watching. Definitely recommended for fans of strange and creepy thrillers along with paranormal fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2013
The new house in Pottsville was supposed to be a fresh start for Elanor Moss, a place to put her failed suicide and unpopularity to rest. Instead, the new home becomes a place to recover from the tragic car accident that left Ellie near death and half of her family dead. However, Ellie’s new home does offer one good thing—her new best friend, the captivating and mysterious Madeline Torus. With Madeline’s help, Ellie may have a chance to be a new and improved version of herself.
Ellie has always struggled with depression and loneliness; according to her mother, Ellie is “up and down like a yo-yo.” But when Madeline arrives, Ellie has hope for her future. Madeline is the girl Ellie has always wanted to be; she has good taste, good looks, and loves Ellie for who she is. Teens may identify with Ellie’s feelings of angst and isolation, as well as her fear of losing Madeline. But Ellie’s voice is not to be trusted, especially when it comes to her relationship with Madeline. Very short chapters move from choppy descriptions of Ellie’s life at school, and the changes she is making, to lovely, yet dark, sections of prose poetry that provide insight into her character. An insight however, that is suspect because in her own words Ellie is an actor who could “win an Academy Award” for the person she has fabricated to play her part. I found myself feeling more and more hopeless as Ellie becomes numb under the influence of medication and she falls further and further into depression. But then in a brilliant move on the part of the writer, Ellie’s mother discovers a photo of Madeline—a photo that casts doubt on Ellie’s mental instability. Is Ellie actually mentally ill or is she being haunted? I had to keep reminding myself that the story is told in the voice of Ellie—is Ellie to be believed? And while this uncertainty adds depth to the story, it frustrated me because I needed to know whose narration was trustworthy—and I simply could not know this to be certain. What I also found a bit perplexing about the story is the family’s lack of support. Ellie’s mother is so solid, yet, despite her drive and talent, Ellie’s family is unusually isolated—as evidenced by the cemetery scene. Even if the Mosses moved a state away from their previous home, don’t they have any family or friends to come to their aide? If this is the case, then Ellie’s family is just as isolated as she is—no wonder she feels so alone. Or perhaps when there is a tragedy of such great magnitude in a family, one is truly alone, and the solitary cemetery scene demonstrates this. Either way, it just seems odd that no one from their old hometown cares a lick about them. Readers who enjoyed The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher will likely enjoy this eerie work about a truly tortured girl, although they may walk away with more questions than answers.
Ellie has always struggled with depression and loneliness; according to her mother, Ellie is “up and down like a yo-yo.” But when Madeline arrives, Ellie has hope for her future. Madeline is the girl Ellie has always wanted to be; she has good taste, good looks, and loves Ellie for who she is. Teens may identify with Ellie’s feelings of angst and isolation, as well as her fear of losing Madeline. But Ellie’s voice is not to be trusted, especially when it comes to her relationship with Madeline. Very short chapters move from choppy descriptions of Ellie’s life at school, and the changes she is making, to lovely, yet dark, sections of prose poetry that provide insight into her character. An insight however, that is suspect because in her own words Ellie is an actor who could “win an Academy Award” for the person she has fabricated to play her part. I found myself feeling more and more hopeless as Ellie becomes numb under the influence of medication and she falls further and further into depression. But then in a brilliant move on the part of the writer, Ellie’s mother discovers a photo of Madeline—a photo that casts doubt on Ellie’s mental instability. Is Ellie actually mentally ill or is she being haunted? I had to keep reminding myself that the story is told in the voice of Ellie—is Ellie to be believed? And while this uncertainty adds depth to the story, it frustrated me because I needed to know whose narration was trustworthy—and I simply could not know this to be certain. What I also found a bit perplexing about the story is the family’s lack of support. Ellie’s mother is so solid, yet, despite her drive and talent, Ellie’s family is unusually isolated—as evidenced by the cemetery scene. Even if the Mosses moved a state away from their previous home, don’t they have any family or friends to come to their aide? If this is the case, then Ellie’s family is just as isolated as she is—no wonder she feels so alone. Or perhaps when there is a tragedy of such great magnitude in a family, one is truly alone, and the solitary cemetery scene demonstrates this. Either way, it just seems odd that no one from their old hometown cares a lick about them. Readers who enjoyed The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher will likely enjoy this eerie work about a truly tortured girl, although they may walk away with more questions than answers.
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