When Freya collapses and wakes up with a temporary ileostomy bag on her stomach, her dreams of the perfect summer go down the toilet. Instead of partying in the Algarve, she's packed off to 'Poo Camp' - a place for kids with bowel disease to 'bond'.
And things can only get worse. Someone has started calling her 'Sh!t Bag' . . . and it's catching on.
Freya decides to live up to the nickname, raging at her friends, her ex and the world. Only her campmate Chris seems to see past her new attitude . . .
Can Freya get her sh!t together or will she end up with just her bag by her side?
Well. That is a lot of information about ostomys.
That's not a complaint! Like most people, I think, I had a vague sense that only really old people need bags, and learning through this that kids and teens not only need temporary ones but sometimes need permanent bags...that shook me a bit. I love a book that teaches me something, and I definitely learned something from this one.
But it's not laid out as a lesson, which is great; it's an honest, interesting, well written and compelling story, first and foremost, and I never felt as though I was being 'taught' or condescended to, which is really important in novels for this age group. Xena (best author name ever) has hit the balance perfectly.
There's such humour and such heart in this, it really is a fantastic read. Hopefully it will shed some light on this all too misunderstood subject!
SH!T Bag publishes on the 22nd of June, 2023. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
Interesting premise!
ReplyDeleteIt is, and a great read!
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