Milly doesn’t want much—get to school on time, score good grades so no one will get on her case, have a friend so she doesn’t look like a total loser. Just stay under the radar and get through the day, that’s all Milly wants. But every minute of every day is a battle for Milly, because Amelia is there—hiding her phone, losing her homework, whispering in her ear that she looks like a pig. Sometimes Milly wishes Amelia was dead. But since Amelia shares Milly’s body, that’s a dangerous thought. Amelia has always been there, but since their parents died in the car crash, she’s been making Milly’s life a living hell. Grandpa George doesn’t help; he’s okay to live with, but he’s so remote, and old. It’s at the point where Milly can’t take it any more, but she’s sure people would only lock her up if they knew—or at least that’s what Amelia says. Sometimes Milly cuts herself, for the release. Her only other relief is to write in her journal, where she can let her feelings out. The problem is, she doesn’t remember what she’s written when she’s done. She doesn’t remember much about her past. But Amelia knows.
“Hey, you,” she says. Her words slither right through the stall door. I peek through the small opening, but I see no one. “Milly, I know you’re in there,” she whispers to me as if she’s right inside my ear. “Come out, come out, whereever you are,” she says. “You can never hide from me.” As I peek put again I notice her on one of the mirrors on the other side of the wall.
Amelia then looks me straight in the face. “There you are,” she says.
“Told you, you can never hide from me
.”
Disconnected is an insightful look into the mind of a teenager dealing with a mental health issue. Milly deals with the constant turmoil that Amelia puts her through but sh
The plot was put together very nicely but the storyline fell short for me. I wanted to see more of how she navigated her life with Amelia. Her life quickly escalated out of control but it all took place in her mind. There was very little interaction with other people that showcased more of how her illness affected her ability to connect with others. I know she kept people at a distance because of her issues but I would’ve liked if the author had included how outside characters reacted to her and why it is no one in all of her years of dealing with a mental illness never suspected anything. What I did really like about the writing is that the inner dialogue of Amelia is italicized so even when just looking at the pages you can see the difference between Amelia and Milly. The plot twist and big reveal ending were entertaining additions to the story but I just expected more for the growth of Milly. Overall it was an interesting read but I think some adjustments could be made. I would give it a 3/5 rating just based off the concept of the book. Discontinued is set to be published June 4th, 2014.
ARC courtesy of Netgalley.
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