Solitaire

I’m really rather impressed (and a teeny bit jealous) of how good nineteen-year-old Alice Oseman’s writing it. Her age probably helps a lot with the authenticity of voice. Tori is sarcastic teen through and through. But she’s real and likable and starting to realise people around her aren’t all that real themselves.

Before I picked it up, I thought the Solitaire in the book might be some masterminded futuristic thing, but it centres on teenage pranks. Some pranks are more annoying, or dangerous, than others and as more people are pulled in, it takes on a life of its own.

I imagine a lot of actual young adults will find Tori completely relatable. Yet, as a thirty-something reading this, I found myself finding a lot of myself in her too. I definitely agree with her on the phone business, I’ve never found phone conversations easy (though they do get easier with practice). Perhaps it is because Tori is on the cusp of growing up – not in a coming of age style story way. More than she is starting to think more like an adult on some things, starting to see how people really are.

Underneath the surface is something a lot deeper. A sense of loneliness that being around people doesn’t cure. A sadness that can’t be pinpointed but is often brushed aside. Especially as teenagers, so often people just expect them to be moody. Tori’s brother’s problems are easy for all to see, suffering from an eating disorder and self-harming. Hers are easier to hide.