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A review by keziamichela
Roxy by Jarrod Shusterman, Neal Shusterman
5.0
“If they live, it is only because you gave them life. As well as the license to end yours. And if they act in roles beyond their purpose, it is only because you placed them upon the stage to perform.”
What if drugs were personified? What if they were like the meddling Greek gods, tempting humans to abuse their powers? What if they had personalities, hopes, dreams and desires? Feelings?
Roxy follows the separate stories of the Ramey siblings, Isaac, and Ivy, as they are caught up in a wager between two manufactured gods, Roxy (Oxycontin) and Addison (Adderall). The first one to bring their mark to "the Party" and take them all the way through the "VIP room" is the victor.
Isaac and Roxy:
“The sky is too hazy to see the stars, but the lanterns of the marina might as well command their own solar systems. Still, they can’t compare to me. My irresistible, inevitable gravity. Entropic, like a black hole, turning Isaac’s hard-forged order into exquisite chaos.”
Isaac is the responsible sibling, full of potential. He's team captain of the soccer team and an aspiring propulsion engineer. However, due to an injury earned while defending his sister, and the "help" of those who should know better, Isaac is pulled into Roxy's seductive orbit and their "relationship" is set in motion. Roxy is at the top of her game; she is wild and irresistible, and she knows it. But as she grows closer to Isaac, she starts to recognise how unfulfilling her existence is.
“What’s it like?” he asks. "What's it like to be you?"
“It’s… lonely,” I tell him.
Ivy and Addison:
“Our wards,” I scoff. “Even our lingo betrays our banality.”
“Not banality, but responsibility,” Rita says. “It reminds us that we are here to provide service and care. Those others at the Party? They see people as targets to acquire and dominate. Their so-called marks.”
Addison is tired of being mocked for being the wholesome one who diligently helps people, he wants recognition from his upline. He wants to prove he can be just as dangerous as everyone else and he has set his sights on Ivy, an old acquaintance. Ivy is the misfit between the two Ramey siblings, with a reputation for causing trouble. But she's artistic and witty and wants to do better, to improve. However, Ivy's ADHD is causing her problems, so she reluctantly turns to Addy for assistance. But as time goes by that reluctance disappears without her notice and she quickly begins to rely on him more and more.
“I think we’re spending too much time together,” she says as she picks stray lint from the carpet with her thumb and forefinger.
“I thought you loved to clean your room.”
“No, you love to clean my room.”
Thoughts:
It was both fascinating and eerie reading from the drugs' perspectives. I was constantly having to remind myself that all their conversations were more like intrusive thoughts invading the minds of the humans who were taking them. The interludes were especially freaky, some more so than others, but no spoilers so I'll say no more on that. Either way, I really appreciate the research that went into personifying the various drugs covered in this book.
A real bonus for me was the humorous dialogue between the characters, especially between Addison and Ivy. This book, although very serious, still had me in stitches at times, which I'm so grateful for. I needed something to break up the intensity, otherwise, I'd have stopped reading from the resulting anxiety. And Addy's sense of humour and Ivy's wit did that for me. Thank you, Jarrod, and Neal!
“You know what you are? You’re a control freak!”
“And you’re a thankless, privileged baby. Do you know how many millions of people need the benefits of what I give but are never offered my friendship? You should be down on your knees, thanking me.”
“I’m already down on my knees picking up lint from the freaking floor!”
“And look at what a spectacular floor it is.”
Honestly, I just want to say this. Roxy was worthy even before it made me cry - which automatically equals a five-star read for me - because the writing is excellent. Beautiful and witty and wonderfully entertaining. If you're looking for a deep, thought-provoking narrative that's balanced with great humour I highly recommend reading this masterpiece because it's just such an easy book to get engrossed in. I absolutely loved it!
What if drugs were personified? What if they were like the meddling Greek gods, tempting humans to abuse their powers? What if they had personalities, hopes, dreams and desires? Feelings?
Roxy follows the separate stories of the Ramey siblings, Isaac, and Ivy, as they are caught up in a wager between two manufactured gods, Roxy (Oxycontin) and Addison (Adderall). The first one to bring their mark to "the Party" and take them all the way through the "VIP room" is the victor.
Isaac and Roxy:
“The sky is too hazy to see the stars, but the lanterns of the marina might as well command their own solar systems. Still, they can’t compare to me. My irresistible, inevitable gravity. Entropic, like a black hole, turning Isaac’s hard-forged order into exquisite chaos.”
Isaac is the responsible sibling, full of potential. He's team captain of the soccer team and an aspiring propulsion engineer. However, due to an injury earned while defending his sister, and the "help" of those who should know better, Isaac is pulled into Roxy's seductive orbit and their "relationship" is set in motion. Roxy is at the top of her game; she is wild and irresistible, and she knows it. But as she grows closer to Isaac, she starts to recognise how unfulfilling her existence is.
“What’s it like?” he asks. "What's it like to be you?"
“It’s… lonely,” I tell him.
Ivy and Addison:
“Our wards,” I scoff. “Even our lingo betrays our banality.”
“Not banality, but responsibility,” Rita says. “It reminds us that we are here to provide service and care. Those others at the Party? They see people as targets to acquire and dominate. Their so-called marks.”
Addison is tired of being mocked for being the wholesome one who diligently helps people, he wants recognition from his upline. He wants to prove he can be just as dangerous as everyone else and he has set his sights on Ivy, an old acquaintance. Ivy is the misfit between the two Ramey siblings, with a reputation for causing trouble. But she's artistic and witty and wants to do better, to improve. However, Ivy's ADHD is causing her problems, so she reluctantly turns to Addy for assistance. But as time goes by that reluctance disappears without her notice and she quickly begins to rely on him more and more.
“I think we’re spending too much time together,” she says as she picks stray lint from the carpet with her thumb and forefinger.
“I thought you loved to clean your room.”
“No, you love to clean my room.”
Thoughts:
It was both fascinating and eerie reading from the drugs' perspectives. I was constantly having to remind myself that all their conversations were more like intrusive thoughts invading the minds of the humans who were taking them. The interludes were especially freaky, some more so than others, but no spoilers so I'll say no more on that. Either way, I really appreciate the research that went into personifying the various drugs covered in this book.
A real bonus for me was the humorous dialogue between the characters, especially between Addison and Ivy. This book, although very serious, still had me in stitches at times, which I'm so grateful for. I needed something to break up the intensity, otherwise, I'd have stopped reading from the resulting anxiety. And Addy's sense of humour and Ivy's wit did that for me. Thank you, Jarrod, and Neal!
“You know what you are? You’re a control freak!”
“And you’re a thankless, privileged baby. Do you know how many millions of people need the benefits of what I give but are never offered my friendship? You should be down on your knees, thanking me.”
“I’m already down on my knees picking up lint from the freaking floor!”
“And look at what a spectacular floor it is.”
Honestly, I just want to say this. Roxy was worthy even before it made me cry - which automatically equals a five-star read for me - because the writing is excellent. Beautiful and witty and wonderfully entertaining. If you're looking for a deep, thought-provoking narrative that's balanced with great humour I highly recommend reading this masterpiece because it's just such an easy book to get engrossed in. I absolutely loved it!