A Pain Less Ordinary

4.3

5.0 (1)

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Author(s)

L.V. Pires

Publisher Name

Pangram YA

Genre(s)

Young Adult Fiction

Age Range

12+

Release Date

September 12, 2017

ISBN13

1973884224

ISBN10 or ASIN

Becca's life is anything but ordinary. At fifteen, she's already experienced her share of pain. With a mom who drinks too much, a revolving door of father figures, and struggles at school, Becca wonders if she'll ever have a chance at a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane is her little sister, Chloe; that is, until her mother's breakdown leads to her sister's disappearance. A PAIN LESS ORDINARY follows Becca as she figures out life on her own while searching for her family and her new role in the world. In this powerfully moving novel, L.V. Pires explores Becca's struggle with abandonment, drug abuse, homelessness, relationships, and how pain connects her to others.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Nothing Ordinary about A Pain Less Ordinary

January 17, 2018

Overall rating

4.3

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If you are looking for a happy-feel-good beach read, A Pain Less Ordinary is not the book for you. But if you are looking for something with significantly more substance which will force you to reexamine the reality many teens face and make you feel a wide range of emotions, I highly recommend this offering.

Becca doesn't have a happy life. She's never had a happy life. But when she chooses to tell her mother something she knows will be painful to hear, she ends up making things far worse for herself and her family. Throughout the narrative, Becca's character development is painfully authentic. Although at times we seem to drown in her pessimism, it was necessary for the author to portray Becca's hopelessness in such a realistic way. To counter-balance her anguish, we're introduced to Zephyr, the boy who keeps Becca just sane enough to survive. The author does a lovely job of balancing their friendship on the tip of a pin, never knowing whether they are destined to remain friends or become something more. I was also moved by Becca's relationship with her little sister, one of the driving forces of the book, and the futile nature of child protective services.

In all, A Pain Less Ordinary is an emotional, heartfelt read about a girl who perseveres despite the odds. Definitely worth your time.

Good Points

Unlike much of the YA contemporary readers find on shelves, A Pain Less Ordinary features a working-class main character, a group largely underrepresented in literature. Pires does a fabulous job bringing Becca's reality and the brutality of her struggles to life

Amalie Jahn Top 500 Reviewer 25 reviews

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1 review

Overall rating

5.0

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5.0(1)

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5.0(1)

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A Great Contemporary Read

February 12, 2020

Overall rating

5.0

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A Pain Less Ordinary is a tragic tale of a modern girl whose family has fallen apart. Becca struggles to figure out who she is when there are few adults to help guide her. Her compassion for her little sister had me crying, especially at the end. It's a great read for teens who might be struggling with the same thing.

Good Points

Great characters.
Excellent storytelling.