Review of Paralysed

Paralysed - Sherry Ashworth

This story leads the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions: from sadness to happiness, fear to relief – the list is endless. It makes the reader feel so close to the characters in the story that you find yourself holding back tears in places, and grinning in others.

There are 3 main characters in the book: Simon, Danny and Emma. After an accident on the rugby pitch, Simon becomes paralysed leaving best friend Danny and girlfriend Emma distraught. In attempt to stay strong for Simon, Danny and Emma rely on each other for support, however the more time they spend together, the more they realise that perhaps their relationship is developing to more than just friendship…

A story written about any kind tragedy can touch anybody’s heart, but this story does more than that. Being able to see how many people such a disaster affects, and how each person deals with it in his or her own different personal way, allows the reader an insight into how hard dealing with such a situation must be like. As I progressed through the book I also found that I felt I was a friend of Simon’s, and that what had happened was affecting me too.

The book is written in chapters, however each chapter is told from either Simon, Danny or Emma’s point of view. This allows the reader to see how each of the characters is thinking and coping with the situation and it allows a special bond to form between the reader and each of the three characters. At the beginning, I felt I knew what I wanted – I wanted Simon and Emma to stay together, however as the book went on, I felt Danny’s character grew immensely and I simply didn’t know what I wanted anymore!

Considering that I only picked this book from the shelf as we were having a visit from Sherry Ashworth when we returned to school, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I loved the way in which it drew you in and got you involved emotionally. This book is definitely worth a lot of praise and it deserves all the credit it gets plus more! If you ever get the chance, then I say… read it! The book will not let you down and will provide an enjoyable and worthwhile read that will not be forgotten soon after finishing. It touches so deeply that it leaves thoughts running through the reader’s mind long after they have finished reading the book. Highly recommended.