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Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
The Teddy Bear Eye Club is a young adult coming of age novel written by Suzanne M. Hurley. Mayah is angry at the world. She was devastated when she learned that her mother was still alive when she gave her up for adoption as an infant, and she feels betrayed by her step-parents for not having told her the truth about her mom. Mayah's been living with her Aunt Catherine since she moved out of her home in protest. She doesn't want to talk to any of her friends anymore either. Mayah feels self-conscious about her height and her bright red hair, and part of her wishes she were popular and gorgeous like Kitty, a cheerleader and part of the in-crowd. Ninth grade is just not doing anything at all for her, with the exception of Mrs. Edwards' class and her position on the staff of the school newspaper. Then a new girl came into one of her classes. She was bald, and everyone, including Mayah, couldn't help but stare at her. But something in that new girl's personality seemed to start a healing process for Mayah.
Suzanne M. Hurley's young adult coming of age novel, The Teddy Bear Eye Club, grabbed my attention as I began to read, and her story didn't let go until I reached the end. Hurley's characters are authentic and their pain is palpable and real. Their feelings are universal and shared to some extent not only by young adults, but, I would imagine, many children, preteens and adults. The story of Mayah and her friends addresses real and compelling issues, including those faced by adoptees and sufferers of eating disorders and other illnesses, and it does so in the best of ways with respect and as part of a very good story. Hurley's plot is marvelous, and her writing style is smooth and fluid. The Teddy Bear Eye Club is an enthralling coming of age story and a sheer pleasure to read. It's most highly recommended.
