Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

Unfortunately I no longer wish to review this book as the first few chapters did not reel me in. Thank you for the opportunity.

The Weight of a Thousand Feathers by Brian Conaghan is definitely an interesting idea. I like the representation of teen carers and I definitely would like to see more of that in YA fiction. This book really heavy (understandably with the premise and all) but I was mostly enjoying it and the main character's voice ... but I just couldn't get on with that ending. I didn't want to happen and it really upset me.

Another absolutely stunning novel from Brian Conaghan.

Bobby Seed seems like an ordinary boy, and in a way he is, but in many others, he isn't. A carer for his ill mother, who suffers a devastating disease, looking after his excitable younger brother, trying to decide on his future and a manage his friendships - all of these things add up to a poetic and hard hitting book.

Choices, the way we make decisions, the burdens we place on ourselves and those we love - this book is full of all these things, sensitively handled. I laughed, I cried, I groaned, cringed and loved every page.

What an emotional roller-coaster this one was, I'm so glad I read it from the Carnegie longlist.

Bobby's Mum has MS and he is her carer. He balances school/caring/looking after his younger brother. Bobby is incredible, I loved his relationship with his mum and younger brother. The book was raw, powerful, sad, emotional and very sweary sweary. It felt real. Even towards the end I wasn't sure how the book was going to end.

The only part which I wish had happened, was an honest conversation between Bel and Bobby. He needed to have told Bel either that he was gay or just not interested in her in that way. I don't think Bobby is the type to 'come out' he just is who he is, but Bel deserved to know.

This is one of those important books. It's not a book most people will want to read, but it's once that everyone definitely needs to read. It's charm and bittersweet tone allows readers to engage with this very important plot. Perfect for those wanting to understand and empathise without asking those who are currently carers themselves.

How far would you go for someone you love?

There is a profound sadness in this book which is apparent from the start. It deals with the very real issues of young carers and highlights the harsh reality with which they face. It's a very real issue that doesn't seem to be talked about enough but my eyes have been opened.

The Weight Of A Thousand Feathers is beautifully written and doesn't sugar coat things. It tells the story of Bobby who looks after his Mum who has MS and is deteriorating rapidly, he also cares for his 14-year-old brother who has some developmental issues. It's a lot for a 17-year-old to deal with, the meaning behind the book's title and the request his Mum makes is an even bigger weight on him.

I love the relationship between Bobby and his Mum. it's filled with laughter and dark humour, their way of dealing with the daily struggles and the reality of the situation. They both know things aren't going to get any better, just the opposite. She shares her love of music and old movies with him and even with all the joking its evident how much they love each other.

I expected to feel quite hollow after reading about something so serious and sad but because it was dealt with such realness, good/bad, happy/sad, I've come away feeling grateful to have read it. I think it's a book everyone should read at some point especially young people, this story is a reality for so many and its good to have an understanding of their situation, even if we can't put ourselves in their shoes we can at least show compassion.

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was interesting and bland at the same time. I loved the relationship between Bobby and his mum - who was absolutely amazing by the way - and Bobby and Danny. The MS stuff was well-written and appeared to be well-researched which was in stark contrast to Danny. It was like "Hey here's my headcase brother who is bad enough to go to a special school but we don't want a diagnosis for him." What was that about?

Bobby's friendship with Bel seemed quite hollow and under-developed and feelings or not how do you not tell your best friend that you're gay? Also the group stuff was very weak and seemed like just an awkward way to meet Lou. I didn't like Lou, he was a manipulative liar who used Bobby.

I hated the ending and how Bobby involved Danny, everything after seemed kind of muddled. How did they handle the authorities, especially with Bobby still being under 18?

This is such an important and necessary book. The life of the teenage carer is under explored in literature and Conaghan's book is touching, compelling and gripping. Would highly recommend.

This is a fantastic and really IMPORTANT book that truly delved into the complicated lives of those with/ and related to those with disabilities. I think the author really captured how teenagers in particular can struggle with the balance between carer and self; as well as the complexities of adding relationships/friendships into that dynamic. Overall a hard-hitting but enjoyable read.

This was an absolutely beautiful book and I honestly haven't read something like this before. I really enjoyed it and I would definitely read from this author again. A full review will be up on my website soon and I will edit my review here to follow.

Bobby Seed has the weight of being an almost full-time carer to his debilitated Mum, and essentially carer to his brother Danny.

He’s got so much going on with caring for his family that we, as the readers, and Bobby himself barely know who he is. He isn’t sure what he likes to do apart from relax with his friend Bel. He constantly dodges the question of what he wants to be, dismissing it with a witty reply rather than confiding in anyone.

The narrative shifts between two very different spheres of Bobby’s life, two that he likes at first to keep apart. One is the world where he is his mother’s primary carer, the other is his involvement in a social carer’s group that he joins with recommendation from his school.

In this new setting for Bobby, along comes a bunch of young people with similar experiences, but with little respect for the format of group that has to play games and talk about themselves. Lou emerges as a friend for Bobby, another teenage carer with a mysterious air and a hidden past. Bobby finds himself drawn to the other boy, as someone to lean on and confide in.

While the story of a young carer might not seem like the most obvious of choices for a YA novel, Brian Conaghan said recently in a literature festival event in Dublin that he was motivated and interested to write about a character on the margins of society.

As always, Brian Conaghan deals in biting and casual dialogue to develop his characters. Bobby’s dynamics with the small cast of characters is carefully crafted and his relationships with Lou, Bel and his Mum all have their own nuances. There’s a lot of humour throughout, dark and sometimes caustic, but usually well intentioned, especially between Bobby and Mum, sniping yet full of love.

In Bobby Seed and in this story, the author has created and heartbreaking and tough to read narrative, but one that makes you feel for the characters and feels grounded in very true to life situations. Highly recommended.

I demolished this book in 3 sittings. It would have been 1 but I physically couldn't stay awake long enough! The Weight of a Thousand Feathers tells the story of 17 year old Bobby Seed who cares for his mother, who has MS, and his younger brother, while also facing the pressures of being a teenager. He makes sure his mother has the medication she needs and tries to give his brother, Danny, as normal a childhood as possible to prevent a meltdown. Bobby loves his mum and will do anything for her, but when she asks him for help to relieve her pain in a new way what will he say?
This was a brilliantly written book and I quickly connected with the character of Bobby. Conaghan writes in a way that makes it easy to empathise with the characters and my heart broke as the story progressed. It sensitively deals with the issues surrounded with being a young carer caring for someone with a progressive illness and uncertain future. I'll certainly be looking out for more by Brian Conaghan in future.

The world of the young carer... Affecting, amusing look at one family and their heart-rending story.

I don't think I've ever read a book concentrating on teenage carers before. Its a voice that deserves an ear. Bobby is 17. His younger brother is 14 going on 10, and he is carer for his beloved (single) mum, suffering with a degenerative disorder that leaves her often bedridden and unable to look after herself or her boys.

It's an understandably exhausting life, with school, exams and thoughts about his own needs conflicting with his other duties. He is offered a lifeline in a support group for teenage carers, and decides to attend.

The story takes some upsetting directions, but through it all, Bobby, his brother Danny and best friend Bel continued to hold my sympathy and kept me wryly smiling.
"'Right,' Bel says. 'Get your self off that couch and go get groomed online, or whatever boys your age do.'"

Their mum is a wonderfully warm mother figure, even in her state of confinement within her own bed and body. She's forever caring and sarcastic, she doesn't lose her personality or spirit, making her fight all the more poignant.

I enjoyed the scenes at the carers' support group, lots of very realistic-feeling (and cheesy) activities, bonding and a good interplay between the group, though few of the group are given much depth.

My one qualm with the whole book was the constant reference by characters to refer to each other by name in conversation, in one such conversation Bobby and Bel must have used each other's names a dozen times. Very clunky and unrealistic. I wasn't sure why it was written this way, as it wasn't just these two and their own unique sparring that it occurred between.

A moving, heart-breaking story that will be hard to shake. Teenagers and adults alike will benefit from considering the lot of the teenage carer.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance e-copy.

Beautifully written, complex characters, exploring the grey areas of morality and crossovers between reason and emotion. I loved it.

Bobby has vivid dreams of his mother dying. They plague his nights. His mum has MS and she is deteriorating quickly at the time of this story. Bobby is acutely aware of what will happen to his mum:

“She will deteriorate, because that’s what happens with MS – it creeps up and bites sufferers on the arse when they’re least expecting.”

Both Bobby and his mum share a dark sense of humour, and they make light of the situation. The story is told from Bobby’s point of view and his voice is a really strong and unique one; he has a wonderful way with words that makes you smile despite the emotional story-line. He is struggling with his feelings of pain, anger and guilt, and is very aware of how he is feeling. He reflects on his experience of his mum’s diagnosis so far, going back to when he first realised his mum was ill “and my heart was broken. Torn to shreds in fucking Asda.” He also wonders why, when talking about his role in caring for his mum, the focus is always on the difficult feelings:

“Funny how no-one ever uses the word “love” when discussing my case. I do what I do because she’s my mum; she’s the only one I have so wouldn’t mind holding onto her a bit longer.”

Brian has captured the voice of a young boy going through a difficult time brilliantly, and this leads to The Weight of a Thousand Feathers being a really emotional read.

Bobby also has a younger brother, Danny, who has learning difficulties. The specifics of this are not known because, as Bobby says: “no need to pin a hefty life label on him is there?” Both boys feel the weight of their mother’s illness, but Bobby does his best to shield his brother from the worst of it. He jokes that they are “just your archetypal damaged nuclear family”. Bobby’s mum is always telling him how proud she is, and it’s nice to see a boy and his mum having such a close relationship.

Sometimes Bobby gets angry about what is happening to his family (hardly surprising under the circumstances):

“Why us? Why our family? Why not any of those sitting around us? Those who stare? Why do they get to enjoy normal things? Why the fuck does it have to be my mum? Our mum?”

Bobby has a wonderful friend called Bel who comes around and helps Bobby when she can. She cuts his mum’s hair and provides some much-needed friendship for Bobby. They have had an awkward almost-romance at one point, but both are trying to forget about this. Their friendship is a wonderful one to read. 

As the story begins, Bobby is given the chance to attend a group for young carers. He’s not expecting much from it, but he goes along anyway and finds that all the other young carers are just as cynical as he is. They all have their own lives and problems to deal with. Bobby starts to make friends there; he finds himself attracted to another young carer, Lou, and these feelings confuse him on top of everything else.

Bobby is starting to feel as though he is coping well, and then his mum asks him something that changes his life forever: she asks him to help her end it.

“With one request, it’s bye-bye to the old Bobby.”

This broke me. I had mixed feelings, because I could see why Bobby’s mum didn’t want to live any more, but at the same time, it is a lot to ask of your son. Bobby might be doing a lot of adult things in caring for his mum and his brother, but he is still just a child and this request is something that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

The Weight of a Thousand Feathers has a big pro-assisted death message, largely articulated by Bobby’s mum and Lou. Lou expresses his thoughts very clearly, seeing the lack of assisted-death as:

“Forcin’ the dead to stay alive. Forcin’ everyone to grasp on to the only thing that remains: Goddam hope. What a bullshit concept that is.”

Assisted-death is an important topic, and although it is not one I have personal experience of, I felt Brian dealt with it very sensitively. However, it does contain some very distressing scenes and if MS or assisted-death are likely to be triggering for you, then I’d suggest avoiding this book. I have been waiting to read this since hearing Brian talk about it at an event last year, and it did not disappoint. A brilliantly written and emotional read, and one that I highly recommend.

4.5 Stars
This book made me ugly cry.
And when I say ugly cry, I mean cry my absolute heart out. I think this book tops the saddest-books list. I knew it was gonna rip my heart out, but I didn’t realise it was gonna hurt this much.
I guess I sort of thought it was gonna be mildly sad, like the mild Peri-Peri sauce you get at Nandos that is supposedly quite hot but just makes your throat feel a little tingly. And to be totally honest, I didn’t really pay attention to what this book was about before I read it. That was a mistake...but also not. Because I don’t think I would have read it otherwise.
WHY DIDNT I THINK THIS WOULD BE SO SAD.
I mean, the author did pair up with Sarah Crossan last year, and we all know her books are total ugly-cry books. When I read her book, ‘Moonrise’ earlier this year, I thought THAT was one of the saddest books, but this trumps that one ten-fold.
I want to explain what this book is about, but I think the essence of what made this such a great book was not knowing.
So, most importantly this book is gonna hurt. I feel like I need to give a trigger warning, but I also know it’s a spoiler, so I’m feeling like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place here. My recommendation is that you approach this book with caution, and if you are struggling with depression or grief/loss, that maybe you shouldn’t touch this one. It is hard-hitting. It’s not a stormtrooper, it ain’t gonna miss.

The Weight Of A Thousand Feathers took me on such an emotional, tear inducing journey about a young carer called Bobby who cares for his mum who suffers with MS.

Having not had any experience of family or friends suffering with MS it was a big learning curve for me when reading the story and I did do some outside research so I would understand the plot better. I also like how we got into the mind of a young carer. I'd heard a lot about young carers but I'd never read a novel with one as a main character so kudos to the author for doing this. Also, without giving anything away it also touches on a subject that is often seen as taboo and in my opinion it is dealt with perfectly.

The family bonds within The Weight of a Thousand Feathers are just incredible and beautifully touched upon. The way Bobby cares so much for his mum and younger brother Danny was just gorgeously heart-warming and the family scenes were the ones that made me tear up the most. The family unit just felt so raw and real and I think that's why it got to me.

If I was going to say anything negative it would be that I couldn't really warm to the characters of Bel and Lou despite trying each time they were mentioned. I just felt myself drifting away slightly. The ending also slightly confused me and I am still thinking about it..

The Weight Of A Thousand Feathers was a heartbreaking, beautiful read that touched on some very important issues. It is honest, sensitive and raw and certainly one that is worth reading.

Oh this is such a charged book. So many things to think about and process. Bobby Seed is a 17 year old boy dealing with far too much. There is his mum, dying of MS, his handful of a younger brother Dan who doesn't really understand what is happening to their mum and Bel, friendzoned when she doesn't want to be and helping Bobby shoulder responsibility out of the goodness of her heart. All this responsibility is wearing for Bobby, a mum who can't look after either him or his brother and all the drama of daily teenage life, it is boring, it is relentless, it sucks and it is only going to get worse as his mum gets worse.

Then Bobby is encouraged to go to a group for those caring for an ill parent and whammo, there he meets Lou, exotic, sexy as all get out and equipped with a vintage Vespa. And Lou likes Bobby, starts hanging with him and because they have shared experience and plenty in common it seems they might have something more than friendship looming. But, Lou is tricky, he tells stories, is he to be trusted? As things move along, mum getting worse, Dan being Dan, Bel always there and Bobby's guilt getting larger and larger, it all gets so incredibly complicated. Lou is possibly more than he seems. A crisis point is reached when mum asks Bobby to help her die.

This is a slow, thoughtful novel. It is full of Bobby's angst at the terrible situation he finds himself in. This huge responsibility, weighted with love for Dan and his mum, his grief and his heartache. Interwoven are his thoughts on his emerging sexuality and confusion at the way Lou treats him and all the weirdness surrounding the way Lou acts. I loved the character of Bel, so kind, tolerant and so willing to help so that she doesn't have to deal with her own terrible homelife.

This would be a wonderful novel for students to study, so full of moral complexity and full of heart. You root for Bobby, you want him and Dan to be ok. This novel is one which will make you think and feel. I'll definitely be buying it for our library.