Book Review : Rosie Loves Jack

 ★★★★☆

Rosie loves Jack. Jack loves Rosie. So when they’re split up, Rosie will do anything to find the boy who makes the sun shine in her head. Even run away from home. Even cross London and travel to Brighton alone, though the trains are cancelled and the snow is falling. Even though any girl might find that hard, let alone a girl with Down’s syndrome. See the world through new eyes in this one-in-a-million story about fighting for the freedoms that we often take for granted: independence, tolerance and love.

 

This book is everything. I adored reading Rosie’s tale, her dedication to Jack and their relationship was amazing to read about, the lengths she went to stay with him and help him. It was phenomenal. I have never read a book with a protagonist who suffered from Down’s Syndrome and this book made me aware of many more things that I didn’t know about. The author, Mel Darbon, has helped people with learning disabilities through her voluntary work and it shows because Rosie’s characterization is very thoughtful and realistic.

I loved how the author balanced things out, there were characters in the book who had absolutely no humanity and tried to manipulate or even hurt Rosie, but also characters who tried to help her through her journey, they supported her and believed in her. I thought it was important to show both sides, but end on a hopeful note that most people help people, most people are considerate.

Rosie is probably one of the most determined characters I’ve ever read about, so brave, I think most people would have given up on a journey when all their trains would have been cancelled, after they lost all their money, but she didn’t. She had to find Jack because what they had together was meaningful and she couldn’t give it up due to her father’s concerns.

I think Rosie Loves Jack is especially important because it shows how people that suffer from Down’s Syndrome can still have a normal life, Rosie goes to college, she has a healthy and supportive relationship, she has great friends and a family that are looking out for her. But in the end, she’s capable of taking care of herself.

They can’t send you away. What will we do? We need us. I stop your angry, Jack. And you make me strong. You make me Rosie.

My only complaint is that we didn’t see Jack and Rosie together long enough, I wish there were more scenes with them, even flashbacks, because they were so cute. Everything about their relationship was meaningful, whenever Rosie told someone how much she loves Jack and how he’s bringing the sun to her and she takes away his angry (Jack has a hard time controlling his emotions due to a head injury), it was beautiful.

I adored how Rosie stood up for herself in all the situations when people looked down on her or assumed things about her based on her disorder.

I loved how she established friendships wherever she went because she navigated every situation with so much empathy and kindness. Her positive outlook of life was something worth admiring, she definitely earned her spot as one of my favorites heroines of all the time. The people she encountered had stories of their own, struggles, this book really dealt with lots of important subjects from bullying to fatphobia, human trafficking and homelessness.

I absolutely recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those who are looking for a beautiful tale of love, of not giving up of what’s most important to you in the face of obstacles and of human kindness.

I want to thank Usborne for giving me an ARC of this book, this hadn’t affected my review, nor my rating in any way. 

Have you read Rosie Loves Jack? Did you like it?

Have you read any other books about protagonists with Down’s Syndrome?