Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Finding Resilience chronicles the author's painful and horrifying experience with Lyme disease, exploring not only its debilitating impact on her physically, emotionally, and socially, but also sharing asides from her mother, in an effort to sketch the effect on her entire family. The content can be shocking as readers join Rachel and her family in their journey toward healing, but the end result is a compelling look at a devastating chronic illness.
Prose: Rachel and her mother are vibrant storytellers, able to sweep readers into Rachel's experience. The writing is accessible and focused, with readable, precise prose.
Originality: This is a deeply personal story that readers will find enlightening and original; Rachel's course is singularly heartrending and inspiring.
Character/Execution: Finding Resilience highlights Rachel's experience with Lyme disease, alongside her family's quest to nail down her diagnosis and find a cure. The narrative is bursting with information, offering surprising perspectives on the effects of the disease and its potential treatments, as well as advocating for medical advancement at the same time.
Date Submitted: November 13, 2023