Rating: 5 stars

When you’re fourteen and trying to deal with the highs, lows, traumas, and humiliations that go along with being a high school freshman, having severe anxiety can become all consuming. Chelsea Rae Swiggett’s anxiety has affected every area of her life—school, family, friendships, and romance—ultimately pushing her to lose her voice, withdrawal from everyday life and school, and develop an eating disorder.

The sounds of planes flying overhead could spark a panic attack and something as simple as being called on in class could push her over the edge, convinced that everyone was judging her, mocking her. Faking sickness so she could stay home became her only solution, since she’d rather do anything than face the reality of what happened behind the school’s double doors. Rae tells a story all-too-many teens today relate to—what it feels like to see the world through a lens of constant debilitating fear, anxiety, and stress.

I loved this book. I truely did. Parts made me so angry and others made me want to cry. I really could connect with, and on a deeper level than just connecting with the book, as I suffer from anxiety and I could see aspects of myself throughout the entire book. It really makes you realize you are not alone in the world. Chelsea is so brave to share her story with the world.

Rae is so beautifully written. I really hope that Ms. Swiggett writes more books in the future, as she has a voice that was so enticing. Reading her story, so many emotions came to pass. When she’d talk about certain events, I’d get so angry at some of the people and just want to yell at them, where others I just downright started crying at the fact people could be so horrible.

Thank you Chelsea for sharing your story. I think this is the kind of book you could hand to a girl who suffers from anxiety to read, and empower her and realize that she isn’t alone. People can be mean, and that’s the truth, but if we all band together, we can fight back. Rae is that book.