What an unusual book.
I don't normally like books in which the first-person narrator is unlikable, which was definitely the case here. Mazzy doesn't become likable as the book moves along either... but we do in time learn why she is the way she is, and it's heartbreaking.
A short book, told in short chapters, with mostly short sentences, it's a very quick read. Mazzy lives with her catatonic mother, barely taking care of her or herself, while her father has left to pursue a fantastic job opportunity. Mazzy slogs through her days watching TV and sitting under the sprinkler in her yard, and not doing much else.
But the real story is what happened before the book begins that put she and her mother in the states they're in... and that back story is very gradually revealed as the book progresses.
Secondary character, Norma, is a saint.
The book ends sort of enigmatically. It's left to the reader to decide what the ending means.
I'll definitely be re-reading this one, because I'm sure I'll get more from it in a second reading.
(Note: I disagree with many other reviewers here. This is not a book in verse. This is prose, but in mostly very short sentences, and no indentations at paragraph beginnings. But prose nonetheless.) ( )

Everything Is Fine

This novel centers around a young girl, around 11 years old i believe, who is dealing with the recent loss of her baby sister, the abandonment of her father, and her mother's total check out from reality. In her own unique way, Mazzy copes with all of the changes happening in her life. Through a sort of stream-of-consciousness format, this book lets the reader see just how strong willed and thick skinned one girl can be - even when her entire life has came crashing down. This novel is very intriguing and brings many emotions up to the table.
This heart breaking and emotional book is a young adult (YA) fiction book. Although it is a fiction book is still serves as a nonfiction book because of the sorrow and pain mazzy goes through that many others have been through or are going through. Everything used to be fine in mazzys life, her mom her dad, herself, but now everything's not fine and she cannot get stuck out of this rut. She had to get out of the rut she was in and help her mother and herself which helped her grow into the young lady she is.
I loved this book, it was a book that kids her age could relate to. She kept her true self the entire book and not once was she unloyal to her mother, she was loyal to all to help. The whole time while reading the book i had the urge to give mazzy a hug and love her. This book brings more than enough emotions and heartbreak to the reader. All in all the book was definitely worth the read and i will recommend this to many others!

sparse language like a depressed person would use. The ending wasn't an ending. ( )

Mazzy is quite the colorful character. She is doing her best to care for her mother who is in the throes of severe depression. I love the fact that we aren't slammed with the tragedy that plagues this family right in the beginning. We meet the various characters through Mazzy.

The devastating effects that tragedy can have on the family is evident within the pages of Everything Is Fine. Mazzy is doing her best to convince everyone around her and even herself that everything is indeed fine. This is another lovely book of verse. I loved that Mazzy started using art as an outlet for her feelings as well. I'm giving this one 3 1/2 sweet kisses! ( )

Everything Is Fine is told in verses which creates a quick and interesting read. It reminded me a bad performance, hard to keep your eyes away but leaves an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of your stomach. Or the tryouts for American Idol. You just can’t help but feel embarrass for the person but the urge to change the channel is non existence. That was how I felt about Everything Is Fine. It’s awkward, and disjointed, but it’s undeniably hard to put down.

Mazzy was an on and off character for me. Sometimes I can relate to her feelings, and sometimes I feel that she needs to grow up. It was hard for me to pinpoint her exact age—she stuffed oranges down her shirt and yet she wears lacy underwear. Her relationship with her mother is where you can understand her depth. The way she is actually the one taking care of her mother instead of the other way around, the most simple of actions forces her to hate her mother. Maybe it’s the way that she [the mother:] used to act before she fell into depression that causes her to hate her. Or maybe it goes deeper than that as we read the ending.

The ending I felt was satisfactory. In the middle of the story, the author mentions Olivia. I spent a good amount of time trying to remember who she was which might have worked in the author’s favor—trying to keep the readers on their toes. As the story progresses, the small bits of missing information begins to fill until we understand the actual reasoning behind everything.

There are also captions after every poem, like for example “Pencil on paper”. And underneath that, there will be a picture. I was not too sure the exact meaning behind each one, sometimes I did, sometimes it drew a blank stare, but I thought it was creative.

Overall: Mazzy was an odd character but she was interesting to read to say the least. Everything is Fine was a fun and quick read that is a library borrow if you enjoy verse novels. ( )