Heroine

Mindy McGinnis

Mar 2019 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

A captivating and powerful exploration of the opioid crisis—the deadliest drug epidemic in American history—through the eyes of a college-bound softball star. Edgar Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a visceral and necessary novel about addiction, family, friendship, and hope.

When a car crash sidelines Mickey just before softball season, she has to find a way to hold on to her spot as the catcher for a team expected to make a historic tournament run. Behind the plate is the only place she’s ever felt comfortable, and the painkillers she’s been prescribed can help her get there.

The pills do more than take away pain; they make her feel good.

With a new circle of friends—fellow injured athletes, others with just time to kill—Mickey finds peaceful acceptance, and people with whom words come easily, even if it is just the pills loosening her tongue.

But as the pressure to be Mickey Catalan heightens, her need increases, and it becomes less about pain and more about want, something that could send her spiraling out of control.

Ratings and reviews

It's good insofar as painting a picture of addiction. Some of the plot points are very contrived, though, and the dialogue is kind of annoying to read. I get what she was going for - trying to make the conversation sound real - but it seemed forced and unrealistic. By the end, I was really invested in the story and it left me feeling and contemplating a lot of things I'd been repressing.

For a woman who never was an addict, the author is pretty spot-on when it comes to describing the descent from taking medicine as prescribed into addiction. It's a good, fast read.

I started reading this book for a competition for my English class. I have to be completely honest, I rarely cry when I read books, only a select few hit that spot of my feels. This book made me start bawling at the end, I am so glad I decided to read it because it's so good.

About the author

Mindy McGinnis is the author of several young adult novels, including A Long Stretch of Bad Days, The Last Laugh, The Initial Insult, Heroine, The Female of the Species, and A Madness So Discreet, winner of an Edgar Award. She writes across multiple genres, including postapocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy. While her settings may change, you can always count on her books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us. Mindy lives in Ohio. You can visit her online at mindymcginnis.com.