Booktalking "Faceless" by Alyssa Sheinmel

face

The Face

As if losing half of her face to electrical burns is not enough, 16-year-old Maisie must get used to having a stranger's nose, cheeks and chin hanging off of her countenance. At first, the new features feel so heavy and she has no sensation of the donor's flesh and muscles, anyhow. It is a little bit freaky to not have any physical awareness of when someone is touching your nose, etc. And then there is the reaction from others to her patchwork of features: the constant staring. She desperately misses the beauty that she previously possessed, and the freedom from feeling like a pariah or the elephant man. 

The Drugs

Maisie had no idea that the impressive thrice-daily regimen of immunosuppressants that the doctors subject her to will make her feel so tired and ill. Embarrassingly enough, she falls asleep in English class during the discussion of one of her favorite pieces of literature, One Hundred Years of Solitude. These medications also increase the risk of serious illness, such as cancer, and more mild maladies, such as the flu. She longs to achieve freedom from her drug-induced haze.

The Heartache

Maisie loved Chirag before the tragedy, and she hopes that he loved her back, though she cannot be sure. She loved his dark physique and toned body, and his rational approach to dissecting any issue that might come to his attention. He wants to be a doctor someday. However, now she shies away from his touch, and he opines that she is not as pretty anymore.

Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel, 2015

 

I loved the multicultural nature of the novel; Maisie's boyfriend, best friend and physical therapist are all people of color. This may have to do with the fact that the author lives in NYC. I have never heard of this procedure before, and I was fascinated to learn about all of the immune issues associated with transplants.

 

Alyssa Sheinmel's web site

books on face transplants