I didn’t know what to think when I began this book; I’d heard great things from other people about this story but I must admit, I didn’t think it was going to be a book that I enjoyed. But nevertheless I was immediately drawn into the story. Maisie is an incredibly relatable character and I found myself screaming on the inside when she is in her ‘accident’ as it just seemed like such a rare occurrence to happen.
I grew incredibly attached to the character of Maisie as I could see so much of myself in her and my heart physically ached as she went through life having to adjust to life after her ‘accident’. I couldn’t possibly imagine what it must be like to be stared at by people who knew what you looked like before the face transplant, only to now be treated like a monster even though you should be treated like a hero.
Sheinmel’s writing accompanied with the first person narrative creates a sense of yearning to know what is going to happen next right from page one. Once I began this book, I couldn’t put it down. I found myself reading chapter after chapter desperate to know what was going to happen next, wanting to find out whether life was going to improve for this girl who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The chapters are fairly short and snappy - definitely not as long as many books - which keeps the pace moving at a fairly fast speed. The chapters are also left on cliffhangers making it near impossible to stop once you begin.
I would say if you are thinking of reading this book, prepare for a whirlwind of emotions. It certainly keeps you on your toes in regards to how Maisie is feeling, what she experiences, her fears and you will likely find yourself feeling similar emotions as the plot drags you in and doesn’t let you go until you’ve finished the book. Even after completing the book, I found myself still wrapped up inside the story, wanting to know even more about Maisie’s life, whether she had a better of quality of life, where she went to college etc - anything to keep me in the world for a little longer. This, for me, is the sign of a great author. An author that can keep you wanting to read more even after the story has been brought to a neat and tidy conclusion is a successful author. I find myself almost hoping that there is going to be a sequel to Faceless sometime in the future to provide a follow up on Maisie’s life and give an insight into what her life is like following her final acceptance of the face transplant.
I would highly recommend this book to young adults as, although at first the topic seems like an awful one to discuss in a book meant to be read for enjoyment, I found the ending and resolution satisfying and heart-warming.
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