This is a heart warming story of two teens who are hurt and lonely for different reasons. Although the reasons are different, they come together to bond over their pain and turn it into something beautiful. Their friendship is sweet and I enjoyed reading about their lives coming together. ( )

Pull out the tissue box because these pages go to the heart and demonstrate the beauty of friendship, especially in the more difficult moments of life.

Two girls, Amber and Missy, are heading into the last year of middle school. Both have problems they're doing their best to deal with. Both are very lonely. Finding a friend isn't something either has really considered, nor have they really tried. But sometimes, life finds a way to pull two together in the most unexpected way.

The story is told from two points of view: Amber's and Missy's. To keep things simple, the girl's name is printed large and bold whenever the switch occurs or a new chapter begins. But these two have such different personalities and situations that it's not hard to figure out, who is who. While Amber is more laid back and has, in many respects, a more serious issue thanks to her difficult form of epilepsy, Missy is more fire than ice a she tries her best to fit in with expectations she can't really meet just to get some peace from her family. The two are both easy to sympathize with, very different, and, yet, similar. Each is trying to do the best they can. Neither wants to hurt or disappoint anyone.

Both girls come across extremely natural, making each one easy to connect with and know. The author spends about half the book with the girls not aware of the others' existence and dwells on their individual problems and lives. This gave both tons of depth and let the reader know them inside and out. It did slow things down quite a bit, though, too. I found myself skipping over paragraphs, wondering when the two would finally meet. But the pacing also allowed Amber and her condition, to come across extremely well and be handled with the necessary care. That was very well done.

The value of friendship is a strong message in these pages, but it's not the only one. Amber's determination and positive attitude are inspiring. Missy deals with tough family themes such as the loss of a sibling, parents' divorce, and watching a parent go through deep depression. While she struggled , there were many inspiring moments from her side, too, and lessons for life.

The girls spend a lot of time interacting with their families, which was nice to see. They also spend quite a bit of time during the first chapters interacting with their doctors. Little time was spent with anything else, and I did wonder how their lives outside of these two areas were, especially since both were attending school and other activities...none of which were shown. A large span of time passes in these chapters, and although each of the girls main activities over the summer was hit upon, I missed getting to know more about what each did. For example, Amber volunteers to help with dogs, but only talks excitedly about it. The reader doesn't really get to experience it with her.

All in all, this is a potent book with more than a few touching moments. Amber and Missy are girls to root for and cheer on as they each inspire in their own way. And neither is easy to forget even after the last page has been read. I received a complimentary copy and found the author's handling of the characters and themes very well done. ( )

Amber and Missy are both 14 year old girls facing a unique set of challenges as they enter their last year of middle school. Amber has epilepsy, an invisible medical condition that mostly makes her blank out, be tired all the time and have memory issues. Lately, however, her seizures have been getting worse, some leading to injury and causing her to miss even more school. Missy's family moved to town after her brother died fighting in Afghanistan. The death proved too much for Missy's mother though, and she retreated into her grief while Missy's father moved on and moved away. Amber and Missy suffer in their loneliness, but soon realize that a true friend may be what they need to help them through this time.

Being is Better is a heartfelt middle grade novel about the hardships of this difficult part of life and the power of friendship. Told in alternating points of view between Amber and Missy, the story goes deep into their lives to gain understanding and connection to each of the girls. Amber's struggles with epilepsy are well written, showing the physical, mental and social tolls of the invisible medical condition. Missy's family situation is another hidden difficulty that many families silently go through. Missy's mother's depression was written in a way that didn't put the blame on anyone and showed the gravity of the situation. While the girl's individual stories are compelling, I was waiting for a while for something exciting to happen. The girls don't even meet until about 70% of the way through the story and finally some magic happens. It was amazing to see what happened when Missy and Amber began to believe and trust in themselves. With a major breakthrough near the end of the story, I know there is more to Amber and Missy's journey to come.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )

I absolutely loved this book. The author has done a wonderful job of telling a story in alternating points of view. Not only will I put this book on my shelves at school, but will also use is to teach POV in a story. This author created two separate stories that merge into one. Amber suffers from seizures. No one wants to be friends with her so she remains invisible. Missy comes from a very dysfunctional family after the loss of her brother. She too has been invisible for so long. Her solution is to change herself to make herself noticed. Unfortunately she attacks the wrong type of friends. Things change when the two meet and start talking. Friendship can heal so many hurts. I have a sister and a niece who both suffer from the way Amber does. I could sympathize with her family. I have seen Missy's situation in the lives of so many of my students. Not all of them turn out the way Missy's does. This is a book of raw pain, hope, and true friendship. I am looking forward to reading the second book "Beyond Invisible" which comes out just a couple of days before Thanksgiving. This is a definite must-read book. ( )