Rae: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety, and Social Phobia

My Rating: 4.5 Rae was a meaningful and moving memoir written by our very own blogger The Page Flipper. Chelsea's vulnerability and raw honesty was commendable. It takes a lot of guts to reveal hidden fears to others. There is always that chance that people might not accept you for who you are. I for one, respect and can somewhat relate with Chelsea. Over the years, I also struggled with anxiety and the fear of death. Like Chelsea, my imagination can somewhat be overactive and I tend to worry too much. Also in comparison, I'm also afraid of plane crashes, car accidents or anything that doesn't look safe. The part where I sympathized most within the story, was her social anxiety. So many teens and adults deal with emotional discomfort and fear while interacting with others. I believe now a days, this plays a huge role in bullying. I hate people who scrutinize individuals and make them feel insecure and worthless. Who are we to judge? This memoir has the ability to touch a lot of lives who suffer with the same phobias. The part where Chelsea mentioned her anxious feelings in class brought back so many memories for me. I despised participating in class and always made it my business to sit in the back. I always felt like people were observing my every imperfection, so I figured no one could see me besides the wall. To this day, I'm not really sure why I have these feelings, but I've learned to hide them very well. I appreciate Chelsea for opening her soul to readers. She's taught me that I am not alone and can have the strength to surpass my fears and live in the moment. Not only was there intense stories, her writing was also impeccable. She has great story-telling skills that will hopefully one day grace the pages of a YA fiction novel. Overall, I'm glad to have had the chance to understand Chelsea more as a person. I recommend this memoir to those who want to read a touching and enlightening book.