Made You Up

By Francesca Zappia | Publisher: HarperCollins

About the book

Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. For fans of Silver Linings Playbook and Liar, this thought-provoking debut tells the story of Alex, a high school senior—and the ultimate unreliable narrator—unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion.

Alex fights a daily battle to figure out what is real and what is not. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8 Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She's pretty optimistic about her chances until she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She's not prepared for normal. Can she trust herself? Can we trust her?


  • Enemies to Lovers: He might be the boy from her past, or he might be a delusion. Either way, Alex can’t stand Miles—or stop herself from falling for him.
  • Witty Banter: Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, Alex is more than a match for the infuriatingly clever Miles, leading to page-turning arguments you won’t want to end.
  • Secrets and Lies: With a camera as her only proof of reality and a Magic 8 Ball for guidance, Alex must unravel the mystery of her own mind before it’s too late.
  • Authentic Mental Illness Representation: A raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful look at a teen girl’s daily battle with schizophrenia, perfect for readers who love thought-provoking and character-driven stories.

Editions of Made You Up

Paperback
ISBN 9780062290113
EBook
ISBN 9780062290120

Read an Excerpt

Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. For fans of Silver Linings Playbook and Liar, this thought-provoking debut tells the story of Alex, a high school senior—and the ultimate unreliable narrator—unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion.

Alex fights a daily battle to figure out what is real and what is not. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8 Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She's pretty optimistic about her chances until she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She's not prepared for normal. Can she trust herself? Can we trust her?


  • Enemies to Lovers: He might be the boy from her past, or he might be a delusion. Either way, Alex can’t stand Miles—or stop herself from falling for him.
  • Witty Banter: Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, Alex is more than a match for the infuriatingly clever Miles, leading to page-turning arguments you won’t want to end.
  • Secrets and Lies: With a camera as her only proof of reality and a Magic 8 Ball for guidance, Alex must unravel the mystery of her own mind before it’s too late.
  • Authentic Mental Illness Representation: A raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful look at a teen girl’s daily battle with schizophrenia, perfect for readers who love thought-provoking and character-driven stories.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Made You Up about?

Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. For fans of Silver Linings Playbook and Liar, this thought-provoking debut tells the story of Alex, a high school senior—and the ultimate unreliable narrator—unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion.

Alex fights a daily battle to figure out what is real and what is not. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8 Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She's pretty optimistic about her chances until she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She's not prepared for normal. Can she trust herself? Can we trust her?


  • Enemies to Lovers: He might be the boy from her past, or he might be a delusion. Either way, Alex can’t stand Miles—or stop herself from falling for him.
  • Witty Banter: Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, Alex is more than a match for the infuriatingly clever Miles, leading to page-turning arguments you won’t want to end.
  • Secrets and Lies: With a camera as her only proof of reality and a Magic 8 Ball for guidance, Alex must unravel the mystery of her own mind before it’s too late.
  • Authentic Mental Illness Representation: A raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful look at a teen girl’s daily battle with schizophrenia, perfect for readers who love thought-provoking and character-driven stories.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Made You Up?

Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories

Where can I read a sample of Made You Up?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780062290113

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Made You Up?

Francesca Zappia

Who is the Publisher of the book Made You Up?

HarperCollins

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Made You Up is available as paperback(ISBN 9780062290113) and ebook(ISBN 9780062290120)

Where can I buy Made You Up online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Made You Up from below

Where can I buy Made You Up?