Michael Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma from his classmates, his adoptive family, and himself.
When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society—and is surprised to learn that this is essentially everyone. Although some participants are recovering from injuries or surgeries, others are dealing with more everyday factors like aging or the changes to a body from giving birth.
As he collects these stories—and finally tells his own—Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more obstacle: his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him.
Michael Without Apology is a thought-provoking coming-of-age novel that explores themes of trauma, self-acceptance, heartbreak, and defying the odds. The story follows Michael Woodbine, a 19-year-old college freshman who’s spent much of his life hiding his physical & emotional scars from a near-fatal fireworks accident at age 7. The accident placed him in foster care, leaving him with abandonment issues. In college, Michael enrolls in a film class taught by Robert Dunning, a professor who bears visible scars on his face without shame. Inspired by Dunning, Michael begins filming a documentary of interviews with individuals facing various physical and emotional challenges.
Like all of Hyde’s novels, this emotionally resonant story dives deep into the complexities of the human experience. There are many meaningful subjects featured in this story: healing after trauma, fatal illness, heartbreak, abandonment, self-acceptance, and most prominently, speaking one’s truth without apology. Societal pressures around physical appearance and the struggles people of all ages face around their self-image are profoundly analyzed through Michael’s struggles and the people he interviews.
Catherine Ryan Hyde has an amazing ability to write characters and relatable stories that touch a reader’s heart—and Michael’s story is precisely that! He is a very introspective, intelligent character, wise beyond his years. The relationship between Michael and Professor Dunning is a focal point of the story, and it emphasizes the profound impact that mentorship and deep understanding can have. Before meeting Dunning, Michael had never processed his emotional trauma and harbored a lot of pent-up anger towards his birth parents. Through the fascinating interviews he conducts, Michael learns that almost everyone has an internal conflict and insecurities. His high sensitivity and intuition allow him to soak up all the information he hears to transform him. By the end, his character arc is so pronounced that it seems like he’s decades older when only a few years have passed. There is also a romantic subplot in the story between Michael and an older woman who has a fatal illness. Although their love story isn’t overly developed, their dialogue is very compelling and heartfelt—so be sure to have some tissues on hand!
The story is told over multiple timelines. The main storyline occurs during the year when Michael is 19 years old, with flashbacks to the time around his near-fatal injury. The timeline shifts are seamless and greatly enhance the story without causing any confusion, and they give readers a satisfying and comprehensive picture of Michael’s coming-of-age story. With every Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, there’s always something new for readers to learn! Her stories are also very well researched—in this book, there is interesting medical information during Michael’s hospital stay and later on, insight into documentary filmmaking and the film festival circuit. In addition, there are so many meaningful lines of dialogue that readers will want to bookmark and use in their own lives. For all these reasons and because of the compelling characters, this story lingers and prompts readers to consider its themes long after finishing!
Overall, Michael Without Apology is another standout novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde, filled with profound messages and life lessons. Anyone who has struggled with self-acceptance, societal expectations, or abandonment issues will especially relate to Michael’s story. If you haven’t read any of Hyde’s previous books, this book is a great book to start with, and afterwards you’ll be compelled to check out her amazing catalog of 40+ titles! Anyone who enjoys thought-provoking, emotionally satisfying stories with characters that defy the odds shouldn’t hesitate to grab a copy of this book!
Narrator Performace
Narrator Michael Crouch delivers a heartfelt & captivating performance. He portrays protagonist Michael with an intelligent sounding, inquisitive voice, perfectly capturing the character’s willingness to learn and high sensitivity. Crouch demonstrates his top notch acting skills and impressive vocal range not only by giving the characters unique voices, but also by shifting his performance of Michael during the most intense scenes. In particular, Michael’s dialogue with his dying girlfriend is so emotionally heartbreaking that readers will need to have tissues on hand! The scenes between Michael and his birth parents are equally intense to listen to—the near explosive anger is palpable and readers will be holding their breath with tension! With such a powerful, authentic performance, it’s highly recommend to listen to this story on audio—and you’ll be elated to know that Crouch has narrated several of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s previous books!
Narrator Performace
Narrator Michael Crouch delivers a heartfelt & captivating performance. He portrays protagonist Michael with an intelligent sounding, inquisitive voice, perfectly capturing the character’s willingness to learn and high sensitivity. Crouch demonstrates his top notch acting skills and impressive vocal range not only by giving the characters unique voices, but also by shifting his performance of Michael during the most intense scenes. In particular, Michael’s dialogue with his dying girlfriend is so emotionally heartbreaking that readers will need to have tissues on hand! The scenes between Michael and his birth parents are equally intense to listen to—the near explosive anger is palpable and readers will be holding their breath with tension! With such a powerful, authentic performance, it’s highly recommend to listen to this story on audio—and you’ll be elated to know that Crouch has narrated several of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s previous books!
Narrator Michael Crouch delivers a heartfelt & captivating performance. He portrays protagonist Michael with an intelligent sounding, inquisitive voice, perfectly capturing the character’s willingness to learn and high sensitivity. Crouch demonstrates his top notch acting skills and impressive vocal range not only by giving the characters unique voices, but also by shifting his performance of Michael during the most intense scenes. In particular, Michael’s dialogue with his dying girlfriend is so emotionally heartbreaking that readers will need to have tissues on hand! The scenes between Michael and his birth parents are equally intense to listen to—the near explosive anger is palpable and readers will be holding their breath with tension! With such a powerful, authentic performance, it’s highly recommend to listen to this story on audio—and you’ll be elated to know that Crouch has narrated several of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s previous books!
