Review by Booklist Review
Brooke Danvers learns the hard way that the one thing worse than wanting to kill yourself is failing at it. After six weeks as an inpatient, all she wants to do is try again, especially when confronted by overly cautious parents, curious classmates, and an administration that never cared before. At least she has Duckie, her best friend, who is gay and always has her back. Things begin to change when two new men enter her life: Dr. Daniels, her patient and nonjudgmental shrink, and Derek, the handsome new guy who knows exactly what Brooke's going through. But are Brooke and Derek good for each other? The use of Romeo and Juliet as the school play is the perfect counterpart to the Brooke-Derek story line, and Brooke's folding of origami cranes serves as a physical measure of her increased wellness. Brewer maps out a path that isn't always easy for Brooke or for those who care about her, but readers will cheer as she navigates her way toward a degree of peace with her mental illness. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Best-seller Brewer's honest and highly personal story will speak to a wide audience and he has a large one so stock up.--Fredriksen, Jeanne Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
After a failed suicide attempt, 17-year-old Brooke Danvers spent six weeks at an inpatient facility, now followed by therapy sessions. Her parents have removed every potential danger from their Michigan home and put strict rules in place to keep Brooke safe, yet she remains "determined to die." Brooke's origami cranes and her best friend, Duckie, are calming influences, but it's a new student and fellow senior, Derek, who helps her see a positive side to life. Derek, however, has his own painful history, and as their relationship intensifies, Brooke's therapist advises her that "sooner or later, you're going to have to learn to live for yourself." Love and hope counterbalance the many dark moments in Brewer's insightful portrayal of teens' mental struggles. Although the plot becomes predictable, the characters are richly drawn; readers will yearn for them to find the peace they desperately need. An author's note that includes resources for readers with depression or suicidal thoughts appears before the story, a small decision that establishes a sense of trust and safety from the outset. Ages 14-up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-Finding a kindred spirit turns chilling in this exploration of depression, suicidal ideation, and toxic love. Seventeen-year-old Brooke is freshly out of a treatment program after attempting suicide. Back at school, her classmates stare, whisper, and write "RIP" on her locker. Brooke's situation at home is strained, therapy seems pointless, and the only good thing is Duckie, her lifelong best friend. Angry to still be alive, Brooke is determined to die soon. That is, until she meets Derek, who recently moved to town with his abusive, alcoholic father. The two bond over depression and suicide attempts, Derek's favorite topic of conversation. Brooke immediately falls in love with him and even feels that he has given her a reason to live (though, of course, her therapist encourages her to find ways to live for herself). She also begins to open up at therapy, gets involved in activities, and raises her grades, but she fixates on Derek, who is clingy, jealous, and needy and has a quick temper. Brooke's story perpetuates the dangerous idea that love will cure mental illness. Even after her eyes are opened, she worrisomely believes Derek is ultimately a good guy but "troubled," excusing his horrific behavior and conflating controlling, abusive behavior with love. While the novel is filled with suspense and offers a compelling, cautionary look at an unhealthy relationship, the underdeveloped characters and lackluster dialogue detract from the potential impact of the tale. Graphic descriptions of suicide attempts are included. VERDICT A strictly additional purchase only where the author's work is popular.--Amanda MacGregor, -formerly at Great -River -Regional Library, Saint Cloud, MN © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
After a suicide attempt and subsequent therapy, Brooke tentatively reenters her own life--at least until everyone's guard is down and she can try again. But then she meets equally self-destructive Derek; their relationship simultaneously helps Brooke and threatens to derail her progress. A predictable plot and some clichid writing notwithstanding, Brewer's latest novel offers a raw and realistic exploration of mental illness and recovery. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
After her release from the mental hospital where she was treated after a suicide attempt, Brooke Danvers feels as if a part of her actually died while the rest was scooped out of the Black River by the old man who saw her jump in.Her mother's emphatically chipper, and her father's standoffish, but her best friend, Duckie, is pitch-perfect in his support, protective of her and firm with her when she needs it. And though he's got his eye on their fellow drama-department regular Tucker, he puts his friendship with Brooke first. A new guy, Derek, catches her eye, and she learns he also attempted suicide, which creates a bond that leads to a lightning-fast relationship. Derek is the stereotypical aqua-eyed, leather-clad, motorcycle-riding, guitar-playing, abusive, white bad boy that charms the inexperienced white girl, but in this story, Brooke breaks teen-lit convention by not being overcome by dangerous behavior. Issues of consent, stalking, violence, and tragic endings are met with a strong, negative response from Brooke and her friends. Though the prose suffers somewhat from reliance on eyebrow-peaking, lip-biting, and eye-rolling, the careful handling of suicidal ideation and abuse elevates it overall. The primary cast is largely white, but comfortably queer characters abound. An author's note with resources precedes the story. With an ending that's more hopefully ever after than happily, it'll satisfy fans of 1980s-style coming-of-age stories who wish the girls in them were more willing to walk away from abusive boys. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
