Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow is a deeply emotional realistic fiction novel that follows the life of Charlie Davis, a 17-year-old girl struggling to rebuild her life after experiencing severe trauma and loss. I have read this book over and over again, wishing I could experience the emotional roller coaster of reading it for the first time.
Visitations is the story of a family that has been torn apart by family disputes, mental illness and religion. It is haunting and sad, but also sheds a hopeful light on children's ability to recover and heal. The author is the main character in this book, and it was told from his life experience. The novel details the traumatic experiences and relationships Corey had to endure through his mother's mental illness and devotion to Mormonism.
All the Bright Places is a novel by Jennifer Niven. Theodore Finch is captivated by the idea of death, while Violet Markey yearns to graduate high school and begin college in order to get away from her sister’s death. Finch and Violet first cross each other’s paths on a bell tower at school. Finch saves Violet’s life, which sparks an unexpected friendship. The two become partners for their history project, which asks the students to explore their home state of Indiana.
Brain on Fire is a true story of first-hand experience of the author. The book walks us through the author's life and this condition that she developed in which her brain in a sense was on fire. The author uses very detailed descriptions to show us what her life was like while suffering through this extremely difficult time in her life. The book gives us the message that even when you are physically and mentally at your worst, never give up.
The Vegetarian is a novel detailing one woman, Yeong-hye, and her choice to become a vegetarian after a horrible dream. This choice is regarded as the beginning of her descent to madness and gives birth to trouble in the family. The book demonstrates the desire that many have to control women’s decisions, lives, and bodies and the tendency for them to be cast aside when not conforming.
Bad Things Happen Here is an intriguing and amazingly written YA murder mystery. It is set on an island of extremely wealthy people where horrible and unexplainable disappearances happen but the consciousness of the society sweeps it all under the rug. It is a twisted tale in both the story itself and the characters, the lead protagonist is flawed, mentally ill and haunted by loss, but yet unlike other books, this does not undermine her character, but instead strengthens Luca.
The Edge of Anything is a story of girls that the outside viewer would see as polar opposites. Sage is the star volleyball player of her high school’s varsity team, and is hoping to be chosen by a college scout to get a full ride to play in college. Len is a quiet photographer, often made fun of by the athletic kids for her quirks and odd behaviors that no one understands. What no one knows is that they both have struggles going on in their lives that are hidden from public view, and even from their families.
Cara Jean has always dealt with her bad health. Doctors can’t figure out what happening to her because Cara and her mom are always on the move. But when Cara’s mother sets up a fundraiser to raise money for her illness, she begins to question the people around her. Is Cara’s illness something she was born with? Or is someone intentionally making her sick?
