I Was Here

Any passionate reader will agree that stories can provide a specific kind of comfort and solace.  Most readers will also admit to identifying with a protagonist's struggle -- maybe not always, and not all struggles -- but certainly a majority of us have inserted ourselves into a book on occasion.  The idea of "bibliotherapy" is slightly more complicated, though.  It is one thing to just stumble upon the right book at the right time, but it is quite another for an educator or parent to "prescribe" a specific problem novel to an adolescent struggling with that selfsame problem.  It can feel too intrusive, almost an invasion of privacy.  There is also the very human tendency to think that our own problems are unique, and cannot or should not be reduced to the universality of fiction.

I have found some success in approaching the dilemma of book recommendations in a more sidelong manner.  A young friend of mine, age 20, suffers from depression and borderline personality disorder.  Her multiple suicide attempts have required extended periods of hospitalization.  When she is well enough, reading is a great comfort to her -- and the perfect antidote to empty hours and the lack of intellectual stimulation, not to mention the problem of being "in one's own head" too much.  Last summer she fell in love with a book that I had enthusiastically recommended:  Just One Day, by Gayle Forman.  Although my friend's struggles were not identical to those of Allyson, the protagonist of the book, there was definitely an emotional resonance.  When Allyson experiences an emotionally cataclysmic event, her carefully ordered life falls apart for some time; and then she begins to put it back together again.  The story is about a specific transitional moment -- in this case, the first year of university -- but it deals with a number of transitions common to all adolescents:  separating out from parents, making independent decisions, taking risks, suffering rejection and exploring new territory.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman's fifth novel for the Young Adult audience, and so far all of her work has been aimed at the upper end of this age group.  She writes about adolescents transitioning into adulthood:  going off to college, losing their parents, having sexual experiences and learning how to support themselves, both emotionally and financially.  Forman consistently deals with emotionally tough themes, but never more so than in I Was Here, which deals with adolescent suicide.

The book begins with a suicide letter, sent by email on a time delay from Meg to Cody, her best friend.  Like many survivors of a loved one's suicide, Cody is stricken by guilt.  Why hadn't she seen how unhappy Meg was?  Why hadn't she done something to help?  Cody's search for answers leads her to another troubling possibility:  Did someone actually encourage Meg to kill herself?

Forman withholds critical information to the plot for a long time, and perhaps longer than necessary.  On one hand, this gives the story a mystery/thriller element that some teens may find exciting.  There is also a highly conflicted romance between Cody, and an off/on boyfriend of Meg's who is also suffering guilt in the wake of her death.  On the other hand, as an adult reader I felt some anxiety about how she was treating this highly sensitive material.  In the end, Forman brings the story to a close which feels appropriate for both the characters and the reader.  Even more importantly, her Afterword makes clear how strong the link between depression and suicide is -- and how getting the appropriate help can make the difference, but does not do so in all cases.

Understandably, this is a painful book to read.  Forman sets the novel in an economically depressed area of the Northwest, described by Cody as Shitburg.  Cody has been raised by a single mother, whose parenting style has been largely negligent.  Cody cleans houses for a living because she hasn't got her act together, or saved enough money, to go to college.  As the story progresses, and at times Cody begins to identify uncomfortably with Meg, several voices begin to make the point that being "depressed" and sad/angry/frustrated is not the same as being clinically depressed.  This is an important distinction, and the novel gradually but definitely leads the reader to make it for him or herself.  Having said that, I would feel somewhat uncomfortable "prescribing" this book to anyone who is suffering from clinical depression.  It might well educate those young adult readers who are fortunate enough to not suffer from it, though.

Top Ten Reads from 2014

These are the books that I could not get out of my head. 

These are the books that I found myself recommending over and over again.

Most of these titles were published in 2013-14, but a few of them were just new to me.  

All of them are well-worth a read.

 She is Not Invisible, by Marcus Sedgwick

One hot day in August, 16 year old Laureth and her little brother Benjamin board a plane for New York City.  They are on a quest to find their father, who has gone missing; after receiving a blackmailing email, Laureth suspects foul play. Two problems:  No one knows where they are going, and Laureth is blind.   Both mystery and thriller, this unusual novel explores the idea of coincidence.    Is it a matter of mathematical probability, or something more significant?  Let the reader decide.

 We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart

The beautiful Sinclair family have their very own island off the coast of Massachusetts.  Every summer they go there to swim, play games and mess about in boats with their cousins -- until the fifteenth summer, when something unimaginable and tragic happens.   Even as the reader is led to an understanding of the tragedy, along with the amnesiac narrator, it still manages to be surprising and completely devastating.  Beautifully written and impossible to put down.

 Just One Day, by Gayle Forman

 Allyson didn’t really expect a summer trip to Europe would change her life, but when she makes an impetuous decision to visit Paris with a near stranger there are far-reaching consequences.  Much more than a summer romance novel, this engaging story explores how one crucial day can spin a life into a whole new direction.  The coming-of-age theme gets an emotionally complex treatment in this novel for older YA readers.

 Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell

18 year old Cath:  first year university student, twin, and fan fiction writer with reclusive tendencies.  Cath has family problems and love interest problems, and spends way too much time in a Harry Potteresque fantasy world, but she also possesses a dry sense of humour and a strong sense of self.   Fangirl describes the seductive power of a fictional world, and it creates that, too.

 Liar and Spy, by Rebecca Stead

This memorable book about friendship will appeal to younger readers, or anyone who appreciates excellent writing and a well-told story.   When the book begins, main character Georges is having a hard time.  His family has had to move, his mother is never at home and he is being bullied at school.   Georges’ only potential new friend is a home-schooled spy called Safer – who never leaves their apartment building.   Full of humour and quirky details, this book will surprise and thoroughly engage its readers.

    

Winger, by Andrew Smith

Ryan Dean West:  gifted student, excellent athlete, lover of women, genius cartoonist. 

Ryan Dean West:  14 year old self-described “loser.” Hyperactive and prone to social gaffes.

Ryan Dean West:  two years younger than everyone else, but looking for a level playing field.

RDW punches above his weight and so does this humorous novel, with unexpected serious and touching moments.  The quantity of excellent cartoons edges this novel into graphic territory.

                                        

 Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein

 Two young British women, both of them trapped in Nazi-occupied France in 1943.  Two friends, one a pilot and the other a spy.  Nazi interrogation will force one girl to give up her secrets, but how much of her story is truth – and how much lies?  This compelling story of friendship and bravery combines a wealth of historical research with a thrilling plot.

 Rose Under Fire, by Elizabeth Wein

This gripping sequel to Code Name Verity tells the story of a young American pilot named Rose Justice.  When a risky flight manoeuvre results in Rose’s capture by the Germans, she finds herself in Ravensbrück– one of the notorious Nazi concentration camps. There, Rose is befriended by a group of political prisoners who have survived unimaginable atrocities.  Together, they will use the power of stories, poetry and friendship to overcome the horror and despair of their situation.

Graceling, by Kristin Cashore

Lady Katsa is the best fighter in the realm – and the tool of her uncle, a cruel and corrupt king.  Graced by extraordinary skills, Katsa rejects her role of royal thug and dedicates her protection to a vulnerable young princess instead.  This original fantasy, the first in a trilogy, will be particularly appreciated by readers seeking strong female characters.  Author Kristin Cashore skilfully blends romance and adventure in this emotionally satisfying novel. 

The Girl with all the Gifts, by M.R. Carey

Melanie is the smartest girl in the class, but she doesn’t understand why she and her fellow students are kept locked in their wheelchairs all the time.  She doesn’t know why they never go out into the world they read about in books.  Dr. Caldwell sees Melanie as the key to saving what is left of a ruined world, but she expects to find her truths on an operating table – and Melanie has other ideas.  This post-apocalyptic thriller was written for adults, but mature teen readers will find it an exciting, engrossing read.

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