Book Review: The Astonishing Color of After

THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER by Emily X.R. Pan is a compelling, young adult novel exploring life, death, and family secrets.

When her mom commits suicide, Leigh is convinced her mother has turned into a bird. When this half Asian and half white teen visits her maternal grandparents in Taiwan for the first time, she slowly becomes immersed in the culture and begins to uncover family secrets that help her better understand her mother, her family, and herself. Flashbacks help readers understand what led to her mother’s suicide along with providing insights into Leigh’s friendship and romance with Axel.

Librarians will find that teens enjoy the magical realism elements of this novel along with the contemporary setting. The balance of hope and despair and the movement between the past and present will add to the appeal for teens readers.

Published on March 20, 2018 by Little, Brown, an imprint of Hachette. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: The Memory of Light

THE MEMORY OF LIGHT by Francisco X. Stork traces the experience of a teen dealing with mental illness.

After a suicide attempt, Vicky ends up in the mental disorders ward at the hospital. Through the help of her peers and a supportive doctor, Vicky gradually learns to understand her depression and takes the first steps toward recovery.

Based on the author’s experience with depression, this work of contemporary fiction provides a realistic and honest view of life with a mental illness including the reactions of family and friends. The first-person perspective includes fascinating insights into Vicky’s thoughts and voyage of self-discovery.

Librarians will find a large audience among young adults seeking realistic fiction and this timely social issue. Fans of Stork will not be disappointed.

The author’s website contains discussion questions and a teacher’s guide.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.franciscostork.com/.

Published by Levine, an imprint of Scholastic on January 26, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

The AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION (AFSP) website provides resources to help youth and educators deal with suicide prevention and loss.

It’s National Suicide Prevention Week. The AFSP website provides a wealth of resources for educators working with youth. The resource is divided into sections.

The Understanding Suicide area provides quality information about suicide as a serious public health problem. The easy-to-read informational pages would be excellent resources for student projects as well as background information for educators. Topics include facts and figures, suicide warning signs, suicide risk factors, key research findings, engaging people with lived experience, and FAQs. Librarians will find these materials useful in displays along with books on the topic.

The Preventing Suicide section discusses suicide warning signs, finding help, treatment, and an interactive screening program. Specific educational materials and programs are aimed at teens and young adults.

The Coping with Suicide Loss area is specifically designed to help those who have lost loved ones to suicide.

The Research area is useful for those seeking more depth into the causes, treatments, and interventions associated with suicide and prevention.

The Advocacy and Public Policy section discusses ways that individuals and schools can get involved with becoming suicide prevention advocates.

For more information about National Suicide Prevention Week, go to http://www.afsp.org/…/in-t…/national-suicide-prevention-week. Consider using their sharable graphics at your school website or social media presence.

To visit the general website, go to http://www.afsp.org.

Book Review: All the Bright Places

ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES by Jennifer Niven is a compelling love story with a serious message. Revealed in alternating voices, this young adult novel tells the story of a boy and girl whose lives change course when they meet in a bell tower overlooking their high school. Suicide and mental illness, along with the every-day struggles of adolescence are masterfully explored in this heart-wrenching work of realistic fiction.

Jennifer Niven is famous for her fiction and nonfiction works for adults, however she clearly has a gift for getting inside the minds of young adults. Whether quoting Virginia Woolf or Dr. Seuss, Violet and Finch are written as quirky, smart, and authentic characters. Forming a bond after a shared, near death experience, readers are draw into the lives of these two very different teens who are meant for each other. While Finch is obsessed by the idea death, Violet is just trying to survive in a world that doesn’t make mental healing easy. Through this intense novel, Niven sends a clear message about the need for society to more effectively deal with issues related to mental illness. Don’t miss Niven’s author note and list of resources.

YA love stories come and go, but this is a brilliant work that will stand the test of time. It’s currently at the top of my Printz list for 2015.

Although the book won’t be released until January 6, 2015, the movie rights have already been purchased and the cast selected. For more, go to IMDB at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3907584.

Fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell will be lining up for this tear-jerker with a message. Fans of The Fault in Our Stars will be first in line, so get the Kleenex ready. Yes, it’s really that good.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.jenniferniven.com/.

Edelweiss ARC used for review