School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-In eighth grade, Irwin began experiencing symptoms of depression, including hopelessness, despair, and a stifling cloudiness of mind. This book chronicles her experience with "the dark force that had seized control of my life," covering early signs, thoughts of suicide, inpatient treatment in a psychiatric hospital, and readjustment to high school life. Aimed at adolescents who struggle with mental illness, Irwin's story provides a road map to recovery that she describes as "a graph with lots of peaks and valleys, but an overall trend that was heading upward." Her voice is that of an older, wiser friend who empathizes with what depressed teens are going through. Chapters are divided into two sections. In "My Story," Irwin details her personal history with depression. "The Big Picture" includes more general information on symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and a "Guy's-Eye View" sidebar. This format is highly effective for balancing the author's autobiographical perspective with scientific input from her coauthors. Additional features include FAQs and sources for more information. This title is an excellent choice for readers of Brent Runyon's The Burn Journals (Knopf, 2004) and Gail Griffith's Will's Choice (HarperCollins, 2005). Sadly, the unappealing cover may deter browsers, but this book is well worth a close look.-Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.