Review Detail

What worked: I'm a huge fan of short story anthologies. This collection of tales addresses mental illness in a way that is so relatable with how they break down the trite stereotypes that unfortunately continue to be out there. There's short stories, free verse, and even one story in graphic novel format.

A few of my favorites:

AVALANCHE by Nikki Grimes told in free verse really spoke to me about it being okay to ask for help, especially if you're the one being strong for someone else in crisis. The author at the end says:

'...People always tell me how strong I am, but you want to know a secret? No one is strong on their own. Everyone needs support...'

MY SISTER RAFAELA IS A GOOD PERSON by Mercedes Angel Acosta is about two sisters and how family members impact one another when more than one is struggling. I loved how she shows the older sister, who as a street medic is impacted by what she's witnessed, is struggling with PTSD and how the younger sister tries to reach out to her.

BACK OF THE TRUCK by Isabel Quintero addresses anxiety and panic attacks. I have GAD and panic attacks and this short story was very relatable to my own experiences as a teen and even now.

There are other shorts that address depression; sexual abuse; OCD; and suicide. Each tale addresses these topics in a way that peels back the misinformation that continues to be out there. All the authors share their own experiences in such a way that readers are sure to feel they've been seen. I know more than a few of these stories did that with me. I only wished a book like this had been around when I was a teen and a young adult. The writing is powerful, not preachy, and all resonate with hope.

Insightful anthology that is both inspiring and hopeful. I totally recommend.