I received an advance uncorrected proof version, and I first want to say that I am so glad that I did. I needed to say that before I made my first statement. When I chose this book, I wanted to love it, but when I started reading, I questioned whether I would actually finish it. Not one to reread when I am confused, I quickly realized that I was going to have to read carefully and thoughtfully to follow the diverging thoughts of Klee, the main character. I wanted to put together the puzzle of Klee’s mind before the author was willing to give me all of the pieces.

But I kept reading because I quickly became invested in Klee. In finding out what caused the straw to break the camel’s back, and then in understanding how it got to that point. Gae Polisner created such a realistic teenage mind. One that YA readers and adults alike will find themselves relating to.

As an educator, I can image so many different students seeing themselves in Klee, because I saw so many of my students in him. I loved that while this book has an incredibly serious tone and tackles the highly emotional and heavy topic of mental health, it does so without causing the reader to wallow in sadness. Too many YA stories focus on creating tears. This book creates hope, without being trite or corny. No matter who they are, what they look like, or where they live, young adults NEED this story in their lives.