This is a tough review for me. The subject matter is incredibly important and difficult to handle age appropriately. This novella deals with a middle school boy who is having mental health issues. Some of the issues seem to be triggered by events occurring around him and yet there seems to be a hint of possible (but undiagnosed) mental illness. The story is told through each of various narrators and their view of a simultaneous timeline.
I was disappointed with the beginning of the story and felt that this was the weakest version of the events. However, the second half of the book picked up with other accounts and was far more compelling of a story and I couldn’t stop reading.
This could have been better overall but for the topic I think it accomplished the goal of telling an account of the difficulty of navigating adolescence. Teens and preteens lack the perspective that time gives and therefore judge events in their lives as having much more importance than it truly should have. This book deals with issues head-on. Well done for tackling teenage mental health.

#HelpMe #NetGalley

This novella is a well-researched look at the very difficult topics of depression, bullying, cutting and suicide.

Mick lost his best friend to suicide four months ago and cutting is the only thing that makes the pain go away. He wants to believe that a fresh start with his dad at a new school can make a difference but he seems to encounter the same types of bullies again and again. And then there was Layla...

This book should be in every high school and maybe included in the curriculum. It is poignant, written the way kids speak and write, making it relatable and credible, and even though it's a tough read it bubbles with hope.

Thank you to Donna M. Zadunajsky, BookBuzz.net and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I would consider this a must read for teenagers. It's centered around bullying, self harm, and teen suicide. The novella is written in a journal style by different teenagers as they tell their story or the story of someone else. Some journals replay what happened by another teen's point of view.

The random quotes by Layla Manning throughout the story were very touching with plenty of important messages.

* I was provided an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher. It was my decision to read and review this book.

Wow. I had taught "Family Life" to 7th and 8th grade students for a number of years. Though quite a disturbing read, I want to be left with the beauty of Layla's strength and the knowledge that others are out there to help...

Mick is depressed and suicidal following the loss of his best friend to suicide. His mother has sent him to live with his father to get a 'fresh start' away from his memories. Unfortunately, his memories have moved right along with him.

He has a secret ... he's a cutter. It's the only way he can live with the guilt that he didn't know what his friend was going to do. No one knows his secret .. not even his new best friend, Layla.

At first, Mick thought being in a new school would mean the bullying stopped. Seems like no matter where he goes, someone bigger, older, meaner doesn't like the way Mick talks, walks, dresses. The anonymous messages on social media just don't stop.

And then he finds his father's gun ......

The author has done a credible job in researching and then writing this story. Kudos to the author. Self harm, especially when it's due to bullying, is not an easy subject to write about ... or to read. It's a thought-provoking look at the relationship between teens and how they handle one of today's hardest issues.

Many thanks to the author / Netgalley for the digital copy of this novella. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed. It had an interesting plot. I would be interested in reading more

This honestly wasn't that good. I didn't enjoy this book at all.

I liked the concept of this, but hated the writing