Thursday, February 9, 2012

Jones, Traci L. Silhouetted By the Blue


Jones, Traci L.   Silhouetted By the Blue  
Farrar Strauss see macmillan child.   2011  200p  16.99 978-0-374-36914-9     ms/jr VG-BN Realistic Fiction  

After her mother’s death, Serena’s father has fallen more an more into “the blue.”  That leaves Serena to deal with the entire house, her younger brother, Henry.  How can she juggle all this and still play the lead in the school musical?     
  Jones had drawn a vivid portrait of a family dealing with clinical depression.  Serena lashes out at her younger brother sometimes, but it is clear she loves him, but is overwhelmed.  She feels she cannot talk to anyone for fear they will taker her father away.  As things get worse and worse, she finally turns to her uncle for help.  The ending is realistic, but  hopeful, and Serena and Henry are beautifully drawn characters.  Teens can indentify with this poignant and difficult story of resilience.                 Depression  Pat Naismith

 

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