Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

Summary:

" When fifteen-year-old Jeff wakes up on New Year's Day to find himself in a hospital Psychiatric ward, bandages on his wrists, he's certain it's all a huge mistake. Jeff knows he's not like the other kids in there. They've got problems. But a funny thing happens as his forty-five-day sentence drags on-the crazies start to seem less crazy.

Compelling, witty, and refreshingly real. Suicide Notes is a darkly humorous novel that examines that fuzzy line between "normal" and the rest of us."

Review:

I got Suicide Notes from the Harper Teen First Look program not really expecting much from it. I thought it would be one of those dreary and depressing books on teen suicide but surprisingly it was humors at times making me laugh out loud but still serious about the topic it was about. The main character, Jeff, was funny to start with but not being serious about his condition which made me kind of dislike him. Though during the middle of the book to the end he kept growing more serious about the problem that brought him to want to commit suicide. The other people in the mental hospital where funny but their tails of why they got there where interesting and sad. My favorite character probably would have been a tie between Sadie and Amanda because they where good add to the book. Though I wished Amanda could have had a bigger role.

One problem I had with this book was the title and cover which made me think it would include suicide notes which it didn't have during the story. Also, how the reason why Jeff committed suicide wasn't really mentioned at all or supported until the end. Which made me think that Michael just through it in there so he didn't have a loose end to the book.

With a topic like teen suicide you expect a serious novel with a message but with Suicide Notes you got serious with funniness. This novel had a good way of getting the message out that suicide is never the answer even though it seems it at the time. Also, the message that you should accept yourself the way you are. Overall this book was funny and exciting at times making it a good read. Mr. Ford is a great new add to Young Adult fiction.

Suicide Notes comes out October 9 and I suggest you give it a try because it was truly funny at times making up for the semi weak suicide plot.

4/ 5 stars

*also reviewd for Harper Teen