I got this softcover at the Book Cellar; it's this month's book-group selection. [The novel was inspired by the fascinating and sometimes harrowing non-fiction book The Lives They Left behind.]

The novel focuses on the life of troubled teen Izzy, who's living in a foster home because her mother was imprisoned for shooting her father. Izzy hasn't even read her mother's letters, preferring to break off all contact - this right here cues the reader that something's up, but Izzy won't figure it out until near the end of the book {wry grin}. Anyway, Izzy has struggled with many things, including self-harm, but at the present day seems to be in a better position - a new foster home with caring adults, a new school that may (or may not) let her re-invent herself...

But the school includes a clique of "mean girls", and Izzy winds up on the outside yet again. It's only when she goes along on a trip to an abandoned mental hospital and gets a peek at the inmates' belongings, stored in the attic and forgotten for decades, that she begins to take an interest in something outside her own troubles.

The story shifts between the journal of one patient, Clara, 18 years old in 1929 when her father had her committed to keep her from dating an "unsuitable" young man, and the present-day trials of Izzy. Clara's story is harrowing indeed, highlighting all the worst abuses of that era's views of mental illness - including the option to effectively file away perfectly healthy people simply because their parents, spouses, or guardians found them too difficult to deal with. Clara's trials include so many ups and downs, hope-spots and tragic let-downs, that at times it's hard to stick with it - and I wasn't sure that the book's conclusion was an adequate resolution. (I think the author could have pulled out a more believable conclusion that was as or more satisfying, but maybe that's just me.)

I do like the "found document"/epistolary style of story-telling, and for the most part this aspect of the book worked well. Some of Izzy's trials and tribulations felt a bit far-fetched as well, with some unresolved elements there - but then, not every story has to tie up all loose ends. Overall, I'm glad I read the book - but I do recommend the non-fiction inspiration!

I left this book on a bench in front of the Crowne Plaza hotel at around 3:30; hope the finder enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2017 Heads Shoulders Knees Toes release challenge. ***

I found this book sitting outside on a bench at the Crown Plaza in Nashua NH. It took a bit to get into the story, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It deals with betrayal of the worst kind, by ones parents, and even some bullying. It is also about finding yourself and not letting your past, nor other people, determine who you truly are. Read this book, you'll be glad you did.