THE MUSEUM OF US by Tara Wilson Redd is one of
those books which I am definitely looking forward to discussing with other readers.
The writing in this debut young adult novel is magical. I loved the first half of this book
where readers meet Sadie and experience her fantastic imagination:
“George didn’t sit with her in the library. Why would he,
when there were pages and pages to explore? She followed him down into the
depths of the catacombs of Paris, and to the top of the world’s highest
mountains. She sat alone, though she was never truly alone. After all, she wasn’t
really there.”
But about halfway through, the novel turns very dark with a surprising
cutting incident and Sadie subsequently grapples with intense emotional pain as
she eventually chooses between George in her fantasy world and her loyal
support system including boyfriend Henry and best friend Lucie. Like All the Bright Places, THE MUSEUM
OF US may be emotionally difficult to read in part, but it will prompt
some important, reflective discussions. As Sadie muses, “you have to wonder, is
it fate or could we have changed it? .... Life only goes one direction, and
this moment, and the next moment, once they’re in the past you can’t change
them....” “What happens to all those forgotten thoughts? If no one remembers
something, did it even really happen?” “What
happens to a thought when you are not thinking it?”
Tara Wilson Redd’s THE MUSEUM OF US received a
starred review from School Library Journal:
“Readers will identify strongly with Sadie and her journey as she struggles to
cope with trauma and let go of her secrets.” Here's a related story in the news recently: I’m Not OK app developed by teens using technology to help those struggling with depression and
anxiety.
