You Were Here by Cori McCarthy

You Were Here by Cori McCarthy - This YA novel features a group of troubled teens who bond loosely post high school graduation and tell this story from varied perspectives.  One, Jaycee, is still mourning her older daredevil brother (Jake) who died in a freak accident several years ago.  Another is Mik, the brother’s friend who is selectively mute, and then there is Natalie, Jaycee’s former BFF, and Natalie’s boyfriend, Zach and his artistic friend, Bishop. They set out to follow clues left behind by Jake – in some ways reminiscent of the Scooby-Doo crew, but grief and loss are pervasive. There is much less humor and often more physical danger as their urban explorations and adventures continue.

One aspect which is rather unique are the drawings and illustrations, some graphic novel in style, which relate to certain characters and are interspersed throughout the quest. You Were Here is a longer book (almost 400 pages) that takes a while to build suspense, but should appeal to fans (grades 10 and up per School Library Journal) of realistic fiction and mysteries. You Were Here by Cori McCarthy received starred reviews from Voya and Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. 

Mysteries set in Chicago and San Francisco

Jump Cut by local author Libby Fischer Hellmann marks the return of Chicago video producer Ellie Foreman.  Initially, Ellie is hard at work on a documentary about Delcroft, an aviation-related company, when her own company is suddenly and humiliatingly fired.  All that Ellie can think is that the swift action is related to some background footage and she arranges to meet the man shown in the questionable segment.  However, he is killed just before the meeting and she then finds a flash drive hidden in what may have been his cigarette pack.  From there, it’s off to a suspenseful plot involving encryption, decryption, malware, “ethical hackers,” surveillance, and international secrets.         

The plot brings to mind current headlines about security and privacy, about suppression of minorities, especially overseas, and about ethics and “collateral damage.”   Throughout the fast-paced story, Ellie is a very likeable and determined sleuth.  Jump Cut was an entertaining mystery and especially fun due to the references to The Happ Inn and other local venues.  Award-winning Author Libby Fischer Hellman will be speaking about her new book on THIS SUNDAY, March 6^th, at The Book Stall (Elm Street, Winnetka) at 2pm.    

Time of Fog and Fire by Rhys Bowen is another quick mystery I have been reading lately.  Its main character is Molly Murphy Sullivan who has featured in previous reviews. This time, Molly is off to San Francisco in 1906 – hence the fog and the post-natural disaster fires.  I liked the novelty of the West Coast setting, but thought that the author strained believability at several points: no cross-country travel with an infant (Molly’s son Liam) would go that smoothly; plus, she would not have left her child with virtual strangers; nor acted as stoically upon hearing of a loved one’s death.  That said, award-winning author Rhy Bowen’s writing is always diverting and Time of Fog and Fire will certainly continue to please her many, many fans.

Piece of Mind by Adelman and Reasons to Stay Alive by Haig

Piece of Mind by Michelle Adelman is a debut novel with a unique perspective.  The narrator is Lucy, a 27 year old woman who lives with her father because, at the age of three, she was in a serious accident that resulted in traumatic brain injury.  While Lucy cares for herself, she cannot drive, hold a job, or even really plan for the future due to limited executive functioning.  Her strengths lie in her drawing ability, her sweet temperament, and her empathy with animals. 

She moves to New York to be with her college age brother and frequently visits the zoo and a local coffee shop, all while tentatively testing her independence and forging new relationships.  Both Lucy and her brother experience a range of emotions and struggle to cope with their changing circumstances. I found Lucy’s voice to be very real and her introspection to feel like a dialogue at times. Kirkus says, “a soft-edged portrait of a subject who struggles to grasp complexity.”  I was fascinated at the glimpses of Lucy’s thought process, inspired in part by Adelman’s real life sister.  Starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly for Piece of Mind.

As I was reading Piece of Mind, I also read a non-fiction memoir about depression and anxiety: Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig.  It was unexpected, but these two books seemed to complement each other, sharing stories of resilience.  

Reasons to Stay Alive by British author Matt Haig is a very powerful book.  Haig depicts the pain of depression and anxiety and describes what his brain feels like, while acknowledging that the experience is unique for everyone.  As you read, it is likely that an emotional pain will be there, too, especially if you or someone you love is among the twenty percent (yes, one in five) of the population who experiences depression.

Reasons to Stay Alive definitely increased my understanding of this condition and my empathy for people who face depression.  It’s a relatively short book (272 pages) and one that is best read – and then re-read - in parts, but it is ultimately a hopeful work and absolutely worth reading.

Mental health seems increasingly to be a focus for new books. Another related title which is on my “to read” list is The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork, a favorite author with titles like Marcelo and the Real World.  In this new novel, Stork explores the story of a teenager learning to live with clinical depression.  Do you have a related title to recommend? If so, please let us know.