Looking For Normal

Author:Betty Monthei

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Suicide, Death of Parents, Family Relationship Problems, Grief
Year of Publication: 2005

Publisher & Location: Harper Collins

ISBN#:0060725052
978-0060725051

Target Age Level: Mature Teen

# of Pages: 192

Quality of Illustrations: none

Brief Summary:

After being called out of class by the principal, 12-year-old Annie is told that her father shot and killed her mother and then turned the gun on himself. Annie and younger brother Ted experience all the stages of grief (shock, denial, sadness, acceptance) as they transition to living with grandparents who hated their father. Rather than pulling together, the family's healing is slowed by Grandma's drinking and misplaced anger, Grandpa's increasing absences from the home, and the children's disenfranchisement from their friends. Only after Grandma spirals out of control does the family finally begin to deal with its problems.

This book deals with some serious issues.

Someone I Love Died by Suicide

Author/authors: Doreen Cammarata

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: suicide

Year of publication: 2001

ISBN#: 978-0970933294

Publisher: Grief Guidance, Inc.

Age level: Lower Elementary

# of pages: 34

Quality of illustrations: Excellent

Brief summary: This book is meant for adults to read to children who have known someone who died by suicide. The book discusses normal grieving symptoms and healthy ways of coping.

Activity: Have the student make a memory book of the person who died with pictures and stories.

Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws

Author: Kate Bornstein

Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: suicide

Year of Publication: 2006
Publisher and Location: Seven Stories Press
# ISBN-10: 1583227202
# ISBN-13: 978-1583227206
Target Age Level: high school
# of Pages: 192
Quality of Illustrations: no ilustrations
Brief Summary:
Hello, Cruel World features a catalog of 101 Alternatives to Suicide that range from the playful, to the irreverent, to the highly controversial. Designed to encourage readers to give themselves permission to unleash their hearts' harmless desires, the book has only one directive: "Don't be mean." It is this guiding principle that brings its reader on a self-validating journey, which forges wholly new paths toward a resounding decision to choose life.

Tenderly intimate and unapologetically edgy, Kate is the radical role model, the affectionate best friend, and the guiding mentor all in one kind and spirited package.
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: May help teenagers to understand the roots of their problems.

Activity: Read and discuss in groups.

My Uncle Keith Died

Author: Carol Ann Loehr
Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: Suicide
Year of Publication: 2006
Publisher and Location: Trafford Publishing
ISBN# 978-1425102623
Target Age Level: Upper Elementary
# of Pages: 24
Quality of Illustrations: Nice illustrations.
Brief Summary: Cody's uncle Keith commited suicide. In this book, Cody learns about depression and that sometimes it can lead to suicide.
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: The book also comes with a discussion guide that helps adults answer common questions that children ask when someone they love commits suicide.
Activity: Have the students compare what Cody is going through with what they are going through. Use the questions in the discussion guide to talk with the students about what depression is and how to deal with the grief.

Suicide: The Forever Decision

Author: Paul G. Quinnet

Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: suicide

Year of Publication: 1987
Publisher and Location: Crossroad Classic, New York, NY
ISBN-10: 0824513525
Target Age Level: high school
# of Pages: 156
Quality of Illustrations: no ilustrations

Brief Summary: this book discusses the social aspects of suicide, anger, loneliness, depression, stress, hopelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, the consequences of a suicide attempt, and how to get help.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:
A straightforward approach and insightful advice to those considering suicide.

Activity: Highlight the favorite parts of the a chapter and discuss them in small groups.
Posted by Nalu de Araujo Nunes

Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story

Author: Lynn C. Tolson

Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: mental ilness emotional instability of parent

Year of Publication: 2003
Publisher and Location: The Book Peddlers
ISBN-10: 1410724174
Target Age Level: high-school
# of Pages: 304
Quality of Illustrations: no ilustrations

Brief Summary: This is a story of a young woman who attempted suicide and her journey towards recovery. It’s a true story that shows cycle of abuse and provides a great message of hope.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:
This book is a great resource for survivors of abuse – sexual, physical and emotional. It’s an inspiring story of courage that may empower minds and spirits.

Activity:
1)Have the students read the book and discuss in groups.
2) Mini-drama: groups select a scene from the books and prepare a quick dramatization of the scene.
Posted by Nalu de Araujo Nunes

Drowning Anna

Author: Sue Mayfield
Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Suicide, bullying
Year of Publication: 2001
Publisher & Location: New York: Hyperion Books
ISBN#: 0786809574
Target Age Level: High school
# of Pages: 256
Quality of Illustrations: none
Brief Summary: When brainy and shy Anna Goldmith moves from her posh London school to a small Yorkshire town, everyone starts to gossip. Her accent makes her stick out a mile, while her near-perfect grades set her apart as a teacher’s pet. But when the most popular girl in school, captivating and witty Hayley Parkin, befriends Anna, she couldn’t be more thrilled. Just when it seems Hayley and Anna’s friendship is growing, Hayley begins her cruel games. What starts as innocent teasing leads to mean remarks and even violence, toward frightened Anna. But Hayley’s cunning leaves a deeper impression on Anna than anyone, even her best friend Melanie, could ever anticipate. This compelling novel takes a frank look at the dynamics of teen popularity and the dangerous extremes to which bullying can be taken. Ends with Anna attempting to commit suicide, though you do learn that she survives.
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:

British, so some lingo and references may be lost on American teens. Serious themes, so make sure the students are mature enough to handle it.

Activity: Discuss what Anna could have done at various points to address the bullying. What were her alternatives to attempting suicide? What can she & others do after the suicide attempt? Write an alternate ending.

Thirteen Reasons Why

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why

Author: Jay Asher

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Suicide, bullying, rape, peer pressure

Year of Publication: 2007

Publisher & Location: Penguin Group

ISBN#: 9781595141712

Target Age Level: Young Adult

# of Pages: 320

Quality of Illustrations: none

Brief Summary: Hannah Baker has just committed suicide. Clay Jensen receives a mysterious package that includes 13 cassette tapes. After locating a tape player, he begins to listen and discovers Hannah has made the tapes. Thirteen tapes for thirteen reasons why she chose to committee suicide. Clay is one of those reasons. This compelling novel illuminates some seemingly little events that frequently happen to teenagers that may have serious consequences. Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book: sensitive subject matter

Post Reading Activities: Discuss social issues that teenagers deal with such as peer pressure, bullying, stereotyping, family conflict, friend conflict, substance abuse, rape and suicide. Discuss how different people deal with these social issues. Discuss positive strategies for dealing with these issues and how to help friends dealing with crisis such as rape, substance abuse, depression, mental illness, and suicide.

Feeling Down: The Way Back Up

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Author/Authors: Roxane Brown Kunz and Judy Harris Swenson

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: SUICIDE

Year of Publication: 1986

Publisher & Location: Dillon Press, Inc Minneapolis, MN

ISBN#: 0-87518-326-3

Target Age Level: Upper elementary

# of Pages: 37

Quality of Illustrations: There are minimal illustrations which are drawings.

Brief Summary:
This book is from a siblings point of view about his sister’s attempted suicide. It portrays his questions, anger and confusion about what his sister did. The family talks to a therapist who helps them learn how to communicate better. There are signs that are listed for suicide. This book may be a good resource to use when helping siblings cope with a family member who has attempted suicide.

Post reading activity:

1. Try different activities that can help reduce stress. Have the individuals write down which things they like doing. Some examples can be to paint, color, work with clay, listen to music, dancing, bike riding, swimming, sports, yoga or other relaxation techniques. Have each individual keep a list of the activities so that they can use it as a reminder of things to try when they are stressed.
2. If working with several individuals, try working on communication by doing a compliment circle. Everyone sits in the circle and thinks of one nice thing to say about someone else in the circle. However, everyone has to receive a compliment so only each person can receive one compliment. The individual who receives the compliment needs to listen carefully and say thank you. If working with a family, have them try doing this each night around the dinner table or before bed.

When Nothing Matters Anymore: A survival guide for depressed teens

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: SUICIDE

Author/authors: Bev Cobain edited by Elizabeth Verdick ; [foreword by Peter S. Jensen].

Year of Publication: 1998

Book Title: When Nothing Matters Anymore

ISBN #: 1575420368 (pbk.); 9781575420363

Age Level: Junior High – Young Adult

# of pages: 165

Quality of illustrations: Black and white, simple

Brief Summary: This book is written as a survival guide for depressed teens. It is written by the cousin of Kurt Cobain’s, a rock star who ended committed suicide after a long battle with depression and drugs. This book contains personal stories from teens, survival tips that can help teens who are struggling with suicidal ideation, resources where you can go if you are having these thoughts, and a section entitled, “The truth about depression” which is written to answer some of the basic questions of what depression is, why it happens and what can be done to help it. This is a great resource for any middle or high school student who might know the story of Kurt Cobain and who might benefit from a simply written survival guide for getting through depression & managing suicidal ideation.

Post reading activity: There is a relaxation chapter in this book that can be expanded into a full length relaxation session for teens that may need be in desperate need of it. For an activity, lead the class or group of students you are working with in a relaxation session as outlined in the book and teach the students how to do these techniques at home and help them create a no-suicide contract with you that outlines them using relaxation techniques to bring themselves down from elevated emotions. Follow up with each group member.

Amazing Gracie

Author: A.E. Cannon

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Mental illness of a parent, family financial problems, suicide

Year of Publication: 1991

Publisher & Location: Dell Publishing, New York, New York

ISBN#: 0440215706

Target Age Level: Jr High, High School

# of Pages: 214

Quality of Illustrations: None

Brief Summary: (Set in American Fork and Salt Lake City, UT )Gracie’s father died when she was four, so it’s been her and her mother ever since. Gracie looks a lot like her mother, but she’s afraid she’s like her in other ways. Cynthia, Gracie’s mom, struggles with depression. She had to go to the state hospital when Gracie was seven. Gracie has felt it her duty to keep her mother happy. Cynthia gets remarried to Pete who sometimes seems irresponsible. Gracie has to adjust to a new step-father and step-brother. Pete moves the family to Salt Lake City so he can pursue his multi-level marketing career. This should help Cynthia with her depression, but it doesn’t. She spirals down until she attempts suicide. Gracie finds her lying on her bed. Cynthia is taken to the hospital where she stays for a while. She eventually returns and there is hope that she will be able to control her depression.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: The characters are very real and believable. It could be very applicable to students in this area as it is set in American Fork and Salt Lake.

Activity: Have students identify what Gracie is experiencing with a mother who suffers from depression. Identify how she handles the responsibility and her feelings towards her mother when she attempts suicide.

Eight Stories Up: An Adolescent Chooses Hope Over Suicide

Author: Dequincy A. Lezine and David Brent

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Suicide, depression

Year of Publication: 2008

Publisher & Location: Oxford University Press, New York

ISBN#: 978-0-19-532557-7

Target Age Level: High School, Young Adult

# of Pages: 194

Quality of Illustrations: NA

Brief Summary: This book is a young African American Male's personal experiance with suicidal ideation. It also has the latest information on suicide and it's prevention in young people. It also has tips on overcoming suicidal thoughts and feelings, and saying yes to life. Finally a discussion on how to stay healthy at home and at school.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:
This book does have some bad language and maybe a little advanced for younger kids. It's a bit of a long read, but it will help older teens to identify with someone who has similar feelings.

Activities: I would have the teen read a chapter of this book before each session and then talk about what things they can relate to in the author's thinking. Then we will look at ways the book talks about in how to deal with those thoughts and work it in their personal lives.

Shizuko's Daughter

Author: Kyuiko Mori

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Suicide, Step-Parents

Year of Publication: 1994

Publisher & Location: Fawcett Juniper, New York

ISBN#: 0449704335 OR 978-0449704332

Target Age Level: Junior High & High School

# of Pages: 210

Quality of Illustrations: None

Brief Summary: Yuki's mother, Shizuko, committed suicide when Yuki was only 11 years old. The book follows Yuki's life into young adulthood as she process her mother's death, as well as her memories of her mother.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: The author writes in such a way to present memories and flashbacks as acceptable and normal, as well as necessary for the healing process. It presents a positive outlook about being able to recover and move on with life, even though it may take many years.

This book can help in leading discussions about the grief cycle and how pain can be softened over time. Yuki wanted to become the women her mama would be proud of, which helped her to move on in her life. A discussion could be based on how each student could do this.

Activity: Draw or write a prose about the person that past on to remember them by that could be a reminder of good memories (E.g. Yuki draws sketches of the clothes her mother had made after her step-mother threw them out).

Shizzuko's Daughter

Author: Kyuiko Mori

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Suicide, Step-Parents

Year of Publication: 1994

Publisher & Location: Fawcett Juniper, New York

ISBN#: 0449704335 OR 978-0449704332

Target Age Level: Junior High & High School

# of Pages: 210

Quality of Illustrations: None

Brief Summary: Yuki's mother, Shizuko, committed suicide when Yuki was only 11 years old. The book follows Yuki's life into young adulthood as she process her mother's death, as well as her memmories of her mother.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: The author writes in such a way to present memories and flachbacks as acceptable and normal, as well as necesary for the healing process. It presents a postitive outlook about being able to recover and move on with life, even though it may take many years.

The Burn Journals

Author: Brent Runyon

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Suicide

Year of Publication: 2004

Publisher & Location: Knopf Books for Young Readers (Hardcover) ; Vintage (Paperback)

ISBN#:

• ISBN-10: 1400096421
• ISBN-13: 978-1400096428

Target Age Level: 14-18

# of Pages: 384

Quality of Illustrations: N/A

Brief Summary: On the sixteenth page of this incisive memoir, eighth-grader Brent Runyon drenches his bathrobe with gasoline and ("Should I do it? Yes.") sets himself on fire. The burns cover 85 percent of his body and require six months of painful skin grafts and equally invasive mental-health rehabilitation. From the beginning, readers are immersed in the mind of 14-year-old Brent as he struggles to heal body and mind, his experiences given devastating immediacy in a first-person, present-tense voice that judders from uncensored teenage attitude and poignant anxiety (he worries about getting hard-ons during physical therapy) to little-boy sweetness. And throughout is anguish over his suicide attempt and its impact on his family: "I have this guilt feeling all over me, like oil on one of those birds in Alaska." Runyon has, perhaps, written the defining book of a new genre, one that gazes as unflinchingly at boys on the emotional edge as Zibby O'Neal's The Language of Goldfish (1980) and Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak (1999) do at girls. Some excruciatingly painful moments notwithstanding, this can and should be read by young adults, as much for its literary merit as for its authentic perspective on what it means to attempt suicide, and, despite the resulting scars, be unable to remember why.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This book is not appropriate for use with all clients. The book can be a little graphic, as it runs through the thoughts of a 14 year old boy. The book is very honest, and is written in small vignettes which can be used independently. The majority of the book deals with the psychological and physical recovery of the kid and ends with his return to regular high school.

Almost A Hero

Author(s): John Neufeld

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: Abuse, Suicide, Homeless Children

Year of Publication: 1995

Publisher & Location: New York

ISBN #: 0689807406

Target Age Level: Upper Elementary

# of Pages: 160

Quality of Illustrations: None

Brief Summary (1-2 paragraphs): Ben is mad when he hears that he has to spend his vacation in a pre-school for homeless kids. He gets really involved and tries to save a child who he thinks is being abused.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or things to consider when using this book with children: