A Tragic Kind of Wonderful

“The portrayal of Mel’s bipolar disorder is nuanced and reads true to life. Her fear of rejection will be familiar to teenagers, whether they’re acquainted with mental illness or not, making it an important gateway to self-acceptance and understanding of others. An intimate and affecting portrait of mental illness helmed by an achingly real protagonist.”—Kirkus Reviews“Lindstrom (Not If I See You First) deftly addresses life with bipolar disorder, as well as the internalized shame often felt by individuals with mental illness. Emotions run high as Lindstrom’s story confronts mental illness, grief, and shame, but the optimistic resolution provides balance.”—Publishers Weekly“Lindstrom’s compelling novel is rich in clinical detail, which is nicely integrated into the plot, ensuring the novel is never didactic but always dramatic…Readers will find Mel’s story always absorbing and gain insight into her troubling disorder. Those who enjoy this fine novel will also enjoy Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places(2015).”—Booklist“Mel’s struggle to take her condition seriously without letting mental illness define her life is heart-rending.”
—The Horn Book“An engaging and fast-moving plot that foregrounds Mel as a person who maintains a strong ethic of kindness even and especially when [she’s] down, making her a bipolar poster child fully worthy of reader sympathy.”—BCCB