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I had the pleasure of listening to this book as an audiobook and OMG It was amazing! I loved the fact that the main character is slightly bilingual because it allowed me to relate on a deeper level when she goes from English to Spanish and vice Versa. Her love for her nanny Juanita is the loves that we have for our grandmas. I really love the way she talks about her loved ones.
This story begins with a suicide, yes but what made me want to read it is that it doesn't deal with the events leading up to it, but with the events that occur after, as Vicky tries to navigate living a life that she doesn't think is worth living. Throughout her story, she meets other teenagers like her, EM, Gabriel, and Mona. Together, at Lakeview, they go on a journey to understand their illnesses better, support each other and hopefully survive.
Their journeys are all unique and different, but what I appreciated about the way the characters were written is that they are honest, sometimes painfully honest in their thoughts regarding suicide, living life, needing help, and reaching out to others. As Vicky fights for herself, she must learn to find the small things in life that bring her joy, the strength to stand up for what she believes is best for her, and a way to continue to want to stay alive.
It was a well-paced story, and as an audio-book, it really gave you a feel for how each person was feeling, It felt like being inside their heads. Props to Francis X. Stork and Audio Narrator Frankie Corzo for making this such a compelling and accessible story!