
A parent should reach for this book when their teenager is navigating the slow and agonizing process of a loved one on life support. This poignant story follows Ellis, whose father is in a coma after a tragic accident. It captures the unique limbo of grief where a person is physically present but emotionally gone. Kekla Magoon masterfully balances the heavy reality of medical decisions with the everyday pressures of high school, friendships, and first love. Parents will appreciate the book's honest, secular approach to end-of-life care and its validation of the anger and confusion that often accompany long-term family crises. It is a deeply empathetic choice for ages 12 and up.
Extensive focus on a parent in a coma and the decision to remove life support.
Terminal illness, end-of-life medical decisions (removing life support), grief, and a parental accident.
A teenager who is experiencing the "long goodbye" of a family member on life support or with a degenerative illness.
This book can be read cold by most teens, but parents should be prepared to discuss the ethics of life support and the legalities of living wills, as these are central themes in the final act. A parent might reach for this when their child says, "It feels like he's already gone, even though he's still here," or when a teen is struggling with the guilt of wanting to enjoy their own life while a parent is hospitalized.
Younger teens will focus on the social dynamics and the budding romance with Maya as a tether to normalcy. Older readers will more deeply appreciate the complex ethical dilemma Ellis's mother faces regarding the medical directive.
Unlike many books about loss that focus on a sudden death, Magoon brilliantly captures the specific, agonizing limbo of a loved one who is neither fully present nor fully gone. It positions the romance as a healthy sanctuary during a family crisis. """
High schooler Ellis is living in a state of suspended animation. A year after a tragic accident left her father in a persistent vegetative state, she and her mother must grapple with the heavy reality of life support, medical ethics, and the decision of when to say goodbye. Amidst this, Ellis navigates her junior year, a changing friendship with her best friend, and her burgeoning feelings for a girl named Maya.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review