Suicide Notes
2008
- fiction
- homosexuality
- suicide
- psychiatric hospitals
- diaries
- juvenile fiction
- suicidal behavior
- teenagers
- gay teenagers
- identity
The story
An unforgettable coming of age novel for fans of 13 Reasons Why, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Fifteen-year-old Jeff wakes up on New Year’s Day to find himself in the hospital—specifically, in the psychiatric ward. Despite the bandages on his wrists, he’s positive this is all some huge mistake. Jeff is perfectly fine, perfectly normal; not like the other kids in the hospital with him. But over the course of the next forty-five days, Jeff begins to understand why he ended up here—and realizes he has more in common with the other kids than he thought.
What it’s like
Quiet, close-up interiority in a sterile setting: the fluorescent hum of a psychiatric ward, pale institutional corridors, plain hospital bedsheets, and the bright, flat light of winter that spills through barred windows. The prose is first-person and diary-like, conversational and wry, with short entries, lists and blunt asides that let a sharp, defensive teenage voice carry the book. Its vibe is bleak but bitingly honest, with flashes of dark humor and a slow, uneasy warmth that builds between patients who have little reason to trust one another. Pacing is brisk and episodic, moving day by day through group sessions, meals and private confessions, so the reading feels like being let into a notebook that was never meant for anyone else. The emotional arc follows a defensive boy who insists he doesn't belong and slowly lets his guard down among the other kids. Suicide, self-harm and hospitalization are central and discussed directly, though the book stays off the page for graphic detail; the intensity is emotional rather than physical, with heavy sadness and occasional fear. It suits readers who want raw, serious teen fiction about identity and mental health, and it is not a gentle comfort read.
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