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A review by jackiehorne
Fans of the Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa
4.0
Not a romance in romantic love sense, more a story about love between friends that at times crosses the boundary between friendship and sexual love. Biracial Mira is starting 10th grade at a new school after being hospitalized for a suicide attempt earlier in the year. Shy white Jeremy, a gay boy with two gay male parents, is returning to 10th grade at the same school after having spent much of the previous spring recovering from a bullying/hate crime. Outgoing Sebby, Mira's gay (presumably white?) friend from the psych ward, doesn't go to their school, but spends much of his time there anyways; it's a lot better than his life at his foster home, where no one really cares much about what he does, or why he tried to take his own life.
With a push from his friendly teacher, Peter, Jeremy starts an after school art club, which Mira and Sebby (who rarely attends his own school) join. Thus begins their triangulated friendship, each trying to help the others stay emotionally afloat even as their own problems threaten to capsize them.
Beautifully written and deeply felt, Scelsa has crafted a compelling depiction of depression and adolescent emotional pain, one that does not wallow in trauma but rather depicts those struggling with its aftermath with compassion and empathy.
With a push from his friendly teacher, Peter, Jeremy starts an after school art club, which Mira and Sebby (who rarely attends his own school) join. Thus begins their triangulated friendship, each trying to help the others stay emotionally afloat even as their own problems threaten to capsize them.
Beautifully written and deeply felt, Scelsa has crafted a compelling depiction of depression and adolescent emotional pain, one that does not wallow in trauma but rather depicts those struggling with its aftermath with compassion and empathy.