Suicide Notes

Suicide Notesby
Michael Thomas Ford
4/5 Stars

From the Publisher: When fifteen-year-old Jeff wakes up on New Year’s Day to find himself in a hospital psychiatric ward, bandages on his wrists, he’s certain it’s all a huge mistake. Jeff knows he’s not like the other kids in there. They’ve got problems. But a funny thing happens as his forty-five-day sentence drags on – the crazies start to seem less crazy.

Compelling, witty, and refreshingly real, Suicide Notes is a darkly humorous novel that examines that fuzzy line between “normal” and the rest of us.

Sentenced to a psychiatric hospital for forty-five days, Jeff begins a journal of his experiences, encounters, and discoveries. Jeff is a typical teenager – sarcastic, disrespectful, and belligerent. He doesn’t believe he belongs in the ward, nevermind the scars on his wrists. When his doctor, whom Jeff has nicknamed Cat Poop, attempts to bring his problems to light, Jeff responds with typical off-color remarks.

But as the days pass, and Jeff interacts with the other patients, he begins to see that even troubled teens deserve kindness and respect.

Ultimately, Suicide Notes is a novel of self-discovery and tolerance. By the end of the book, Jeff is able to acknowledge and love himself – as well as move toward healing the relationship with his parents.

I found Suicide Notes to be a realistic look at the difficult questions all teenagers face –


Who am I?
What do I want?
What makes me happy? How do I fit in?

Suicide Notes will be released on October 14, 2008.

Bobbie has also reviewed Suicide Notes - take a look at what she has to say.