Before I Let Go
By Lucinda Dyer,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Teen investigates friend's death in spine-tingling mystery.
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What's the Story?
As BEFORE I LET GO begins, 17-year-old Corey is on board a flight to her former hometown of Lost Creek, Alaska (population 246). Her best friend, Kyra, has committed suicide and Corey is full of unanswered questions about her death. It's been seven months since she and her family moved to Canada, and Corey is feeling tremendous guilt that she didn't give Kyra, a talented artist who struggled with bipolar disorder, the support she needed. Kyra's mental illness had caused her to become an outcast in the small town, but when Corey arrives in Lost Creek, she finds everything has changed. Kyra's now revered by the townspeople, who are certain her paintings have in some magical way turned the town's declining fortunes around. Corey discovers that Kyra's parents had stopped her meds so their daughter could continue to paint and that Kyra's room hasn't been lived in for weeks or even months. A torn page left behind has "I'm scared" written on it over and over again. After she finds more messages from her friend -- "They're watching me" and "I can't stay" -- Corey digs deeper into the circumstances of Kyra's death and finds her own life may now be in danger.
Is It Any Good?
This spine-tingling mystery unfolds in unexpected twists and turns. The storyline of Before I Let Go ticks enough boxes -- coming-of-age, friendship, misfits, a bit of fantasy, and a possible murder -- to make it a compelling read for teens. Kyra's struggle with bipolar disorder and thoughts of suicide should open a meaningful discussion between teens and parents about the prejudices and challenges faced by young people with a mental illness.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the characters in Before I Let Go responded to Kyra being bipolar. Why do you think they were so ready to first ostracize her and then take advantage of her illness?
How do you think teens with mental illness are portrayed in books, TV shows, or movies? Is there something you've seen or read that helped you understand the challenges faced by someone with a mental illness?
Can you imagine living in a town with fewer than 300 people? What are the advantages and what would drive you crazy?
Book Details
- Author: Marieke Nijkamp
- Genre: Mystery
- Topics: Friendship, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
- Publication date: January 23, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 18
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: February 26, 2020
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