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Before I Let Go
Common Sense says
- Marieke Nijkamp
- Mystery
- 2018
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Marieke Nijkamp's Before I Let Go is a mystery that unfolds over six bone-chilling winter days in the tiny town of Lost Creek, Alaska. Haunted by unanswered questions about the suicide of her best friend, Kyra, 17-year-old Corey has returned to her former hometown. What she soon discovers is that Lost Creek is keeping some very dark secrets -- one of which may be the circumstances behind Kyra's death. Was it actually a suicide, or could it have been murder? And why does the community that once ostracized Kyra because of her bipolar disorder now have nothing but praise for her and her talent as an artist? The spine-tingling but never too frightening storyline has only a few episodes of violence (a girl escapes a knife attack and a fire is set to try to kill a character). Nijkamp's first novel, This Is Where It Ends, was a New York Times best-seller.
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A must-read for mature teen readers
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, Misfits and Underdogs
- 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
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.