Damage by A(manda) M(cRaney) JenkinsYou are the Pride of the Panthers, senior hotshot Austin Reid. You have a secret problem; you are being smothered by a sense that nothing matters. You are told that it is senior year, a great year, and you want to believe it, but.... The church has a quote up that seems particularly relevant to you "Be joyful always" and so you paste a smile on your face, and hope that you'll feel it. Then you get a girlfriend, and when you're down, you go to her, and you feel better, at least for a little while. The girl's dad committed suicide, and you know how he felt. You too want to let go of the world.
Written in the second person, you become Austin. For anyone who has ever felt as Austin feels, this book resonates with truth. I do not suggest reading this book if you are currently feeling depressed, because it doesn't give you any solution to depression. I do suggest reading this book if you are trying to understand depression. The back of the book gives two hotlines for suicidal teens:
National Hope Line Network 1-800-784-2433
Girls and Boys Town National Hotline 1-800-448-3000
Careful reading.
