black box by julie schumacher


Sisters Dora and Elena are opposites: Dora is outgoing and wild, Elena is quiet and practical. They are also close friends. When Dora attempts suicide, Elena is left wondering why she couldn't help her older sister cope and why Dora didn't talk to her about it. When she returns after a brief stay in a mental hospital, it's up to Elena (at least in her mind) to make sure that Dora doesn't try it again. With the help of a new friend, Jimmy, and a counselor she calls the Grandma Therapist, Elena manages to begin to let go of the guilt, anger, and shame that one often feels when a friend or loved one is depressed and/or suicidal. Grade 8+

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