Some Kind Of Happiness

Una historia conmovedora donde se explora la depresión desde una mente infantil.

I bought this for my 12 yr old niece who is struggling with depression. I read it first to make sure it’d be a good fit for her, and found myself completely immersed. What a fantastic way to present mental health issues. The plot is creative, the MC is relatable, and the ending is just right. Thank you, Claire Legrand, for writing a story that sheds light on such a tough topic. Loved every second! Can’t wait to see what my niece thinks!

This is a wonderfully intimate story about a young girl making the difficult and delicate transition from childhood to adulthood, learning in the process that she cannot depend on adults or peers, nor can she be entirely self-sufficient. At some point we must risk opening ourselves up, acknowledging our vulnerabilities and sharing our various strengths to support each other.The opening scenes, as the protagonist meets and moves in with her estranged family members, has a sense of creepiness underlying the artificially perfect, clench-jawed smiles that suggests the stories of Shirley Jackson in some ways. But this is not a horror story, nor is it a fantasy, although there are fantasy episodes sprinkled throughout. It’s a painfully realistic account of childhood mental illness and of the emotional and physical toll withheld secrets can take on both those who keep them and those from whom they are kept.The story is beautifully paced, building up quietly but implacably to several gut-wrenching climaxes, all depicted at the deepest psychological level and without a trace of sentimentality or melodrama. It is to her credit that the author achieves a satisfying conclusion without feeling the need to tie up all the loose threads or imply that difficult, entrenched problems can be solved in a pat, fairy-tale ending. It’s a story not so much of triumph over adversity as it is one of hope, majesty, and transcendence in the midst of pain and sorrow.

I could not put this book down....and really loved following the main characters journey in discovering herself and her family, even though it may have been heartbreaking.

A children's book that deals with depression in a sensitive, engaging, and child-friendly way? Sign me up! There are so few of these out there! Claire Legrand knocks it out of the park again.