Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

It was interesting to read a book from the perspective of a girl who attempted suicide and now is dealing with the aftermath. Too often young adult novels focus on the suicide itself like in Thirteen Reasons Why. What made it seem even more honest was that the author too has had experience with mental health issues. I liked reading how Journey's choices not only affected her but her family, friends and boyfriend. We saw everyone's reactions and how they handled what happened in both positive and negative ways. This book showed the importance of therapy and treatment and reaching out for help. It brings awareness to crisis hotlines and how they can be a great service for those who need them. The crisis hotline proved to be an important outlet not just for it's callers but also for Journey to help her realize that she wasn't alone and other people too struggle with their identity and place in the world. I liked reading about her growth and development throughout the course of the novel and how it ended on a realistic yet hopeful note that while depression and mental health struggles may not be completely eradicated we can find ways to cope and take steps to find fulfillment.

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The novel opens with what could be the end...at least the end for Journey. If you read the description though, the reader knows that's not the case, and thus the story begins to unravel as to how she got to that point. Thought-provoking, and deeply moving, this own voices narrative brings the reader through the past and the present, showing how one can be taken by the shadows in their mind, and not see a way out. This novel addresses the stigma of talking about mental illness, and gives Journey her platform, when she wants it. There is a constant struggle of what "is normal", and how our actions affect those all around us...is this being selfish, or being selfless. A definite read to open up discussion about suicide, and mental illness for kids at an age where no one takes them seriously.

Journey is a high school senior who seemingly has it all, but feels, as most teenagers do, that she doesn't. She's has had a series of emotional gut punches that culminate in her trying to kill herself. The book goes back and forth between that time and the present, as she deals with the aftermath of her attempt. She undergoes a sort of metamorphosis as the book continues on.

I had some difficulty relating to the character at times. Sometimes, it felt as if she was a typical teenager throwing a temper tantrum because life wasn't going her way. Other times, the character showed such depth beyond her years. It took me longer to read this book than I anticipated because of that, I think.

Overall though, I liked the book and would recommend it. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is an extremely impressive, powerful novel. The author tackles heavy, sensitive subjects--most notably suicide and mental health treatment, but also sexuality--smoothly and delicately. The narrator's voice is wry and charming, and feels appropriate for the cusp of adulthood. The treatment of suicide is wonderful and successful; it feels honest, moving, and nuanced, as opposed to a cheap plot point or "surprise" to the reader. I also appreciate that the book resists a neat ending when it comes to mental health, and instead embraces the ambiguity of taking life (and treatment) one day at a time. The queer storylines, including bisexuality as well as a genderqueer side character, were well done and also felt appropriate for the genre. The book has quick pacing, lines that read like poetry, and lovely bits of lyricism. Definitely recommend!

Girl On The Line by Faith Gardner

So this book wasn’t so much like I suspect it would be. It was a great book but just seems to me she could have done more with he sister and stuff. It just seemed to say the same stuff over and over again to me

3 1/2 Stars

I found that some of the descriptions in this book were a little more graphic and detailed than I was expecting and I would caution educators to read this book and determine if its a good fit for the maturity level of students if you plan on including this in your classroom libraries. I think the story is powerful and worth reading, but it is definitely not suitable for some of the younger YA audiences.