Reading Metrics
Description
When Laurel starts writing letters to dead people for a school assignment, she begins to spill about her sister's mysterious death, her new friends, her first love, and prior sexual abuse. The plot contains profanity, sexual references, and violence.
Quick Summary
Laurel's assignment to write letters to dead people becomes a raw, sometimes funny, way for her to untangle her grief over her sister, navigate new friendships, and confront a first love, all while hinting at a past trauma that shaped her. The letters are surprisingly honest and at times outrageous, giving the novel a voice that feels both teenage and deeply personal. If you liked the epistolary style of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" or the emotional honesty of Laurie Halse Anderson's "Speak," you'll find that same pull here. Parents should be aware that the story contains strong language, sexual references, a brief mention of past abuse, and some tense moments, but the overall narrative is thoughtful and offers plenty to discuss. Reluctant readers who enjoy diary-style confessions will be drawn in, and the quick pace keeps the pages turning.