What happens when you're the quintessiential teenage boy - All American - smart (gets all As), in the football team, the golf team, in the R.O.T.C, can get any girl you want - and then wake up one day with an attitude, get a few sucky grades, insult your coaches and get kicked out of the R.O.T.C program, steal your best friend's girl and then cheat on her....why the only logical thing!

Blow your brains out.

The book follows the story of Jersey Hatch who is sent back to society after his near suicide. His body and mind is no longer the way it used to be and he cannot even remember why he tried to kill himself in the first place. Follow his very painful (and sometimes funny) journey back to a life that doesn't seem to want him anymore. You'll cry, you'll laugh, but most importantly, you'll cheer for this 'five-year-old genius', who is struggling to make things right as best he can.

Young Adults/teens, and anyone who enjoys reading about that thing called 'Human Drama'

Watching Jersey eventually comes to terms with his past and try his best to rectify the mistakes his made.

Learn more about teenage suicides, what causes them, the effects of brain damage and the inspirational stories of survivors like Jersey.

Empowered and more knowledgeable and aware of the difficulties and experiences that these victims and their families face after such a traumatic experience.

Susan Vaught

It's a quick read, but one that's bound to have you more contemplative about young people, their problems and silent cries for help. You also learn that does you might consider 'slow/retarded', are also humans with feelings and can be so much more intelligent than given credit for.

One of the things that stood out to me in this book is the voice. Susan Vaught writes in the voice of a teenager with brain damage. Do not expect complete sentences. The thought patterns seem broken and disjointed. There are random outbursts that leave you a bit frustrated, but you are able to 'get into the mind' of Jersey and experience how he views life around him. Powerful stuff.

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Created May 13, 2008 at 12:19pm • Submit your own review...