Lucy in Between - by Sarah Callender (Hardcover)

About the Book

"When thirteen-year-old Lucy's older brother commits suicide, she and her mother travel to Peru to stay with the father she has never really known to try and cope with their grief"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Things People Ought to Know About Me: After my brother died, I didn't cry.

Thirteen-year-old Lucy Bains is smarter than your average seventh grader, but there is a lot she doesn't understand: how her brother Henry, a seventeen-year-old violin virtuoso, can possibly be depressed when he's one of classical music's brightest rising stars; why her mother is far more interested in Henry's music career than in Lucy's talents as an aspiring mime artist; and why her archeologist father--who left them years ago and now lives in Peru--suddenly wants to come for a visit. And most baffling of all, when did her best friend Charles become someone she might like to kiss?

After Henry dies by suicide, Lucy and her mother--grief-stricken, desperate, and seeking any solace or distraction Lucy's father can provide--escape to Peru. But when a local bookstore owner (and unapologetic poetry pusher), who, like Lucy, is no stranger to grief, proves more present than either of her parents, Lucy must confront some hard truths about love and family, guilt and grief.

With searing prose and a poetic voice, debut author Sarah Callender tackles one of the most difficult losses a family can experience in an unforgettable young adult novel.

Review Quotes

With a steady, introspective hand, Callender's perceptive debut explores the reverberations of mental health challenges and suicide. . . . Lucy's fierce and funny narration sensitively captures her frustration at feeling undervalued as well as her longing for connection. As she and her mother work to understand each other's perspectives, somber text emphasizes the difficulty--and necessity--of rebuilding following the death of a loved one. It's an aching portrayal of mourning and resilience that eschews easy answers for nuanced depictions of loss and its effects.
--Publishers Weekly

This book flows well and paints an authentic portrait of grief and mental health issues.
--School Library Journal

This heartfelt look at teen suicide explores the road to recovery, emphasizing the important role of familial and peer support. Debut author Callender's strong pacing and voice transport readers into the world of her clever, self-aware lead. A complicated topic handled with tenderness.
--Kirkus Reviews

This challenging story of loss is lightened by the hope and optimism of protagonist Lucy as she pursues peace amidst genius and grief.
--Booklist

Lucy is a highly personal narrator, recognizable to any kid who has to hold things together in unbearable circumstances, and her moments of fracture . . . are made even more heartbreaking in the shadow of adults who are too caught up in themselves to parent. Fortunately, a strong support system builds over the course of the novel. . . . Callendar brings nuance to Lucy's parents but ultimately prioritizes her strength; there's no perfect ending here--but there is hope.
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Sarah Callendar is a writer, blogger, mental health advocate, and middle school English teacher. She lives in Seattle with her family.