Help Me! (Help Me #1) on Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
A novella about a boy named Mick and his struggles with life. His parent’s divorce and a friend’s suicide make his world unbearable. Each “cut” has a deeper meaning. A cry for help.
“I spin my dad’s Ruger SP101 revolver on the wood floor of my bedroom. Sometimes, just to see what it feels like, I place the tip of the gun against my temple, but I never once pull the trigger. NO!”
“I’m more into the slice of the blade against my skin and the blood running down my arm.”
“It relieves so much pressure.”
“And I can breathe again…”
BOOK SUMMARY:
A novella about a boy named Mick and his struggles with life. His parent’s divorce and a friend’s suicide make his world unbearable. Each “cut” has a deeper meaning. A cry for help.
“I spin my dad’s Ruger SP101 revolver on the wood floor of my bedroom. Sometimes, just to see what it feels like, I place the tip of the gun against my temple, but I never once pull the trigger. NO!”
“I’m more into the slice of the blade against my skin and the blood running down my arm.”
“It relieves so much pressure.”
“And I can breathe again…”
Release date: January 2nd 2016
Published by: CreateSpace
Page numbers: 125
REVIEW:
Help Me! deals with depression in a very simple and subtle way and helps in understanding it further. This is the story of Mick, who blames himself for his best friend committing suicide and from then on, he begins self-harming by cutting himself as that's the only way he can release all the pain he feels for a loss that he could have saved. This novella doesn't just deal with depression but many issues that the youth of today face- main one among them being cyber bullying.
Stories like Help Me! are very difficult to write, but the manner in which author Donna M. Zadunajsky portrays Mick's life and provides a glimpse into his mind was very simple yet profound. She doesn't deal with the intricacies of depression and takes pages and pages to explain what it is and what it isn't. With the help of something she experienced on her own, she tells a very realistic, sad, very intense and short story about bullying and depression among teenagers and how there's always hope.
For the purpose that Help Me! serves, it was very well made and extremely well written. It wouldn't be a surprise if this novella starts featuring in school libraries. In fact, it should, because it's not at all complex and complicated but it does its work in a very simple and easy manner that everyone will find easy to relate to and that will definitely end up helping someone who desperately needs help.
*Note: This book was provided by author Donna M. Zadunajsky in exchange for an honest review. We thank them for the book.
Wow! Seems like a moving read!!
ReplyDeleteI don't read many short stories, mostly because they never seem to deliver much, but this one sounds like it has a very worthwhile perspective to share with the world. I also like the fact that it doesn't preach to the reader - it's not a textbook explanation of depression, it's just an empathetic point of view in a character driven storyline. Definitely something I could now recommend. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very timely and important story. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it. Wonderful review, Sarika! :)- Rachel @ The Readers Den.
ReplyDeleteWow. I don't usually pick up these kinds of reads, you know. But when I do, they're at their best when they're realistic, so it's good to hear that that is the case here (though it's sad to hear that the author was drawing on her own experiences...)
ReplyDeleteI don't usually pick up books like this, but this one sounds very important! It sounds like a super heavy and moving book. I don't think some of the themes would be for me, but it sounds a lot like what we have to study for school sometimes. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts on this one, Sarika! :)
Denise | The Bibliolater
This definitely looks like an interesting read, one that's sure to touch one to the core.
ReplyDelete