Quotes
“Gae Polisner’s realistic story about a teenager fighting mental illness is brought to life by narrator Michael Crouch…Crouch takes listeners into Klee’s journey, giving him a poignant, sometimes hesitant, voice during his sessions with Dr. Alvarez, his internal monologues, and his vivid memories. He injects Dr. Alvarez’s voice with caring patience as the psychiatrist slowly gains Klee’s trust. Klee’s mother’s voice trembles with the weight of her own pain as she struggles to understand and support her son. This powerful audiobook—rings true. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” AudioFile
“The book is ultimately upbeat, tracing Klee’s recovery over a two-week period of inpatient therapy, and in the process readers also learn about artists, including Vincent Van Gogh.” Newsday
“Deals with mental health, Vincent Van Gogh, family, and recovery; all told in some of the most beautiful prose you will probably ever read.” Teen Reads
“Polisner’s short novel destigmatizes mental illness, emphasizing that everyone needs a little help sometimes…[Of] contemporary novels about teens with mental illnesses, this one stands out for its strong writing, likable protagonist, and overwhelmingly positive messages.” School Library Journal
"Readers traversing their own real and metaphorical losses, particularly as they learn to see their parents and themselves as full individuals, will find companionship as they share Klee’s journey toward acceptance of who he is.” Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“This book is an absolute must-read and the best contemporary novel I’ve read since J. C. Geiger’s Wildman.” Young Adult Book Central (5 stars)
“An intense, sometimes graphic, totally heartbreaking portrait of a character who will keep pages turning.” Booklist (starred review)
"Readers traversing their own real and metaphorical losses, particularly as they learn to see their parents and themselves as full individuals, will find companionship as they share Klee’s journey toward acceptance of who he is.” Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Polisner’s short novel destigmatizes mental illness, emphasizing that everyone needs a little help sometimes. Readers will laugh, cry, and ache alongside Klee as they follow his recovery…In a sea of recent contemporary novels about teens with mental illnesses, this one stands out for its strong writing, likable protagonist, and overwhelmingly positive messages.” School Library Journal
“An unapologetic and wry story about a teen finding his way out of a personal crisis.” Kirkus Reviews