R.I.P. Eliza Hart

October 16, 2017
In this tense boarding school mystery, Ellie Sokoloff, who conceals her debilitating claustrophobia from her fellow students, attempts to solve the mysterious death of her classmate and estranged childhood best friend, Eliza Hart. When Eliza’s body is recovered from the cliffs outside the dormitories, Ellie becomes the prime suspect in her death. From their first days at Ventana Ranch, Eliza spread vicious rumors about Ellie, calling her a stalker and a compulsive liar—and giving her a possible motive. Sheinmel (Faceless) writes mostly from Ellie’s perspective, though intermittent chapters from Eliza’s point of view add depth and clarity to their long history. No one wants to believe that attractive, wealthy, and popular Eliza might have committed suicide, but it becomes clear to Ellie, who has her own secrets, that “just because she didn’t seem depressed doesn’t mean she wasn’t.” Sheinmel’s depiction of mental illness is intensely real, sending a lasting reminder that not all illnesses or struggles are visible from the outside and that there is no shame in seeking help. Ages 14–up. Agent: Mollie Glick, CAA.

August 15, 2017
Sometimes mean girls have a reason.White girl Ellie Sokoloff was diagnosed with claustrophobia when she was 7, shortly after her family moved from California to New York nearly a decade before. Countless therapists over the years haven't been able to cure her of this debilitating illness, leaving Ellie to try her own cure. She leaves the confines of congested Manhattan and returns to the open spaces of California. When she arrives at the prestigious Ventana Ranch boarding school in Big Sur, she discovers that her childhood best friend, Eliza Hart, is a student. Popular, Barbie doll-perfect white girl Eliza spreads vicious lies about Ellie; soon, the entire student body hates her. When Eliza is found dead, having fallen from a cliff, almost everyone assumes Ellie killed her. Jewish Ellie's biracial (African-American and white) suitemate, Sam, helps her work to clear her name. As she uncovers devastating secrets about Eliza's life, she discovers the childhood roots of her own illness and of Eliza's hatred of her and that her seemingly perfect former friend's inner life was far from ideal. The narrative alternates between Ellie and Eliza; the latter girl tells her story from her place after death. While the characters reinforce the stigmas of mental illness, the text dispels those problematic myths about depression, bipolar disorder, and phobias. A public-service announcement about mental illness wrapped up as a compelling mystery that will keep readers going until the hopeful conclusion. (Fiction. 12-16)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-A riveting coming-of-age tale and tragic absorbing mystery. Eliza Hart appears to have it all: she's beautiful, rich, and smart. The teen also has unipolar depression. Unlike bipolar sufferers, Eliza is perpetually immersed in a bottomless depression. When she is in kindergarten, Eliza makes a new friend, Ellie Sokoloff, and the girls are inseparable for the next two years. The narrative smoothly shifts between both girl's perspectives in alternating chapters, although the story is predominantly told from Ellie's point of view. Ellie moves away after first grade and the girls lose touch. Her family relocates to New York where Ellie suddenly develops a crippling sense of claustrophobia anytime she is in a small, enclosed space. Her Mom takes her to countless therapists with no resolution. On top of this, Ellie is shunned and rejected by her classmates. Finally, Ellie finagles a scholarship to an elite boarding school in California. It is here that she thinks she can reinvent herself. Despite not revealing her phobia, she becomes the class reject again when she discovers her long-ago best friend Eliza is also there. Ellie is devastated when the popular Eliza starts mean rumors in the school. The depths that both girls go to hide their psychological struggles is heartbreakingly dismal. Neither girl can tolerate their psychosis any longer, yet they are not willing to reveal their deep-rooted secrets. The protagonists' portrayals are realistic and teens will easily relate to their shattered dynamic of friendship, popularity, and secrecy. VERDICT A nuanced work about mental illness for most YA collections.-Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

alecof1920 - This book is called R.I.P Eliza Hart and the author is alyssa sheinmel. She is going through real life problems. She is in college and is having a hard time making friends. She has really bad claustrophobia. One day her best friend who she used to talk to so much died. She wants to know what happened to her best friend so she starts to investigates and try's to find out what happened to her best friend. So she takes her roommate with her to find out what happened. People said that the they found her on a cliff. Her best friend doesn't know who or who not to believe. She is just trying t find out what happened to Eliza Hart her best friend. Why she was trying to find out what happened to her friend. Her and her roommate got really close and became best friends. Her roommate said that she didn't really know who Eliza Hart was but she guessed that she was a good kid. i would recommend this book because its a really good book and if you like mystery you would like this book a lot.