On a Scale of One to Ten

Starred review from March 15, 2019
A suicide attempt lands a teen in a British psychiatric hospital in this #ownvoices debut." 'Jump, Iris, ' she said. 'I'll follow you.' " Iris jumped. Tamar didn't, and she's left grappling with the belief that she's a murderer. They were both 15 on the summer day Iris drowned in the weir. Over a year later Tamar's attempt at suicide lands her in Lime Grove with other mentally ill teens. She narrates her stay there, the events of the past, her relationships with her fellow patients, and her gradual stumbling recovery in a staggeringly honest, astonishingly lucid first-person narrative. Scott, a young woman diagnosed with borderline personality disorder when she herself was committed to a psychiatric hospital at age 16, brings readers so far into Tamar's head that they truly understand what it's like to be her, participating in both her self-deception and her climb toward truth and sanity. And sanity doesn't always look like what you'd expect--when Tamar drinks herself senseless at a party the first time she's given leave, her psychiatrist congratulates her for not doing worse. There are no stereotypes here. Even minor characters are complex and rich--though they are all white--and the prose is elegant and direct. "Rock bottom is always far lower and far darker than you think."An important book and a very impressive, ultimately hopeful, treatment of mental illness. (author's note) (Fiction. 12-18)

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May 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-Scott's debut novel explores the realities of mental health treatment in a psychiatric facility. Readers will be immediately intrigued by fragments of information surrounding the death of Tamar's friend, Iris. Flashbacks reveal that Tamar was the last person to see her alive, and it is clear that she is withholding critical details from the adults in her life. Tamar struggles with a constant sense of hopelessness and uses cutting to cope with an emotional numbness. After an intense breakdown, Tamar is admitted to Lime Grove. Scott depicts the ups and downs of Tamar's recovery process as a journey filled with thoughts of self-loathing, comparisons to other patients, and both toxic and healthy friendships. When a patient named Elle arrives at the facility, Tamar finds herself swept up in Elle's charismatic, infectious energy. However, when her reckless actions put patients at risk, Tamar finally begins to see Elle's condition with a critical lens and evaluate her own. Readers will explore the shift to recovery and the thoughts that often threaten it. The plot leads to a clear resolution of what happened to Iris and the acknowledgment of a truth that solidifies Tamar's recovery. This novel draws on Scott's own experiences with borderline personality disorder and represents an #OwnVoices text. VERDICT A candid look at the realities of treatment in a psychiatric facility and the process of recovery. A must for high schools looking to add selections dealing with mental health.-Monica Cabarcas, Albemarle High School, Charlottesville, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 After the traumatic death of her best friend, Iris, Tamar spirals into a cycle of self-harm (suicidal ideation), based on her belief that she killed Iris. Following a suicide attempt, she is admitted to a psychiatric hospital. The book takes place during her time in the hospital, interspersed with flashbacks to Tamar's time with Iris. The narrative of this first novel is strongest when delving into Tamar's psyche and motivations. Scott draws on her personal experience with borderline personality disorder, and it comes through in the strong sensory details. Scott describes scar tissue, the smell and feel of psychiatric hospital rooms, and the rush of holding a razor in sharp detail. The book provides tremendous insight into the urge to self-harm and the bumpy road to recovery. Despite those strengths, the dialogue is stilted, the character development?beyond issues of recovery?is thin, and Tamar's relationships with family and friends aren't fully realized. Stacey Pershall's memoir Loud in the House of Myself (2011) is a good companion read for those drawn to the BPD aspect of Tamar's journey.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)