Your Voice Is All I Hear

June 15, 2015
Scheier follows her 2012 historical mystery, Secret Letters, with a stark look at the challenges of life with schizophrenia. Socially anxious April is dreading sophomore year now that her best (and only) friend, Kristin, has transferred to private school. Then new student Jonah swoops into town, rescuing April from solitude. Their fast, intense friendship becomes a whirlwind romance, but Jonah’s “little mood swings” escalate: he has screaming matches with imaginary voices, destroys his paintings, and exhibits paranoid behavior. Ignoring cautionary advice from her mother and Kristin, April takes Jonah’s side, planning for their future together at a local art school and telling herself that the real Jonah “was just hiding, temporarily out of sight.” The cycle of Jonah’s outbursts and April’s reactions to them grows repetitive, and the dialogue can be overly lecturelike (“Many people with schizophrenia find ways to cope and disguise their symptoms in the beginning,” April explains to her classmates). But the book remains an intense portrait of the unpredictability of schizophrenia and the toll it takes on those close to those who have it. Ages 14–up. Agent: Rena Rossner, Deborah Harris Agency.

July 15, 2015
A high school sophomore discovers that her dreamy new artist boyfriend is suffering from mental illness. Shy April is devastated when her outgoing and popular best friend abandons her for private school. Enter Jonah, an attractive and charismatic new student. He wins April's heart by throwing over the resident queen bee in favor of her and inviting her to view his gallery of intense oil paintings. Soon they are inseparable, and April feels even closer to Jonah after he confesses his grief over the recent death of his best friend and his troubled relationship with his distant father. But then April starts noticing that Jonah sometimes seems to see and hear things that aren't there, which culminates in a terrifying episode where Jonah destroys his own paintings in an attempt to silence the negative voices in his head. When Jonah is given a diagnosis, April is determined to see him through his illness, even at the expense of her own happiness. But for how long? This paint-by-numbers problem novel follows a predictable path that may initially intrigue readers curious about mental illness but will ultimately disappoint with its bromidic dialogue and sluggish pace. Better choices are Inside Out, by Terry Truman (2003), Challenger Deep, by Neal and Brendan Shusterman (2015), or the classic I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, by Joanne Greenburg (1964). Well-meaning but ultimately unsuccessful. (author's note) (Fiction. 12-15)

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October 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Shy and insecure April is distraught when her best friend transfers to a new school; although she practices ways to start conversations with her peers, she finds it challenging to make lasting friendships. April is stunned when handsome new student Jonah flirts with her and rejects the advances of a more popular student. Jonah seems to hear noises audible only to him, yet April and his family accept his explanations until he becomes increasingly more paranoid and prone to violent outbursts, which results in inpatient psychiatric treatment. Reluctance shown by April and his family to admit that his behavior is psychotic is realistic and genuinely felt. Although there is no "happily ever after" ending for the two teens, there is hope that Jonah can learn to cope with schizophrenia. Jonah's paranoia, symptoms of schizophrenia, and thwarted attempts at treatment are raw yet sensitively depicted. Contemporary references to pop culture heighten the novel's immediacy, although a reference to "a list of phone numbers" culled by a new student is a miss. Markers of Jewish identity are sprinkled throughout the story; references to shopping for Hanukkah presents and lighting Sabbath candles, as well as mentions of Passover, will appeal to communities in need of books that feature religious diversity. Some teens may find the beginning sluggish, but patient readers will be drawn into the crisis between April and Jonah. A brief author's note mentions online resources for more information about schizophrenia. VERDICT Recommended for larger collections in which books about mental illness are in demand.-Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2015
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* April's sophomore year starts with a bangthe new guy, Jonah, spurns the attention of class queen Cora to sit by her, and the two quickly become fast friends and then sweethearts, sharing a love of art and a mutual attraction. But Jonah's struggle to get over his friend's death at the hands of bullies leads him into a dark place of depression and mental instability; April, however, is determined to stay by Jonah, no matter the cost or difficulty. An intense romance that explores the pain and challenge of loving someone with schizophrenia, this novel will resonate deeply with readers who have been close to someone struggling with mental illness, pulling them into a position of empathy for the sick and those who love them. Scheier's narrative is both sensitive and a powerhouse, addressing family dysfunction, mental health, bullying, and religion without coming across as a problem novel. Compellingly written, this heart-wrenching tale is inhabited by complex, fully realized characters and will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen. While Scheier offers no easy answers, she does give the best gifthope. An affecting, well-crafted story that will stay with readers long after the final page.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)