Fourteen-year-old Audrey Turner lives trapped behind dark sunglasses inside her house, struggling with a severe anxiety disorder and agoraphobia following a traumatic bullying incident at school. Her recovery involves filming her chaotic family—a mother obsessed with the negative effects of video games and a brother addicted to Land of Conquerors—as part of a therapy assignment. When she meets her brother’s teammate, Linus, their budding friendship pushes her to venture into the outside world, navigating the setbacks and small victories of mental illness.
Teenagers and young adults experiencing social anxiety or panic disorders will recognize the specific physical and emotional hurdles Audrey faces. The story provides a realistic look at how recovery is not a straight line, but a series of jagged steps forward and backward. Readers gain a perspective on how family dynamics shift during a health crisis and walk away with a functional understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques used to manage daily social interactions.
Practical, inward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- EN
