Craig Gilner is a high school student in Manhattan who becomes paralyzed by the academic pressure of his competitive executive pre-professional school. After a period of sleep deprivation, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation, he checks himself into a psychiatric hospital. Because the teenage ward is closed, Craig is placed in the adult psychiatric unit. There, he interacts with patients like Noelle and Bobby while participating in group therapy and art sessions. Through these interactions and a return to creating intricate hand-drawn maps, he identifies the "Tentacles" that drain his energy and the "Anchors" that keep him grounded.
Teenagers and young adults facing clinical depression or academic burnout read this book to see a realistic representation of mental health treatment. It provides a practical look at the mundane aspects of psychiatric hospitalization, from cafeteria food to medication management. Readers walk away with a vocabulary for distinguishing between circumstantial stress and clinical illness. The narrative offers a template for prioritizing personal creativity over institutional expectations, showing how a person can rebuild their identity after a mental health crisis.
Inward-looking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2006
- Language
- EN
