by Nina LaCour
First published 2009
Caitlin discovers her best friend Ingrid's journal after Ingrid's suicide. The pages contain words and drawings that reveal Ingrid's final thoughts, including messages Caitlin struggles to understand. Left behind by tragedy and withdrawing by choice, Caitlin faces the impossible task of moving forward without her closest companion. The journal that once documented Ingrid's darkening mental state becomes something unexpected. Through its pages, Caitlin begins reaching out to others who knew Ingrid. She finds support from her family and connects with new friends who help her navigate grief. As Caitlin opens herself to first love and new experiences, she learns that losing Ingrid doesn't mean losing everything they shared. The bond they created survives death, and Caitlin discovers she can honor that connection while building a future.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, young-adult, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, hopeful, intimate, introspective, poignant, thought-provoking
Tropes: first-love, found-family, legacy-of-friendship, processing-trauma
Period: contemporary
272 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books
Content warnings: death, mental-illness, suicide