The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver - AVERAGE

The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver, 317 pages. PUSH (Scholastic Inc.), 2021. $19 

Language: R (100+ swears, 60+"f"); Mature Content: PG-13 (death, suicidal ideation, self-harm); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

17yo Liam, a nonbinary junior in high school, recently lost their older brother and only sibling in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident. As they face the future without Ethan, Liam finds that they are more alone than they thought, in more pain than they thought, and must work through more grief than they thought possible. 

 Page upon page, this book takes a genuine look at grief and loss. It is not an easy read, nor should it be. The heart-wrenching anger, confusion, and loneliness rip Liam apart and drive a wedge into the relationships with others who could and who want to help Liam. The main characters in this book identify as either nonbinary or gay, but this is not the crux of the story. Anger, pain, and loss is. While many readers may recognize their own pain and suffering from loss in these pages, there is very little that is helpful, comforting, or healing in the story, other than the fact that Liam makes it through, despite thoughts of suicide, self-harm, and loneliness. Liam's success may provide hope enough for some. 

 Mrs. V, third-grade teacher