Vigen Phillips, Linda. Crazy. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2014.

Crazy a debut book by Linda Vigen Phillips is a win for me at so many levels.

Laura becomes so real to me so quickly. She is breathtakingly honest about her struggles from the very first page of this novel. Laura struggles with being in front of her classmates - rash, sweating, blushing. She struggles with her mother’s mental illness. So much so that in taking the blame for a severe nervous breakdown, she gives up her passion for painting. She struggles with relating to her dad. But Laura is indeed, so blessed. Her best friend Beth remains there for her through all of the painful experiences, even those she cannot share. Her sister and extended family remain steadfast. And she finds a support in a local artist, creating her story through clay figures. I found myself relating to her and rooting for her to succeed. I can’t wait to introduce her to my students who will love her as well.

Laura’s story is told in beautiful verse. I have noted before how much my readers love books in verse. They think it is because they are “shorter” and “easier to read.” While this may seem true, I know that they are also exposed to language that is precise and layered and beautiful. As I explored the author and this book, I learned that this book originate in a collection of poetry. She spent years weaving these original poems into this inspiring book. My readers who dream of being writers will love the story behind the story.

Another win? The author notes at the end of the book that this title is based on her childhood experiences, growing up with her own mother who suffered from mental illness. So many of my readers love true stories. The can relate to the struggles and the people who are honest about them. They rejoice in their triumphs. While this is fictionalized, its truth shines through and will resonate with my students.

The book is set in the sixties. The setting is lovely, and I appreciate the natural and subtle ways in which the history of the period is interwoven into Laura’s story. While I don’t believe this history will necessarily be a focus for my readers as Laura’s journey transcends time, I am pleased that they will be exposed to it through their reading.

I can’t wait to talk about this book and will be doing so soon, perhaps with some other new titles composed in verse, perhaps with some titles that deal with family members who struggle with the illness of a close relative, perhaps with books that have strong female heroines. The final win here is that I have so many ways to talk about this book.