This is a YA contemporary. It stars Maggie a reliable and middle of the road popular senior who is kind of bored with her life. She had two best friends that she has known for her entire life and feels like she is in a rut. What I really liked about this book is she has two normal, loving parents. Maggie's life is slowly turned upside down as Clay comes into it. Clay is a transfer student from far away and is broody and mysterious. What Maggie doesn't know at first is that the reason he is all broody is because he suffers from Bipolar Disorder. I loved this story as it followed Clay's struggle to deal with the medication, wanting to feel normal but unable to embrace normal when the meds rob him of his emotions and energy. I see this in my classroom so many times. Where a parent has to decide which is better; a child that can sit still in a coma and hopefully learn or a kid bouncing off the walls and struggling with emotional ups and downs, while hopefully learning. I can't say which is best but in this case Clay's emotional roller coaster not only puts him at risk but also Maggie. I love how this book takes us through her downward spiral as she tries to be the support she thinks he needs. Tries to be enough for him to get well. When eventually she figures out she can't. I thought the character development, dialogue, and most of all the realistic depiction of the characters was spot on. I felt so connected to Clay and his struggles. I have to say my only complaint is that I want to read the next book and although a teaser is placed at the end of the book I can not find any reference to it being available nor a date of release. Frustrating...the teaser just kills me and I need, NEED to see how Clay turns out. Please finish it if it is not done and if it is I would love to read it for a review.
4 1/2 stars
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