Crazy

by Linda Vigen Phillips

Laura is a typical fifteen-year-old growing up in the 1960's, navigating her way through classes, friendships, and even a new romance. But she's carrying around a secret: her mother is suffering from a mental illness.

No one in Laura's family will talk about her mother's past hospitalizations or increasingly erratic behavior, and Laura is confused and frightened. She finds some solace in art, but when her mother, also an artist, suffers a breakdown, Laura fears that she will follow in her mother's footsteps. Left without a refuge, can she find the courage to face what scares her most?

Genres: Young Adult, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Mental Health, Fiction, Historical, Mental Illness

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2014

About the author

Linda Vigen Phillips was born and raised in pristine southeast Oregon. She left after graduating from U of O but Oregon never left her. She says, "There is a deep-down reservoir in my soul that holds the sound of lake wind whistling through tall Ponderosas, sun glancing off of Cascade Range peaks, the semi-arid wind carrying sage and juniper scent....more renewable resources than any writer could ever need."

Linda finds passion in creating realistic fiction told in verse, to offer hope to teens and their families who face mental or physical health challenges. Her debut novel, Crazy, depicts the struggles of a teenage girl in the1960’s coming to terms with her mother’s bipolar disorder. It earned numerous accolades, including Foreword Reviews lndieFab Book of the Year Finalist, the short-list for SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, and an Honor book for the Paterson Prize for Books.

Linda’s second book, Behind These Hands, shows how the life of a teenage piano prodigy is upended when her two younger brothers are diagnosed with Batten, a rare neurodegenerative disease.

Linda’s writing has been praised as “beautiful” and “emotionally impactful” (School Library Journal); her brave storylines “resonate with teens” (Booklist) and “speak to many, many readers” (San Francisco Book Review). Linda enjoys conducting writing workshops, spending time with her grandkids, and advocating for better mental health through her involvement with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She lives in Charlotte, NC, where she and her husband love to sit on the screened porch to watch the grass grow.

Reviews

[Robin Constantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novels in verse are always so impressive to me - to tell a story with poetic language is no easy feat. CRAZY follows Laura as she battles her own feelings about her mother's mental illness. I loved how she found her own peace with it through art. A thought provoking and poignant read.

[Libby May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books was so.... good. Deep. Like a rich curry dish (what is happening? I've started to rate books as foods. XD)

Honestly, I never really loved books in poetry formatting, but it fit really well in this one.
Laura was relatable. I really felt connected to her. She was annoying sometimes, and rather dramatic, but generally I felt that she was so REAL.

Laura thought about things, played with ideas, and in turn, decided against it. Flashes of suicide, constant thoughts that just infiltrated her life, her outlook. I felt like I was in her head, and she wasn't insane, the way she thought, the things that haunted her. She was scared. Terrified. Unsure. And I love the way that it just coated your tongue.

On the downside, there was talk of "religion" both Lutheran and Catholic, neither very accurately/actually portrayed, and in the end Laura says bye to God. Which is sad, because with the fears and troubles and struggles she had in her life, she would never find peace without Him. But I guess that's what you're gonna get from someone with a non-Christian worldview.

Overall, I recommend this to Christian girls 15 and up who know where real Peace lays.
Gray Marie Cox, I think you would enjoy it. :D

[Courtney Whisenant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully poignant novel of verse spanning a year in the life of Laura, a teenager whose mother suffers from mental illness. Anyone who has experienced mental illness personally or through the life of a loved one will be able to relate to the raw emotions experienced by Laura. I was deeply moved by the honesty captured within these pages and left with a feeling of hope and thankfulness for medical advancements, great friends, and strong support systems. There is so much I want to say about this book but my words seem insufficient to convey what I feel.


I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Genevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated Crazy with four stars because it is a amazing yet crazy book with the ups and downs of Laura’s life. Though this book is very good there were some parts of it where In was a little bored. But what I just said should not hold you back from reading this book, the author of the book explains everything with such depth that it feels like Laura is right in front of you telling you her story. If you are into story’s that keep you wondering about what will happen and make you sit down for hours because you don’t want to stop reading then I highly recommend this book. It is a high quality book that many people will enjoy reading.

[Jasmine Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

***SPOILER ALERT*** Can you imagine the pain you would have to go through living with someone who has a mental illness? Well this book shows you just how you would feel. This book is in the genre fiction. I loved this book because it shows the pain fifteen year old Laura goes through.

Lauren is growing up in the 1960's so there's no good remedy to help her mom get better. Laura's mom has a mental illness. This causes her mom to behave weirdly such as throwing objects at Laura, staring out a window as if shes waiting for something or somebody, and make horrible artwork even though she used to be great at making art. Laura blames herself for her moms behavior. She also is afraid that she will turn crazy just like her mom. But Laura still has to deal with other things like in school she has this crush on a guy who is rumored to be a player but she doesn't believe the rumors. Laura has been made fun of for her white spots. Whenever she gets nervous they appear on her neck.

Laura's mom having a mental illness changes Laura by making her be stronger and know how to handle a bad situation. The title relates to the book because it is titled crazy which her mom is. The narrator is a bit unreliable because Laura is still trying to figure out her life while everything is going on. When her mom was going crazy Laura decided to run away. Her running away caused her to feel better. It also made her be able to calm down and take a breather from her situation.

I was surprised when Laura decided to run away. I didn't think she would go that far. I was also surprised when Laura came home to her mom screaming and throwing objects at her. I was satisfied when Laura's mom went back to her normal self before she went crazy. I liked how the author created many unexpected events in the story. Laura's dad's actions were not believable when he left his wife home alone with the possibility of her going insane. And she did end up going insane.

I rate this book five stars because the surprising events were really unexpected which made me not want to put the book down. I would recommend this book to someone who is going through a tough time because it might make them see a more positive side of the situation or at least some sense of hope. This book will make you question how insane you are and I would strongly recommend everyone to read this amazing book.

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been my great joy and privilege to walk alongside of Linda Phillips over the last fifteen years as she has crafted her debut YA novel, CRAZY. From reading the first twenty poems in which Linda poured out her anguish as a teen struggling with her own mother's mental illness; through watching Linda add, subtract, and organize these poems into a story arc at the 2009 Chautauqua Highlights Writing Workshop we attended together; through hearing the up's and down's of finding her agent and publisher; to now actually turning the pages and savoring the poems--it's almost as amazing as watching the birth of a child!

Now I have the opportunity to share with you some of my favorite poems and parts of this book. I've read some of these phrases several times and they still catch my breath for their simple beauty and sensory imagery; others surprise me as if I've just discovered a new treasure. Without further ado, here are some gems from CRAZY.

In the opening poem, the protagonist, Laura, is humiliated in home ec when the class decides that her best color is brown. This poem not only foreshadows much of Laura's conflicts, but also provides the subtext for the cover of the book:

So the class decided on brown
for my basic color,
as in mud
rats
rotten bananas
swamp water
and dirty anything.

I ran out the side door after school,
thank heavens home ec was last period,
thinking my cheeks were so hot they must be leaving a trail of smoke.
I stopped by the canal,
swarming with hungry pelicans
and screeching gulls,
and I wondered,
just wondered and wondered
for I don't know how long,
what it would fee like
not to sit and dangle my feet through the slats
and daydream and watch
like I usually do
but instead to climb up on the railing,
and let myself just slip off and down
and down
and down.

I decided against it because,
of course,
I'm not the crazy one
in our family. (pp.14-15)

Laura's artistic talents are admired throughout her school. She sees the same talent--now unexpressed--in her mother. Laura wonders how her mother "had drifted from/creating brilliant oil paintings/to slapping paint on molded figurines." (p. 23) She asks,

"Why don't you take up painting again?"
I ask her one day,
admiring the pleasing arrangement she created when she was fourteen.

"Oh, I could never get back to that,"
she says, slamming a window
against the rising storm. (p.24)

Her mother's behavior becomes more erratic, irrational, and bizarre. One day Laura comes home from school and finds:

First thing inside the door
I smell turpentine.
I nearly trip over a wet canvas
propped against the door frame.
I follow a trail of smudgy rags
and scattered paint tubes
into the living room
where I find Mama,
her back to me,
kneeling
muttering
crossing herself
before a dripping canvas.
She's been painting again!

"Hail Mary, Other of God…."

A sickening sense of panic begins
crawling up my spine.
"What's going on, Mama?" I ask
…………………..
She passes grubby hands absently
through her disheveled hair,
leaving multicolored streaks
and smudges on her face,
and she begins crawling on the floor,
agitated, frantic,
looking for the missing paint
or who knows what.
……
Then it hits me.
This is my fault.
I caused this.
I pushed her over the edge,
oh my God,
I did this.
It was my suggestion,
"Take up painting again," I'd said--
oh my God…..

I clean up the mess as best I can,
finally getting Mama to sit down in her rocker.
Still paint-splattered,
she rocks
back and forth
humming
muttering,
staring past me
without recognition.
I watch her rock
almost in rhythm
with the ticking wall clock
and I take deep breaths
trying to match the rhythm,
trying to beat down
the panic
surging through
my body. (pp.65-68)

Here is Linda reading one of the next poems, "Nervous Breakdown."


As the book progresses, Laura wrestles with her own demon: her fear of being as crazy as her mother. With the encouragement of two new friends--a local gift shop owner who "stands out like an art piece herself/in a shift dress full of helter-skelter bright colors,/dangly earrings,/and the most beautiful long gray hair/I have ever seen" (p. 148); and her crush, Dennis, who pushes Laura to "dig for answers/don't run, dig"(p.272); Laura discovers the work she must do to discover the truth about herself and her family.

**********
There are two things this review of CRAZY cannot do. First, I can't communicate how proud I am of Linda's accomplishment and how wonderful it is to see this book in print. In a previous blog I compared myself to a mid-wife but that's not quite accurate. Linda is like a sister to me. Since CRAZY is her baby, I guess that makes me a proud aunt.

Second, I can't begin to tell you how Linda's poetry touched a place deep inside of me. When I finished reading her final poem in which Laura asks her mother for forgiveness, I was in tears:

In her typical way,
she brushes it off,
says I don't have need for forgiveness
but of course she forgives me,
and she understands my confusion and frustration
and she doesn't hold anything against me,
and she loves me very much.

I'm not sure if she gets it at all,
what I am trying to say,
but the important thing is
I get it
and I did what
I needed to do
and it feels as good
as anything I have ever done.

I wouldn't want to say it,
but I think there has been some healing
in our family
after all. (p.314)

[Beth Honeycutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad but interesting story based loosely on the author's life. Beautiful imagery!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

WoW...this was a really interesting read. It was hard to put down.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking story about mental illness in the 60s

[Anna Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought-provoking story told in verse, CRAZY by Linda Vigen Phillips is a YA novel set in the 1960's. CRAZY follows its protagonist Laura as she tries to balance her typical life at school with her secretly dysfunctional life at home. Laura's home life revolves around her mentally ill mother, and Laura worries because “I must have her genes, and I know from biology that those genes are sitting there inside me ready to go haywire just like hers.” (Pg. 137-138)

CRAZY does not shy away from the difficult issues revolving around mental illness, but embraces them in a moving and informative story. Due to the severe stigma regarding mental illness at the time, Laura's mother's illness is kept a secret from others and is unacknowledged by the family. Not only that, but Laura’s mother does not receive the treatment she needs until after she has a particularly bad manic episode, scaring her husband into action. CRAZY also brings to light the flaws of the medical practices for mental illness during the time, such as the memory loss from shock treatments and the foggy haze of over medicating.

Even though today is nowhere near as bad as it was during the 1960's, mental health care and societal attitudes are still not what they should be. Insurance refuses to pay for a good deal of treatment, and there are still those who look down at people for something they can't help any more than someone can help having cancer. CRAZY not only shows its readers the flaws of history, but illuminates what we still need to improve upon today. As someone with OCD and depression, this is a message that I not only relate to, but thoroughly appreciate.

Another important theme in CRAZY is how mental health not only affects the ill person, but all of their loved ones as well. Laura is often lost and in pain because of her mother's illness and feels she has no one to turn to. As the story progress, Laura loses her passion for painting and finds herself contemplating suicide. While reading the novel, I felt deep sympathy for Laura. And as I turned each page, I hoped that she would find happiness within herself despite her difficult home life.

By the end of CRAZY, Laura finally comes to terms with her mother's illness and even forces her family to acknowledge it. She learns that she cannot control her own mind any more than her mother can, and let’s go of the fear that she will become crazy like her mother with the help of her mother’s kind doctor. “You’ve been through a lot for your years. Make it work for you going forward. Keep asking questions, demanding answers, and calling the beast by the name.” (Pg. 306) In the final scene of the novel, Laura shares a heart-felt moment with her mother in which she forgives her for the effect her illness has had on her life.

CRAZY was almost a perfect novel containing the themes of mental illness, tolerance, and family love. Since I am not a big fan of poetry, I didn’t like that it was written in verse. At times I found the lines of verse jolting me out of a moving section of the story. However, if you are a fan of poetry, this probably won't be a negative aspect for you. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed CRAZY and know that I will be thinking about Laura and her family for a long while.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Won this book in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review

I think the main reason I liked this book so much was that I found it to be sooo relateable. This book talks about mental health issues - which I have my own experiences in, and art - which I loved because I am also an artist.

I think this book is the perfect summer read, although it tackles serious topics I found it to be quite uplifting. When I finished reading this book it really put me in a good mood.

It wasn't just the story I found to be very enjoyable it was also the simple act of reading it. This book it written in verse, and I think that is what plays a large part in making this book sound beautiful. Linda Phillips worded this book in such a way that you really get a sense of what is going on, and feel like you are right there with Laura (The main character).

Crazy is a character driven book, (So if you are looking for an action-packed plot driven book, then maybe you are looking in the wrong place)and has some really interesting characters who have left their impressions on me. A perfect read if you want a book to chill out to.

Another part I absolutely adored about this book were her figurine descriptions. I think being an artist myself I could really relate to her. I loved reading about how the events in Lauras' life translated into her artwork. They were also beautifully crafted and really came to life when you were reading them.

Another quick perk of this book was that it had a Narnia reference - that really made me smile!

Although I did really enjoy this book there were a couple of things which bugged me a little. The first, a very small matter, was that Laura called her dad 'daddy' and it did feel as though some of the other dialogue might not have been right for her age (15-16 years) The other thing was that I didn't understand why she liked Dennis so much, I would have liked to get to know him a little better.

Of course these are so small that I wouldn't not read the book because of them. The reason I said them was to give a more balanced review so as not to sound 'gushy'

The last thing I have to say is that if you are apprehensive about the religious aspects of this book, I would say you have nothing to worry about. Yes, religion is a part of this book, but it is still readable to anyone who isn't. It isn't an overpowering part of this book, and is written in a way which adds to her character and to the interest.

So I would recommend 'Crazy' to anyone who is looking for a more chilled out book, and a summery read. Also if you like art you will undoubtedly love the descriptions of her artwork.

[Ashley Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely recommend this book, and will have some thoughts to share at a later date.

[Book Concierge · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the book jacket - Laura is a typical fifteen-year-old growing up in the 1960s, navigating her way through classes, friendships, and even a new romance. But she’s carrying around a secret: her mother is mentally ill. No one in Laura’s family will talk about her mother’s increasingly erratic behavior, and Laura is confused and frightened. Laura finds some solace in art, but when her mother, also an artist, suffers a breakdown, Laura fears that she will follow in her mother’s footsteps.

My reactions
Told entirely in verse, this is a moving look at one teen’s efforts to come to grips with an issue that no one wants to talk about. I was quickly involved in Laura’s journey. Her own ups and downs as a teenager are fairly typical – new boy takes interest but doesn’t call right away, best friend seems jealous, loves art class, babysitting the kids from hell, etc. But what sets her apart, of course, is her mother’s mental illness – a condition no one speaks about or explains to Laura. So she is left to worry and wonder and consider on her own the possibilities.

My heart about broke for her as she struggled to understand her mother’s illness and bravely sought answers to her most fearful question: Will I also become like my mother because I also love art? It’s clear that Laura feels very alone with this struggle, but she does have people who care for her – Mrs Grant tries to reach out to her, Dr Goodman comes through with basic, honest information, Mrs Boucher listens and helps Laura find a creative outlet.

In an afterword the author states that this work is partly based on her own experiences as a teen in the early 1960s. The result is a very personal, emotional story.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleased to win a copy of Crazy by Linda Vigen Phillips through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program. Crazy, a novel in verse, is based on Phillips' experience growing up as a teen with a mentally ill relative. Laura the books main character is a straight A student and talented artist who is struggling to keep herself focused while her personal life spins out of control. The book takes place during 1963-1964 when mental illness was a topic spoken about in hushed tones and wasn't something you spoke about openly with anyone including your own family. Laura's mother has been in and out of mental health facilities for a number of years which is tough for a teenage girl especially in the era in which this story takes place. This was an excellent book with a great main character who had strength and tenacity, she may have been bent by her problems but she never let them break her. I would recommend this book to others and look forward to reading other books from this author.

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this beautifully crafted prose in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. Set in 1960's Oregon and told through the eyes of a fifteen year old girl watching her mother's breakdown, this young adult novel is a must for any mental health collection. Laura, a talented artist, tries to cope with her mother's strange illness by purring on a brave face and telling no one. She's alienated her friends from her home problems because she doesn't know what to tell them, for she has no answers. Laura instead hides herself in her art, only to one day stop painting because she fears it is what drove her mother crazy. Amazingly well crated in prose, the short poems capture Laura's concern, heartbreak, and confusion.

Fantastic read on what it's like to deal with mental health problems and the stigma that is attached with them. For fans of young adult poetry and mental health fiction.

I received this book for free from Librarything in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Louise Galveston · Rating 5 out of 5]

CRAZY is a novel written in verse in which the main character, Laura, tries to come to grips with her mother's mental illness and her own fear of inheriting the disease. Set in the early sixties, when such issues where often swept under the rug and misdiagnosed as mere "nerves," Laura doesn't know who to trust or where to turn. Even painting, which has been her refuge, no longer soothes.

The language of CRAZY is beautiful and succinct, and I particularly loved the way the verse tied in visually with Laura’s thoughts. This book resonated with me on a personal level in ways I wasn’t expecting. It gave me courage to take up the art I’d shoved aside for years because I didn’t think I could “get back to that place.” I highly recommend CRAZY; it’s poignant and superbly written, yet wonderfully raw. In a word: INSPIRING.

[jillianAKAjill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started a few pages like a week ago at the doctor's office and it sat lonely in my purse since then. I became frustrated with the my other current read and remembered the book in my bag.
THANK GOD.
I have never read a book like this one. It is written in verse and it confused me at first, but then I became so engrossed in the story that it just flowed without a second thought to the style.

Laura is a 15 year old who is trying to figure out things about herself and her bipolar mother. It is set in the 1960's in Oregon when mental illness wasn't talked about and not much was known about it.

Although it is fiction, it is based on real events and people. And you can tell. There is such truth in every page and thought, she knows of what she writes.

Unputdownable. I read it in a day.

[Melissa Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy is a beautifully written account of how mental illness affected one family in the 1960's, and of the hope that comes from art, open communication, and the road to healing. Written in verse, Crazy is a collection of thoughts, snippets of conversations, observations, and artwork from Laura, the book's protagonist, over the course of a year. Her mother suffers from a mental illness that Laura tries to hide from her friends, both because she's ashamed to have a mom who's not normal and because she's afraid she'll turn out just like her. Laura's journey from fear and not-knowing to hope and understanding is a pretty one to watch, and I absolutely LOVED how the author incorporated Laura's artwork throughout the novel.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel "Crazy" is a coming of age story with a twist. The reader gets to be with Laura while she endures her sophomore and junior years at high school. I instantly connected with Laura because I had to deal with friends and first loves, but where we differ is her home life was much different. Laura's mother was "crazy". Laura is such a lovable character and the reader can connect with her instantly. Phillips has created a story where the reader feels Laura's emotions, which is a great gift for an author. I couldn't put the book down! I hope I can have the privilege to read a lot more from Linda Vigen Phillips. This book is one of my favorites and I will cherish the time I got to spend with Laura forever.

I got this book for free on goodreads giveaways.

[Kristen Lippert-Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first verse novel, and if they're all this good, it won't be my last.

Though this story is set in the 1960s, it has a timeless feel to it. The saddest thing is realizing that the Laura's mother could have had a much better quality of life nowadays. But the mental health profession just wasn't there yet. The lack of understanding and secrecy that surrounded those with mental illness only worsened matters. Laura's fears about her mother and her own future are intimately bound together and anchored with true and poignant details.

This is a beautiful story told with the utmost skill and empathy.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique book! The verse is so full of feeling that main character Laura simply leaps off the page, inviting you into the complex and difficult world of familial mental illness that she has to navigate daily. I couldn't help but cheer her on as she demanded answers from family members and started to find ways to heal through her art and her outside relationships. This is a beautiful and meaningful debut from Linda Vigen Phillips.

[Rebecca Petruck]

Crazy is a deep, from-the-inside look at mental illness that is both unflinching and yet never veers into melodrama. The author is incredibly generous and kind in sharing this story with readers, and I look forward to sharing it with friends for whom it will be a balm. Thank you for writing it Linda Vigen Phillips.

[Jaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verse novels are always such a lovely surprise. I love the rhythm and how each poem is both complete and a part of the whole. Phillips does a masterful job creating just the right rise and fall of emotions, hope and despair. Set in the 1960's, this tender coming of age tale of a young girl dealing with her mother's mental illness is as relevant today as it was for teens then.

[Rivkasilver · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though generally I would write a scathing review for a book that wasted this much of my time, clearly the author poured a lot of her own true story into this book so I will hold the hate for the next plague in my life.

Let's just say this wasn't my cup of tea.

[Kimberly]

It's my SLJ read. The review will be published by them.

[Pine Reads Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Oh, I see,” says Beth.
I don’t think she does.
But I do.

It’s April 1963, and fifteen-year-old Laura is struggling to balance her life at school with her life at home. At school, Laura’s life is almost normal; she has a best friend Beth, she excels in her art class and she is trying to decide whether or not she likes Dennis. But at home, Laura’s life looks very different; she paints to cope with her mother’s state of decline and her father’s inability to provide adequate care, and feels pressured to hide it from her friends. Without anybody to talk to about her feelings, Laura begins to believe that she will become like her mother—or worries she already has.

The tenth anniversary re-release of Linda Vigen Phillips’ award winning book, Crazy, gives readers a reason to revisit or discover (like me) this singular work of free verse poetry. Highly stylized and intuitive, Crazy is an exploration of the therapeutic nature of art and a window into the 20th-century stigmatization of mental health crises. What struck me about Phillips’ writing is how she uses vignettes to capture the anxiety of growing up during an era where the dialogue about mental health was in its infancy. There are moments where the structure of the prose becomes so fragmented that you feel like you are losing touch with Laura’s reality, but then there are moments that feel very honest and grounded, like a photograph, and I think those moments outshine the darker ones. This new edition not only invites readers to once again delve into Laura’s world but also includes discussion questions and recommended resources for teens. An exclusive interview with Linda Vigen Phillips provides a behind-the-scenes look into the creation of the story, offering readers a deeper understanding of its semi autobiographical origins and significance. For those seeking an authentic, resonant narrative, the tenth anniversary edition of Crazy should be at the top of their list.

Pine Reads Review would like to thank Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes may be subject to change before final publication.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel Crazy by Linda Vigen Phillips is a heavy and emotional book. Laura lives with her father and her mother, her mother battling with mental illness. Her dad tries to pretend the illness doesn’t exist and won’t tell Laura the truth about her mom. Laura then tells her mom that maybe painting her feelings will help which leads her mom to paint past experiences making her mental health deteriorated drastically. Laura begins going to the art gallery where she meets the gallery owner, a woman who has lost her daughter. Laura beings to grow and be more confident making her ask the adults in her life what has really been going on with her mom.
I liked this book, but it wasn’t my favorite. I enjoyed the story and the plot line but it was hard for me to emotionally understand the book. I knew the book was about mental illness and thought it would be interesting to read but as I read the more I noticed that I didn’t really relate to anything going on so it was hard for me to stay focused and attentive. I did however relate to the anxiety the Laura faced. Laura had a lot of anxiety because she believed that she was the reason her mom had to go to a mental institution. I deal with everyday anxiety so when she started to have those feelings, I completely related to her in that aspect. I also was very frustrated with her father most of the time. He was a character that tried to ignore the facts and say that mental illness wasn’t a big deal and that Laura didn’t need to know about her mother which was quite frustrating to read, but it added to the growth of confidence that Laura obtained.
I did enjoy this book. I think that I should have done a little research to emotionally understand mental illness a little more. I did have a little trouble staying focused with this book but it was nice to read about the character development and see Laura finally stand up for herself. I would recommend this book, especially to those who may be in a similar situation because it showed how mental illness is a real thing that that it should be taken care of the right way.

[Ifa Inziati · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There are no guarantees, Laura.
But I can tell you this.
You've seen a lot,
for your younger years.
Make it work for you going forward.
Keep asking questions,
demanding answers
and calling the beast by its name.
Life is too short to spend on the pursuit of a guarantee."

Crazy was published ten years ago but reading it now just makes it as, if not more, relevant. Set in 1960s Oregon, Laura has to deal with school, friendship, and potential romantic partnership while grappling with her mother's "nervous breakdown", her relationship with family, and her art journey. At first I didn't realize Laura is a high schooler because the intentionally dated writing style has me thinking she's younger, but soon I adapted with its classic YA setup: friends, crush, family, dreams.

However, I think they were all far from cliches. The verse format were getting more varied as I read along. I shed a tear or two near the ending, especially after the 'reveal' and when Laura had a talk with her mother. It's also more complex than just feeling left out because of different family dynamic. Laura's concern grows from her mother to herself, questioning whether the same thing might happen to her someday or she could avoid it and be normal. It's heart-wrenching, honest—since it was written based on the author's experience too—and important.

Art takes a huge part on Laura's life as well as her character development, and I like that element was interwoven seamlessly into the story. Art is Laura, art is her mother. On the other hand, Dennis Martin might be a nice distraction, but rip him out of Laura's life from the start wouldn't really hurt. There are some religion-centered aspect specifically Lutheran and Catholic, but in my opinion it doesn't make this book belong to religious fiction. I didn't mind it personally, but in case you're a reader who prefers their fiction religion-free (if that makes sense), because I know some people do, please be wise.

All in all, 3.5 stars rounded up for this poignant novel-in-verse. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel Crazy by Linda Vigen Phillip is an emotional historical fiction novel about Laura, a fifteen-year-old girl going to high school in the early 1960 ’s. While it may at first seem this is a story about an average high school girl who feels lost and while this may be true at school, Laura’s family is everything but ordinary. With her mom’s episodes, while her family ignores, Laura tries to walk through life, while trying to keep all of her emotions to herself. And through her experiences, Laura worries she will go crazy too.

While Laura tries to balance her feelings while keeping her school and home life separate at all costs, a reader can easily be glued to this book for hours. This verse novel is extraordinarily captivating, and the poetry is very mesmerizing. The author does an exquisite job connecting the reader with the main character. The reader finds themselves deeply involved in the character as if transported into the setting. As the character continues to grow the author shows how her she still makes mistakes as every human does and always leaves a small twist around the corner. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys poetry and historical fiction. I loved this book and hoped others would enjoy it as well.

[Frichert17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to start this review with how important the topic of this book is. Crazy focuses on the life of young Laura, a high school student struggling with mental illness in her family. She is worried and paranoid that she may suffer the same illness of her mother. It takes place in the 1960s and mental illness still has a huge taboo surrounding it. Laura is a talented artist and takes out her anxiety painting. I really like the book for how it stays true to the time period and also has a character that the reader could relate with in different ways. I don't think it has any big issues that I think should be fixed. Overall it's a really strong book and has a compelling story even though it is a fiction story. I think that since it also has a young teen to relate to, that watchers of Love Simon would enjoy Crazy. It definitely is darker than Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda but still has that factor of being able to relate. In the end it was a great book with an even better story. Props to Linda Phillips for writing this story. Thank you!

-Frichert17