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Detached
Anna has always been so level-headed, so easy-going, so talented and funny. How could anyone have guessed she wanted to die?
Anna is not like other people. For one thing, she’s been an accomplished artist since she was a preschooler. For another, she’s always felt like she didn’t belong: not with other kids, not with her family, not in her body. It isn’t until her grandparents are killed in a tragic accident, however, that Anna starts to feel untethered. She begins to wonder what it would be like if she didn’t exist and the thought of escaping the aimless drifting is the only thing that brings her comfort.
When Anna overdoses on prescription pain killers the doctors realize she has been suffering from depression and start looking for a way to help her out of the desperate black hole she never thought she would escape. It’s then that rock bottom comes into sight and the journey back to normal begins.
See the trailer here! https://t.co/ISbsu7CsdN
Anna is not like other people. For one thing, she’s been an accomplished artist since she was a preschooler. For another, she’s always felt like she didn’t belong: not with other kids, not with her family, not in her body. It isn’t until her grandparents are killed in a tragic accident, however, that Anna starts to feel untethered. She begins to wonder what it would be like if she didn’t exist and the thought of escaping the aimless drifting is the only thing that brings her comfort.
When Anna overdoses on prescription pain killers the doctors realize she has been suffering from depression and start looking for a way to help her out of the desperate black hole she never thought she would escape. It’s then that rock bottom comes into sight and the journey back to normal begins.
See the trailer here! https://t.co/ISbsu7CsdN
201 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2016
8 people are currently reading
876 people want to read
About the author
Christina Kilbourne
16 books110 followersChristina Kilbourne is an award-winning young adult author who handles complex subjects with sensitivity and tact while covering issues of critical significance to youth.
Her novel, Dear Jo, was the recipient of three Canadian young reader’s choice awards in British Columbia (Red Cedar), Saskatchewan (Snow Willow) and Manitoba (MYRCA). It was also shortlisted for a young reader’s choice award in New York (New York State Charlotte Award). She is a four-time recipient of an Ontario Arts Council Works in Progress Grant.
Christina Kilbourne was born in Southwestern, Ontario, then moved and spent her elementary and high school years in Muskoka, a resort area two hours north of Toronto, Canada.
She graduated with an Honours BA in English Literature and Anthropology from the University of Western Ontario and completed her Masters degree in Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Windsor, Ontario.
Upon graduating Christina travelled across Africa, Mexico, Central, South America, Australia and parts of the South Pacific. She lived two years in New Zealand.
She writes adult, young adult and middle grade fiction and has had her work translated into Slovenian, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Spanish.
Christina currently lives with her husband and two children near Bracebridge, Canada. She is a member of the Writer’s Union of Canada.
Her novel, Dear Jo, was the recipient of three Canadian young reader’s choice awards in British Columbia (Red Cedar), Saskatchewan (Snow Willow) and Manitoba (MYRCA). It was also shortlisted for a young reader’s choice award in New York (New York State Charlotte Award). She is a four-time recipient of an Ontario Arts Council Works in Progress Grant.
Christina Kilbourne was born in Southwestern, Ontario, then moved and spent her elementary and high school years in Muskoka, a resort area two hours north of Toronto, Canada.
She graduated with an Honours BA in English Literature and Anthropology from the University of Western Ontario and completed her Masters degree in Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Windsor, Ontario.
Upon graduating Christina travelled across Africa, Mexico, Central, South America, Australia and parts of the South Pacific. She lived two years in New Zealand.
She writes adult, young adult and middle grade fiction and has had her work translated into Slovenian, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Spanish.
Christina currently lives with her husband and two children near Bracebridge, Canada. She is a member of the Writer’s Union of Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 10, 2016
ARC kindly provided by the publisher (Dundurn Press) and Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Trigger warning: Depression, suicide, substance abuse
This was an extremely powerful book. Personally, I don't think I suffer from depression, but this book should be read by everyone, as it's an eye-opener. Christina Kilbourne wrote this book after being approached by a mother who had lost her teenage son, who committed suicide. Her message at the beginning of the book touched me.
This is an extremely difficult book to review. I fell in love with Anna and her friends and family. And every character who had appeared in the book. The book is told from the perspectives of Anna, Anna's mom, and Anna's best friend, Aliya. Each of the narrators had stories and incidents, that played important roles in shaping Anna's life, and story.
What irked me was that how did Anna's parents not do anything after they saw signs of her being depressed? As parents, I'm sure they should have took her to the doctors and gotten her checked, but the fact that they even left Anna alone and went out, upset me! Perhaps she wouldn't have attempted suicide, had her parents been doing their duties properly!
Usually, I never pick up books without romance, but there's something about this book that compelled me to request it via Netgalley, and I proudly say, I was not disappointed!
UPDATE: 24/5/'16 CHRISTINA LIKED!!! *Inner fangirl hyperventilates*
Trigger warning: Depression, suicide, substance abuse
This was an extremely powerful book. Personally, I don't think I suffer from depression, but this book should be read by everyone, as it's an eye-opener. Christina Kilbourne wrote this book after being approached by a mother who had lost her teenage son, who committed suicide. Her message at the beginning of the book touched me.
This is an extremely difficult book to review. I fell in love with Anna and her friends and family. And every character who had appeared in the book. The book is told from the perspectives of Anna, Anna's mom, and Anna's best friend, Aliya. Each of the narrators had stories and incidents, that played important roles in shaping Anna's life, and story.
What irked me was that how did Anna's parents not do anything after they saw signs of her being depressed? As parents, I'm sure they should have took her to the doctors and gotten her checked, but the fact that they even left Anna alone and went out, upset me! Perhaps she wouldn't have attempted suicide, had her parents been doing their duties properly!
Usually, I never pick up books without romance, but there's something about this book that compelled me to request it via Netgalley, and I proudly say, I was not disappointed!
UPDATE: 24/5/'16 CHRISTINA LIKED!!! *Inner fangirl hyperventilates*
August 10, 2017
I can't ever look at a swing set the same way again :( An important wonderfully written novel about depression and the road to recovery. Christina Kilbourne writes with a narrative that is easy to follow from three very different but important point of views. As a mentally ill teen (back in the day), this book had me nodding along because of all the familiar thoughts I had experienced. Please excuse my short mini review because I'm still tearing from all the emotions I just experienced reading this..
Full review TK
Full review TK
July 14, 2016
A very powerful book that all teenagers and parents should read. Really, everyone.
From the Author's note to the reader:
"Detached was a hard book to write. In fact, I didn't want to write it at first. But I was approached by a mother whose teenaged son had committed suicide, and she wanted a book she could use in her outreach efforts.
[...] I balked at the idea of writing a book about teen suicide. What if I gave someone the idea to kill themselves?
[...] I set myself a daunting challenge in writing Detached. I wanted a story that would be sensitive, but not suggestive. I wanted a story that would appeal to teens, yet not scare off parents, teachers or librarians. I wanted a story that would show the despair suicide brings to family and friends without being preachy.
[...] In essence, I wanted to write a book about suicide that would bring, hope understanding and perhaps a measure of comfort to anyone who might be reading and want to end their life. At the same time, I wanted those who had lost a loved one to suicide to realize it wasn't their fault..." - Emphasis is mine.
In my opinion, she did exactly that.
This book should absolutely not be considered the one size fits all answer or explanation. There are very many different reasons and situations why someone might be feeling suicidal.
Anna is just one girl. And this is how she felt. And what she did. And how it affected her family and friends and community. That's what and all this book is about. Take from it what you can, maybe it'll be something you can relate to and give you a bit of balm for your own pain.
I'll end with these words from Anna:
"... it feels like I've wanted to finish this life since I can remember. When I was a child, I wanted to hurry up and get old so I might finally fit in. [...] I felt like a foreigner in my kindergarten class. It's like I knew from the beginning that I somehow ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"That made me feel like a fraud because I don't have a good reason, not one I can explain anyway. Aliya always tells me I have the perfect life, but that just makes me feel double defective because I should be grateful and I'm not, or I can't be. I'm not sure which it is."
Thanks to the publisher for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
And a huge thank you to Christina Kilbourne for writing this book. I hope your wish comes true and that it helps at least one person find a way to live instead.
From the Author's note to the reader:
"Detached was a hard book to write. In fact, I didn't want to write it at first. But I was approached by a mother whose teenaged son had committed suicide, and she wanted a book she could use in her outreach efforts.
[...] I balked at the idea of writing a book about teen suicide. What if I gave someone the idea to kill themselves?
[...] I set myself a daunting challenge in writing Detached. I wanted a story that would be sensitive, but not suggestive. I wanted a story that would appeal to teens, yet not scare off parents, teachers or librarians. I wanted a story that would show the despair suicide brings to family and friends without being preachy.
[...] In essence, I wanted to write a book about suicide that would bring, hope understanding and perhaps a measure of comfort to anyone who might be reading and want to end their life. At the same time, I wanted those who had lost a loved one to suicide to realize it wasn't their fault..." - Emphasis is mine.
In my opinion, she did exactly that.
This book should absolutely not be considered the one size fits all answer or explanation. There are very many different reasons and situations why someone might be feeling suicidal.
Anna is just one girl. And this is how she felt. And what she did. And how it affected her family and friends and community. That's what and all this book is about. Take from it what you can, maybe it'll be something you can relate to and give you a bit of balm for your own pain.
I'll end with these words from Anna:
"... it feels like I've wanted to finish this life since I can remember. When I was a child, I wanted to hurry up and get old so I might finally fit in. [...] I felt like a foreigner in my kindergarten class. It's like I knew from the beginning that I somehow ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"That made me feel like a fraud because I don't have a good reason, not one I can explain anyway. Aliya always tells me I have the perfect life, but that just makes me feel double defective because I should be grateful and I'm not, or I can't be. I'm not sure which it is."
Thanks to the publisher for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
And a huge thank you to Christina Kilbourne for writing this book. I hope your wish comes true and that it helps at least one person find a way to live instead.
July 28, 2016
Wow. I couldn't stop reading this book, through to the end. I stayed up late, and read when I should be working.
I have to step back and think how best to make you want to read this book. It is intense. It is well written, and it is about teenage suicide.
Incredibly sensitively written story, told in three voices, Anna, her mother, and her best friend, about what is going on with her. Because it is being told in three voices, you don't know what will happen in the end, and if she will succeed or not.
This is not just some sensational book, though. This is what it feels like to want to die, because there is nothing worth living for. And what happens.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.e
I have to step back and think how best to make you want to read this book. It is intense. It is well written, and it is about teenage suicide.
Incredibly sensitively written story, told in three voices, Anna, her mother, and her best friend, about what is going on with her. Because it is being told in three voices, you don't know what will happen in the end, and if she will succeed or not.
This is not just some sensational book, though. This is what it feels like to want to die, because there is nothing worth living for. And what happens.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.e
October 7, 2016
Sometimes the people that look really happy to you are in fact the ones suffering.
No one knew what Anna was going through internally. On the outside, she was a great student and a talented artist. After her grandparents' death, they all believed she was coping fine. But that's not the case.
It's rare to read a book about someone who spends her days coming up with ways to die. I found her thoughts very sad and so terrifying. I mean, the stuff she'd think up were so horrible. And throughout the story I kept wishing she would just give up on that and try to talk to someone about her feelings. There was a point where she'd failed at an attempt and I was convinced she would give up. But then she'd just continue on that path right after. It was easy for me to be frustrated with Anna's character and get mad at her for wanting to end her life, but this story was realistic in the sense that there are teens and adults like Anna going through the same thing. From the outside we judge and say things like it's cowardly or they're just giving up, but truly these people are dealing with a LOT.
I was mad at her parents, her mom in particular, for not seeing it. They were basically in denial, convincing themselves that Anna was fine. But there were hints, sometimes small, but it should have been enough for them to question from earlier on before it went further. Then again, I had to understand and see things from their point of view. They were parents doing their best and would never have guessed that their child was hurting so much that she'd want to commit suicide.
Overall, Detached is a great story touching on a serious and real topic. It has nice writing and very heart-tugging moments that will leave you thinking: do I know someone like Anna?
This is my first time reading a book by Christina Kilbourne, and I'm impressed. I want more.
No one knew what Anna was going through internally. On the outside, she was a great student and a talented artist. After her grandparents' death, they all believed she was coping fine. But that's not the case.
It's rare to read a book about someone who spends her days coming up with ways to die. I found her thoughts very sad and so terrifying. I mean, the stuff she'd think up were so horrible. And throughout the story I kept wishing she would just give up on that and try to talk to someone about her feelings. There was a point where she'd failed at an attempt and I was convinced she would give up. But then she'd just continue on that path right after. It was easy for me to be frustrated with Anna's character and get mad at her for wanting to end her life, but this story was realistic in the sense that there are teens and adults like Anna going through the same thing. From the outside we judge and say things like it's cowardly or they're just giving up, but truly these people are dealing with a LOT.
I was mad at her parents, her mom in particular, for not seeing it. They were basically in denial, convincing themselves that Anna was fine. But there were hints, sometimes small, but it should have been enough for them to question from earlier on before it went further. Then again, I had to understand and see things from their point of view. They were parents doing their best and would never have guessed that their child was hurting so much that she'd want to commit suicide.
Overall, Detached is a great story touching on a serious and real topic. It has nice writing and very heart-tugging moments that will leave you thinking: do I know someone like Anna?
This is my first time reading a book by Christina Kilbourne, and I'm impressed. I want more.
July 31, 2016
I've only just finished this, but my thoughts towards it are mixed.
I think the first thing that I have to say is that any book that gets teenagers to think about mental health issues is a good thing, particularly one that is so unflinching in the way it explores one of the things that scares adults most - suicide.
Anna is a talented artist but since her grandparents died in a crash she feels detached from those around her. On the surface she seems to be coping, but inwardly her thoughts increasingly turn to suicide.
I found it hard to believe that someone of Anna's age would attempt suicide five times and nobody would actually recognise there was anything wrong. That aside, I did find myself keen to keep reading and see whether Anna would get the help she so obviously needed.
As well as watching Anna research how to kill herself, we watch how she fails time after time. Her survival instinct is strong, and it's fairly apparent that she is living with depression. The experience of her Grandmother didn't come as much as a surprise. We also see Anna coping with a period in treatment/therapy, and feeling fairly positive about the future at the end of the novel. Ultimately, I felt that the book suffered from trying to cover too many aspects of the issue.
I think the first thing that I have to say is that any book that gets teenagers to think about mental health issues is a good thing, particularly one that is so unflinching in the way it explores one of the things that scares adults most - suicide.
Anna is a talented artist but since her grandparents died in a crash she feels detached from those around her. On the surface she seems to be coping, but inwardly her thoughts increasingly turn to suicide.
I found it hard to believe that someone of Anna's age would attempt suicide five times and nobody would actually recognise there was anything wrong. That aside, I did find myself keen to keep reading and see whether Anna would get the help she so obviously needed.
As well as watching Anna research how to kill herself, we watch how she fails time after time. Her survival instinct is strong, and it's fairly apparent that she is living with depression. The experience of her Grandmother didn't come as much as a surprise. We also see Anna coping with a period in treatment/therapy, and feeling fairly positive about the future at the end of the novel. Ultimately, I felt that the book suffered from trying to cover too many aspects of the issue.
May 8, 2016
This book is on a dark, important topic, and I expected it to be triggering. But the book is so wonderfully executed, and in the end I found it... Well for a few hours, I couldn't even put a word to it. I was so captivated by this book, I couldn't even think straight. But looking around at what the other reviewers wrote, I found the right word. Uplifting!
I have nothing bad to say about this book, not a single thing that I thought could be executed in a different way, mostly because the writing is stellar. The way Mrs. Kilbourne dealt with the subject is beautiful, in my opinion, it couldn't have been done better.
I recommend it to everyone.
I have nothing bad to say about this book, not a single thing that I thought could be executed in a different way, mostly because the writing is stellar. The way Mrs. Kilbourne dealt with the subject is beautiful, in my opinion, it couldn't have been done better.
I recommend it to everyone.
May 11, 2016
Grade: B-
One Word: Difficult
I was super excited to receive a complimentary ARC copy of DETACHED by Christina Kilbourne from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. It had been on my wish list since I saw the gripping cover months ago.
Anna is bright, funny and talented. She has a great group of friends and a loving, supportive family. She's still mourning the death of her beloved grandparents two years ago, but that's to be expected given how close she was to her kindred spirit grandmother. She has no reason to be want to die. But she but she does. She's searching for ways to commit suicide, leading subtle hints in passive attempts to die. Anna doesn't realize she's clinically depressed, suffering from a real, treatable medical condition. Recovering won't be easy, but with the support of her loved ones, possible.
Told in the POVs of Anna, her best friend and her mother, Christina Kilbourne the unique path of including an adult POV in a YA novel. I think she chose Anna's mother, hoping to appeal to parents as well as teens. In her author's note, Kilbourne states she was approached by a mom whose teen committed suicide to write the book, so perhaps that's the reason or maybe she wanted to show the impact on parents. The mom felt like the least developed character, her purpose to give a perspective on the complexity of depression and a primer for the perfect reaction to a suicidal child. She felt artificial. Similarly, Aliya was the paragon of best friends, perfectly supportive.
Anna, the most complex character's biggest flaw was that she lied to hide her depression and the actions she took to isolate herself and her suicidal gestures, understandable and realistic. She was sympathetic and easy to embrace and root for. What felt most unrealistic is that nobody became angry and frustrated when they caught Anna in lies and when she let them down. No one, not teachers, friends, parents or her brother called her on her behavior, though they did ask her if she was okay and let it go. In my experience working with teens and parents, people react in a much more complex manner. There's often anger following a suicide attempt, which can be a tool for the sufferer to understand how she's loved and the impact of her actions on her family and friends.
Kilbourne held my interest with her writing, though I appreciate more when different POVs have unique, distinct voices. I read DETACHED in one sitting in just a few hours. She delivers a strong message without spoon feeding it to readers; depression is a real, treatable, medical illness that can run in families. While Anna's recovery and reentry into her old life are fairly simple and seamless, the story of hope is positive.
THEMES: depression, suicide, friendship, family, parents, grandparents, siblings, recovery
DETACHED is a positive, although overly simplistic, foray into depression, suicide and recovery YA literature.
One Word: Difficult
I was super excited to receive a complimentary ARC copy of DETACHED by Christina Kilbourne from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. It had been on my wish list since I saw the gripping cover months ago.
Anna is bright, funny and talented. She has a great group of friends and a loving, supportive family. She's still mourning the death of her beloved grandparents two years ago, but that's to be expected given how close she was to her kindred spirit grandmother. She has no reason to be want to die. But she but she does. She's searching for ways to commit suicide, leading subtle hints in passive attempts to die. Anna doesn't realize she's clinically depressed, suffering from a real, treatable medical condition. Recovering won't be easy, but with the support of her loved ones, possible.
Told in the POVs of Anna, her best friend and her mother, Christina Kilbourne the unique path of including an adult POV in a YA novel. I think she chose Anna's mother, hoping to appeal to parents as well as teens. In her author's note, Kilbourne states she was approached by a mom whose teen committed suicide to write the book, so perhaps that's the reason or maybe she wanted to show the impact on parents. The mom felt like the least developed character, her purpose to give a perspective on the complexity of depression and a primer for the perfect reaction to a suicidal child. She felt artificial. Similarly, Aliya was the paragon of best friends, perfectly supportive.
Anna, the most complex character's biggest flaw was that she lied to hide her depression and the actions she took to isolate herself and her suicidal gestures, understandable and realistic. She was sympathetic and easy to embrace and root for. What felt most unrealistic is that nobody became angry and frustrated when they caught Anna in lies and when she let them down. No one, not teachers, friends, parents or her brother called her on her behavior, though they did ask her if she was okay and let it go. In my experience working with teens and parents, people react in a much more complex manner. There's often anger following a suicide attempt, which can be a tool for the sufferer to understand how she's loved and the impact of her actions on her family and friends.
Kilbourne held my interest with her writing, though I appreciate more when different POVs have unique, distinct voices. I read DETACHED in one sitting in just a few hours. She delivers a strong message without spoon feeding it to readers; depression is a real, treatable, medical illness that can run in families. While Anna's recovery and reentry into her old life are fairly simple and seamless, the story of hope is positive.
THEMES: depression, suicide, friendship, family, parents, grandparents, siblings, recovery
DETACHED is a positive, although overly simplistic, foray into depression, suicide and recovery YA literature.
May 30, 2016
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
I was wary at first because of the author's notes in the beginning. A lot of the time when you get a writer who wants to tell a story of suicide and depression who hasn't experienced it first hand, you get a bunch of horrible sappy writing. Kilbourne took this story quite seriously, and somehow managed to convey and detail exactly what it feels like to be caught in the throughs of dying. It can be hard at times for people to understand that it's not about hurting yourself- it's about not wanting to BE at all.
The point of view switching between Anna, her mom, and friend was quite exhilarating and informative. At times you wonder how no one can see what Anna is experiencing, and it helps to know that Aliyah has her suspicions and why her mother does not. Anna's botched suicide attempts are quite realistic; oftentimes there are many false starts to actual 'success'. I read a lot of books about suicidal characters that don't click or feel false, but Anna felt as if she was buried right into my heart. Kilbourne clearly felt for Anna and others like her, and wanted to do more than give a message. She wanted to give a story to those who needed it.
Mental illness is a stigma in todays society, and it's hard for people to discuss it. They treat it like a catching disease, when it's just a normal illness. Kids need to know that they are not alone, and that depression isn't the real them. It's that shadow clinging to them, and that bright days are ahead.
The only thing keeping this from being five stars is a lack of characterization with other relationships, such as with Kyle or Anna's friends. A lot of that interaction didn't feel real, felt stilted. Otherwise, a beautifully poignant and necessary story to read.
I was wary at first because of the author's notes in the beginning. A lot of the time when you get a writer who wants to tell a story of suicide and depression who hasn't experienced it first hand, you get a bunch of horrible sappy writing. Kilbourne took this story quite seriously, and somehow managed to convey and detail exactly what it feels like to be caught in the throughs of dying. It can be hard at times for people to understand that it's not about hurting yourself- it's about not wanting to BE at all.
The point of view switching between Anna, her mom, and friend was quite exhilarating and informative. At times you wonder how no one can see what Anna is experiencing, and it helps to know that Aliyah has her suspicions and why her mother does not. Anna's botched suicide attempts are quite realistic; oftentimes there are many false starts to actual 'success'. I read a lot of books about suicidal characters that don't click or feel false, but Anna felt as if she was buried right into my heart. Kilbourne clearly felt for Anna and others like her, and wanted to do more than give a message. She wanted to give a story to those who needed it.
Mental illness is a stigma in todays society, and it's hard for people to discuss it. They treat it like a catching disease, when it's just a normal illness. Kids need to know that they are not alone, and that depression isn't the real them. It's that shadow clinging to them, and that bright days are ahead.
The only thing keeping this from being five stars is a lack of characterization with other relationships, such as with Kyle or Anna's friends. A lot of that interaction didn't feel real, felt stilted. Otherwise, a beautifully poignant and necessary story to read.
May 20, 2016
The author's foreword gave some insight into her aims, to write a book about teen suicide that would help people to understand, that would show the despair causing it as well as the ripple effects, all without being either too dark or too perky, and I have to admit I was a little sceptical until I started reading.
This may be the first book I've read that really shows the insidious nature of depression, and its gradual draining of life and vitality, and yes, Christina Kilbourne manages to show the truth about depression and suicidal thoughts without being dismissive, patronising, judgmental or encouraging it. That's quite an achievement!
Through Anna's story we learn is that an apparently happy or care-free life may be anything but, and the importance of friends and family when depression sucks away everything that gives joy or color.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to understand what depression is like from the inside, who wants to know what to look for, or to encourage teenagers to open up using a discussion about the characters.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This may be the first book I've read that really shows the insidious nature of depression, and its gradual draining of life and vitality, and yes, Christina Kilbourne manages to show the truth about depression and suicidal thoughts without being dismissive, patronising, judgmental or encouraging it. That's quite an achievement!
Through Anna's story we learn is that an apparently happy or care-free life may be anything but, and the importance of friends and family when depression sucks away everything that gives joy or color.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to understand what depression is like from the inside, who wants to know what to look for, or to encourage teenagers to open up using a discussion about the characters.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2016
Review to come closer to release date.
July 26, 2016
4 or 4.5 stars. will decide when I write me review
September 9, 2016
Anna has always felt different. She’s always had a nagging feeling that she didn’t quite belong with the people around her. And then one day, her grandparents are killed in a tragic accident and it isn’t until then that Anna starts wondering what it would be like for her to be gone too…to just not exist anymore. Not only has she become detached from the world around her and those who love her, she has been void of any emotions as well. Suicidal but entirely unaware of her mental illness, Anna falls into a black hole she is desperate to disappear into forever. Detached is a novel that brings into light the darkness that can consume one person, making sure to stress the fact that mental health is just as important as physical health.
Personally, I don’t typically go for fiction novels that are about mental illnesses. I find that it’s usually a hit or a miss when it comes to these kinds of books. Fortunately, Kilbourne’s Detached was a definite hit. I appreciated so much that Detached stresses the fact that mental illness does not discriminate. You could have the most “perfect” life and be one of the most loved people out there, but all of these things does not make a person immune to mental illness. Kilbourne perfectly captured the reality that someone may appear to another person as though they are so put together when, really, they are falling apart inside. Or worse, they have been rid of all capabilities to even feel anything at all.
Another powerful point in this book that I can’t forget to mention is the brilliant idea to alternate P.O.V.’s every chapter. Not only do you, as a reader, get depth and an insight into the other key characters, it also shows just how differently each person sees (or doesn’t see) how one is dealing with their mental illness. And not only does the alternating P.O.V.’s show how others see Anna’s mental illness, it also shows how differently (or similarly) Anna’s behaviours affects those close to her. Whether they are aware of Anna’s mental state or not.
I understand that this may not be an easy book to read. But that’s exactly why I think Kilbourne has written it (and successfully too, if I may add). It’s a novel that deals with a difficult and sensitive topic, but it’s one that can’t and shouldn’t be ignored. Although this was only about 200 pages long, it felt like it weighed as if it had 1000 pages. Each turn of the page was heavy, especially for someone who knows what it’s like to be mentally ill. A lot of the things that were happening to Anna hit very close to home for me. In this way, I was able to connect a lot more to Anna’s character than I expected.
The way Kilbourne wrote Detached is almost as if she’s trying to reach out to all of its readers to say “listen, if you’re suicidal, this is why you shouldn’t do it…” Though Kilbourne managed to write a book about depression and suicide without glamourizing mental illness, she somehow also managed to write it in a “poetic” way. Not only is this book an eye-opener to those not as educated about suicide and mental illness in general, it’s almost a dark love letter to those who do understand too well.
Another thing that made this book personal and near and dear to my heart is the fact that I was able to see the people that I loved in Anna’s character. Near the end, I saw my loved ones faces and it put a lot of things into perspective for me. I couldn’t help but think to myself “what if one or any of my friends or family committed suicide? What would I do then? What would I think? How would this break me?” And I even thought “back when I was suicidal myself and self-harmed, had I succeeded, where would my friends and loved ones be now? How would they have coped or not coped? How would this have broken them?”
If you’re going to read just one short (but heavy) fiction novel that deals with suicide and depression, then please give Detached a chance to open your eyes.
Tomorrow is World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th, 2016) and I hope that if you are reading this right now, that you all participate in somehow raising awareness. Speak up in any way you can about mental health and how important it is. You just may surprise yourself how much a simple and easy deed like raising awareness can save someone’s life.
Personally, I don’t typically go for fiction novels that are about mental illnesses. I find that it’s usually a hit or a miss when it comes to these kinds of books. Fortunately, Kilbourne’s Detached was a definite hit. I appreciated so much that Detached stresses the fact that mental illness does not discriminate. You could have the most “perfect” life and be one of the most loved people out there, but all of these things does not make a person immune to mental illness. Kilbourne perfectly captured the reality that someone may appear to another person as though they are so put together when, really, they are falling apart inside. Or worse, they have been rid of all capabilities to even feel anything at all.
Another powerful point in this book that I can’t forget to mention is the brilliant idea to alternate P.O.V.’s every chapter. Not only do you, as a reader, get depth and an insight into the other key characters, it also shows just how differently each person sees (or doesn’t see) how one is dealing with their mental illness. And not only does the alternating P.O.V.’s show how others see Anna’s mental illness, it also shows how differently (or similarly) Anna’s behaviours affects those close to her. Whether they are aware of Anna’s mental state or not.
“Everyone deals with tragedy differently.”
I understand that this may not be an easy book to read. But that’s exactly why I think Kilbourne has written it (and successfully too, if I may add). It’s a novel that deals with a difficult and sensitive topic, but it’s one that can’t and shouldn’t be ignored. Although this was only about 200 pages long, it felt like it weighed as if it had 1000 pages. Each turn of the page was heavy, especially for someone who knows what it’s like to be mentally ill. A lot of the things that were happening to Anna hit very close to home for me. In this way, I was able to connect a lot more to Anna’s character than I expected.
The way Kilbourne wrote Detached is almost as if she’s trying to reach out to all of its readers to say “listen, if you’re suicidal, this is why you shouldn’t do it…” Though Kilbourne managed to write a book about depression and suicide without glamourizing mental illness, she somehow also managed to write it in a “poetic” way. Not only is this book an eye-opener to those not as educated about suicide and mental illness in general, it’s almost a dark love letter to those who do understand too well.
Another thing that made this book personal and near and dear to my heart is the fact that I was able to see the people that I loved in Anna’s character. Near the end, I saw my loved ones faces and it put a lot of things into perspective for me. I couldn’t help but think to myself “what if one or any of my friends or family committed suicide? What would I do then? What would I think? How would this break me?” And I even thought “back when I was suicidal myself and self-harmed, had I succeeded, where would my friends and loved ones be now? How would they have coped or not coped? How would this have broken them?”
If you’re going to read just one short (but heavy) fiction novel that deals with suicide and depression, then please give Detached a chance to open your eyes.
“But if I knew someone was thinking about killing themselves, I wouldn’t leave their side for a single second until I’d made them realize life is full of too much possibility to throw it all away. And then I’d make them come and talk to my mom about what it’s like to be left behind, to lose someone you depended on being there for the rest of your life.”
Tomorrow is World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th, 2016) and I hope that if you are reading this right now, that you all participate in somehow raising awareness. Speak up in any way you can about mental health and how important it is. You just may surprise yourself how much a simple and easy deed like raising awareness can save someone’s life.
May 10, 2016
AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ FOR 2016!
What a book! I started this book on Saturday evening and it was glued in my hands until I finished it Monday night (I did unfortunately have to put it down to go to work and run errands). Christina Kilbourne brings the reader inside a world and mindset that is so often shut to the majority of society. She gracefully engages in a very dark and controversial topic and once again emerges victorious with a story that allows us to discuss topics that are often taboo from the dinner table. She makes the feelings and anguish so real that I often had tears blurring my vision as I read on. I wanted to reach through the pages and comfort Anna, to tell her to open her eyes to the love around her and the importance she has to others.
I will absolutely admit that I am more of an Alyia than anyone else in the novel. When I hear suicide stories on the news I can’t fathom how someone could really feel so bad and hopeless that ending their own life seems like the only option. I sympathize for the family processing the grief and for the one who took their life, but I often wonder if they had only held on surely they would have known it would get better. This book allows readers, like me who can’t even begin to imagine such a mindset, to see the world through the eyes of someone who has depression.
You begin to understand how this disease sneaks up and consumes a person’s thoughts. You experience, through Anna’s journey, how removing the taboo from this subject and allowing people to discuss it openly should be how we approach this topic. More importantly this novel almost plunges you into the icy waters of clarity and lets you see how taboo this subject truly is. The novel has multiple people who have suffered at the hands of depression either directly or indirectly but the reader isn’t really aware of how common it is because it isn’t talked about often or it is seen as something to be kept a secret.
**SPOILER ALERT**I do wish the end was flushed out a bit more, but I do see why it wasn’t as I believe that the author was trying to focus on the topic of depression and get readers to fully understand how this disease affects people. She chooses to face the ugly side of depression head on and skim over the happier parts of recovery because normally it is the opposite way around. Usually society focuses on those that survive and how happy they have become and quickly move on from those who succumbed to this disease. I applaud her for keeping the reader engaged in the dark side of this narrative, this way when Anna starts to recover and ‘see the world in colour again’, the reader does as well. After reading the last couple of chapters I know I wanted to just got sit outside and stare and soak in the beauty of the world. **END OF SPOILER ALERT**
Christina Kilbourne is a master at crafting a storyline around sensitive topics and opening them up so that people of all ages can engage in a discussion about them. This book reminded me of her other novel They Call Me Red, which if you have not read I also highly recommend as it is probably one of my favourites by this author. She really knows how to take topics that are often frowned on when brought up in normal discourse and allows the reader to step into a position where they can look at these topics up close and through a different perspective.
Suicide and depression are ugly and dark sides of the human mind, but it is something that we must face head on and try to put ourselves in the shoes of those suffering so that we can all work together to fight it. Detached is a good way to do this, because it not only lets you into the psyche of someone suffering depression but it also shows the ripple effect through family, friends and the community. In her note to the reader Christina mentions her hope that this novel will help at least one person dealing with depression and suicide directly or indirectly. I think this novel should reach those people and be actively used in the discourse around depression because by flicking through the perspective of the mom, the victim and the friend, it really speaks to all sides of the story.
What a book! I started this book on Saturday evening and it was glued in my hands until I finished it Monday night (I did unfortunately have to put it down to go to work and run errands). Christina Kilbourne brings the reader inside a world and mindset that is so often shut to the majority of society. She gracefully engages in a very dark and controversial topic and once again emerges victorious with a story that allows us to discuss topics that are often taboo from the dinner table. She makes the feelings and anguish so real that I often had tears blurring my vision as I read on. I wanted to reach through the pages and comfort Anna, to tell her to open her eyes to the love around her and the importance she has to others.
I will absolutely admit that I am more of an Alyia than anyone else in the novel. When I hear suicide stories on the news I can’t fathom how someone could really feel so bad and hopeless that ending their own life seems like the only option. I sympathize for the family processing the grief and for the one who took their life, but I often wonder if they had only held on surely they would have known it would get better. This book allows readers, like me who can’t even begin to imagine such a mindset, to see the world through the eyes of someone who has depression.
You begin to understand how this disease sneaks up and consumes a person’s thoughts. You experience, through Anna’s journey, how removing the taboo from this subject and allowing people to discuss it openly should be how we approach this topic. More importantly this novel almost plunges you into the icy waters of clarity and lets you see how taboo this subject truly is. The novel has multiple people who have suffered at the hands of depression either directly or indirectly but the reader isn’t really aware of how common it is because it isn’t talked about often or it is seen as something to be kept a secret.
**SPOILER ALERT**I do wish the end was flushed out a bit more, but I do see why it wasn’t as I believe that the author was trying to focus on the topic of depression and get readers to fully understand how this disease affects people. She chooses to face the ugly side of depression head on and skim over the happier parts of recovery because normally it is the opposite way around. Usually society focuses on those that survive and how happy they have become and quickly move on from those who succumbed to this disease. I applaud her for keeping the reader engaged in the dark side of this narrative, this way when Anna starts to recover and ‘see the world in colour again’, the reader does as well. After reading the last couple of chapters I know I wanted to just got sit outside and stare and soak in the beauty of the world. **END OF SPOILER ALERT**
Christina Kilbourne is a master at crafting a storyline around sensitive topics and opening them up so that people of all ages can engage in a discussion about them. This book reminded me of her other novel They Call Me Red, which if you have not read I also highly recommend as it is probably one of my favourites by this author. She really knows how to take topics that are often frowned on when brought up in normal discourse and allows the reader to step into a position where they can look at these topics up close and through a different perspective.
Suicide and depression are ugly and dark sides of the human mind, but it is something that we must face head on and try to put ourselves in the shoes of those suffering so that we can all work together to fight it. Detached is a good way to do this, because it not only lets you into the psyche of someone suffering depression but it also shows the ripple effect through family, friends and the community. In her note to the reader Christina mentions her hope that this novel will help at least one person dealing with depression and suicide directly or indirectly. I think this novel should reach those people and be actively used in the discourse around depression because by flicking through the perspective of the mom, the victim and the friend, it really speaks to all sides of the story.
June 18, 2019
This is one of the books that should find its way on more bookshelves and I am so thankful to have got this ARC from NetGalley. The way Christina Kilbourne approaches the topic is, in my eyes, fantastic. Instead of trying to construct a wild story about a girl, she depicts everyday situations to make the feelings of Anna obvious and realistic.
We also get to see this world from the viewpoint of Anna’s mum and her best friend Aliya. Because of that, the same situations can be experience through different perspectives and they open the eyes that one moment can look so divergent depending on the character’s background and feelings. This is one of the greatest feature of the book as it makes Anna’s condition so absolutely comprehensible.
I also love the way that her thoughts are not black and white, she has doubts about killing herself and even after she gets treated for depression there are not only happy times. I believe that, no sane person can probably imagine any reason there is to not want to live anymore. The book though makes it clear that there is not really a reason for Anna as well but her mind just plays tricks on her and there is actually nothing she can do against it. No matter how much she is having a good time with her friends or the fact that she is having a loving family can keep her from being unwilling to do anything, to breath.
After her latest suicide attempt when they figure everything out and she has to even stay in a mental hospital for some time, another outstanding quality of the book is revealed.
How would you feel, if anybody attempting or committing suicide is actually somebody you know or love? I just know that everything that Christina Kilbourne writes is the absolute truth, at least for me. One boy I went to school with committed suicide last year and even though I did not stay in contact with him after we finished school a few years back, I felt guilty up to a point I could hardly breathe anymore. I could not understand how unfair life is that this person could not find enough reasons to live anymore. I could find myself in the description and there are a lot of days were I have to tell myself what the books tells us: There is no reason for feeling guilty as not anything that happens due to depression is anyone’s fault. It’s an illness that some people sadly have to fight but there is a way to find back to life, back to happiness. All those who suffer should seek help and should not be ashamed of their condition.
That’s what happens to Anna in the end so she gets back on track, not without struggles, but she does it.
I think everyone should read this book because it opens eyes and makes aware of a topic that is very tender. It gives an impression on how either side is feeling when depression hits a person and a family but it also shows that there is a way out. This book tells people suffering that, although it might be the hardest battle yet, there is a way through the dark and back to happiness. And there is no reason to be ashamed for those thoughts, it’s like any other illness, it’s not your fault.
Find this review on my blog: Detached by Christina Kilbourne
We also get to see this world from the viewpoint of Anna’s mum and her best friend Aliya. Because of that, the same situations can be experience through different perspectives and they open the eyes that one moment can look so divergent depending on the character’s background and feelings. This is one of the greatest feature of the book as it makes Anna’s condition so absolutely comprehensible.
I also love the way that her thoughts are not black and white, she has doubts about killing herself and even after she gets treated for depression there are not only happy times. I believe that, no sane person can probably imagine any reason there is to not want to live anymore. The book though makes it clear that there is not really a reason for Anna as well but her mind just plays tricks on her and there is actually nothing she can do against it. No matter how much she is having a good time with her friends or the fact that she is having a loving family can keep her from being unwilling to do anything, to breath.
After her latest suicide attempt when they figure everything out and she has to even stay in a mental hospital for some time, another outstanding quality of the book is revealed.
How would you feel, if anybody attempting or committing suicide is actually somebody you know or love? I just know that everything that Christina Kilbourne writes is the absolute truth, at least for me. One boy I went to school with committed suicide last year and even though I did not stay in contact with him after we finished school a few years back, I felt guilty up to a point I could hardly breathe anymore. I could not understand how unfair life is that this person could not find enough reasons to live anymore. I could find myself in the description and there are a lot of days were I have to tell myself what the books tells us: There is no reason for feeling guilty as not anything that happens due to depression is anyone’s fault. It’s an illness that some people sadly have to fight but there is a way to find back to life, back to happiness. All those who suffer should seek help and should not be ashamed of their condition.
That’s what happens to Anna in the end so she gets back on track, not without struggles, but she does it.
I think everyone should read this book because it opens eyes and makes aware of a topic that is very tender. It gives an impression on how either side is feeling when depression hits a person and a family but it also shows that there is a way out. This book tells people suffering that, although it might be the hardest battle yet, there is a way through the dark and back to happiness. And there is no reason to be ashamed for those thoughts, it’s like any other illness, it’s not your fault.
Find this review on my blog: Detached by Christina Kilbourne
August 22, 2016
★||Actual Rating: 3.8|| ★
I received this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Warnings: Mentions & Attempts of Suicide, Underage Drinking.
This story focuses on Anna, the MC. Her bestfriend, Aliya and her Mom. From the beginning of the book we see that Anna clearly suffers from depression even though she herself doesn't know it.
We see Anna lead a seemingly perfect life but inside she's dying. There were signs of course but I think this book shows us that sometimes people just don't want to see what they know will hurt them.
Anna herself thought that it was insane to want to die knowing that her life was practically perfect. Anna's lack of feeling during the rise of her depression is what I believe drove her over the edge. She felt nothing at all except that she didn't want to be alive anymore.
Characters: I really liked Anna as a character and thought that she was strong despite what one would think as a weakness. Her depression didn't weaken her. It made her more...wilful. She didn't seem to be too scared about what she was doing and was adamant about finding a way to finish off. I've heard recently in a show, 'the first step in solving a problem is to admit that you have a problem' only Anna didn't see her dying as a problem...
I didn't like Aliya's POV as much and she made me feel like I was in a 13 year old's mind. These characters were 16 and acted their age for the most part but I think the fact that Aliya's mom was so overprotective made her come off as younger.
Anna's Mom was clearly a caring and loving mother. I wouldn't say that she or anyone else did anything wrong that in the end aided Anna's need to not live anymore. The mother was pretty supportive and tried her best to be there for her children. I loved how she had her own POV. It gave us a different angle that I haven't seen before.
Likes: What I really liked about this book is how different it was. Usually you see the aftermath of what a suicide does and this was the leading up to. It was a fresh view for me and a really interesting one too. This was a fairly quick read once I actually decided to sit down with the book. The characters were pretty good and all of them brought a little something of their own to the table.
Overall Thoughts: This book showed only one of the ugly sides of Depression. It can lead you into such a spiral that everything you knew, everything that made you happy now leaves you feeling nothing at all. I'm glad that Christina wrote the book in this way and that the world gets to see what actually goes through the mind of the victim of this illness before they go off the edge.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Wattpad
I received this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Warnings: Mentions & Attempts of Suicide, Underage Drinking.
This story focuses on Anna, the MC. Her bestfriend, Aliya and her Mom. From the beginning of the book we see that Anna clearly suffers from depression even though she herself doesn't know it.
We see Anna lead a seemingly perfect life but inside she's dying. There were signs of course but I think this book shows us that sometimes people just don't want to see what they know will hurt them.
Anna herself thought that it was insane to want to die knowing that her life was practically perfect. Anna's lack of feeling during the rise of her depression is what I believe drove her over the edge. She felt nothing at all except that she didn't want to be alive anymore.
Characters: I really liked Anna as a character and thought that she was strong despite what one would think as a weakness. Her depression didn't weaken her. It made her more...wilful. She didn't seem to be too scared about what she was doing and was adamant about finding a way to finish off. I've heard recently in a show, 'the first step in solving a problem is to admit that you have a problem' only Anna didn't see her dying as a problem...
I didn't like Aliya's POV as much and she made me feel like I was in a 13 year old's mind. These characters were 16 and acted their age for the most part but I think the fact that Aliya's mom was so overprotective made her come off as younger.
Anna's Mom was clearly a caring and loving mother. I wouldn't say that she or anyone else did anything wrong that in the end aided Anna's need to not live anymore. The mother was pretty supportive and tried her best to be there for her children. I loved how she had her own POV. It gave us a different angle that I haven't seen before.
Likes: What I really liked about this book is how different it was. Usually you see the aftermath of what a suicide does and this was the leading up to. It was a fresh view for me and a really interesting one too. This was a fairly quick read once I actually decided to sit down with the book. The characters were pretty good and all of them brought a little something of their own to the table.
Overall Thoughts: This book showed only one of the ugly sides of Depression. It can lead you into such a spiral that everything you knew, everything that made you happy now leaves you feeling nothing at all. I'm glad that Christina wrote the book in this way and that the world gets to see what actually goes through the mind of the victim of this illness before they go off the edge.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Wattpad
June 28, 2016
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
I wanted to read Detached because I am drawn to stories that deal with mental illness and it sounded like one that would deal with the issue as well as suicide in a realistic way.
It's told in multiple narratives from Anna, perfectly normal and middle class from the outside, she even has her looks and talent with art to boost that. But it also shows that depression does not discriminate. She's never felt like she fit in, and she has an obsession with a bridge that is known as a suicide spot. She thinks that she's suffering too much, especially since the death of her grandparents, like it opened her eyes that death is an ending, and in her mind- a sweet release and escape. It's tough to get inside that mindset and the hopelessness... but it is true to life. I deal with these thoughts and bipolar--so the author has done her research.
The other point of view is her close friend Aliya. She's moved a lot and transferred schools a ton, and she was drawn to Anna from the first time she saw her. She said it was her beauty, but also that she looked distracted and she wanted to know what was on her mind.
We also heard from Anna's mom, where we got a picture of the family dynamics. Anna's grandmother was close since they shared the love of art. We also got to see some of Anna's actions--skipping school, the party where she ended up in the river freezing cold, and such from another perspective, and how worried she was.
The ending where we saw her go through treatment was such a transformation. To see her not numb and actually feeling was wonderful. She still had a hard time don't get me wrong, but seeing the difference that meds can make and transform the way she sees the world, feels things and sees herself was a beautiful thing to see.
Bottom Line: Realistic look at depression, suicidal thoughts, how mental illness can effect everyone around the person.
May 6, 2016
"The thing I was sure about, though, was that nobody would understand why I so badly wanted to stop existing. It's not that I wanted to kill myself. I just wanted a break from being me, which meant the thought of dying was never very far away."
From the very first pages I already connected to Anna right away. Her thoughts were mine, her fears and wants were mine too. This book is an immersion in the mind of a depressed person with suicide thoughts, as much as it is about the people around her.
It's hard to review this book without trying to be too personal. I've been were she is, I'm still there sometimes. These thoughts never really go away. It doesn't matter how many people tell they love you and care for you and that life is worth living, your brain is set to believe the only answer is to finish your life.
All that being said, I also have a few criticisms. First, Aliya's NO HOMO moment set me off right away. I wish that part wasn't there. Her relationship with Anna could've been more explored in my opinion; that would be more interesting than all the times Kyle obsessed over Anna. Another thing was how fast we went through Anna's time at the hospital were she recovered and how she talked about the other people there. It wasn't nice how she thought they belonged there more than her and how she wanted to avoid the other 'crazy people'. She could've learned some things in her time there to not judge other people's mental illness.
I'd say this is close to a 3.8 rating. There were some really good parts, but the beginning was definitely stronger for me than the last part.
From the very first pages I already connected to Anna right away. Her thoughts were mine, her fears and wants were mine too. This book is an immersion in the mind of a depressed person with suicide thoughts, as much as it is about the people around her.
It's hard to review this book without trying to be too personal. I've been were she is, I'm still there sometimes. These thoughts never really go away. It doesn't matter how many people tell they love you and care for you and that life is worth living, your brain is set to believe the only answer is to finish your life.
All that being said, I also have a few criticisms. First, Aliya's NO HOMO moment set me off right away. I wish that part wasn't there. Her relationship with Anna could've been more explored in my opinion; that would be more interesting than all the times Kyle obsessed over Anna. Another thing was how fast we went through Anna's time at the hospital were she recovered and how she talked about the other people there. It wasn't nice how she thought they belonged there more than her and how she wanted to avoid the other 'crazy people'. She could've learned some things in her time there to not judge other people's mental illness.
I'd say this is close to a 3.8 rating. There were some really good parts, but the beginning was definitely stronger for me than the last part.
September 4, 2016
From the first page I absolutely fell into rhythm of this book. Anna has what some people would say is the perfect life: two married parents who are well off, a great relationship with her brother, good grades, and a wonderful talent. How could she be depressed?
Slowly through the pages you see the illness drive Anna deeper and deeper into this dark cloud, where the only way out in her mind is death.
I loved everything about this book from the beginning to the end. It correctly and accurately shows depression and how you never know what is going in someone's head. On the outside they could be happy and all smiles, but inside slowly dying.
I really connected with Anna because depression runs in my family so much, and I have been a victim of it's dark ways. Maybe not driven to the point of suicide, but some days I have clouds of darkness too.
I suggest this book to everyone and anyone, it's important to understand depression and how it can change even the happiest of people to these shells of themselves. It was a beautiful read and will always remember it.
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. This year's theme is Connect, Communicate, Care. I encourage you to be part of the Conversation.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 (available 24 hours everyday)
June 27, 2016
Originally posted over at Lekeisha the Booknerd
My Mini Thoughts
You all know that I love all things mental health. And a few of you know that I suffer from depression myself, so I will always seek out books that are centered around that more than others. Detached is really well developed, in terms of the protagonist's illness and the subsequent effects of her state of mind. The author did an amazing job detailing Anna’s thoughts and actions, and you are really inside her head the whole time. Reading the description helps you a little with her character development, but not enough to really know EVERYTHING about her. I wanted to know more about her relationships than the little sketches that Anna gave us. For such an important topic, this lacked a lot of precedent circumstances that needed to make you really get the beginning of Anna’s plummet. Still, I really like the extent the author went to show just how badly depression is and that it needs to be seen more clearly. It’s real and scary for all involved, not just the person it is happening to. I enjoyed reading this book, I just wish that it had more to show. Still, definitely recommend for readers of YA fiction, focused on mental health.
My Mini Thoughts
You all know that I love all things mental health. And a few of you know that I suffer from depression myself, so I will always seek out books that are centered around that more than others. Detached is really well developed, in terms of the protagonist's illness and the subsequent effects of her state of mind. The author did an amazing job detailing Anna’s thoughts and actions, and you are really inside her head the whole time. Reading the description helps you a little with her character development, but not enough to really know EVERYTHING about her. I wanted to know more about her relationships than the little sketches that Anna gave us. For such an important topic, this lacked a lot of precedent circumstances that needed to make you really get the beginning of Anna’s plummet. Still, I really like the extent the author went to show just how badly depression is and that it needs to be seen more clearly. It’s real and scary for all involved, not just the person it is happening to. I enjoyed reading this book, I just wish that it had more to show. Still, definitely recommend for readers of YA fiction, focused on mental health.
July 31, 2016
I was given a review copy of Detached through NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Anna's art has always kept her centered, but a bridge, for which she has become obsessed, takes over her waking thoughts. Painting does nothing to quell her obsession of it, which was dubbed by the locals as the suicide bridge. Ever since her grandparents died in the same river spanned by the bridge, Anna has felt detached from her life, hopeless and desperate. Her parents, her brother Joe, and her friend Aliya have all noticed her distance, but all ignored the signs until Anna takes drastic measures. Will Anna be able to find reasons for living before it is too late?
Written in narrative form with Anna, Anna's best friend Aliya, and her mother all contributing, the story of one teenager's descent into a bleak world comes through. Although the story gives a complete picture of someone contemplating and attempting suicide, the author did not successfully capture the sense of despair or even the absence of feeling that goes to the root of Anna's troubles. The book does a good job at highlighting this serious issue, especially showing how easy it is to miss the signs or wish them away. Detached can help teens open a dialogue with their parents, or conversely, give parents reasons to have frank discussions with their children.
Anna's art has always kept her centered, but a bridge, for which she has become obsessed, takes over her waking thoughts. Painting does nothing to quell her obsession of it, which was dubbed by the locals as the suicide bridge. Ever since her grandparents died in the same river spanned by the bridge, Anna has felt detached from her life, hopeless and desperate. Her parents, her brother Joe, and her friend Aliya have all noticed her distance, but all ignored the signs until Anna takes drastic measures. Will Anna be able to find reasons for living before it is too late?
Written in narrative form with Anna, Anna's best friend Aliya, and her mother all contributing, the story of one teenager's descent into a bleak world comes through. Although the story gives a complete picture of someone contemplating and attempting suicide, the author did not successfully capture the sense of despair or even the absence of feeling that goes to the root of Anna's troubles. The book does a good job at highlighting this serious issue, especially showing how easy it is to miss the signs or wish them away. Detached can help teens open a dialogue with their parents, or conversely, give parents reasons to have frank discussions with their children.
June 17, 2016
Thank you to Dundurn Publishers for an ARC of Detached by Christina Kilbourne.
Anna is a young girl with depression, only she doesn't realise she's depressed. All she knows is that she wishes to die. And so, she tries. Only... she is rescued and wakes up in hospital, where she is treated for depression.
I want to give this book 3.5 stars. I did enjoy the book, I felt Kilbourne describes untreated depression and suicidal ideation in a sensitive and realistic way, and describes the recovery quite well. It's quite a short book, only 240 pages (ish, I read it via Kindle), and as such I felt like a lot of detail and character development was lost. I felt it could have been a lot deeper than it was.
We get to know Anna's friendships pretty well, but I couldn't really relate to anyone. Again, I think this was partly because of how short the book was. It wasn't necessarily a book where I felt I needed to get to know the characters, though, because it was about Anna's depression and suicidal thoughts, which was very well done. I just felt the story could have been a lot deeper.
Anna is a young girl with depression, only she doesn't realise she's depressed. All she knows is that she wishes to die. And so, she tries. Only... she is rescued and wakes up in hospital, where she is treated for depression.
I want to give this book 3.5 stars. I did enjoy the book, I felt Kilbourne describes untreated depression and suicidal ideation in a sensitive and realistic way, and describes the recovery quite well. It's quite a short book, only 240 pages (ish, I read it via Kindle), and as such I felt like a lot of detail and character development was lost. I felt it could have been a lot deeper than it was.
We get to know Anna's friendships pretty well, but I couldn't really relate to anyone. Again, I think this was partly because of how short the book was. It wasn't necessarily a book where I felt I needed to get to know the characters, though, because it was about Anna's depression and suicidal thoughts, which was very well done. I just felt the story could have been a lot deeper.
August 22, 2017
"Detached" is one of the few books which has focused on depression as a mental "illness" and not as a social stigma to shy away from.
The book revolves around Anna who finds herself dead within which has aggravated especially after her grandparents' death. Throughout the book the author has tried to give an insight about the thinking process of a depressed person, how the feeling of letting go overpowers them to the extent that they think suicide as the ultimate end.
The most important aspect of this book is it recognizes the fact that "depression" is a mental ILLNESS just like ANY OTHER BODY AILMENTS and that it is not the FAULT of the depressed person.
The reader goes through various stages through the different perspectives of the characters around Anna to experience the onset, progression and ultimately the resolution of the condition mainly through understand and support of her dear ones who made her realize that "NOTHING IS WORTH GIVING UP THE REST OF YOUR LIFE".
The book revolves around Anna who finds herself dead within which has aggravated especially after her grandparents' death. Throughout the book the author has tried to give an insight about the thinking process of a depressed person, how the feeling of letting go overpowers them to the extent that they think suicide as the ultimate end.
The most important aspect of this book is it recognizes the fact that "depression" is a mental ILLNESS just like ANY OTHER BODY AILMENTS and that it is not the FAULT of the depressed person.
The reader goes through various stages through the different perspectives of the characters around Anna to experience the onset, progression and ultimately the resolution of the condition mainly through understand and support of her dear ones who made her realize that "NOTHING IS WORTH GIVING UP THE REST OF YOUR LIFE".
August 21, 2016
Depression and suicide in teens are always difficult topics to read about. But it's an important one because it's very real. This book does a good job of telling the story of one such teen in a way that's entirely believable. Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was hearing Anna's story told from three different perspectives: Anna herself, her mother, and her best friend. It's a reminder that these are issues that don't just affect one person but instead everyone around that person.
May 5, 2016
This was a very uplifting book about a dark topic. The way the author describes the way Anna feels is just incredible. Then when she is giving the side of her mom and friend give you a whole new side to the story
Fantastic story MUST READ
Fantastic story MUST READ
July 14, 2016
Vid review coming soon!
Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr4rY...
Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr4rY...
April 8, 2017
This book is well developed and the author has done a wonderful job in swiftly moving through scenes and time without appearing choppy. It is written in alternating POV, Anna (protagonist), Anna's mother and Aliya (Anna's friend).
I personally didn't like Anna which is a good thing because that meant the author did very well to make her appear apathetic, bland and dull which are some things you expect of a person suffering depression.
I found her selfish most of the times, ungrateful attention seeking, desensitized and hardly registering feelings of others and pretending to be clueless or is clueless, who knows. It was still unclear why she wanted to commit suicide. Sure, her grandparents died, but it didn't seem like a solid reason. What was she trying to prove? Motive behind killing herself? That she can't live without them so she must die? The world is too scary?
Even Anna herself finds it difficult to understand why those thoughts have ever crossed her mind when she is at the hospital.
I wish the plot had sub-plots than excited, dramatized or increased the intensity of the main plot that revolved around Anna's suicidal attempts and thoughts. However, this book focused solely on one aspect of Anna's life. It completely revolved around Anna who constantly thought about every way to be the author of her demise.
I personally didn't like Anna which is a good thing because that meant the author did very well to make her appear apathetic, bland and dull which are some things you expect of a person suffering depression.
I found her selfish most of the times, ungrateful attention seeking, desensitized and hardly registering feelings of others and pretending to be clueless or is clueless, who knows. It was still unclear why she wanted to commit suicide. Sure, her grandparents died, but it didn't seem like a solid reason. What was she trying to prove? Motive behind killing herself? That she can't live without them so she must die? The world is too scary?
Even Anna herself finds it difficult to understand why those thoughts have ever crossed her mind when she is at the hospital.
I wish the plot had sub-plots than excited, dramatized or increased the intensity of the main plot that revolved around Anna's suicidal attempts and thoughts. However, this book focused solely on one aspect of Anna's life. It completely revolved around Anna who constantly thought about every way to be the author of her demise.
August 11, 2016
4.5 stars.
Detached by Christina Kilbourne is an informative and insightful portrait of depression and suicidal ideation that I HIGHLY recommend to readers of all ages.
Sixteen year old Anna is an amazingly gifted artist, but she has never quite felt like she fit into her life. She is intelligent and thriving at her elite art school. Anna has a loving family and although her circle of friends is small, she is well-liked by everyone. However, following her grandparents' deaths, the inner void she has always felt widens while at the same time, she begins to feel even more disconnected from her emotions, friends, family and life in general. The first hint of trouble first appears in her unsettling but magnificent painting of a bridge that has been the scene of several suicides over the years. Anna's obsession with the bridge finally wanes, but unfortunately, her thoughts of ending of her life do not. Despite several subtle warning signs that everyone finds easy enough to explain away, no one realizes how desperate Anna's situation is until it is nearly too late.
Initially, it is surprisingly easy for Anna to hide her feelings of hopelessness and despair from everyone around her. She covers up and explains away inconsistencies whenever anyone questions some of her actions, but there are subtle hints that her brother Joe and her closest friend Aliyah pick up on. However, they believe her explanations and occasionally grow irritated with some of her decisions and excuses. Anna is increasingly overwhelmed with dark thoughts and she eventually becomes consumed with the overpowering need to take her life.
Aliyah is well aware that something is off with her friend, but she fluctuates between annoyance and concern over Anna's increasingly out of character behavior. The deeper Anna sinks into despair, the more worried Aliyah becomes, but she never considers depression as a reason for her friend's actions. She does become alarmed enough to bring up her concerns about Anna with their friends, but amidst everyone's reassurances that their friend is ok, she drops the subject. Aliyah is the first to realize that something is drastically wrong the final time Anna tries to commit suicide and her reactions in the aftermath are realistically portrayed.
Although Anna's parents are well aware their daughter is acting out of character, it is easy to assume that this is typical teenage behavior. Anna's father is frequently out of town for business but he too notices differences that he briefly questions but then chalks up to changing interests now she is growing up. Anna's relationship with her mom is not particularly close and after her grandmother's death, her mom is reluctant to do or say anything that might upset their precarious bond. In the aftermath of Anna's overdose, startling revelations about her grandmother illustrate why it is so essential to de-stigmatize mental illness and openly and honestly discuss these issues.
Written from three very distinct points of view, Detached offers a thought-provoking and well-rounded perspective of the effects that depression and suicide have on the patient, family and friends. Christina Kilbourne's sensitive approach to this difficult subject is quite candid and enlightening. The depiction of Anna's struggles with depression and suicidal ideation is heartbreakingly honest and the novel's conclusion is surprisingly upbeat and positive. I highly encourage readers of all ages to pick a copy of this riveting young adult novel that provides a poignant and educational portrayal of depression and suicidal thoughts.
Detached by Christina Kilbourne is an informative and insightful portrait of depression and suicidal ideation that I HIGHLY recommend to readers of all ages.
Sixteen year old Anna is an amazingly gifted artist, but she has never quite felt like she fit into her life. She is intelligent and thriving at her elite art school. Anna has a loving family and although her circle of friends is small, she is well-liked by everyone. However, following her grandparents' deaths, the inner void she has always felt widens while at the same time, she begins to feel even more disconnected from her emotions, friends, family and life in general. The first hint of trouble first appears in her unsettling but magnificent painting of a bridge that has been the scene of several suicides over the years. Anna's obsession with the bridge finally wanes, but unfortunately, her thoughts of ending of her life do not. Despite several subtle warning signs that everyone finds easy enough to explain away, no one realizes how desperate Anna's situation is until it is nearly too late.
Initially, it is surprisingly easy for Anna to hide her feelings of hopelessness and despair from everyone around her. She covers up and explains away inconsistencies whenever anyone questions some of her actions, but there are subtle hints that her brother Joe and her closest friend Aliyah pick up on. However, they believe her explanations and occasionally grow irritated with some of her decisions and excuses. Anna is increasingly overwhelmed with dark thoughts and she eventually becomes consumed with the overpowering need to take her life.
Aliyah is well aware that something is off with her friend, but she fluctuates between annoyance and concern over Anna's increasingly out of character behavior. The deeper Anna sinks into despair, the more worried Aliyah becomes, but she never considers depression as a reason for her friend's actions. She does become alarmed enough to bring up her concerns about Anna with their friends, but amidst everyone's reassurances that their friend is ok, she drops the subject. Aliyah is the first to realize that something is drastically wrong the final time Anna tries to commit suicide and her reactions in the aftermath are realistically portrayed.
Although Anna's parents are well aware their daughter is acting out of character, it is easy to assume that this is typical teenage behavior. Anna's father is frequently out of town for business but he too notices differences that he briefly questions but then chalks up to changing interests now she is growing up. Anna's relationship with her mom is not particularly close and after her grandmother's death, her mom is reluctant to do or say anything that might upset their precarious bond. In the aftermath of Anna's overdose, startling revelations about her grandmother illustrate why it is so essential to de-stigmatize mental illness and openly and honestly discuss these issues.
Written from three very distinct points of view, Detached offers a thought-provoking and well-rounded perspective of the effects that depression and suicide have on the patient, family and friends. Christina Kilbourne's sensitive approach to this difficult subject is quite candid and enlightening. The depiction of Anna's struggles with depression and suicidal ideation is heartbreakingly honest and the novel's conclusion is surprisingly upbeat and positive. I highly encourage readers of all ages to pick a copy of this riveting young adult novel that provides a poignant and educational portrayal of depression and suicidal thoughts.
July 21, 2017
I thought this book did a good job of trying to describe how depression feels and how it's not always easy to recognize in yourself or in others. I think it could be a good discussion book and could help people understand that it's not always so easy to just feel better.
July 18, 2016
*I received a copy of this in exchange for a review*
Everything about this book felt underdeveloped except Anna's mother. I assume that reason is because a parent of a child who committed suicide asked this author to write a book she could use for mental health awareness. I don't think this excuses it. The author states in the beginning she hopes this book will help teenagers thinking about suicide or struggling with depression. I'm not the age range, but I once was a teenager with severe depression. The guilt this made me feel about being depressed, even now, was a tough pill to swallow. There's Anna's pov, plus her mom and her best friend Aliya. A lot of their sections felt preachy or like it was about them, not Anna, the one who was actually suffering. I know it's something people go through when they love someone with depression, and I know they suffer too, but it just didn't seem like a good thing to highlight in my opinion without developing Anna's character more.
It's clinically accurate as far as depression goes, but it reads like a description from WebMD and only covers the very typical symptoms. Anna felt like a very one dimensional character because of this and the authors inability to bring something so empty to life.
The most disappointing part for me was at the end Actually the author seemed very out of touch with 2016 teenagers, this read more like 1996.
If this book is actually intended to be read by a parent of someone dealing with depression and suicidal tendencies I think this might be an okay read. A lot of attention was placed on the struggle Anna's mother went through and how she felt about everything, which could be a very helpful thing for a parent feeling isolated in this situation.
Overall I think there are much better YA books that tackle mental illness. This one seemed to fall flat in so many ways and this is not a topic that needs lackluster books. The longer I think about it the less I like it.
Everything about this book felt underdeveloped except Anna's mother. I assume that reason is because a parent of a child who committed suicide asked this author to write a book she could use for mental health awareness. I don't think this excuses it. The author states in the beginning she hopes this book will help teenagers thinking about suicide or struggling with depression. I'm not the age range, but I once was a teenager with severe depression. The guilt this made me feel about being depressed, even now, was a tough pill to swallow. There's Anna's pov, plus her mom and her best friend Aliya. A lot of their sections felt preachy or like it was about them, not Anna, the one who was actually suffering. I know it's something people go through when they love someone with depression, and I know they suffer too, but it just didn't seem like a good thing to highlight in my opinion without developing Anna's character more.
It's clinically accurate as far as depression goes, but it reads like a description from WebMD and only covers the very typical symptoms. Anna felt like a very one dimensional character because of this and the authors inability to bring something so empty to life.
The most disappointing part for me was at the end Actually the author seemed very out of touch with 2016 teenagers, this read more like 1996.
If this book is actually intended to be read by a parent of someone dealing with depression and suicidal tendencies I think this might be an okay read. A lot of attention was placed on the struggle Anna's mother went through and how she felt about everything, which could be a very helpful thing for a parent feeling isolated in this situation.
Overall I think there are much better YA books that tackle mental illness. This one seemed to fall flat in so many ways and this is not a topic that needs lackluster books. The longer I think about it the less I like it.
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