Black Box

by Julie Schumacher

When Dora, Elena's older sister, is diagnosed with depression and has to be admitted to the hospital, Elena can't seem to make sense of their lives anymore. At school, the only people who acknowledge Elena are Dora's friends and Jimmy Zenk—who failed at least one grade and wears black every day of the week. And at home, Elena's parents keep arguing with each other. Elena will do anything to help her sister get better and get their lives back to normal—even when the responsibility becomes too much to bear.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Teen, Contemporary

176 pages, Hardcover

First published February 29, 2000

About the author

JULIE SCHUMACHER grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and graduated from Oberlin College and Cornell University, where she earned her MFA. Her first novel, The Body Is Water, was published by Soho Press in 1995 and was an ALA Notable Book of the Year and a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award. Her 2014 novel, Dear Committee Members, won the Thurber Prize for American Humor; she is the first woman to have been so honored. She lives in St. Paul and is a faculty member in the Creative Writing Program and the Department of English at the University of Minnesota.

Reviews

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick, short read, but it is very powerful. The story and the main character (Lena - short for Elena) draw you in immediately. She has an older sister, who has always been erratic, bubbly, moody, fun - the opposite of how Lena is. But they are very close. Then her sister gets so depressed that her parents intern her into a mental health facility. Lena doesn't know if by staying loyal to her sister, she is facilitating her destructive behavior, but she also just wants things to go back to "normal". Very good read for teens, and adults, especially parents dealing with a depressed child.

[Arminzerella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elena’s older sister, Dora, falls into a depression that she can’t climb out of on her own. She’s hospitalized after she tries to kill herself, and has to endure a nearly month-long stay in the mental illness ward at Lorning while her psychiatrist tries to find the right drug cocktail to stabilize her. While Dora is in the hospital, Elena makes a new friend – Jimmy Zenk – who has some personal experience with Lorning and warns her that it may not be the best place for her sister if they actually want her to recover from her illness. When Dora returns home, she’s different from the girl who went into treatment – more reckless, perhaps, skinnier, not really improved (as far as Elena can tell). And everyone’s attention is hyper-focused on her – is she eating, taking her pills, doing ok in school, feeling ok? Elena feels more and more responsible for Dora, willingly takes on the role of “sister’s keeper” because her parents won’t listen to her, and Dora’s started lying about everything. It all becomes way too much for Elena to handle on her own, and she feels terribly responsible when Dora makes another suicide attempt and has to be re-hospitalized.

Black Box explores that delicate balance between trust, secrets, and doing the right thing – whatever that is – as Elena has to make all of the hard choices about how best to help her sister. There’s some analysis of Dora’s depression, but it’s almost as mysterious to her as it is to everyone else. She can’t even find the words to describe what it feels like. But that just makes it more frightening. Elena’s strength is admirable, and her sadness over her failure to save Dora is real and heart-breaking. This short, gripping novel will leave readers wanting to know more about depression and its treatment.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book in about 2.5 hours. It was a quick easy read but I felt maybe a little to quick. I'm not sure if I liked the characters all that much. The relationship between Elena and Jimmy felt rushed and weird. I feel like there wasn't even a relationship between them. It was interesting reading from Elena's point of view. Someone watching someone going through depression and trying to understand it. I liked the build up of Elena's struggle and the ending.

[Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elena's sister, Dora, is admitted to the psych ward of Lorning Hospital after an attempted suicide. There Elena thinks things will get fixed. What she doesn't realize is that this disease is just beginning to creep into their lives. Dora seems to get worse, not better. Elena wonders when Dora will be able to come home, and when she does if things will ever go back to normal. At school people seem to pity her, except Jimmy. Jimmy is an odd boy who lives near Elena. His brother was in Lorning, and he tries to get closed-off Elena to open up about what she's going through.


My Thoughts:
This book has been on my TBR since FOREVER, but I had forgotten what it was about. I saw it at the library and remembered seeing it on my TBR, but by glancing at the cover I assumed this was going to be something creepy. Ghosts maybe?? Doesn't the cover give you the creepy vibe? Okay well now we know, it's NOT creepy. It's actually one of the strangest books I've read in a long time (in a non-creepy way).

Dora and Elena are these two really opposite sisters. Dora's always been the creative, emotional one, while Elena is the responsible, analytic one. Even though Elena is younger, she's the one supposed to watch over Dora from a young age. As Dora goes through her issues, Elena is just left out on an island by herself. Her parents won't talk to her, she doesn't have friends, and she doesn't want to share her feelings with her therapist. It was interesting to read about someone so UN-emotional and closed off. Especially a girl. I haven't met many of those in YA.

So I'm thinking that this book would have been better as a short story. It's about this huge, heavy topic (depression), but it just wants to skim the surface. I didn't feel any depth to this book. Something would be mentioned and BOOM, end of chapter, on to something else. Seriously there were no chapters longer than 2 pages. There was a small part where Elena seemed to be getting completely overwhelmed by her situation, worrying about Dora 24/7, and just seeming to become overcome with fear of what Dora may do. I wish that part was more developed. It was the only real time I felt like the book was really saying something.

Jimmy confused me. He was all over the place. One minute he'd be asking Elena a question about her sister's well-being... and then before she could even answer he'd be off trying to cook some weird concoction. It was truly odd and I wasn't sure what the point of it was.

Basically, I'm not saying you shouldn't read this book... but I've definitely read better books about depression. I don't think I truly "got" this book and that's because it was too choppy and jumpy. And every time something big was on the brink of happening, it was the end of the chapter.

OVERALL: Ehhh. It's a super short, quick read, but it doesn't delve into the topic of depression the way I would expect an issues book to. I wouldn't recommend it, but it's not terrible.

My Blog:

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com

BLACK BOX by Julie Schumacher is a heartfelt and moving portrait of teen depression. The author captures the pain of trying to rescue someone you love when you do not know how to save them.

Elena's otherwise typical teenage life is suddenly a lot more difficult when her older sister, Dora, is hospitalized for depression. There is nothing Elena wants more in the world than to see her sister happy again, back to her old self, when they used to play silly games and enjoy the little things in life.

The bond between the sisters is so powerful that Elena knows she is the only one Dora trusts. It is rare for a younger sibling to be put in the position of watching over an older one, but Elena rises to the occasion with an intense love and determination to protect Dora from herself. Soon, Dora's depression becomes all Elena can think about, smothering all other interests and feelings.

Family dynamics make the situation even more stressful, especially when Elena's parents try to keep Dora's depression as secret as possible. When Elena is not included in her mother and father's discussions about her sister, Elena loses her trust for her parents. However, she vows to do her part in helping her sister recover, with or without her parents' help.

Turning to a new friend at school, Jimmy, Elena tries to understand what Dora is going through and what she can do to help. Jimmy and Elena form the closest kind of friendship - the kind where it is comforting just to sit on the phone without talking, knowing that the other person is there for you.

Short, direct chapters emphasize Elena's anxiety and sense of ever-increasing urgency for her sister's condition. Though the story is told solely from Elena's perspective, readers can sympathize with and understand both Elena's and Dora's struggles.

Schumacher portrays depression as a disease that torments loved ones of the depressed with almost the same ferocity as the depressed themselves. Dora is the one fighting depression - but Elena is also suffocating from the pressure.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Box by Schumacher is a moving portrayal of teenage depression and suicide. It’s an eye opener that will provide valuable insight on the signs of depression and the possible harmful side-effects of the medications doctors use to treat this condition.

The story is told from the perspective of Elena, whose sister Dora is suffering from clinical depression. My heart went out to Elena as she struggles to find a way to ‘save’ her sister. I was a tad bothered at her parents for not making a better effort to help Elena realize it wasn’t her responsibility to save her sister, and as a result she begins a spiral downturn because of her fear and desperation for what’s happening around her.

There are a couple of parts that distracted me, especially the code that was used between the sisters. After a while, it started to become C-P-P-Q-A-K-P-I. I also didn’t understand why the truth of Jimmy’s true condition wasn’t revealed until the end. But, overall, it is definitely a book that was insightful and moving.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

{3.5}

[Brianna Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever been depressed? Have one of your siblings ever have to be admitted into a mental hospital because they experienced suicidal thoughts or actions? This book is realistic fiction. I know this because the events that take place in this book can really happen to anybody.


In this book a girl named Dora is admitted into a mental hospital because she was depressed and had taken a handful of antidepressant pills (when she was only supposed to take two a day. One early in the morning when she woke up and one late at night before she went to bed.) Meanwhile, her younger sister Elena is very worried about Dora and how she's doing... and so are her parents.. and who are also heartbroken because of it all. (Especially their mother) She gets very emotional at times and especially the part when they try to visit Dora at the hospital for the first time and they tell her "No.. because she wasn't cooperating with the staff..." You seen Dora through a glass window which seemed as if Dora was fighting with a staff member.. So then two days later Elena, and their mom and dad go to visit her again and this time they let them in. They go to her room and see her just laying in her bed. Elena stayed behind not knowing what to expect while her parents rush in towards her. She seemed to be happy to see them and wanted to go home and get out of there already and asked for her own clothes and wanted food because the food that they served was the "nastiest food ever." Then her parents had told her that they had tried to visit sooner but she was "having difficulty with the staff members" and Dora told her that they tried to make her eat but she refused to because it was very nasty.. and then so all the sudden they thought that she's anorexic... But they didn't know that it was for a completely different reason. Then it was time to leave because the people who worked there wanted them to leave. So Dora had told Elena to go by her (because through all this time Elena was standing silently by the doorway) and so secretly so nobody heard Dora had asked Elena for a favor. So of course Elena asked what it was that she needed and Dora had told her to "get her out of there." Then they left and when they got home it was dinner time so they had ordered Chinese food. (Dora's favorite) It was silent at the dinner table with four chairs and only three people. Elena just wanted Dora to come home...


A major event that changed the character is when Dora came had to leave the second time and Elena having to deal with her sister going away.. I think this changed the character (Elena) because she really realized how much her sister meant to her and that she didn't want her to go.


I was moved by the whole story and how it was written and everything about it. The part that made me cry was the part where Dora and Elena say goodbye to each other. It was so heartbreaking to read this because of everything leading up to that point and then when that specific part came is when it gets very emotional to me.


I definitely rate this book a five star. I would rate it a five star because of the way the author makes the characters and the words she used to describe certain things. I would recommend this book to really anybody.. or anybody who is up for a great book, that is for sure going to make your eyes tear. Also if you or anybody you know suffers from depression you should get try to reach out for help because there are many people who take their own lives from depression.. it's a very serous issue.. and you shouldn't wait to get help.. Also if you know of someone that suffers from depression let them know your there for them through everything because it would mean a lot to them...

[Kaitlyn Bubolz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response

I do not know how I feel about Black Box. It was very similar to what I went through, so it was pretty accurate, but I am not sure if I liked being brought back to that. I did not like how the parents were so excluding of their daughter.

Plot Summary

This book was about a Family. Their family consisted of a husband, a wife, and two daughters. Dora was the one to be diagnosed with depression. Dora and her sister, Elena, had been close since they were young. Dora overdoses, and is brought to the hospital, where she is later transferred to Lorning (basically a mental health hospital). Elena becomes friends with one of her neighbors named Jimmy who once went to Lorning. He told Elena all the terrible stories of it. They drugged Dora up so that she could barely walk to find the right prescription. Dora finally got home, but not too much later overdosed again and wound right back there again. During this time Elena and Jimmy develop a relationship until Dora got out.

Character Development

Throughout the story, Dora's depression got worse and she would tell more lies to Elena. Elena and Dora's parents stayed constant. Their characters were my least favorite because of the way they handled the situation with Dora. Elena got more open with Jimmy as time went on. She also managed to cry by the end of the book, and she had never cried before (except for when she was born). Jimmy's character stayed the same, he is always cooking and never stops talking. Dora's friends went from trusting her, to telling Elena news that Dora is skipping class and hanging around the wrong people.

Recommendation

I would recommend this book to people in high school. Black Box may help readers understand what depression actually is, so they stop using it as an "emotion" they feel (ex. Omg! My candy bar just got stolen!! I'm so depressed.) I would not really recommend this book to someone with depression, because if you have it, reading about it is not fun.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book, but I also felt as though something was missing. This story is about a sixteen-year-old girl suffering from depression and how that affects her family. Perhaps it’s that it was told by a fourteen-year-old narrator who’s somewhat naïve. She provides an interesting perspective; I felt some understanding of depression was absent, but that made sense given who’s telling the story.

This is a spare little book and personally I’d have liked a more in depth narrative. However, maybe for some readers this book might be a perfect telling. What felt somewhat superficial to me might be a brilliant reflection on how this family is dealing with a crisis. I did get emotionally involved while reading. This was painful to read but it also had many, sometimes unexpected, humorous parts too.

I actually really appreciated the author’s 3 page personal note at the end of the novel. I also think it’s good that there’s suicide prevention contact information at the end of the book because this book about a sixteen year old depressed girl and her family could definitely have an emotional impact on vulnerable teens.

I do have to say that I did not approve of how the story ended, so I'm sure that did make a difference about how I rated it.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena looks up to her vivacious older sister Dora and the two girls have always been close. When Dora struggles with depression and is hospitalized, Elena feels that she has to be the one to watch out for Dora. It's a heavy responsibility for a 14-year-old girl especially when Dora begins to ditch school and spit out her meds.

This compelling story is told from Elena's perspective which allows a close-up exploration of the impact of depression on an entire family. The family dynamics ring true as does Elena's own struggle to understand her role in helping her sister. I enjoyed the inclusion of the Jimmy, the boy next door, an intriguing and believable character.

I am at heart a escapist reader - give me speculative fiction and happy endings every time! But, strangely, I am a sucker for books that explore mental illness and I looked forward to reading this. It was a very skillfully written book that grabbed me and kept me reading. I think teens are going to love it.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short chapters and simple language suggest that this might work with reluctant girls who feel a connection to mental illness. Beyond hoarding pills and timid teen romance, there's nothing here that middle school libraries couldn't handle. On the other hand, the characters are flat, the plot slow, and the conclusion unsatisfying.

So if you have a freshman who's sister is in and out of treatment, offer her this book. I don't see much readership beyond that small segment.

[Chloe Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

read in one sitting. gut wrenching. so good i’m never gonna read it again.

i just finished the last 1/5 of the book, probably the worst ending i have ever experienced in my life. movies included. i started reading the foreword thinking it was still the book
still, 4 stars for the entirety of the book. the ending sucked tho

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful, honest read about teenage depression and the effects it has on the entire family. Loved Schumacher's voice--very similar to that of Laurie Halse Anderson. Don't skip the author's note at the end!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonably well-done book about a girl whose sister is hospitalized for depression. It's along the lines of LISA, BRIGHT AND DARK. It's good, but I didn't find it particularly original or anything. This is 3.5 stars rounded up.

[Katelin Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one night. When someone battles with mental health, sometimes we truly do forget that it affects the people around that person. This book was phenomenal.

[Karrigen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Black Box was written by Julie Schumacher. The setting took place modern time in Northern Maryland, hospital called lorning, and at the therapist office. The characters are Dora the depressed person, Elena Dora’s sister, Jimmy Zenk Elena’s friend who helps with Dora’s situation, mom the mother of Dora and Elena, Dad the father of Elena and Dora, and the Grandma therapist Elena’s therapist who makes sure Elena is okay even though her older sister is the one with depression. I found this book at my school library.
Elena Lint is quiet and put together well but on the other hand her older sister is unpredictable and depressed. They always been able to tell each other everything but when Dora’s behavior changed they didn’t talk as much and Dora wouldn’t tell her sister what was going on with her. So Elena pretty much just became her babysitter and tried to look over her as much as she can. Elena is worried and really just feels like it’s her fault that her family is we’re they are. They days go by and Elena meets Jimmy Zenk who seems to know a lot about dealing with the situation like Dora is having. So they become friends and talk about Dora almost everyday. Elena’s parents get worried ab her and how she’s taking the situation ab her sister so they take her to a therapist know as Grandma therapist.
Dora gets sent to New Hampshire after her and Elena’s parents realize that it’s not good for her to stay home they can’t provide the special care that Dora needs right now. Elena says goodbye to her sister but the next day don’t show up to the buss stop for school. Jimmy goes to her house to check up on her and made breakfast for her. Elena is just really sad that she can’t save her sister. My favorite quote from the book was “she unscrewed the childproof cap while I watched “ every family needs a problem child” she said tossing back a pill by jerking her pointed chin in the air. “You should probably thank me. I’ve saved you from taking on that role”- Dora.
The book was very sad but interesting. Similar books to the black box might be Sucker Punch, Guardian, or Everything is fine. I would recommend this book to people who have friends because it is really sad and people who already sad or depressed might make it worse.

[Gatu Cha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read was called “Blackbox” written by Julie Schumacher. Elena is the main character. She is the younger sister of Dora. Dora has depression and is being hospitalized. Elena’s parents only told her that Dora needs to be hospitalized because Dora needed to be in a safe environment, but Elena already had thoughts about her sister being sad and depressed, but doesn’t understand why or how Dora would feel that certain way. One day, Elena and her parents decided to visit Dora, Elena saw many strange kids there. She knew it wasn’t a regular hospital. That’s when she suspected something odd about her sister. She finally realizes that her sister is diagnosed with depression. That same day, Dora whispers to Elena saying “save me” for them both to only hear. Elena, being that loyal sister, she plans to help her sister out of that place. Everyone at school knows that Dora is being locked up on a hospital room but their parents still asks the school to not tell anyone. At school, a neighbor of Elena, named Jimmy, asks about Dora’s condition. After explaining everything to Jimmy, she asks him for help getting her out. When Dora finally gets out of the hospital, she changes. She ditches school and pretends to take her pills. Elena tries to cover up for her sister, but it is hard for her to do so if Dora cannot do that for her own self. Elena is just desperate to find a cure for her sister, yet she is taken to a therapist. Elena feels like taking care of Dora is her own responsibility and her shoulders are always heavy. Kindly, Jimmy was always there to comfort her for the times when she wanted to give up. Until later on in the story, she decides that Dora wasn’t her responsibility anymore. If she wanted Dora to go back to being normal, Dora had to do it herself and if she didn’t, Elena couldn’t do anything about it too.

[Kelsey Kruyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie Schumacher’s book, Black Box, was an interesting book. This short read left a very strong impact. I believe that impact was from the relatable characters. The Lindt family is crazy and quirky like most are, but they also had their own distinct characteristics. When Dora, the oldest of the two, was diagnosed with depression, we see the different stages each family member goes through. The parents’ coping mechanism are a little engrossing. They push Elena, the youngest, away as they begin to fight more often. Elena struggles the most through this whole process. I felt that Elena was the most relatable. Schumacher created an attachment between Elena and readers by flashing back to Elena’s childhood moments with her sister. She was a quiet freshman that excelled at her studies. Elena had a big future ahead of her. I thought each character taught a lesson. The parents were an image of how you can easily get caught up in the bad of things. Dora and Elena’s relationship showed us that time with the ones you care for are precious and should be valued, because you may never know when they will be gone.

Although I loved the characters, I felt that the book was rushed. There wasn’t a development between Elena and Jimmy which I felt was necessary. The impactful storyline of this book shouldn’t have been confined to a certain number of pages. Because it was rushed, I have some unanswered questions. Does Dora ever become better? Does anything happen between Jimmy and Elena? Was Jimmy’s impression of Dr. Siebald accurate? The side stories within the book never correlated back to the main purpose at the end. It was a great book, but I would have liked more.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opinion: I've read this book twice since 6th grade, and over time I've grown and found more in this book. Every time I read Black Box more and more comes out of it. I see points better and I understand more then I did in the 6th grade. I would say my age changed my understanding and that it would probably be a better book, and you would understand it better if you were older. unless you are a very experienced reader, of course, like to say I would truly give this book five stars in the 6th grade would be a very false statement, but now that I've reread the book at a higher grade level and have a better understanding of literature and the topics this book disguised I can definitely say rating this book with five stars is truthful and real.

Summary: Elena is a smart girl struggling with a problem she can't fix. Her older sister, Dora has been diagnosed with depression. Throughout the book, Elena faces the struggle of being the younger sister 0f a stressed and depressed teenager. Elena doesn't understand why her sister feels this way, but throughout the book, she starts to understand until finally, she does. Jimmy is the only one there for her, but can she really trust him. Her parents take it roughly and leave Elena to talk to her therapist, While they fight it out in private. Will Elena make it at the center of the fire? Or
will she be caught in the flames?

Read to find out.

[Neenah Arredondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book the blackbox is a book where a teenage girl Dora is diagnosed with depression. Elena is Dora’s younger sister, Elena is more quiet, smart and intelligent. Dora has been diagnosed with depression and has been put on medicine and has been hospitalized. Dora and her younger sister Elena were very close. But Elena can’t seem to make sense of their lives anymore. This is a novel by Julie Schumacher.
Something that Julie does, she gets to the things right away. And what i mean by that is, she gets to the excitement of the book right away. The chapters are very short. The author has had friends or family that has been affected by depression. So this might affect you. If you have or might have depression it is treatable, you should contact a relative or a doctor to talk about it. Don’t fear or be ashamed of it you’re not alone.
I love the book Blackbox. It is one of my most favorite books! It is believable and exciting. I like how the author has short chapters, and how she makes the book seem real. It was very easy to read, I really really liked the ending. I do recommend this book. If you don’t like it then don’t read it.

[Emily Luebke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more intense than I tend to read when I reach for contemporary. HUGE TRIGGER WARNINGS for depression, suicide, mental illness.
What I liked about this story was the point of view from a sister of a mentally ill, suicidal person. I have never been suicidal myself, but I have had friends who were/are so this spoke to me. That feeling of wanting to help, but not knowing how and feeling unable to be there in the way your friend needs.

This was a quick, and very intense read. It focused almost entirely on the family and the situation with the sister who suffers from severe depression. I think it works because when you're going through that it pretty much takes over every facet of your life. I have not checked to see what other reviewers, especially those who have been suicidal, are saying, so please take that into consideration as well.

I'll probably do a more in depth review on my channel at some point: Julian's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrw...

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elena's sister Dora is having problems. She's acting very different lately and Elena doesn't know why. It's gotten so bad that Dora ended up in Lorning Hospital, in the psych ward. Lena is confused and her parents aren't any help hiding everything from her and not talking about it. Luckily Lena meets a neighbor boy who seems to have inside knowledge about all this stuff. He talks a lot while Lena listens. He slowly becomes the one she can talk to....she doesn't even open up to her new therapist....the whole family is going now to help deal with Dora's issues.
We watch as a family finds ways to deal with something they know nothing about but desperately want to help with. They are distraught and frantic at times as Dora goes through fazes of good days and bad. Seeing it all through the eyes of the 3 years younger sister who feels like she's lost her best friend, the one she could confide in, the one she trusted with everything....where did that Dora go? Elena wants her back even if she has to do it alone.

[Salty Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the author who brought us two certifiable original classics - Dear Committee Members and The Shakespeare Requirement - comes Julie Schumacher's early novel that focuses on depression and its devestating aftermath. High school senior Dora one day develops suicidal tendencies and is sent away to a hospital, where she's drugged up to a point of extreme lethargy. Her younger sister Lena is devastated by the turn of events and does everything in her power to save her older sister. Over the next few weeks, Lena develops a close friendship with her classmate Jimmy, someone whose mom is a psychiatrist and has inside knowledge of treatments and the institution where Dora is held. The story paints a painful picture of a family fighting to save one of its members. Ultimately, it's Lena who takes on the bulk of the suffering. She thinks she can save her sister but the mission is an impossibility she can't handle. Gorgeous, painful and realistic portrayal of the close relationship between two sisters and an ugly, black dog tearing their lives piece by piece.

[Breanna Weiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Response:
Blackbox is a book that is full of emotion. The author does a really great job of making sure the reader can fully understand what the characters are going through and what the characters are feeling. Blackbox keeps my attention throughout the whole book, and I never get tired of it while reading the book. I rate this book a four out of five stars.

Plot Summary:
Blackbox starts out with the wonderful relationship between Elena and her older sister Dora. These two girls have been close ever since they were little. Elena is now a freshman in high school and Dora is a junior. Even as they got older, their trust and support for one another never had gone away. Until Dora starts acting a bit strange. She seems to be off lately. More quiet than she usually is. She is distancing herself from her family, friends, and Elena. One day, Dora is finally diagnosed with depression and is admitted into a hospital to receive special care. Elena tries to do the best she can to cope with her sister not being around. Elena also really struggles with not able to help her sister. She finds a new friend at school, Jimmy. Jimmy is the type of boy who wears black everyday and does not have a lot of friends. Eventually figuring out that Elena and Jimmy truly do have a lot in common, they help each other cope with everything around them.

Characterization:
In the beginning of this book, Dora is described as a girl who is adventurous, outgoing, and always looking for a good time. A girl with endless care and love for her sister. As the book goes on, Dora is diagnosed with depression and is no longer the girl looking for fun. She closes herself off to other people, even her own sister.

The character known as Jimmy, who eventually turns into Elena’s best friend, is very mysterious at first. He talks about his life at home and how his brother was in the same mental institution as Dora. As the story continues, we discover that Jimmy does not have a brother. It was Jimmy who was previously in the mental institution. In the end, we learn more about Jimmy and his truly outgoing personality.

Recommendations:
I recommend this story for girls the age 13 and up. This story contains the improper use of prescription drugs and depression. This concept may be hard for girls the ages younger than 13 to understand. The main characters in this story are mainly girls so girls reading the story would be able to relate to it more than boys in this case.

[Araly · Rating 4 out of 5]

When will Elena stop worrying too much about her sister Dora? The Black Box was written by Julie Schumacher and was published on February 29,2000. A different copy was published on August 26, 2008. Black Box is a story where a girl named Dora is diagnosed with depression and it effects the whole family especially her sister Elena.This book is a high quality book to read, but there were several plots that didn't make sense. I enjoyed this book because it demonstrates how people with mental illnesses can affect their way of living and how it can also affect their families.I rate this book 4/5 stars. It was interesting to read about how Elena reacts to her sister being taken to the hospital.General tips I would give is to add more interesting relationships to the story. In conclusion "Black Box" is a well written story.

[Jessica Mullins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books addresses something people usually shy away from; mental state of well being. Though it could've been explained in greater detail, it wasn't. But since the book is trying to address something very serious, it should've explained more in-depth to show the graveness of the situation. But overall, it's an okay book for what it is; a book trying to depict the emotional turmoil of not only the eldest sister, but the whole family as a result of the stress of having a mentally ill family member can bring upon you.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about depression coming from the point of view of an outsider. We never know what seems to be going through the mind of this adolescent known as Dora. We just see through the eyes of Elene. She is one year behind Dora- her only sister. I liked the POV of depression. As someone who has dealt with depression, I know how far out one can be with depression. Especially with the fragility of not wanting to do any harm to the depressed. Jimmy as a character seemed to serve as the rundown of what depression is. A needed character but did romance have to influence the text? I know it not major but sometimes a book doesn't need a romance idea.

[Destineyp111 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a fast read. the book is really good and I like how Lena grows throughout the story but I don't like how the parents act toward her . this book really shows how one person's illness(in this case depression) affects the whole family and how your friends might have gone through what your family is going through and that you are not the only one that has gone through this and can trust people and they will understand and just because all the pressure is on you it doesn't mean there is not help.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrative pushes you toward the notion the parents are clueless dullards, possibly the cause of Dora’s illness. The conclusion, however, leaves us with something far messier, complicated and unresolved. This is one of the many strengths of this novel. We, like the narrator, are all biased by our points-of-view.