I Am Not Alone

by Francisco X. Stork

Award-winning author Francisco X. Stork revisits some of the themes and ideas that made Marcelo in the Real World such an unforgettable novel.

Alberto’s life isn't easy: He's an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who lives with his sister's abusive boyfriend—but he'd always accepted his place in the world. Until he starts hearing the voice of a man called Captain America, a voice that wants him to achieve more, no matter the cost.

Grace has it all: She has a supportive boyfriend, she’s on track to be valedictorian, and she’s sure to go to the college of her dreams. Still, nothing feels right to her any more after the divorce of her parents, and feels she needs something more.

When Alberto and Grace meet, they have an immediate and electric connection. But when Alberto is present at the scene of a terrible crime, he becomes a suspect. And with his developing schizophrenia, he’s not even sure he believes in his own innocence.

Can Grace find a way to prove Alberto’s innocence to himself and the world?

This is a page-turning thriller and a sensitive story about mental health, love, and community that will appeal to anyone who has struggled with their place in the world, from award-winning author Francisco X. Stork.

Genres: Young Adult, Mental Health, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Coming Of Age

320 pages, Hardcover

Published July 18, 2023

About the author

Francisco X. Stork was born in Mexico. He moved to El Paso Texas with his adoptive father and mother when he was nine. He attended Spring Hill College, Harvard University and Columbia Law School. He worked as an attorney for thirty-three years before retiring in 2015. He is married and has two grown children and four beautiful grandkids. He loves to discover new books and authors. His favorite books are those where the author's soul touches his. He does not read reviews to his books so you should feel free to write whatever you want. Also, he is genuinely interested in learning about books and life from his friends on this site. He would love it if you find his books worthy to be read, but that's not why he wants to be your friend.

Reviews

[Francisco]

Dear Friend,

I am honored and proud to present to you my tenth novel, I Am Not Alone. This thriller and love story about a young man struggling with the onset of mental illness and a young woman searching for her purpose in life - is one one that is both personally meaningful to me and the culmination of all I have learned about writing for young adults.

Alberto is a seventeen-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico who recently began hearing a voice that is insistently critical of his thoughts and actions. Alberto calls the voice Captain America in the hope that giving the voice a name will make it less terrifying. When Alberto is accused of a violent crime he does not remember committing, he sets out to discover his innocence . . . or guilt.

Grace is the soon-to-be valedictorian of her private high school. She is headed to Princeton and then on to medical school when her parents' unexpected divorce fills her with paralyzing doubts and questions about her future. She does not know how her life will be forever transformed by the young man who shows up one Sunday morning to clean the windows of her Brooklyn apartment.

One of the reasons the book is so close to my heart is because Alberto's mental struggles are based on my own experience with auditory hallucinations during intense manic episodes of bipolar disorder. During those times I, like Alberto, fought, sometimes unsuccessfully against false images of myself presented by the voice. I was fortunate enough to be supported by a caring community and the right medical help, something that is not always available to many who are living with mental illness. My hope is that this story of faith, courage and love will help us see the unique and precious human being behind the symptoms of mental illnesses and to respond to the call for our involvement when it comes.

[akacya ❦ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

2024 reads: 328/250

2024 tbr: 94/120

disclaimer: the publisher gifted me a finished copy of this book. this did not affect my rating/review.

content warnings: racism, addiction, violence, mental illness

as an undocumented immigrant living with his sister recovering from addiction and her abusive boyfriend, alberto’s life isn’t easy. however, he accepts his place in the world…until he starts hearing a voice in his head he calls captain america encouraging him to achieve more. on the other hand, grace has it all. yet, after meeting alberto, she begins to wonder why she’s always cared so much about being valedictorian, and starts to yearn for more. when alberto becomes the prime suspect of a terrible crime, grace works with him in attempt to clear his name…even though neither one is completely certain he’s innocent.

i was excited to read this book because it seemed like it’d be an emotional book. it was, but unfortunately, the writing really did not do it for me. the dialogue was unrealistic and very choppy. the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading, and i did like the characters (weird dialogue aside), but overall this book just wasn’t for me. i do have another book by the author on my tbr, so i’d be willing to give his books another try.

[edi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i finished this like i’m gonna guess around 2pm??? i probs started reading it at like 11:20ish (i honestly don’t even know i just know i started reading it when i finished the staar). but anyways i have nothing to say i think everyone should read this!! schizophrenia is such a misunderstood mental illness and i think that this book did a good job at representing it! on the authors note, the author mentioned how he wanted alberto to be seen more than his mental illness and i do also think he portrayed that well

[Kristen Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francisco X. Stork doesn’t pull his punches. In You Are Not Alone the characters are real, beautiful, and in big trouble. Alberto, an illegal immigrant, is surrounded by people who can’t or won’t help him navigate his serious mental health issues. Grace is surrounded by help, but feels trapped in upper-class expectations and the fallout of her parent’s divorce. When these opposites collide there is a definite attraction, but not just for the characters. I was pulled instantly into their stories. The novel is one of those rare books that is full of both literary artistry and baseline intensity. Although this story is very much about being a teen in a messy world, it’s also not about getting asked to prom. Hard questions come from all sides. And there are real consequences for the answers. I fell in love with these big-hearted characters and was enchanted by a narrative that wasn’t afraid to talk about dangerous subjects like love, familial betrayal, faith, race, social justice, and mental health in an honest and fierce way. This book is real talk, but it’s also real action and real intrigue-- which makes the story, like its characters, charmingly unique and a real kind of wonderful.

[Penny Toay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about a teen who is dealing with mental health problem, specifically multiple Personality Disorder. Through this piece the author shows what often happens to people who are struggling with the disorder as well as what could happen if we would take the time to learn more about it and become supportive.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and Scholastic Press for an e-read arc of this book.

The author focuses on the topic of schizophrenia. A mental illness that is not often written about or talked about. He tackles it in a way that makes Alberto seem like a real person and not some sick patient. Then we get introduced to the second main character, Grace, a girl who is about to graduate from high school as valedictorian; and does not know what she wants. Essentially, it's about a girl who takes care of a boy with a mental illness who cannot care for himself and is in the same situation as herself. They both don't know what their future hold and they were doubting themselves.

Wow! I really love this book so much. I finished it in two days in the car, at the mall, at home, staying up late, and at a restaurant. I don't usually read undocumented immigrant stories because they can be triggering. But regardless, of the book's topic I loved every single thing mentioned in the book. It didn't need to be relatable for me to read it.

I loved how the author made Grace's story very young adult tropes and relatable. It was refreshing and something that kept me reading. I also loved, how the author described Alberto's scenes and images in his head. I think that a big part of mental illness is focusing on your senses. What you can hear and see and smell, regardless of how your mind works. And lastly, I thought that the crime was written out really well for people to understand from Grace and Alberto's POV. It all came together in the end. And Even though, it was a bit predictable for readers to find out who did it, the story was not about a crime. It's about Alberto and Grace's relationship post and pre-crime.

I also wanted to mention that this was one of the first books where I actually read the Author's Note and teared up.

[Sally Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had a good a premise. But I really hated how they acted like the girl knew more than the cops. In reality, the main character would have been arrested as well as the other character. It was frustrating. Also, an overly hopeful ending.

[studio_rat04 · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a whole my feelings on this book are complicated, also this is gonna be along review so heads up. Generally I never read about schizophrenia and I'm glad this was my first because it explains Alberto's conditions in a very empathetic way, the author makes sure to flesh out his character and show the complexity in his character and how the voice he calls "Captain America" impacts those. We are taught from the very beginning he is a good person without any doubt, and although he's accused of a lot of terrible things and put in absolutely terrible circomstances, the readers never doubt that he is both a good person and innocent, which is a skill not all writers have.

I will say at times I worried it would get cringy calling the voice captain america, but then I realized the thematic appropriateness since he's an undocumented immigrant and the victim of a corrupt justice system that takes advantage and worsens his mental health without considering if he's innocent first. Also the one comic he has of captain america is of him fighting naziz, as though his only exposure to America as a symbol is one of freedom through violence and no other means, which adds to the fear he has of getting help. I thought from a literary lens it was handled really well and although I don't have schizophrenia I know the author does and I think it was handled well, although you'd have to ask people who actually have schizophrenia for any specifics.

As for Grace, the other main character, three things need to be addressed. I am not Reform and have no experience with Reform Judaism, so I can't speak to the representation there. There were times I got stressed out and wondered if it was borderline proselytizing and made me ask how realistic the dynamic between Alberto and the religious family would've been but overall I did enjoy reading it. I like how they stress the forgiving aspect of Judaism and how a lot of "sins" as we know them in christianity aren't seen in the same way at all in Judaism. But again, this is reform Judaism where I'm on the cusp of orthodox and my experience is with chabad which would be a lot different so take my opinions on this with a grain of salt. Another thing for Grace is that she was going through a crisis and in my opinion, she was risking it WAY too much like yes she's a good person and feels drawn to Alberto for what he represents in her life but oh my god this felt painful to read at times as she almost gave up going to princeton and almost risked getting a criminal record. I liked how she had a crisis right before graduation, I felt so seen by that, but the levels she went were a little obsurd.

Generally though I think it was good and a really quick read. It wasn't my favorite and didn't have that abstract spark that I'd need to rank it higher but overall it was good. It's definitely got mature topics but the writing style can be comprehended by much younger YA so depending on reading comprehension level and what they're mature and emotionally able to handle would dictate whether or not this book is for them.

[Pam O · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher at Yallwest in Los Angeles.

This is being advertised as a "thriller and a love story", but there was not much "thriller" about it. The book is told in two perspectives. The first one is Alberto, an illegal Mexican immigrant, who's older sister is battling heroin addiction, and who starts to hear a voice he calls Captain America. The second is Grace, a bright, kind girl whos senior year of high school is coming to an end, and who begins questioning all of her choices because her parents get a sudden divorce.

Alberto and Grace meet because Alberto comes to fix paint on the windows at her house. She devides to go to a pottery studio with him, and they have an instant connection. The next day Alberto goes to a work job and before he leaves, he discovers the homeowner is dead due to suspicious reasons. The rest of the book follows Alberto trying to remember if he was the killer or not, and also dealing with developing schizophrenia. Grace feels drawn to help Alberto and also questions what her future should look like.

I liked the story of this book and "seeing" Alberto's mental degradation. But it is DEFINITELY written for YA. The writing style is very simple, which helped it read super fast, but also made it feel more on a 4th grade reading level. There were a few other incongruous elements in the character building. If Alberto is supposed to be "slower" and have a "learning disability" there are some moments when he is very aware and perceptible and others where its more just a bad memory. I'm also surprised how "cool" Grace's mother is with her interferring with a police investigation. And the Jewish rep feels more like a "well lets throw this in too" instead of being fully incorporated into the story.

It is definitely different from anything else I've read this year and didn't feel overly formulaic. Thanks again to Scholastic press and I Read YA for the free ARC!

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie’s Picks: I AM NOT ALONE by Francisco X. Stork, Scholastic Press, July 2023, 320p., ISBN: 978-1-338-73626-7

“All night hearing voices telling me that I should get some sleep
Because tomorrow might be good for something
Hold on, feeling like I’m heading for a breakdown
And I don’t know why”
– Matchbox 20 “Unwell”

“Auditory hallucinations can be caused by a variety of neurobiological and psychological factors, including schizophrenia. My own experience with them came during some of the most intense manic episodes of bipolar disorder. During those times, I fought, sometimes unsuccessfully, against false images of myself presented by the voice. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by a loving family and a caring community who believed and reminded me I was a good, ordinary, unique person regardless of what the voice said. Because of them and because I have been able to access the right medical help, I can now live a meaningful, useful life despite my mental illness.”
– from the Author’s Note

“Grace swallowed. She tried to speak, but the feeling that invaded her made it impossible.
‘Are you all right? Your face is red, like you have a fever.’ Alberto tried to touch her forehead, but Grace involuntarily stepped away from him.
‘This is unexpected.’ Grace said to herself. She placed her hand over her heart as if to keep it from jumping out.
‘What is unexpected?’
Grace took a deep breath. ‘I…didn’t expect to be…so interested…in…this process.’
Alberto smiled. A knowing smile. Grace was sure he could see what she was feeling. ‘Do what I do,’ Alberto said, and began pressing on the ball of clay, rolling it, making spheres of different sizes. Grace tried to imitate the motion of Alberto’s fingers, but her fingers were not strong enough. She pounded her ball of clay with her fist. Alberto placed his hand on hers. He opened her fingers one by one and then wrapped her hand around the clay. There was a moment when Grace thought about moving her hand, but there was something so intense and soothing about his touch and all she could do was try to catch her breath.”

Stories radically expand our respective worlds and worldviews. They provide perspective, engender empathy and understanding, and make the world a better place for all, by connecting us to characters of different countries, colors, religions, ages, orientations, pursuits, and beliefs.

I have to admit that I’m always a little nervous walking through the Civic Center neighborhood where, in addition to street people on drugs, there are perfectly sober men and women having passionate, fearful, sometimes angry conversations with themselves. Thanks to the author’s personal courage, and his extraordinary talent as a writer, the mind-blowing I AM NOT ALONE has provided me with a new perspective regarding mental illness. A breathtaking love story and a chilling thriller of a read, I AM NOT ALONE is a really big deal.

Alberto is an undocumented Mexican-born teen living in Brooklyn. He is struggling with the onset of mental illness. He is experiencing auditory hallucinations–a savage, unrelenting voice in his head that he names Captain America. He is already stressed to the max, dealing with his drug-addicted sister-with-a-baby. Plus, he is trying to live on next to nothing in order to send most of the money he earns to his widowed mother and young siblings back in their Mexican village. That’s where Alberto learned to work with clay, his true calling. He is a stunningly talented artist.

Meanwhile, Grace is a star student, potentially her class valedictorian. She has been thrown for a loop by her parents’ divorce. Her father got the family home, while she and her mom have had to move into an apartment. The transition is affecting her current studies and her college plans, making her question who she is, who she is hanging with, and where she is going.

Alberto and Grace cross paths when Alberto’s sister’s abusive boyfriend, who is also Alberto’s boss, dispatches Alberto to clean paint specks off of the windows in the apartment inhabited by Grace and her mom. While their meeting one another doesn’t solve any of their respective, pressing problems, Alberto and Grace have found one another, and things will never be the same.

But when Alberto is subsequently accused of murder, we have no idea what the truth is, because Alberto, himself, isn’t sure what the truth is. Talk about unreliable narrators!

Trust me. You don’t want to miss this one. A can’t-put-it-down for tweens and teens, and one I won’t soon forget, there’s no question that I AM NOT ALONE will be in the hunt for numerous awards. Thanks to Francisco Stork, I have gained perspective about mental illness to a degree that no other book has ever provided me. For that, I owe the author big time.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @Rockstarbooktours and @scholastics for having me on this booktour.

This book cannot be as real as it gets. The emotional toll, the challenges, the obstacles and difficulties, the mental disorder situation and the love the characters shared are some of the greatest moments in this book. Alberto, a young undocumented immigrant struggling with progressing mental disorder and physical anguish helping his drug-addicted pregnant sister, living with his abusive sister’s boyfriend—the baby-daddy who also happened to be his boss, the financial responsibility to send the paltry sum he makes while studying and working as a high school student have made this endearing book worth reading. On top of that he made it to the suspect’s list of possibly murdering the lady whom he was supposed to be cleaning the house. Then came Grace, the all-American over the top high school girl, who became Alberto’s love interest but ill-fated with her own parents’ divorce came to rescue Alberto’s laundry lists of issues. The handling of audible schizophrenic episodes, the way of life of not knowing what’s next and the hardship of being undocumented immigrant made Alberto a life we don’t know what people actually live with. As an immigrant who used to assist new immigrants in the community center during my college years gave me the déjàvu-ish feeling of what I had seen and compelled to learn about differences we all have to manage and maneuver in order to survive. The stories heard, the experiences and lessons they had to overcome were heartbreaking to listen and empathetic to comprehend. Alberto definitely didn’t have a silver platter handed to him. Life was not easy for Alberto and with Grace’s support it paved its way to the climactic ending’s of whodunnit or the murderer who almost had his life ruined. Definitely a must read for younger adults to understand and be cognizant of their own fortunate lives that they have as compared to many unknowns.

[Sally Kruger]

Alberto is living in Brooklyn with his sister and her baby. He works as a painter so he can send money back to his mother and siblings in Mexico. His worries include keeping his sister free of the drugs she used to take, keeping the peace with her boyfriend, and trying to study for his high school equivalency tests.

Lately, he has been hearing a voice. The voice seems menacing and often threatens Alberto or demands that he do bad things. While working in a customer's apartment, the voice tells him to steal from her and kill her. Alberto calls the voice Captain America. He ignores it as much as possible, but it is getting harder every day.

While working in the apartment of a well-to-do client, Alberto meets a girl named Grace. She seems nice and offers him ice water while he is cleaning paint from the windows. Grace has problems of her own. Her parents have recently divorced. Their expectations for her future are high, but despite achieving the highest rank in her graduating class, Grace isn't sure her acceptance at Princeton is what she really wants.

When Alberto is accused of killing the elderly woman in the apartment he was painting, he finds himself running from the police. The voice in his head has him doubting his innocence and complicating his thinking. The only person who might be able and willing to help him is Grace, but he doesn't want to put her in danger.

In I AM NOT ALONE author Francisco X. Stork combines poverty and privilege in a heart wrenching story involving mental health and stereotypes that will have readers rooting for Alberto and Grace as they try to struggle against the odds.

[Elissa Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Am Not Alone is a thriller about a tender-hearted Mexican immigrant, Alberto, who works as a painter and lives with his sister, her child, and her abusive boyfriend. Alberto meets Grace, a high school senior destined for great things—in her words, “to a place where everyone was going someplace important, but no one knew why”—and soon after they become friends, he confides that he hears a voice in his head, urging him to do horrible things. It doesn’t help that he’s surrounded by dangerous people who would delight in helping him do those horrible things.

When there’s a crime reported at one of Alberto’s painting jobs, he’s blamed, and the voice in his head gleefully congratulates him on a job well done, so he runs. Quickly, Alberto becomes the prime suspect. Grace doesn’t know the truth any more than Alberto does, but Grace has glimpsed Alberto’s kind soul and she gathers her family, though estranged, to help. Can they find Alberto before the detective does? Can they get him the help he needs? How does she feel about this boy she’s just met?

If you’ve read Stork’s books, especially Marcelo in the Real World, you’ll know he cares deeply for his characters. He creates honest and sensitive portrayals of people whose experience of life is (maybe) different from our own. In I Am Not Alone, Alberto’s mental illness shows up as a persistent and evil voice in his head. It feels like he’s being slowly extinguished. It’s terrifying and alienating.

This book is both an exciting, engaging read and a heartwarming portrayal of how love and proper care can save a life.

[Ann Jacobus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding YA mental health read. Alberto lives in the US with his sister and her boyfriend and works for Lucas painting house interiors so that he can send the money back to their family in Mexico. He’s also studying English to pass a high school equivalency exam and spends what little free time he has as a potter, which he learned back in his hometown of Ticul. But Alberto starts hearing an insistent, negative voice—an auditory hallucination—and begins to question reality. On a job, he meets a girl named Grace who’s having her own disconcerting crisis about who she really is and what she really wants, as she nears the end of a high-pressure high school career and admission to Princeton. When Alberto’s accused of murdering a woman during a job where he was left alone, his world begins to completely unravel, and Grace, drawn to this sensitive and interesting young man, offers to help. Alberto’s not even sure if he has done what’s he accused of or not—he’s horrified and doesn’t remember it, but fears that the voice could possibly make him to do things against his will (spoiler: it can’t). Alberto is undocumented and the police and even Alberto’s sister have reason to believe he’s guilty. Only Grace and the kind people she calls on can help save Alberto as others try to prey on him. It’s a compelling thriller, with an entirely sympathetic protagonist manifesting serious mental illness, in addition to other seemingly insurmountable problems.

[Sheila Bracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alberto's life isn't easy: He's an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who's come to New York City to start a new life, which slowly unravels as he starts hearing the voice of a man that is insistently critical of his thoughts and actions and wants him to achieve more, no matter the cost. Alberto calls the voice Captain America in the hope that giving it a name will make the voice less terrifying.
Grace has it all: a supportive boyfriend, she's on track to be valedictorian of her private high school, and she is headed to Princeton and then on to medical school. But her parents’ unexpected divorce has filled her with paralyzing doubts and questions about her future. Nothing feels right to her any more. She needs something more.
When Alberto and Grace meet one Sunday morning when he comes to clean the windows of her mother’s Brooklyn townhouse, they have an immediate and electric connection. But when Alberto is present at the scene of a violent crime, he becomes a suspect. He does not remember committing the act, and with his developing schizophrenia, he's not even sure he believes in his own innocence. Both set out to discover whether he’s guilty or not and wind up learning much more about love, faith, and community.
This unusual love story is based on the author’s experience with auditory hallucinations during manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Stork, like Alberto, fought, sometimes unsuccessfully against false images presented by the voice. He was fortunate enough to be supported and to have access to the right medical help. He wrote the story to help people see the unique and precious human being behind the symptoms of mental illnesses.
Though I didn’t love the story, I did like some of the supporting characters–Grace’s grandfather, her cousin Benny, and Rabbi Sacks–and their example of unconditional love. 3

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

High school senior Grace has her life planned out - graduate as valedictorian, go to Princeton, then medical school, and become a psychiatrist. When Grace’s parents abruptly divorce, Grace and her mom must move, and Grace begins to question all her assumptions, especially about her father’s hostility toward religion and his estrangement from Grace’s grandfather and only cousin. Undocumented Alberto came from the Yucatán with his sister so that he could protect her and send back money to his family so his younger sisters could stay in school, but his sister is abusing drugs and endangering her baby. Worse, Alberto is experiencing auditory hallucinations that terrify him. He and Grace meet when he comes to scrape paint off the windows of the apartment where Grace and her mom have landed after the divorce. Their immediate attraction transforms both their lives. Stork, writing from his own experience, vividly shows Alfredo’s fear and anxiety as he battles the accusatory voice and packs excellent character development and important themes into a short narrative package. This author is always worth reading! EARC from Edelweiss.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was such an emotional read, I loved the story of Alberto, who we first meet in the first chapter. Alberto is a young man who is trying to take care of his sister's baby for her since she is addicted. He also hears a voice in his head in the beginning of the book. So it makes you wonder as a reader, whose voice is it and what will happen? Then the story shifts and we get to meet Grace, her life is pretty great and not like Alberto's. They meet when Alberto comes to clean the windows of Grace's house.
I loved the writing style of the author and also that the author comes to write Alberto's story due to his own personal dealings with mental illness. I find the story amazing and he wrote Alberto's story so perfectly. I could really connect with the author and Alberto as a character, as I myself suffer from a mental illness as well and know about those voices Alberto hears.
Grace is a true friend and comes to help Alberto through the most difficult of times, she is written well. I really enjoyed reading about Alberto and his journey even though the ending is sort of sad in a way, as it is fitting.

[Amanda Shepard (Between-the-Shelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is marketed as a thriller, which I really don't think it is. Yes, there's sort of a mystery at it's core, but it doesn't read like a thriller. It reads more like general fiction than anything else. It definitely focuses more on the mental health aspects of both of our narrators.

The mental health rep is probably the best aspect of this book. There aren't a lot of YA books that deal with schizophrenia, so that representation is a bonus (I think it's done well, but I might refer to someone who is more knowledgeable on the subject). You can feel the anxiety building in Alberto's chapters, and it fits the pace of the novel well.

What I didn't believe was the sort of romance angle. There's a bit of insta love, and for the most part, it just didn't feel believable to me. Believable that maybe Grace felt a connection to Alberto, but leaving the romance angle out would have made it an overall better story (in my opinion).

All in all, this is a quick read, even it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.

[Gordon Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder mystery where the main suspect isn’t sure if he’s innocent.

Alberto has been hearing a voice in his head he calls Captain America. It tells him to do bad things. He’s trained himself to ignore it, but the voice is getting stronger and Alberto is experiencing blackouts. When a client of his (he paints houses) is murdered, he becomes the main suspect and must figure out if he killed the woman or not.

Grace is the valedictorian at her school, who’s experiencing a teen-life crisis. Nothing in her life - her grades, her boyfriend - seems to matter anymore. When she meets Alberto, she’s immediately drawn to his kindness and vulnerability. Even though everyone, including the police, is warning her to stay away from him, she wants to help clear his name, even if it sullies hers in the process.

I Am Not Alone is a gripping story that takes the reader into the mind of someone struggling with schizophrenia. The author, who has managed his own bipolar disorder, humanizes Alberto by showing the person behind the condition, someone who deserves our sympathy and attention.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to always have a love affair, a soft spot, for books that expand my knowledge. Stork tackles the overwhelming stigma surrounding mental health problems, and in the case of Alberto, his emerging schizophrenia. "I am not alone" means that this young man has found a community of people who are willing to help him. He's not alone.
While I'm not a fan of characters falling in love after a few hours of meeting each other, I get the sense that Stork's purpose is to create a character who breaks through the typical pattern of rejecting and pushing away those with illness. Instead, Grace is drawn to Alberto. She sees his full humanity, not just his odd demeanor when he talks to Captain America (the voice) in his head.
There is a lot to love with this book, and I'm so glad I finished it.
Thank you #NetGalley for providing me with the advanced copy.

[Elizabeth O'Keefe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had an important message at its core—especially regarding mental health, and how it uniquely impacts people of color and those living in poverty. That part felt powerful and necessary, and I could tell the author was writing from a deeply personal place.

That said, the execution just didn’t work for me. The plot often felt unrealistic, especially in terms of the action and the dialogue. The pacing was uneven, and while I appreciated Grace trying to help Alberto, the way things unfolded felt disjointed and haphazard—even considering their age. I found myself wishing the story would slow down, cut back on the dramatic turns, and give the characters more space to breathe and develop.

In the end, I really wanted to connect with this story more than I did. The heart is there, but the structure and tone held it back for me.

[Emily Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mental Health MATTERS 💔

I started this book about 5 months ago and it was my before bedtime reading.
Not only I LOVED the plot of the story, but I also appreciated @francisco_stork’s vulnerability sharing of this sensitive & important topic.

“I am Not Alone” is a fictional story of Alberto, an undocumented Mexican immigrant teen who loves his family, works hard, wants to study, falls in love…but suddenly finds himself in the middle of a crime that harms EVERYTHING he works for. AND, to make matters worse, he begins hearing a voice …with not good advices 😔

This is an excellent story I’d recommend my teens to see the power of family, friends, and the need on seeking for mental health support when needed.

I appreciate the author’s authenticity on honoring Hispanic heritage & support.
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Read it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥

[Kim Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest published YA novel by my friend Francisco Stork. It is hard for me to be objective given my fan status of this author. But personally, I found the story compelling and the themes incredibly important, especially that of mental health. As usual, Stork's main characters are complex, not allowing readers to peg them as good guys or bad guys. Stork pushes against stereotypes--of rich kids, immigrants, parents, clergy. The action (sometimes violent) and the relationship drama kept me flipping pages. This is another thought-provoking novel by a deep thinker who can write for kids. (Scholastic lists this book as for ages 12-18.)

[Kendalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Stork's most famous novel, Marcelo in the Real World, last year and really loved it. This one felt a little disappointing after that bit of YA brilliance. The pace felt too quick (I don't read much YA which is typically very fast-paced so this could just be me issue) and the characters fell a little flat for me. That being said, I love that Stork doesn't shy away from the taboo of YA literature: religion. It's so refreshing to see it as a prominent aspect of the two books I've read of his and possibly more. Despite a few issues I had with this book, it was overall an enjoyable read and fun story.

[Helen E. Haupt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest to s fault!!!

I learned so much from reading about Alberto and Grace. It contained all one would need need about true love., a dreadful but treatable mental illness, the kindness and love derived from faith, how uplifting the police can rise to when given loving encouragement in certain given situations, the joy to be felt from loving and giving from parents, and so much more. I'm left with a full heart and so much satisfaction. I long to read all future books by this gifted author.

[Izzy Malvezzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow... a difficult but incredible read. This book is hard to read. Not in the tons of gory violence or corny writing type of way. In the "I have seen mental illness in real life, and its accurate portrayal in this book is both satisfying and gut-wrenching" way. At its core, it has a simple mystery and takes no longer than a week for the plot to run its course, but I am left with such a battleground in my heart. Am I satisfied with the happy-ish ending, or do I settle into the ache of what the characters still have to face? I'm not too sure.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stork is another author who I've been a fan of for a very long time. There are so many adjectives that I could use to describe this book, but what is more important that while it dealt with poverty, drug addiction, mental illness, crime, and so much more, it was not stereotypical. Most of the characters were caring people who went out of their way to help a troubled, illegal, ill, scared, and falsely accused boy. I know people who are like these people and in the hateful climate that we are faced with with a certain group of people, I love reading about the good overcoming the evil.

[Tziporah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a joy to read a book in which mental illness is seen as a challenge that can be treated, and in which stigma is an issue that can be overcome. Alberto's experience of the onset of probable schizophrenia is handled deftly and with compassion by the author, while always honoring the person behind the symptoms, and his new friend Grace is an ally in every sense of the word. I loved this book as a psychiatrist, a writer, and most of all, as a reader.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this should be a 2023 Pura Belpre Young Adult Author winning title. Here’s hoping the January 2024 announcements from the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards will prove me correct. I will be in attendance that day to root for “I am not alone” to win. Read more about this amazing book on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a unique, thoughtful story and I have so much appreciation for Stork's personal experiences with mental health. I do think it stretches believability--Grace's mom has no problem intervening in a police investigation, the police officer has no problem telling Grace things she probably shouldn't, the very wise blind old man and the very wise kid character. But I have to add the star for the mental health aspect.