What do you think?
Somewhere Between the Trees and Clouds
I'm damaged goods,
Torn apart
In my mind. This is how Dylan describes himself, how teenage boys feel when they are sexually assaulted. Damaged. Yes, it happens to boys too. It isn't until Dylan meets Audrey that he feels like he's something other than torn and damaged. She too has her darkness. Her assault is recent, from a party where she was taken advantage of, and she is forced to move schools only to face rumors that make her feel like she did something wrong. Together, they help one another navigate their pain and possibly find some healing and grace. Somewhere Between The Trees And Clouds is a story about loss, internal wounds, healing, love, and hope.
Torn apart
In my mind. This is how Dylan describes himself, how teenage boys feel when they are sexually assaulted. Damaged. Yes, it happens to boys too. It isn't until Dylan meets Audrey that he feels like he's something other than torn and damaged. She too has her darkness. Her assault is recent, from a party where she was taken advantage of, and she is forced to move schools only to face rumors that make her feel like she did something wrong. Together, they help one another navigate their pain and possibly find some healing and grace. Somewhere Between The Trees And Clouds is a story about loss, internal wounds, healing, love, and hope.
397 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 4, 2022
Author Chuck Murphree has written his second YA novel, in verse,
"Somewhere Between the Trees and Clouds". His first novel, "Everything
That Makes Us Feel", is a YA novel based on a family’s difficulty
facing mental health issues. The suicide of a son and brother starts a
journey into the depths of depression and anxiety. The second book is
also based on a journey into mental health issues among teenagers. The
death of a mother from cancer, a father trying to hold his family
together, and two boys. One boy suffers from depression and anxiety
and contemplates suicide each waking moment. The second boy is
mentally challenged and is the glue that holds the family together.
Chuck writes of physical and mental abuse; his honesty and emotional
self-flows among the pages telling the stories of children, teenagers,
and adults. He writes about rape and the effects it has upon the
victim. You will find yourself caught in his web of truth. He has a
gift for storytelling; his stories are as fresh as the morning air.
"Somewhere Between the Trees and Clouds" lifts you from the pits of
emotional hell into a world of drugs and death. Finally, you are
brought into a peaceful world, finding love, and planning a life where
one can live with the schemes that your mind has placed you in for
most of your life.
Depression and medication that promises peace place the young teens on
a deadly path in this book. The Dad tries to create an atmosphere of
peace. Peter is always happy, not understanding that their mom has
just died of cancer. Dylan wants to disappear.
Dylan thinks with making a sound, his head out of the open window:
Wind is blowing my hair
Wind is blowing my tears
Wind is blowing my pain
Wind is blowing my grief
Wind is blowing my anxiety
Wind is blowing my depression
He begs the wind to blow him away.
Somewhere Between the Trees and Clouds is a must to read. You will
come up from reading this book with a new look at mental health
issues. Get yourself a comfortable chair, a quilt that your grandma
made you before she passed, and a box of tissue. Listen to the silence
of your teenager; it could mean changing a life that has not been
lived.
Chuck lives in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, with his wife and two
spoiled dogs. When Chuck isn’t writing, he can be found teaching
adolescents, having speaking engagements on mental health, book
signings, and podcasts. He is reading, biking, doing yoga, or taking a
mindful hike deep in the woods or straight up a mountain in his
downtime.
Congratulations Chuck!
"Somewhere Between the Trees and Clouds". His first novel, "Everything
That Makes Us Feel", is a YA novel based on a family’s difficulty
facing mental health issues. The suicide of a son and brother starts a
journey into the depths of depression and anxiety. The second book is
also based on a journey into mental health issues among teenagers. The
death of a mother from cancer, a father trying to hold his family
together, and two boys. One boy suffers from depression and anxiety
and contemplates suicide each waking moment. The second boy is
mentally challenged and is the glue that holds the family together.
Chuck writes of physical and mental abuse; his honesty and emotional
self-flows among the pages telling the stories of children, teenagers,
and adults. He writes about rape and the effects it has upon the
victim. You will find yourself caught in his web of truth. He has a
gift for storytelling; his stories are as fresh as the morning air.
"Somewhere Between the Trees and Clouds" lifts you from the pits of
emotional hell into a world of drugs and death. Finally, you are
brought into a peaceful world, finding love, and planning a life where
one can live with the schemes that your mind has placed you in for
most of your life.
Depression and medication that promises peace place the young teens on
a deadly path in this book. The Dad tries to create an atmosphere of
peace. Peter is always happy, not understanding that their mom has
just died of cancer. Dylan wants to disappear.
Dylan thinks with making a sound, his head out of the open window:
Wind is blowing my hair
Wind is blowing my tears
Wind is blowing my pain
Wind is blowing my grief
Wind is blowing my anxiety
Wind is blowing my depression
He begs the wind to blow him away.
Somewhere Between the Trees and Clouds is a must to read. You will
come up from reading this book with a new look at mental health
issues. Get yourself a comfortable chair, a quilt that your grandma
made you before she passed, and a box of tissue. Listen to the silence
of your teenager; it could mean changing a life that has not been
lived.
Chuck lives in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, with his wife and two
spoiled dogs. When Chuck isn’t writing, he can be found teaching
adolescents, having speaking engagements on mental health, book
signings, and podcasts. He is reading, biking, doing yoga, or taking a
mindful hike deep in the woods or straight up a mountain in his
downtime.
Congratulations Chuck!
February 21, 2024
**4.75**
The way this book is formatted is a little jarring. I kept trying to read it as if it would be read at a poetry reading but it kept sounding off to me so i just read it as if it were normal. I do like that this style allowed it to be not as descriptive
This book deals with so many heavy topics: suicide, sexual assault, depression, grief… i understand that one usually leads to others, but i feel bad for people who get bad after bad after bad. At least dylan found the people he wants to keep in his life
My heart felt like it was on a roller coaster! When something sweet happened, a major dark event happened and it made my heart sink 7 stories. So well told!
Screw kipp AND grandma
On the other hand, mr johnson is the GOAT!!
- Cop called to school for weed
- Older brother has Down syndrome
- Mom died. How?
- Something happened with uncle kipp
- Went on a hike with uncle and he took advantage
- Took a month to get into therapy. Reason why teens turn to drugs or suicide
- Therapist is creepy and falls asleep during session
- Tried to hang himself
- Took yoga to help with many things
- Meet audrey who had similar trauma
- Mr johnson is a really good teacher that can explain the world
- Dad and brother went to yoga and met chill teacher
- Mr Johnson talks to Dylan about grief
- Calls mom every morning. Worried when voicemail box will be full
- Audrey and Dylan were friends years ago before she had to move
- Audrey’s story
- Uncle did it twice on the same trip
- Audrey takes pills. Ends up in hospital
- Psychiatric counseling for kids is always one week
- Audrey doesn’t want to go further with relationship. Dylan totally is ok with it
- Post prom 3 course dinner served by their families
- Popular girl starts flirting with Dylan
- Dylan gets a ticket and court date for beating up aaron
- Delinquency after incident throughout middle school
- Scrapbook memories
- Discuss after high school plans
- Jumped by aaron and friends
- Audrey asks dylan to come with to NYC
- Uncle is at the house
- Grad gifts. Handwritten letter from mom
- Intimate grad party
- Aaron apologizes
- Dylan tries to confront kipp but is overpowered. Thankfully, family comes home
- Grandma knows of his problem
- Finally able to talk to his mom
The way this book is formatted is a little jarring. I kept trying to read it as if it would be read at a poetry reading but it kept sounding off to me so i just read it as if it were normal. I do like that this style allowed it to be not as descriptive
This book deals with so many heavy topics: suicide, sexual assault, depression, grief… i understand that one usually leads to others, but i feel bad for people who get bad after bad after bad. At least dylan found the people he wants to keep in his life
My heart felt like it was on a roller coaster! When something sweet happened, a major dark event happened and it made my heart sink 7 stories. So well told!
Screw kipp AND grandma
On the other hand, mr johnson is the GOAT!!
- Cop called to school for weed
- Older brother has Down syndrome
- Mom died. How?
- Something happened with uncle kipp
- Went on a hike with uncle and he took advantage
- Took a month to get into therapy. Reason why teens turn to drugs or suicide
- Therapist is creepy and falls asleep during session
- Tried to hang himself
- Took yoga to help with many things
- Meet audrey who had similar trauma
- Mr johnson is a really good teacher that can explain the world
- Dad and brother went to yoga and met chill teacher
- Mr Johnson talks to Dylan about grief
- Calls mom every morning. Worried when voicemail box will be full
- Audrey and Dylan were friends years ago before she had to move
- Audrey’s story
- Uncle did it twice on the same trip
- Audrey takes pills. Ends up in hospital
- Psychiatric counseling for kids is always one week
- Audrey doesn’t want to go further with relationship. Dylan totally is ok with it
- Post prom 3 course dinner served by their families
- Popular girl starts flirting with Dylan
- Dylan gets a ticket and court date for beating up aaron
- Delinquency after incident throughout middle school
- Scrapbook memories
- Discuss after high school plans
- Jumped by aaron and friends
- Audrey asks dylan to come with to NYC
- Uncle is at the house
- Grad gifts. Handwritten letter from mom
- Intimate grad party
- Aaron apologizes
- Dylan tries to confront kipp but is overpowered. Thankfully, family comes home
- Grandma knows of his problem
- Finally able to talk to his mom
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2023
This YA novel in verse is about 18 year old Dylan, who was sexually abused by an uncle years before and Dylan has struggled with depression and anxiety ever since. Now, the death of his mother has pushed him to a suicide attempt. Then he meets the new girl at school, Audrey, who he actually knew in grade school until she moved. He discovers that she is a survivor of sexual abuse as well and they both promise to help each other on their recovery to heal. There are really good moments in this story, but other times stretches the bounds of believability (Audrey is immediately released from the hospital after a suicide attempt; Dylan and Audrey are going to NYC after graduation and live together and both families don't seem to have an qualms about that). Teens who like realistic fiction and those who like stories that deal with mental health issues, especially fans of Ellen Hopkins' novels in verse. Reluctant readers may appreciate its verse format for easy and quick reading.
July 1, 2022
Wow what an amazing read. It really takes you through the valleys of life it seems. Relatable in the sense that everything Author Chuck writes about we face those challenges. I’m sure so many people feel not so alone as they turn through the pages. I’ve enjoyed reading this one by Chuck. Can’t wait to see what he has next. Amazing read…easy to get through. Highly recommend 👌🏽
August 24, 2022
As a teacher I fully endorse this book for both adults and youth. Teenage years can be harsh, this novel helps guide youth during these tougher times. Through its gentle word choices, it encourages reflection, connection, acceptance, healing and growth. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for hope.
April 24, 2022
This is a powerful book! Written in verse, the characters and plot come to life. Murphree takes you on a journey with all the feels. Loss, pain, healing, and love. It’s all right here.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews