Official Review: Searching for Normal by Karen Meadows

[kandscreeley]

This book is sad, but it is definitely an important read. I wish that more people with mental illness were able to receive treatment. However, with the amount of un-qualified/un-helpful therapists out there, many won't even seek it. I hope that this story will start to inform people about what kind of crisis we are in as human beings.

Yes. And it's such a shot in the dark as far as diagnosis goes. Something needs to improve.

[kandscreeley]

If even the most advanced society and economy cannot properly support its mentally ill, how much worse could it be for the poorer nations? The stigma of mental illness continues to add to the sufferer's pain and loneliness. I feel for Sadie (and those who care for her) and all those in the same boat.

But what is normal? Surely, the title is revealing.

Thanks for the heartfelt review, Kandscreeley!

I believe we ALL have a touch of mental illness. Maybe if we acknowledged that more, there would be less of a stigma.

[Manang Muyang]

I believe we ALL have a touch of mental illness. Maybe if we acknowledged that more, there would be less of a stigma.

I think that is the attitude that we should all take. We all have quirks. I myself have OC tendencies.

[Rosemary Wright]

A story with the theme of the outcome of depression. It's enlightening and seems like a good read. Interesting review. Thanks.

[revna01]

I agree with you that mental illness has affected everyone in some way or another. What a powerful book. Teenage suicides are increasing at alarming rates, and the important issues that contribute to that terrible fact must be addressed! Thank you for a terrific review.

[kandscreeley]

I agree with you that mental illness has affected everyone in some way or another. What a powerful book. Teenage suicides are increasing at alarming rates, and the important issues that contribute to that terrible fact must be addressed! Thank you for a terrific review.

Thanks for your comment. It's definitely something we need to address instead of just writing the teenager off or saying that they are just "bad."

[Ashiyya Tariq]

The book seems perfected interpretation of adolescent dilemma. I like that the author did proper research before writing this book. Thanks for your review.

[kandscreeley]

The book seems perfected interpretation of adolescent dilemma. I like that the author did proper research before writing this book. Thanks for your review.

Thank you for commenting. It really is a sad thing to witness.

[TeenBookLover]

That's a really nice review!!! Actually, i want to become a psychologist for children and i would really love to read this book!!! Thanks for your review, it is really informative and has no spoil!

As for the research the author has done, almost every author does a research, especially when the book is based on reality and every day life and not on science finction!!!

[Bianka Walter]

I can't even imagine what a parent must go through when losing a child. I hope the author found some catharsis in writing this book. Thanks for the heartfelt review, I really enjoyed it.

[kandscreeley]

That's a really nice review!!! Actually, i want to become a psychologist for children and i would really love to read this book!!! Thanks for your review, it is really informative and has no spoil!

As for the research the author has done, almost every author does a research, especially when the book is based on reality and every day life and not on science finction!!!

I wish you the best of luck in becoming a psychologist. The world definitely needs a few more! Thanks for commenting.

[kandscreeley]

I can't even imagine what a parent must go through when losing a child. I hope the author found some catharsis in writing this book. Thanks for the heartfelt review, I really enjoyed it.

I hope that it not only released emotions for the author but also helped someone else going through something similar! Thanks for commenting.

[bluegreenmarina]

This sounds like an important book as the conversation around suicide can only benefit from resources and real-life examples such as this one. It is a good way to bring the issue to light from the side of a person who actually acted on the thoughts, as much of what we hear and read comes from folks who have had thoughts about suicide but did not act on them, or may have had attempts that were not completed.

[kandscreeley]

This sounds like an important book as the conversation around suicide can only benefit from resources and real-life examples such as this one. It is a good way to bring the issue to light from the side of a person who actually acted on the thoughts, as much of what we hear and read comes from folks who have had thoughts about suicide but did not act on them, or may have had attempts that were not completed.

I agree. I loved that the author included diary entries from Sadie. It was so powerful. It really brought the points home. Thanks for commenting. I love your insightful comments!

[kfwilson6]

It's so awful that the tragedy of Sadie's suicide will carry on forever for her parents in the form of "what ifs." I hope the author can stop questioning every decision she ever made, wondering if there was any fork in the road she could have taken that would have been a turning point for Sadie. It's this type of subject that reminds us we have no idea what someone else is going through. We should always be kind to others. None of us would ever want to know we tipped someone that last little bit in the wrong direction with one dirty look, cruel comment, or thoughtless action. Thanks for the review.