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Book Review of Lisa, Bright and Dark

Lisa, Bright and Dark
Lisa, Bright and Dark
Author: John Neufeld
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 1217 more book reviews


What would you do if you were 16 and knew you were losing your mind, but your parents thought you were faking?

Lisa, Bright and Dark is the remarkable, fictional tale of Lisa Shilling and her three friends who "walk with her where adults fear to tread."

The novel shows that things don't always go the way you want or hope, but with time and determination you can make people understand. The reader also portrays what it is like to care for a mentally ill loved one.

Lisa is a smart girl, involved with school, her friends and boyfriend. Slowly, her grades start slipping, she loses her boyfriend and she attempts suicide. Lisa manages to stay close to and confide in her three friends, who are the only ones who help her. Lisa's actions and thoughts throughout the ordeal are perfectly portrayed.

The problem is that her friends can't convince Lisa's parents she's ill. This conflict is shown both internally, since Lisa's disease is mental, and externally, because Lisa tries killing herself twice.

The author's style made me empathize with Lisa; I wanted her to get well. The description of the characters is excellent, though the setting could have used a little work.

Lisa's story affects her whole town. If everyone had just listened to her in the beginning, things would have been better. Sometimes, kids are smarter and braver than their parents.