Just Breathe by Cammie McGovern
Published by HarperTeen on January 7, 2020
ISBN: 0062463357
Pages: 352
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Goodreads

Just Breathe is valuable advice, thanks to McGovern for allowing readers to slow down and breathe as they turn pages.  The author has given us two somewhat fragile characters who are in personal painful struggles, one physically and one emotionally.  During his senior year David’s CF has landed him in the hospital where Jamie (a sophomore) is a volunteer.  Their relationship deepens to true friendship during personal exchanges and emails.   Physical and mental challenges direct the story line even as strong emotional ties become obvious.   The text is crafted beautifully offering a complex romantic coming of age story complete with parental conflict.  Readers may wonder about the cover illustration but will soon learn how a simple craft activity can center a person and provide healing benefits.

This is a powerful story that will take readers by surprise and challenge what they know about mental health.  Copies should be provided to school social workers and gifted to parents of ill or depressed teens.  Do place on public library and high school media center shelves.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian, Scarborough, ME