Sisters in Sanity

I knew of [a:Gayle Forman|295178|Gayle Forman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1271630502p2/295178.jpg] from her book [b:If I Stay|4374400|If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)|Gayle Forman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1221604709s/4374400.jpg|4422413], which I wrote a gushing review of a few months back. A few of us decided to read this lesser-known work of hers together this week. I was excited to read the book because of the author and because I was reading it with friends…but not so excited about the subject matter. I assumed that this was rather well-worn territory, what with [b:Girl Interrupted|68783|Girl, Interrupted|Susanna Kaysen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307337177s/68783.jpg|926090] and all. Also, I wasn’t in the mood for a depressing book. [b:Sisters in Sanity|534258|Sisters in Sanity|Gayle Forman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266579202s/534258.jpg|521766] surprised me in a good way, and I definitely recommend it to those who are interested in YA books related to mental health issues/treatment.

Brit Hemphill lives with her father and her stepmonster. Her mother isn’t in the picture and I don’t want to spoil where she is so I’ll leave it at that. Her parents owned a coffeehouse in Portland during her formative years so she rubbed elbows with all sorts of famous musicians and took up the guitar, teaching herself how to play for the most part. Because of her mother’s absence and her father’s relationship (and subsequent child), Brit spends as much time out of the house as possible, mostly playing and touring with her band. When her father and stepmother make her go on a family vacation to the Grand Canyon, Brit is angry she’ll miss a gig but obliges. Only she isn’t going to the Grand Canyon—her dad is dropping her off at a juvenile rehabilitation center because she is “out of control.”

Anger. That’s the emotion I felt for most of the book, not sadness. I was livid with Brit’s father. Absolutely wanted (and still want) to punch that man in the face. How could he do that to his child? I have to say, Brit is far more mature than I would be in the same situation. I’m not sure I could forgive him for what he did. Probably couldn’t for YEARS. And I was surprised that Brit didn’t go to Portland with Jed when she had the chance. She understood the situation and that her dad needed her to be there—she understood the entire situation more than her father did…

I was expecting the novel to follow the Girl, Interrupted storyline and, for the most part, it did. I was pleasantly surprised, however, at the supporting cast of characters (who were far more balanced than those with Susanna Kaysen) and the relationship between Brit and Jed, her bandmate. His letters and the description of the time they spent together were both lovely and I loved the story behind the firefly references.

The writing flowed really well and all three of us that read it finished it in a day. (as far as I know) I did feel that the ending wrapped things up just a bit too perfectly, then again I am a fan of leaving things hanging—well, if it is realistic.

3.5 stars. ( )

Here's a book to read if you want to be seriously pissed off. But no, I shouldn't say that, because [b:Sisters in Sanity|534258|Sisters in Sanity|Gayle Forman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266579202s/534258.jpg|521766] is actually an excellent read and I'm wanting to sell it to you. So, instead I should say: this is a book to read if you like stories that leave a lasting impression. Or if you want to be introduced to an array of memorable characters. Or if you're sick of books with whiny heroines that base every thought and action around their (probably supernatural) boyfriends. And if you would like to read a book about girls coming together, forming a sisterhood, and ultimately triumphing over the bad guys. Girls who are fat, thin, straight, gay, bi, virgins, or sexually promiscuous; because [a:Gayle Forman|295178|Gayle Forman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1271630502p2/295178.jpg] has created a literary platform where these differences are not a hindrance to the girls' friendship, but actually what brought them together in the first place.

This book has so many levels to it. On the surface it is about the mistreatment of young women who have shown any hint of individuality and have been thrown into a rehabilitation centre because of it. They are psychologically tortured each day by unqualified shrinks and, in extreme cases, physically harmed through malnourishment and dehydration. Brit is sent here because she stays out late playing in her rock band, and because she has coloured streaks in her hair. She is not a bad kid, she's a talented musician, but her father and stepmother wrongly interpret this as rebellion and even the first signs of mental illness(!). This whole part of the novel made me furious, made me want to strangle nearly every adult in the book.

But this stuff would just be infuriating and shocking if it wasn't for all the other messages in this book. I loved this idea that the girls made each other strong by banding together and supporting one another and I loved how each of them was as interesting and unique as the next. But even more so, I really enjoyed the questions about authority and whether it is always right to follow those in charge. Pulling examples from when heads of state have made the wrong decisions, [a:Gayle Forman|295178|Gayle Forman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1271630502p2/295178.jpg] demonstrates how adults don't always get it right. She reiterated in her afterword at the end what the novel was all about, mentioning how teenagers with eating disorders or who are gay do not need to be punished but helped, nurtured and understood. This is a wonderful, thought-provoking and occasionally heart-warming story.

There are a few reasons why this book didn't get five stars. For one, the ending was not satisfying enough, certain people were forgiven all too quickly and I thought very little was learnt from the experience in that respect. Also, I had too many questions spinning around in my head and it's entirely possible that I missed something but: why didn't previous graduates of Red Rock report what was going on? Why didn't Brit even attempt to tell her father what was happening when he visited? It might not have worked but she didn't even try. And why didn't Brit attempt to leave with the band when she had the opportunity? She could have reported what was happening to someone but it just didn't seem to occur to her.

These last few things played on my mind too much to award the full five stars, but this really is a book that should be read by everyone - especially those who love a good dose of girl power in what they read.
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Sisters in Sanity is one of those occasional books that just causes a clusterf*ck of emotions in me that I can’t justify giving it anything less than 5 stars. I just can’t. There’s nothing that destroys my defenses more than a kid that’s unjustly treated for the capital offense of simply being a teenager. Gayle Forman once again pulled at my heartstrings with this raw, powerful story filled with characters that felt nothing less than real to me. Perfectly done!

In this book, sixteen year old Brit is carted off to a behavior modification boot camp by her father and stepmonster. Her offenses are as follows: She is capable of losing her temper, argues with adults, deliberately annoys people with her sarcasm, blames others for her mistakes and is somewhat resentful. The technical term for that is ODD – oppositional defiance disorder... Hmmm, let me think… Holy Bedrock! That was me when I was a teen. Thank gawd my parents chose the route of being parents rather than carting me off to some boot camp for mild misbehavior and minor transgressions. Luckily for Brit, she bands together with a group of girls that not only become friends, but also each other’s support system where the under-qualified clinical staff fails. Brit and her friends work together to bring down the failed system of Red Rock and expose it for what the institution really is.

This book really pissed me off and it seems to be that kind of story that includes parents that have no right being parents because they abandon their role and surround themselves with ignorance thus failing in their primary responsibility of protecting their kid. Now don’t get me wrong, the father thought he was “helping” his daughter, I get that. But who in their right mind shoves their kid in an institution without checking some credentials, doing a background check on the people in charge and simply researching the net for possible red flags? We live in a time and place where information is at our finger tips. I was so mad to read that this is actually possible, this situation really does happen. How?!? Seriously, these are just kids and to know that they are mistreated, abused and misguided in the very institution whose charter is to help trouble teens seriously grates my nerves.

((Deep sigh)) Back to the story, I found myself not wanting Brit to go back to her father, I wanted some fairy tale ending where she runs off with Jed and denies her father the right to see her grow up to be a great person that I felt she was from the beginning of the story. She’s honest with her emotions to those who truly care, but she guards them from those that are trying to destroy her, she’s snarky, loyal and flawed... everything that blends that perfect character IMO, so to read her struggles really tossed and turned my emotions.

I loved Jed in this story and I wish we could have had a bit more of him. The cryptic letters he wrote to Britt while she was institutionalized were so beautiful in their “hidden message” sort of way, and from now on a firefly will always means so much more to me. :)

Overall, if you’re a fan of Forman’s ability to move you and tug at your heart, if you like her ability to express herself in song, if you adore the characters she so flawlessly creates, you’ll definitely enjoy Sisters in Sanity. I’m grateful to my Street Corner Bookers for calling this one to my attention because I almost missed out on a gem of a book. I loved it!

Song Choice: Pink – F*ckin' Perfect ( )

Great book funny and amusing ( )

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

Most of us never have to worry about going on a family vacation, only to find out that we're being unceremoniously dropped off at a boot camp, instead. We have never questioned the imminent arrival of "escorts" who come in the middle of the night and drag us away, kicking and screaming, from our home. We've never wondered what it would be like to be shuffled off by our parents to a "rehabilitation school" because we're overweight --or because we might possibly be gay. For Brit, V, Bebe, Cassie, and Martha, however, the above mentioned scenarios aren't just nightmares. They're real events.

Welcome to Red Rock, a "school" in the middle of Utah run by the Sheriff, staffed by pseudo-psychiatrists like Dr. Clayton, and guarded by former bouncers with more muscles than brains. This is the place where parents can send their children when they rebel, misbehave, or show antisocial behavior. Red Rock offers such pleasantries as "confrontational therapy," where girls are called names and hounded until they break down and cry, a punishment system where being sent back to Level One status means complete isolation and no shoes, and where the food comes in freeze dried blocks.

The problem is that, although there may be a few "students" at Red Rock who really belong in such a school, most of them, like main character Brit, don't. These are teens who may have lost their way, sure, but their behavior isn't anything beyond normal adolescent angst. But what the parents don't know -- and what it's up to the Sisters in Sanity to prove -- is that Red Rock is a place full of fakes who are doing more harm than good.

When Brit and fellow "inmates" V, Bebe, Cassie, and Martha set out to get the school shut down, it's all the girls can do to avoid trouble, keep their chins up, and survive. But in the process, these five girls find a friendship that eventually helps them all in ways they'd never expected.

Ms. Forman has written a fast-paced page turner that you'll find hard to put down. SISTERS IN SANITY, although not based in hard truth, does show the frightening aspect of so-called "boot camps" for teens, and you'll find yourself appalled at the reality of the situation. Ultimately, however, you'll be overjoyed to watch Brit and her friends not only buck the system, but find their own places in the world. ( )