What begins as a normal Tuesday becomes a day that sixteen-year-old Kai will remember for the rest of her life. All it takes is a suicide note from her older sister, Jen. Through her pain, Kai searches for reasons why Jen would do this. Kai is heartbroken and furious, and soon she’s in a vicious downward spiral.
Just a Normal Tuesday gave this reader a look at what the aftermath of suicide looks like for those left behind. While Turrisi has written an easy to read (not as far as the subject matter goes) book, there were times when I wanted more from the story. Then other times when I thought a part of the story had gone on long enough. This isn’t an easy subject matter to approach, but I think Turrisi did it well. While I never cried (very surprising) I could feel the hurt from those left behind.
I don’t know that I’ll ever understand suicide. It breaks my heart that suicide feels like the only way out. I don’t mean that in a judgmental way at all! I simply wish I could help those who have reached that low and take away their pain. As I read this book, the song “Why” from the Rascal Flatts Unstoppable album was playing in my mind. I’ll close this review with the lyrics of that song and encouragement to check out Just a Normal Tuesday.
You must have been in a
Place so dark
You couldn’t feel the light
Reachin’ for you through
That stormy cloud
Now here we are
Gathered in our little hometown
This can’t be the way
You meant to draw a crowd
[Chorus]
Oh why, that’s what I keep asking
Was there anything I could’ve
Said or done
Oh, I had no clue you were
Masking
A troubled soul, God only knows
What went wrong and why
You would leave the stage
In the middle of a song
Now in my mind I’ll keep you frozen
As a seventeen-year-old
Rounding third to score the
Winning run
You always played with passion
No matter what the game
When you took the stage
You’d shine just like the sun
[Chorus]
Oh why, that’s what I keep asking
Was there anything I could’ve
Said or done
Oh, I had no clue you were
Masking
A troubled soul, God only knows
What went wrong and why
You would leave the stage
In the middle of a song
Now the oak trees are swaying
In the early autumn breeze
A golden sun is shining on my face
Through tangled thoughts
I hear a mockingbird sing
This old world really ain’t that
Bad of a place
Oh why, there’s no comprehending
And who am I to try to
Judge or explain
Oh, but I do have one
Burning question
Who told you life wasn’t
Worth the fight
They were wrong, they lied
Now you’re gone and we cry
‘Cause it’s not like you to
Walk away
In the middle of a song
Your beautiful song
Your absolutely beautiful song
Thank you Kids Can Press for the advanced copy of this book.
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewer: Jennifer
Title: Just a Normal Tuesday
Author: Kim Turrisi
Release Date: May 2, 2017
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