By the Time You Read This I'll be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

This book focuses on the story of Daelyn, a determined 15 year old who is ready to die. She's tried to kill herself before and failed, more than once. The most current attempt left her unable to speak, eat solid foods, and has confined her to wearing a heavy neck brace all day. A victim of bullies and her own constant negative thoughts, she can't face life anymore. She thinks everyone will be happier without her. One day after school she meets Santana and things start to look a little different, but is it too late? 

While this is not an easy subject to think or talk about, suicide stories like Daelyn's, should not be ignored. This book offers a glimpse into what the life of someone who is considering suicide or has attempted suicide looks like. This is a good read alike for anyone who is a fan of Jay Asher's 13 Reasons Why or Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The story between Daelyn and Santana reminds me of the relationship between the main characters in John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.

The last several pages of this book are full of

information about suicide prevention. Several pages are dedicated to understanding and disecting suicide, bullying, and similar terms. There is also an in depth discussion guide, statistics and facts, warning signs to watch out for, and information for hotlines and web sites dedicated to preventing suicide. 

You can also check out the library's 5 Things You Can Do For Suicide Prevention Month and Suicide Prevention Month blogs for more help and information. 

Author Julie Anne Peters has been writing Young Adult books for over 20 years. Some of her books include Lies My Girlfriend Told Me, Luna, She Loves You She Loves You Not, and It's Our Prom (So Deal with It). Check out some of her other books in the library's catalog.