Suicide Books

This book was great. It helped my 3 year old step son cope with the loss of his mother the best he could.

Learning to cope with difficult emotions is a most important achievement for young children who are experiencing grief from some form of loss. The experience of death needs an adequate explanation using correct terms and simply stated definitions. When vague terms are used, children become confused. When children are given the opportunity to ask questions and to express feelings of grief through physical and creative activities, they are able to develop healthy coping patterns that will continue through adulthood.
When Someone Very Special Dies, Children Can Learn to Cope With Grief, written by Marge Heegaard, is a book intended to help children move through various levels of grief through the use of writing and drawing their own illustrations. This workbook's presentation is a valuable tool to be used by children through a confusing emotional time. Throughout the 32 pages of narrative prompts and partially drawn black and white illustrations, children are able to actively participate in a concrete and personally reflective experience. Children are encouraged to explore curiosities about death by asking questions, and they share personal understanding through the use of writing and creating their own illustrations.
In response to grief, children may display a spectrum of emotions often acted out because they are unable to clearly express feelings verbally. Through the use of supportive prompts, children are coached in choosing ways to express anger or fear in a way that doesn't hurt other people or animals, or themselves. Children are encouraged to use suggestions on how to use physical movement and exercise to avoid the stuffing of feelings, which over time can cause severe physical ailments.
In a classroom, grades kindergarten through 3, this book work well as a guide for designing a range of collaborative activities. For K-1 students, When Someone Very Special Dies, Children Can Learn to Cope With Grief can easily be used to introduce the concept that change is natural. The first four pages of the book consist of partially illustrated discussion prompts which students are invited to complete with their own illustrative ideas. These pages explore change in the life cycle of a butterfly, change in the seasons, and change in people as they age. The reader learns about the origin of feelings of grief, how living and growing things change, and how death is a natural part of this change. A group discussion following time to work in the book is important for children to be able to express their understanding behind their own illustrations.
In a classroom of 2nd or 3rd graders, students work in pairs answering various provided prompts from pages 11-20. On these pages, students discuss curiosities they have about their own personal feelings and what influences them to change. They explore expressions of different feelings and where these feelings are located throughout the body, discovering alternative ways feelings can be expressed in a safe and healthy manner. Through this activity, students learn to feel comfortable to discuss an experience of painful emotion. In this way, students are able to identify the problems and pain of others by gaining insight into their own experiences. Following the discussion, each pair of students might create a poster reflecting the information they have collected about what they learned regarding various emotions and how they might be expressed in a safe and healthy manner.
When Someone Very Special Dies, Children Can Learn to Cope With Grief would serve well as a personal journal for students in grades 4 through 6, rather than strictly as a whole group activity guide. Some portions could be referred to and used to guide whole class discussions or for non-stop writing prompts. Other portions of the book should be left for private reflection and entry due to its personal reference to religious content.
I strongly recommend the book When Someone Very Special Dies, Children Can Learn to Cope With Grief for every classroom library. It provides a healthy message and positive means for helping children work through an experience with grief. Children need help to grieve and grow in healthy ways. Children must be allowed to get their sadness out by sharing feelings and memories with trusted listeners. This book provides children with a positive healing experience, and the ability to know that life can be okay again.

I researched for many days every book avalable on this subject, as my husband left me a young widow at 26, dying very suddenly and tragically of a brain annuerisym in the middle of the night, beside me in the car - two weeks before Thanksgiving. Although I am cursed that I have not been left with our own child, he did leave behind several nieces and nephews profoundly attached to him; he was the most loving and adoring man toward children, much like one himself, which is why they loved him so...... so I knew when he died, looking at their faces they simply could not understand, - let alone cope or come to terms.... to make matters worse, the rest of the family demanded I not cry or show emotion in front of them - "Don't upset the children"...... what a terrible mistake. Hiding your emotions from such delicate and tender minds teaches them to hide and be confused about their own feelings.It was so painful for me to not only lose him, but feel I could not have or give support to those who suffered with me.
I had to find some way to intervine, because I knew in my heart and soul the way the children were being treated - excluded, hidden away, avoided, not even spoken to or allowed to be present during the many gatherings of his hundreds of friends who came to visit over the week, etc.... was detrimental and only causing them more harm and hurt...... So I sought to do the only thing I had any power to in the situation, since my own position was not respected or honored in the family (THEY BLAME ME FOR HIS DEATH, BECAUSE I "SHOULD HAVE KNOWN SOMETHING WAS WRONG" I "LET HIM DIE" and I "DIDN'T GET HIM TO THE HOSPITAL OR GET HELP IN TIME".) So much anger - and that is what the children saw... it left me wondering if they themselves wondered if it was me who had caused his death, knowing they heard every cruel and scathing remark made to me .... I searched out to find a book that might help these children express, emote, release their feelings.... the therapy they very much needed if any healing would take place, because no one was trying to give them the outlet or opportunity to do so....
Finding this book was truly a blessing.
It is done in the very best format for a child, --- allowing them to draw, write, color, -- providing several projects and posing many questions that allow them to express themselves the way children do best --- through their own art and writing.
And best of all, -- it reaffirms constantly what the child NEEDS to hear - nothing you said or did caused this, it is not the fault of yours or anyone elses -- but a natural part of life......
Beautifully written, incredibly sensitive toward the child's psyche and means of thinking, --- one of the very best books for any child that is suffering from the loss of a beloved and close famiy, friend, -- even a pet..... and gives them something to hold onto and reflect upon as they grow and age to see how they have evolved from this tragedy. It is a journal, a sketchbook, a workbook, a friend, - a keepsake......Highly recommended, amazing, and very touching.

This book's simplicity is inviting, comfortable and un-intimidating for a young child (our daughter is 6-years-old; her grandma died very suddenly...).
The book involves children in drawing and coloring as a part of learning, and becoming COMFORTABLE, with the concept of the natural stages of life - birth to death. Since drawing and coloring are a natural part of a young child's activities, they feel right at home with this book. This is not just a coloring book. The exercises are quite specific, and so simple, but make SO MUCH SENSE!!
I also love the fact that there is VERY little reading for the parent to do, because emotionally, I'm not up to it right now. So this approach is simpler and less heart-wrenching for all of us.
NOTE: Even if you think your child is dealing just fine with the loss of a loved one, I highly suggest you get this book anyway. Our daughter didn't start exhibiting signs of stress, anxiety and fear until 4 months after her grandmother died. The concepts in this book are HEALTHY and HELPFUL, no matter how your child is dealing with their loss. This may even be a great book for a child who hasn't lost anyone yet, because it is an inevitable part of life.

My son is 3 1/2 years old and really could relate to this book. I liked this book because it was short enough to keep his attention, but answered many of his questions. I like its simple yet reassuring style.

So often, children are overlooked when dealing with the loss of a sibling. They grieve, too, and need help understand the concept of death (especially since they will probably hear many euphemisms for death and get confused). This book is aimed at younger children, probably best for children age 7 or younger. I highly recommend it as an aid in helping a child grief losing a sibling.

I was almost too young to understand my sister's early death. But I was not too young to understand this book and how it helped me. It is about the same situation I was in. A small boy's sibling dies and he notices she is gone. The parents tell him what death is about and how it is alright to remember and talk about Jess. I was only four and could not quite read, but my mom read me Where's Jess almost every night. This is a helpful book for children and parents.

This book is a classic. I and many colleagues have recommended "Where's Jess?" to families when young siblings survive an infant's death. How disappointed I was when my new copy arrived! I had ordered it for dear friends' preschool child when their chronically ill infant died. I had read our hospital's Family Resource Library copy to the surviving 5 year old who had been showing many of the classic signs of distress of young children with overwhelming grief. As soon as he heard the initial words his little body calmed, he became still and seemed centered. For the first time in days he engaged in reciprocal conversation, and was able to articulate feelings based on his responses to the illustrations. He spontaneously said that he wanted this book for his birthday.
I was taken back when I saw the smaller size and bright cheery colors of the cover and the condensed, crowded small pages of the new edition. I shared the new version with colleagues to see if they shared my disappointment (they did!).
When actually reading the new version of the book to the little boy: It was much harder to draw him in and he didn't interact easily with the illustrations. Additionally, this time, unlike last time, he made no attempt to read the words on his own. Although the text is the same, the presentation is sadly distracting.
I don't think crowding or liveliness are helpful for those with aching hearts and troubled thoughts. It is as if the book has lost its essence and synchronicity.
This is a great loss indeed, as I think the text and intent of the book remain outstanding, but the presentation seriously detracts.
Buy this wonderful book if you can in its older, brown and simple format.

"I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoyed "You Me and Apollo: Hope Beyond Bipolar Disorder." It is a wonderful message of hope and encouragement that really helped me understand Bipolar Disorder.

I feel strongly that 'Apollo' can be a real asset
to people needing to understand this illness, whether as a consumer or a family member and I am pleased to support it."

I just finished my third reading of this honest and hope-filled true story by J.D. Stottlemire. With each reading, I have felt a deepening of my awareness about Bipolar Disorder, as well as what it is to be human. The message of hope is for all of us, whether we have experienced Bipolar Disorder ourselves, or know someone that has, or if we just go through depression sometimes...(and who hasn't?) Mr. Stottlemire speaks from his heart, combining humor and seriousness in a very real-life way, that is so easy to relate to, and so easy to read. His story changes lives, by offering that we are not alone, and as he says, "Today there is a great deal of hope."

I never write book review becuase (well...frankly, I'm too lazy)but after reading Apollo I had to get off my duff and tell everyone what a great book this is. Informative, witty, an easy, quick read. If you don't personally know someone who would benefit from this book buy a copy to donate to your local hospital, mental health center, jail or library!!!!
This is the kind of book that could save a life.

J.D. Stottlemire takes us into the surreal world of a mind with Bipolar Disorder. Woven into one man's journey through life is a fascinating comparison to the Apollo 13 mission. Readers of this book will gather insights into the inner sanctum of a brilliant mind, a mind with "a hidden flaw."

This is an eloquently written account of a very personal struggle with Bipolar. Stottlemire humbles himself with grace and style and leaves the reader with real hope that they too can understand and get through the challenges. For all those whose lives have been shattered and broken by Bipolar, I urge you to read this book.

I borrowed my husbands copy of this book, not expecting to enjoy it (I'm not much into Baseball), but I was CAPTIVATED!! Baseball aside this is a human story, one the author approachs with the softness and sensativity of young William's mother....I cried and then was enthralled with the ultimate victory...against all odds... of the 1940 Reds. This should be part of Oprah's book club. I just wish the cover had the author's picture on it.....I just wonder if he has kind eyes.

This book was both an exciting read and an informative picture of pre-war Americana. From the Deacon to the Duke I just couldn't put it down. By the time the story reaches its inevitable climax....the 1940 World Series...you not only feel like you are there, but as if you are part of the team. Lets Go Reds! I can't wait for the next tome from this great new writer.

If you are a baseball fan, you know the stories of the big-named players from the 1940s. This is the story of a team of not-so-famous players who pulled off a World Series Championship. in 1940. If you enjoy baseball history, you will enjoy this book. You get know the stories behind a group of rather ordinary guys -- a great snapshot of life in the US just before World War II,

This is a book that must be read by all beings on this beautiful planet. This information is coming from the man who discovered plutonium and completed the Mendeleev chart of elements. Mr Russell states that one nuclear power plant is worse to the environment than many nuclear bombs going off because of the many tons of radioactive waste that each plant creates. There is much more in this book than just science. Walter delves into the source of all creation and consciousness. Another materpiece of literature by this great author and Humanitarian. 10 stars for this one.

While wanting to know the danger of Atomic Radiation you are taken on a tour of the nature of God and the Universe. The knowledge given here would take you lifetimes on study in the Mystery Schools of the Rosicrucian's. You would have to live a thousand years in the future for science to finally begin to understand this knowledge. You would have to be an expert in the Cabbalah to understand Saint Francis of Assisi statement "God is the Unmovable Mover" but this book explains it clearly! You would have to be a Novel Chemist to begin to grasp the knowledge of the Russell "periodic" table. To see in this table the "evolution" of all things in the Universe. In realizing all this then you would be able to see what he means... Radioactivity is DEATH! It quickens "evolution" to it's death. It quickens the planet Earth to it's death (along with everybody else!) if brought to the surface. It is not surprising that more people have not heeded this warning, being unable to comprehend.

Everything you wanted to know about MetaPhysics but didn't know enough to ask the right question in the first place...
I have been reading this book for over a quarter of a century and I'm not done yet.

Samantha MacGregor feels drained from the visions she's been getting from God and prays for a break. But then Ebony, her police contact, tells her about a cold case where a suicide looks to be more suspicious that what was investigated. Samantha can't figure out how she can help out with this case until she gets a vision of a guy jumping off a bridge. The problem is that every guy she meets seems to fit that description. She begins to look into reasons of why someone would contemplate suicide and realizes that the answers may be closer than she thinks.

This is another superior novel from Melody Carlson. The book starts off with an action packed scene in a airplane involving terrorists and it doesn't stop there. Suicide is a topic that no one likes to talk about but that teens face everyday. The topic of the violence in video games was very much appreciated. I cannot understand how parents knowingly allow their kids to get games with so much killing and gore in it. I felt for Garrett and the situation with his father. I shudder to think how many people are in his situation due to verbal abusive from family members. The characters in this series are really realistic and likable. I like the subplots involving Olivia and her quest to get into the band. Samantha again shows how mature of a teenager she is especially involving situations with her mother and brother. Most people would end up suffering from being in a dysfunctional family. This is one of the best teen fiction books out there, serious with hard hitting issues yet entertaining at the same time. Melody Carlson has really outdone herself.

In Oregon, seventeen years old Samantha MacGregor has a gift from God that enables her to see dreams of the problems confronting other people. She has used her ability to help police officer Ebony Hamilton, but after a harrowing case in Arizona involving the missing rule breaker Kayla Henderson (see BAD CONNECTION) she comes home tired and asks God for a timeout.

A few days later Ebony asks Samantha to assist her with a cold case involving a teen Peter Clark shot in the head after leaving a suicide note. His mom believes a homicide occurred after her son's girlfriend Faith Mitchell got in touch with her insisting that Peter would never kill himself. As Samantha tries to help, she realizes she has stopped dreaming for a couple of weeks. That scares her because she believes that God listened to her and took away his gift. She finally envisions her chemistry lab partner Garrett Pierson jumping off a bridge and as to the Clark case she believes the younger brother knows what happened.

BEYOND REACH, book two of the Samantha MacGregor Secret Life tales, is an entertaining teen inspirational investigative thriller starring a heroine struggling with acceptance of God's special gift to her though her faith is strong. Samantha holds the story line together as she tries to use her gift to help others especially her police pal. The cold case will fascinate the audience as Samantha's ability seems gone at first as God heard her prayer for a time out, but how long will that last frightens the courageous teen as she learns to honor what was given to her. The support cast adds mostly to the thriller elements as fans will enjoy Samantha's efforts to do the right thing while trying not to burn out as she is a young human with quite a responsibility.

Harriet Klausner

(As seen on Christian Book Previews site.)

Beyond Reach is the second book in a series, but it reads like a stand-alone novel. From the first page the author pulls the reader into a dramatic scene. Samantha is in an airport and her vision involves terrorists. That's when the reader finds out more about Samantha's special gift. The burden seems to be too much at times and Samantha complains to God about this. Then she stops having visions and she's worried God has taken away her gift.

There are two core components of the rest of the story. Samantha is trying to determine what happened to Peter, who died five years earlier from a gunshot wound to the head, and then there are the strange visions of suicide attempts that plague her.

Without giving the story away, I'll say that the author really knows how to pull the reader along. Sometimes you think you know who the person in danger is, but then the author twists things or puts a spin on the direction you think the story is going. I figured out who was in danger before he was revealed, but that didn't bother me because it made me even more invested in the story. Because I cared about the characters, I wanted to make sure the person was safe, and I sat at the edge of my seat when things started to become clear to Samantha.

Beyond Reach is a multi-faceted novel of intrigue, suspense, and mystery, but it is also a story about the value of true friendship and unconditional love. The heroine genuinely cared about the hurting people in this story and it clearly made a difference in their lives. She set aside her own fears and concerns for the benefit of others. That is what true Christian faith is all about, and the author does a fabulous job showing that Christ-like love can literally save someone from total destruction.

This story inspired me because the characters were very three dimensional and interesting. There was nothing sappy about this story. In fact, Beyond Reach is superior to many YA novels on the market because while the subject matter is depressing, in this story there are vivid scenes that offer hope, and Samantha is such a wonderful role model for youth. I highly recommend this book!

This is an outstanding book, for professionals and casual readers alike. Dr. Woods breaks down the taboo of teenage suicide with personal anecdotes and a truly engaging style. She shows us that this subject, which might make us cringe, is a very real part of our world, with impacts ranging from the quiet lives of individual families to headline-grabbing events such as the Columbine massacre. Rock music lyrics, a teenager's internal tug-of-war between pressure to achieve and desire not to disappoint, gender- all these aspects and others are brought into the open and discussed in a way that is both interesting and scientifically sound.
The entire book is solidly supported with references from medical and scientific journals, yet the author's writing style makes this book completely engaging and a truly absorbing read. It is an empowering book: it not only lists signs that can indicate a greater risk for teen suicide, but goes on to describe ways of addressing them- some original and logical "do's" and "don'ts". Overall, I loved this book because of the undeniable importance of the subject and the author's terrific writing style.

A subject rarely talked about in public and even less in schools. Teenage suicide is a problem that we must actively deal with. Dr. Woods gives insight into the many ways that we as individuals can make a difference in another person's life and possibly prevent another person from taking their own life. Dr. Woods explores many cases of teenage suicide showing many different view points of triggers that can lead to suicide - signs to look out for and possible approaches to handle them. It is commonly believed that depression is the sign to look for in a person who is considering suicide. Often this is not the case as Dr. Woods illustrates.
The book does not cover all the reasons for suicide such as side effects of a medication, nor does it claim to be the definitive encyclopedia on the subject. More importantly it sheds a light on an epidemic that is prevalent in our society and should be discussed towards prevention and positive action.
This is an important book that parents and adults who work children with should read.

A subject rarely talked about in public and even less in schools. Teenage suicide is a problem that we must actively deal with. Dr. Woods gives insight into the many ways that we as individuals can make a difference in another person's life and possibly prevent another person from taking their own life. Dr. Woods explores many cases of teenage suicide showing many different view points of triggers that can lead to suicide - signs to look out for and possible approaches to handle them. It is commonly believed that depression is the sign to look for in a person who is considering suicide. Often this is not the case as Dr. Woods illustrates.
The book does not cover all the reasons for suicide such as side effects of a medication, nor does it claim to be the definitive encyclopedia on the subject. More importantly it sheds a light on an epidemic that is prevalent in our society and should be discussed towards prevention and positive action.
This is an important book that parents and adults who work children with should read.

"Butterfly Warrior: A Novel" by Juan Blea is an original murder mystery set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, tracing the bond of four friends with common roots in the Los Arbolitos Barrio. Together they form a society of the Butterfly Warrior, the feminine Aztec deity Itzpapalotl, who is empowered to grant to the dead the experience of returning to earth to collect and consume sacred nectar, their eternal reward. The four friends are Cuate, a clown, Anna, his logical twin sister, Whitey, the "wannabe," and Manny, the musician who mysteriously commits suicide. Though all friends have gone their separate ways, the death of Manny brings them together in unforeseen ways to examine their bond and the reason for death and life. Highly recommended for mystery buffs, "Butterfly Warrior" is a novel well grounded in place and cultures, filled with vivid bits of detail that enhance the story and the conflict of the characters.

Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (08/06)

The night that Manny Lopez turned 35, he celebrated the event by killing himself. As his family and friends gather to bury him, his widowed mother, Dona Lopez, pleads with his three best friends from childhood to discover what happened to him at the medical research laboratory where he worked that would make him do such a thing. She knows that Manny, brought up with a strong faith, would never do such a thing voluntarily. To kill yourself was to place your eternal soul in jeopardy.

The three friends, who have not seen each other in several years, each go their separate ways in the investigation. Only one of the three believes passionately that Manny would never kill himself. The others understand what you can do when under the influence of drugs and try to stand aloof...until there is a killing and Dona Lopez takes matters into her own hands.

This story is set in the Hispanic community in Santa Fe, NM, weaving through the lives of the four children, all of whom are drawn to each other by a common love of guitar music, poetry and The Butterfly Warrior - key player in an ancient Aztec legend.

I would have liked to see more storyline set in the medical laboratory itself and more fleshing out of the characters. I would have especially liked to read more about what demons drove Cuate's behavior. Other than those two relatively minor points, the novel was very good. Once I started reading it, I didn't put it down until it was finished.

Juan Blea's world view was a Spanish up to age of five. In order to translate across cultures, he creates a metaphoric token that can be understood by both cultures. In "Buttlerfly Warrior" Blea gives us an allegory taken from an Aztec myth of soldiers killed in battle who then return as butterflies. The opposing force becomes the wasp.

The crux of Blea's book is that "As cultural identity decays, so does psychological health," as Juan Blea explained to the SW Writers Group in Albuquerque (August 2006). His entire book balances on the two metaphors of the wasp (non-psychological health) and the butterfly (psychological health). He traces deterioration and gives us a kiss of hope at the end.

"Butterfly Warrior" is a book of power, wit, and poetry. Slim, as most allegories are, yet such a soul-tickler that you'll be thinking about it for some time to come. A whole new take on Santa Fe, acculturation, and where we are headed in the grand scheme of themes.

Janet Grace Riehl, author, Sightlines: A Poet's Diary

In the years following the first publication of Orlando Patterson's novel it has become a classic, to the extent that it is now required reading in Jamaican secondary schools. Set in the shantytown slums of Kingston in the late nineteen fifties, Patterson's charcterizations of the people at the very bottom of Jamiacan society have great power -- as reggae star Dennis Brown once sang, their story is "the half that's never been told". Following a group of Jamaica's poorest, most humble "sufferers" in their search for deliverance, the author brings to life a Jamaica that is a universe away from most American images of the Caribbean as a beautiful beach with a happy reggae soundtrack. As someone who has visited Jamaica many times, I loved this this book and highly recommend it to anyone who would enjoy an unusual novel from a different cultural perspective, and/or those who may be interested in Jamaican/Caribbean culture and the roots of the rastafarian/black identity movement.

I read this book first in 1987, just when it was published. It?s almost 20 years later now and the book still lingers on my mind. I have recommended it to many people since. My piece of book is a lot of loose pages......I wonder if it?s a print mistake, but on the website it says the price is 99,- (!)US $ for it? No matter, if you have 99 $ and this is the nowadays price fi it.....buy it! It?s worthwhile and sooooooooooooooooooooo touching......it still moves me from deep within.

Orlando Patterson's Children of Sisyphus set the standard for social realism in Caribbean fiction. He does not romanticize the lives of the poor, nor does he damn them with neglect;rather, he gives their lives dignity.
This is the moral tightrope that all Third World writers face: the choice between compassion and brutal honesty. Patterson succeeds in this fine portrayal of the lives of the poor that is imbued with grace, despite their mean existence.

This is one of the finest books in this genre. Stories about real people and the caring doctor who befriended them, tended them and saw to their final wishes. Highly recommended!
Betsy S.

The author is a physician who followed several cases of dying persons who from the onset of their terminal illnesses expressed a desire to commit suicide towards the end. Dr.Shavelson tracked these cases over 3-4 years and records the medical and emotional roller-coaster the patients went through. The best examination on a personal basis of assisted suicide so far published.

Dr. Lonny Shavelson offers a powerful, wonderful, and rare insight into the medicalization of death in America. He chronicles several terminally ill individuals and their attempts to die with dignity. I couldn't put the book down. Courbet Anderson, Gerontologist